183 – David and Goliath (2) – Sherkiv Campaign
February 24th.
Trenches in the far eastern part of Uk ran covered with white snow.
Soldiers of the 932nd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of the 6th Division were sitting in huddled trenches warming their frozen bodies.
Of course, compared to the real madness of the North, it’s cold, but why do you feel so cold when you’re on duty?
Ridwok, a new recruit who had just completed the Uk ranian Army Training Center and was deployed to the Far East, rubbed his hands vigorously in front of a crackling bonfire.
“Hey recruit.”
“Yes, Sergeant!”
“How is it after going out for the first shift?”
“Ah…… It seems to have been fine.”
“You bastard, Goura!”
“No! It looks really good!”
“What the f*ck, can’t you see your hands are red? Anyone who sees it will know how many seconds I put in this fire.”
At the words of the sergeant who smirks, the senior soldiers around him burst into laughter.
“What’s okay? It was like a beggar. Isn’t it?”
Leadwork scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
“Actually, my hometown was in the northern region…… I never thought the Far East would be this cold.”
“The interesting thing is that our place of work is right in front of us.”
Duke of Lunetsk.
A puppet state founded by some soldiers of the Eastern Corps, who had participated in a coup in the capital a few years ago, deserted without permission.
When I first heard the news through the Wilson Times, Reedwork was furious.
After being assigned to the front line, all I could think was that it was fortunate that the Principality of Lunetsk was established.
How can you survive a colder than this?
“And once you get over the guardhouse, it’s a different world from then on. Is it strange that the air inside and outside the guardhouse is really different?”
“Ah, I really agree with that.”
“When will I be discharged~ Sipal~.”
Uk ran was currently implementing a conscription system. Since the last coup, I have been going through a chaotic situation both domestically and internationally.
A strong adult man and woman had to fulfill their duty of national defense in common, regardless of their birthplace.
“By the way, Sergeant, I heard you had a conversation with a beautiful woman at the transportation unit the other day. How did that happen?”
“Ah, that…… No big deal…….”
“You said you had a conversation with a woman!? Who? Lep!?”
“Ah, you bastard. I didn’t say it on purpose because I was afraid I would be like this.”
“Please introduce me too!!!”
Around the time when the soldiers were chatting and chatting.
“Attention troops!”
Sergeant Lev, who was chatting with me, straightened up and shouted in a loud voice. When they turned their heads all at once, a man in field combat uniform was looking at them.
Three Vs drawn on the neck sleeves. It was Rick Hanson, the company’s senior sergeant.
“Glory to the motherland! Sergeant Lev and 4 others are currently resting after work!!”
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“Relax.”
Everyone warmed up at the simple falling voice. Sergeant Rick Hanson. He was the first person I met after Reedwok was deployed to the battalion. It was because he had to proceed with his counseling as a new recruit as he was a senior sergeant.
“Are you going out to inspect?”
“Yes. I have to check whether you guys hit the hit or not.”
“Oh, when did we sink it?”
“Sergeant Raff, aren’t you the most habitual offender?”
“Oh, did you get caught?”
Sergeant Rick Hanson looked at the soldiers like that, then joked and moved to the trench line. The feeling of weight was no joke at any time. If you could subdue people with just your eyes, that would be the feeling.
After the sergeant disappeared, Sergeant Raff stabbed Reedwok in the side.
“Isn’t it f*cking cool?”
“Yes, at first it was like seeing a tiger.”
“It deserves it. He probably has the most brilliant career, including our battalion commander, no, even the regimental commander.”
Sergeant Raff said that Sergeant Rick Hanson was one of the founding members of the rumored 8th Assault Magical Infantry Battalion. It was a bonus to say that he was awarded a medal directly from King Orlando I for his outstanding achievements in the Quernen War.
There are rumors that he is currently dating the daughter of the 6th division commander.
A love story between a junior noncommissioned officer and the general’s daughter. I didn’t even dare to imagine.
“Originally, they said they wanted you to stay in the education and training area, but I know you came here voluntarily.”
“Yes, I am a real person.”
A noncommissioned officer with overwhelming trust from the soldiers. Was this the reason why the company commander, who had a much higher rank, was stumped by Sergeant Rick Hanson’s words?
“But why are you here?”
“You’re in contact with those goddamn rebel bastards. If there was a war, this would be the first thing that would happen.”
Sergeant Raff replied with a shrug.
“So, when there is a war, all you have to do is follow Sergeant Hanson’s words. Wouldn’t that increase the odds of survival?”
“I can’t believe there will be a real war.”
Ridwock said so. Newspapers were talking about the approaching war of extension, the international situation was twisted as much as possible, but…… In fact, it didn’t come to me well as a lead-worker who was just a commoner.
A generation that has lived under the name of peace for a long time. The concept of war is unfamiliar.
“Hey, you don’t know what people do. Did you know that I would be placed here on the front lines?”
“I was in the capital on the day of the coup. The day before was just normal, but when I woke up, the city turned upside down.”
“If you are not careful, you will get in trouble.”
Senior soldiers throw a word or two at Lead Work. And it didn’t take long for the inexperienced recruit to realize that fact.
Peeeing!!!
A strange and disparate sound coming from far away. The faces of the seniors who laughed and chatted hardened in an instant.
“hehehehe!! What, what?!”
Sergeant Raff shouted as he slammed his lead wok face down on the floor.
“Enemy shells falling—!!!!”
“Enemy shells drop!!!!”
Soon, those words that sounded like screams were covered with a deafening explosion. Quaang!! Bang!!! The earth shook as if there was an earthquake, and Reedwok’s ears rang.
The mind of the young recruit, who has yet to shed his youth, went white. What? What’s going on?
When I couldn’t even come to my senses, there was a hand pulling Reidwok’s nape violently.
“Wake up Rookie!!! Get out now!! All troops move to the defense line!!”
“Yes, yes!!!”
Sergeant Rick Hanson. The moment he met the eyes that were staring at him clearly as if he knew everything, a single word pierced his empty head.
For my country.
Remember what you learned at the training center.
Move along the trenches when shells fall. The head is below the mound. Even a small fragment or piece of stone will crush and tear your flesh the moment it touches your body.
Ridwock grabbed Hanson’s hand and stood up, loosening the rifle’s brace. Even in the chaos, I instinctively follow the back of the moving senior soldier.
When I was at the training center, I heard a story about shelling.
Scattered artillery fire is likely to be a provocation or an accidental shot, but if more than a few shots land in an area, it means the enemy is preparing to attack.
Attack preparation shot.
The fact that enemy shells are pouring down right where you are standing means that countless enemies will pour down from the other side.
What did you enlist in the military for? I came to fulfill my duty as a citizen of Uk ran.
Then now is the time to do your duty.
Kwaaang!! Snowflakes rising into the sky with a shockwave, piles of clumped soil fall on top of the helmet.
Ridwock was a machine gunner. A Boas light machine gun that came over from the Commonwealth of America across the sea. According to the operation plan I had in my head in advance, I arrived at Area 3 where the machine gun was installed.
Boom!! Pew!!
Another shell fell. This time it was closer than ever. Beep-. Tinnitus rang out, eating up all the sounds around him.
Once we arrived. It was thanks to the fact that I moved almost without thinking.
But I didn’t know what to do. As I was staring blankly at the outside where the shells were falling, the senior soldier’s fierce fist flew at me.
“Asshole!! What are you doing!!”
Leadwork lost his balance and fell to the floor. I didn’t feel any pain or anything. It’s time to put on a dumbfounded expression.
“Hold the machine gun!! f*ck!!”
At the command of the senior officer, he quickly grabbed the handle of the machine gun. Thump thump. I couldn’t even tell if this vibration was due to the shelling or if it was just the sound of my heart.
“Wait!! Don’t shoot until I give you the signal!”
Reedwok put his finger on the trigger. Just do what you’ve been training for. Just as trained.
I was chewing on the same words several times and staring through the invisible dust, when I heard someone’s voice amidst the sound of gunfire shaking the ground.
The glory and freedom of Uk ran are not yet dead.
Enemies disappear like dew in the sun.
We will rule, brethren.
In our home land.
Glory to Uk ran.
Ridwock was singing along to the national anthem before he knew it. It’s not just leadwork. A senior soldier with bloodshot eyes, and another senior soldier who was sitting behind him, covering his ears.
Everyone was singing the national anthem with one voice.
“We will lay down our bodies and minds for freedom, and show our brave compatriots that we are the owners of this land!!”
As soon as the song ends, the company commander’s clear cry is heard.
“Fire!! All troops! Get beaten up by those damn consumption bastards!!!”
To da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da dadada!!!
Tadadang! Bang!!
Kwaaang!!!
It took only an instant for the trench line to be covered with the musty smell of gunpowder.
