Chapter 104
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: #Influence, Camp Roberts (3)
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On the dim morning of February 3rd, a training directive came down from the regimental combat team's operations section. It targeted the refugee support troops for a five-day close-quarters combat course. They would select from the refugee recruits in order of excellence, and both of Winter Alliance's combat squads were called up without exception.
To relay the news and lead the troops, Winter headed to the alliance's first barracks early that morning. The combat squad members, having finished breakfast, assembled quickly.
"Wait, we're going to school?"
The question came from Jang Hanbyeol, the designated marksman of Yura's squad. It stemmed from a misunderstanding of the training name (Combative school). Winter let out a small chuckle before clearing it up.
"It's just the name. There's no actual school— you'll be training here at Camp Roberts for five days. It changes at higher levels, though. Advanced courses or instructor training happen at separate facilities, not with your unit."
"Where's that?"
"Fort Benning. In Georgia."
The reaction was dramatic.
"Georgia?! That's east of the quarantine line! No way, I totally wanna go!"
The combat squad members buzzed with excitement. Winter understood their longing. It reminded him of the conversation at Black Mountain. Jinseok had confessed to his terrible fears—dreams every night of being chased and bitten by variants. Even if the intensity varied, he wasn't the only one with restless sleep.
"Captain, when do we get that advanced training?"
Hanbyeol asked again. Winter corrected her new misunderstanding.
"It's not for just anyone. You need a recommendation from your unit commander."
"Really? Aw, that's a bummer..."
Hanbyeol muttered with a sigh. But she had a shot at sniper training selection. Her shooting skills were impressive, even if everything else was still green. Miss Trigger Happy, or Trigger Witch—the nicknames the U.S. instructors had given her.
Winter didn't mention it, though. No need to build hopes on something uncertain. The Americans might hesitate to send refugee stocks beyond the quarantine line.
'The White House worried about my desertion too.'
It was from the journal during his Medal of Honor ceremony. If a walk in the snowy Washington DC had been possible, Winter might have reconsidered that journal entry.
"Let's move out. Arriving right on the dot looks bad."
Jinseok and Yura lined up their squads. But the neat formation scattered the moment they stepped out of the barracks. A cold, fierce downpour was to blame. Even with ponchos, the weather was burdensome.
Hurricane Carissa had moved on, but Damaris—the fourth storm of the year—still lingered over California.
The indoor gym for the training sat at the base's western edge. The base's only restaurant, California Watchdogs, was in the same block, but it had been closed for ages.
"You usually stay over there, right Captain?"
Yura asked on the way, pointing toward the officers' quarters. Northwest diagonally from the gym—past the Camp Roberts history museum and a few staff houses, about a 400-meter walk. Fog shrouded it now.
"Yeah, that's right."
"Hmm, I'd like to check it out sometime. Curious how you spend your days off."
After a brief silence and some calculation, Winter nodded.
"You can come by. Not today, but tomorrow after duty."
"Huh?... No, no. I spoke out of turn. Haha."
Yura masked her awkwardness with laughter. Worried about being misunderstood? Winter didn't press.
Despite arriving with time to spare, the gym buzzed with refugee support troops from other nationalities who'd gotten there first. The mood was poor. Hostile factions matched the divided groups. The Southeast Asians looked like they'd banded together against the Chinese and Japanese refugees' bullying.
Even though those groups weren't on good terms either.
They welcomed Winter's arrival warmly. One man hurried over and saluted crisply. Winter returned it, and the man clasped his hands and bowed.
"Lieutenant, please take good care of us today."
Someone he'd glimpsed once or twice dividing construction materials. Vietnamese? Not close enough for greetings like this. Winter knew why.
"Not my training, but how've you been?"
"Great! Thanks to you, Lieutenant Han. After you brought the MPs and cleaned house, the tàu khựa—no, the Chinks quit harassing us."
His English was natural. Yet the Chinese got the native slur first. Even correcting to English, it was still a slur. Must be habit.
He'd fixed it thinking Winter might not catch the Vietnamese, but Winter knew that phrase without translation.
'In this world, the first thing you learn in other languages is swears and slurs.'
In a mix of nationalities like this, it felt no different from his old world.
"Name's... Tuần, right?"
Winter read the name tag, and the man reintroduced himself.
"Yes. Nguyen Van Tuan."
"Hm. How many from here?"
"Oh, just me if you're asking Vietnamese."
Tuần's smile faltered briefly. Sounded like "Who're you to talk?" to him, probably. Deep-seated victim complex. Winter pretended not to notice and asked again.
"Any other compatriots here who speak English?"
"Uh?... Not as well as me, but about a dozen. They all have the ear for it and are grinding reading, writing, speaking. But why do you ask..."
"Need it. How do I find you in the Vietnamese section?"
"It's a small area—we all know each other's names and faces. Just say mine, and they'll get it."
"Got it. Thanks. I'll drop by soon. Or send someone."
Tuần looked puzzled, but Winter skipped explaining the recommendation letter. Not something to spread casually. Plus, the minor misconceptions from reveal order were amusing. Anyway, he could balance nationalities.
Winter scanned the crowd again. Chinese were most numerous, including the triad group and Airing. She spotted him but turned away like she hadn't.
'No need to seek her out separately. Perfect.'
Winter had planned to visit Li Chenjian after duty, but this worked better.
Among the Japanese was the yakuza boss who'd asked to be called a nationalist, Tadaatsu Ryohei. He'd been staring before their eyes met. Winter nodded first. Ryohei flicked a hand in response.
Ryohei's Japanese were all bizarrely muscular. Body sizes impossible without serious nutrition.
As time neared, instructors circulated, seating the troops. One approached Winter.
"Knew the Korean lead was Lieutenant Han, but you're observing too?"
"Figured it'd be good to watch. Don't I need this training? Even as a lieutenant, no proper training under my belt. Officer school was crash course."
He'd heard it before. The day instructor sergeant chuckled.
"You joke well. The guy who took down five ghouls in CQC—now wants basic combatives? I nearly pissed watching that vid."
The sergeant meant the Santa Maria fight. Its combat footage replayed on TV like a hit drama.
"Still. Qualifications matter."
"Quals? Don't sweat it. Syllabus got scrapped. Old tactics useless? One bite and you're done. We got the new manual a week ago. Even old Level IV means nothing now. Expect more changes."
"Makes sense."
"Anyway, watch as long as you want, rest as needed. Holler if anything."
The sergeant grinned like sharing a conspiracy—taking the boy officer's presence as slacking intent. Winter didn't deny it.
"Thanks. Good luck, Carver."
The sergeant turned to wrangle the rowdy troops.
Seven instructors total in the gym. Combatives: one per 20 or fewer. Efficiency mattered, but injury prevention more. Seven fit regs tightly.
Winter felt command underestimated, though.
Need more.
For mixed-nationality CQC practice, this was short. Platoon-level basics could've pulled more instructors easy. Guess he'd suggest it himself.
'Nothing today, probably.'
Winter's call weighed ammo loads. He was armed near-constantly, unlike others.
Plus, riots here meant big losses. True fights unlikely in combatives. Just control if trouble brewed. Military prepped for worst-case, right?
"Quiet down! Training starts now!"
The burliest instructor bellowed. Highest rank among them.
Intro was rote. Projector on, overview of combatives history. Standard procedure. But Chinese attitudes sucked—openly ignoring, some plugging ears. Interpreters for non-English slacked too.
Airing sat straight, but her face was sour.
Japanese nodded along, oohing loud for others.
Instructor's history leaned Japanese martial arts. So they skipped calling out Chinese, rushed through.
"...Attempts to integrate Japanese arts started pre-war. Infantry school instructor Major Alan Smith learned judo at Kodokan. Roosevelt trained himself—built a dojo in the White House."
Point: U.S. CQC heavily judo-influenced.
Thirty-minute presentation cut to ten; on to next.
'Felt off, huh.'
Winter sensed the senior staff sergeant's endless sighs.
"Zombie or man, CQC's core rule unchanged. What is it?"
Instructor eyed the room, then answered.
"Simple. Use your gun however you can—best option."
Poor response. Instructor pressed on.
"Not joking. If firearm viable, no other CQC needed—or should be. Reckless bravado. Forget martial arts talk. Best if you never use them. Especially vs. infected variants."
Practical, so better reception now. Winter Alliance squad felt it deep from San Miguel drills.
"Now, firearm use in CQC. Simplest is most effective—remember that."
Clap.
"All up! Pair off two-by-two. Leftovers report nearest instructor. Pair extras or demo with us. Execute!"
Gym noise returned.
============================ Author's Notes ============================
#Q&A
Q. HobakHobak : @As expected, you carry old innocence and don't know love.
A. Think I don't know love? Convenience stores sell it four cans for 10,000 won. Paulaner, Kronenbourg, Tsingtao, Pilsner Urquell, Guinness, etc... So much love in this world.
Q. NameThief : @A few questions. First, Winter's rough age? Second, where does the author's view show Winter's personality flaws? Last, despite rough home and trauma, Winter's demeanor seems unrealistically mature. Any special reason?
A. 17 at ossuary placement. 27th round character also 17. Age setup signals no mental time passed post-body loss.
Winter doesn't know his desires precisely, has inner contradictions—but not personality flaws. Must there be? Homage to Little Prince—no initial flaw planning.
Pain matures people. Know "I Want to Know That, Shin Ae Edition"? Influenced planning. Personal experience too.
9-year-old girl sick, parents refuse surgery for religion. Her words so logical/mature for age—impressed.
"I'm school age. Time to study, play. Be happy here—what's heaven happiness?"
No other reason. Winter's life itself is why.
Q. haegol : @Rough total volumes? Saved up, binged—feels empty now.
A. Dunno. Bad at predicting. Past 200 for sure, probably 300, 400 who knows.
Q. SmilePlayer : @Read more books than average x dozens (mostly novels—trap), first this exciting, heart-pounding, empathetic. Binged in a day+hours—eyes fried lol. Want more thoughㅠ
A. Thanks. Your excitement shows you're innocent lifeform too. Earth is beautiful planet.
Q. WhiteMountainSage : @Cthulhu learning innocence... How close to Blind Father?!
A. Snoozing dumbly beside me.
Q. thecrazy : @No refugees from other countries besides China/Japan? Seem underrepresented.
A. Camp Roberts: mostly Korean/Chinese/Japanese refugees. Other camps have Russians etc. Western Europe via Atlantic.