Chapter 219
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: #End of April (6)
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After the call with the President, it seemed like they'd just wait around idly until the Independent Company arrived, with no special activities in the meantime.
But circumstances weren't that leisurely.
The next day, Colonel Rogers issued a new mission.
“Major Han Gyeowol. I'd like you to hunt enemy heads for a while.”
A map was spread out in the situation room, now under new management. Just looking at it was enough to change the expressions on some of the officers' faces. The operational area was far more vast than imagined. It showed just how much expectation was riding on this from above—or rather, how dire the situation was that they had no choice but to place such expectations.
“The goal is to strip this area's variant groups of their organized action capabilities. Those tricky bastards are intelligently dodging air strikes, but they can't neutralize ground observations too.”
Tricky thing, of course, meant Trickster. Their communications were short and explosive. They even embedded info about their own deaths in the screams of the dying. The radio jamming that doubled as flight detection was the same. A fair number had been taken out by homing missiles, but now they knew how to counter it.
If these things were gone, survivor rescues would be much smoother.
‘Compared to the old world, there are fewer Grumbles and more Tricksters. It's too naive to just chalk it up to them being a new special variant with fixed quotas... Probably better to think their numbers are adjusted within quotas as needed.’
Worldviews could change, improve, expand at any time, but usually, there was some underlying principle piercing through phenomena. Whether that was intentional from the planning stage or emergent when the control personality built the worldview was unknown.
The colonel continued.
“This operation requires stealth. No vehicle support, then. Forces committed are limited to the mobile team you've been leading. Range and duration are at your discretion, but push as far as possible. Prioritize search and destroy over rescue. In the end, that'll save far more lives... Something wrong, Captain? Not the time for questions yet, it seems.”
The one with his hand raised was Captain Langford. He objected with a stiff expression.
“Even including Major Han Gyeowol, the mobile team's just five strong. Too dangerous.”
“Decision based on reviewing past combat records. Before I arrived, the major fought alone or with just the mobile team plenty of times. Why raise the issue now?”
“Different circumstances. Up to now, combats were always within retreat range. Never advanced to distances where main force support was impossible in an emergency.”
Hm. The colonel stared at the captain for a moment, then replied in a flat voice.
“No military op guarantees safety.”
“I'm saying it's reckless.”
“True. Can't issue blindly reckless orders as a commander. But the situation's what it is. Estimates say one's dying every second. If true, all remaining survivors get wiped out in two weeks. That many more enemies added. Isn't it time for bold measures? Even as I say this, how many have died?”
His gaze turned to Winter.
“Instead of more troops, air support will be ample. At least one gunship—AC-130—loitering over the assigned area day and night, Apaches or attack squadrons on call as needed. Can request helo transport once LZ is secured.”
Winter recalled the President's words about the Air Force having nothing to do. For a mobile team barely a single rifle squad in manpower, it was overkill support.
‘The key will be maintaining safe distance from variants...’
Minimum safe distance for air or artillery was 600 meters. Closer was Danger Close—risk of friendly fire.
But during survivor rescues, could they really keep that interval?
Attack helos offered more precise support, so rely on those if unavoidable.
Unless facing a massive horde, Winter with plentiful ammo wouldn't be in peril anyway.
“Rangers, SEALs, Raiders, 24th STS, A Team—multiple task forces already pulled from them for similar missions. Once this place secures adequate forces, we'll form more search teams. Even you think it's reckless, Major?”
“No, sir.”
“Good.”
Colonel Rogers nodded lightly. Sorry to Langford for worrying, but with satcom gear, it was fully doable. Risk-free if fighting centered on long-range sniping and fire direction. Hard for variant groups to approach without Winter sensing. Resupply easy too, as noted before. Horse feed everywhere. Just need food and ammo air-dropped on time.
“I said prioritize search, but not to ignore rescues. You judge moment-to-moment what's more important. Too many uncertainties. So most decisions will be tolerated. Stay cool always. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Vaguely phrased somehow. The colonel was indirectly addressing legal liability. Assurance of no punishment for most issues.
Likely guidance from far above—command level at least. But couldn't say it outright. PR officer present. Had to consider potential leaks, even edited.
“Op name is Preventive Scalping.”
Preventive scalping. Winter felt like chuckling despite the situation. Too blatant. Telling it now suggested the colonel's own sentiments.
Name aside, paralyzing enemy cognition was rational.
“Start ASAP. Head out, draw your gear. Report when ready. Rendezvous and further details before departure.”
Briefing continued, but to save time, Winter dismissed first.
Very different style from Colonel Rapplin at Fort Roberts. Rapplin fretted losing Winter; no such vibe from Rogers. Winter encountering this impersonal coolness after so long.
A lieutenant temporarily handling logistics guided Winter. At the airdrop sorting area, opened a already-unboxed crate. First item: target acquisition observer gear.
“Ever handled this type before, sir?”
Per control personality advice, Winter shook his head. Controls not complex, but first time in this world. Claiming familiarity would be odd.
“Thought so. Not hard. This telescope-like one's called TRIGR. Hit the button, marks coordinates. Call 'em in, Air Force handles rest. Full instructions when team's here.”
Then a more serious observer kit. Lieutenant called it LLDR.
“This links to sat terminal, sends coords direct—no call-in. Trickier than TRIGR, but same function. Just added mode switches and target attributes. One hour training, whole team good to go.”
Also chance to pick new firearms. Lieutenant surprised at Winter's choice.
“You're taking that?”
“Yeah. Should drop a Trickster with one shot from range.”
“True, but carrying and using looks burdensome.”
“Strictly as backup.”
Winter hefted the 1.25-meter anti-materiel rifle (M107CQ). Heavier than most rifles even sans mag; if memory served, this was shortened, lightened version. .50 cal (12.7mm) power over ten times rifle. Pierced thin armor or walls to kill behind. Brutal.
Thus tricky in practice.
‘Suppressor still louder than unsuppressed rifle.’
Not for spray-and-pray. But great for ambushes or hit-and-run. Kill leaders, remnant groups disorganized. High chance they never spot you. If using in combat, single shots from hundreds meters out.
Logistics officer pulled multiple mags and 100-round can.
“Then armor-piercing high-explosive. This firepower roughs up Ghouls or Tricksters. Useless vs Grumbles, but throat-shot changes that. Punches through, bursts under brain.”
Lieutenant poked his own nape.
“I'll let you know after trying.”
Words aside, Winter already knew results.
Then op training for mobile team: observer gear and satcom terminals. Neither hard. LLDR: swivel left-right once, up-down once for position lock, then mark target. Comms terminal like regular radio.
To cut weight, no camping gear—just sleeping bags. Shelter in farmhouses if rain. Plenty of lonely ones.
On ready report, colonel cautioned.
“Maintain regular comms. Avoid direct fights unless rescue critical.”
“Understood.”
“Don't forget you're a valuable national asset.”
Didn't seem personally concerned. Purely procedural, as-needed tone. Veteran soldier's pride. Type treating self as tool too. But people shouldn't be tools.
Before departure, PR officer sought Winter out, stopping him. Mix of hope and worry.
“Batteries stocked plenty?”
Winter flashed awkward smile at McGuire.
“Past combat logs not enough?”
“Rave reviews—fresh material. Evokes Wild West. Perfect Cali backdrop. But that's that, this is this. Breakfast doesn't skip lunch.”
Then sighed.
“That clown kid made it here.”
First Santa Maria callsign heard in ages.
‘Rangers on this op too... No, zones won't overlap, low meet chance. Unit rotated due to losses maybe.’
PR officer said.
“Favor: don't ruin most rewarding thing in my life.”
“Yes, sir. Not time to die yet.”
“Not yet?”
To the skeptical man, Winter bid farewell, checked tactical PDA with dozens coords. Each recent Trickster jamming burst site. EW birds overhead collecting more now. Which to chase first: commander's call.
Like Christmas Eve pursuit, depending.
Fort Roberts infiltrator Tricksters deliberately pulsed shorts to expose position. Different scale, but tracking similar.
Nearest coord under 10km. ~30 min ago. Older traces, likely same entity, strung east at intervals. Clear direction. Morales glanced, frowned.
“If tracked a transport, might head straight for base.”
Winter agreed.
“Jamming not enough, looks like. Find this one first.”
“Hooah.”
Ammo-loaded team brimmed confidence.
Allies here on return? Winter spurred Excel.
============================ Author's Notes ============================
#KakaoTalk - Birth of the Perfect Lifeform
Tunguska: This new Alien feels off. Aliens perfect lifeforms? But spread ability down vs original, right?
Tunguska: Made to need human hosts.
Manga Friend: Eh. Maybe started as RNA virus, chose stable DNA self-replication?
Tunguska: ...Really?!
#Q&A
Q. Carpice: @Hail WinterAutumn! Hail Skalochen!
A. Skalochen... Smells of hellfire even here.
Q. CurryRice: @Always think it, but your prose so poetic. Just awe. And... award ceremony "beer later"... President's death flag, right?
A. Beer, nectar of truth, can't be death flag. Real death flag's drowning sauce chicken.
Q. Chashercat: @Hail Skalochen!
A. Who uttered Skalochen?
Q. Hurean: Humpback? When reveal identity lol
A. Soon...? Humpback traits for worldview consistency, not that flashy. Haha.