Chapter 309 – Return
When the two armies facing each other on the front line prolong the standoff, clashing fights become more frequent.
Instead of shouting ‘Charge forward!’ And replacing large troops, only small detachments bicker with each other while glaring at each other’s lines.
That is the current situation between the Jeju Island government forces and the South Korean warlords stationed on the coast of the Korean Peninsula.
Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!
Gun barrels on land opened fire toward the Marine Corps landing craft that was about to enter the beach.
“Don’t shoot! “Don’t shoot!”
“You traitorous bastards! Where are you shooting?!”
Government military officers used loudspeakers and walkie-talkies to shout loudly, but there was no response.
The first few times we communicated about going back and not letting each other fight, but now we just shoot.
In the face of bloody threatening fire, the boats gave up moving forward. They just float in the sea and have an awkward fight.
“How long do I have to do this shit?”
Someone whispered as if they were tired.
There is only one reason they are still alive. It’s because they’re showing sincerity that they’re deliberately making a mistake.
“I got caught again. “The operation cannot proceed.”
An officer aboard the landing craft reported via radio.
[…
The Jeju Island command staff was so helpless that they could not even respond.
The brisk Shelter low-orbit satellites and drone carriers are monitoring the intrusion route without missing a moment.
If there is a sight of soldiers being sent from Jeju Island, Artemis immediately scolds the coastal warlords.
In this state, you will fail even if you try 1000 times.
“Operation failed. I will withdraw. “I will never be able to go in like this.”
[No withdrawal possible! Force a breakthrough!]
“No. “You will just be killed.”
The officer cut off orders from superiors like a sword.
Pong!
Pewung!
Even when communication is being exchanged, a small column of water is rising as a result of a bullet lodged near the boat.
Compared to when I was first caught, I was getting closer to the boat.
I intuitively felt that the soldiers guarding the coast were slowly running out of patience.
I had to run away quickly while I still had the slightest sincerity to intentionally miss.
Of course, the command staff that gives orders from the safe Jeju Island cannot possibly feel this sense of crisis.
[Are you protesting now? It’s not like I went for a walk, so why come back scared every time?]
“Are you telling me to go in when the intrusion route is exposed and there is no air support? Rather, order a Banzai charge.”
The officer said emotionlessly.
[This bastard…]
Even though protesting in wartime was a crime for which there was nothing to say even if it meant summary execution, I had no choice but to vent my anger over the radio.
Since the civil war broke out three years ago, in which government officials were thrown as pigs, the leadership has been overthrown countless times.
Since Jeju is an island where rebellions worse than protests have occurred from time to time, the weight of superiors is half-famous.
You have to crave to a certain extent. In this situation, if you crave more, they may come back and put a bullet in the back of your head.
“Anyway, I will return like this…”
The officer’s words were cut off by a single sound.
Hwiiiii-.
A unique sound made when a large piece of iron passes through the air at high speed.
It was a symbolic breach that was inseparable during war.
Pugh!
A shell hit the sea surface, sending out huge spray of water in all directions.
Considering that it has gone astray, this also seems like a ‘goodwill gift’, but the soldiers on the boat are not in a position to feel at ease considering such things.
“Hi!”
A sergeant with a few water droplets splashed on his cheek fell down, clutching his bulletproof helmet.
Although he was a veteran soldier who had been on active duty since the infectious war period, he had very little actual combat experience.
From the beginning, I was lucky enough to get on a boat and stay in the safe Jeju Island, and all I did was protect the important people.
It cannot be compared to a veteran inland soldier who was trained as a warrior of hell by covering himself with the bloodshed by his comrades and stepping on the internal organs spilled by infected entities.
“Do those bastards rot their ammunition?”
A non-commissioned officer glared at the coast.
Even those who were safe from the threat of infectious agents are suffering from a shortage of ammunition after going through civil war and crowd control, and they are fighting like they are doing shooting drills before the war.
Ta-ta-tang!
One of the landing craft couldn’t bear it anymore and opened fire towards the coast.
“Stop shooting! “What kind of idiot is shooting?!”
The officer shouted in rage.
If a naval battle were to take place now, it was as obvious as hell that we would be annihilated and sink.
[You guys are really sad too.]
At that moment, the coastal defense forces, who had maintained silence, called on the radio.
[I’ve been kicked out more than once because I was caught sneaking in like a rat. Are you creeping in again? Why are you so speechless?]
“We didn’t come here to fight. “The shooting just now was a mistake made by a nervous recruit.”
The officer said hurriedly.
[Okay, just get out of there. I will live on Jeju Island from day to day until I get old and have no interest in the mainland. Got it?]
“I want to know the rank of the person I am communicating with. “I am Captain Park Cheol-geun of the Jeju Island government army…”
[Hey, you fucking idiot! Is class important in this situation? We all know where you leave and how many people are on board. With just one click, you can all be thrown into the sea!]
The non-commissioned officer could not stand it anymore and intervened in the communication.
“You rebel bastards! How long do you think you can keep it at bay? Don’t beg for your life when you’re bombed later!”
It was just a bluff. The non-commissioned officer speaking also knew very well that there was no realistic possibility.
Currently, the government forces do not even have the capacity to cross between Jeju Island and the inland area.
[Whatever? If you mess up, why don’t you come over in a helicopter that’s so messed up!]
Everyone knows that it can’t be done due to fuel issues.
[Did you take all that good stuff with you to open a museum on Jeju Island? If you’re not going to use it, give it to us, fuck it! Even if there was only one, Byungdu…]
Another voice could be heard faintly on the other side of the communicator, telling him to stop.
[This is Captain Kim Won-sik, commander of the Coastal Guard. There was an order from the battalion commander to strictly prohibit the landing of government troops. If you want to advance inland, disarm all and surrender. That is the only way you can come in. Over and out.]
The communication ended with a unilateral notification.
In the end, the government forces retreated only after several bullets hit the boat in front.
* * *
Morning situation reporting time.
“Are you here again?”
While reading payment documents in the central control room, I discovered small-scale trouble between government forces and inland warlords.
“Aren’t you tired of these guys?”
I signed the order to resupply the ammunition consumed in the engagement.
Additionally, snacks for coastal soldiers were added separately in the section labeled Administrator Comments.
These include carbonated drinks, biscuits, and chocolate. It is a valuable consolation gift to the soldiers of the Armed Forces who are suffering day and night.
“In the first place, the only thing that Jeju Island was better than the inland area was safety from infectious agents. “We have run out of supplies, there are a lot of people, farming is difficult, and infrastructure is lacking.”
Artemis shrugged.
“You will soon want to return to the inland somehow.”
“I will accept it.”
A lot of time has passed since the infection war, and each garrison has changed a lot.
Some are still faithful to their duties as a national military, others have become private organizations, and others pursue new values.
As a result, there were many times when voices were raised at each other, but opinions were always unified regarding the Jeju Island government.
-Get out!
The same goes for us.
Although there is only a dust of legitimacy left, when those who claim to be the government and their military enter, the inland area immediately becomes chaotic.
For the sake of self-interest, a government that can abandon its citizens like a devoted partner can do anything.
We are defining the Jeju Island government forces as some kind of radioactive material and waiting for its half-life. The coastal warlords can be said to be containment containers.
“The only way they can get inland is as civilians. Guns are a given and wearing military uniforms is not allowed.”
Of course, it does not prevent the escape of ordinary people who are sick and have difficulty making a living.
We have finished talking about this with major warlords who have intertwined interests.
* * *
[It’s obvious that now he’s going to climb up to the top of my head and tell me to do this and that. Just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable. I would like to ask whether they have ever sowed even a single rice seed.]
Group warlord video communication hosted by Artemis.
While prominent leaders showed their faces, the first to speak was Hwang Jin of the Honam Plain.
[Have you ever heard the story of the girl who fell down scared when a human finger bone came out while pulling weeds? The arrangement is almost nothing.]
Recovery and operation of large-scale agricultural land.
He is laying the foundation for national reconstruction through tearful efforts and sacrifices.
We will never be able to sit back and watch as those who neglect responsibility are devoured by them.
[I also have the same opinion. A person must have shame.]
[Thanks to taking all the equipment that wasn’t going to be used, too many soldiers who didn’t need to die died.]
Other commanders also agreed.
Aside from the ill-feeling toward the government forces, we had to be careful because we were receiving small amounts of agricultural aid from Honam.
[If someone asks to accept it, he or she is the one who has been bribed.]
Among them, there was even a commander who drove a wedge.
[If you supply us with enough bullets, we will prevent you from setting foot on our land at all.]
The commander of the warlord occupying the coast bordering Jeju Island said.
Since they say it’s our land, it looks like they don’t even want to treat it like Koreans.
For reference, his rank is only major. To be exact, he was a lieutenant colonel (jin), the lowest rank among commanders who participated in video communication.
This is because he was part of an accompanying unit that took care of the difficult work during the Jeju Island escape operation, but when the work was over, all of his superiors ran away, and he was abandoned along with his soldiers.
[I won’t let even one person in. I am confident he will do very well.]
Looking at his eyes burning with revenge, he seemed full of motivation.
“We will support that. “Every time there is a battle, we will add +@ to the consumption amount and supply it.”
I smiled brightly on the backs of my clasped hands.
Role as a reliable financial supporter.
I can say without a doubt that there is no place in the world that can do better than our current shelter.
It’s a world where fights occur frequently because it’s hard to make a living, but as always, the external enemy unites everyone.
