My biggest achievent wasnt that I found just a single edible plant.
It was the fact that I succeeded in removing the soldiers fear of eating it raw before they reached a critical point of starvation. Lieutenant Colonel King had thanked , saying that if this had continued for just a few more days, then the soldiers might have been completely blinded by their hunger and died by eating sothing poisonous.
First of all, when the food problem was solved, the guard troops, which had been rotating on one-hour shifts from hunger and lack of stamina that made it impossible to concentrate for prolonged periods, started to change shifts in three-hour incrents, so there were now troops left over.
With those extra troops, we scoured around the jungle, collecting any plant that looked edible and setting up traps on whatever ground we set foot on using wines and tree branches. It wasnt for the already extinct source of wild animals in the area, but the enemy.
After coming back to the barracks, the plants and roots were all poured out onto the ground, then were each tested for edibility. First, I would place them against sensitive parts of the skin like the lips or cheek to check for a reaction, then cut off a pinch of the plant and subrge it in water for 24 hours, then drink a couple of drops of that water, and if its fine even then, bite off a tiny piece.
[DAY-17]
Every single mber of the unit experienced an extre fever or excruciating stomachache and diarrhea at least once. Still, as a result, our unit was able to attain several more edible plants Ive seen so ti on TV before, like the cassava, jackfruit, and wild sugarcane. Of course, this was only an assumption made from the fact that we knew cassava tasted like potatoes and sweet potatoes, and sugarcane had a sweet liquid contained in its stem. We didnt know exactly what we were eating. But what was important was that we were now full and content, and there was enough food for everyone to eat that there was now a pile of these plants in the corner of every single squads barracks.
[DAY-74]
Its been over two months since Ive been here, five more operations I participated in, with fourteen dead and twenty new transferred here. The higher-ups must not have liked that we survived because one day, they gave the 14 Special Ops a ridiculous command to raid the enemys air defense observation point while also reclaiming the civilian area that the enemy was occupying. Squad 1 and Squad 2, who went ahead in the helicopter, which was our only ans of reinforcent, returned with only half of them alive after the two-week operation. It felt like the good people died especially quickly. Rather than mourning, I used that ti to put more effort into my training.
Managing to survive this long, I ca to learn that their saying, one ti of real experience is better than a hundred tis of training, was indeed true, and at so point reached a level of skill in shooting and combat where I can work together with John.
Watching the soldiers co to with an armful of plants and fruit every single day to ask whether each of them was edible or not, the new people started calling the supplies soldier, and since it wasnt completely wrong, I was treated as a supply soldier from then on. That was because, around that ti, I succeeded in growing cassava.
While I had been trimming the cassava roots, one of the squad mbers who was walking by ntioned that these have one hell of a stubborn life, the leftover stems we threw away rooted down again in the soil, and without much thought, I had the idea that it would be possible to plant them and regrow them. I replanted several of them in the corner of the base.
After close to a month, I dug up a little bit of the soil to find that there was a new cluster of roots, which made the other squad mbers yell out cheers, and even Lieutenant Colonel King, famous for his ability to stay calm, said he was thankful that Maditch sent to them.
A few days later.
On the day when a wetland snake we thought went completely extinct in the area was caught in our tactical ambush ankle trap for humans
Lieutenant Colonel King stood in front of the expanded cassava farm and officially announced that the 14 Special Ops Unit no longer had a food shortage.
[DAY-81]
When the daily radio calls from the 14 Special Ops that requested supplies, or even just food, stopped coming, a few soldiers from the higher-rank units ca to check if we were all dead.
Since we had already evolved beyond just allied troops into Tarzans, we greeted them warmly, and as a aning of gratitude to the high-ranking units for worrying about us, we showed them our traditions. The newest grade of military uniforms were squeaky clean, and sturdy, and the military rations they brought almost made us faint from how good it was.
With that, we had completely recovered our vitality, and I knew that our unit was ready to move on to the next stage.
Hey, Luwil. You busy?
Day 89.
Luwil, who was plowing the field with a plow (made by tying a barrel of a gun mangled up by a grenade to a tree branch), stopped what he was doing and straightened up to face .
I dunno not really?
Then co with for a sec.
Oh, did you find sothing new again?
To Luwils question, I just nodded instead of answering.
Yesterday, sothing was dropped off at the supplies area by a transport plane. Not another soldier, but real provisions.
I opened up the crate, grateful that they even sent us anything
What? This is it?
They never leave out those damned beans, do they.
Its contents made it hard to believe that the provisions were for a unit that was combating the enemy on the battlefield.
Two boxes of canned beans.
One box of canned herring with so of them oddly swollen up.
Ten varying, ununified rifles. Four of them were unusable because they werent compatible with the ammo given to them.
Two bundles of grenades, 16 in total.
Three portable anti-tank firearms, nine cartridges.
Twenty bulletproof vests.
And the most important one, ammo. 900 rounds.
Looking at the crumpled notes I had on the units supplies, among the unsystematic notes such as Cassava 140 roots and Reeds tent worth, was the date when they sent the last supply. It was exactly 6 weeks ago.
With three new soldiers dying from the last enemys ambush, there were currently 37 soldiers.
Since that makes it around 24~25 rounds per person, they didnt even give enough bullets for each soldier to fill a single magazine.
A decent number of vests and not enough bullets.
For so reason, that sounded like they were telling us to go out and die for .
What did the higher-ups say? Itd be better to go scream at a wall, but we should still curse them out until their ears bleed.
Thats obviously what I went to do first, but Lieutenant Colonel was already screaming into the radio when I got there.
Our composed, stoic Lieutenant Colonel had been talking in a flat, low tone while grinding his teeth to dust. I couldnt hear what they were saying on the other side, but with the few words that leaked out and through the Lieutenant Colonels tone, it was more than enough to figure out what they were saying.
They were saying sothing like why arent you dead yet?
What? Who?
How would I know? Probably the one that sent Lieutenant Colonel here in the first place. They must be pretty darn annoyed that the guy they sent out to die is still alive. When he ntioned the provisions, they started talking about the next operation.
F**k were gonna get another mountain of corpses. What is it this ti? It should be doable if its raiding a key observation point like last
Were attacking. A head-on battle against the captured enemy territory, Tarel Ground.
After hearing what Gyosu said, Luwils face made an expression of disbelief. That was only natural. Since I made the sa face when I heard it too.
This order is beyond absurd. This is unreasonable! Colonel! A total war? We do not have the people nor the supplies to do such a thing!
[That-tzzt! Incompetence of Lieutenant Colonel-tzt! There- no change to opera-tzzt!]
Please reconsider! If we do not change the strategy imdiately!
It was only after hearing that I realized just how sty of people we were working for. To think that it wasnt just one person like Maditch, but multiple of them holding the power up top. To think Im their underling. It felt like the heavens were falling on .
Apparently, the flies had a pretty big fight a few days ago, and we got a pretty good hand over them, so we temporarily have the right to air for a while. Said theyll flash their wings to us too. After the Air Forces bombarding passes, then the 14 Special Ops Unit blocks the main advance point of the enemy, so the front, and in the anti, our allys main unit is going to move their equipnt and flank the enemy in the midst of the chaos.
Total war. That ant the allies and enemies were going to pull out every single card they had stocked up to have a fight.
Even if our unit is the master of guerilla battles and sabotage, not even we could block the enemys chanized artillery division with airsoft guns and a couple of grenades.
The news that ca through the radio was basically an execution order for the entire unit.
Lieutenant Colonel. What did he say?
He said that if they continue to co out like this, then we will have no choice but to prioritize our lives. What he said was basically saying were switching sides to at least a Colonel, but the answer was even worse.
And that is?
They apparently planted mines in the direction of the enemys advance in case the front was breached to the 14 Special Ops Units incompetence. Since they left the road to the main entrance clean for the vehicles, they told him to escape there if we wanted to. But if we do, it was going to be treated as disobedience of orders and desertion. Considering its during warti, its highly likely going to be punished by execution, is what they said.
Thunk!
Luwil, who had his eyes closed as he rubbed his temples, threw the plow on the ground when he heard the last things I said.
Just when it looked like things were getting better Do they really have to kill us all for this to end?
More like they want to suck out every last drop of blood from us since were going to die anyway.
The reason why they sent the anti-tank firearms they never sent before was so clear that it was disgusting. Since were going to die if we run away, we might as well attract the enemy using these. Since if we get lucky and manage to make not just the artillery but the enemys tanks turn to us too, then the main unit would be able to attack the enemys flank when its wide open.
Alright. Well, everyones funeral dates been set. Then whats this about going sowhere? Do you want to get ready to desert this place?
Even if were lucky and get past that minefield, well either be executed for desertion or get dragged back here.
What about surrendering?
As if that would work?
The 14 Special Ops force was known to be an infamous unit to the enemys army. Experts of guerrillas working in pairs of two or three to kill allied guard troops with just a few shots before retreating. In reality, they were just waiting to ambush them for the right ti to shoot, whether that was a day or two days, because of their lack of bullet rounds, but to the enemy, it was pure terror, as if the enemy could co out of anywhere at any ti. Even if they manage to find a trace and track it down? All sorts of snares and toxic plant powders linked to the traps are awaiting them.
If they try to raid them properly? The guys ditch all of their unusable gear and move the entire unit, and then the main unit rains down mortars on the invading troops like they dont care if any 14 Special Ops soldiers are left there.
Thanks to that, the enemys vengeance towards the 14 Special Ops Unit was through the roof. If they surrendered, the enemy would eagerly greet them, then chop off our heads and show us into the fire.
Both our enemies and allies hate us. So theres only one way for us to survive.
And whats that?
We just need to expand the reason why were alive a little more.
Before I ca to Luwil, I barged into Lieutenant Colonels tent after he finished talking on the radio and told him my idea.
The reason why we werent already executed was because the public had an opinion positive enough about us that they couldnt remove us right away.
If we expanded on that to the point where everyone knew the 14 Special Ops, then they might not be able to throw us out like trash.
There are so like Maditch, but so of the commanders are normal ones who see war as just war. If we show them enough skill and achievents, then theyll definitely get interested. Thats the only way we can get out of this damned situation. To make the 14 Special Ops Unit too valuable to throw away. Well spread our fa wide enough so that it becos an obviously stupid choice to use the 14 Special Ops Unit as re bait.
It wasnt actually that grand of a plan. Just like how were not being executed right now because of the other soldiers, lets try to get noticed by the commanders this ti. It was doing the sa exact thing.
Hearing that, after a long mont of thinking, Lieutenant Colonel agreed to my suggestion, and aside from Luwil, who had been out on patrol, he called the Squad Leaders for Squad 1, 3, and , who proposed the idea and spent all night coming up with a plan.
Making a na for us with just a few anti-tank firearms, not enough bullets for a full magazine, and around thirty troops against a division-level army Is that even possible?
Not like this, no. Thats why I called you. Were making another squad with you, , Shepherd, and a few other aces from the 14 Special Ops Unit. Before fighting the enemy, we have sothing we need to do.
Gyosu pulled the blueprint that the Lieutenant Colonel completed last night through imnse contemplation and continued to talk to Luwil.
For the operation comncing three days later, the main unit already took out their equipnt from the base and is taking a long way around. Since theres only a limited number of paths through the jungle with heavy equipnt, they probably have the idea to take a far detour to close in so distance without the enemy noticing. Naturally, that ans both the operating and maintenance personnel went with them too. But all of the supplies piled up at the headquarters. They wouldnt have had ti to move all of that, right? It isnt like their dirt poor like us either.
No dont tell .
Luwil said as he saw a big red X drawn over our allys storage building on the Lieutenant Colonels map.
Were infiltrating our troops and stealing?
Dont call it stealing. Its just a little enthusiastic ans of requesting provisions. Even if we are their bait, our bio codes still identify us as an ally, so we wont be swiss cheesed by the stationary turrets.
Gyosu handed Luwil a poncho and a mask with 14 Special Ops Squad embroidered largely onto it, which Marti made last night.
No matter what happens, you cant kill the Allied troops. We have to stop at whats considered embezzlent of supplies according to military law so we dont give any sort of justification to the people who want to kill us. Were going to proudly announce that were the 14 Special Ops Squad and enter the allys base. Then, after righteously and violently seizing the provisions, we will run back to our ho before we get punished. Got it?
Hah, hahahahah
Luwil took the mask that looked like one a bank robber would wear and laughed at how ridiculous how this all was. Theyll confidently reveal their identity and go into the allys base to rob them.
Its so brilliant!
Putting on the mask that had a bad stench, it must have been made from torn uniforms. Luwil put on a smile that perfectly fit the role of a robber.
Kid, fess up. Lieutenant Colonel didnt think this up on his own, did he? His Majesty the King cant think of sothing as crazy as this.
Mmm Lieutenant Colonel planned everything except for this. Like sending a false surrendering docunt to the enemy and telling them all of the allys ambushing locations so they lose interest in us.
Then what about this?
Pwahah! The supplies are obviously the supply soldiers responsibility!
John, who ca out of the tent with his mask on at so point, chid in. Behind him, several more people wearing the sa mask with the 14 Special Ops Unit embroidered on it followed him out.
Our sides all readied up. Kid, are you ready? Well die if were unlucky.
Well just have to pray that the guys up in headquarters were living under a rock long enough to think bio codes are everything.
No, not that. Even if we manage to rob them and arm ourselves up with those epic military shields, electronic firearms, and plasma grenades, were only one infantry company. The enemy is a battalion-sized unit with all that, if not more. Even if they lose interest in us, when a battle eventually breaks out, troops over 10 tis our number are going to turn their guns to us.
I know.
They managed to create a plan where theyll survive sohow. A plan they created, screaming curses all night at and with the Lieutenant Colonel and Squad Leaders.
No matter what they did, there wasnt a way for everyone to survive. But
At least the people that survived will be honored in the na of the 14 Special Ops Unit. If were all going to be crushed down like trash anyway, shouldnt we try to save at least so of the people?
And so the squad set off boldly towards the main gate of the 394th Armored Regint, the only path without mines throughout the entire minefield behind their base.
That night, one of the operators that had been watching over the bases periters opened the door to eight soldiers from an advancing unit who were clearly identified as friendly forces according to the bio code, without even a single reaction from the tal sensor. And that night, the brigade was robbed of all their advanced equipnt and supplies by several masked n yelling out, Were from 14 Special Ops! and Were taking so provisions! When the confused operator reported to the commander that Allied soldiers are causing a commotion in the supply depot, the commander, who had left the headquarters with the tanks, figured out what was going on and gave permission to open fire, it was already after two vehicles each loaded with two 2.5 ton trucks worth of supplies blasted open the main gate with plasma guns and were long gone.
Three days later, the main forces faced the enemy in a total war as anticipated. However, the enemy had no interest in the 14 Special Ops Units direction but was instead fully prepared for the total war against the main units, and the battle had ended with a dramatic victory of one side when a small infantry unit that succeeded in breaking through the enemys rear sacrificed themselves.
Later, when Sergeant Gyosu Park stood before a military court, he claid, It was simply an embezzlent of provisions, and we just stole it because we thought wed be much better at using them than those useless bastards.
At the end of the trial, the command decided that instead of punishnt, they would cancel the awarding of dals and special promotions that had been planned to be awarded to the three survivors of the 14 Special Operations Unit, including Gyosu Park, Luwil Batross and Doris Rishach, was concluded that the 14 Special Operations Unit will now be operated as a unit specializing in enemy sabotaging and infiltration from the rear with the allocation of special forces personnel under the command of Sergeant Gyosu Park, who continued to emphasize that the attack on Tarel Ground was a defensive battle for so reason.
Later, the 14 Special Ops Squad records their na in history as legends.
Gaiden (End)
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