Just when the noise in the basement of the White House’s West Wing subsided.
The president, who was watching this, opened his mouth.
“This seems like a very difficult thing even to me… … .”
At the same time, his gaze fell on the Secretary of Defense, Thomas, who was seated on the right.
“Did I understand correctly?”
Thomas, who caught his gaze at those words, paused and answered.
“… Yes, Mr. President.”
“In addition, judging from everyone’s reaction, it seems that no special measures have been prepared.”
“For now, yes.”
It was when Thomas spoke with mixed feelings of pity.
“Still, is it because Lee’s ability to carry out operations is so great that he rejects Lee’s proposal and does not issue another order? Is my understanding correct?”
“… Yes, I have no face.”
Thomas answered with a half bow of his head.
Even the president, who did not know special warfare knowledge or tactical doctrine, understood the current situation, but as the head of the U.S. Army, he had no answer to give.
To the extent that the work of a large-scale special audit and personnel reorganization, which he directed at the beginning of his term, was overshadowed.
The president, who knew this well, opened his mouth.
“Then it would be better for me, the superior, to make the decision before it is too late, rather than pass the blame on.”
And this time he looked at Robert Anderson, who was sitting at the bottom of the table.
Former director of the Foreign Cooperation Bureau, and currently the head of an unnamed organization, who oversees the work of the task force.
In this meeting room, he was a person who knew Kang-tae better than anyone else.
“Anderson, how are you? Look at the expression… Are you of the same opinion as the Minister?”
“If that’s the case, it might be possible to break through thousands of people… It’s too risky. We cannot rule out the possibility that Lee will suffer fatal injuries.”
To be precise, it was the word death, but I couldn’t get the word out of my mouth easily.
Kang Tae’s death was unimaginable.
In the meantime, the president shook his head and said as if he had made up his mind.
“Then what about on-the-spot judgment?”
At that, the communications officer quickly radioed, and soon Jake’s voice came over the speaker.
– This is Charlie. 31 After guarding the assembly area and waiting, I will exit with Alpha.
A very solid answer.
At the same time, Robert’s eyes widened as he listened.
It wasn’t because he hadn’t expected it or because he was taken aback by Jake’s recklessness.
He used to be a field agent, but now he had to look back at himself as a manager.
‘… Looks like it’s really time to retire. I’m making this decision… I would have forgotten even the atmosphere of the scene… … .’
I couldn’t just stick to statistics or probability.
It was because the synergy between colleagues, the flow of the scene, and the atmosphere worked to a large extent.
Robert knew that all too well.
I didn’t start this job as an office worker, but because I started in the field.
Now, as Lee’s immediate superior and manager, there was only one thing to do.
support and support.
Robert, who finished his judgment, opened his mouth.
“… President, I misjudged.”
“A mistake?”
“I also support Lee’s opinion. Like Lee’s teammates… I want him to leave too.”
Thomas shook his head as if he knew him.
“… It looks like you’ve been thinking about the scene.”
Thomas, who was once a general, also knew it well because he had served in the army.
Unlike Robert, he doesn’t change his mind easily because he’s older and it’s been a long time since he’s been in the field.
“My heart understands it a hundred times, but I still have to choose the one with a high probability of success. They are not in the conflict zones of the Middle East or Africa… It’s in goddamn Russia.”
The moment Thomas finished speaking like that.
A radio was heard.
That’s Kang Tae’s voice.
– Hotel, this is Alpha. Please check the status of the new route. Departure ready.
At the same time, the communications officer turned and looked at the conference table.
A look at how you do it.
It was when the president met his eyes.
“President.”
Just in time, a few new people appeared in the underground situation room.
They were the CIA director who called, the Pentagon officer, and the staff who had been contacted by the State Department and the Russian ambassador.
A folder of papers came out between them, and it was quickly in Thomas’ hands.
Soon his eyes lit up.
“President, I agree with the on-site judgment.”
“Are there any new reports?”
“It’s still halfway through, but it’s a reliable source.”
Thomas held out the file, and the President took it.
Inside, there was the possibility of information leakage and the results of the traitor investigation that the Ministry of National Defense quickly identified.
[…] So far, there is no trace of information leakage, and no trend of traitors to cooperate with Russia or terrorists has been found. Even with further investigation, it is highly unlikely that it was information leakage or an insider’s work.]
Seeing this, the president nodded.
He also did not include the word that there was a traitor in the United States, but he was worried about the possibility of information leaking out.
Because there was a precedent of Norman Jones, who served as a White House staff member.
And now, one burden has been reduced by the conclusion of the report.
make it easier to make decisions.
In addition, there was evidence that the field situation was advantageous.
[…] 2,000 to 3,000 conscripts and about 100 retired special forces are identified as the number of search forces deployed.]
After that, it was even speculated that Russia gave some of the command to Pikal.
It was highly reliable information obtained through communication wiretapping and Humint.
And these were entirely advantageous.
It meant that the Russian army was not moving directly or elite troops were mobilized, but conscripts and veterans were moving.
The president, who saw the key, quickly issued an order.
“Okay, apply as much as possible according to your on-site judgment.”
* * *
“Hotel, this is Alpha. Please check the status of the new route. Ready for departure.”
The decision seemed to be delayed, so I radioed as if urging.
I couldn’t help it.
I don’t know if there are other ways out of here, but none look good.
It was a bit difficult to get out of Shenzhen, but this time it was different.
Where borders and coasts are all separated by hundreds of kilometers or more.
In the meantime, the 31st assembly point from Jake’s radio was not a bad option.
It’s not an ordinary beat, but there are hidden vehicles, and if you ride it, you can easily get to the assembly point where the US helicopter will come.
The problem was the enemies in between.
Thousands of enemies in search, lined up and hard to bypass.
I had to drill through it.
Of course, it wasn’t easy.
It was not a mountainous terrain or a city lined with buildings, but rather flat and gentle terrain.
There is a forest with quite a lot of trees in the middle, but the ground is not very curved.
In other words, if you make a mistake, there is a possibility that you will be eaten cheaply in the open field.
Simply put, it means you can die.
It was a time when I wondered if the decision was delayed because the upper level was also concerned about it.
It was a time when I could clearly feel the cold dawn energy dulling my gloved fingertips, my whole body getting cold as if it were getting wet, and my toes becoming numb.
Fortunately, the desired radio was heard.
– This is a hotel. I will share the current situation as I move.
After that, various information such as the enemy’s location, condition, and scale came pouring out.
A level that cannot be memorized at once.
Fortunately, the information I heard was good enough to be welcome.
‘If you catch 3,000 conscripts and 100 retired soldiers… … .’
I did my own calculations, and the answer came quickly.
‘It’s worth doing more than I thought?’
I have already had mock battles with veterans from Delta Force, and trained for a long time while working in harmony with active members.
A retired soldier from the special forces who flew and flew was not something to be afraid of.
Of course, I had to be nervous enough and move, but I wasn’t afraid because I wasn’t alone.
We had satellite information with our teammates on the move.
said briefly.
“This is Alpha. I will leave right away.”
and ran
It was to shorten the time even a little because there were no enemies nearby, but I couldn’t run for long.
It was because I heard a dog barking.
It wasn’t a wild dog.
I had to know instinctively.
It was because the place I came from was in the direction the enemy was encamped and was searching.
“This is Alpha. Appears to be near enemy search dogs.”
– Alpha, where are you?
After that, I fell flat on the floor and checked the navigation board while blocking my view with a heat-reflective cloth.
It was done more than dozens of times while putting in and leaving, so it moved concisely and skillfully.
I was afraid of being exposed to Russian satellites, so I couldn’t turn on the IR (Infrared Ray) lamp on my helmet, and I couldn’t help it because I even ran around wearing a heat-reflective cloth.
The answer came back soon after.
– Based on the front, one platoon of troops was confirmed at 11 o’clock at 1 mile (about 1.6 km), and it was found that there were at least two search dogs and special forces.
“Good reception.”
It just wasn’t a good combination.
Placing a large number of conscripts and seasoned special warfare agents made it somewhat threatening.
Especially if it’s an Alpha belonging to the FSB, Russia’s top elite.
Accordingly, I closed the navigation board, sat down, took a shooting posture, and raised the muzzle toward 11 o’clock.
It was hard to see because of the trees, but it was similar to what the satellite told me.
Dozens of people, two people who seem to be in command of them, and even a search dog.
The impression was frowned upon.
1.6km wasn’t that far, but it was because the enemy’s direction of movement was fixed in my direction.
I couldn’t just pass by.
Thanks to the search dogs, they should be heading towards me.
Cheeky.
After retracting and advancing the bolt of the TAC-50 to load the bullet.
I looked at the enemy through the scope.
I saw figures moving through the cracks in the trees.
Of course, there were trees in the middle, so I couldn’t see anything properly, but it wasn’t a big problem.
No, it was rather easy.
It wasn’t moving unpredictably in a zigzag, it was coming towards me consistently.
As long as you can see all the trees and people, it was predictable enough.
Timing the trigger was simple, considering the one-second time it took to fly.
But the easiest thing was to set the target.
What I was going to shoot was decided.
Two people, a dog.
Tuong! Tuong! oh oh oh-!
Heavy gunfire rang out in succession, while it passed a long distance.
Two targets stumbled over, and one went straight toward me and fell over.
It was an instant.
Dozens of conscripts were startled and fell to the ground.
And gunshots rang out.
Fight against each other!
It was a spree that I didn’t know where to shoot, and it was time to figure it out.
Just then, the radio from above arrived.
– Alpha, the wind moving quickly in the direction of 2 o’clock. A large amount of enemy movement direction changed.
“I want to explain from close range enemies.”
– 1 company unit approaching at 12 o’clock, 2 miles (approximately 3.2 km). Two or more platoons approaching at 2 o’clock at a distance of 2.4 miles (approximately 3.8 km). 3 miles (about 4.8 km) away… … .
“Hey, there’s still three miles… … .”
He hesitated as he tried to interrupt the unit he had never fired.
Even if it wasn’t fixed, there was no reason why I couldn’t shoot it if it was coming towards me.
As long as you can see it, you can hit it well enough.
They weren’t turning sideways or diagonally, they were all approaching in one direction.
Then, he nodded his head slowly.
‘If I just shoot everything I said… … ?’
Rather than expulsion, it’s like openly engaging, but I thought that wasn’t bad either.
There will be deaths at 2 miles, 2.4 miles, and 3 miles.
The reaction of the troops being searched was expected.
The helicopter that will be flying, informed by the satellite information, will also be greatly embarrassed.
A conclusion came soon.
“… Would that be better?”