Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Rescue Operation

“Seven days ago an American VIP was abducted by the Taliban in downtown Kabul.”

The middle-aged man continued in a low voice. There was no particular expression and the words were calm, but the briefing was smooth as if this kind of operation was familiar.

Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho’s interpretation was also simple and clear so the team members immediately grasped the situation.

“In the meantime we tried to grasp the location of the VIPs who became hostages, and finally concluded that they are detained in one of these two places.”

The rectangular screen in front splits left and right and shows two places on left and right. Both places have no civilian houses visible around and are rugged mountain terrain. On the left photo A is written and on the right photo B is written.

“The two places are about 15 kilometers apart in straight line. Your mission is to strike point B.”

‘Point A the US military will hit directly. The probability that the hostages are there is high.’

Yi-hyeon and the team members concentrated on the briefing. A typical hostage rescue operation. Since there are no civilians around the conditions are rather better.

The US military must have found that place with all their effort, but it seems they cannot be sure which of the two places. So both sides must be struck at the same time.

“If the hostages are at point B they will be in one of several caves in a rocky canyon. So you must keep close contact with the US military striking point A and match the timing. First search and reconnaissance, afterward if there are hostages rescue and then retreat in that order.”

After retreat there will probably be large-scale aerial bombing.

The screen changed again and photos of two people appeared. A middle-aged man and a young white woman.

“The man is Tom Hardy, second consul of the Oman consulate, and the woman is Amy McGregor, 25 years old. Currently an intern reporter at the New York Herald newspaper company.”

While listening to the man’s explanation Yi-hyeon suddenly had a question.

The second consul of the US consulate in Oman and an intern reporter of a US newspaper company are ‘VIPs’? They called even Alpha Team in Korea to rescue those two people?

It doesn’t match front and back.

Of course all citizens of one’s own country are precious existences. If citizens are abducted by a terrorist group the government’s position would be to rescue them somehow. But to make such a fuss to save those two people?

There is something to confirm first.

Yi-hyeon quietly raised his hand and asked a question. Because the man’s briefing seemed roughly finished.

“Mister, what unit is the team striking point A? Delta? Or SEAL?”

The man’s expression became strange. Looking quietly at the questioning Yi-hyeon he answered.

“That side two Delta teams are going. Since you have to communicate with that team there is nothing to hide.”

Two Delta teams going means much more weight than point B. Yi-hyeon asked again.

“There being two prisoners could be a problem, is there priority among the prisoners?”

Now the room became quiet. Even agents not familiar with English grasped the intention of Yi-hyeon’s question. At Yi-hyeon’s question asking who is the person who must be rescued first in case of emergency the man glared at Yi-hyeon for a moment.

He sighed and continued the words.

“To reveal first, according to US military intelligence the prisoners are judged to be detained at point A with 90 percent probability. You are going to point B to rescue prisoners who might be there with 10 percent probability. After rescuing the VIPs move to this point C and hand them over.”

With only 10 percent probability there might be prisoners? For such a thing they called Alpha Team of 707 in Korea.

It was a somewhat absurd situation but the agents were silent. Even if the situation is absurd one cannot refuse the orders that come down.

The man hesitated a little and then opened his mouth.

“Among the prisoners priority is placed on Amy McGregor.”

Yi-hyeon only nodded.

As expected. That young woman’s identity is not ordinary. He doesn’t know why a civil servant of the Oman consulate came to this Kabul which is a battlefield, but one can tell that the woman is a much more important figure than that consul.

The man asks Yi-hyeon.

“Agent, what is your name?”

“Baby.”

Yi-hyeon answered shortly, and the man turned his body without a word and left the room. Yi-hyeon did not ask the truly curious thing.

That was why of all things they called 707, because he thought there might be a political reason here that Yi-hyeon cannot know, or should not know. It’s not that the US military lacks special forces either.

After the man left the agents became busier. Now they check the details in earnest. They put up a more detailed map of the site than the map and plan the operation. Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho instructed without hesitation.

“Looking at the map first three caves where people can reside are visible. Wind, Guitar, Pointer search these places first and Baby and Fever, Peanut backup. The rest cover. And···.”

The group only nodded silently. Even without speaking in more detail everyone has grasped the situation. The rest is left to improvisation on site. No matter how much one turns the head here once entering the site it is different again. One must respond agilely to the situation at each moment.

The team armed themselves with US military attire and equipment from head to toe. Yi-hyeon especially examined the bulletproof helmet carefully. Then he smacked his lips.

“When entering the operation one shouldn’t curse carelessly either.”

He said to Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun beside him.

“Why?”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun asks.

“This is a helmet with satellite transmission and reception function. Probably our actions will be relayed in real time to the US military’s situation room.”

“This damn! It really is.”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun examined the helmet and then got irritated.

When conducting a joint operation with the heavenly dynasty US military it is considerably inconvenient at times like this. Even if wasting money there is a limit, that one can look into an operation taking place in Afghanistan’s mountain terrain as if watching a live sports broadcast from the special warfare command in the US mainland or even a safe house in Washington.

At a time when the surroundings were darkening the team members ate lightly and set out riding Humvees.

Finally the operation!

* * *

20:25

The Humvee stopped, and the group who got off confirmed the direction and began to move quickly. The helmets already activated the function.

From now on they move by running the steep mountain terrain. The lead is Yi-hyeon.

Putting a newcomer in the lead was strange, but Team Leader Captain Kim Cheol-ho put Yi-hyeon in front without hesitating at all. He has grasped that Yi-hyeon’s location grasping ability is outstanding.

Huk, huk.

Yi-hyeon ran while maintaining an appropriate interval with the person behind in his own way. To point B is about kilometers in straight line. He ran up like the wind the rugged mountain terrain of Afghanistan that is not flat while holding all kinds of equipment.

Soon when Yi-hyeon stopped the agents following behind stopped panting.

“Baby, this bastard. You should have gone a bit slowly. Hek hek.”

Guitar, Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon who came close lightly hit Yi-hyeon’s butt and said.

Since they do team training as soon as eyes open they cannot help but know each other’s skills well but today Yi-hyeon put out a little speed differently from when receiving training.

“Hehe, sorry. Since it’s the first real combat the tension rose I guess.”

Yi-hyeon said smiling with a clean face that didn’t even shed much sweat.

“Anyway this bastard.”

Whether he found it admirable that Yi-hyeon smiled without tension even though it was the first real combat Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon also just laughed. Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho who was watching the two from a little distance also quietly smiled and turned his head. In fact while bringing a newcomer on the operation it is true that his nerves were quite drawn.

It is not once or twice that he has seen a tense newcomer make big and small mistakes in real combat. But that guy is full of leisure even at this moment.

“Well, point B is 300 meters ahead. From now on advance dispersed. Guitar, lead!”

“Yes.”

With the end of Guitar Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon’s low chant the group began to move again. From a little distance Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho briefly communicated. Sharing and confirming the situation on both sides with the US military that went to point A.

He who approached Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun said.

“This, the matter might get a bit twisted. While searching point A, they say the hostages might not be there.”

“That means?”

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun, Wind asks in a tense voice.

Then Team Leader Kim Cheol-ho whose expression also became more tense than at first nodded and answered.

“It means the possibility is high that they are here, at point B. Well, concentrate.”

The group became wordless. No, there is no need to talk useless talk. Because all this situation is being relayed in real time.

Now the cave is right in front. Among the three search teams Guitar Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon’s team stepped out the fastest and approached the cave in the farthest place.

The three caves all look like natural caves. Outwardly there are no artificial traces. These guys also know the US military’s precise satellite reconnaissance so concealment and cover are second nature.

Yi-hyeon followed behind Wind at a certain distance and tensed.

At that moment,

- There are no humans here, Yi-hyeon.

Startled!

Suddenly Sion appeared. And kindly informs the situation of this cave in front.

‘Can Sion know that?’

Yi-hyeon quickly concentrated his mind and asked. It was extremely amazing and if Sion has such a function (?) then on a battlefield like this it is truly a jackpot.

- Really, Yi-hyeon seems to see me too loosely. And even this much Yi-hyeon should be able to do.

Huh? I can also do it?

- Concentrate the mind. As I told you calm the breathing and empty the head. Gaze looks at the front but establish the will of actually seeing behind the rock! The important thing is your will.

Without realizing Yi-hyeon regulated his breathing.

Well, slowly exhale. More slowly. And look at the front. No, is it feeling.

Finally Yi-hyeon saw. The inside of the cave that bends in several branches. The situation of the cave that is pitch black with not a single light floats in his head.

He lightly tapped the microphone part of the transceiver and opened his mouth.

“Wind, there’s nothing here. This cave is empty.”

At Yi-hyeon’s sudden words Wind who was watching the front and tensed to the utmost turned his head and looked back at Yi-hyeon about 5 meters behind.

“Baby, what is that talk? How do you know that?”

Wind who heard absurd talk during the operation asked, but Yi-hyeon has no way to explain. Rather wanting to confirm his newly arisen (?) ability he quickly stepped forward.

“The feeling is like that, the feeling. I’ll sweep here.”

“This bastard!”

Wind’s voice rose a little. Even though a little separated from the cave the situation is not one to make a loud sound now. That much it became urgent.

He is actually a member of the Dongseong Society organization and before being deployed to this operation received secret instructions from the high commander. That is precisely to watch Baby’s back in real combat and protect him.

The commander did not explain specifically, but Lee Myeong-hun felt it. That the organization is concentrating on raising this young guy Song Yi-hyeon.

Regardless of his urgent thought Yi-hyeon entered the cave swishing, confirmed the inside and quickly popped out.

“Clear.”

Looking at Yi-hyeon who annoyingly raised his hand and turned his body Lee Myeong-hun burned with a thousand fires inside. He saw for the first time a guy who acts so cheekily in real combat.

Anyway now they approach the second cave about a hundred meters away. The Guitar Sergeant Kim Seong-hyeon team that went the farthest is still advancing almost crawling. That cave is in the farthest place.

The second search team Pointer and Fever found a small cave on the opposite side of the valley and went there. Again a small variable arose on site. So Wind and Yi-hyeon search two caves.

The second cave.

Yi-hyeon lowered his body and reduced the walking speed. This time the feeling is different.

There is Wind a little ahead but Yi-hyeon quietly approached and tapped his shoulder.

“Why?”

“There seems to be a person in this cave.”

Lee Myeong-hun stared at Yi-hyeon. The expression is not good.

“Yes, the feeling is like that. Ahem.”

Lee Myeong-hun silently turned his head and began to walk. He became annoyed to argue further with Yi-hyeon. But he also concentrated more and lowered his posture. He did not hear Yi-hyeon’s words carelessly. Because through countless team trainings he knows part of Yi-hyeon’s extraordinary ability.

Now the entrance of the cave is close. Inside is pitch black so no light leaks out at all.

Yi-hyeon took a deep breath and concentrated his mind.

As expected it works!

Like a little while ago the situation inside the cave is drawn in his head. First entering the entrance and passing about 5 meters it bends almost at a right angle to the right. So the light inside does not leak outside,

And near the entrance there is a sentry. One person.

‘That guy is the problem.’

A problem!

He has to subdue that sentry without sound, but even the MP5 rifle with silencer attached makes sound. The distance is close so the people inside the cave will surely notice.

A bigger problem is that Lee Myeong-hun does not know this situation so the moment he discovers that sentry he will shoot the rifle and then it collapses.

But he cannot say that he knows the situation inside the cave either.

How to say?

That he found out by the method Sion taught?

The urgent Yi-hyeon grabbed Lee Myeong-hun’s shoulder and made a hand signal. Roughly a signal to enter together. And without giving Lee Myeong-hun time to stop he turned his body and approached the cave. And quietly took out the combat knife worn on the left thigh.

The combat knife was cool to the touch on the handle as if cooled by the highland’s cold wind. Now the rifle is slung on the shoulder.

Lee Myeong-hun who was astonished seeing Yi-hyeon’s action approached, but now he cannot stop. Already the cave entrance is right in front so he cannot even shout.

The situation of the flag!

Sergeant Lee Myeong-hun quietly raised the rifle and took a shooting posture. It became a shape of backing up Yi-hyeon who led in front but it cannot be helped.

As soon as Yi-hyeon entered the cave right in front the sentry who was sitting on a rock stood up with a surprised face.

A blank face. Without even time to grab the AK-47 stood beside he just opens his mouth to shout. The distance is not even a meter.

Yi-hyeon quietly flung his left hand.

Shik!

The combat knife stuck in the sentry’s beard-covered neck and Yi-hyeon ran.

One step.

Yi-hyeon who approached the falling sentry already covered his mouth and quietly supported the falling body.

And Yi-hyeon who examined the presence inside the cave.

The following Lee Myeong-hun was terrified.

He clearly saw. Though it was a dark night the weather was clear so there was starlight, and the trained himself has no problem acting with only this light.

What is that action. Yi-hyeon flung his left hand and threw the combat knife, and the moment he approached the sentry again was too fast. And it seems he only ran one step but he only saw the side view of Yi-hyeon who had already approached the sentry and was covering the mouth.

Lee Myeong-hun saw Yi-hyeon grab the sentry’s collar and quietly lean him against the cave wall and began to move himself too. He was surprised but he has to do his own work.