39. Explosions, Thunderclaps, and Roars. (1)
"Ugh, it's cramped."
The SOC-R Riverine military boat was big if you called it big, small if you called it small. With two 10-meter boats carrying the basic four-man crews, plus the Special Forces and US special ops team split between them, even just lifting an arm meant bumping into the guy next to you. The word slipped out on its own.
The Riverine was crawling up the river at reduced speed. Farmland right beside us. Woods and mountains across the way. It felt like eyes were glaring at us from those trees and bushes even now.
"Have all the monsters in the river come out already?" Seong Ga-yeon asked from her seat behind me.
I shook my head. "Nah. Think about the ones Park Dae-wi flushed out on our way here—last night, less than half crawled up."
I looked up at the distant river water. Couldn't see shit inside. Just filthy sludge.
"Still swarming down there," Seong Gyu-hyuk murmured low from beside me.
"Lucky they're sluggish in the water."
Lucky or not? I wanted to just herd the bastards and blast their heads off. But I couldn't swim for shit, so no diving in.
"Think the US commander will keep his word?" I turned to Seong Gyu-hyuk.
Who knows. How the hell should I know what's in his head? If he pulls some bullshit later, I'll just slit his throat and wipe out the whole US force, 400 strong or whatever.
I said quietly, "He better. Or he'll have to fight me."
A smile tugged at Seong Gyu-hyuk's lips.
The US commander's words flashed through my mind. "One Chinook's worth. 10 tons of personal firearms, ammo, explosives, and support weapons. How's that?"
10 tons. From a few duffel bags to suddenly 10 tons of guns and ammo.
The US commander added a bit more. "As you know, it all depends on what fits in the Chinook. We've got tons of food and combat vehicles left here, plus additives for ground and aviation fuel production. We'll hand those over too."
...Aviation fuel. Exactly what we need.
"What about the civilians?" Seong Ga-yeon asked.
The US commander bowed his head awkwardly. "That's tricky for us too. Can't take them to America, but leaving them here nearly unarmed? What should we do?"
I glanced between Seong Ga-yeon and Seong Gyu-hyuk. None of us had a good answer. I had to settle for a compromise.
"Let's talk after the op succeeds."
"Wise choice."
And I shook the US commander's hand.
About 20 from our Mart Building. Over 200 from SeoRae Village. Personal weapons, heavy machine guns, support weapons, all kinds of explosives and bombs, ammo of every type—10 tons of firepower. More than enough.
Enough to lay down a barrage that could sweep away something like that last zombie wave. With all the decent military units still scattered around Korea, 10 tons would more than cover defense and growth.
Problem was the beasts. No clue how strong they were, so couldn't tell if 10 tons was enough. Only way was to clash and see.
Lost in those thoughts, I watched the scenery slide by. Then asked quietly, "Where the hell are we headed anyway?"
"Toward the bat cave, they say."
I turned to Seong Gyu-hyuk. "Bat cave?"
He nodded. "Boss boar roams the whole mountain range. Other beasts follow it around like they're in awe. To lure it to the riverbank, gotta find it first. But plunging too deep into the woods after something whose location's uncertain? Hard to get out."
"...Ah."
I nodded. "Only sure spot is the giant bat holed up in its cave."
"Exactly. Priority target too."
To launch the Chinooks, take out the bat first, right? I nodded slowly, gazing at the distant mountains.
...Boar, huh. Roaming that vast mountain and forest?
Had to deal with it eventually.
"Can't we just fly a plane and drop bombs?" I muttered, staring at the peaks.
Seong Gyu-hyuk replied, "Pilots are all dead. Only eight Chinook pilots left."
I clicked my tongue. Damn shame. Would've been nice to level the whole mountain with bombers. Chinooks could do it, but helicopters are slower than bombers. If the bat swarm crawls out, no guarantee we'd shake 'em.
"How'd only Chinook pilots survive?"
"Surviving pilots rushed to fighters for initial response, most got nabbed. Some made it through that, but family turned and they suicided, or got bit in the first day or two."
Seong Gyu-hyuk shook his head slowly. "Chinook pilots? Eight were playing poker in Hangar 3 when shit hit. Slammed the doors shut right away. That's how."
"There were more Chinook pilots, right?"
"Yeah, over twenty. Eight left now. Air support's off the table."
I nodded slowly. No air support.
...Whatever. Never needed backup before.
Special Forces Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk sure knew the internals well.
...Right, he talked a ton with that young US guy. Gleaned all the intel. Natural intel-gathering. Fitting for a spec ops leader.
The Riverine chugged upriver for a good while. Passed houses, reached a bend, then finally turned.
Weaving front and back, slowly half-turning into a U-ie, reversing direction. Pulled up to the bank where the distant city was visible.
"Here already?" I muttered.
Seong Ga-yeon behind me tapped my back, pointing to the far mountain. Peaks meeting peaks, a crooked valley and cliffs. There, a massive black hole gaped like someone scooped it out with a giant spoon.
No way you'd make that on purpose. Bats dug that? Doesn't it collapse?
US spec ops guys hopped off, each with two firearms in hand. Climbed the small hill ahead.
Settled on rocks and stones up high, slung weapons to shoulders.
...Anti-tank rockets.
Seong Gyu-hyuk smiled. "AT-4s. Nice."
One US guy with an anti-tank rocket said, "Fire."
Eight rockets spewed flame in unison. A ground-shaking boom erupted.
River surged with waves, splashing. Nearby leaves shook wildly.
Couldn't even see 'em. Just afterimages streaking by.
The thunderous blasts from eight rounds made even trained soldiers flinch.
Whiiiiiist!
I whipped around to the cave. At least two klicks out, distant target. Rockets slammed home—inside, top, sides.
Thunderclaps boomed, explosions colliding, hurling shards and rocks furiously.
Plop plop. Something hitting the ground. Around the rock, US guys tossed spent launchers aside carelessly. Grabbed fresh anti-tank rockets, shouldered 'em.
US guy said, "Fire."
Kwoooosh! A deafening whoosh tore air and eardrums with flame.
Eight rockets streaked—straight-ish, not quite. Slammed into the still-smoking cave.
Thunder roared. Rocks tumbled, cave collapsed, bomb-like blasts chaining out.
US guys on hill and rocks chucked launchers aside, hopped down empty-handed, boarded Riverines smoothly.
"Go, Go, Go!"
Special Forces guy yelled once all US were aboard.
Ruuuumble! Twin Riverine engines snarled to life.
And then, the unearthly screech pierced out.
Like sudden tinnitus beep, or a baby's piercing wail. Eerie sound bounced off mountains, rocks, valleys, echoing relentlessly over us.
Crew on Riverine's heavy guns swung muzzles toward the cave, the source.
Boats shoved off at the same time.
Ruuuuumble!
Smoke cloud billowing thick from the cave like a storm. Cave crumbled to rubble, unrecognizable.
From there, a black shadow blotted the cloud. Then a shredding roar shoved the air aside.
So grating you wanted to plug your ears.
"Ngh."
US and Special Forces faces twisted.
Shadow blotting the smoke. From it, pitch-black shapes swarmed skyward like locusts.
And then, it appeared.
Wings spread. Torn, holed, ragged leather wings. Towering over the ruined cave, smoke swirling in its wingbeats—a colossal beast.
It took to the sky.