After spending over a week at Kadena Air Base, I finally boarded a plane to the United States.
With a new identity as Garrett Warden.
I sat on the plane seat and looked at the new name again, when I heard Rachel speak from the seat next to me.
“Is it because you care about the name?”
“Ah, yes. Garrett Warden is kind of… You don’t look Asian, do you?”
Around the time I wondered what it would be like to work with other Korean immigrants or Japanese.
Rachel shook her head.
“It’s just for entry, don’t worry about it.”
“For entry?”
“Yeah, didn’t you explain anything else?”
The only explanation I heard was that it was a required status to enter the country.
And I got on the plane right away.
Seeing Rachel at this, she calmly continued.
“Status is given according to the operation or situation, and the more important or difficult the operation, the more specific explanation is attached. In that respect, Garrett Warden will not be used in the future. It can’t even be written. If you live by that name, you can keep track of it. We shouldn’t be tracked down, so there’s a good chance our status will change a few more times along the way. Or you could be managed so strictly that you don’t even need an identity at all.”
“that… What is strict management?”
When I asked back at the unexpected word, Rachel grinned.
“It will be similar to life at Kadena Air Base. There is no such thing as going to the mart and being terrorized. Even when I sleep, there are sentries and cameras guarding me outside.”
“ah… … .”
I unknowingly agreed.
It was because Kadena Air Base had everything from gyms, swimming pools, and shooting ranges that I needed to use, as well as sports facilities such as soccer and baseball fields, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts, supermarkets, kindergartens, and schools.
In simple words, a place where you can live without going outside the fence.
Of course, not all the facilities were good, but there was nothing inconvenient to live in.
It was literally the equivalent of a tolerable village.
The problem was that Jose or Marcus, who had a family, was hard to bear, and that would be solved if they lived together.
US military bases were usually places where military families lived together.
“Then maybe we can all live together on a military base or something,”
“Perhaps.”
Indeed, it came true according to her answer.
It was not at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, but inside some barbed wire in Virginia, the mainland of the United States.
It wasn’t a military base, to be honest, but there wasn’t much difference.
It was because there was a sign for outsider access restrictions, a guard post at the main gate, a light for subordinates, and even a sentry.
“Are you going to come in here? No, what about my family?! You said you would let me see my family?”
José looked out of the minibus window and said embarrassedly.
Marcus is also frowning.
Immediately, Jake’s gruff voice was heard.
“Should I stop the bus?”
“Ah, that… I’m sorry, chief. I was so excited.”
José hesitated and apologized as Jake, who was sitting in the front chair, turned his head to look.
“… It sounds like you’ve been under a bit of stress. I will be more restrained in the future.”
At those words, the atmosphere sank again, but before I knew it, I heard Jake’s voice.
“Try going to a trauma recovery center, or I will suggest you above.”
“I’m already receiving counseling… … .”
“Will that work?”
“… I will visit you during my vacation.”
“Good idea.”
Jake gave a short answer and moved on, but a sigh came up from within.
It wasn’t because this situation was uncomfortable.
It was because the conversation between the two of them, which mentioned the trauma center, made me realize what I had missed.
‘It must have been mentally exhausting or difficult… I was missing that… … .’
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Looking back, it was natural.
Because I have a steel mentality, I can fight fine even in a rain of bullets, but they did not.
was a person
Of course, they are among the strongest among humans, and among soldiers, but they do not have the characteristics of a steel mentality.
He would have struggled to overcome his fears and fears and move as he had been trained.
Even in a situation where someone dies and dies.
It was most likely that his mental strength was consumed little by little in the process.
It’s probably sharpened somewhere.
I had heard about the situation Jose was going through before, so it was easier to understand.
‘Then Rachel and Marcus will have a hard time… … .’
Jake, who was regarded as a monster, and Harry, who seemed already unscrewed, were less concerned, but they were not unconcerned either.
Because it was the same as being human.
One day, someone might come out with a gun in their mouth and pull the trigger.
It was not an exaggeration.
I had heard quite a few bad anecdotes about people around me from Harry and other colleagues who were with me every day.
From the aftereffects of an injury to the exacerbation of PTSD leading to an accident.
‘If you add that the organization is being reorganized, psychiatric treatment is also supported… … .’
It’s time to organize my thoughts in my own way.
Suddenly the vehicle stopped.
It was in front of an alley lined with villas, similar to the one I saw at Kadena Air Base the other day.
José, who was watching this, asked calmly, as if he had been irritated.
“But what is this? I don’t think it’s a military barracks, but was it a building used by the CIA?”
“They said it was empty.”
“Are you sympathetic?”
“Yes, someone is coming to explain.”
As if he had waited as he said, a man in a suit came out of the mission.
Next, they handed out identification cards to wear and front door keys, and after listing all sorts of rules, they got into a car parked on the road and left.
It was an instant.
It looked like a machine spitting out only words to say, but no one complained.
It was because of the people who came out of the building before they knew it.
“Ohhh… … ! My cute puppies!”
Marcus shouted in surprise, followed by José, calling the children by name and running.
They were two families.
The wife and children came from the villa they were staying in.
Jake looked at them for a moment, then turned his gaze to the rest of us.
“Everyone unpack and get some rest.”
“Isn’t there a set? Our ID or team… … .”
When I asked because there was something that hadn’t been sorted out yet, Jake shook his head lightly.
“You should get some rest first. Didn’t he recover from minor cuts or muscle pain?”
There were traces of little scratches and bruises during the operation.
Of course it didn’t get any better.
It was only because I stayed at Kadena Air Base for about a week, and during that time I continued to work out at the gym.
“Yes, it is, but… … .”
“Follow me if you care, rest well for the rest.”
Jake continued, looking at Harry, who was raising his hand at the same time.
“Don’t say you’re coming, go wash up and rest. Lee is the only one who is fine here.”
“But I also want to go… … .”
When Harry whimpered like a puppy, as if he would follow me, Jake added a word.
“Or I’ll make you sleep for a few hours.”
At that, Rachel smiled briefly and left, and Harry eventually took a half step back.
“… no. I will take care of myself.”
After the other two had left, Jake started talking as he moved.
“You seem to care a lot, Lee.”
“Yes, that’s how it happened.”
“Did you receive any instructions that I didn’t know about?”
“Please. I believe in our team the most, especially the team leader.”
“It’s different from that. If you had any special instructions, I’m willing to help with that. Your values have already surpassed the organization. Enough to get another order.”
“It’s not really like that. just… It’s because I’m a bit worried that my status or foreign cooperation countries will all change. You know I don’t lie, right?”
“That makes it even more surprising. The tenacity is astounding… I don’t even have any personal ill-wishers.”
“Ah, isn’t he also involved in nuclear missiles? How do you let that go?”
“also… It’s great to hear it again. Not only his marksmanship, but his sense of duty and justice are so good that his tongue sticks out.”
“No, I don’t mean to hear that… … .”
I asked, skipping compliments.
“Have you heard anything from above? What will become of the foreign cooperation country… … .”
“I thought your opinion was important to me.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes, because the US government cares about you, not my organization or me.”
“ah… … .”
“The reorganization won’t be weird, or you can step out.”
He nodded.
If you saw the history, it was enough.
However, I don’t think it will give me the right to dominate the organization, but I will listen to relevant opinions anyway.
While nodding, Jake’s words added.
“So don’t worry, go get some exercise.”
“yes?”
“Didn’t you miss a day on a long flight? And since you’re frowning and need to adjust to jet lag, shouldn’t you go and sweat a bit?”
“ah… Ha ha ha, yes.”
Just when I thought that’s why I sent Harry, who looked tired, Jake added.
“How is the routine going? I’m thinking of lowering my body.”
“Ah, I’ll lower my body too.”
On my first day back in the States, I went straight to the gym with Jake.
* * *
By the end of October.
The scheduled vacation period was over, and the long-awaited call came only when the cold autumn wind began to blow.
It was about the change in our positions and roles that Jake had spoken about.
It was exactly like a notification of some kind.
It was because I had already contacted the practitioners several times before that.
Now, after signing the contract from above and completing various tasks from below, he had contacted me to let me know.
The number of participants included all 6 members of our team including me, Robert, director of the Department of External Affairs, Ron, who was an executive at G&G Corp, and working-level staff and ministers at the State Department.
Among them, Robert and Ron had a conversation while facing each other through the split screen of the screen.
Of course, the words to say hello were short.
As befits a meeting where most of them were from the field, the business came out right away.
– first of all… As we acknowledged all of your concerns, the organization will be reorganized, but the team’s form and mission will remain similar to before. Rather, it will rise. You will be assigned directly under the Secretary of State, who is here with you, not the Under Secretary of State, and you will receive that much support. To put it simply, if you die during an operation, you don’t die as a mercenary, but as a black agent in the State Department, which means that your death pension comes out.
That wasn’t bad news.
It was especially good for Jose and Marcus, who have families.
He also nodded at the content that followed.
– The team system will be maintained as you said. Jake is the team leader, Marcus is the deputy team leader, and the rest are team members. The mission will continue the same as before… … .
“What is your relationship with the Foreign Affairs and Security Bureau?”
Robert shook his head as Marcus mentioned the armed forces in the State Department.
– We are a separate organization. As such, we will form the necessary team for each operation, and now we are organized into TF (Task Force) 242.
TF 242 was a story that I hadn’t even thought about because it wasn’t in Lareple’s existing scenarios at all.
Of course it wasn’t bad.
I was worried that something would change, but it was enough if I continued the work I was doing at the Foreign Cooperation Bureau.
My goal wasn’t to maintain the organization, it was to catch Pikal.
Meanwhile, Jake opened his mouth.
“Being assigned to TF242 means that you will be put into operation soon?”
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Looking at the screen at those words, Robert nodded briefly.
– We are preparing, and we will deliver equipment and operational information soon.
It seemed like he was answering Jake’s question, but I soon realized that he was looking at me.
– Are you okay, Mr. Lee?
After Robert’s words, everyone looked at me and nodded.
“Yes, that’s good.”