Respect

Having recovered from the abrupt attack and the events following, the group was out driving the captured vehicle in the direction it came from. They put their packs in the truck bed and all piled into the cabin. 2LT Joseph sat in the drivers position on the bench, with Renamon directly next to him in the center. On the right was CPL Ku with Veemon siting on his lap. They were packed in pretty tight, especially considering the humans were also still wearing most of their gear.

"I don't like sitting on your lap, Ji-Woo. Why can't I sit in the middle and Renamon sit on Michael's lap?" Veemon asked. Renamon and 2LT Joseph both looked at each other for a moment with wide eyes. The lieutenant smirked, and a fiery-red blush overcame Renamon's face. The lieutenant blushed in response, and they both looked back to the road.

"The lieutenant is driving, and Renamon is bigger than you. Maybe you should have listened to me when I said it would be better if you rode in the back." the corporal replied.

"I don't want to ride in the back where that smelly Tyrannomon was. Besides, a good digimon always stays with their partner, just like Renamon stays with Michael." The aforementioned glanced at each other again, blushes returning onto both of their faces.

"Yeah, well next to doesn't mean on top of." The corporal seemed to be quite displeased with the childish creature sitting on his lap.

"Renamon?" the lieutenant asked quietly while the others continued to bicker.

"Yes, my tamer?" Renamon responded quietly but dutifully, with a hint of something more in her voice. She looked on to her tamer's face, although his eyes were focused on the road.

"The way you stood by me back there, especially when I was unconscious… well, you put your life on the line for me, and I appreciate that. It's so strange, I've been trained to put myself out there on the line for my men…" He paused for a few long moments, "I just never expected someone who is not a soldier to do something like that for me."

"I will always stand by you, Michael, from this day to my last day." The lieutenant blushed. "You are my tamer, and I will always be by your side, ready for whatever comes our way."

"Thank you, Renamon. You have my utmost respect. I never expected someone like you to come into my life and stand by me loyaly and freely." He looked her in the eyes and began to blush even harder. "Back there, when you dedigivolved, I wanted to say…" He paused, biting his lip. Renamon sat there, eyes locked onto his, ready for what he was about to say. "I was going to say…"

The radio in the truck cut in, and cut the lieutenant off. The group all listened.

"Corporal, what is it saying?" 2LT Joseph asked, knowing that it was speaking in Korean.

"Unit 5, respond."

"I think it want's those guys we killed to check in."

"Well, corporal, are you familiar with North Korean radio communication procedures?"

"Somewhat, sir."

"Then respond. The rest of you be quiet, especially you, Veemon." The lieutenant gave Veemon a stern look, hoping to instill the gravity of the situation into him. The corporal grabbed the radio's mouthpiece, and the lieutenant stopped the truck.

"This is Unit 5. Ready for transmission." The rest of the group looked on warily, unsure of the nature of the conversation unfolding.

"Unit 5, have you completed your delivery to the satellite facility yet?"

"No, the truck blew a tire and we had to replace it with the spare."

"Understood, the satellite facility radioed in asking about the delivery. Can you give an estimated time of arrival?"

"We should arrive within another hour."

"Good, we sent you out late as is. Let Captain Jeong know that you were sent out on time and the tire change took longer than it did. I'll give you and your man extra rations this week for doing so."

"Understood."

"Did the monster give you any trouble while you were stopped. I don't think we gave it enough sedatives for such a delay."

"A minor amount. It banged on the inside of the bed for a while but quieted down soon after. I think it understands there is no escape."

"Good, I look forward to seeing you return, lieutenant."

"Understood." The corporal returned the mouthpiece.

"What happened?" the lieutenant inquired.

"He asked about why the delivery of the digimon was delayed. I told him we blew a tire and had to swap out a spare. I told him we'd be arriving at the other facility in an hour."

"Okay. If this map is correct and to scale, we should arrive at the main facility in about 45 minutes."

"What should we do if we come across another truck on the road or a patrol."

"Generally, we will have to engage if we are identified. Otherwise, we'll have to play it by ear. If we have to bug out, Renamon," he looked her in the eyes, "you're with me. Veemon, you are with the corporal. Move 50 meters away from the road on your side, then 100 meters back successively with covering fire. I'll evaluate the situation from there."

"Roger Wilco." CPL Ku replied.

"Understood, Michael." Renamon replied.

"Okay." Veemon replied.

2LT Joseph shifted the truck into gear and started driving to their destination. He hoped for the best, but expected the worst.


"Alpha Three – Six. How copy? Over."

There was no response.

"Alpha Three – Six, this is Alpha Four – Six. How copy? Over."

Still no response.

"Lieutenant Joseph is down. He probably got hit in that airstrike." 1LT O'Connor, 4th Platoon's PL and now acting CO for Alpha Company, said. "3rd Platoon is gone, I'm sorry son." He patted the shoulder of PFC Leonardo. "The lieutenant was on the objective, so it is probably clear now. I want 2nd Squad to go on a patrol to that location and see what you can find. Leonardo, you go with them."

"Yes, sir."