Tactics

"That's why I think it's best if I am relegated to a support role." the lieutenant said.

The two had been discussing tactics at length.

"You are much better at fighting the natives than I am, especially up close. If I ever have to use this for more than just a can opener," he pointed to his Gerber multi-tool, "we're in some serious shit." He gave a small grin.

She smiled and nodded, understanding that what he said was an attempt at humor, but was unsure how to react. She still did not know him very well. She wanted to become better acquainted with her tamer. She waited a little before she spoke.

"So, you are a soldier?"

"Yes."

"For the us army?" She tried to read his service tape.

"Huh?" He looked down at what she was looking at. "No, the U-S ARMY." He pointed to his service tape, pointing to the letters as he spoke the syllables. "That means United States Army. I'm a commissioned officer."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I went to school to learn how to lead large groups of men. I got my commission a year and a half ago, so I'm still just a Second Lieutenant."

"You are a leader of other soldiers?"

"Yeah, I am a P-L, A Platoon Leader."

"So where are your soldiers? Shouldn't you be with them?"

"Yeah, but…" The lieutenant was reminded of the assault on the bridge. He began to tear up, so he closed his eyes and held them back. "I lost my platoon in a bridge assault." His worlds were strained. "They're all dead."

"I'm so sorry, Mike." She put her hand on his back in an effort to console him. "I didn't mean to make you recall those events." Her remarks did little to comfort him, so she decided to change subjects.

"So… you are from the United States? Yes?"

"Yeah, American born and raised." He brightened up a little.

"I have heard about the United States before. It is one of the… countries?"

"Yeah."

"What is it like, the U-S, and the human world?"

"Well, it's… um… well… kinda different from here." He tried to think of a comparison, but didn't know enough about the digital world to make one. "I grew up in a small town, a suburb of a larger city. My parents were middle class, but I went to a school in a rather poor district." He went on about his upbringing, childhood, and eventual college days.

Renamon got to know a lot about her tamer. He was rather smart, he graduated as valedictorian of his high school class and was Cum Laude at college. He was athletic; in high school, he was a linebacker on the football team, power forward on the basketball team, and threw for the track and field team; in college, he played basketball for a club team. He spoke of the beginning of his Army career, the many schools he attended. She learned a few of his quirks through the stories he told.

"Renamon?"

"Yes?" She had wide eyes and a small smile.

"How did you grow up?"


(NOTE: Korean will be presented as the English translation, with the quotes being italicized, inside quotation marks.)

In a snow-covered forest clearing, a group of soldiers are leisurely walking. They seemed to lack the alertness level to be expected from soldiers.

"Why do we have to patrol around here?" said one soldier in distinct Korean. On his uniform's sleeve, a North Korean flag was present. "We scared away all of those monsters, and obviously there aren't going to be people around here."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." another soldier said. He picked up something off the ground, which was partially covered in snow. "This is an enemy hand grenade." He showed the object to the rest of the soldiers. He handed it to his commander, who grimaced.

"Keep alert, men! There are enemy soldiers out here somewhere." He radioed back to his headquarters. "Code Orange. Enemies have breached the digital plane. Evidence had been found to support this."

At the headquarters, a high-ranking officer seemed rather upset about the news. "If the enemy finds our facility, the project will be threatened with destruction. We have gotten so far, and are almost complete, the enemy must not be allowed to interfere. Order the men to find the enemy and destroy him without mercy!" A lower-ranking officer nodded and left quickly. "These heathens will not interfere with this project. The glory of True Korea is at stake!"