We were taken back to the airport we arrived at this morning. The sky was full of aircraft coming and going as earlier. Looking over the airport as we were landing, it was now a full military base.

Tents and transport containers are organised across the airport. The number of people moving visibly on the ground was all moving with purpose. Many civilians were being evacuated, organised into groups, and entered a row of civilian planes.

Military planes and other forms of vehicles were scattered around, loading or offloading supplies or personnel. We were approaching a marked-out area. Several people were off to the side and some I could identify as medical personnel.

We landed and Goldsmith was quickly taken away. Henry and I were ushered into a nearby tent. Three of the sides were open, letting air flow through. There was a table with food and water on it. We took off our helmets and unzipped our armour, letting out the built-up heat, which was a great relief for us both.

We both began drinking water from plastic bottles greedily. He was as covered in sweat as I was, we both stunk to high heaven, but we were immune to the smell. I looked around as I drank from the bottle. Major Hawk was approaching the tent with Lou following.

“Incoming.” Henry looked around and stopped drinking. Hawk and Lou entered the tent.

“Well done on today.” He started with no preamble. “We’ve taken losses, but we managed to evacuate most of the civilians. This was the main objective of the day. I’ve heard that Goldsmith was wounded and I will be going to check on her in a minute.

The zone is still expanding steadily and we think we’re going to lose what’s left of the city by morning. I know that this feels like a loss to us all, but we were here to save the people. Not the city.

We will let you get cleaned up and then debrief as soon as possible. Euro Corps and the Italians have many questions, as you expect. But let me tell you this. Both Zone Command and his Majesty’s Government are proud of the work you put in today.

Now, if you excuse me, I need to check on Goldsmith.”

With that, he turned and left the tent, leaving us with Lou. Damn, that was short and to the point, even for him. I was also expecting a great deal of hot air and paperwork. Maybe that’s coming in the future? God, I hope not. Knowing zone command, unfortunately, I could see it in our future.

“Dammit, boys, you did well out there for what you were thrown into.” Lou told us. “How are you both feeling?”

He looked us over and saw the extent of damage to our armour. Noting that we will probably be going to need whole new suits.

“I’m okay.” Henry told him. I noted Henry’s response and how odd it was. Lou noted it as well.

“I’m amazed I’m still here and standing without being in the medical tent myself!” I added to the conversation. This was true as this was the first major op in a while that I had not been badly wounded and placed into a medical coma.

The other two grasped what I was saying and understood. They, too, knew that normally I was in the medical bay and being rushed back to some command for my injuries to be treated.

This was quite a novel experience for me actually to see the end of an operation of this scale. So, I looked around, taking in the scene around me.

“What casualties have we taken?” Henry asked Lou.

“Twenty-three support and four operatives confirmed as KIA from us. Most of the others were wounded. No idea about the Europeans, but they got hit hard.” He didn’t try to hide the bitterness in his voice. He knew and trained most of those people who died on our side.

“And major injuries?” Henry pressed.

“All the other operatives, including yourselves, have some form of injury. Another fifty-two support personnel include Gregson.”

Damn, that was a lot.

“Where did we take all casualties?” I asked him, as I did not see that many support personnel during the day.

“We concentrated more on the northwest of the city while you were out on the east. That’s where we took most of our losses.” He told me.

I nod and fall silent, thinking about the day. It had been a hard day.

“Come on, let’s get you guys cleaned up.” Lou directed us to several tents set up as showers, and our armour was happily stripped off as we showered. Unfortunately, we were ushered into separate, extremely long debriefings when we stepped out.

## ## ## ## ##

The next day we were sent home.

It was strangely all anti-climactic.

Instead of the normal part of the medical wing, I was placed in the VIP section. This was followed by regular debriefings going over everything I had witnessed and done over the day in exceedingly small detail.

The new threats were a major focal point of these interviews.

Medical and psychological tests we the norm I knew and was expecting.

The grave chill we were exposed to and the Iight injuries I picked up during the day meant I had spent a week under observation. At first, I never noticed it, but my paranoia quickly pointed out that I was not given access to the full set of newsfeeds as usual.

I noticed by testing that I had almost no access to newsfeeds at all. Any time that they mentioned anything to do with Rome, what happened there suddenly went blank.

With my paranoia tickled, I began spotting other things like armed guards at the evaluator or the lack of interaction with the staff. None of the regular crowd has visited me either. The newsfeeds were what kicked it all off.

I queried this to the medical personnel and I was informed that, for the moment, full access to new feeds was being restricted. This was extremely odd and kicked my paranoia into high gear.

I sent a message to my mother telling her I was fine and I would be home soon as soon as I arrived. At the time, I thought nothing of it, but looking back at this, I realised her reply was vague and noncommittal while looking away from me. This only added to my growing sense of paranoia.

The medical personnel probably noted that I got a visitor that afternoon in the form of Major Hawk.

“Afternoon, John. Can I come in?” He asked from the doorway.

“Sure.” I was a bit on the defensive at the moment. Not sure what was going on. He came in and sat down across from me. The medical room I was in had a small coffee table from which two people could sit across from each other. The chairs were the kind that sucked you in.

“I have news for you. Henry will be realised a few days after we check the results of his final tests. He is not used to the exposure to more powerful versions of grave chill and requires a bit more observation.” That was good to hear. “Sgt Gregson will recover after surgery and be back on duty in a few months. Operative Goldsmith, however, had to have her arm amputated below the elbow.”

“What!! Why?” I asked, shocked at this.

“You were both right the injury was infected. Our medical personnel tried to contain it, but it was too aggressive and forced them to take extreme measures to save her life.”

It was common knowledge that we did not get along, but that was something I would never wish on her. This meant she was going to be medically discharged from active duty. Part of me was jealous that, for her, it was over.

“You’ve been asking about the news feeds.” He got straight to the point that I was looking for answers.

“Yes, you’ve been limiting my access.” I was in no mood for word games, either.

“Yes, we have.” He told me, looking me straight in the eye. “And for good reason.”

He held up his hand to forestall any arguments I was about to make.

“Due to your ehm... relationship with the press, it was decided to limit your access to the newsfeeds until we could properly explain the situation. Do you remember the drones flying over the city and the Vatican during the day?”

“Of course. They were mostly military but with some civilian.”

“Well, the civilian ones were owned by press organisations. They were recording the city as the situation unfolded.” I nod at this, wondering where he was going. Only he would call what happened a “situation”.

“They were transmitting live. The Italian Government tried to lock the feeds down, but the press was ready and circumvented the means of restriction.”

“Okay.” I replied, still in the dark.

“Well, the most watched part of the day for figures was when the Vatican was attacked.” His face was neutral when he said this. “The viewing figures indicate that half the world’s population has watched it.”

It took me a minute, but then it hit me. Oh, Fuck No!

He read my expression and continued.

“Due to your actions at that time, you attracted a great deal of attention. Over the last few days, they have gone back through the footage and followed your movements through the city. It turns out that there were more drones than we realised in the sky and the city’s CCTV system backed up to a source well outside the city. Several soldiers you had fought alongside gave interviews before we could stop them. Against regulations and orders, I might add. Several civilians were also interviewed that you helped evacuate.”

This was getting worse by the second!

“As per our arrangement, we have not commented beyond that you are resting and uninjured. Also, there will be no interviews and the press should respect your right to privacy.”

I have started sweating now. My breath coming faster. My chest is tight. I think I am having a panic attack!

“As of now, our requests are largely unheeded by the press. We have had no less than 1000 requests for an interview on the first day. We have also had no less than 4000 requests for your complete service record under the Freedom of Information Act.”

I feel I was definitely having a panic attack!

“They have taken the information and interviews they have and constructed several documentaries on your role throughout the day. This is only added to the media hype around you.”

Yes. Yes, I’m having a panic attack!

“Several government officials and international officials would like to speak to you. This includes the Prime Minister, his Majesty the King, the president of the European Union and the Pope.”

Can’t breathe!

“We have a government media manager who would like to have a word with you as soon as you can to arrange what we can in the form of public events. They are already talking about multiple medal ceremonies.”

He stops there to allow me to process the information and recover. I think the look of absolute terror that must be on my face gave it away. This was my worst nightmare given form and I was honestly panicking!

“Oh, hell no!” After a few minutes of struggling with this information, I could only reply.

“Unfortunately, John, you do have to do the dog and pony show on this one. Your actions in front of the Vatican means we can’t hide you anymore. We’ll limit what you will be exposed to, but you’ll have to face some of it.”

He held up a hand again to forestall any argument.

“Rome was a loss for us on most fronts. True, we got most of the civilians out, but we took a hammering doing it. Plus, we lost all the cultural aspects of the city as well as a lot of the historical art. Morale amongst the public is in the toilet and what little glimmer of hope we have is footage of you fighting outside the Vatican. The world’s population and grabbed hold of those images and is holding onto the little hope they can. We. Need. Heroes!”

He fell silent for a few moments as I processed his words. I was not happy with it and my facial expression told them that.

“Civil unrest is on the rise. Looks like the conscription act is also going to pass parliament. These are hard days with harder ahead and we will have to face them.”