Chapter 158 – Resume Communication (1)
Winter is coming to an end.
This winter was unusually cold, perhaps because civilizations stopped working.
There were days when the weather cleared up, and it was possible to swim in the sea, but overall, it felt like it was freezing.
If the world were sane, it would have been plastered with news such as record-breaking cold waves and the coldest cold in 100 years.
However, in a world destroyed by infection, cold means abundance.
As the movement of infectious agents has slowed, more safe areas can be secured, and it is easier to dig deeper and find supplies.
As a result, paradoxically, warmth came to mean poverty.
“Keeeeek-!”
Walker’s cries echoed in a shopping center in Honam.
Ta-ta-tang!
The M60 mounted on a military truck spewed fire and wiped out a group, but it was too much.
A roaring sound that seemed several times louder was approaching from nearby.
“Operation failed! Retreat!”
The officer in the passenger seat of the vehicle spoke on the radio.
“Sleep! “Don’t throw it away!”
Inside the shopping mall, a soldier carrying his arms full of luggage threw the luggage away.
His face is full of desperation as he runs at full speed, waving his arms. Blood appeared in the officer’s neck when he saw that.
“Hey! Why are you throwing away your luggage? Bring whatever you brought with you! Are you just going to come here empty-handed? “I’m really going to throw it away.”
The soldier who was running turned 180 degrees and lifted the luggage. The cries of the walkers were getting closer every moment.
“I got on it!”
The truck took off at the same time as the soldier loaded himself into the luggage compartment as if diving.
Thud! Bang!
I escaped by defeating a few walkers blocking the road, and just in the nick of time, a swarming group of people attacked.
This phenomenon was a common occurrence among southern expeditions at the height of their advance.
The northern advance has reached its limit.
Jeonju, where Eugene and his group risked their lives to infiltrate to communicate with Jinsu, is a place that dozens of teams have already visited.
That was the limit to which survivors could climb. It got really dangerous from that point on, so I only stopped the challenge after several parties were wiped out.
The problem begins now.
A fight over how to share the areas that are to some extent within human territory.
Until now, these places were merely passageways to search for supplies. Now it shows signs of turning into a rice bowl itself.
Of course, there can be no problems.
* * *
[Guests! Due to recent unfortunate events, we have decided to set new rules. If you wish to use our rest area in the future, please adopt a pointed shooting posture from 20 m from the entrance. There is a red flag, so it will be easy to spot. You must holster your weapon from 5 m onwards. And our guards will disarm you while you are in the store. I will safely store the recovered weapon and return it to you on my honor. Please understand that this is for the safety of our guests.]
This is Chief Kim’s broadcast, who runs a rest area.
His voice was polite, but sharp, as if he would never compromise.
It is worth it.
[Take a look at the scaffolding generator that came in yesterday~ This thing is awesome! Charge your cell phone anytime, anywhere… Get down!]
This is because a shootout suddenly broke out while a commercial was being broadcast as usual recently.
It was an accidental fight between customers who were using the rest area, so it ended as a short incident, but moans of pain were heard over the airwaves for a long time.
Clearly, distrust of places called rest areas spread and had a negative impact on business.
It is said that the accidental shootout resulted from an argument over a limited search area.
As the search for supplies decreases, it is inevitable that people will become interested in the other side.
War clouds began to hover between the Yeosu garrison and the Goheung garrison, who had been in bad relations since the Infection War.
[The attack will begin the moment spring begins.]
Video of Yeosu commander Lee Seong-bong was captured on a long-range drone camera. He is summoning the entire army and giving a speech.
The morale of the soldiers lined up armed was high. This is thanks to eliminating all threats in the area and securing sufficient supplies.
However, he could not hide the fact that he was shaken by the prospect of a bloody battle with a human being, not a monster, especially his compatriots.
[We may not have enough strength, but they are an invading army and we are a defensive army. The route is extremely limited. When one bullet passes by you, they have to dodge 5 bullets to face you. Just protect your place in the completed camp! Then you will definitely win! Over!]
As Lee Seong-bong came down from the podium, the senior officer turned 180 degrees.
[Loyalty!!!]
The soldiers’ loud shouts shook Yeosu.
Goheung is also full of heat.
[There is no free lunch. In a world like today, even stepping on this safe ground is a right. That right is not given for free.]
The Goheung garrison broadcasted to citizens within the territory. They now officially use informal language.
[Join the army! Because this is the most difficult time, we must unite under the strongest determination!]
Rather than serving the citizens, he rose up as someone who reigns over them.
As a single force, it is the strongest and has an abundance of population and food, so there is no one who can keep it in check.
Other garrison troops, who were displeased with this move, which was tantamount to an overt declaration of rebellion, did not bother them and kept silent.
On the other hand, there were people who avoided the whales because they did not want to explode in a fight.
[Everyone is going crazy. Now that the government is done with it, they’re going to shoot themselves? So what do you do? Now they are all dogs without owners.]
Among them were deserters wearing military uniforms.
These are male prisoners who were conscripted during the Infection War.
[If you’re going to fight, go ahead and fight. Because I won’t stop you.]
They began preparing to turn into marauders far away from the garrison.
As each army wastes its power for its own purposes, waiting for the day when the world becomes more chaotic.
On the other hand, there were those who pursued a different path.
[Now is your last chance!]
He is a commander who once formed a united front among southern survivors to drive out the infected and then divide the land equally.
[Citizens! Comrades in the military! Winter is now over. The relentless advance so far is slowing rapidly. This is our last chance to sort out Honam. We must exterminate the monsters before the weather gets any warmer.]
At that time, the number of participants was low, but as everyone experienced difficulties in searching for supplies, the number of sympathizers began to increase.
[We have two military bases and four civilian camps who agree to join us. Please visit us. This place is open at any time.]
Is it because some allies have gathered together? There was confidence in his voice.
[He is trying to secure agricultural land.]
Artemis said.
“Agricultural land?”
A satellite image of the Honam region appeared on the screen of the central control room.
You can also exchange data through a brain implant, but I prefer this briefing method.
Speak through your mouth and watch audiovisual materials on a large screen.
Because it still made me feel like I was human. Human love for analog never disappears.
Under the noise tree, the paths of the expeditioners heading north were indicated by arrows.
Arrows so large and small that it is difficult to count them one by one are heading up the Honam and Yeongnam regions on their own routes.
Among them, some forces are in the central and western Honam region. We were targeting the former granary area we called the Honam Plain.
It is a military unit led by a commander who was previously selling to the allied forces.
“I was wondering why they wanted to fight so hard that I thought it was too much, and this is it.”
[Now, if you go higher, you have to deal with the infectious agents in earnest. It is impossible with the current military strength of the Republic of Korea. If there is a limit to the northward advance, it is necessary to establish a base in a land where the infectious agent is weak, and in that case, it is a place that must be occupied.]
Because it is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and is not a metropolitan area, the number of infectious agents is low.
To the west, it faces the sea, and several rivers flow, including the Geumgang River, making it advantageous for securing water resources and defending against the southward advance of a large army of infectious agents.
If it can be properly controlled, it will be a major turning point in solving the food problem.
“It is definitely a place that must be secured if we consider the long-term survival of citizens in the current situation.”
I smoothed my chin.
[Shall we intervene?]
Artemis examined my intentions.
I think he understood my feelings for fellow soldiers, especially soldiers who act with altruistic spirit in these difficult times.
But I shook my head.
“No, later.”
I respected his will to think about people’s future, but right now we had things to do on our own.
* * *
This is a flight unit hangar higher than the upper living quarters.
It can be said to be a fourth area that is distinct from the original shelter, which was planned as the lower, middle, and upper parts.
From drones, drone transport carriers, multipurpose helicopters, bombers, attack aircraft, and other experimental models.
It is a place where various flying units are developed, produced, and repaired.
It can be seen as a place that contains the true power of our city.
[Could you please step back?]
After taking a few steps back, a modified forklift passed by.
Forklifts were moving aviation bombs under dim lighting.
Flight units boasting intimidating majesty are waiting with their bomb storage windows open.
“It took quite a long time.”
The Noise Tree Line blocking the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula.
Preparations to restore communications that were cut off by burning the place are almost complete.
[Because there should always be enough oil reserves.]
The distance is far and the things that need to be burned are huge.
Just as in social life you must always have money available immediately, in this world you must have fuel available at any time.
A first-in, first-out operation was carried out to divert stored oil nearing its expiration date into explosives and to accumulate synthetic oil produced in the hydroponic cultivation room.
“Not much time left, old man.”
Mr. Hudson in the United States. Is he still alive?
‘Don’t be too emotionally indebted. Competent people are always needed in many places. You don’t necessarily have to fight on the front lines with a gun like everyone else. All you have to do is be in a place where you can demonstrate your capabilities the most.’
Even though I was only a person I had talked to a few times, I missed him.
[Inspiration? Could it be that the lone survivor in the American West?]
“Huh. I was worried that he passed away because we lost contact, but I confirmed that it was because of the noise tree. You don’t know, right? If we burn it down, we might be the first to get in touch.”
[Yes.]
Artemis did not necessarily say things like, ‘I don’t know because it’s a world like this.’
A drone bomber with all its bombs stored closed its storage window.
Giyiing.
The elevator-type hangar system was activated and the fully-fed bombers were moved in, and the empty bombers were brought down.
The forklift is moving busily again.
My army has become strong enough, and I am confident that it can protect the city from any threat.
Even if a colony of infected organisms or a greedy army turns into marauders, they will not be able to get beyond the city’s main gate.
That’s why we go down.
We will bring down fire and explosions, demolish the radio wave barrier that cut off this country, and restore communication.
Survivors who are thirsty for useful survival knowledge, information, and stories.
My lonely friend across the sea.
Survival groups under various banners.
Those who have the resources, technology, and information we want.
Something you can gain, something you can help, and sometimes something you can share.
Going down to destroy the barrier that was blocking everything.
