Chapter 89: |
00089 <-- #Night by the Lakeside -->
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#Night by the Lakeside (8), Santa Margarita Lake
The boy handled the reins with one hand while holding a rifle in the other. He had the rifle stock against his side, ready to fire at any moment. His posture was reminiscent of a cavalryman.
On the boy's back was the combat engineer. He held the boy's waist with both hands. The difference in their sizes made for a comical sight, but it was a necessary arrangement to prevent the engineer from falling off. The soldier, not used to riding, bounced with each step the horse took. Gyeoul tightened his grip on the reins.
Thump, thump, thump. The sound of the horse's hooves was muffled because they had left the road. It was excellent to reduce noise, but it made their ride more challenging. The brush on the roadside approached rapidly. Gyeoul spurred the horse onward. He slightly raised his lower body as the horse jumped over the obstacle. However, the passenger wasn't as skilled. The jolt of the landing made him groan in pain.
In the middle of their run, a mutant suddenly leaped out. In sync with the rhythm of the horse's galloping, Gyeoul pulled the trigger twice. The spent cartridges ejected in a rhythmic pattern. The mutant was hit in the chest with the first shot, had its head shattered by the second three-round burst, and fell backward after the third burst. That done, the horse's hooves trampled over the corpse as they passed by.
Passing by the empty sentry post, Gyeoul arrived at the pump house. It was a square concrete building, starkly designed. It had a large grille window in the front and four on the sides. Gyeoul tethered the horse and approached the window with the combat engineer. He used his sleeve to clean the window. The inside was just pitch-black darkness. Even with night vision goggles, nothing was visible.
'No heat source, but...'
The door was open. The combat engineer bent a Chemlight and tossed it inside. The light, visible only through night vision goggles, eerily illuminated the interior. The first things they saw were four large valves. On the southern wall, there were several unidentifiable devices and a large control terminal. However, all the power was off.
Gyeoul gave an order.
"Get to work. I'll guard the entrance."
"I'll finish quickly."
The engineer entered confidently, but not long after, he called out to Winter.
"Sorry, but could you help me a bit? Haha." He laughed embarrassedly.
The young boy asked, "What's going on?"
"I think it's just because it wasn't used much, the valve won't turn."
It wasn't that the combat engineer lacked strength. He had a quite muscular forearm, given the nature of combat engineers in the U.S. Army, who would suffer various penalties if they didn't meet the physical requirements. However, the valve's height was too high, and the floor was slippery due to moisture, making it easy for his foot to slip. It was not a good condition to exert force.
When the two of them worked together, the round handle turned easily. One, two, three, four. As the valves loosened, a low rumble grew with each valve released. With his spurs on the pipes, Gyeoul could feel the solid vibrations passing through the pipes.
After inspecting the control terminal and some meters on the wall, the combat engineer shook his head.
"As expected... it's not working because there's no power. We'll have to open the drainage pipe below the dam."
Salinas Dam was not a multipurpose dam. It lacked power generation capacity, and the control facility received power from an external source. Now that power was cut off across California, everything had to be operated manually.
Gyeoul urged the combat engineer, "Let's hurry."
Lightning struck as they ascended toward the dam. For a moment, the dam was illuminated in white. Steps were built on both sides of the front face, creating a two-way stairway. At the end of the east stairs, there was nothing. However, at the end of the west stairs, there was a door leading inside.
'If the civilians could move, they'll be safer there.'
For now, the access route was limited. Unless Captain Harris's tank missiles were overstocked, it's durable. Gyeoul asked the combat engineer, "What's inside?"
"Nothing at all."
"Nothing?"
"Yes. Originally, they planned to install a control room here, but it fell through because there's no power generation facility, and there are no gates on the bypass canal. It's just an empty space."
That was even better. However, the pregnant woman was in no condition to move. Gyeoul abandoned any lingering thoughts and held onto the drainage pipe valve, saying, "It looks like a crudely built dam."
"Haha. Still, it should be sturdy."
The assessment that it was constructed crudely wasn't entirely wrong. Instead of creating proper gates, they had installed two drainage pipes on each side. Originally, their mission was to turn the valves on the east and west sides of the dam. But now, it was just the beginning.
Once again, lightning struck. Very close. It was in the direction of the civilians.
"Get on!"
Gyeoul, who had mounted the horse first, grabbed and lifted the combat engineer.
"Something happened."
The thunder's rumble was accompanied by sharp explosions. A conflict had begun or an accident had occurred. Both possibilities were undesirable.
The boy urged the horse forward with determination. After the recent run and enduring harsh weather conditions, the horse was exhausted, but he still pushed it to its limits.
Jeffrey greeted Gyeoul with a troubled look. His eyes were bloodshot. Gyeoul asked, "What's wrong? What's going on? It doesn't seem like there's been a skirmish, right?"
"No, sir, the enemy is still not here... but... there are casualties due to the lightning."
Of course, it wasn't about people getting struck by lightning. It was more realistic than that. Gyeoul had already figured it out. Jeffrey sighed heavily and confirmed Gyeoul's suspicion.
"It's just bad luck, really bad luck. We were setting up the trap when lightning struck nearby, and it set off the claymore mine. It happened just after it was set up. This guy, Kuntz, caught the brunt of the explosion. The medic said he died instantly from shock. Says he wouldn't have lasted long anyway, with all his internal organs blown out, so it's better that he died instantly."
The squad leader who had lost one of his men muttered in frustration, "Damn, isn't that just pathetic? If you set up traps on a day like this, you should've set it up on your side, not stupidly right behind..."
"Stop it. It's not your fault. It's my mistake. I should've given a warning from the beginning."
This was sincere. When handling explosive devices that used electrical wiring under a thunderstorm, extra precautions were essential. As the commander, he should have issued a warning.
Out of self-blame that he couldn't express, Jeffrey couldn't let go of his regrets. Gyeoul drove the point home again.
"I'm responsible for this operation. I told you to set up the traps. From the moment we return to Fort Roberts, I bear primary responsibility for all events. If you don't want to acknowledge it, take off your rank, Sergeant Jeffrey Brown."
"No, I'm sorry. I was a little lost."
Jeffrey's response was not an acceptance of Gyeoul's words. It was just an answer offered in the manner of an officer. During an operation, an officer must not be fixated on the death of one person. Furthermore, causing problems for the commander by being lost in remorse was even more unacceptable. The boy expected it.
"Stay here, I'll be back in a minute."
Jeffrey understood the omission of the subject easily; for his sake, and the morale of the men, Gyeoul needed to see the dead off.
Entering the office, Gyeoul found the tightly zipped duffle bag. It was placed in a corner, as far away from the light as possible. People stared at him with worried expressions. Among them, a combat medic was taking care of a prospective mother as if nothing had happened. It seemed her contractions had started, and she was having difficulty breathing.
Gyeoul approached the duffle bag. Keeping his back to the crowd, he unzipped it carefully so as not to make a sound.
The body had turned purplish. There were contusions. The face was distorted, and it resembled a mutant more than a human. It was the result of being hit by the blast wave of the Claymore mine.
He paid his respects to the deceased, zipped the bag back up, and felt someone approach from behind.
"Sorry, Lieutenant."
It was the police officer. She struggled to speak.
"If you hadn't met us, this accident wouldn't have happened."
Gyeoul consoled her.
"Private Kuntz died while performing his duty. You shouldn't speak about it as if he regretted it."
"But you don't know that, do you? He might have felt like he died for nothing."
"That's true. You can't know the thoughts of the deceased. So, don't tarnish the honor of someone who died for unknown reasons. It's the best we can do for him."
"Ah..."
The police officer clenched her fists and pressed her forehead hard. A stifled sob welled up from deep inside her throat. Gyeoul urged her for some rest.
"Take a break. You seem really tired."
However, the timing was less than ideal. A radioman entered, looking for Gyeoul. The soldier hesitated seeing the officer standing beside Gyeoul, thinking it wasn't the right moment to say what he wanted to say in her presence. Gyeoul nodded.
"It's okay, just go ahead."
The situation itself had already conveyed enough meaning. What could be the reason for the radio operator to find Gyeoul right now? There was only one reason. There couldn't be another U.S. military unit in the vicinity.
The radioman said, "I've got a communication request. It seems to be Captain Harris, searching for David Actual."
An unfamiliar voice was actually coming through the radio. The interference was getting worse, but it wasn't enough to disrupt the communication.
Gyeoul had to respond quickly, if he wanted to talk. Considering the time that had passed from the warning about the meerkat to now, the captain might have intercepted their radio transmissions through a Trickster. That meant there was a high chance the captain didn't know their current frequency. If there was no response, he would likely change the frequency again soon.
Gyeoul, accompanied by the officer and the radio operator, went outside. To put the officer at ease, it would be better for her to hear the content of the communication directly. He moved to where Jeffrey was and, holding the handset, pressed the transmit button.
"This is David Actual. Do you copy, Captain Harris?"
[I hear you. Finally, we're connected.]
Every soldier in sight was tense. The fact that they could communicate meant the captain was getting closer. It also meant the probability of an encounter with the Trickster was increasing. The more they communicate, the better they would understand each other.
Gyeoul chose his words carefully. "Your voice sounds more relaxed than I expected."
[...What does that mean?]
"You don't sound guilty. You sound pretty calm for a soldier who slaughtered civilians. It seems you're not in your right mind, aren't you?"
The response came after a brief pause.
[You seem to have some misunderstanding.]
"If you're misunderstood, then please clarify."
[First, I'll ask. Where did you obtain the information that we killed civilians? I assume you're currently sheltering people who claim to be civilian survivors. Please confirm.]
"That's correct."
[David Actual. I strongly suggest this. Kill them immediately. The massacre was not committed by us, but by them. They are a group of criminals. Dissatisfied with the food distribution, they killed other civilians protected by us. Kill them.]
Raising his hand to the trembling sheriff, Gyeoul asked, "Do you really think that makes sense?"
[What doesn't make sense about it?]
"Even if your words are true, you're asking me to shoot them on sight. Are you in your right mind? Even criminals, initially, are considered civilians. The principle is that if they request protection, they should be safeguarded, unless they strongly resist. These people were already incapable of resisting when we found them. Do you want to kill people who can't even resist? This is nothing short of a civilian massacre."
[.......]
"If you truly did nothing wrong, surrender. Go and be formally investigated with them."
[There's no evidence. I'm worried about being unfairly charged with a crime.]
"There's no other option. The current situation is also fully recorded by helmet cameras, including our conversation."
[Equipment can malfunction when submerged in water during the process.]
"Are you saying that's a convincing argument?"
[It's the best option. Otherwise, we might end up fighting each other as fellow U.S. soldiers.]
"That's an interesting threat. Keep going."
[On a more serious note, since you already know my name and rank, I'd like to know yours].
Gyeoul released the transmit button and briefly pondered. Jeffrey shook his head. Revealing the rank would also disclose the general strength of their forces. But there was an advantage too, and the captain and his subordinates should recognize the name Gyeoul.
Concealing his rank didn't provide much benefit.
"Jeffrey, anyway, our troop strength would be easily discernible with a single reconnaissance pass. Trying to hide my rank would be like pretending to be lower than him. Based on what this person is saying, it seems they're not intimidated and won't back down."
"Ugh..."
Jeffrey couldn't argue.
Gyeoul pressed the button again. "I am Lieutenant Han Gyeoul. I am with the blockade command and currently deployed with the 160th Regiment."
"Your name... is it... the same Han Gyeoul from Santa Maria?"
The captain pronounced Gyeoul's name slowly. Gyeoul confirmed, "Yes."
[Surprising.]
The silence was filled with background noise. It was an echo of the disjointed conversation that had been repeated several times, creating a strange atmosphere. The captain must have sensed that time was running out. The silence didn't last long.
[Did you say you are a lieutenant?]
"Yes."
[Alright, Lieutenant Gyeoul. By now, you should know well what this noise means. You said I had no other options, right? I'll say the same thing back to you. You have no other options. Are you willing to risk your life for a futile cause, engaging us in battle, and dealing with unknown mutated beings while protecting the civilians? Are you willing to risk your life on something with no chance of success?]
"I get asked that question a lot, and I give the same answer every time. I believe it's a matter of not whether you can do it, but whether you should do it, captain."
[So, you don't feel sorry for your men, and you're willing to let them die in a place like this, shot by their own comrades?]
"I feel more sorry about ordering them to be involved in a civilian massacre. I trust my subordinates. I believe none of them will abandon their duties. I will fulfill my duty until the end as well."
Gyeoul's words seemed to touch a nerve. The captain, who until now had been irrational in his words but rational in his demeanour, explodes.
[Quit acting tough! You're a new officer pretending to be a hero! I served three years in Afghanistan! Duty? Who talks about duty here?]
"Duty isn't a privilege; it's valuable because anyone can do it, and more precious because not everyone does."
[Shut up! You punk!]
It was a satisfying response. What kind of feelings were the soldiers on the other side experiencing while witnessing their commander's outburst? Gyeoul waited for the captain to calm down, and after a while, the captain barely managed to regain control.
[Listen up. Sometimes, there are things beyond your control in the battlefield. I've experienced it, too. There were no vehicles, no fuel, and no food. We couldn't leave the mountains while being pursued by mutants. Many times, we had to catch animals and eat them raw because we couldn't cook! Have you ever tasted raw meat, which tasted like organs that had burst open? Just imagine what it means to be responsible for hundreds of survivors under such conditions! Do you think you are better than me? Can you guarantee that you are in a better position?]
"No, I can't guarantee that," Gyeoul replied.
"So, how about repeating what you said, in front of the military judge? Maybe you'd have a chance for a fair trial."
[You... really persist until the end...]
"Surrender. That's my final advice."
[...]
No further words came from the radio. The silence continued, and it seemed like the captain had given up the conversation.
[One piece of advice.]
Abruptly, Captain Harris resumed the conversation.
[In a place like this, dying is nothing more than a quick and forgettable death. Do your best to survive. Throughout your life, if you've done more good things than bad things, that should be enough. There's no need to risk your life at this moment.]
At first glance, it sounded reasonable. A normal life is probably like that. However, there was an exaggeration in the mistakes. Parents who sell their children can never be forgiven for their entire lives.
"I have some advice for you as well," Gyeoul calmly warned.
"If you fight me, you'll all die."
---------------------------= Post-Chapter Discussion =-------------------------—
(This part is machine translated.)
Q. Reinesis: @You mentioned in the previous chapter that the US military is preparing to replace Hellfire missiles with infantry-fired guided small rockets or missiles that can be fired from infantry anti-tank launchers. The small guided rocket that was recently unveiled by the South Korean military was originally developed in cooperation with the US military, and Korea was conducting research to make it producible at a lower cost. The US withdrew from the project, and it was completed. The name is LOGIR.
A. Yes, the author is aware of it. It was featured in Seal Breaker once. Haha.
Q. Tigerfish: "The square of the difference in military strength" -> "The difference in the square of military strength" might be more accurate, I think...
A. We'll look into it.
Q. [反] Kid: "I want to start with Cthulhu and reset humanity" gave me a feeling... It's very basic, but... If I were to buy it in English, would there be any recommended books on Amazon?
A. The author hasn't looked that far, so... wouldn't "The Little Prince of Necropolis" be enough?
Q. HobakHobak: In the USA, do sheriffs still have horses? How do they have horses?
A. Some sheriffs still ride horses, there are mounted police, and in California, there are many ranches where they might have acquired abandoned horses. Use your imagination. :)
Q. RGZ95: "Going downhill more and more... Even withdrawing after completing the mission would be difficult... But if it's Gyeoul, maybe it will succeed?"
A. It's a secret. Actually, the author has a big surprise event prepared.
Q. Wuxia Novel Enthusiast: Do you, as the author, like it when readers curse or criticize you? I suddenly became curious about your preferences.
A. I am an old-timer who dances with praise. Why would I like being cursed?
Q. 火炎無: "I was team-killed because my jokes weren't funny..."
A. If you died to the people who saved you, it would be a really heartwarming story.
Q. Bahoe: "More interested in brain attack than that side..."
A. They say the old stuff is so sexy that just looking at it can drive you crazy.
Q. Master Column: "FSM is love and mercy. It doesn't take your money and oppress you as a heretic. It's really pleasant. I like it."
A. But you still have to pay for the spaghetti. If you eat it at a restaurant, the price...
Q. Glory's Spear: "Every time I see them bombing places like Iraq (and when I see the cost), I think they should drop dollars from a bomb bay to get them to surrender..."
A. When you think of it as showing off power to the world and gaining real combat experience, it's... well...
Q. Sirius: I wonder if the author is good at games like chess. In many novels, people's thoughts often lack depth (even when I don't think about it myself...). I don't actively think about it, but it doesn't seem easy to describe characters' thoughts and actions like this... I want to support you, even though it seems like a tough job.
A. I used to play chess a lot in the past, but it's been more than 10 years since I quit.
Q. Ghozt: "When I did the barracks cleanup, my successor came in carrying a pile of bricks, and when I asked what it was, he poked it and part of the wall collapsed, saying he knocked it down with just that." It wasn't the barracks I was in, fortunately, but you must have had a hard time, author, dealing with mosquitoes and cold.
A. The outer wall of my barracks collapsed, and the insulation, which was Styrofoam, was exposed, so the battalion commander didn't like the look of it and told us to deal with it... so I drew brick shapes on the Styrofoam. So that it wouldn't be noticeable from a distance...
Q. Mountain: "I'm also a Pastafarian..." haha.
A. Believe in my tenth leg. I'm a Unitologist.
Q. Ca: Somehow I pricklyly wonder if the author wrote the dialogue section inspired by the comments in Joara (poking)
A. Yes, I was somewhat influenced by it, and there are implied elements as well.