00059 --- The Little Prince in the Ossuary----=
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#Trap (4), Camp Roberts
Gyeo-ul gazed intently at the captured creature.
The 「Trickster」 remained docile, lying limp like a corpse as its hands and feet were bound. The only indication of its being alive was its shallow breathing. Ssh, ssshh... a sound of air cutting sharply through.
No matter how weakened, it should have had the energy to struggle. It was suspicious, giving an increasing weight to the notion that it had allowed itself to be caught. There wasn't any confirmation yet, though.
Before it collapsed, this one had released a powerful jamming signal.
The one encountered in Atascadero did the same. As that one died, severe static noise came through the radio.
If it were not mere radio interference, but a form of communication among these creatures?
'Then what is the range of that communication?'
Voice language differs qualitatively from radio communication. The information transmission capability among these new special mutants might even encompass visual and auditory levels.
That would explain their cunning. Each time they encounter a new entity, it seems they inherit its experiences. The information emitted by the Atascadero 「Trickster」 might still be floating around. A memory lingering even after death, like a specter.
'So, it smiled at me because it recognized my face...'
It must have also been aware of America's efforts to secure a living specimen. Otherwise, without the confidence of not dying, the thought of deliberately getting caught wouldn't even occur.
Given this hypothesis, the 「Trickster」 is the worst of special mutants.
A chill ran down his spine. Having undergone twenty-six apocalypses, it was a long time since he felt such a sensation. Not bad. Perhaps he could immerse himself like when he first smashed the head of a human-like creature.
Now, Gyeo-ul aimed his rifle, pondering as he felt the pressure on the trigger. Should he just shoot? Whatever the creature's plan, if he shot now, it might unravel.
"What are you doing, Lieutenant?"
Sergeant Liberman lowered Gyeo-ul's rifle barrel.
"After going through all that trouble to capture it, now you want to kill it?"
His face showed confusion. Glancing around, he saw soldiers guarding the captive, some fidgeting a few steps away. It seemed Gyeo-ul's demeanor had worried them enough to call Sergeant Liberman. Perhaps it was due to his highly activated 'threat level'.
Gyeo-ul let the rifle drop as he replied.
"I just felt a bit uneasy."
"You think it was too easy to catch?"
The sergeant shared the suspicion but didn't delve as deep as Gyeo-ul did, trying to reassure him with a casual tone.
"There were some puzzling aspects, but... it's all over. A helicopter will come soon to take it away, and we can go back, have a beer, and stretch out."
He gestured outside.
"You seem tired. Why don't you step outside and rest a bit? The sky's quite clear, perfect for stargazing. Leave this to the guys."
Gyeo-ul managed a faint smile.
"They don't feel trustworthy."
Liberman nodded, acknowledging the point, and the soldiers showed disgruntled expressions. Soon after, they all laughed.
Gyeo-ul accepted the suggestion. Without any proof, it would be hard to persuade them. They would show understanding, but execution was a different matter. What could a bound and captured special mutant even attempt?
Besides, Jeffrey must have already reported the capture. If he disposed of it arbitrarily, he might face disciplinary action.
The boy decided to set those thoughts aside for a moment. As Liberman said, it was a cloudless, starry sky. He sat on the Humvee, gazing quietly upward. Though there was not a sliver of the moon, it didn't feel dark. The frigid night, bathed in starlight, was strikingly refreshing.
In the 「After the Apocalypse」 world, if there was anything brighter than before, it was the night sky. He could see the Milky Way here, something he had never seen when alive. Oddly luminous, it even resembled shining clouds.
Through night vision, it appeared even brighter. The stars shone with astonishing clarity.
A presence approached. It was Jeffrey, who had been wrestling with the radio. After a bout of irritation, he exchanged a few words with those around him, then approached Gyeo-ul. He refrained from immediately speaking, not wishing to disturb the rest. It was a pleasantly respectful gesture.
They spent some time sitting together on the bonnet before Jeffrey spoke.
"Does it look good?"
"Yes. It's a scene I'm sure I might have seen where I used to live, but it's unfortunate that it's my first time seeing it here."
"Where you used to live? Oh, Korea?"
"In a sense."
"In what sense? What do you mean?"
The young lieutenant seemed puzzled, but Gyeo-ul didn't explain. Instead, he asked something else.
"What's the issue? Did the communication not work? There doesn't seem to be any interference."
The receiver in his ear was still silent, indicating the 「Trickster」 remained quiet.
"No, not that... They said they can't send the helicopter."
"Why not?"
"We're not the only ones going through this. They caught a few elsewhere as well. Many requested helicopter support, but when sent, eight disappeared in a short time."
Vigilance returned. Gyeo-ul asked again, his tone calm.
"Did they come under attack?"
"No clue. It's not even clear if it was an attack. Communication just cut off. One of the units that requested support heard a loud noise. Probably a crash, but they said they can't get to the scene yet. In short, they have no idea what's causing it at the moment."
"It's an attack, surely. There's no way eight helicopters would malfunction simultaneously without any contact at all."
"Well, I suppose so. Anyway, until they figure out the cause or the sun comes up, there won't be any additional helicopter support."
"Then what about that?" asked Gyeo-ul, pointing toward the captive. Just at that moment, soldiers were moving the captive. With a muzzle firmly in place, four men were carefully carrying it. Several were standing a little away, aiming their weapons. Jeffrey explained.
"The orders are to transport it to the base. They said they'll come for it later."
"What about detention measures?"
"Chain it up and cage it, they say."
"A cage?"
"I'm not sure, but they said they'd line the walls and ceiling with cooking foil? Apparently, that can block the creature's transmission. If we're placing it in the base, we should at least do that much."
Oh, a Faraday cage. Gyeo-ul had heard of it too. But would it be enough?
They said a helicopter would arrive at dawn. If they just managed to get through the night, nothing would happen. But conversely, something seemingly would.
'Should I suggest it to the battalion commander?'
Regardless, the boy officer's immediate superior was the battalion commander. Alternatively, he could reach out to the operations officer. However, both seemed unlikely to agree. The battalion commander was a washed-up human immersed in alcohol to forget reality, unlikely to want his rest disturbed. The operations officer might not be too eager to bolster security based solely on unproven speculation.
Still, it was worth trying.
"Hey, hop in. Let's head back."
Jeffrey tapped Gyeo-ul's shoulder.
The convoy began moving. The 「Trickster」 was bound crosswise behind the turret on vehicle number three. Perhaps due to a higher center of gravity, the vehicle seemed unstable. The machine gunner had his weapon fixed in the direction of the mutant, ready to fire at any moment.
Upon arriving at the base, an enhanced contingency force awaited Jeffrey's squad. Despite the mutant being already bound, it was chained up once more as though they had been waiting. Even while wearing insulating gloves, they didn't let down their guard for a moment.
Meanwhile, the radio static intensified several more times.
If the mutant's intention was reconnaissance, it had already partially succeeded by spewing static upon entering the base.
Gyeo-ul confirmed the special mutant confined in the shelter, then headed for the camp's control room. Perhaps due to the significance of the matter, the operations officer was on duty.
He, after returning the salute, inquired about the purpose of the visit.
"What's the matter? The operation was completed brilliantly; you could very well head off to rest."
"I have a suggestion concerning this mission."
"A suggestion?"
"Yes. I was thinking about strengthening the camp's defenses as much as possible until daybreak..."
The operations officer was one of the battalion staff more lenient towards Gyeo-ul. It wasn't a personal bond but rather a respect for his capabilities.
Unlucky soldiers of the headquarters company tasked with a Christmas Eve on-duty were watching both Gyeo-ul and the operations officer. He scratched his chin, facing the young officer.
"Care to explain why?"
"I believe the 「Trickster」 deliberately infiltrated."
"Oh?"
He attentively listened to Gyeo-ul's unfolding hypothesis with interest.
"It goes a bit further than the report you submitted earlier. Are you saying that jamming signals and communications might not be distinguishable? Hm, actually, the higher-ups have been considering that possibility as well. It looks like they're planning to initiate ECM soon and observe the response."
"You mean we're going to try jamming them from our side?"
"That's right. If it really is some kind of communication, it should show a reaction when disrupted. There's a high chance you'll be assigned to that operation. After all, no one west of the blockade line has achieved better results than you."
"I see."
"Moreover, the 390th Squadron is frequently dispatching recon planes. They are analyzing the pattern of the radiation these creatures emit. In this context, I cannot say your concerns are entirely groundless. The simultaneous, multi-camp experiences tonight are indeed suspicious. Yes, it's indeed dubious."
"Then, are you granting permission?"
"No."
The major shook his head with a smile.
"While it makes sense, it's overwhelming. What can a creature do just locked in a cage? Even if it had a plan for infiltration, could it have possibly envisioned an electromagnetic isolation facility? Sure, we might be in the dark about them, but they sure don't know us either. No matter how clever they've gotten, they can't surpass human intelligence."
He then added a joke, laughing.
"If they start setting up libraries and schools to teach studies, that'd be a concern."
"But..."
"Enough. You're too on edge. This is an order. Go and get some rest. It's Christmas, isn't it?"
The major gestured for him to leave. Judging by his expression, it seemed further attempts would bear no fruit. Gyeo-ul saluted and withdrew.
What to do now?
The lingering sense of danger remained. Ignoring it was not an option.
The remaining method was to bypass orders and rally the soldiers directly. There were individuals who would respond if earnestly requested.
Yet, it was burdensome. It bordered on insubordination. If Gyeo-ul ended up taking responsibility as the central figure, his standing would become shaky. Though he had substantial achievements, they wouldn't crumble instantly.
Mobilizing many made it more prone to problems. Someone might refuse to be convinced and report to command.
It was, above all, an uncertain possibility. Considering the potential backlash if it were a false alarm, the risks might outweigh the rewards.
He contemplated investing in 「Survival Sense」.
It warns of any possibility leading to death. However, due to its broad range, it often lacks specificity without linkage.
Since Atascadero, he had not expended resources, so he had reserves. The 「Insight」 granted when 「Survival Sense」 reached the realm of geniuses would be more concrete and precise than ever before.
Resolving to push through, he allocated experience points.
The Level 11 「Survival Sense」 warning tingled as it welled up.
But that was it. Sometimes, system-calibrated premonitions faltered. Regardless, it wasn't the level Gyeo-ul had hoped for.
Possibly, 「Crisis Detection」 might have been superior. But it's something unknowable without trying.
After much deliberation, Gyeo-ul sought out Captain Capston.
Having listened to the background, the captain nodded in agreement.
"That's a valid judgement. Comparing combat data from Atascadero with other places, the intelligence of the 「Trickster」 truly stands out. Like you said, it got captured surprisingly easily. Appearing alone was unusually careless. I'm also bothered by that smile. Being cautious doesn't hurt. Yet, it is indeed quite challenging..."
"I've thought it through, but as long as we aren't caught, it's fine."
When Gyeo-ul spoke, the captain raised a question.
"Is that possible?"
"Think about it. Even if we deploy company troops, it's merely emergency standby. Until something happens, there's no need for full scale action. Should a real incident occur..."
"By then, we'll have something bigger to worry about than petty repercussions. I see your point."
Captain Capston chuckled lightly.
---------------------------= Author's Note ---------------------------=
Yesterday, I couldn't write a single line in 9 hours. Though the content was lingering in my mind, the result wasn't something I could accept.
Today, I shall make up for it.
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