Abu Kamaal, a city on the southeastern border between Syria and Iraq.
The city’s tan buildings blended in with the surrounding desert and yellow sands, making it look like a city hidden within the vast expanse.
The city was dominated by bungalows and low-rise buildings around three stories tall. Rubble from collapsed structures was piled high in many places, alongside craters left by bombs and artillery shells. Countless bullet holes peppered the walls.
The scars of war were everywhere.
As a city on the border of Syria and Iraq, Abu Kamaal had once been a fiercely contested battlefield. It had changed hands several times and was nearly reduced to rubble before being recaptured by the National Defense Army.
But peace was always fleeting. Rebels still launched periodic raids, clashing with government forces.
Eagle Country People, Russians, Israelis, Persians, Saudis, Kurds, Special Forces, Mercenaries, Terrorists—a wide array of factions all vied for control of this land.
The people living here had gone from initial panic and fear, to anger, then to sorrow, and finally to a grim acceptance, finding what little joy they could amidst the suffering.
’Since a bomb could fall on your head at any moment, a bullet could tear through your body, and you could be killed in the next second... why not try to be happy?’
Everyone wanted to leave, but not everyone had the means to do so.
To simply abandon their homes for some unknown safe haven, they would first have to cross vast, war-torn death zones and pass through one shattered nation after another.
Given the circumstances, it was better to live on with their families and, when death finally came, face it together.
But today, Abu Kamaal was unusually quiet.
The government forces stationed there were even more on edge than usual. A large number of vehicles, including Tanks and armored cars, blocked off all the roads. Soldiers manned every machine-gun pillbox and sniper’s nest, seemingly waiting for something.
The people of Abu Kamaal City were also on edge, with no idea what was happening.
The last major battle had been last year’s attack by rebels backed by the Eagle Country People. Since then, after government forces, with help from the Russians, had retaken the city from a terrorist group, the city had enjoyed a rare six months of peace. Was all of that about to change today?
On the second floor of a building overlooking the street, a middle-aged man named Bedah stared nervously out the window at the intersection, trying to see what was going on.
As one of the few journalists left in Abu Kamaal City, his professional instincts told him something big was about to happen.
The dutiful soldiers didn’t seem to have any hostile intent; instead, they appeared to be waiting for some momentous event.
Soon, a fully armed military convoy appeared in the distant wasteland. The Star-Spangled Banner fluttered in the air, standing out against the bleak landscape.
The moment he saw the flag, Bedah drew in a sharp breath.
’The army of the Eagle Country People!’
’Are they dropping all pretense? Have they given up on proxy wars and decided to get directly involved, clashing head-on with the Syrian Army and the Russians?’
’If so, bombs are sure to start falling from the sky any second now!’
Bedah immediately looked up, trying to spot the silhouette of a bomber drone.
But he knew it was a futile hope; the aircraft flew too high to be seen with the naked eye.
But then he noticed that the newly arrived force of Eagle Country People wasn’t very large. It consisted of only a few dozen armored cars, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy-duty off-roaders, totaling a few hundred men at most.
And when the government forces defending the city saw the Eagle Country army, they didn’t attack. Instead, they fired a signal flare.
The Eagle Country convoy then sped through the cleared government roadblock, entered Abu Kamaal City, and headed for the only building in the city center that wasn’t a ruin.
That building had once been Abu Kamaal’s largest hotel, the Oasis Hotel. It had miraculously survived the ravages of war; aside from some bullet holes in the walls, it had never been hit by bombs or artillery.
The Eagle Country vehicles stopped in front of the Oasis Hotel and formed a defensive perimeter. A few men in generals’ uniforms disembarked and entered the hotel.
As Bedah watched in confusion, another convoy snaked its way toward the city from the distance.
The moment he saw this convoy, Bedah understood. These were the government’s allies, the Russian advisory group.
They were called an advisory group and volunteers, but in reality, they were ground Special Forces units sent to fight directly.
The Russians drove straight into the city, their armored cars and Tanks also heading for the Oasis Hotel.
’Could it be... peace talks?!’
Bedah’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He almost jumped up and shouted for joy. Unable to contain his elation, he swept up his youngest son—the only one he had left—and planted a firm kiss on his forehead.
’If they can really reach a peace agreement, we won’t have to live in fear under the shadow of war every day!’
’And if they chose Abu Kamaal as the location, it means they won’t attack the city, at least.’
As Bedah was lost in thought, the roar of engines announced the arrival of yet another convoy. An army flying an unfamiliar banner had swiftly reached the outskirts of the city.
This force was much larger, with over a hundred Tanks and armored cars, plus a motley collection of other vehicles like pickups, jeeps, and off-roaders, as well as modified artillery. It was a force of at least several thousand.
The sight of that banner made Bedah’s heart clench.
’It’s the rebel army!’
’That’s enough firepower to level Abu Kamaal.’
’Are these rebels here to sabotage the talks?’
’Or do they not even know about the talks, and are they preparing to attack Abu Kamaal?’
’If that happens, the talks will be dead before they start. This place will instantly become a slaughterhouse, a living Hell!’
Fortunately, Bedah’s fears did not materialize. A dozen or so pickups and off-road vehicles broke off from the main force of several thousand and headed directly for Abu Kamaal.
The government forces guarding Abu Kamaal seemed to have been notified, as they didn’t impede the rebels and simply let them pass.
Sure enough, they were also headed for the Oasis Grand Hotel in the center of town.
Excitement surged through Bedah once more.
’The peace talks are really happening!’
’The rebels are backed by the Eagle Country army, and the government is backed by the Russian army. With all four parties gathered—especially the Eagle Country People and the Russians sitting down together—they’re clearly not here to discuss how to continue the war!’
’It’s really happening!’
While his heart was still soaring, he heard the roaring chop of helicopter rotors from above.
Bedah quickly leaned out the window and looked up.
A dozen armed helicopters bearing the crest of the Saudi Royal Family swept over the rooftops, heading for the Oasis Grand Hotel in the city center.
Next came the roar of jet engines. It was another group of armed helicopters, this time bearing the insignia of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on their fuselages. Four F-35s streaked past at low altitude, as if for a show of force.
Bedah felt his head spin; it was becoming too much to process.
’The Israelis and the Saudis?’
’What are they doing here?’
Bedah picked up a pair of battered binoculars and saw the helicopters descending toward the Oasis Grand Hotel as well.
Soon, the continuous roar of engines filled the air as convoys and flight formations, both large and small, streamed into Abu Kamaal, making the large southeastern border city feel almost bustling.
Drawing on his professional experience, Bedah identified Persians, Turkmen, members of the Iraqi Government Army, and Kurds among the arrivals. He even saw a few men riding camels and carrying scimitars enter the city, where they were received with an incredibly grand welcome.
It seemed as though every power in the Middle East had sent representatives to gather here.
Finally, a few construction vehicles and off-roaders even drove up. A group of people in work clothes and hard hats got out, looking so rushed it seemed they hadn’t even had time to change.
’A group of... Easterners?’