Chapter 69
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Intermission: Combat Will and Combat Fatigue (2)
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#Intermission, Combat Will and Combat Fatigue (2)
Combat fatigue in "Day after Apocalypse" is a device meant to express mental trauma (PTSD). As such, it can manifest in everyday life. If people's daily routines are no different from combat, that is.
This makes combat fatigue management a core element of community operations. For more efficient management, leaders must suppress their members' combat fatigue—or sometimes even encourage it.
Yes, that's right. You didn't misread it. Intentionally generating combat fatigue is one of the key know-how points in community operations and personnel management.
Shall I give an example? People's traumas easily lead to political leanings. They never want to go through that trauma again. If there's even a hint that the pain they endured might recur, they instinctively recoil. It's an instinct for self-preservation. Rational judgment has no room to intervene.
In reality, the politicization of veterans toward conservatism is the best example. Having gone through such horrific experiences, they come to regard their own survival and the maintenance of the status quo in their community as paramount values.
This is also a means of creating fanatical supporters.
Of course, this is optional. If you're truly an exceptional leader, you can secure loyalty without resorting to such methods intentionally. It's also the righteous path.
On the other hand, combat fatigue can serve as an opportunity for growth. That's true in real life as well. Nietzsche said in his work "Twilight of the Idols": "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." Haven't you heard stories of people who grow stronger by overcoming mental wounds?
In "Day after Apocalypse," this manifests as the expansion of potential abilities. It's in the same context as growth through accumulated experience, but the system treats it separately. This means it's completely distinct from strengthening through skill acquisition.
Naturally, it's not an easy task. You have to leave only the amount of mental trauma that the person can endure—and everyone has different limits. How well you can "Discern" that is the key. It would be impossible without your "Insight" to back it up.
In some cases, it might be outright impossible. "Insight," the core of leadership skills, operates differently and with varying efficiency depending on your own qualities and disposition.
#Journal, Page 91, Camp Roberts
Three days had passed since returning to camp.
In that time, the garrison forces had been reinforced, and the camp commander had been replaced. With Camp Roberts' status elevated, the commander's rank needed to rise accordingly. Now, the commander of the "Seventh California" Regiment also doubled as camp commander.
The former commander, the 3rd Battalion CO, had been disciplined. His attempt to shift all blame to the operations officer had failed. The incident was such a major event that the Blockade Command had dispatched a full investigation team. Plenty of people testified to the battalion commander's negligence. On Christmas Eve, he had passed out drunk. Unacceptable behavior in a time of emergency.
The problem was the new commander. Fort Hunter Liggett had successfully repelled the night raid, but not to the extent of Camp Roberts. There had been heavy casualties. The former regiment commander of the "Seventh California" was among the dead. He had been stationed at Hunter Liggett with the 2nd Battalion.
Bad luck. He had gone on a night patrol to boost the morale of the soldiers on guard duty that Christmas Eve and was killed the moment the attack began. Too earnest for his own good.
Thanks to that, the camp commander position had been vacant for the past few days. It took three days for the new regimental commander to assume post. In the interim, 1st Battalion CO Farrell Ramos, Lieutenant Colonel, had acted as commander.
And today, the regimental commander arrived.
There was no inauguration ceremony. Most of the troops were engaged in fortification work to bolster defenses, and the regimental commander himself had no desire to waste time on unnecessary events.
However, I received a personal summons.
"Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant. I'm Gerald M. Laughlin, who as of today takes responsibility for Camp Roberts, commander of the 160th Regiment... Ah, Colonel now. Sorry. Still adjusting to the new rank."
The dark-skinned regimental commander good-naturedly covered his slip-up.
The regimental commander's mistake stemmed from a position promotion. It's a system where a temporary rank is granted as needed for the duties, regardless of original rank.
U.S. Army regimental commanders are usually lieutenant colonels. But since he was also taking on camp command—overseeing not just the regiment but other support units and refugee aid troops—he had been made a colonel.
The dismissed 3rd Battalion CO was the same. He had been promoted to lieutenant colonel for the camp command role, but his actual rank was major. His pay would have been at major level too.
But he had made one more mistake. Standing at ease, I pointed it out.
"Excuse me, but my rank is Second Lieutenant."
He chuckled softly.
"No. You'll have to adjust to your new rank too. Come closer."
As I approached, he removed my rank insignia and affixed a new one.
"Surprised?"
I answered honestly that I was. Colonel Laughlin patted my shoulder.
"Nothing to be shocked about. Your promotion was already in the works ahead of schedule. We just pushed it up. Even so, the fact remains that you've shattered every record on promotion timelines... But compared to what you've accomplished, it's small potatoes. The real reward is something else."
Hearing that, I had a hunch. Another medal. It had been less than half a year since enlisting in the U.S. Army, and this would be my fourth.
First came the Distinguished Service Cross and Valor Medal, then the Silver Star, and after Atascadero, the Meritorious Service Medal.
From the colonel's expression, the 'real reward' he mentioned seemed to be of quite high caliber.
No way—the Medal of Honor?
Sergeant Pierce's words came to mind. My achievements had warranted it from the start, but they were giving lower-tier medals to encourage rivalry among the refugees.
"You'll be heading to Washington. I hear Congress unanimously approved your award. Leave on tonight's flight and return tomorrow afternoon."
The regimental commander turned my suspicion into certainty. An award requiring congressional approval, one you had to go to Washington to receive. Hard to think of anything else. He extended his hand.
"Rank aside, it's an honor to meet a true hero."
His grip was firm as we shook. From his utterly serious gaze, I truly felt my changed position.
This incident was the cause.
Variants infiltrating with planning was shocking enough, but the EMP attack was beyond imagination. I'd heard civilian deaths alone exceeded 80,000. Several outposts had been wiped off the map, and even those that held saw significant losses.
Camp Roberts was the only one unscathed.
Bad news gets buried under good.
I'd braced for this when deciding to become a U.S. Army recruiting poster boy, but as the scale grew, it felt burdensome.
People no longer saw me as the same person. Heroes are ultimately just tools manufactured out of necessity.
So my response could only be subdued.
"I couldn't have done it without the help of others. Thank you for your words, but I don't think the honor belongs to me alone."
"Of course. The investigation team from Command didn't just look into faults. Several others besides you have been selected for battlefield promotions. Captain Capston's the prime example. He'll get a medal too. So no need to feel overly burdened."
Further questions revealed that most of Charlie Company were up for promotions or awards.
Captain Capston was getting a two-grade jump. Major would be normal promotion; lieutenant colonel a position promotion. He was taking over the now-vacant battalion command, they explained.
Throughout the meeting, the regimental commander remained friendly toward me.
#Journal, Page 92, Washington D.C.
I'm writing this journal after returning from Washington.
My lodgings were the White House. Hardly "lodgings" since I was only there briefly, but no better word fits.
The entire time, I was under thorough surveillance. Everyone seemed convinced I'd try to escape. They called it protection, but wasn't an entire platoon shadowing my every visible move a bit much?
Fair enough, though. Any refugee dreams of life east of the Blockade Line, in the civilized world. From their perspective, no reason I wouldn't. They probably couldn't catch me if I bolted, and it would cause a massive scandal.
Not that I wanted to. I have people to be responsible for.
Just the view from the window was beautiful. The snow-covered garden beyond the fence, the fountain ceaselessly rising in the distance, the elegant Washington Monument farther still. Would've been even better without the crowds gathered to see me.
No need to worry about variant attacks here. The peace of mind was truly unique.
I desperately wanted to take a stroll.
On a whim, I requested it.
Of course, denied. The air grew heavier. I regretted speaking up.
So I joked that if they were that worried, they could cuff me.
Everyone looked utterly flustered.
It was meant to lighten the mood.
The award ceremony was simple enough to need no rehearsal. It lasted about 20 minutes. I just stood there after entering with the President amid the applauding crowd.
The rest was handled by the presiding officer, the Chief of Chaplains, and the President.
"Let us pray."
At the Chief of Chaplains' words, everyone bowed their heads. I did too, clasping my hands in front and closing my eyes, though I don't follow Christianity or Catholicism.
"Almighty and eternal Lord. You who have granted us this great land and the legacy of true faith. We beseech You to join us in honoring this man who answered the call of duty to preserve all that You have given us."
"Under Your providence, Lieutenant Han Gyeowol has saved countless lives from death through courage, honor, and devotion."
"By Your grace, we believe this man will continue to uphold the same virtues. Bless this hero who has woven new threads into the great tapestry of our nation, in Your name. And we pray again that we Americans may live each day with the courage and sacrifice of such as he, carrying America's history into eternity."
"We also give thanks for all the encounters and events woven by Your providence, allowing this man to stand before us today by Your grace. In this time of trial and adversity, we thank as one all soldiers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Rangers who stand against it with struggle...."
"...Finally, hold Lieutenant Han Gyeowol, the people he protects, and the nation he serves in Your joy. President Calvin Coolidge said: 'A nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.' As members of the nation he defended, we bestow all honors possible upon this guardian of the public safety and vow never to forget. We pledge this before You and Your holy name. Amen."
America isn't a religious state, but in terms of tradition, it's close. For me, that peculiar sentiment was hard to empathize with.
Next came the President's summary of my achievements.
This actually ran longer than the prayer. He wasn't just covering this incident but recapping all my accomplishments to date.
Probably because of the countless cameras set up in the room.
A suspicion arose: Maybe my growing fame had made prior awards an issue?
Objectively, I should've gotten the Medal of Honor back at Paso Robles. Sergeant Pierce wasn't the only one who'd wondered.
In any case, the dignitaries gathered applauded fervently after every sentence from the President. To me, their enthusiasm didn't feel entirely feigned.
Before a framed backdrop of blue with thirteen white stars, the President finally pinned the medal on me. The highest honor an American can attain. A star wreathed in green laurels. At the center, Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, embossed in relief; my name engraved on the reverse.
「THE CONGRESS TO GYEO-UL HAN」
It's exceedingly rare to receive this while alive. Most are awarded posthumously, earning it the nickname "decoration for dead soldiers."
After the ceremony, I dined with the President. I requested improved refugee treatment and got a positive "we'll consider it." Hard to tell if it was political rhetoric or genuine intent.
Thus ended my half-day visit to Washington.
Boarding the return flight, that half-day felt utterly unreal. Like a vivid, flashy, clamorous dream.
And so I returned to reality. My reality, to the people I connect with.
============================ Author's Notes ============================
1. No publishing contract yet. I'll let you know when it's signed.
2.
Q. 청류련님: @Any plans to open a donation account? Chicken money when payday hits... Thanks to your work today, I started the day full of childlike wonder. Tekeli-li! Maybe later the ghouls form their own combat units like the vampire troops in Hellsing and build an independent political system?
A. I'll think about a donation account once I'm a better writer. Feels too lacking now. :)
Hellsing... If it goes that far, wouldn't it be too fantastical? I aim for heavy realism.
Q. 마스터칼솔럼님: @Rather than 10 legs or arms or heads, I'd prefer 10 properties. Dirt spoon woes.
A. Agreed. Then I wouldn't need to write novels. Haha.
Q. 휘네아님: @When I saw this on Noblellem, the title made me think "oh no," but seeing it next to Sealbv's latest, I was like.. haaah! And spread the word to other sites... Found it at 90 bookmarks—blessing for discovering early, or despair for binge shortage...?
A. I thought it was a good title, but I feel wronged. If published, the title might change.
Q. twking5008님: @In the story, "gained more EXP from human relations than variant hunting"—curious about EXP gain criteria/conditions. E.g., being the first to report "armed variants confirmed" to higher-ups, hugely impacting the whole U.S. military?
A. The evaluator is the control AI, assessing all interactions between Winter and the virtual world. Literally all interactions, so hard to specify conditions.
Q. 도화원님: @Winter treats each virtual world as special. Truly chilling chapter. Not battle or death scene, but the matter-of-fact flow reveals his attitude toward VR. High VR aptitude, right? Related to accepting the world as real? At this sync level, wouldn't his mind break after a few deaths?
A. Related to some extent. Attitude toward virtual personalities is a form of empathy too.
Q. Ca모님: Are variants hive-minded? With rising intelligence, could see them forming societies. Only 2 hours sleep... Won't sleep deprivation cloud your mind? Worried. Please take care of health while writing. Thanks for another great chapter.
A. Thanks for steady reading. Mind's foggy from lack of sleep. Haha. Off to reserve training soon...
Q. 유렁솨귤님: @"Human respect is the role of humans"... Hits home. Hope it gets published for a proper ending. Will buy if so. Will know the publisher from comments ;) Fun. Hope for good terms. BTW, Noblellem ending soon, but planning to renew just for your novel. Love you, author. You know, right? Yeah? You know. With your 10 legs, transcendent being!
A. More legs don't mean better. They fight each other. Next target's me! Bickering!
Q. 팡링잉X우츠호님: @Ebook or paperback? ...Not ebook, hard to read. And 10 legs mean 10 arms too—explains the great writing.
A. Not sure yet. And lots of legs, no arms...