"Please tell me he's alive, B-U-C-K-Y..."
Steve solemnly pleaded again, spelling out Bucky's name.
"I know how to spell it." Colonel cut him off irritably, rising to flip through the stack of letters in his hand.
"I signed a lot of condolence letters today. I can't remember all the names, but this one rings a bell."
"I'm sorry."
Steve froze at those words. He simply could not accept that outcome. He refused to believe Bucky had died so easily.
"What about the others? Are you planning a rescue?" Steve asked unwillingly.
"Yes. Once we win the war, they'll be saved." Colonel brushed him off. He could not be bothered explaining his plans to a rookie who had never seen the battlefield. In truth, he had no good options at the moment. Chen Mo was gone, and without his formidable strength, relying solely on the Special Operations Team would make things far too difficult.
Steve frowned.
"But if you know where they are, why not..."
"They're thirty miles behind enemy lines. We'd have to cross the most heavily guarded area in Europe. If we attempt a rescue, we'll only lose more men."
Colonel interrupted Steve and walked over to the battle map hanging on the wall, gesturing at it.
A black marker representing HYDRA had been placed at one location on the map—the newly discovered HYDRA base.
"I don't expect you to understand any of this. You're just a dancing clown."
Colonel was as sharp-tongued as ever. Like most of the soldiers, he did not think much of Steve at this point.
Steve had never even been on a battlefield. He was a complete rookie, yet he had come here to point fingers and tell him what to do. Colonel was already troubled by HYDRA's sudden movements and the rescue operation.