The Psyker Infected and the Tank Gambit
The government's official line on the infected was always the same.
"The Mog virus is extremely dangerous, so let's all make every effort to avoid infection!"
That was it.
They never explained just how dangerous the Mog virus really was.
And folks like the Space Marines operating in space, including Kim Seo-jun, didn't take it all that seriously either.
But anyone who'd actually faced an infected? They all said the exact same thing without exception.
"The infected are extremely dangerous. Really dangerous. This shit is no joke. No matter what you think, multiply that by about a hundred."
Kim Seo-jun was no different.
He'd tangled with infected before. And not just any infected—he'd gone up against a psyker infected.
Of course, he hadn't known it was a psyker infected when he was first thrown into that mission.
No matter how much he lusted after hazard pay, even Kim Seo-jun wasn't crazy enough to say, "Yes, sir!" to a suicide run against a psyker infected.
He'd gone out on a support request—"We're in a fierce fight with Mogs and need backup!"—only to find a psyker infected rampaging among the Mog horde. He'd freaked out, bolted, and that was that.
And the world never heard about what he'd witnessed back then.
The moment he returned to base, some big shot from on high had cornered him: "Keep your mouth shut about what you saw today, and we'll add an extra zero to your hazard pay deposit. Refuse, and we'll claw back everything you've earned so far with taxes and penalties." Naturally, Kim Seo-jun had said okay and zipped his lips ever since.
Anyway, that's when he'd learned the truth: the Mog virus was unbelievably terrifying.
Terrifying enough that the government had dumped a fortune into downplaying its dangers.
'Goddamn it, things weren't supposed to go this sideways!'
So when the status window chimed its alert, a single thought dominated Kim Seo-jun's mind.
'Gotta bail. No question.'
Not fight—flee.
No need to overthink it.
The Polish base was a loss worth regretting only if it was intact and had survivors to man it.
Same went for this new event.
Platinum ticket?
Tempting as hell.
He'd be lying if he said it didn't make his eyes light up.
'Screw the rewards.'
But Kim Seo-jun knew all too well that greed led straight to ruin.
He'd seen it happen to others up close, time and again.
Hell, he'd become a Space Marine out of greed for cash himself.
The only reason he'd survived was that delicate balance—never crossing that fatal line.
And right now, that line was staring him in the face.
Best play: scrap all plans and pull out.
With that, Kim Seo-jun moved.
He addressed the survivors in sight.
"Emergency situation. Everyone, evacuate now."
That was when it hit.
— Sergeant Kim!
Private Park Bo-seop's frantic voice crackled over the radio, and Kim Seo-jun clocked it instantly.
"Major Lee Hye-na's in combat?"
— Huh? H-how'd you know?
The moment Private Park Bo-seop answered, Kim Seo-jun broke into a sprint.
11.
The instant Kim Seo-jun deployed to the Polish base, Major Lee Hye-na was holding position outside.
Private Park Bo-seop felt more secure than ever at the sight.
"With the major watching our backs, we're good."
Major Lee Hye-na felt the same.
"Don't drop your guard."
She said it, but honestly, she figured there wouldn't be any major issues here.
'Sergeant Kim'll handle it.'
She trusted him that much.
Everything seemed under control.
Beep beep beep beep!
"Huh?"
But all those assumptions shattered when one of the gauges on the military tank Private Park Bo-seop was driving went haywire.
"Wha—what?!"
Private Park Bo-seop yelped in shock.
"It's here!"
His voice shook like an earthquake, prompting Major Lee Hye-na—seated in the military truck's cargo bed—to grab her axe and hop out.
"Grade?"
"Fly-class!"
Major Lee Hye-na steeled herself—Fly-class was manageable—when it happened.
"No, wait!"
Private Park Bo-seop, eyes glued to the wildly spinning needle, bellowed at full volume.
"Feather-class!"
Major Lee Hye-na's face twisted.
No helping it.
Fly-class and Feather-class were just one weight class apart, but the gap felt worlds wider.
They were on a whole different level.
Even as a skilled psyker, Feather-class was no easy mark for her.
Not that she was backing down.
She'd faced them before, and she'd prepped for this scenario.
'Anything can happen. Hell, even infected showed up.'
Amotia Planet had devolved into a place where normal rules didn't apply—a hellhole that, in a few years, soldiers and survivors would call "pure nightmare."
Mogdog, Thorn Snake—whatever came, she'd meet it head-on.
"Come on!"
As she voiced her resolve, Major Lee Hye-na saw them.
Grrrrr!
Space Marines in battle suits charging with grotesque snarls.
She froze.
"What?"
Private Park Bo-seop too.
"Ah...!"
And Major Yan Zabwotski, already half out of it, plunged into deeper despair.
They were Polish Space Marines.
His subordinates, friends, brothers-in-arms—the ones he'd gladly died protecting.
Now infected, no different from Mogs, charging to kill their saviors.
"God..."
For that moment, even Major Yan Zabwotski sought divine help.
Major Lee Hye-na was just as shaken.
She didn't flinch at much, but this? Unnerving.
And it wasn't over.
Kim Seo-jun's warning echoed in her mind.
'If a psyker gets infected...'
The worst-case scenario he'd described.
And now it was reality.
She spotted a psyker in a black Agent Suit.
'Damn it.'
Her face hardened like never before.
That's when Major Yan Zabwotski shouted.
"Major Lee Hye-na! Psyker! Jakub Mazur, Polish psyker! Melee specialist—tanker type!"
Psyker intel was top secret, punishable by court-martial, but Major Yan Zabwotski didn't care.
He just wanted to help her any way he could.
Even without it, Major Lee Hye-na sized him up instantly.
The black Agent Suit screamed tank: pure defense, no mobility. A "block suit."
"He wields an axe!"
And in his grip: a massive axe.
Major Lee Hye-na clicked her tongue.
Tsk!
A harsh, resounding smack.
Worst-case scenario.
Even uninfected, he'd be tough for her. Now infected? Nightmare.
Infected didn't die unless their skulls were crushed, and their physical abilities were boosted.
Plus Space Marines swarming like Mogdogs.
One scratch, one drop of their fluids? Catastrophic.
'Retreat.'
That was her best call.
"We're pulling back."
And she'd do it.
"The moment Sergeant Kim returns."
Both men in the truck nodded—no complaints.
If they fled now, those infected would target the obvious prize!
"Major!"
"I'm not dumb enough to go toe-to-toe with an infected psyker. We'll evade and engage."
But she wasn't turning tail blindly.
"Clear the Space Marines first."
Dodge the psyker, mop up the small fry.
Doable.
Psyker infected sacrificed speed; she was all mobility.
Hit and run.
And she made it real, blitzing past the psyker to smash the Space Marine infected.
Crunch!
Each axe swing burst skulls like watermelons.
Brains and blood sprayed everywhere, soaking her.
Her suit was drenched in Mog virus.
One dent, one tear? Disaster.
Chilling.
Grrrrr!
Even more chilling: the psyker infected relentlessly pursuing her.
From afar, Private Park Bo-seop and Major Yan Zabwotski watched, goosebumps rising.
"Major Yan, any way we can help?"
Private Park Bo-seop, who'd just radioed Kim Seo-jun, pleaded desperately.
Major Yan Zabwotski, veteran of melee, knew the answer.
"If we jump in, we'll just mess up her movement."
A driver and hover rider interfering with a psyker in the zone? Hindrance, not help.
"The second Sergeant Kim arrives, grab him and floor it out of here. That's how we help her."
Private Park Bo-seop gripped the wheel tight at the cold logic.
'Sergeant, hurry... please.'
Then—
"Private Park Bo-seop."
"Huh?"
A voice. Private Park Bo-seop blurted,
"Sergeant Kim! Get here fast! Major Lee Hye-na's buying time!"
He assumed it was radio from afar.
So—
"Private Park Bo-seop."
"Sergeant Kim! Hurry!"
"I'm here."
"Pardon?"
"Right beside you."
Thump thump!
Kim Seo-jun knocked on the truck's driver door like a polite visitor. Private Park Bo-seop gaped.
"S-Sergeant?"
Major Yan Zabwotski beside him freaked too.
"Private Park Bo-seop."
"Yes, sir! Hop in! We're outta here!"
He gripped the wheel harder, easing the accelerator.
Full speed away.
"Got a question."
"Yes?"
But Kim Seo-jun's unexpected query froze him.
"Can you drive anything else?"
"Anything else?"
"Military vehicles."
Private Park Bo-seop answered on instinct.
"Any wheeled military ride, I can handle most. Uh, not well! Just get 'em moving! Nothing like a car or hover bike!"
Realizing his slip, he backpedaled frantically.
Kim Seo-jun pressed.
"What about a battle tank?"
"Battle tank?"
He nodded anyway.
"I can move one. Poles use our Black Panther, so yeah... wait."
Then it hit him—the serious implication.
"S-Sergeant, you don't mean...?"
Only one reason for that question now.
"Spot on."
Kim Seo-jun confirmed it gladly.
"Gonna take that psyker infected down with a battle tank."