Chapter 118

Episode 118. Cogwheel Jesus (1)

****

Our purpose here is accomplished. We’ve recovered a few artifacts and successfully chased off all those trying to steal them.

A shipwreck is also a communal grave for the crew who shared the ship’s fate. Enemies rummaging through the Foundation’s wreckage are no different from grave robbers.

Anyway, the situation is under control.

“Director Dr. Kim, requesting permission to enter the bridge.”

“Come in, Director.”

“The objective is complete. We’re returning.”

“You won’t be researching the shipwreck further?”

I nodded.

“It’s someone else’s grave. It’s strange to flip it over for research. We’ve recovered the core artifact, so we’re withdrawing.”

A moment later. The bridge began to buzz with activity. As if someone had fired a gun.

“Uh-oh.”

“Director! We’re in deep sh*t now!”

“What’s going on?”

Saying “deep sh*t” in front of a superior? No filter, huh.

“The stronghold where the Pine Man Ship departed is under attack. We’re currently preparing a response.”

It really is deep sh*t. I pressed my temples.

“Who’s attacking?”

“Unknown. Probably Clockwork Devices, but there’s no concrete evidence.”

Hostile groups are really efficient. Maybe it’s because they get wiped out every time they show their faces. They often display chicken delivery-level speed and agility. This time is no different.

To plan and execute an attack on a stronghold in just a few hours. It’s impressive, even if the chances of success are low.

“What’s their target?”

“Right now, it seems to be the Pine Man Ship.”

That’s worrying. Did they get their hands on an anti-ship missile to fire at the Pine Man Ship?

I let out a sigh.

“All hands, prepare for combat. Wait with your submachine guns. I’ll be waiting on the deck too.”

****

I have a hunch.

God is a collection of supernatural phenomena. The Clockwork Device believers interpret this concept more intuitively, believing that specific artifacts are the components that make up their god. The shattered fragments of the Clockwork Devices’ god.

I don’t know why they believe that, but the Clockwork Devices have a lot of artifacts.

They’re quite powerful artifacts. The Clockwork Devices believe these artifacts are proof of a god’s grace, like Jesus sacrificing himself for humanity’s benefit.

That’s their religious view. Their god sacrificed itself, and its fragments benefited human civilization. The Clockwork Devices believe they must recover those fragments.

At any cost.

In short, it’s probably the Clockwork Devices trying to take over the modest port we left. Believers of the god of logic and machinery.

They’ve got guts. Even if it’s a small port with only a couple of ships docked, they dare to openly attack a facility used by the Foundation?

“Connect me to Facility 82 headquarters.”

“Connecting now.”

I wonder how this situation will unfold.

****

The one who came to the command center was Nanami, who sleeps the least. I’m not even sure if Nanami sleeps. Sometimes they just stand there with their eyes closed.

[It’s Nanami.]

“First, start media and information control. Cause a gas explosion outside the city. Get some celebrities investigated for drugs. Contact big tech to cooperate with supernatural phenomenon censorship.”

[Why, what’s going on?]

“We’re in combat. I don’t know how many civilians are involved, but there are likely more than a few witnesses. It’s going to be a hassle.”

[I’ll pressure them to send out disaster alerts selectively. Full-scale information control will have to wait until sunrise.]

“Thank you.”

[I can help, but it’ll take a few hours to mobilize. A lot of people are off duty. And you’re tied up with your current mission.]

“Aren’t you coming, Nanami?”

[Me? I got shot on the last mission, so I can’t go. Sorry, but you’ll have to handle it with the other members.]

This is bad.

“Support Department Head. Should I take a helicopter and clean up the port?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? If the helicopter gets shot down, what then? Absolutely not.”

“……”

I pondered for a moment.

“Then, what if we approach by submarine and land at the port?”

The Support Department Head frowned.

“Does that make sense? Let’s wait for Facility 82’s response first. The Pine Man Ship itself might be the target.”

They must have some confidence to say that. I don’t know what they’re relying on. Do they have a teleportation artifact or something? Or something else?

It’s hard to imagine.

“We don’t have time to wait. Prepare for combat immediately, contact everyone who’s needed.”

I looked around.

The forces we currently have are three ships. The research vessel Pine Man Ship, a Navy destroyer, and a Coast Guard vessel.

“Director. Your orders.”

“Until we get new information, we’ll head to the port under attack. Our principle is to resolve it with the fastest combat-ready Foundation forces.”

The bridge buzzed with activity.

“Connect me to the dock.”

****

I wonder if there are any survivors at the dock. A few minutes later, I received a call routed through the Foundation’s Seoul Branch.

“Go ahead. This is Dr. Kim.”

[Foundation Facility Security Team, 145-14324778. I, I want to live. Please save me……]

All I heard was heavy breathing for a while.

[I’m hiding in a corner of the facility. Monsters have taken over the dock, and the Coast Guard and Foundation staff on-site tried to fight back. But it wasn’t enough.]

It’s not a well-equipped facility, so it must have been difficult to respond.

“What were you fighting?”

[I, I don’t know. They looked human, but they were all armed, wearing armor, coats, and something like masks.]

“Got it. Foundation reinforcements will arrive in 20 minutes. Can you survive until then?”

[The monsters are searching the facility-]

The voice cut off. Only trembling breaths, as if they were covering their mouth. We held our breath and stared at the speaker.

“Turn up the volume.”

The officer handling the comms nodded. Faint sounds of clockwork mechanisms. And footsteps. The unknown sounds grew louder.

“Ah.”

Bang!

A gunshot came through the comms. Everyone gathered flinched.

“It can’t be helped. Proceed as planned.”

“Yes.”

“Support Department Head. Do you know what this is?”

“Probably followers of the Machine Church. Think of them as similar to the Clockwork Devices.”

“Is the Machine Church different from the Clockwork Devices?”

“They are, but it’s complicated. It’s like the difference between a cathedral and a church. The Machine Church is a higher concept, and the Clockwork Devices are a sect.”

I sighed inwardly.

Why are there so many humanoid supernatural phenomena and hostile groups? Is it because the world is falling apart that they’re crawling out of the woodwork?

“Ah.”

“There must be a nest of monsters nearby. I don’t know the specifics.”

Their target is probably the artifact we recovered today.

****

[Lockdown Protocol Activated]

[Author: Nanami]

[As of now. The severity of this situation is considered on par with the Yulje-myeon incident, and we are initiating full-scale information control and military operations.]

[In the Director’s absence, I had no choice but to activate this, but I’ve contacted the Director, so there’s no procedural issue.]

[All Foundation facilities within the Korean Peninsula will maintain the highest level of alert for the time being.]

[Special Forces and Retrieval Teams 1 and 2 are currently heading to Taean. We’re requesting full cooperation from the Korean government.]

[Jindo Dog Unit 1 is also under consideration for deployment.]

****

The Foundation dock near Taean.

It wasn’t built as a large facility to maintain secrecy. It’s not a big or important facility, but it’s still a dock for large ships.

It’s essentially a dock for the Pine Man Ship.

Forklifts and dump trucks used to break through the facility’s fence and walls were lying around the entrance.

The Machine Church soldiers were searching the facility. It’s a relatively small facility, and the personnel guarding it were barely twenty.

The operation was a great success.

Even the Foundation isn’t invincible. If you attack a small Foundation facility with overwhelming force, the Foundation’s options are limited.

The Machine Church soldiers gathered the bodies.

Fifteen humans died on-site. The rest either fled or died, it’s unclear.

“This. Much. Is a success.”

“Secure. The eyes.”

“What about. The other humans?”

“At least. 30 minutes. Will pass.”

“There’s still a chance. The Foundation’s ships. Might come to this dock. We’ll seize the opportunity. To steal the artifact. The god’s body.”

Ganymede blinked its plastic eyes.

[Good. Even if they don’t come here, we’ll make sure that artifact doesn’t enter the Foundation’s facility. They’re probably planning to transport it to Facility 82.]

The Machine Church soldiers nodded.

[Then, let’s go greet the Foundation. Both we and they must prepare a welcome worthy of our god. Today of all days……]

[Let’s crush the arrogance of those white-coated scientists.]

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