Plan of Action
“Gopal! That is an interesting name for an AI. What do you say, Uncle Ratan? Enough of fancy names or foreign names, we need to look to mythology to coin names for advanced tech.” Ankit comments. “I had already proposed that idea but you laughed over it. You thought that our ‘products’ would lose its selling point. Nothing beats hindu mythology when it comes naming items that carry an aura of power and intelligence around it.” Ratan comments with a smirk and the others laugh at it. Ratan looks at Ankit who is scowling at him at first but then smiles. The latter shakes his head in embarrassment. Everyone who had a run in with Ankit, especially the Major and the Colonel are quick to notice that he is not the same person as before. This war has changed a lot of notions and misunderstandings. War has its negative impact… but it had and always has the ability to bring the positive in a person and in life. “We need to finish this once and for all. We need to find their base of operations and assault it with everything we got.” Says the Major. “Hate to break it to you but there is a slight complication to that. If you people are ready, Gopal would reveal everything so that you can all prepare for the fight ahead.” Mohit Says. “Slight complication, you say? Nevertheless, at least we have something. We are ready to listen once we have the briefing room ready.” Says the Colonel. Amrita is still looking at Mohit and Gaurav notices it. They have a lot to talk but too little time. Gaurav decides to break the ice. “Amrita, I think we should move. They have a job to do and our family is waiting.” Gaurav says. Amrita reacts as though coming out of a trance. She gets up from her seat and Mohit follows through. Amrita wants to say something but is unable to find the proper words. She had a bad notion about him and she is sorry for it. “It is ok, Amrita. You don’t have to be sorry. You are not at fault. I am the who should sorry. Right now, I have a job to do. I have taken a responsibility and it is my duty to see this fight till the end. Carry on, take care of your parents. When this is over… we will talk. We will have a chat over a cup of coffee… if you don’t mind.” Mohit says with a smile. Amrita is quick to notice that Mohit has gained the confidence to look into her eyes. His smile is captivating but his eyes still has that sadness that was born out of loneliness. “I will be waiting for you. I don’t care if we win or lose but I want you to come back. Whatever happens… just come back and yes, we will have a chat. A long chat. I promise… so you better promise me that you will come back.” Amrita says as tears well up in her eyes. Mohit can feel his throat choke. He tries to control himself and says, “I… I promise. I will come back. Whatever… happens… I will.” Amrita at first hesitates and then, she kisses Mohit’s cheek and quickly walks away from there wiping her tears. Gaurav and Priya look at each, they smile mischievously and then look at Mohit. “Best of luck, Mohit… and to all of you. We will all pray for this victory.” Says Gaurav and everyone present there acknowledges it. As the pair walk away from there, the Major comes close to Mohit and says, “Good job, brother but get a grip now. We have a job to do. Remember!?” “I know, Major. You don’t have to tell me twice.” Says Mohit with a wink. At that moment, Satish makes an announcement to the group, “Sir, the briefing room is ready.” Everyone acknowledges the information and starts walking towards the room. As everyone takes a seat, the Major begins the meeting. “Our recon teams have been working tirelessly to find the source of the asuras. However, this is where the problem starts. We are all aware that the sky is not safe as the asuras have installed anti-air guns in various locations across the city. The only way to track those guns is by foot or vehicle.” The Major states. “So what is stopping us from doing that? Why haven’t we tried locating the guns?” The Colonel asks. “Because for some reason… or magic if you have to call it… and I apologize for such a lame excuse, our recon teams have not been able to locate the guns. We still have access to the satellites that have helped us locate any hostile force in and around the bunkers and army stations but due to an interference caused by the asuras, the satellites have failed to locate their guns, their base… if any and the source from which they regroup or appear from.” The Major answers. “Interference? You mean jamming devices? You are saying that they are using some strong jamming device that has the ability to hide anything? Anything as big as a base of operations for the asuras?” Ankit asks. “Yes, it goes without saying that we are using obsolete tech against an advanced race yet we need to get the better of them if we have to stop this.” The Major says. “I guess that is why I was able to hear the friendly and enemy chatter but not you people. After all, the armor I am wearing is not built by us. Moreover, it has the ability to detect enemy location and that has been the main reason why I was able to assist in locating certain targets. It does have a range but it is not so strong enough.” Mohit ascertains. “Mohit’s armor has the ability to bypass the jamming devices… if the asuras are using something like that. Nothing is magic, people. It is science and we need to understand it but it is obvious we do not have that much amount of time with us to do a detailed study. We need to apply whatever is in front of us and take our chances.” Says Ratan. “Ratan is right. We need to move fast and bypass all channels that the asuras have been using and cripple them.” The Colonel says. “I have… or to be honest, Gopal has identified a few stations that may serve as jamming devices. With your permission, I will show it. It is a start… and an important one.” Mohit says. “Go ahead, Mohit.” The Major says. “Gopal, you are up. Ready when you are.” Mohit says and in that very moment, an orb the size of a tennis ball comes out from the back of Mohit’s armor and positions itself in the center of the conference table. “Interesting.” Ankit comments. “Greetings, everyone. I am Gopal. I hope I am loud and clear.” Gopal says and the people in the room gasp. It is obvious no one ever believed to see an ‘alien’ orb floating around in their base. Gopal chuckles and says, “I will take that as a YES.” Gopal’s orb starts to project first the world map which indicates where the attacks are going in. “No one and no country have been spared.” Says Javed. The orb then zooms in on the map of India and then Delhi. “So much chaos. So much destruction. This city is falling apart.” Says Amrish. “Everything can be re-built, my friend. The question is – will it be you or the asuras?” Gopal asks. All the people in the room look at each other. It is a good question for which there is no precise answer. “Nothing remains forever. Everything that is created will be destroyed but out of the same destruction, there will be new creation… a new beginning. The asuras will continue their destruction till nothing and none of us remain and on our ashes, will they create their own.” Says Prateek. “Not if we stop them and that we will. Gopal, tell us your plan. We are ready.” Mohit says. “Gladly.” Gopal responds, immediately showing a map that indicated base locations of the asuras. The map zooms in a bit closer to reveal 6 huge bases and something is being emitted from those bases. “What you are looking at is not just bases but these also serve as jamming towers. They are the reason why your jets are not able to take to the skies. They are the reason why you people are able to detect enemy presence near the bunkers but unable to detect the source of their squads or platoons. If we destroy them, then we can gain access to whatever they are hiding.” Says Gopal. “It goes without saying that they are hiding something. It should be their base of operations. If we gain access to that, we can attack them right where it hurts. Finish this once and for all.” Says the Colonel. “Notice how the jamming towers are positioned. They are positioned in such a way… there is definitely something huge in between them. They are definitely hiding something.” Says the Major. “Is it just me or can I make out walls?” Javed asks. “Yes, they are walls. They are close to 200 ft in height.” Says Gopal. “Great, so we not only need to destroy or deactivate the towers, we also need to destroy the walls.” Says Javed. “Or climb it? But I do not see that possibility. We will all be decimated before we reach even half of that thing.” Amrish comments. “Mohit, did you see these walls? You know anything about them?” The Major asks. “From a distance, yes. They weren’t created within this span of time; they are not made of bricks or stones. It is an entire spaceship that has converted itself into a fortress so climbing… is out of the question.” Mohit answers. “Any alternate plans? Our target is right in front of us. We need to bypass whatever it is that is stopping us.” Satish exclaims. Everyone thinks hard and that is when Mohit remembers something. “Can you check the metro routes or train routes? Match the routes with the location of where the jamming towers have been constructed?” Mohit asks. “I will do it. Give a few seconds.” Gopal says and gets to work. After about 15 seconds, Gopal brings out an updated map and the people in the room are astonished. “Why didn’t I think of this before? Well done, Mohit. Well done.” The Colonel comments and the others agree to it. “What do you intend though, Mohit?” Prateek asks. “Fit bombs on them. Automate them to reach the desired location and KABOOM.” Amrish replies. “Not a bad idea but… Gopal, can you calculate the distance between the metro lines and the jamming towers? If they are in range, then it is quite possible?” Ankit proposes. Gopal gets to work again and brings out the calculation. “Hmmm… not possible, Ankit. It is a bunker system after all and most bunkers are located at a considerable distance below earth for a reason. Unless maybe you are planning to use a nuclear bomb.” Says Ratan. “There are no stations or points for the soldiers to move in and disable them. We need to find a ‘backdoor’.” Says the Major. “How many jamming towers do we need to disable the force field hiding the target?” Ankit asks. “You disable 4 and it is a walk in the park. All the anti-air guns are connected to the jamming towers. They are depended on it. You disable one and the anti-air guns surrounding it will stop functioning.” Says Gopal. “If we can do that, the air force will be free to engage anything that is beyond the wall. Provided there is nothing behind the wall that can take out the jets.” Says the Colonel. “You said it. We are busy trying to wipe out these jamming towers but what if… what if whatever is behind the wall is a surprise we have not been expecting.” Ratan comments. “I wish I could help with that but my tech is limited. Only if you disable the towers will I have access to whatever is behind this… base of operations, super weapons.” Gopal says. “A 10 headed monster, maybe.” Amrish comments and everyone stares at him surprised. “Oh yeah!? Why Not!?” Mohit exclaims with a smirk. Gopal tries to clear Amrish’s doubt, “Good news, Amrish. There are no giant monsters. Not at this moment. Bad news, well… there are more dangerous things than a monster. A computer with a brain, maybe. I guess, that is what we are all dealing with.” “There is only one thing we can do. If I have the permission, I can speak.” Mohit says. “I thought you already did. Don’t wish to exaggerate but you are the reason why we all feel that half the battle is won.” Says the Colonel. “Those are motivating words but we are still a long way from the objective. Alright, here goes. The asuras are on the backfoot. They need to device a new plan of action to bring us down. None of us know how the others beyond this city are faring but there is nothing we can do now. For the jamming towers, bring in the cavalry, sir. Split into multiple teams and attack the anti-air guns and the towers. Foot soldiers won’t be enough so you need to bring in the big guns… tanks, artillery maybe. With Mr. Roy devising the state-of-the-art armor, it is time to put it to an ultimate test. Now, assuming that the towers are deactivated or destroyed… it will be enough to reveal what is beyond the wall. It is, without a doubt, a base of operations shrouded from our eyes and they are trying to protect it. If I am not wrong, the ‘roots’ of the base are below ground level… and that is where the metro system will come to our use. Prep a metro with a strong enough explosive to breach the walls of the base. Soldiers can be in another train and once breached, can get in and wipe out anything or everything that comes in their path.” Mohit explains his plan. The others in the room are spell bound with Ratan starting to clap at Mohit’s intelligence. Mohit shakes his head in embarrassment and says, “It is just an idea. We really are not sure what we are up against and therefore, need to prepare ourselves to face anything that the asuras throw towards us. That being said, Mr. Roy, there is something else that you might have to help create?” “Sure, but what?” Ankit asks. “A little taste of their own medicine. If you know what I mean.” Says Mohit. It is obvious a few didn’t understand but the others… a wicked smile immediately appeared.