Astray

During their latest operation at what was once the border between Poland and Belarus, Charlie Team is ambushed by something unexpected. After dealing with the threat, the six operators are left with questions and no clear answer. Baffled but still focused on the mission, they carry on towards their target. They soon arrive where the enemy compound should be, but find nothing. Only trees as far as the eye can see. Out in the distance, to their east, they see a mountain range where there should be none. Sensing something afoul, they backtrack, but the river they arrived from is nowhere to be found. Ceasing radio silence, the only reply they receive is static. As they detour towards what is supposed to be a town in friendly territory, they come across an extremely unusual and upsetting scene, which will mark the beginning of their journey back home. Meanwhile, something dark has begun to whisper into the mind of each member of the team. I hope you will find ASTRAY entertaining and that you will enjoy reading it. Please, consider leaving a review, a comment, or rating the story. I appreciate constructive criticism, as it helps me understand where to improve. I am not a military expert, but I try to do my due diligence so I can know what I am writing about. However, if you notice a glaring mistake, please comment about it. The pace is on the slower side, as is my writing speed. I do not like to rush things, so expect one chapter per month at most. Chapter length varies according to what I need the chapter to depict. Usually, it is between 3000 and 6000 words. The cover art was made with AI and a good dose of Photoshop. I’ll have a professional draw a cover once I finish the book and have the money to invest. This story is only posted on RoyalRoad. WARNING: This story contains strong themes and language that some readers may find upsetting. I try to portray warfare and traumatizing content with as much realism as possible without falling into self-indulgency. There are crude and dark moments depicted in this story, but you will not find gratuitous gore nor violence for simple shock value.