Chapter 90: |
00090 <-- #Night by the Lakeside -->
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#Night by the Lakeside (9), Santa Margarita Lake
After the communication was cut off, the platoon leaders gathered for a final meeting.
Jeffrey had established a perimeter along the riverbank, and the troops were positioned along the reservoir. Unfortunately, this increased the risk of being struck by lightning but they had no choice but to accept it. They needed to occupy high ground, which would make it easier to spot the enemy and secure their rear.
At the center of the rear area was the headquarters of the engineering unit. The protection of civilian survivors was their top priority.
With a waterproofed tactical map on the table, Jeffrey shared his concerns with Gyeoul.
"The problem is Captain Harris's troops... I mean, the enemy's special forces might appear on the western side of the river. If that happens, our rear area will be completely exposed. Civilian casualties will be the first to occur."
"Is that possible?"
"Jeffrey, didn't you listen to the briefing properly before we left?"
"What?"
"I'm talking about the Salinas Dam. There's no upper passage through there. We can't cross it. We didn't come back here for no reason."
"Oh, I see. I forgot."
Jeffrey slapped his forehead. It was surprisingly accurate to say that the dam was roughly built.
"Nevertheless, there's still a possibility."
Sergeant Lieberman pointed to the southern part of the lake on the map.
"This lake isn't very popular as a resort, but there is a marina here. I'm not sure, but there should be some boats left abandoned at the docks. We could use them to cross the lake to the opposite side."
Gyeoul voiced his concerns. "Well, riding a boat across the lake in a storm like this? There will likely be waves. Even if we manage to cross, it's still a problem. We have to go all the way around the lake to get there. There's a 4-kilometer detour with a mountain in between. Do we really want to divide our forces that way when we don't know which way the mutants will be coming from?"
After pondering for a moment, Sergeant Lieberman pointed to the point where the river upstream curved.
"We might try a rope bridge like we did before. Anyway, we're on the upper part of the river, so we should be able to find a place to cross easily. Now that you mention it, that makes more sense than crossing the lake. And it would take less time."
"So, what do you want the sergeant to do?"
"The lieutenant is important."
"Me?"
"Yes. Lead the reserve unit and launch an attack."
Jeffrey showed a troubled expression at Lieberman's suggestion.
"Huh? No, Sergeant, we're already short on troops, and the spacing between the platoons is wide. If we were a complete platoon, it would be different. We need to have at least one reserve unit. We need it for blocking the enemy when the perimeter is breached and for defending the rear area. And what if civilians get out of control?"
Sergeant Lieberman did not agree with the platoon leader.
"A lieutenant's combat strength can sometimes rival that of a full company, depending on the situation. I think it's better to be on the offensive than the defensive in order to fully utilise that power. What's your opinion, Lieutenant?"
"That's right. I think it's better to go on the offensive."
Gyeoul spoke not about tactics but the enemy's psychology.
"Captain Harris's troops probably aren't in good shape, physically or mentally. They haven't received supplies for over a month, they've been slaughtering civilians, and not only that, they've been chasing down surviving civilians. Why and in what state of mind do you think they're following him?"
Jeffrey asked a question. "Does that mean their morale is low?"
"Yes. They probably had only one hope all this time, right? To kill all the witnesses and join another garrison. They've been holding on just thinking about that. But the situation suddenly got worse. Now they are fighting against fellow American troops."
"We don't like it either, but it would be a lot more stressful for them."
"That's right. Another thing to consider is that these people are not fighting out of duty like we are. They just want to get rid of the evidence of their crimes and clear their names. Will these people be enthusiastic about fighting? I highly doubt it."
Listening to the young officer's words, Sergeant Lieberman let out a sigh.
"You're right, sir. It's hard to expect a sense of duty or self-sacrifice for fellow soldiers from them."
"Yes. If we do well, we might turn the tide entirely."
By this point, Jeffrey had changed his stance as well.
"It's a nighttime battle, so they may misjudge the size of our troops. They might be confused if they end up on the receiving end of an attack. Oh, and the Meerkats. They know there are Meerkats, but they don't know who they are, so they might think another unit has joined us."
Gyeoul pointed to the map once again.
"I'll head here first. I'll block the expected enemy movement and then push east when combat begins or when we spot the enemy. Jeffrey, just hold on here."
"Understood. I'll try, but don't take too long, will you?"
"I'll try my best."
"Ugh, how did things end up like this?"
With Jeffrey's complaint, the meeting ended. Gyeoul referred to Jeffrey's tactical map and marked the trap locations on the map. It only took a few glances at it to get the hang of it, aided by the augmented reality UI.
Before departing, he changed the radio frequency.
Gyeoul said, "I'm sure the Trickster has a good idea of where we're going anyway, so we don't need to be radio silent."
Jeffrey nodded, "You should only use it at critical moments. We shouldn't reveal our frequency to the enemy by using it unnecessarily. It might be a good idea to change frequencies again at midnight."
"Alright then."
Gyeoul made a mental note of the frequency he mentioned.
"I'll go now. Jeffrey, take care."
"Lieutenant, please be careful. The more skilled and brave a person is, the more cautious they should be."
Jeffrey bid farewell to Gyeoul with a salute.
Six members of the reserve unit, including Elliott, followed the young officer. Considering that a regular US infantry platoon consisted of nine members, their numbers were quite small. This was due to a lack of personnel replenishment.
The unit moved along the river. Signs of a winding river, a bridge, and a nearby watermill were seen. Gyeoul raised his fist, and the members of the unit scattered to find cover. Gyeoul extended two fingers and pointed south. Seven muzzles were aimed at the south.
'Faster than expected.'
From the direction they were looking, seventeen soldiers were marching north. They were moving with caution. Half of them provided cover while the other half advanced—a well-executed tactical maneuver. They definitely were American soldiers, Gyeoul concluded as such. However, their conditions were far from good.
'Their movements seem sluggish.'
They seemed to be struggling with every step. Some of them didn't even have their coats on. It seemed like they might die of hypothermia if left alone. Gyeoul glanced at the members of his unit. Their complexions had also turned pale. It appeared that the sight of the exhausted enemy soldiers was affecting their spirits.
"Elliot."
Gyeoul called out. The platoon leader, with a clouded expression, looked at the commander.
"There's probably no Captain Harris among them. I'll suggest surrendering first."
"...Pardon?"
This single sentence represented the thoughts of the members. Gyeoul stressed one last thing.
"This is the last consideration. If I give the signal to open fire, advance immediately."
"Understood."
Gyeoul moved to a spot slightly away from his unit and leaned against another tree, taking a deep breath.
"Halt!"
The soldiers advancing to the north scattered in panic. Some dropped to the ground, while others sought cover behind trees. Tatatat! Someone on the other side pulled the trigger, initiating the gunfire. Broken branches fell around Gyeoul's head.
Along the river shrouded in mist, the gunshots grew even colder. The sounds of bullets whizzing by, whoosh, whoop. The heavy thuds of bullets hitting the ground.
A ray of light flashed through the air. It was a flare, a type of projectile that illuminated the firing area during nighttime. Gyeoul watched as the extended light bounced off the water's surface.
The gunfire didn't last long. It might be that the enemy found strange that they didn't return fire from this side.
'Or maybe they're trying to conserve ammunition.'
Either way. The intermittent bursts of gunfire diminished and finally ceased. Gyeoul spoke again in the sharp silence.
"I am Lieutenant Han Gyeoul! Who is in charge over there? Identify yourselves!"
A disjointed question echoed back after a brief pause.
"Damn, is that really you?!"
"Identify yourselves!"
"...Linska, it's Sergeant Walter Linska!"
In fact, Gyeoul's self-identification was sufficient with his voice alone. His battle records as a young officer, videos of the engagements in Atascadero and Santa Maria, were all being used as educational materials.
A sound like thunder without lightning echoed. It came from the direction of the office building. Gyeoul quickly shouted.
"Sergeant Linska! Drop your weapons! I don't want to fight with fellow soldiers!"
The sergeant yelled back. "If I drop my weapon, what's next? Will I receive a life sentence after a court-martial?!"
Hearing this, Gyeoul sensed that the sergeant didn't think he would be sentenced to death. In fact, the United States didn't impose the death penalty on soldiers even if they committed civilian massacres. In other words, the sergeant knows he won't die, but he doesn't like the idea of life in prison, so he's going to kill more people.
Gyeoul confirmed the sergeant's location.
It was strange to engage in a one-sided conversation, but he continued to shout.
"In the face of punishment, are you saying that you'll kill all your comrades here and now? Are you confident enough to do that?"
"Fuck! What the hell are you talking about? You won't know who will die until you try it!"
"So, are you saying you're willing to risk your life to kill all your comrades here? If you're so confident, give it a try!"
At that moment, a shiver ran down Gyeoul's spine. Despite warnings from [Survival Instincts] and [Danger Detection], he didn't move an inch.
BANG!
An answer came back in the form of a grenade. However, the explosion occurred far away. The grenade missed its target due to inaccurate aiming, slow speed, and being swept away by strong winds.
"Fire! Fire!"
Elliott barked the order for a retaliatory fire. Muzzles flashed in the darkness.
The disparity in firepower was evident. Leveraging the firepower advantage, Sergeant Linska pushed forward part of his troops. Gyeoul aimed momentarily. Among his nine consecutive shots, seven hit their targets.
The foremost soldier took two shots to the head and went down. However, he was able to get up but sat down again because he couldn't maintain his balance, and blood was pouring through the gaps in his helmet. Then he fell down, this time unable to get up.
The soldiers who weren't hit went down, too, crawling desperately for cover.
Gyeoul abandoned his cover and ran, and aimed diagonally. A soldier about to throw a grenade is caught in the crosshairs. Dududuk! The three-shot burst struck the soldier's body armor. The enemy fell to the ground due to the impact. He dropped the grenade but grabbed it again with both hands.
Then it exploded.
His arms were torn apart.
Gunfire was concentrated on Gyeoul. Several lines of fire were dangerous, so Gyeoul rolled on the ground. Thump, the impact as he hit the ground. Even while rolling, dirt splashed around from the bullets hitting the ground. There was also the impact of shells hitting the ground and bouncing off his helmet.
With the momentum of his roll, Gyeoul sprinted 20 metres. He slid on his knees. Zwaahk! Mud flew as he pushed himself off the ground. He then turned his body and immediately pressed his back against a tree. Two grenades exploded along the trail of his footsteps. His body shook from the nearby explosion. Small fragments flew, leaving several small wounds on his arms and legs. There were two on his face as well, and two streaks of blood ran down his right cheek.
Gyeoul fought back.
Thud, thud, thud!
The sound of ejected shells clattered into the wet ground. Gunshots echoed. Spent casings stuck into the wet ground.
The enemies were in disarray. Due to Gyeoul's flanking move, their cover was compromised. They scrambled to shield themselves from gunfire coming from two directions. The formation crumbled due to soldiers pushing others to move forward. There was one, however, who stood his ground, urging others on.
"Sergeant Linska."
Gyeoul returned to a defensive position. He tore open a grenade clip and pulled the pin. He waited for an opening in the hail of bullets, stepped forward, spun, and threw it. The grenade flew in a straight line.
Boom! The sergeant was hit by the grenade. And an explosion followed. He was within the blast radius; his body was torn apart. Gyeoul hoped that the soldiers were shocked.
Resistance was disintegrating in real-time. It was a desperate struggle for survival. They seemed to unleash all the firepower they had. Nevertheless, grenades and rocket launchers were more potent than rifles.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!"
Gyeoul shouted loudly, hoping that the enemies would heed the command.
The gunshots didn't stop.
---------------------------= Afterword =---------------------------
(This part is machine translated.)
Q. qoewh: @As the story progresses, I feel like I'm getting more and more immersed in it. It seems less like a novel or fiction and more like events that actually happened in another world, which the author is transferring to Joara using some means. So, Gyeoul's actions don't feel like "it's a novel, that's why," but rather like witnessing real events. So even the soldiers who died in the trap and the conscripted soldiers tending to the pregnant woman seem remarkable. In the world of the novel, they might be extras, but lately, I've been feeling like I'm not much different from the viewers inside the story. Gyeoul is the one creating and showing the story, so it's in line with the author. The result is that I realized something. I'm willing to provide a 100,000 won coupon again if you write a scene where Gyeoul gets a bit embarrassed like last time. Please write it!
A. This immersive feeling has also been mentioned in viewer discussions. It's true that this feeling is incorporated into the narrative style. Have you noticed that descriptions of the in-game system have reduced at some point?
As for Gyeoul's humility, it's priceless and can't be bought with money. :)
Q. 마스터칼솔럼: @Are you receiving FSM (Fried Spaghetti Monster) with an eating out? As an honorable believer and a cook, I can accommodate Mr. Spaghetti in a poor facility similar to Homo sapiens' home kitchen. It costs around 10,000 won to make a 6-person serving. I hope there's a blessing.
A. I sometimes make it myself, but strangely, it's expensive to buy the ingredients, and it's difficult to prepare. Haha.
Q. 淸流蓮: @Thank you for the great story today! I saw the weather forecast, and it said that three typhoons will ignore Korea and rush to Japan. Is this the legendary "Old Thing Effect"?
A. Well, the Old Thing Effect comes in various forms. For example, electricity tariffs, North Korea's nuclear experiments, or the readers' failed love lives...
Q. twking5008: @Author, if I present a ritual offering (Senchuko) to you, what kind of blessing would you bestow? I've heard that people like our neighbor Chikuto give fairly generous blessings.
A. Right now, I'm running low on my inner child, so it's hard for me to bestow blessings... If anything, I'd say writing and publishing more than five times a week is a blessing. But, with my current capacity, publishing about three times a week is more of a balanced approach... hehe.
Q. 퀴에이트: @Is Gyeoul's story going to end with "After the End" and "Reality," or are you thinking beyond that? It's hard to ask within the non-spoiler range.
A. It's difficult to provide an answer without giving away spoilers. For now, yes, that's right. It might be somewhat different from what you expect.
Q. 도화원: @Gyeoul, the real man. It seems like the author's inner child is at full capacity.
A. I don't think so. The author's inner child has been depleted for a long time. Now I'm drawing on borrowed inner child... Dreamland Inner Child Loan...
Q. 무협소설광: @Author, I thought you were dreaming of having a necrophilic experience full of your inner child, but I'm disappointed. Sigh... I should give you some compliments. You're a cool guy, Gyeoul.
A. I'm a bit fragile, and I'd shatter easily, so handle with care! Caution: Fragile!
Q. RGZ95: @I'm looking forward to the event of "full of inner child"! What kind of event will it be? Does it relate to refugees?
A. It's an event that will come later and it's on a larger scale..