The Platoon Leader is Disappointed in You All
The platoon leader was disappointed in you all. One side of the gate had been blown off by a cannonball. The other wasn't in much better shape. It had taken a direct hit near the hinges, hanging so precariously that even one man's weight would send it crashing down.
"Ha, fuck. This is gonna suck. For real."
I stood before the tattered gate, sighing deeply. Beyond the missing half, the Japanese emplacement was in plain view. Had those bastards built that overnight? A full position had sprung up just 250 meters ahead of our fortress in a single night. It wasn't like we'd slacked on watch. We'd run three shifts around the clock, of course, and scanned the surroundings all night with the searchlights on the watchtower. But with mere lanterns for light sources, our visibility topped out at about 50 meters. No way we could've spotted them piling up sandbags 250 meters out.
Or wait—these Jap pricks built it without a single torch at night? With rice sacks, no less? These guys were total fucking lunatics. My gut burned with rage.
...What're you looking at, you piece of shit?
I locked eyes—or thought I did—with one of the Japs in the emplacement and glared daggers.
That's when the squad leaders' voices came from behind me.
"Platoon Leader."
"You called?"
"Uh, yeah. Right."
Leading them was Upper Sergeant I Cheol-dong of 1st Squad, with the other squad leaders lined up behind me. These three were all the Gapsa officers in the base.
"I Cheol-dong, Upper Sergeant."
"Yes, Upper Gapsa I Cheol-dong."
"Good work on watch. Here—take this."
I drew the revolver from my belt holster and held it out to him.
"You're deputy platoon leader now."
Yesterday had been chaos—quelling the mutiny, welcoming the Japanese general, prepping for attack. I'd only gotten around to the appointment now.
"......"
But I Cheol-dong didn't take the gun or the position. His stoic face fixed on the revolver, then he looked up at me.
"In that case, who will you appoint as 1st Squad Leader?"
"Squad's got an assistant leader, right? Put him in charge."
"And what about treatment for Mid-level Gapsa Won Hyeong-gyun?"
"Who? Oh, right."
These three weren't the only Gapsa at the base. There was one more: Mid-level Gapsa Won Hyeong-gyun. Lieutenant Na Se-hyeong's yes-man. He'd been as useless as his lieutenant in the first fight, so I'd sent him back to the office. But...
"Where the hell's that guy? Haven't seen him."
I hadn't laid eyes on him since. Not even during the mutiny against Lieutenant Na.
Too busy yesterday to notice his absence.
"Anyone seen that prick?"
I wasn't the only one. I Cheol-dong, who'd brought it up, and the other squad leaders all shook their heads—nope.
What the hell? Where'd he go?
Head already pounding. I'd look for him later, after the fight. One missing Gapsa wasn't nothing, but with battle imminent, it was small potatoes.
The Japs had gone quiet after the fog lifted and their shelling stopped. Less like giving up, more like stepping back for a big leap. They'd resume the assault soon, probably within hours. They had to take the fort before our reinforcements arrived—lunchtime at the earliest. Even if it cost them dearly.
"We'll hunt for that guy later. No time now."
And he wasn't useful anyway. I shoved Won the sergeant from my mind and focused on reality.
"Take this first."
"Upper Gapsa I Cheol-dong obeys."
I handed over the revolver, officially making him deputy.
"Now, here's the plan."
I pushed through the squad leaders to the open space between the gate and HQ building. The lot—size of two or three houses—was piled with junk as a makeshift barricade. It wouldn't hold back infantry charging the gate. And the walls were a problem too.
The basics of siege defense: elites hold the walls, infantry plugs the gate for full control. Blocking the gate lot wouldn't matter if elites seized the walls and rained fire from above. We'd just collapse.
Better to fall back to the HQ and hole up...
"Hm?"
Something clicked as I eyed the HQ. I turned to the gate.
"Hey, squad leaders. Step aside a sec."
I had them move, alternating looks between gate and HQ. HQ's entrance perfectly faced the ragged gate halves.
"Might just work..."
No prolonged fight possible. Thirty of us against over a hundred for hours? Impossible, even defending. Numbers win attrition.
So, one big, decisive blow. Like sniping their commander yesterday to break their momentum. We needed another massive shock.
Something huge and beautiful.
The idea sparked, gears turning fast. I spotted the bamboo rafts I'd taken as victory souvenirs yesterday. Right by the gate—too lazy to store properly, probably.
"Those. Use 'em."
Per the POWs, it was called taketaba. I pointed, miming dragging them forward.
"Drag 'em here. Bit away from the gate. To block the view a little."
"......"
"Speak up if you hate it. I'll explain."
The squad leaders' eyes screamed disapproval. I Cheol-dong explained why not.
"Platoon Leader, putting those in front of the gate is no different from gifting the enemy cover."
"Yeah, exactly. That's the point. Gift it to 'em. Nah, not traitors—just trust me."
Excitement bubbled; my lips quirked up, steps lightening.
"Lure them there?"
"Yep."
2nd Squad Leader got it.
"But it won't hit hard enough."
Not fully.
"Our canister shots'll punch through the bamboo bundles, sure. But only take out two or three at best. Better to volley-fire from the gate in three ranks?"
"Too much damage on our side."
Three-rank volley was just musket-to-musket brawling.
"And if we're gate-fighting, we gotta watch the walls too."
Plug the gate, sure—but elites on the walls above? Done.
"Shoot from inside HQ?"
3rd Squad Leader wasn't fully on board either.
"Safer there."
"Yeah, true. But too weak. Weak just buys time."
Holed up in the building, we'd hassle them plenty. But hassle ain't retreat. One, two hours? Three if lucky—then surrender.
"We need to drive them off for sure. Something big and beautiful. Get it?"
Big and beautiful. Spoon-fed the answer, but nada from the squad leaders. Even if I was just platoon leader—mutinied into it.
"The platoon leader was disappointed in you all."
Had to channel the company commander now. Especially at 2nd Squad Leader.
"Hey, 2nd Squad Leader."
"Y-yes, Mid-level Gapsa Kang So-cheol."
"What's your job?"
"2nd Squad Leader and artillery specialist…"
Lightbulb. He grinned slyly; I grinned back. Others' eyes lit up too.
Who could resist? A chance to obliterate those damn Japs with one shot. Truly one.
"Think we can herd 'em into those two rafts? We'll pile more on—not just rafts, to look bulletproof."
"Then build structures on both sides of the gate."
"Right, can't let 'em flank."
"Keep suppressive fire so they hunker behind cover. Recommend three-rank volleys."
"Perfect. Squads on each side of the building, volley-fire. Three-man teams for suppression plenty. Rest of us—"
"Watch from the tower?"
"Exactly. One squad up top. Ring the bell when they're bunched nice."
We geeked out like otaku buddies on one topic. Rough plan, contingencies, post-success.
Seeing the gate half-gone had despaired me. Wanted to see Eori, our daughter. Our unborn son's face too—before dying.
But not anymore. Hands already bloody. To return home to my family? I'd stain 'em more. Enemy blood? Welcome anytime.
Ah, wait—I joined the army to prevent future war casualties.
Whatever. Survive first.
Those insane bastards. Outnumbered, gate breached—why no surrender? Reinforcements when? Just island and sea everywhere. Damn, I'm the crazy one for coming here. Shouldn't have been a Gapsa at all.
Anyway, what'll it take for them to leave...