28-85

Chapter 85. Eventful Live-Fire Artillery Exercise (2) 

After the supply sergeant’s whisper, which felt like a “final warning,” all the self-propelled guns and armored vehicles in the battalion, including ours, began moving toward the artillery range for the live-fire exercise. 

I too boarded the command armored vehicle (K-77) and followed the convoy. My nerves, already unsettled by the supply sergeant’s cold words, felt completely upended as we bumped along the rough dirt road. 

One thought kept surfacing in my mind: “Karma… this is real karma… Consequences… damn…” The anxiety pressing down on me felt as heavy as being targeted by John Wick himself. 

Our vehicle stopped a little apart from the line of self-propelled guns. As soon as we finished inputting the coordinates and weather data for the firing point, we began rehearsal drills simulating the real live-fire procedures. 

Just as the second rehearsal was wrapping up, a strange, heavy grinding noise echoed across the range, distinct from the usual hydraulic sounds of the turret and barrel moving. 

Clunk! 

“What’s that noise?” 

The dull sound of metal scraping made everyone’s face tense with worry, and a “cease” order came over the radio. 

We immediately halted the drill and poked our heads out of the vehicle, just in time to see battalion maintenance staff running toward the fifth gun. Smoke was rising from the engine compartment at the front of the affected self-propelled gun. 

“At least something broke before I did…” 

The battalion maintenance chief confirmed that the fifth gun’s engine had suffered a critical failure and could no longer be used. 

“3rd Battery Commander, you should have paid more attention.” 

“Sorry, sir. We’ll get it fixed and back to normal as quickly as possible.” 

Our battery commander, Suna noona, got a mild scolding from the battalion commander, and the crew chief of the broken gun was also getting chewed out by senior NCOs. Soon, the battalion’s recovery vehicle approached the fifth gun. 

Whirr, clank! 

Using a crane, they swapped out the engine of the broken gun with one from a K-10. Other gun crews were called in to help, effectively ending the rehearsal for the day. 

This meant I suddenly had nothing to do… 

At least when I was busy with the rehearsal, I didn’t have time to worry, but now, with nothing to distract me, anxiety about what was to come gnawed at me. 

On top of that, the supply sergeant kept shooting sharp glances my way as she passed, making me feel like I was sitting on a bed of nails. 

If she’d just yelled at me, I might have been able to calm her down and fix things, but this silent pressure was driving me crazy. 

Suddenly, maybe because my discomfort was showing on my face, FDC squad leader Hyunju, who was sitting nearby, asked with concern, 

“Lieutenant, are you feeling alright? You don’t look well…” 

“Huh? Oh, I’m just worried about the fifth gun…” 

I couldn’t exactly tell Hyunju, who I’d been sleeping with since our first field exercise, that I was anxious because the supply sergeant caught me getting a blowjob from the battery commander, so I just said I was worried about the engine swap. 

As I met her worried gaze, my conscience felt like it was being shredded again. Then, through the open hatch, I spotted a familiar silhouette. 

It was Minju, my only peer, entering the vehicle with a half-worried, half-playful expression. She pointed toward the fifth gun, still having its engine replaced. 

“Jaejun, I heard your fifth gun’s engine died?” 

“Yeah. But Minju, what brings you here?” 

“We’re on break, so I came to… check it out.” 

“Feel free to watch, but everyone’s on edge, so don’t tease anyone.” 

... 

While hanging out with Minju, feeling my conscience get shredded again, the engine replacement was finally completed. 

The recovery vehicle left with a roar, and food trucks arrived to deliver dinner to each battery and the battalion HQ. 

Since dinner had arrived, the second rehearsal was postponed until after the meal. Everyone left their vehicles to head to the mess tent, and I trudged along, barely keeping my eyes open. 

When I reached the mess line, the supply sergeant’s face was still cold and hard. “Should’ve just skipped dinner…” 

Regardless of my inner turmoil, time passed, and morning came-the day of the live-fire exercise. 

The firing was scheduled for 9 a.m., so we woke up before dawn to prepare. After prepping charges, checking temperatures, and calculating safety data, we rushed to get ready. 

Thirty minutes before firing, we got word that the brigade commander had arrived at the range. The presence of a “star” put everyone on edge. 

Finally, the BOCS transmitted the signal to begin. 

Beep-beep! Rumble! Whirrrrr… 

The self-propelled guns moved into firing position, and the procedures we’d practiced for nearly two weeks unfolded. 

“First round: 2nd Battery, 3rd gun…” 

Boom!! 

... 

“Wow, that was great! Especially when 3rd Battery fired in unison, not even a 0.1-second difference between rounds-fantastic.” 

“Haha, thank you!” 

“3rd Battery Commander is Captain Lee Suna, right?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“We should bring her up to brigade HQ! Hahaha.” 

After all the firing ended safely, the main officers gathered at the central tent for the after-action review. The brigade commander, in black sunglasses, gave our battalion commander a thumbs up and even joked about recruiting Suna noona to the brigade, making the atmosphere almost euphoric. 

With our battalion commander smiling wider than I’d ever seen, I thought, “Now that the firing’s over, all that’s left is my execution by the supply sergeant… Damn, life…” 

Because the firing went not just safely but extremely well, the tactical maneuver training after lunch was shortened, and we got personal maintenance time in the evening. 

Yet, even after the most important part of the five-day exercise was over, I was still on edge. 

Just as I was thinking the supply sergeant would come to finish me off, the tent flap opened. 

Through it, I saw the voluptuous silhouette of the “MILF” supply sergeant. Normally, I’d ogle her, but right now, that body just scared me. 

Her voice came through the open tent: 

“Lieutenant, please step outside.” 

Her tone was still cold as ice, and I thought, “It’s finally happening,” as I got up. 

I slipped on my boots and stepped outside, where the supply sergeant stood, her attitude as chilly as the late autumn wind. 

“Follow me.” 

Once she saw I was out, she turned and started walking somewhere. 

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle ❤️ 

Even in this situation, my eyes couldn’t help but follow her swaying hips, but when she stopped, I was stunned. 

“Sergeant? Why are we at the battery commander’s tent…?” 

“…The battery commander is mine.” 

“Yes, come in.” 

Flap. 

Ignoring my trembling words, Sergeant Ko Suyeon called out to the battery commander and opened the tent. 

“Ah… whatever.” 

There was not a trace of the lewdness she’d shown when calling me “master” in bed, and I half-gave up as I followed her inside. 

Inside, under the LED light, Suna noona sat on a cot, her uniform jacket open. 

“Sergeant, what’s going on… Oh, Jaejun, you’re here too?” 

She smiled at me with a hint of flirtation, but as soon as she did, the supply sergeant’s eyebrow twitched and she suddenly reached for my crotch. 

Grab! 

“Ugh!…” 

Her rough grip made me gasp, and Suna noona’s eyes went wide. 

Then, ignoring both our reactions, the supply sergeant declared: 

“This cock is mine. Don’t even think about touching it.”