I: Abduction

    The roar of a humvee's engine pierced through the surrounding tranquility as it drove deeper into the forest that sat outside of Jatia.  Its all-terrain tires proved to be a worthy challenger to the bumpy dirt roads, even as it drove at high speed.  Some small animals quickly flew, leapt or ran off the road before they could be smashed by its tires.
    Inside the vehicle, three soldiers, all wearing sunglasses and standard forest camouflage, were sitting quietly as heavy metal played from the speakers.  The soldier in the back seat, Jason, pressed a nearby button to roll down his window and tossed his cigarette out.  He then proceeded to roll the window up again.
    "You made sure that thing was out, right?" Matt, the driver, asked in a slightly annoyed tone.
    "Yeah, yeah, I did," Jason responded before rolling his eyes.  "What are you, my mother?"
    "Wouldn't it just have been easier to leave it in the ashtray then?" the commanding officer, Reaver asked as he turned his head.
    The private shrugged.  "No harm, no foul."
    "That kind of attitude is going to get you discharged grunt."
    "I think I know what I am doing, Reaver."
    "You will treat your commanding officer with respect soldier!"
    Jason went quiet, but left a scowl on his face.
    "Thank you Matt, but I was more than able to respond to his foolhardy remarks."
    "Sorry commander.  You got to love stupid grunts."
    "I heard that," Jason remarked.
    "Good.  You best get used to it if that is how you are going to act," Reaver announced before turning his head to face forward again.
    "Reaver, we are approaching the target area," Matt remarked.  "Shall we stop?"
    Reaver looked down at his GPS for a moment.  "Yes, go ahead and stop at the side of the road.  According to this, we are less than a klik away from the target."
    "Yes, sir."
    Matt slowed the humvee to a stop, parking it to the side per Reaver's orders.
    Reaver was the first to open his door and exit.  Once out, he took his M1911 from its holster and made sure that it was loaded.  "Matt, I know you are one of our better drivers, but when the cargo is aboard we drive like normal people, comprende?"
    Matt laughed before exiting.  "I'll keep that in mind sir."
    Jason was silent as he closed his door.  Reaver was already leaning against the front of the vehicle, motioning for the two to approach.
    "Listen up.  The target is only to be shot with tranquilizer, not with bullets.  The rest is fair game."
    "I already have the rifle loaded and ready sir," Matt answered.
    "Why must we kill everything except the target?  Wouldn't it just be easier to neutralize any other enemies with the tranquilizer as well?" Jason asked.
    Reaver smirked with an evil grin.  "This mission would be too boring if we did that.  Besides, did your dad never take you out hunting as a child?  Just think of this as that with a small twist."
    "Sir-"
    "Don't question my orders."
    Jason gritted his teeth.  "Fine, sir."
    "Good, let's move."
    Reaver walked into the forest, Matt and Jason following with weapons drawn.  Their footsteps were small, careful to not trip over any hidden roots and foliage.  Reaver smirked again as he watched some woodland critters scurry away from them as they grew too close.  "Cowards."
    "Well, we are trespassing on their homes, Lieutenant," Jason remarked.
    Reaver turned his head a bit, narrowing his eyes.  "You damn well know why we are here Private."
    "And I think what we are doing is wrong."
    "Oh?  What makes you to judge right from wrong while on this assignment?"
    "We are about take another life from here, just for our own gains."
    "That life might be the one that saves many others.  Now, hold your tongue and don't disrespect me again," Reaver ordered.
    The trio continued towards their destination.  A couple minutes passed before Reaver ordered for everyone to crouch.  "There it is."
    In the distance, three black foxes were sharing a meal together, feasting on the entrails of a couple of rodents.
    "Sir, which one is the target?"  Matt asked, already aiming his rifle downrange.
    "We are after the youngest of the three.  The smallest one on the left is who we want."
    "Pardon my ignorance, but why him?"
    "Carver believes that he'll achieve what he wants from him.  Something about being related to a previous project or something; he wouldn't give all the details.  Now, neutralize him."
    Matt nodded and focused his attention to the fox in the center of his crosshairs.  Once his shot was perfectly aligned, he squeezed the trigger.  The silent shot was perfect, the dart hitting the fox in the side.  It instantly collapsed, resulting in the other two foxes moving into a defensive stance.
    "Jason, take those two down."  There was no answer or movement from him.  "Private, do as I say!"
    "If you want them dead so badly, do it yourself," Jason finally answered in anger.
    Reaver instantly grabbed him by the collar.  "You're pathetic.  I'll see to it that you are court-marshaled for insubordination!"  Reaver then slammed Jason into the dirt.  "Don't move until I return."
    Reaver then ran towards the small opening.  The two foxes picked up on his movements and dashed towards him.  The moment he stepped out from the trees, they jumped up and lunged for him.  Reaver instantly fired two shots, each striking a different fox in the head.  They yelped as their death became instant.  One fox crashed into the tall grass behind him.  The other fox body still was on course, only to receive a bone-shattering punch from Reaver, stopping its momentum.
    He shook his hand while he approached the unconscious body of their pup.  Reaver laughed to himself as he picked him up into his arms.  When he returned to his men, he saw that Jason was completely knocked out.  Matt had just removed a dart from his neck and was tossing it to the side.
    "What did I miss?"
    "He was trying to shoot you before you shot those two foxes," Matt explained.
    "I see.  Here, put him in your bag."
    Matt took the fox from Reaver's hands and sat it on the ground to pull out a folded bag from his back pocket.  Meanwhile, Reaver aimed his pistol towards the sleeping private's head.
    "Such weakness must be eradicated," he whispered.  Three shots went into Jason's brain.  Birds flew out of the nearby area as the noise rang through the forest.  "He'll certainly be helping these feral beasts now."
    Matt had just finished tying the bag and heaved it over his shoulder.  "He'll be a good meal.  Carver will be pleased by this extra result.
    "Indeed.  Now, let's get out of here."
    "Lead the way, sir."
    The two quickly departed, leaving the corpse behind to feed the forest for some time to come.