Chapter 59
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: #Trap (4), Camp Roberts
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Winter gazed intently at the captured prey.
The 「Trickster」 was docile. Throughout the time its limbs were bound, it hung limp like a corpse. The only proof it was alive was its breathing. Wheeze, hiss. The sound of wind sharply entering and exiting.
Even if badly injured, it should have enough energy left to struggle. Suspicious. The suspicion that it had deliberately allowed itself to be caught was gaining more weight. Just no confirmation.
This guy had emitted powerful jamming signals right before collapsing.
The one they had met in Atascadero had done the same. When it died, severe static had poured from the radio.
If that wasn't mere radio jamming, but some kind of communication between them?
‘Then, what's the limit of that communication?’
Voice language and radio communication were qualitatively different. The information transmission ability between these new special variants might even encompass vision and hearing.
That would explain their cunning. Each time they encountered a new individual, it was like receiving its experiences. The information released by the Atascadero 「Trickster」 was probably still circulating. Memories left behind after death. It felt almost like ghosts.
‘Ah, so it smiled when it saw me because it knew my face...’
They must already know that America was eager to secure living specimens. Without that certainty that it wouldn't die, it wouldn't have deliberately let itself be captured.
Under this premise, the 「Trickster」 was the worst special variant.
A chill ran down his spine. Having gone through twenty-six apocalypses, this sensation was truly rare. Not bad. Like the very first time he had smashed the head of that human-like thing, he felt he could immerse himself again.
Now Winter aimed his rifle. Feeling the trigger pressure with his fingertip, he thought. Should I just shoot it? Whatever its plan, pulling the trigger now would throw it into disarray, wouldn't it?
“What are you doing, Lieutenant?”
Sergeant Riverman grabbed Winter's barrel and lowered it.
“You go through all the trouble of capturing it, and now you're going to kill it?”
He wore an expression of utter incomprehension. Winter glanced aside. The soldiers who had been guarding the captive were hesitating a few steps away. They must have called Sergeant Riverman because Winter's demeanor seemed off. Probably due to the highly activated 「Intimidation」.
Winter lowered his rifle as he replied.
“I'm feeling a bit uneasy.”
“Why? Because it was caught too easily?”
The sergeant harbored the same suspicion. But he hadn't delved into it as deeply as Winter. As expected, he tried to reassure Winter in a nonchalant tone.
“There is something fishy about it... but it's over. The helicopter will come pick it up soon, and we can head back, crack open a beer, and crash.”
Then he gestured outward.
“You look tired. Why don't you step out and rest for a bit. No clouds—perfect night sky. Leave this to the kids.”
Winter gave a faint smile.
“I don't trust them.”
Sergeant Riverman nodded as if to say, “Of course,” and the soldiers put on sulky expressions. A moment later, everyone was laughing.
Winter accepted the suggestion. Without confirmation, it would be hard to convince them. They might sympathize, but action was a separate matter. What could a special variant, trussed up tight, possibly scheme?
Besides, Jeffrey had already reported the capture. Disposing of it on his own might earn him a reprimand.
The boy decided to set other concerns aside for the moment. As Sergeant Riverman had said, it was a cloudless sky full of stars. He sat on the Humvee and quietly gazed upward. Not even a sliver of moon, yet it didn't feel dark. The cold night air and the sprinkled starlight were incredibly refreshing.
In the darkened world of 「Day after Apocalypse」, if there was anything brighter than before, it was the night sky above all else. Here, he could see the Milky Way he had never witnessed in life. It resembled strangely glowing clouds.
With night vision goggles, it was even brighter. So many stars, so vividly clear.
He sensed a presence. It was Jeffrey, who had been wrestling with the radio. He vented his irritation briefly, muttered a few words to those around, and headed straight for Winter. But he didn't speak right away. He seemed reluctant to disturb the rest. It was a pleasant show of respect.
Sitting side by side on the hood and spending a bit of time in silence, Jeffrey finally spoke.
“Nice view?”
“Yeah. It's a sight that must have existed where I lived too, so it's a shame to see it for the first time here.”
“Where you lived? Ah, Korea?”
“In a sense.”
“What sense? What do you mean?”
The young platoon leader looked baffled, but Winter didn't explain. Instead, he asked something else.
“What's up? Communication problems? No jamming signals, it seems.”
The receiver plugged into his ear remained silent. Proof that the 「Trickster」 was being docile.
“It's not that... They can't send the helicopter.”
“Why?”
“It's not just our camp dealing with this. Others caught a few too. Lots of heli support requests, but eight of them went missing in a short span.”
His alertness revived. Winter asked again in a calm tone.
“Were they attacked?”
“No idea. Not even sure if it was an attack. Just lost contact. One of the requesting units heard an explosion. Probably crashed, but they can't reach the site yet. In short, they have zero clue on the cause right now.”
“It has to be an attack. Not one or two, but eight going down simultaneously without any contact? No way.”
“Yeah, you're right. Anyway, no additional heli support until they figure out the cause or dawn breaks.”
“Then what about that thing?”
Winter pointed in the direction of the captive. Just then, soldiers were in the midst of transporting it. They had securely muzzled its snout, and four of them were carefully lifting it. A few others stood back, weapons trained on it. Jeffrey said.
“Orders to transport it to base. They'll pick it up if we store it there.”
“Containment measures?”
“Chain it up and lock it in a cage.”
“A cage?”
“I don't know the details, but they said to line the walls and ceiling with foil or something? Apparently that blocks its signals. We have to take measures like that to keep it at base.”
Ah, a Faraday cage. Winter had heard of it. But would that be enough?
They said a helicopter would come at dawn. If they could just survive this night without incident, nothing would happen. In other words, something was likely to go down before sunrise.
‘Should I suggest it to the battalion commander?’
Either way, the boy's direct superior was the battalion commander. Or he could try the operations officer. But the odds were slim. The battalion CO was a washed-up human obsessed with drowning his reality in booze and wouldn't appreciate having his rest interrupted. The operations officer might not agree to heighten alert based on mere speculation without evidence.
Still, it was worth a shot.
“Hey, hop on. Let's head back.”
Jeffrey patted Winter's shoulder.
The vehicle convoy set off. The 「Trickster」 was lashed horizontally behind the turret of vehicle number three. Perhaps due to the raised center of gravity, the vehicle looked terribly unstable. The machine gunner had fixed his barrel on the variant. An attitude ready to open fire the moment anything went wrong.
At the base they arrived at, an augmented sentry detail was waiting for Jeffrey's platoon. Even though the variant was already bound, they chained it again as if they had been waiting. Wearing insulated gloves, they never once let their guard down from start to finish.
In the meantime, the radio static had grown severe a few more times.
If the variant's goal had been reconnaissance, then the moment it entered the base and emitted noise, it had already achieved a certain degree of success.
Winter confirmed that the special variant had been securely locked in the cage at last, then headed to the camp control room. Perhaps due to the nature of the incident, the operations officer was on duty.
Returning the salute, he asked the purpose of the visit.
“What is it? You completed the mission splendidly, so you could go rest now.”
“I have a suggestion regarding this mission.”
“A suggestion?”
“Yes. How about we heighten the camp's alert to maximum until dawn...”
Among the battalion staff, the operations officer was one of the more amicable toward Winter. It wasn't personal fondness, but closer to respect for his abilities.
The unlucky HQ company soldiers on Christmas Eve duty watched Winter and the operations officer. The major scratched his chin, then straightened up toward the boy officer.
“Let's hear the reason.”
“I believe the 「Trickster」 infiltrated deliberately.”
“Ho.”
He listened with keen interest to the framework of speculation Winter laid out afterward.
“It's an advancement on the report you submitted before. You're saying the jamming signals and communication might not be distinguishable. Hm, actually, higher-ups have that possibility in mind too. They're planning to test reactions with ECM soon.”
“You mean try jamming signals from our side?”
“Exactly. If it's really some kind of communication, it'll show a reaction when disrupted. There's a high chance you'll get that mission. After all, no one west of the blockade line has racked up better kills than you.”
“I see.”
“Also, the 390th Air Group is launching recon planes periodically. To analyze the patterns of the signals they emit. In this situation, I can't say your concerns are unfounded. Especially since other camps had similar incidents simultaneously tonight. Yes, it's suspicious.”
“So you'll permit it?”
“No.”
The major shook his head with a smile.
“It has merit, but it's too much. What can a caged one do? Even assuming it infiltrated with some plan in mind, did it imagine a containment facility that blocks signals? We don't know them, and they don't know us. No matter how clever they've become, they can't surpass human wisdom.”
Then he added a joke and laughed.
“It might be dangerous if they start building libraries and schools to teach scholarship.”
“But...”
“Enough. You're being overly sensitive. That's an order. Go get some rest. It's Christmas.”
The major gestured for him to leave. From his expression, further attempts would be pointless. Winter saluted and withdrew.
So now what?
The sense of danger lingered. He couldn't ignore it.
The only remaining option was to bypass the command staff and rally the soldiers directly. With earnest pleading, there were people who would respond.
But it was burdensome. It amounted to virtual insubordination. As the central figure, he'd bear responsibility, which would greatly undermine his position. He had built up some foundation, so it wouldn't collapse outright, but still.
The more people he dragged in, the greater the risk of problems. Someone unpersuaded might report it up the chain.
Above all, it was just an uncertain possibility. He doubted if it was worth going this far. Considering the backlash if nothing happened, the losses might outweigh the gains.
He also considered investing in 「Survival Instinct」. It warned of all possibilities leading to death. But its scope was so broad that without linkage, it was often vague.
He hadn't used resources since Atascadero, so he had some leeway. The 「Insight」 provided upon 「Survival Instinct」 reaching genius level would be more specific and accurate than before.
He steeled his resolve and pushed in the experience points.
A tingling warning from level 11 「Survival Instinct」 arose.
But that was it. System-enhanced intuition could be wrong too. It wasn't up to the level Winter had hoped for.
「Crisis Detection」 might have been better. He wouldn't know without trying.
After agonizing, Winter went to find Captain Capston.
Having listened to the circumstances, the captain nodded.
“It's a valid judgment. I compared the battle data from Atascadero and other places, and the 「Trickster」's intelligence is truly remarkable. It was caught too easily, just as you said. Appearing solo was sloppily suspicious. The smile bothers me too. No harm in caution. But it's quite difficult...”
“I thought about it—if we don't get caught, it's fine.”
At Winter's words, the captain voiced doubt.
“Is that possible?”
“Think about it. Even mobilizing company-level forces, it's just standby alert. No need to move in earnest unless something happens. And if something does happen...”
“Then we'd have bigger things to worry about than minor repercussions. I get what you mean.”
Captain Capston gave a light smile.
============================ Author's Note ============================
Yesterday, I couldn't write a single line in 9 hours. The content swirled in my head, but I couldn't accept the output.
I'll make up for it today.
The next part will be up in 5 minutes.