The Dawn of the Space Era

2. In 2070, space was still a distant world for humanity. It was none other than Doctor Space, Dr. Jo Ujeong, who brought that world within humanity's grasp. After that genius, a 14-time Nobel laureate—in the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and even the Nobel Peace Prize—discovered Gate Technology, which rendered the concept of distance meaningless, humanity finally entered the Space Era.

“Space is infinite!”

The space humanity encountered was filled with far more inexhaustible resources than they had ever imagined. There was only one drawback.

“The Mog, those monstrous bastards, is also infinite!”

There were many, *fucking many*, terrifying creatures called Mog. For that reason, Space Resource Development inevitably had to be accompanied by combat with the Mog. Accordingly, each Planet was assigned a Danger Level. They ranged from the lowest Red Level to the highest Purple Level. The Red Level, for instance, was a place even newly minted Space Marines could go.

“If you send ten Space Marine recruits to a Red Level planet, about nine will survive.”

The Red Level wasn't that difficult a place.

“Then what about Orange Level? Do about seven out of ten survive?” “Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? Why would anyone send recruits to an Orange Level planet? What lunatic would send recruits there?” “Excuse me?” “'Excuse me' what? If you send ten recruits to an Orange Level planet, all ten will die and never return!”

However, even at the Orange Level, critical survival issues began to emerge. In other words, if you wanted to earn some money, you had to be deployed to an Orange Level Planet. That's where the hefty bonuses came from. Planet Amotia was one such place. Located 3.14 light-years from Earth, it was currently an Orange Level Planet and simultaneously Under Colonization. Being Under Colonization meant there were still many Mog to be dealt with. At the same time, many Nations were currently engaged in colonization efforts to secure resource territories, meaning situations often arose where, after barely surviving an encounter with the Mog, Wireless Communication with an Outpost would suddenly cut out, only for an Enemy Soldier to greet them upon arrival. Furthermore, in the current Space Era, securing resource territories was of utmost importance. In the Space Race Era, a Nation that failed to secure resources was effectively doomed to obsolescence. Korea was no different. Korea diligently dispatched Space Marines across the universe, focusing intensely on Resource Development. And in this Space Era, 'diligence' meant that many people died. The Korean Branch established on Planet Amotia was no exception. Bad news arrives whenever they have a moment to breathe, now 4 years, 6 months, and 11 days since Resource Colonization began. It is the same now.

“A report from E1323 Base!”

The moment the report came in, Major Lee Sunhyeok, the Branch Commander of the Amotia Korean Branch, felt his gaze turn cold.

“What's the situation?”

Though he asked, Major Lee Sunhyeok already knew what the answer would be. That it would be bad news.

“333 Mogdogs have appeared!”

As expected, the reported situation was dire. E1323 Base was like a Frontline Watchtower, used to confirm the presence of Mog monsters. Only about one Squad, meaning 10 Space Marines, was stationed there. There was no chance of victory. At best, they could only hold out. So, naturally, the question had to be asked.

“They've requested reinforcements!” “When was the request made?” “3 minutes and 44 seconds ago. The sandstorm on Amotia is causing severe radio interference, leading to long delays.”

Major Lee Sunhyeok didn't answer. He wasn't deliberating. The answer was obvious. There was no possibility of a single Squad of 11 Space Marines holding out against 333 Mogdogs. Sending Reinforcements to save them would be a waste of time, resources, and would result in an even greater loss. He didn't need to crunch the numbers. Major Lee Sunhyeok, who had experienced this hundreds of times, knew it better than anyone. Yet, despite everything, uttering that obvious answer was still difficult.

“······There will be no support.”

He issued the command with difficulty, and at his words, the faces of his Subordinate Soldiers hardened. They all felt the same way. Major Lee Sunhyeok could only offer one explanation for his Subordinate Soldiers.

“Unless they're Psycher Agents, saving them is impossible.”

It was an unavoidable choice; he tried to rationalize.

“Who is the Commander there?”

“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun.”

“The Staff Sergeant who just arrived?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Then, realizing that it was the rookie's first mission and likely his grave, Major Lee Sunhyeok sighed.

“Unlucky.”

3.

Bang!

With that gunshot, silence fell over the Battlefield, where the Sandstorm had raged incessantly. No one spoke.

Hoo, hoo, hoo······.

All that could be heard were the ragged breaths they exhaled within their suits. Only one person was different. Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun heard a sound that no one else could.

Combat ended. Settlement begins. 245 Mogdogs eliminated. 245 points acquired. 193 Mogdogs eliminated with single shots. One-Shot-One-Kill Bonus of 386 points awarded. Achieved over 300 kills in this combat. Multi-kill Bonus of 300 points awarded. Congratulations on your first Combat Victory. Silver Ticket awarded as a reward.

The repeated notifications rang out.

“*Ah.*”

Kim Seojun snapped back to reality at the notifications.

“*This is insane.*”

The moment he regained his senses, information he had deliberately ignored during the battle and a wave of confusion began to flood Kim Seojun's mind.

‘*Something has definitely happened to me, whether it's an ability or a mental illness.*’

Just then.

“A-amazing, Sir!”

Corporal Lee Jihun, one of the subordinate soldiers, shouted in great surprise at Kim Seojun.

“H-how did you do that, Sir?”

After his words, all the other squad members also wore astonished expressions. It was a natural reaction. The moment 333 Mogdogs swarmed them, all the squad members were practically out of their minds. Thanks to the Stimpack Effect numbing their fear, they didn't flee the battle; they merely wet their pants. In any case, it was an utterly absurd situation. Yet, in that dreadful situation, Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun displayed an unbelievable Shooting Ability, eliminating the Mogdogs.

“A-are you a Psycher, Sir?”

To the extent that the question arose whether Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun was a Superhuman, a Psycher—beyond human capabilities. And that question was perfectly rational and valid. That's why.

“Corporal Lee Jihun.”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Ah! C-Corporal Lee Jihun.”

Kim Seojun spoke to Corporal Lee Jihun, who was answering him.

“As I see you all stammering in surprise, it seems you've come back to your senses.”

“Sir?”

“It means the drug's effects have worn off.”

Indeed, their logical reactions indicated that the Stimpack's effects had ended. And that meant the side effects were about to set in. Intense fatigue, and in some cases, side effects so severe they couldn't even move their limbs.

“Everyone, pack your gear.”

Therefore, at this moment, Kim Seojun issued a Retreat Command without a moment's hesitation.

“Gear, Sir?”

“Yes, we're retreating to the Main Base.”

At his words, Corporal Lee Jihun exclaimed in alarm.

It went without saying that retreating without an order from above was considered desertion in the Military, a very serious crime. Kim Seojun knew this too. He had far more experience and knowledge than the relatively seasoned Space Marines present. Retreating before an order came from above was illegal.

“Three times.”

“Sir?”

“After a hundred, three hundred came. And the Mog increasing their numbers by a factor of three means they're determined to destroy the Stronghold. We've just held off three hundred. So how many do you think will come next?”

And that up to a thousand Mogdogs could soon arrive. It would be fortunate if it were *only* a thousand Mogdogs.

“If the Thorn Snakes come too, then it's over.”

If those damned monsters, the Thorn Snakes, which incessantly spewed terrifying arrow-like thorns, appeared among the Mogdogs, then even Kim Seojun would be out of options.

“But, Sir, the Retreat Order hasn't been issued yet, has it?”

Of course, their Soldiers' Instinct wouldn't allow them to retreat without orders, as Soldiers.

“We can hear the Retreat Order while we're retreating. Furthermore, due to the current Radio Interference, there's been no response to our Support Request. It'll take over 5 minutes to get an answer if we request a Retreat Order. In a situation where every second counts, we need to move while we can still get behind the wheel.” “But what if we retreat and don't get the Retreat Order?”

Kim Seojun calmly replied to the follow-up question. “Then we'll face a Court-martial for Disobedience of Orders.” “Sir?” “Given the mitigating circumstances, it'll probably be about six months in Prison.”

At his calm words, Corporal Lee Jihun, who had asked the question, and everyone else wore blank expressions. Could he really be talking about military law and prison as casually as if he were going to the neighborhood grocery store? Of course, Kim Seojun hadn't always been like this. But having experienced all sorts of hell during his active duty, he knew.

“For six months, we'll eat Three Meals a Day, take Cold Showers, and read books in a safe Space Prison. For free.”

In this hell, prison was a very comfortable place.

“Alright, choose. Meeting a thousand Mogdogs here, or playing word chain with me in prison for six months.”

When Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun said that, his Subordinate Soldiers' minds were still utterly confused. Could their Superior Officer really be making remarks that disregarded military law? But one thing was certain.

‘*······If we want to live, we absolutely have to follow the Staff Sergeant's orders.*’

The person before them, Kim Seojun, was a Veteran beyond comparison. Their eyes changed as they recognized that fact, and seeing their gaze, Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun spoke.

“Then we retreat. Everyone, get in the vehicles.”

At his words, everyone moved to the vehicles without hesitation, boarding the Military Truck in their heavy suits. Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun took the wheel.

“Staff Sergeant Kim, I'll drive.”

Kim Seojun replied to Private First Class Park Boseop, the Military Driver in the passenger seat.

“Why are you nervous?”

Private First Class Park Boseop didn't answer. In truth, he was nervous, and it was only natural. This wasn't some remote mountain village in Gangwon Province. This was Planet Amotia, and driving here was a completely different beast from driving a truck on an unpaved road. To earn the Military Driver Title, one needed far more skill than most people imagined. Kim Seojun understood his feelings.

“Don't worry, I've done some driving during my active duty. I even drove around generals for a short while.”

So he offered a comforting remark, and Private First Class Park Boseop asked in alarm at his words.

“Sir? Generals?”

Vrooom!

Before he could answer the question, Kim Seojun immediately shifted gears and pressed the accelerator.

*At the same time, everyone in the vehicle could hear it.*

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!

The ground was rumbling like an earthquake.

1,032 Mogdogs have appeared ahead.

And the warning from the Surveillance Equipment at their Base. Ignoring that warning, Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun pressed hard on the truck's accelerator, and one minute later, everyone heard.

E1323 Base has now been destroyed.

4. After the Space Era began, humanity's technology advanced even further. However, not everything was resolved. Communication was a prime example. On Earth, even a street beggar could easily communicate with someone on the other side of the globe, but space was different. In the extreme environment, unlike Earth, wireless communication and satellite communication presented many difficulties. Planet Amotia was no different. The incessant sandstorm here made radio communication virtually impossible. Of course, physical communication using simple communication lines wasn't an issue, but Planet Amotia was overrun with damned monsters called Mog who went berserk at the sight of humans; severed communication lines were commonplace. Furthermore, it was routine for enemy soldiers to cut communication lines as a form of harassment whenever they were bored. Moreover, the Mog weren't just simple monsters. They were intelligent. More precisely, intelligent individuals existed among them, and for these intelligent individuals, human communication lines were one of their top priorities. Of course, for prosperous nations with abundant power and resources, it was simply a matter of “just lay new ones!” whenever that happened, but the Korean Branch established on Planet Amotia had different circumstances. It's a bit unfortunate to say, but the Korean Branch had all but given up on resource development on Planet Amotia. The abandonment had happened long ago. Nevertheless, the reason the Korean Branch still maintained its position and dispatched troops was simple. The moment resource development was abandoned, some high-ranking official would have to take responsibility for all the investments made so far. Naturally, abandonment was not an option. However, there was no way significant investment would be made in a place with no results, so the situation was dire in many respects. When a sandstorm blew, it was common for a single communication from a distance to take 5 to 10 minutes to receive. Therefore, by the time a message reached Headquarters, the situation on the ground had often already concluded. It was the same now. When the support request came from E1323 Base, Headquarters had already assumed they were annihilated. So, they didn't send support.

“A request has come from E1323 Base.”

So, when a new request came about 30 minutes after the Support Request, Major Lee Sunhyeok was surprised.

“They are requesting a Retreat Order.”

However, the moment he heard the subsequent words, Major Lee Sunhyeok's expression hardened. It went without saying that no one would say, “Please authorize our retreat!” in a good situation. What was more important now was that the wireless communication wasn't working properly. It was highly likely that the Retreat Request had been sent several minutes ago. So what was the situation now? It was obvious. They must have already been annihilated or suffered equivalent damage.

“And they say they are currently retreating.”

“What?”

However, the moment he heard the subsequent words, Major Lee Sunhyeok's expression couldn't help but change.

“What do you mean?”

They're asking for permission to retreat, but they're already retreating? Of course, understanding the words themselves wasn't difficult. The problem was that it was hard to comprehend a Soldier, of all people, retreating on his or her own accord. At that point, Major Lee Sunhyeok recalled something.

“*He was a Rookie Staff Sergeant.*”

Meaning the Commander of the unit deployed to E1323 Base was a greenhorn who had just become a Staff Sergeant. Truthfully, Major Lee Sunhyeok hadn't paid much attention to this new Staff Sergeant. For one, rational individuals weren't assigned to Orange Level Planets. Orange Level Planets were primarily assigned to volunteers. So it was one of two things. Either they were forcibly assigned due to some past transgression, or they volunteered. And among those who volunteered, nine out of ten were people blinded by money, while the remaining one out of ten did it to build their career. Furthermore, Planet Amotia was already a place like a “chicken rib” — not worth much, but not worth throwing away — that High-ranking Officials had lost interest in, making it by no means a good place for capable and ambitious individuals to build a career. At the same time, all Nations were currently struggling with a shortage of Soldiers, so Aptitude Tests were being relaxed. You feel homicidal urges normally, and when you pick up a gun, you want to kill someone? We've been waiting for talent like you! Grab a gun right now and unleash that homicidal urge on the Mog! Such things actually happened. And naturally, such obviously strange individuals were assigned to places like Planet Amotia. In any case, for these reasons, Major Lee Sunhyeok hadn't paid much attention to the new Staff Sergeant's record. His subordinate soldiers hadn't reported much either. There was no reason to pay attention when it was obvious he would either die within a month or flee back to Earth. From that perspective, it wasn't strange for the new Staff Sergeant to retreat without authorization. Fleeing to survive? That was actually the logical case. But there was a feeling, wasn't there?

“What was his name again?”“Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun.”“Give me his profile.”“Sir?”

Major Lee Sunhyeok gave the surprised Subordinate Soldier a cold look, and the Staff member immediately sent the profile. The profile appeared before Major Lee Sunhyeok's eyes. And the moment he saw it, Major Lee Sunhyeok's eyes changed.

“······He served for four months on Planet Icarus? As active duty?” Planet Icarus! He couldn't possibly not know that.

“The Yellow Level one?”

Because it was a Yellow Level planet that made Orange Level Planets look like neighborhood cat cafes.

“And his next duty station was Planet Palabo?”

His next duty station, though currently an Orange Level, was Planet Palabo, famous for the appearance of a Behemoth. Moreover, his service period was when the Behemoth appeared. Besides that, the places Staff Sergeant Kim Seojun served during his active duty were the most hellish of hells. Of course, the most surprising thing was this.

“But he re-enlisted?”

After all that hardship, he joined the Military again.

“Excuse me, Major, how should we respond to the Retreat Request?”

Major Lee Sunhyeok didn't hesitate at the Subordinate Soldier's question. Because one thing was certain.

“We couldn't help him, so we can't send a Soldier who returns alive to Prison. Authorize it.”

Such a Space Marine must not be allowed to die.

“Retreat Order granted. Return safely to Main Base!”

Thus, the Amotia Korean Branch Headquarters sent the order. And that was the last order sent from that place.

BOOM!

An explosion occurred at the Amotia Korean Branch Headquarters.