[Side Story] Boiled Life (4)
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The greatest achievement I achieved was not finding one edible plant.
They succeeded in removing the fear of reproduction from the soldiers before their hunger reached a critical point. Lieutenant Colonel King expressed his gratitude to me, saying that if it had stayed like this for a few more days, the soldiers whose eyes had rolled back might have picked up something to eat and died.
Once the food problem was resolved, it was impossible to maintain concentration for a long time due to hunger and lack of physical strength, so the guard troops, which had been rotating every hour, were rotated every three hours, naturally creating surplus troops.
I went around the forest with those people, put edible-looking plants in gunny sacks, and made snares using vines and trees and set them up along the way. It was not for the animals that had already dried up in the vicinity, but for the enemy.
When we returned to the barracks, we poured out all the plants and roots we had brought on the floor and tested them one by one for toxicity. They checked by rubbing it on sensitive skin such as lips or cheeks to see if it reacted, cutting it into pieces the size of a fingernail, soaking it in water for 24 hours, and then drinking a few drops of the water and if nothing happened, biting it down to dust.
[DAY-17]
All members of the unit experienced terrible high fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea at least once, but as a result, in addition to reeds, our unit was able to eat additional plants such as cassava, jackfruit, and wild sugarcane, which we had seen on TV a few times. was secured. Of course, these were wild guesses, such as it tasted like potatoes and sweet potatoes, so it must be cassava, and the sweet water coming out of the stems, so it must be sugarcane, etc. No one knew exactly what we were eating. What was important was that not only were we sufficiently full, but the food problem was solved to the point where food was piled up in the corners of each platoon’s barracks.
[DAY-74]
Two months have passed since I came here, there have been five more operations, fourteen people have died, and twenty more have arrived. As if we had guessed our survival from above, one day an absurd order was given to the 14th Special Operations Forces to attack the enemy’s anti-aircraft observation point and at the same time recover the enemy’s civilian occupied area. The 1st platoon, which departed with a helicopter as the only support force, returned only half alive after two weeks of operations. Good people seemed to die particularly quickly. During my time of mourning, I stepped up my efforts to discipline myself.
Having survived all this time, I have improved my shooting and combat skills to the point where I keenly feel the saying that one battle is better than 100 training sessions, and I am now able to keep up with John.
The new people who came in saw the soldiers bringing armfuls of various things like grass roots and fruits every day and asking questions like, ‘Can I eat this?’ They started calling me a supply soldier. It wasn’t really an incorrect word, so from then on, they started to treat me like a supply soldier. This is because they have succeeded in growing cassava around this time.
While I was trimming the cassava roots, one of the unit members who was passing by me said, ‘This didn’t die that bad, and it took root in the place where I threw away the remaining stems after harvesting.’ So without thinking, I thought, ‘Then I can just harvest it and plant a new plant.’ So I planted it in a corner of the site. Trees were replanted in .
After nearly a month, the unit members cheered when they saw that a small tuber had sprouted from a slightly dug-out root, and even Colonel King, who is known for not being emotionally shaken, said, ‘Thank you to Medici for sending you to us.’ I put the words into my mouth.
A few days later.
On the day that a marsh snake, which was thought to be completely dry, was caught in our ‘anti-personnel tactical ambush ankle noose’, Lieutenant Colonel King
declared in front of the additionally expanded cassava field that the 14th Special Forces Group had officially escaped the food crisis.
[DAY-81]
As the 14th Special Operations Force’s radio calls for food became less frequent as they were supplying supplies every day, some soldiers from higher-level units came to check if we were all dead.
We, who had already evolved closer to the Viet Cong rather than the Allied Forces, welcomed them warmly and gave them our traditions as a way of thanking the superior units for caring about us. The new military uniforms were sleek and strong, and the combat rations they brought were so tasty that it would melt your tongue.
So we were fully refreshed and I knew it was time for the unit to move on to the next step.
****
“Hey Ruwil. busy?”
Day 89.
Ruwil, who was plowing the field with a plow (the barrel of the gun, which had been hit by a grenade, was tied to a tree branch) stopped what he was doing and straightened his back in response to my question.
“Well… not really?”
“Then let’s go somewhere with me.”
“Oh, did you find anything new?”
Instead of answering Ruwil’s words, I just nodded.
Yesterday, cargo was dropped from a transport plane to a supply location. Real supply, not new recruits.
Still, I unpacked it with gratitude, wondering where this was…
‘Aegye? ‘Is this all?’
‘There’s never a day when I don’t have a can of damn beans.’
The contents were at a level that could not be considered for units fighting to the death in a fierce battlefield.
Two boxes of canned beans.
A box of canned herring with strangely bulging parts in the middle.
A wide variety of non-uniform rifle passions. Four bullets cannot be used because they do not match the bullets provided.
Two bundles of grenades, 16 each.
Three portable anti-tank firearms and nine rounds of ammunition.
20 bulletproof vests.
The most important is 900 bullets.
When I looked at the crumpled notepad that recorded the unit’s supply situation, I found the last supply date written among the unsystematic notes such as 140 cassava roots, 1/2 the volume of reeds, and 1/2 barrack volume. It was exactly 6 weeks ago.
Three new recruits died in the last raid, and the current number of soldiers is 37.
There were about 24 to 25 rounds per person, so in effect, enough bullets were distributed to each soldier to fill even one magazine.
Ample bulletproof vest and not enough bullets.
For some reason, all I could hear was a voice telling me to go out and be beaten to death.
“What are they saying from above? “It’s like yelling at a wall, but shouldn’t you at least pour out some insults?”
“Of course, I ran to do that, but the lieutenant colonel was already yelling at the radio.”
The calm lieutenant colonel was holding the receiver in a calm voice, his teeth chattering. Although I couldn’t hear the conversation on the other end clearly, I was able to infer the conversation from the occasional sounds and the lieutenant colonel’s voice.
“Are you dead yet? That’s what you said.”
“what? who?”
“How do I know? He must have been the one who sent Lieutenant Colonel Bonamana here. I guess he must be heartbroken because the guy he sent to die is still alive and holding on. “When we talked about supplies, we heard about the next operation.”
“Fuck… I’m going to die again. What is it this time? Just capturing a key observation point like last time would be quite a task-”
“It’s an attack. “All-out war against the enemy-occupied Tarel Ground.”
Ruwil showed an expression of disbelief at the professor’s words. of course. Because when I heard that, I did the same.
——
‘This is an unreasonable order beyond absurdity! colonel! All-out war! ‘We don’t have the manpower or equipment to do it!’
[That’s – crackling! The lieutenant colonel’s incompetence – crackle! [There is no change in the strategy] Chijik!]
‘Please reconsider! If we don’t change the strategy right away…!’
——
After listening to it, I realized once again how much I was caught by these trashy people. I can’t believe there’s not just one but several people like Medici sitting up there. I am the subordinate of those people. It felt like the sky was turning yellow.
“A few days ago, there were a lot of flying chicks, and we made quite an advantage at that time, and air superiority was briefly transferred to us. They said they would show me their wings once and leave. “Once the air force’s bombing passes, the 14th Special Operations Forces blocks the enemy’s main advance route, that is, the front, and in the meantime, the main unit moves its equipment to attack the flanks of the enemy forces confronting us in confusion.”
All-out war. It was said that since it was not easy to supply equipment, both the ally and the enemy had to bring out all the heavy equipment they had cherished and fight in a fight.
No matter how much our troops are experts at guerrilla warfare and sabotage, they cannot stop the enemy’s mechanized artillery division with a few bullets and grenades.
The news that came over the radio was like a death sentence for the entire unit.
“…Lieutenant Colonel. “What do you say?”
“They said that if things turn out like this, we have no choice but to survive. “I told someone who was a colonel that I would hold the gun upside down, but the answer I got was even more shocking.”
“What?”
“It is said that in preparation for the front being breached due to the ‘lack of capabilities of the 14th Special Forces Unit,’ landmines were laid in every gap in the direction of the enemy’s advance. The road near the front gate was cleared for vehicle access, so if you wanted to leave, you could do so. Instead, at that moment, disobedience to orders and desertion were confirmed. “I heard there is a high probability that he will be executed, considering it is a wartime situation.”
Sigh!
Ruwil, who had closed his eyes and was rubbing his forehead with one hand, threw the plow he was holding on the ground at my last words.
“I thought I was finally feeling a little more alive… but you’re saying that I have to kill everyone in the end to feel relieved.”
“Doesn’t that mean you’re going to suck every last bit of the person you’re about to kill?”
It was disgusting to see why anti-tank weapons, which were never sent before, had arrived. Since you’ll die if you jump anyway, it probably means that you should at least try to attract the enemy’s attention. If we are lucky enough to have not only the artillery power but also the enemy tanks look in our direction, the main unit returning to the side will be able to attack the enemy’s clearly exposed flank.
“….good. The date of death for all of us has been decided. So what do you mean, let’s go somewhere? Are you trying to prepare for desertion?”
“Even if you are lucky enough to escape through a minefield, you will eventually be executed as a deserter or brought back to a place like this.”
“…Surrender?”
“Is it okay?”
The name of the 14th Special Operations Division was said to be infamous to the enemy troops it faced. They are masters of guerrilla warfare who move around in groups of two or three, killing friendly guards with just a few shots and then running away. In reality, they ran out of ammo and waited in ambush for a day or two until they were able to hit, then fired and jumped out, but from the enemy’s perspective, it was fear itself, not knowing where and how someone would die. What if you manage to find traces and track them down? All kinds of nooses and poisonous plant powder attached to them were scattered around.
What if we attack in earnest? They moved the entire unit, leaving behind all the trash equipment, and fired mortars at the friendly troops who had dug in, as if the main unit behind them didn’t care whether the 14th Special Forces Unit was still there or not.
Thanks to this, the enemy’s resentment toward the 14th Special Operations Division was skyrocketing. It was obvious that if they surrendered, they would just accept it and then cut off their heads and throw them into the fire.
“Both our allies and enemies hate us. “There is only one way for us to survive.”
“What?”
“It just expands the reason we’re alive now.”
Before coming to Luwil, I stormed into the lieutenant colonel’s barracks after the radio call was over and told him what I was thinking.
The reason we were not executed was because public opinion was good enough to not kill us right away.
If it were on a larger scale and everyone knew the name of the 14th Special Operations Unit, wouldn’t it be possible to just throw it away like trash?
“There are guys like Medici, but there are also many sane commanders who only see war as war. If you show your skills and achievements, there’s no way they won’t be interested. It’s the only way we get out of this damn situation. This is what makes the 14th Special Operations Unit into something that is worth throwing away. “By spreading our name so widely that everyone knows it, we’re making it look like an idiot to use the 14th Special Operations Unit as an outcast.”
Actually, it wasn’t that big of a story. Just as we were not executed thanks to the public opinion of other soldiers, let us catch the attention of the commanders this time. It’s the same way to survive.
After hearing this, Lieutenant Colonel King agreed after careful consideration and called the 13th Platoon Commander and me, who planned the strategy, except for Ruwil, who was out on guard, and made a plan all night long.
“With just a few anti-tank weapons and less than a magazine of ammunition, only about 30 people can make a name for themselves against a division-level enemy… Is this even possible?”
“It can’t go on like this. That’s why I called you. A squad consisting of you, me, Shepard, and the strong and agile Ace of the 14th Special Forces. “We have work to do before we battle the enemy.”
The professor said to Ruwil, unfolding from his pocket the plan map that the lieutenant colonel had completed last night after much effort.
“For the operation in three days, the main unit has already removed its equipment from the garrison and is on its way back. Since there are limited ways to operate heavy equipment in the jungle, the idea is to shorten the distance by turning sharply in advance to avoid being caught by the enemy. Of course, this means that both operational and maintenance troops were missing. However, numerous supplies were piled up in the main unit. You don’t have time to move all that, right? “It’s not like they have nothing like us.”
“Hey… really?”
Luwil said while looking at the friendly troops’ supply depot with a big red X on the lieutenant colonel’s plan map.
“Let’s break into our army’s formation… and rob it?”
“You’re robbing me. In the end, it’s just a slightly aggressive promotion of distribution. Even though he is an abandoned soldier, his biological code is clearly recognized as an ‘ally’, so there is no need for him to be cut off by the stationary turret.”
Last night, the professor handed over to Ruwil the mask and raincoat with the large 14th Special Forces emblem that Marty had made himself.
“No matter what happens, you must not kill your allies. Judging by military law, the embezzlement of supplies should be stopped at that level, so as not to give justification to those who are anxious to kill us. We proudly announced that we were the 14th Special Operations Forces, entered the friendly formation, legitimately and violently stole the supplies, and then rushed back to our house before we could be disciplined. okay?”
“Hahahahaha….”
Ruwil took on a mask that looked like a bank robber and laughed in bewilderment. He confidently reveals his identity and enters our military formation to commit robbery.
“So… so good!”
Wearing a musty-smelling mask that must have been sewn from torn military uniforms, Ruwil smiled a smile that was truly befitting a robber.
“Kid, be honest. You didn’t come up with this on your own, did you? “Your Majesty the King cannot think of things like this.”
“Um… everything except this was planned by the lieutenant colonel. “Send a false surrender document to the enemy camp or draw attention to us by telling us about the direction of our army’s attack.”
“Then what about this?”
“Phew! “Of course you’re saying that supply is the responsibility of the supply unit!”
Before I knew it, John, who came out of the barracks wearing a mask, received a word. Behind him, people wearing similar masks with large engraved marks of the 14th Special Operations Unit were coming out one by one.
“This side is ready. Kid, are you confident? “If you are unlucky, you could die.”
“I hope that the plants in the greenhouse at headquarters believe in biometric codes.”
“No, not that one. Even if we were to steal it and arm ourselves with those awesome military shields and electromagnetic plasma grenades, we’re still only one infantry company. The enemy has a battalion-level force that has all of that. “Even if we try to make them pay attention to our side, if a battle eventually breaks out, troops ten times our size will turn their guns on this side.”
“….I know.”
I somehow figured out a way to survive. A plan made while shouting and swearing with the lieutenant colonel and the platoon commanders all night long.
No matter what was done, there was no way for everyone to survive. But…
“At least the people who survived there will be revered in the name of the 14th Special Task Force. If everyone is going to die like trash like this, shouldn’t we save at least a few people?”
So they confidently set off from the mine-filled rear towards the main gate of the 394th Armored Regiment, which was the only mine-free area.
That evening, the situation sergeant who was monitoring the area around the base opened the door for eight soldiers from the front-line unit, who had no metal reaction on the sensor and were clearly identified as friendly troops according to the code. That night, the brigade said, ‘They came from the 14th Special Operations Unit. !’ All the high-tech equipment and supplies remaining in the warehouse were robbed by the masked man who screamed, ‘I’m getting supplies!’ By the time the commander, who had escaped from the main camp, had assessed the situation and given permission to open fire, two vehicles carrying two 2.5-ton trucks worth of supplies had already blown up the main gate with captured plasma cannons and fled.
Three days later, the main force, which was to engage in an all-out war as planned, had to encounter an enemy force fully prepared to engage in an all-out war with the main force without paying attention to the direction of the 14th Special Operations Unit, and the fierce battle succeeded in penetrating the rear of the enemy confronting the main force. A dramatic victory was achieved after the sacrifice of a small infantry unit.
Professor Park, a sergeant who later stood before a military court, said, ‘It was a simple embezzlement of supplies, and we thought we could use them much better than those bastards, so we just stole them.’
At the end of the trial, the command decided to replace the disciplinary action by canceling the medals and special promotions that were supposed to be awarded to the three survivors of the 14th Special Operations Group, including Professor Park and Ruwil Bartosz Doris Rischach. For some reason, Sergeant Professor Park emphasized that the attack on the Tarel Ground was a defensive battle. It was concluded that the 14th Special Forces would be operated as a specialized unit for disrupting the enemy and infiltrating the rear by allocating special forces personnel under the command.
From then on, the 14th Special Operations Unit became legendary.
Abduction- (Complete)
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