This unit’s mission in Iraq was coming to an end. Four British soldiers were not the only ones who set ready to go home; Ursula, an embedded reporter, was wrapping up her work too. However, unlike the rest of the group, she wasn’t happy, for she was going home empty-handed.
The reporter didn’t get a story. Everything changed abruptly. Local Iraqis were killed by the British soldiers at the checkpoint. With Ursula’s help, a dying man managed to tell that he needed to bring money found in the car to a local sheikh who had taken hostage his wife and child. The Sergeant felt responsible for two innocent lives, thus he and three other soldiers set off to find the sheikh.
Ursula started her own investigation, asking for help a local guide named Malek. The two groups met at some point and continued a journey together. That was supposed to be a beneficial cooperation. The soldiers didn’t know the language, so they needed a translator whilst Ursula and Malek needed protection. One terrible accident led to Dangermouse’s death. That was a turning point for everyone. Freddie started provoking Malek, calling him derogatory names and even tried to rape Ursula. He left Stewart and Geordie with Malek and Ursula in the middle of the desert.
The group continued their search; however the truth was that they needed rescue themselves. They didn’t have either water or a car, thus when the sand storm started they were left without any protection. After several antagonizing hours and Malek’s disappearance, they managed to find both water and Malek who came with other Iraqis and promised to take them all to the sheikh. However, as soon as they arrived, Stewart understood that it was a trap. He sent Ursula and Geordie away, hoping to save them, but Geordie rushed back when he realized that the Sergeant was trying to do.
Ursula survived and returned to London where she fought with an editor over the fact that she refused to portray four dead soldiers as flawless heroes. At last, she visited Stewart’s widow, but she didn’t tell the grieving woman anything about her husband’s terrible death or his thoughts on their marriage. She had been always fighting for the truth, but that day she lied.
