Chapter 8

Battalion Commander

The inside of the building was dark. The fighting that had taken place before Staff Sergeant Kim and the Headquarters Company soldiers arrived must have been quite fierce, because the interior of the pension was already a complete mess.

Most of the fluorescent lights were broken, and not a single piece of furniture remained intact. The wooden table in the middle of the lobby had been overturned and was being used as a makeshift barricade.

“Place is a bit shabby, isn't it?”

“···Huh.”

A huge man emerged from inside the pension. Bong-tae wasn't particularly short at 179 centimeters, but standing in front of this man made him look like a child.

The man stood nearly two meters tall, with muscles that seemed ready to burst through his combat uniform. He grinned, revealing his white teeth.

“Hey, rookies. You boys can shoot pretty well, huh?”

“L-loyalty.”

The man's presence was overwhelming. Bong-tae and the other soldiers awkwardly raised their hands in salute.

Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je, whose face was covered in black camouflage paint, already had a frightening appearance that was second to none, but this man looked like he'd stepped straight out of a comic book.

Piercing eyes, a jaw as angular as a rock, a slightly crooked nose, and a face covered in old scars.

For a moment, Bong-tae was reminded of the old comics he'd read at comic cafés.

Fist of the North Star.

Mad Max.

He had exactly the face of a villainous boss from one of those post-apocalyptic comics.

If he hadn't been wearing the same combat uniform as Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je, Bong-tae might have believed he was a North Korean soldier. Lee Jin-gu, standing beside him, seemed to be thinking something similar.

“Wow···.”

“What's with those expressions?”

“N-nothing, sir.”

“Hahaha! You little bastards. Everyone reacts like that. Whenever people see my face for the first time, their balls shrink.”

Even his smile looked like a bear grinning. He placed his rifle on the table and introduced himself.

“I'm Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil, commander of the 101st Battalion, 332nd Special Operations Brigade.”

“Loyalty! Sergeant Kim Bong-tae, Headquarters Company, 33rd Infantry Battalion, 8th Division, sir.”

“Good, Sergeant Kim. Are these all the men you have left?”

Choi Pil's gaze swept over the soldiers standing behind Bong-tae. Ten men, including Bong-tae. Young men whose faces still retained traces of boyishness.

“···Yes, sir. Headquarters Company came under artillery bombardment and was effectively wiped out.”

“Damn it···. Things aren't looking good.”

Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je approached Choi Pil.

“Battalion Commander. All communications in this area are down. It's the same even outside the valley.”

“Right. Just as expected.”

At that moment, Bong-tae turned toward Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil.

“Um, Lieutenant Colonel. May I ask a question?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

“It seems that neither civilian nor military communications are working right now. Is that correct?”

“That's right. That's our biggest problem. Every communications network is down. On top of that, GPS-based systems installed in tanks and fighter jets aren't functioning properly either.”

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil's words were shocking. Communications and GPS were at the heart of modern warfare. Everyone, from frontline soldiers to generals in the rear, was connected through communications networks.

Without receiving coordinates through communications, tanks and self-propelled artillery couldn't fire properly, and fighter jets couldn't obtain targeting information.

Furthermore, countless weapon systems that relied on GPS couldn't be used. Having all those systems disabled at once was no different from fighting blindfolded.

Bong-tae immediately asked the question that came to mind. The enemy aircraft filling the orange sky had clearly been moving.

“On the way here, I saw North Korean aircraft. Are their communications working?”

“Yeah. It seems only our military has been paralyzed.”

“How could something like that···?”

“Who knows? Those bastards. No idea what kind of trick they've pulled.”

Wasn't that far too convenient?

“Does that even make sense?”

Nam Gi-baek muttered with an expression of disbelief.

“Seriously···. But if that isn't the case, there's no other way to explain what's happening. Even if we were caught by surprise, we haven't heard any counterattacks.”

“It was strange that communications stayed down for this long.”

“There are several division-sized units around Pocheon alone···. Could they all be isolated like us?”

“Aren't we seriously screwed···?”

“We can still hear artillery shells falling in the distance···.”

Just as the soldiers' murmuring and anxiety were gradually growing, Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil casually draped an arm over Bong-tae's shoulder.

Bong-tae flinched. It felt as though someone had dropped a log onto his shoulder.

“You little bastards. Why do men with balls worry so much?”

“···Sir?”

“If you've got no teeth, you chew with your gums! Straighten your shoulders! Wipe those gloomy looks off your faces!”

“···Y-yes, sir!”

The soldiers reflexively straightened their posture.

“Everyone, attention. From this moment on, I, Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil, am assuming command of the 33rd Battalion Headquarters Company personnel. Any objections, Sergeant Kim?”

“No, sir. No objections.”

Choi Pil grinned. He tore a tourist information map off the wall and spread it across the table.

“Our current situation isn't particularly good. Our unit originally consisted of thirty men. But right now, only eight remain in this pension.”

“···.”

“And the only personnel currently capable of fighting are me, Staff Sergeant Kim, and those two operators over there.”

The two special forces operators in the corner lightly raised their hands.

“That's it.”

The Headquarters Company soldiers' expressions grew peculiar.

“Only four of you, sir?”

“That's right.”

“We have four wounded soldiers. They can hold rifles, but they're in no condition to fight.”

Choi Pil pointed toward the special forces operators lying on one side of the living room. Their shoulders and legs were wrapped tightly in bandages. Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil continued speaking.

“And there are also twenty civilians in the basement of this pension who haven't managed to evacuate to the rear yet.”

“C-civilians too, sir?”

Choi Pil nodded.

“We'll divide the fourteen able-bodied men here into two teams. Team A will transport the civilians and wounded soldiers to the rear using vehicles.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The most important thing is the civilians' safety. Once you get as far south as Icheon, you'll probably be able to find an intact military unit.”

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil pointed to their current location on the map.

“The remaining Team B will plant explosives on National Route 75 and defend that position. If an overwhelming number of North Korean soldiers approaches, we'll blow up the road and retreat.”

The soldiers pressed their lips tightly together. Anyone could see that Team B would have a much more dangerous role.

No, depending on how one looked at it, the assignment seemed almost like a suicide mission. Even moments earlier, if the Headquarters Company soldiers and Staff Sergeant Kim hadn't attacked from behind, the pension would have quickly fallen.

They lacked both manpower and equipment here. There was no way they could properly defend against North Korean forces pushing south.

“···.”

The Headquarters Company soldiers had the question, 'Then how are we going to divide the teams?' on the tips of their tongues. But none of them could bring themselves to ask first.

At that moment, Bong-tae shot his hand into the air.

“I volunteer for Team B.”

“S-Sergeant Kim?”

All the soldiers' gazes turned toward Bong-tae. With everyone suddenly looking at him, Bong-tae awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“What, you bastards?”

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil and Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je's eyes widened slightly. They clearly hadn't expected that. Originally, Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil had intended to organize Team B around himself, Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je, and one other special forces operator. He'd planned to select only one or two Headquarters Company soldiers at most.

Even Choi Pil, who had proposed dividing into teams, had been struggling with how to assign soldiers to Team B because its mission was so dangerous.

Yet here was a soldier who had raised his hand before anyone else.

For a moment, he couldn't tell whether the man was simply reckless or exceptionally quick at assessing the situation. Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil stared intently at Bong-tae.

“I-I'd like to volunteer for Team B as well.”

Sergeant Hwang Gi-tae, standing beside him, raised his hand.

“Me too.”

“I'll stay here too.”

“I have top-tier physical fitness, and I'm confident in my shooting.”

The Headquarters Company soldiers began raising their hands all at once. Despite having been calculating the relative dangers of Teams A and B just moments earlier, they now spoke up as though they'd been waiting for the opportunity.

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil burst into incredulous laughter.

“Hahaha! You little bastards. I like you. Is this loyalty? What is it?”

Someone in the back answered.

“I don't want to hear Sergeant Kim chew us out later.”

Laughter immediately broke out among the soldiers.

“That's right.”

“I can't stand hearing him brag after doing all the work by himself again.”

“Having to listen to that now that a war has broken out would be torture.”

Bong-tae's face turned red as he snapped at the soldiers.

“···Hey. Stop screwing around. The lieutenant colonel will decide.”

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil looked at the soldiers one by one and chuckled.

“Good. I understand how you feel.”

“Then, all of us—”

“Don't misunderstand. Team A has a much more important mission.”

The soldiers' expressions stiffened slightly.

“There are twenty civilians and four wounded men. Evacuating those people safely is more urgent. And I'm not telling you to run away to the rear.”

“What are we supposed to do there?”

“You need to report our situation to the rear and bring back whatever information you receive there. What the Republic of Korea military needs most right now is information. Team A's mission won't be easy either.”

Everyone nodded at Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil's words. The most important thing was to find out how the overall war situation was being assessed at a properly established command post.

“In-jik, Jae-seong.”

“Yes, Battalion Commander.”

At Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil's call, the two special forces operators rose from their seats.

“Select six of these men and depart immediately.”

“Yes, understood. Everyone, assemble.”

The special forces operator selected six men from Headquarters Company. Two privates, two privates first class, one corporal, and, among the sergeants, Hwang Gi-tae.

Hwang Gi-tae frowned when he learned he'd been assigned to Team A. He cautiously spoke to one of the special forces operators.

“Um···. Can't I stay with Team B?”

“No. We need a sergeant to lead the soldiers in Team A.”

As though he understood Hwang Gi-tae's feelings, the operator patted him on the shoulder.

“You're the leader of Team A's soldiers. Take responsibility for them.”

“···Yes, understood.”

Once the teams had been assigned, Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil nodded in satisfaction.

“Get moving.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel. We'll depart immediately. Everyone, assemble.”

The special forces operators moved quickly. One immediately ran outside and started two vehicles. One was a minibus, and the other was a twelve-seater van.

The other gathered the civilians who had remained in the basement into one place.

“All right, everyone. Listen carefully to what I'm saying. The children will board the bus first. Adults, please keep a close eye on your children.”

“M-Mom···. Is there really a war?”

“None of the phones are working right now. What's happening?”

“Now, now. Everyone, please stay calm. If you follow our instructions carefully, you'll be safe.”

The civilians, who had been terrified until moments earlier, seemed to regain some composure after seeing how calmly the soldiers were acting.

In less than five minutes, Team A had finished preparing to depart. Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je, who belonged to Team B, also took C4 explosives and detonators out of a yellow bag and finished checking them.

“Everyone, assemble.”

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil called everyone together. He looked at the soldiers and special forces operators.

“We've met under unfortunate circumstances, in an unfortunate place, but that makes it all the more important that we keep our wits about us.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.”

“Survive. And let's meet again later.”

“Yes, sir.”

The special forces operators gave brief replies and turned away. Hwang Gi-tae, who had been assigned to Team A, approached Bong-tae to say goodbye.

“Sergeant Kim···. You seriously need to be careful.”

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

“No, just today you were trying to sneak up on someone and stab them.”

“I told you, I'll be fine, you bastard. I'm not going to die.”

“Just hold out a little longer. We'll be back soon to support you with tanks.”

“Bullshit.”

Bong-tae let out a hollow laugh.

“Then, seriously, let's see each other again in a little while.”

“Yeah.”

With that, Team A left the pension. The vehicle carrying the wounded soldiers moved first, followed by the bus carrying the civilians.

The sound of the engines soon faded into the distance. Bong-tae watched silently.

The only people remaining now were Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil, Staff Sergeant Kim Hong-je, and the Team B soldiers, including Bong-tae. Six men in total.

Lieutenant Colonel Choi Pil clapped his hands once and pointed north, where National Route 75 continued.

“All right. Let's get to work ourselves.”

© Jungle Pocket #22844