When Fatih returned home, he was still thinking about what had happened that evening. The amusing way this new woman he'd met acted while pretending, the way her intelligence had captivated him, and that sweet smile… especially those red hair strands... He caught himself smiling while staring at the ceiling.
His mother, curious and wanting to talk, came over and paused at the door.
After watching him from there for a while, she called out:
"So, did you like her, my lion? I told you she's such a delicate, calm girl." (Sure she is, of course, very calm) 🤭 (This scene reminds me of that saying, "Nazmiye's crazy, Necmiye's heart is open!") 🤣
Fatih immediately sat up in bed and composed himself.
"Mom, both she and I think it's still too early for such things. We've decided not to meet for now."
His mother's face fell. She had set her mind on finding someone for Fatih.
"My son, you're in the middle of nowhere. I want you to return to your own home at night. I want you to have someone you can talk to over tea. Don't be like this! If the girl doesn't want it, I can talk to her mother, maybe she'll convince her."
Fatih immediately reached out and took his mother's hand.
"Mom, my dearest, please give me some time. At least a year—let me finish this project, transfer to the central base. I promise, I'll say, 'Find this girl and let me meet her.'"
His mother was annoyed.
"Well done, Fatih! An educated, refined girl, and you think she'll wait for you for a whole year? You'll see, she'll have married someone else long before then. Foolish son of mine!" she said, and left the room.
Fatih's face dropped. "Fate, dear mother…" he murmured.
At the first light of the next morning, he said goodbye to his family. With a bittersweet calm in his eyes and a sense of duty in his heart, he set off—first to Istanbul Airport, then to Iğdır… and finally, the central base.
Two days later, at a critical meeting, the voice of Major Levent Akça spread through the room, firm and clear:
"A new base will be established on the Iğdır border line, facing Iran. But this will not be an ordinary base. It will be a multi-layered, strategic structure housing a command center, an energy plant, and underground shelters all at once. Fatih and his team are tasked with protecting the construction crew and ensuring security in the area."
Listening carefully, Fatih straightened his shoulders, sat upright in his chair, and saluted the officers at the table with respect.
Everything was ready now.
The mission was about to begin…
Immediately after the meeting, Fatih moved to the district where he was assigned. He and his team set out to inspect the area. As they walked through the mountainous terrain, laughter mixed with chatter had already begun.
Staff Sergeant Musa Koç, breathless on the steep slope, grumbled:
"Commander, this project's gonna be trouble for us, I tell you… The last engineer who came ran off so fast he left dust in his wake. I'm not too hopeful about this new one either."
First Lieutenant Cihan Yıldız approached Fatih, pursing his lips as he added:
"I agree, Commander. What do you say, should we make a bet? Think he'll last a month?"
Fatih squinted at the scenery, struggling not to smile.
Specialist Sergeant Harun Taş chimed in to soften the tone:
"This time might be different though. I saw in his file—he's worked on some solid projects. Young, too. Maybe he's not like those old, fussy engineers."
Specialist Private Samet Ertuğ asked curiously:
"Commander, have you met this engineer? Is this his first time working with the army?"
Fatih stopped and turned to his team. The sun hit his forehead, but his gaze was calm.
"The file only had his name, age, and area of expertise. He's worked in sustainable technologies and infrastructure engineering. He also has overseas experience."
Musa shook his head and said in his usual Black Sea accent:
"Where I come from, we say, 'A lion on paper, a kitten in the field!' Let's see how this Mr. Deniz handles things."
Cihan raised his eyebrows and smirked:
"Since he's young, maybe he'll last a bit longer. At least he won't complain about everything like the old ones."
Harun laughed and added:
"Let's meet him before we judge. But if he can't assert his authority, the old hands here will eat him alive."
That made everyone burst into laughter. The conversation was now in full swing.
Samet quickly joined in:
"Commander, when is he coming anyway? The sooner he starts, the sooner things get moving. My fiancée keeps telling me to come to town on leave, but you won't let me go before we move to the main base."
Fatih narrowed his eyes at Samet and replied with a mocking grin:
"Let's give your fiancée a room and move her straight into the base, Samet. Otherwise, you're doomed."
The laughter erupted again.
Fatih shook his head and grew serious:
"The engineer and his team will be here next week. They're coming directly from Ankara by helicopter. The Major specifically asked us to welcome them."
Musa jumped in immediately:
"Where I come from, when an important guest arrives, we'd order meatballs from İbrahim the butcher. But here, there's no butcher and no İbrahim!"
Cihan teased him:
"Musa, the man's coming from Istanbul—he's probably already had his meatballs there."
"Boy, where I come from, hospitality is essential. When a man arrives, you offer him something!"
Harun burst out laughing:
"You're right, Musa. Let's fire up the grill on the first day—if they work after that, all the better!"
Samet asked curiously:
"Commander, where will Mr. Deniz be staying? In the lodgings?"
Fatih paused briefly before replying:
"For now, a temporary spot has been arranged in the contractor's container. Later, a more suitable place will be found."
Musa piped up in his usual mocking tone:
"When young engineers came to our place, they'd dress in civilian clothes, grow their beards long, and in two weeks they'd look like guerrillas. You think this one will turn out the same?"
Harun laughed and asked:
"Musa, what does beard length have to do with engineering?"
"Boy, where I come from, experienced engineers had beards! The longer the beard, the longer the experience!"
Fatih stepped in with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips:
"Well Musa, if that's how it is where you come from, it must be true… In that case, your experience must be as tall as Everest!"
Musa puffed out his chest:
"Of course, Commander! I've got as many stories, experiences, and memories as the length of my beard!"
Cihan adjusted his helmet and asked, sidestepping slightly:
"Commander, do you think working with this Mr. Deniz will be easy? Has he worked with soldiers before?"
While brushing dust off his shoulder, Fatih replied:
"I don't know. But his file mentioned international projects. He probably has experience working with different teams."
Samet pursed his lips, looking down at the mud on his boots:
"Let's hope he gets along with us so the job gets done quickly. I can't stand difficult people."
(And right at that moment—entering the line of fire—Deniz) 🤭
Harun smiled subtly as he added:
"I don't think there'll be a problem. In the end, we're working toward the same goal. He's an engineer, we're soldiers, but out here, there's just one mission."
Cihan raised his eyebrows:
"What if he's too proactive? Like, comes in on the first day and starts bombarding us with orders?"
Fatih's tone sharpened as he suddenly grew serious:
"Gentlemen, remember one thing: I'm the commander here. No matter what his title is, the engineer is only here as a project specialist. The chain of command is clear. In the field, the only orders to follow are mine."
Samet raised his hands, half joking, half serious:
"Understood, Commander! So how exactly will we work with this Mr. Deniz? What's the daily plan?"
While rolling up the map in front of him and putting it in his pocket, Fatih replied:
"He'll be with us during morning briefings, in the field with us during the day, and in the evenings, he'll prepare his daily reports."
Harun nodded:
"So he'll be full-time with us. Good—that way the project will adapt to the field too."
Musa stepped in with a slight scoff:
"Where I come from, engineers never leave their desks. What if he doesn't want to come out into the field?"
Fatih shrugged and spoke firmly:
"He has to. This project will be run in the field. He'll work properly, not just hang around like a shadow."
Cihan squinted and asked mockingly:
"So, is he single? Does he have a family?"
Musa laughed and jumped in:
"Boy, they said he's a young engineer. Probably single. Where I come from, we say, 'A married man doesn't come to the construction site. If he takes on this pace, he either gets divorced or gets kidnapped!'"
Harun burst out laughing:
"You're right, Musa. Married men rarely come to places like this—it's both dangerous and exhausting."
The corner of Fatih's lips curved slightly.
"You say it's tough… so why are you here then?"
Cihan shot back instantly:
"Because of our love for our country, Commander. The strongest kind of love!"
Fatih got up from where he'd been leaning on the hood of the vehicle, dusted off his uniform, and straightened up.
"All right, gentlemen, enough chatter. Gather your gear—we're heading back to the base."
In unison, a deep voice rang out:
"Yes, Commander!"