Spark, Fort Roberts (2)
The regintal commander spoke.
"I know it's a bit late to say this now... but about the last operation, you did a great job. You fought well against those lunatics."
"It was a tragedy."
Hearing the young officer's answer, the regintal commander, colonel Laughlin, gave a faint smile.
"A model answer. Yes, you're right. Still, it could have been an even greater tragedy. The baby would never have seen the light of day, those thugs might have murdered patriots, and this nation could have lost you... Who could have imagined this sort of incident would happen?"
Sighing, the regintal commander offered Gyeo-ul a seat.
"Have a seat for now. This isn't going to be over quickly."
"Yes, sir."
Gyeo-ul filled the empty chair and, the mont he sat, the window flashed. Monts later, the glass started trembling. Though the typhoon had entered a lull, distant thunder still rumbled now and then. The sky outside was so thick with clouds that the heavens' bare face couldn't be seen. It looked like it was only a matter of ti before the rain started up again.
The regintal commander raised the main topic.
"I'll ask directly. Aren't you afraid?"
"......"
As it happened, it was a question he'd heard once already on the way here. The echo of a girl's voice overlapped in his mind, and Gyeo-ul hesitated for a beat before answering. The commander could easily mistake that hesitation. The dark-skinned colonel nodded.
"I thought so. I reviewed your recent combat record. You nearly died."
"It was a freak accident."
"Luck counts as skill on the battlefield. To be a good soldier, it's important to accept misfortune. Soone as fortunate as you has to accept that, especially. Admit it: you could die at any mont."
This didn't sound like an empty platitude. Gyeo-ul was curious. Was this relevant to why he'd been called here today?
"That being said..."
It was relevant.
"First lieutenant. Have you ever considered stepping back from the front line?"
"What do you an, sir?"
"I an exactly what I say—if you want it, you don't have to risk yourself any longer."
The colonel took out two forms and laid them side by side on the table.
"You've earned the right to choose. Even at your young age, you've already shown more courage and devotion than most people could muster in a lifeti. The dal of Honor proves it. I'm not telling you to leave the army, of course. There are other ways to help people besides fighting directly."
"I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to lay down my rifle yet."
"Look through these first, then decide. They're worth considering."
Despite suspecting what they contained, Gyeo-ul followed the colonel's suggestion. One was a letter of appointnt, the other a transfer application for another unit. The na of the second unit was striking.
'Epidemic War Tactical Support Group?'
Transferring between units was usually by order in the military, but so special units selected mbers by reviewing applicants. Gyeo-ul knew of several such groups, but had never heard this unit's na before. It seed to be one of those setting-specific "random scenario generation" results.
'He said I have the right to choose, so it ans I have to pick one of these two?'
Truthfully, even the title for the appointnt letter was unfamiliar. He didn't have enough information either way.
As he looked up from the papers, the regintal commander naturally continued.
"I'll explain each. First, this one. It's a letter of appointnt to the soon-to-be-established military governnt office's audit board."
"Military governnt office?"
"Hm, to be precise, it'll be called the Central California Refugee Military Governnt Office. It ans refugee managent by the military will beco more official. To be honest, so far, administrative support has been pretty lacking."
After a mont's hesitation, the colonel elaborated further.
"In fact, that's not the whole reason... It seems the higher-ups are worried about public opinion."
"I'd appreciate it if you could give a bit more detail."
"To put it simply, the presidential election is coming up. Political fights don't stop even now. It's ridiculous... The troubleso public opinion, first, is a group sympathetic to refugees. They heavily criticize the governnt's policy of using refugees as a manpower resource, saying the governnt is exploiting their desperate circumstances."
"You an they say you're shifting sacrifices that ought to fall to Arican citizens onto the refugees?"
"Exactly. They say it's morally wrong. To so extent there's also a belief that this country is superior—but that's just my perspective, so take it with a grain of salt."
Though the regintal commander labeled it his perspective, Gyeo-ul thought it was a pretty valid insight. People co here asking for help, so they are protected. Arica is a great country, after all. Not everyone feels this way, but so might be inclined toward that kind of idea. Gyeo-ul gave his view.
"While it's partially true, I find it hard to agree. I think everyone must do their best to survive right now. There's no reason to distinguish between refugees and Arican citizens."
"I agree. We'll have to fight together soon enough anyway. This is a war on which the survival of humanity depends. What does order matter? The people at the top don't know the realities on the ground—though I suppose that includes , a little. Hm, a little? Just a little, right? Or maybe not?"
Colonel Laughlin questioned himself with a tone of uncertainty. It was almost comic, though he wasn't acting.
Gyeo-ul asked,
"Regintal commander. May I ask sothing? It's hard for to grasp... Is the presidential election really going to proceed as normal, even now that a state of ergency has been declared?"
"This country held elections even during the Civil War, you know. Of course, this crisis is much worse, but since the cordon's held for nearly a year, the opposition party says there's no reason to postpone the election. The citizens agree. People are generally unhappy, probably in part because of hard tis. So say the election is even more necessary to soothe public discontent. Who knows, maybe the president himself wants to resign out of sheer exhaustion. That was a joke, obviously."
Even as he said it, the colonel's expression was awkward.
"Soldiers aren't supposed to care about politics, originally. Anyway, this public opinion I ntioned—your share in it isn't small. People say, 'Conditions for refugees must be dire if soone your age needed to pick up a weapon.'"
"That's not exactly a complint."
"Of course not. There's all sorts of people in this world... But the other side of the troubleso public opinion will seem even worse to you. These are the maniacs who say we should expel the refugees altogether. They're swept up in groundless rumors."
"Rumors?"
"Yes, rumors. There are a few, but the nastiest is that the refugees are spreading disease. Ever since the CDC made so ambiguous announcent, believers have multiplied rapidly."
"Do they have a particular dislike for Chinese people?"
"Indeed. Have you heard sothing? Or just guessing?"
"Both, sir."
Gyeo-ul thought of Li Ai-ring. When they'd taken the little town north of the base, she'd confided her fear of Chinese people being scapegoated for public frustration.
The CDC had suggested the pandemic might be a biological weapon. A weapon made by China, a product of failed Chinese oversight. That's what the fanatics believed. The possibility that China was just the first victim didn't seem to cross their minds.
Colonel Laughlin continued.
"It's not just about Chinese people—fear of refugees in general is spreading. People hate those coming over the xican border, and also those making illegal landings on the east coast. With more small-scale outbreaks in the east, even extremist groups advocating for shooting all refugees are gaining support, especially in the South. It's a minority, but the fact they're growing bothers . Politicians, though, must care."
"So, either way, the creation of the military governnt office is controversial. That's why I'm needed?"
"It can't be helped. You have supporters everywhere. After the Captain Harris incident, I imagine there are even more. Or maybe there can't be any more at this point? Even the stubborn rednecks probably can't bring themselves to dislike you."
"That incident—is it really going to be made public?"
"It seems almost certain. The higher-ups must have calculated the cost and benefit. Having reviewed the combat record myself, I think it's better to disclose it. The incident itself is extrely sensitive and negative, but it's quite dramatic, depending on how it's spun."
There was a long pause as the colonel searched for the right words. He seed to have a lot to say.
"There were so many impressive parts. From your warning to Captain Harris, to launching an attack despite being outnumbered—that was outstanding. You personally flank-attacking the enemy's detachnt was a sound decision if you believed you could pull it off. It turned out to be correct. I heard your instructor was Lieutenant Colonel Capston of the 3rd Battalion—did you learn that from him?"
In Gyeo-ul's experience, this had been a brief mont in his journal. Guided by his augnted-reality intellect correction, Gyeo-ul replied calmly.
"Yes. I heard there were officers and NCOs in Iraq who acted similarly."
"The lieutenant colonel taught you well. Yes, there were so brave people like that. But for better or worse, none were quite like you. The line between self-confidence and recklessness is pretty thin, you know..."
"I apologize."
"No need to apologize. Anyway, it all felt like watching a movie. The way you used a trap to catch the Trickster, being buried alive, even the mutants running across water. And above all, the mont the baby was finally born at dawn, after that long night, was moving. The Defense Departnt's public affairs office was delighted. But—"
He stopped, for emphasis.
"Even if it all seems like a movie, your life is not a movie. You can't reshoot, you can't rewind. There's talk from above, too, about how you almost died. They asked to check your intentions."
Once again, the regintal commander urged him.
"Think about it seriously. A hero's tale that ends in death is just a tragedy for everyone else."
Gyeo-ul offered a polite smile.
"When they say they respect my wishes, it just ans both choices are equally beneficial for them, doesn't it?"
"So blunt..."
"In that case, my answer is the sa. I still want to fight."
The colonel shrugged.
"Your mind's made up... Sohow I felt it would turn out this way from the start. There's no point urging you further. But since it's headquarters' order, at least look at this."
He tapped the remaining form on the table. Gyeo-ul asked,
"What does this Epidemic War Tactical Support Group do? I've never heard of it."
"It was just ford, so of course not. It's under the Special Operations Command, supposedly handling only the most dangerous missions. In reality, it's quite the opposite."
"For PR, then?"
"It's not that they never see combat. But their missions are all done in environnts where safety is fully ensured and with plenty of rear support. Naturally, the public affairs team will be filming them around the clock. You'll see politicians and civil-military operations officers more than fellow soldiers."
"Not interested."
"You didn't hesitate for a mont. Master Sergeant O'Connell's going in, though."
"Who's that?"
"You don't know? He caught three Grumbles so far, did all kinds of things, and has earned the Silver Star several tis. He was even in the recruitnt ads. Though he did act kind of weird, always ranting about sons-of-bitches."
"Oh."
More ammo, more sons-of-bitches. Gyeo-ul thought he recognized the person.
While Gyeo-ul was certainly in a league of his own in this world, there were other war heroes as well. That's the sort of news you always see on TV, anyway.
---------------------------= Author's Notes ---------------------------=
#Earnings
At this point, Gyeo-ul's earnings, combining his dal of Honor pension, now exceed $60,000 per year.
Tremble tremble. I can't believe an author is envious of a character in their own novel...
#Q&A
Q. Kongja: As soone who knows theology, I tend to drop or skip books when churches appear. Usually, the author has no expertise but likes to pretend otherwise...
A. The Full Gospel Believers' Association isn't a normal religious group. The characters explicitly call it a cult in the story, so don't equate it with real-life churches, or you'll put in a bind!
Q. ChicCat: @ O great old one... I've co down with a terrible flu... Bless , please...
A. My blessings only cover childhood innocence... Hmm... should I call over Yog-Sothoth from next door?
Q. Dohwa-won: @O Great Old One, coming down on a teor makes him seem not that high up on the cosmic scale!
A. That teor was my booger...
Q. BlueSkyForever: @ I'm handing out 1 coupon for the author's childlike heart.
A. I received a coupon... The author's willpower has increased by one point.
Q. Saengryak: @Secret Files Tunguska—do you know that ga?
A. Hmm... never heard of it. Is it a horror ga?
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