Chapter 247.2: From the Horn of Africa (2)
“Do you guys need anything? Since you’ve just arrived, I can bring over things like coffee if you need them,” Gérard offered Seok Kang-Ho.
“I’d like to get some smoke.”
The army interpreter quickly passed on what Seok Kang-Ho and Gérard said to each other.
The two sat at a bench in front of the barracks as they lit up a cigarette.
“Some fucker named Andrei is leading the Spetsnaz. It seems like he knows the captain, though,” Gérard said. “I was also told that the bastard who had his helmet taken away from him, the one who looks like a gorilla, is the commander of the SBS! He’s called Tyler or some shit. I can’t believe we’re stuck here with people we already have bad blood with.”
“Whoo!” Seok Kang-Ho exhaled cigarette smoke. “Well, that’s to be expected. Men of this caliber, especially the ones part of world-famous special forces that would be joining operations like this, all know each other.”
“Right. Either way, be careful. This whole place is giving me a bad feeling.”
“What’s wrong?” Seok Kang-Ho asked as he stepped on his cigarette, having finished smoking.
“I’m not exactly sure, but something is definitely up. We should be able to figure it out when the captain arrives.”
“Alright. Let’s talk about the rest tomorrow,” Seok Kang-Ho said, then stood up from the bench.
“I’m sure you’re already well aware of the unwritten rules between the special forces teams, but I should warn you anyway. You and your men will probably be assaulted since this is the first time the South Korean special forces are participating in a joint operation,” Gérard quickly said as he stood up. The army interpreter nervously waited for Seok Kang-Ho's answer after interpreting Gérad’s words.
“See you tomorrow,” was all Seok Kang-Ho replied, however.
“Yeah, see you.”
Seok Kang-Ho went back into the barracks and assigned two men to night duty. The day ended soon after. Tired from the long flight, everyone slept soundly despite the six-hour time difference.
They woke up at six in the morning.
Soldiers from different countries came out to the open area in the middle of the barracks and either lightly warmed up or smoked and drank coffee. However, when Seok Kang-Ho and the South Korean soldiers walked out of their barracks, the atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
Although their eyes showed caution, they were also looking down on them. The Spetsnaz and the SBS’ were even glinting, making them look as if they would be picking a fight at any moment.
Seok Kang-Ho sat on the bench with Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho.
“Hnggh!” Seok Kang-Ho stretched. As he did, a soldier came over with a mug of instant coffee. Its smell was distinctly different from brewed ones.
“Daye! Get me coffee as well,” Gérard said as he walked over to them. The scar on his cheek had been twitching all morning.
A soldier poured coffee into another mug and handed it over to Gérard.
“What an amazing atmosphere!” Seok Kang-Ho sarcastically remarked. He then took a sip of his coffee.
“There’s a team briefing after breakfast. Who will be representing the South Korean team?”
“We have an officer in the barracks.”
“Just to be safe, send two dependable soldiers with him.”
Seok Kang-Ho glanced at Gérard, stopping halfway through lifting his mug. “Are things that bad?”
“From what I’ve heard, that bastard Andrei is strong. It would be a disgrace if you guys get sent home after getting beaten up in a scuffle. That would also make it hard to get revenge. Don’t forget that South Korea’s national power is still a bit too weak for you guys to exert your influence in a place like this.”
The army interpreter looked nervous even as he interpreted. Seok Kang-Ho nodded.
With food distributed buffet-style, they were able to eat as much as they wanted.
Both rice and bread were available to suit the tastes of soldiers from the five countries. They were served a large variety of dishes as well. Unfortunately, they didn’t have kimchi.
The South Koreans naturally felt awkward since it was their first time here. Even so, it was impossible to ignore the soldiers who were looking at them with disdain and thinking of picking a fight with them.
They ate in silence, the clanks from their utensils the only thing they could hear. Fortunately, breakfast ended with no incidents.
Park Chul-Su soon left to join the briefing. Cha Dong-Gyun and another soldier accompanied him. The three came back two hours later, still safe from any trouble.
The briefing was quite formal. It gave them the rundown of the operation that they would soon launch and informed them about a discussion that would be held in a few days. The agenda would mainly revolve around whether they would execute the operation in teams or as a joint force. Either way, they would have to establish a chain of command first.
The South Korean team would need someone to speak for them during that discussion.
Their first day ended on that note. The next morning, things proceeded as expected. South Korea and France teamed up, Russia and the UK waited for a chance to fight South Korea, and the United States just observed the situation.
Nothing special happened that day either. They were just briefed about the current state of Somalia, the movements of the Sunni Muslims, and the SISS and SSIS’ responses.
On the third day, they finally had formal introductions and learned more about the functions of the base.
After breakfast, they had their first joint training.
The soldiers put on proper uniforms, complete with a helmet, vest, and even a radio. They then gathered in the open area, finding strange tension in the air.
“They said that we will be conducting the firearms and tactical training in the area at the back,” the army interpreter said, quickly passing on the UN agent’s words to his fellow South Koreans. “The staff member is telling us to go now.”
“Alright.”
Seok Kang-Ho looked at Park Chul-Su.
“Mr. Seok, we’re still lacking experience. As I’ve told you before, please feel free to take command. If we ever find ourselves needing to take responsibility for something, I’ll gladly do it myself,” Park Chul-Su said. He looked exactly like a young Choi Seong-Geon.
“Let’s go!” Seok Kang-Ho ordered the soldiers after nodding in response.
Clank. Clank.
Metallic sounds rang out from their weapons and equipment with each step.
As they headed to the entrance, the Spetsnaz and SBS rushed over and cut them off. They bumped shoulders with the South Koreans just to get in front of the line.
They didn’t get pushed away since the Spetsnaz and SBS didn’t push them with a lot of force, but they did get caught off guard.
Seok Kang-Ho grinned as he turned his head. The bastards didn’t mess with him.
He was sure of two things now: Russia and the UK were relieved that Kang Chan wasn’t here, and they were starting to look for opportunities to attack the South Korean team because of it.
A Humvee and a truck were allocated to each team.
“Cha Dong-Gyun!” Seok Kang-Ho called from the front of the Humvee. With hand gestures, he made three soldiers surround the vehicles and cautiously watch over their surroundings.
Park Chul-Su and Cha Dong-Gyun got on the Humvee.
Each team had their guard up in almost the same way.
Vroom!
Seok Kang-Ho got on. The car in front of their formation soon drove off, and the other vehicles followed.
It was still quite early in the morning, but the air rushing into the car was already quite hot.
They drove for about thirty minutes before stopping in the middle of a black and auburn dried-up field with patches of frail grass.
Rustle.
Clank. Clank.
After the soldiers got out of the vehicles, the UN agent informed them of their goal.
“Rather than seeing it as training, it would be best for you to consider this as an opportunity to warm up and get to know each other a bit more.”
Soon, they began to take turns firing at their targets. Every soldier who joined this training had great aim.
In the middle of the training, Seok Kang-Ho frowned at a Spetsnaz soldier. Although their muzzles should always be pointed at either the sky or the ground during occasions like this, the soldier’s muzzle was pointed slightly to the front.
‘What are you going to do about it?’
The man cocked his head at Seok Kang-Ho, and the people next to him chuckled.
Seok Kang-Ho just grinned in response. He had no intention of getting involved in such a childish fight. He could just kill one of them if they ever tried to engage him in a brawl anyway.
After their firearms and tactical training, they headed back for lunch.
“Considering how they acted on our way out of the base and at the training ground, they will most likely try to pick a fight with us during lunchtime. Those fuckers have no reason to hesitate now that they know that the captain isn’t here. Be prepared and don’t ever let them dominate you,” Seok Kang-Ho quietly told his men after putting his equipment down.
The soldiers nodded in response, determination evident in their expressions.
Upon entering the mess hall, they each took a food tray and put food on it.
Soon, the Spetsnaz rushed into the mess hall, and the SBS followed behind. Gérard and the Foreign Legion’s special forces team were the last to enter the building.
Bam!
One of the Spetsnaz soldiers bumped into Park Chul-Su’s shoulder, who was putting salad on his food tray, then mumbled something. The people next to him burst into laughter after hearing what he said.
“What are these sons of bitches saying?” Park Chul-Su asked.
As he turned around, another Spetsnaz soldier dumped an entire tray of food on his head.
Pow! Bam! Bam! Crash! Clang!
Park Chul-Su and the Spetsnaz soldier immediately engaged in combat.
Everyone just stood in a circle around them. Nobody said anything.
Cha Dong-Gyun and Kwak Cheol-Ho were about to pounce in as well, but Seok Kang-Ho gestured at them to stop, preventing them from doing anything but grit their teeth.
The combatants’ hands and feet moved quickly, utilizing every hand-to-hand combat technique they knew.
The fight was gruesome. Unfortunately, Park Chul-Su was being pushed back little by little. The skin on his nose and his lips soon burst open, causing blood to seep out.
The Spetsnaz soldier specifically targeted Park Chul-Su, completely ignoring the implied rule that they shouldn’t target the commander of the other teams.
Bam! Pow!
Park Chul-Su got hit on the cheek, then on the pit of his stomach, causing him to bend forward.The Spetsnaz soldier then kneed his chin.
Crack!Crash!
Pushed back by the force, Park Chul-Su slammed toward the dessert table near the entrance.
Suffocating silence filled the mess hall.
Gérard, who was looking at the entrance, felt his cheek twitch.
Clank!
Kang Chan had thrown the plate on Park Chul-Su’s chest to the side and wrapped his arms around him.
Nobody could say anything.
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