The Flames of Revolution

[Strix]

Avante Camarada​

The morning sun's rays seeps in to the cracks of the old walls. The house itself was small, with only one single room. A wooden table with 2 chairs were set in the middle, a few plates left unwashed. The windows were bent and broken, suggesting that the structure was abandoned long ago. The floorboards were covered in dust, and every once in a while a few rats would scurry over. Despite all of that however, a faint noise was heard near a window sill. An old radio, seemingly working, plays a few songs from Portugal's rebellious past. A middle aged man of average build entered the little shack. Wearing typical worker's clothes, he placed his hat on the dust-coated table. Leaning near the radio, he takes a look outside and waited as the music fills the ambience.

Later on, another person would enter the room. He was wearing a green flat clap, with the Portuguese Communist Party's insignia upfront. He approaches and proceeds to hand him a small envelope. The two exchange looks as they part ways. "Glória à república, Glória à revolução."

It wasn't long before a small van approached the abandoned house. Plumes of dust rose as the vehicle made its way near the entrance. A few young men were waiting near the door frame, smoking a few cigarettes. The van stopped and an old man wearing a trench coat got out of the passenger side. He looks around before saluting to the men stationed near the entrance. The men salute back as they stand in attention, cigarettes still at hand. The old man motions towards the van's back doors and orders them to transfer the crates. As the young men grumble and make their way to the van, he enters the house alone.

"Comrade Leonardo, I greet you warmly. I have decided that your outpost would be a temporary cache for the next few batches. Surely Faro hasn't noticed?"

Leonardo would stand in attention and face the old man. He noticed the man's trench coat, tattered and torn. He wore a pair of old decommissioned boots, along with brown wool gloves. His face adorned with a large scar on his cheek.

"Comrade Hermínio, the pleasure is all yours. Just assure me that these would be moved out once the warehouse has been secured."

"Of course, 2 more vans would arrive in the next following days. Glory to the Republic, Glory to the Revolution."

"Glory to the Republic, Glory to the revolution."

Herminio would exit the building and would wave to the young men carrying crates to the cellar down below. The crates were labeled with names of pipes and construction material. He would enter the van and wait for them to finish. After a few minutes, the doors would close, and the van would make it's way through the dirt path. The young men would then close the cellar doors, sealing them tight with an old lock. They would return to their posts, talking quietly among themselves.

 

[Strix]

The last van would leave the compound, the guards closing the gate for the night. Soon the sun sinks down to the horizon and Faro would be enveloped in brief darkness before the city prepares its night life. Leonardo would signal to his compatriots to follow him down into the cellar, ordering a few of them to guard the compound. The only thing lighting up the old shack was a lone gas-discharge lamp, giving off a strong orange tint. 3 young men carrying stolen Battle Rifles would patrol around the general area, sometimes meeting up near the entrance to talk. Down in the cellar, Leonardo would guide 5 of his men to a paper map of Faro laid on a wooden table. Another Radio was present, this time, more bulky in form. It was certainly bigger, and its use is more than just provide music.

Leonardo would usher the rest of them to open one box to check the merchandise. A crowbar would be used by one of them and after a few nails were out, the cover was pushed away, revealing a cache of AK-47s, possibly 50 of them in a single box. Leonardo would move over to an ammo crate nearby and order them to prepare a few guns for testing. He would move back towards the wooden table, which was lit by a small white lamp. He would call the attention of the five men and proceed to discuss.

"Comrades, you may as well have heard about the revolution in Belgium, where our socialist brothers were successful in overthrowing their authoritarian regime. You may as well remember about our failed coup in Lisbon, where many had died under the hands of the Monarchy. How our people have forgotten about the atrocities the Monarchy has put forth against them. While we may not be able to usurp the current Government, we do have the ability to disrupt it, and force them to accept our demands.

It's a small thing brothers, but remember, a large flame comes from a little spark."

Leonardo would turn on the military-grade radio, tuning in to a specific frequency.

"Faro isn't one of the 'hotspots' that the government has labeled, although, we still need to be cautious. While the council prepares for our new base of operations, an old warehouse about 4 kilometers from here, I have been given the authority to conduct a couple of skirmishes to distract local law enforcement."

He would slide the envelope across the table, revealing a letter from the high council. After a few tries on the knobs, the static would dissipate, and Leonardo would use he headphones and the nearby microphone. He would wait for confirmation of connection.

"Meanwhile, the rest of you would leave for the warehouse tomorrow. A couple of work trucks would arrive here around 10 am, along the same time the incidents would be finished. The council has secured a worthy ally overseas, and we have arranged him to train us in the arts of combat and guerilla tactics. Please, if you wish to do something else, you may leave the room. Others may stay if you want to talk to our instructor."

The radio would click, a red light would then activate, and it was ready to send and receive messages.

"Hello, this is borboleta-1, please respond."

---

@Alex