WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Little Prince in the Ossuary

Chapter 83

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Night by the Lake (1)

The key officers of the regimental combat team were gathered in the briefing room. They welcomed the boy officer warmly. Gyeoul took the seat beside Lieutenant Colonel Capston. By coincidence, 1st Battalion commander Farrell Ramos was seated across from him. Ramos greeted Gyeoul with a smile and a nod. The anxious look he had worn during the fall of Camp San Luis Obispo was hard to find now. Still, he seemed to remember the silent comfort from that night.

Everyone seated there was at least a Major. Gyeoul was the only company-grade officer. That alone showed how weighty this meeting was.

“The problem is still the typhoon.”

The regimental operations officer opened the briefing. Three aerial photos were displayed on the front screen. Reservoirs filled to the brim. They looked dangerous at a glance.

“I’ll get straight to the point. There are three dams we need to secure.”

He enlarged the first photo and marked one side with a laser pointer.

“Our top-priority objective is Nacimiento Dam. It is 13 kilometers west of the base, and as you can see, the water level is dangerously high. The structure is designed to discharge naturally once it reaches danger level, but right now inflow is greater than outflow. According to engineering calculations, collapse could begin as early as tomorrow afternoon.”

The regimental commander asked:

“How long would collapse take?”

“Once it starts failing, it will happen in an instant.”

The operations officer answered immediately.

“Because Nacimiento Dam is an earth-and-gravel fill type. Think of pouring water on a sandcastle. That gives you the idea. If the dam fails, the damage will be catastrophic. The torrent will reach the base within 10 minutes, with a projected peak flow of about 20 meters per second and a water height above 6 meters. So we must secure it quickly and open all floodgates.”

Murmurs spread through the room. But they sounded more like dissatisfaction than fear. One officer raised his hand.

“Distance-wise, taking it shouldn’t be a problem, but isn’t this warning too late? What has the Corps of Engineers been doing?”

In the U.S., dam construction and operation fell under the Corps of Engineers. That was why engineer offices existed near major dams and barrages. If problems came from neglected facilities, the Corps carried primary responsibility.

Still, not all blame could be pinned on the Corps. Separate from facility management, monitoring reservoir and river levels was a joint task with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources.

The operations officer cut in sharply.

“We need to save time. Refrain from pointless complaints.”

“...”

The officer who had asked the question hesitated. He still looked unconvinced, as if he wondered whether things were really that urgent. The dam was said to fail by tomorrow, yet even on foot it was only a four-hour trip.

Gyeoul understood, though. In the worst case, water levels could still rise even with full floodgate release. Since nobody knew how long this weather would last, moving as fast as possible was safer.

The briefing continued.

“The next objective, San Antonio Dam, is in a similar state. It lies 4 kilometers due north of Nacimiento Dam, and because of the short distance, seizure itself is expected to be easy. To secure both targets, we have drafted a plan to deploy one engineer company and the 1st Battalion simultaneously. Please refer to the documents you were given.”

Gyeoul looked down at the black-and-white map in the handout. The two dams were almost touching. Along one edge, Fort Roberts appeared cut in half. The scale was huge. One side of a grid square was only 1 kilometer. Proof of just how close they were.

The regimental commander questioned it.

“The whole 1st Battalion? For just two dams, do we really need that many troops?”

The operations officer nodded.

“If we only needed to seize the facilities, one platoon per site would be enough. Open the floodgates and return. But I am concerned about mutant activity. These are creatures intelligent enough to intentionally infiltrate the base and even set fires to interfere with air operations. Haven’t there also been recent reports that some mutants, not just special mutants, are using simple tools? I do not think they will sit quietly now, when bad weather has reduced aerial reconnaissance and bombing.”

The regimental commander asked in disbelief:

“Surely you are not saying mutants will attack the dams?”

“There is always a one-in-a-million chance. We must prepare for every scenario. Think back to the Christmas Eve raid. Who could have imagined they would use an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)?”

Then he suddenly tossed the question to the boy officer.

“Lieutenant Han, what do you think?”

He had not been prepared to speak, so Gyeoul paused for a moment. All eyes in the room turned to him. The operations officer added:

“Speak freely. That is one of the reasons we called you.”

“...I do think it is possible. Though cause and effect might be reversed.”

“What do you mean?”

“During Convoy Escort runs to Black Mountain, I confirmed this more than once. Among mutants, the intelligent ones act as scouts. So naturally, there are probably some near the base right now too. As you said, with air reconnaissance reduced, there may be even more than usual.”

“And?”

“They may only understand the dam’s importance after seeing our troops move to secure it.”

To the officers in the room, that warning probably felt more realistic than the operations officer’s version. Gyeoul considered how long a Grumble would need to break a dam. Those things could turn a Humvee into scrap and tear down a house in one burst of force. It would not take long.

‘...Half a day?’

A collapse only needed one small crack to begin. Water pressure would do the rest.

When the room settled into agreement, the operations officer changed the screen. The third dam appeared. Its reservoir looked smaller than the first two, but only by comparison.

“Our final objective is Salinas Dam. It is 56 kilometers from base in a straight line, about 70 kilometers by actual travel distance, and correspondingly lower risk. Even if it collapses, Fort Roberts is not expected to take direct damage.”

The operations officer explained that this was thanks to recent drainage channel construction.

“But the San Ardo Oil Field farther downstream is another story. It sits right by the river, so flooding is guaranteed. If the refining facilities are damaged, recovery will be difficult.”

The regimental commander let out a groan.

“That is a problem. Risk level aside, we should secure it.”

“I agree... but distance is the issue. The first two objectives are very close to base, so even sending a full battalion is manageable. We can lay wired lines, and if anything happens at base, they can return quickly to support, or vice versa. Not here. We have no choice but to send a small force. Communications alone will be impossible at that range. It will be a dangerous mission.”

The operations officer looked straight at Gyeoul. It seemed Lieutenant Colonel Capston had already known this much. He had said there was a mission that needed Gyeoul. If command had to pick someone for a dangerous mission at Fort Roberts, they could not leave out the boy officer. The operations officer was likely the one who requested Gyeoul’s presence from the start.

The regimental commander asked:

“What is your view, Lieutenant Han? It seems staff brought you in because they think you are the right fit.”

“I will follow orders.”

“No, I want your opinion. If you do not want it, I will assign the mission to someone else. You are needed everywhere. Frankly, at a time like this, I do not like sending you outside the base either.”

That response was unexpected. After a short thought, Gyeoul shook his head.

“It would be better if I go.”

“As expected. How many troops do you think you need?”

“One platoon is enough. Even less could work.”

Confused reactions spread.

“That is reckless. You cannot defend an entire dam with that.”

“We probably will not need to defend it.”

“Why?”

“Looking at the map, there are seven cities between the base and the dam. It is that far. We might be exposed to a few Ghouls on the way, but they cannot match vehicle speed. In other words, even if mutants spot us when we reach the destination, the chance they understand the link between Fort Roberts and the dam is extremely low.”

“So even if mutants attack, you mean their target would be you and the platoon, not the dam?”

“Yes. Unless we are under Tracking by Tricksters at fixed intervals. They can communicate with each other over long distances. But Tricksters are probably not that common. Also, if you look at the map, there are no cities or villages within a 10-kilometer radius of Salinas Dam. Wouldn’t mutant numbers be lower too? We may be able to go in and out without being detected.”

Gyeoul was already considering dismounting and moving on foot from outside a certain distance. Using a Noise Maker was out of the question. The rain and wind would erase most sound anyway.

As usual, support forces for the boy officer were to be drawn from the 3rd Battalion. Gyeoul had wanted to take alliance combat group members with him, but that was asking too much. Command would never approve it. The operation was too important to rely on refugee volunteers. The regimental commander ordered Lieutenant Colonel Capston and the logistics staff to provide every resource Gyeoul requested. He looked pleased by the boy officer’s confidence.

Once roles were set, the briefing wrapped up quickly.

Before leaving the room, Lieutenant Colonel Ramos offered a handshake.

“You are always brave. Good luck out there, Lieutenant.”

“Same to you, Colonel-nim. The 1st Battalion still has not fully replenished personnel, right? That must be rough.”

“Not as rough as your pace. I checked your record, and you were in every major operation. If you were under my command, I would have forced you to rest.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

The colonel patted the boy’s shoulder, gave a short smile to Lieutenant Colonel Capston waiting nearby, and left the briefing room. Capston asked:

“Any specific platoon you want?”

“Not really. A unit I have worked with a lot would be better, but honestly anyone from Charlie Company is fine. Just gather volunteers. Like I said earlier, less than one platoon is okay. I do not want to drag people into dangerous work by force.”

Jeffrey and his platoon especially. They would not refuse if Gyeoul called them, but he felt bad using them too often.

Lieutenant Colonel Capston shook his head.

“I am still worried. You will not even be able to use radios, right? If an unexpected accident happens, your ability to respond will be badly limited. At minimum, you need reserve forces for backup. Think again. Even if you request a full company, approval will come easily.”

The radio issue was because of Tricksters. They would detect the signal and track it. Worse, they never moved alone. The one that showed up by itself on Christmas Eve had done it to get captured on purpose. Gyeoul gave a mild smile.

“Thank you for worrying about me. But really, it will be fine. If we want to stay unnoticed, fewer people is better, right? Most of the area east of the dam is forest... under those conditions, I will probably spot mutants before they spot me. Even if we are detected, we should be able to shake them off. If numbers get too big, it actually becomes harder for me to handle with my abilities.”

“...I will gather volunteers first. I will have them assemble at the parade ground within thirty minutes. If you change your mind in that time, tell me.”

After a brief glance at the colonel, Gyeoul moved straight to the parade ground. Supply personnel who had received instructions were already there waiting. With their help, he loaded the vehicle with needed equipment, tools, rations, and ammunition. He packed extra food and fuel in particular, in case they were stranded at the dam.

‘Rain this heavy. Roads failing at any time would not be strange.’

The boy held out a hand and weighed the rain. Heavy drops hammered against his glove, drumming hard. Heavy.

As he waited, countless signs of people approached. Footsteps pounding over soaked ground. It was a whole company running in formation. Lieutenant Sullivan was visible among the leaders. He had been the 3rd Platoon leader, and after Lieutenant Colonel Capston’s promotion, he moved up by position-based promotion and took command of the company.

The company lined up in front of Gyeoul, standing in the rain.

Gyeoul tilted his head.

“Why did all of you come out?”

Lieutenant Sullivan answered:

“I heard you were looking for volunteers, Lieutenant Han.”

“...No way.”

“Yeah, that no way is right. The whole company volunteered. Pick whoever you want.”

Now that he looked closely, everyone seemed to be holding back smiles. Gyeoul felt a little awkward.

============================ Author's Afterword ============================

1. Today is the author’s birthday. I wanted to sleep early... T_T

By the time I wake up, half my birthday will already be gone...

Anyway, I’m going to play all day today. Seal Breaker? No idea. Not writing it.

There’s nobody to hang out with, but who cares.

I’ll watch a movie alone, grill meat alone, go to a cafe alone, drink alone...

...

I should just play Overwatch...

2.

Q. Reinesis-nim: @Ossuary with your commute... Author-nim, when you usually write one episode, how many hours does it take?

A. Hard to say. For this episode, it took longer because I wrote it once, deleted it, and wrote it again. When I get buried in details or feel the direction is getting weird, starting over from scratch is usually best. If you cling to what you already wrote because it feels wasteful to throw away, the draft falls apart easily.

If that does not happen, it is usually around 8 hours.

Q. HobakHobak-nim: @A military phone made in Korea? Sounds like it would have ActiveX installed;; every support request would be authentication hell lol

A. Come on, the U.S. is not that sloppy.

Q. MasterKalsolum-nim: @Even two Costco pizzas is less now... Before the 40,000-year time warp and even more than ten years before that, I used to eat like a food fighter. In places where they put up a 5,000 won entry fee and challenged you to eat 5 pork cutlets, 5 tteokgalbi patties, 5 bowls of rice, and 5 cups of soda within 30 minutes, I did 14:41 and won a 100,000 won prize once.

A. Wow... it takes me 20 minutes to finish one bowl of rice... that is amazing...

Q. Dohwawon-nim: @A paper book... for readers and writers, that’s like a dream. If you publish, does it have to be self-publishing? Or would a publishing house do it...?

A. Looks like I might publish a paper book. Honestly, I was not desperate for that. Back when I was a student, I really wanted to publish one, but after that, well...

Q. ClearFlowLotus-nim: @Thanks for another childlike-innocence chapter today. That Russian, surely he is not the Russian president in the story, right? I still remember when you said, “Putin, become my reader.” Tekeli-li!

A. Identity is secret. It will probably stay secret to the end. Haha.

Q. Dreamer_World-nim: @The chat scenes between people feel fresh and fun.

A. That part is hard on the author. I try to describe it close to real speech.

Q. EojinGwangdae-nim: @Including daylight saving, Italy is about 7 hours apart, so 5 o’clock here is around Korea noon. In other words, getting the novel at 5 is profit for me? Pizza is still Italy.

A. Italy, where you can get good pizza wherever you go... I’m jealous...

Q. SunlightNap-nim: @Oh dear, Mr. Pizza is for arthropods. Humans cannot eat it!

A. Isn’t it the opposite, human-only? I ate it and thought, wow, humans eat things this bad these days.

Q. NeoGGM-nim: @Huh? I looked up news photos and saw the Samsong mark... isn’t that it?

A. It is because of the rugged case.

Q. AigoMyLife-nim: @Author-nim, if Crochen appears in this world setting, will the world be purified? The more I read, the more I miss the existence of absolute good in this world. My Noble pass time ran out so I cannot read more.. I’ll pay next time and come back

A. If Crochen existed, he would not sit still. Come back in 40,000 years. '-‘)/

Q. MartialArtsNovelFan-nim: @The hopeless chat window reactions are hilarious. Feels like evolving from cave dweller to demon in a demon cave.

A. No dreams and no hope, yet you are having fun... what address in R’lyeh do you live at?

Q. Ghozt-nim: @I discovered a very childlike novel called Wicked. Childlike for sure, but the protagonist’s endless cat-love spirit was impressive.

A. I read it too. A little... disappointing.

Q. Ketaro-nim: @Just curious, about that Russian friend who declared he would kill Karelsky, who made ActiveX... is he from an intelligence agency? There’s that story that ActiveX was made on purpose to prevent technology or information leaks abroad, while others treat the Russian friend’s words as a joke... he seems like a high-level intel guy;;; surely not something like Puzar’s heir, right? A mission worth deploying Gyeoul for... maybe a new risk factor appeared, or something urgent had to be seized or recovered. Ah, I like Domino’s pizza.

A. I’ll leave Ruski’s identity to readers’ imagination. There will be a few more hints later.

Domino’s is good overall, but the cheese is too salty. Honestly, all brand pizzas are salty for my taste. Even KFC chicken is too salty for me.

Q. NewWorldWhenIWokeUp-nim: @Tunguska-nim lost his childlike innocence and did not value regulars. Now then, shall we start the game?

A. If I lose my childlike innocence, it is because readers steal it from me through the novel, you know?

Q. Yeottaeng-nim: @Do you not play classy card games full of childlike innocence? Every time I gaze upon Lord Yogg-Saron’s face, I learn what childlike innocence is.

A. I barely have time for Overwatch... no room to touch other games.

Q. PepperPepperPepper-nim: @Dropping support 7 and manuscript fee 27, maybe enough for one slice from another pizza chain... right? I’ve been eating Red Hat Pizza these days, it’s good.

A. Oho? There is a Red Hat near my place, I should try it once. Since it’s my birthday, I’ll splurge and eat alone! Thanks for the good tip.

Q. RGZ95-nim: @Isn’t that Ruski guy some kind of high rank? The more I see him, the less he looks like an ordinary person @[email protected]

A. Vladimir is popular, huh. I’m proud. :)

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