CHAPTER 174: THE KADAN ISLAND

Kadan Island rises vast and unspoiled from the Andaman Sea, its forested spine stretching long and sinuous beneath the sky. The shoreline is a shifting boundary of pale sand and black stone, where the tides draw delicate, scalloped patterns with every retreat, leaving behind trails of seashells and drift-polished coral. Along the western coast, limestone cliffs emerge from the jungle’s edge... worn by centuries of salt and wind into towering forms, streaked with ochre and mossy green.

The water surrounding the island is a gradient of blues... near the shore, it is transparent turquoise, revealing a garden of coral and sea grass below; farther out, it deepens to sapphire and cobalt, falling away into silent abyss. Shoals of fish dart through the shallows, their scales flashing silver and electric blue. Occasionally, the shadow of a manta ray drifts beneath the surface... slow, fluid, and vanishing as quietly as it came.

Inland, the island is draped in thick rainforest. Towering dipterocarp trees dominate the canopy, their trunks broad and columnar, rising straight toward the light. Vines dangle from their limbs like ropes spun from green silk, while bromeliads nest in branch crooks, blooming vivid reds and yellows. Beneath the high canopy, smaller trees and shrubs compete in the dim, humid undergrowth... a labyrinth of roots, ferns, orchids, and the soft rustle of unseen wings.

Waterfalls descend from the hills in narrow silver ribbons, carving paths through moss-covered rock and feeding crystal-clear pools edged by smooth stone. The sound of falling water is constant but subdued, softened by the dense foliage that cloaks the island from coast to summit. These streams snake down to mangrove-lined estuaries, where the land meets the sea in a tangle of roots, brackish channels, and mirrored reflections.

Birds move through the canopy... hornbills with heavy wings, parrots flashing emerald and scarlet, and tiny sunbirds flitting between blossoms. Butterflies rise from the forest floor in clouds of colour, hovering above sunlit clearings where deer graze among low shrubs.

The terrain undulates, rising into steep ridges and narrow valleys. In the highest parts, the forest opens to rocky viewpoints, where lichen grows on stone and the wind carries the scent of salt. From here, one can see the island’s full shape... the curve of hidden bays, and the endless horizon where ocean and sky blend in perpetual motion.

The air is warm and heavy with moisture, rich with the scent of earth, rain, and flowering plants. At night, bioluminescent plankton gather near the shoreline, glowing faintly in the gentle surge of waves. The sky clears to reveal constellations... reflected, shimmering, on the tide-washed sand.

Hidden deep within the mountainous jungle of Kadan Island, the Karen National Liberation Army, widely known as KNLA, maintains a low-profile base used as a resource hub, for coordination, and limited training. Surrounded by thick rainforest and shielded by steep ridgelines, the base is well-camouflaged, with makeshift structures built from local timber and thatch. A narrow footpath leads in from the coast, passable only on foot or motorbike in dry conditions.

The base currently hosts around 50 to 60 personnel, including both seasoned fighters and new recruits. Supplies are limited, brought in periodically by the sea under the cover of night. Small-scale drills are held in a nearby clearing, but heavy weapons or live-fire training are avoided to minimise detection.

Three elevated lookout posts are stationed in the surrounding hills, built into the tree line with basic communication equipment. Sentinels rotate shifts, maintaining radio contact with the main base and scanning for aerial or maritime activity.

Morale is steady but cautious. The island’s isolation offers protection, but it also makes the base vulnerable to prolonged blockade or surveillance. Communication with mainland KNLA commands is intermittent, maintained via shortwave radio.

Local support from Karen villagers on the southern coast remains quiet but consistent... mostly in the form of food, medicine, and guides familiar with the terrain. No large civilian settlement exists nearby, but scattered clusters of families live along the jungle’s edge... sympathetic and discreet.

Saw Ghay Moo, the commander of the base, is an intelligent man. The war prevented him from continuing formal education, but he has always sought knowledge... reading books, listening to foreign radio broadcasts, and learning on his own. Among KNLA ranks, he is the most proficient in English. For this reason, he was appointed to command the Kadan base.

At present, he was in his room, engrossed in a worn copy of The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer when the satellite radio crackled to life. A small bedside light was lit in the room at this time of night to facilitate his reading.

"Contacting G M. Code Three Five Six Two. Are we clear?"

A buzzing monotone followed.

Ghay Moo immediately closed the book and sprang into action. He pressed a switch on the receiver... the buzz cut out.

"G M speaking. Code Nine Seven Eight Four. All clear."

The reply came swiftly.

"Arriving at Three Five. I repeat, Three Five. Are we clear?"

"Confirmed. Three Five. You may proceed."

He clicked the switch again. The radio went silent.

Ghay Moo’s most critical duty was maintaining communication with this mysterious group. They arrived once or twice a month... always under cover of night. No fixed schedule. Each time, KNLA cleared the dock and a designated perimeter. No lights were allowed. These people could operate in the darkest of nights. No one was permitted near the area during their arrival.

From a distance, one could barely make out their ship and the large crates they carried. The crates were hauled into a hidden tunnel beneath the mountain at the center of the island. In the dark, not even enhanced optics could see clearly.

Once, a curious KNLA soldier tried to sneak closer and see what was happening. By morning, his beheaded body was found. Guards nearby hadn’t heard a sound.

The tunnel itself was a mystery. A massive boulder always blocked the entrance... completely immovable. But when the group arrived, the rock slid open, revealing a shadowed passage. The men were ordered to stay away from it at all times. That was the base’s unspoken rule.

No one knew what went on inside that tunnel. But KNLA leadership had made it clear that this group was vital to their survival and they had to respect their instructions.

When the visitors departed, they always left behind crates of arms, ammunition, dried food, and medicine at the dock. These supplies were later sent to the mainland in small, spread-out shipments.

The top leaders confirmed that this group gave more than their prior agreement. And because of that, Ghay Moo’s camp had been ordered to guard their activities with absolute loyalty.

Ghay Moo picked up his camp radio and switched to the common channel.

"To all KNLA soldiers. We have to clear the dock area within thirty minutes. I repeat... thirty minutes. Fall in at the parade ground in five."

One by one, confirmations crackled back through the radio. Ghay Moo listened for a while, then set it back on the table.

He began dressing in full uniform. He knew his soldiers were already preparing... even those sleeping would be up and ready within minutes. This drill had been rehearsed more times than he could count.

Once fully dressed and armed, Ghay Moo stepped out of his room and found his soldiers standing in formation... three neat lines, weapons slung and eyes sharp.

"Forty-eight soldiers ready for operation, sir," reported his Sergeant Major.

"Good. You know the drill. Begin the operation," Ghay Moo said calmly.

There was no need to give further instructions. The drill had been perfected over countless rehearsals. He simply followed the soldiers as they marched towards the dock.

At this time of night, the dock was typically deserted. The soldiers checked every corner to ensure no one had lingered. Once confirmed, they moved several boats to the side, clearing a wide berth for the incoming ship. Then they retreated to their designated posts.

One by one, they took up position, weapons at the ready.

From his elevated vantage point, Ghay Moo used his binoculars to scan the entire perimeter. Each soldier stood still, alert, eyes scanning the shadows. Satisfied, he reached out and switched off the dock’s remaining lights.

He returned to his position, perched above the dock... a small rise of land that offered full visibility of the operation zone.

"Torches off. Report in," he commanded through the radio.

"Position One, clear."

"Position Two, clear."

"Position Three, clear."

...

"Position Forty-nine, clear."

Ghay Moo heard each report and acknowledged them silently. By the time the last came through, the dock area had fallen into complete darkness. Overhead, the sky was clear... no moon, only a blanket of stars.

Then came the low hum of a distant engine.

It started as a faint vibration across the water, growing steadily louder. Soon, the silhouette of a large ship emerged from the sea’s horizon, creeping silently into view. Ghay Moo looked at the ship, eyes focused. Their real task had just begun.

***

On the ship, Robert called out from the deck.

"We’re docking now! Everyone will have to move fast. The supply is large this time."

A few people on the deck looked at him. Several large werewolves were lying lazily on the floor, slowly transforming into their human forms. Robert glanced at them and counted silently... fifteen in total.

There was a slight jolt as the ship swayed gently. It had docked.

Robert opened the main hatch and stepped onto the forward platform. He grabbed the landing stair and set it against the dock.

"Let’s move. Bring the supplies."

One by one, the fifteen crew members filed out, each carrying a large, black box. They stacked them neatly on the dock before returning for more. Box after box appeared... silent, precise, and disciplined.

Once the entire shipment had been placed on the dock, they began carrying them toward the tunnel entrance. All the boxes were placed in a pile near the base of the giant stone boulder that blocked the tunnel.

Then, four of them stepped forward. With unnatural ease, they pushed the boulder aside. A narrow, dark tunnel mouth came into view.

They carried the boxes inside, stacking them on one side. On the other side of the tunnel, identical boxes were previously prepared.

From the darkness of the tunnel, a group of men emerged and began transfering the new boxes deep into the tunnel. They all were clad in white dresses that looked like some type of lab coat. One of them approached Robert directly.

"Robert. Always good to see you. Looks like you brought a larger supply this time?"

Robert nodded. "Good to see you still breathing, Edward. Eighty-six. How many to return?"

"Fifty-three."

"There’s a change this time," Robert said. "Boss had sent someone to take over the facility."

Edward frowned. "What? Did we mess something up?"

"No. Boss just wanted me to inform you that she won’t be coming personally. She’s sending her replacement."

"I don’t understand..."

Robert gave him a half-smile. "Don’t worry. You’ll understand when you see her."

He turned away, ending the conversation. With no further words, he walked back to the stack of old boxes and picked up two... as if they weighed nothing.

He returned to the ship and placed them on the deck. Then, he headed up the stairs toward the cabins.

At the door behind the captain’s cabin, he knocked twice.

"Miss Nora, it’s time."