Platinum Skies (The Manifests Series #2)

[7] Apologies and Train of Thoughts

"Oh god... it's another Vesper scenario, isnt it?!" Hangyeol panicked. "Zeke, this is not happening. Please tell me we won't ram the whole train towards Erythos like another madman.... Please..."

"I am surprised myself, but it looks like that was their plan way before we got here, so..."

"Your friend here indeed got our plan right through his joke..." Jinwoo intervened. "We were planning on ramming the whole train onto him. Place explosives in the front, set the train's speed to maximum level, and let it destroy Erythos as a whole."

"Have you considered the technicalities, though?" Hyungwon asked. "Like if the train will be fully functional for this particular purpose."

"Of course we did. The generators on the whole line seem to be still in operational status. The overhead lines are okay, the track wheels are complete, and the control panel is working fine. I don't think there will be a problem."

"Well, you have to consider other factors... The electricity from the generators... will it be enough to power the whole train? Is the "roundness" of the wheels ensured so that it will not grind the whole train to a halt midway? Do the overhead lines and other important parts of the train have added protection from the otherworldly abilities Erythos has? And more importantly... Did your project took consideration of how the armor will affect wind resistance and that constant drag from corroded railroad tracks along the whole rapid transit line?"

The two soldiers doesn't reply. It seems like they really haven't taken into consideration the deeper technicalities of their plan.

"Just as I thought." Hyungwon said. "I hope you didn't get this idea from an action flick. Those things don't really look realistic. Let me help in the technicalities, and let my friends help you in your actual plan, and we just might be able to pull this off."

"Convince me. How can you, three k-pop idols, a foreigner, a guard, and an alien traitor help us?" Sanghoon asks.

"We don't look like it, but we're the best around Daegu. And even if you don't believe it, you'll still need the extra hands, no?" Hyungwon said. "You and I... we both have the same goal. Kill Erythos and get genuine information regarding this icy hellstorm."

"It's more than just information we want to get. We have lives here on the line. Some of the people here are from Gyeongsan, and we are trying to pave a path for them to pass through. They have families back there. Allies. Friends. And we want to survive, we don't want to bet this on people who we just met, even if they're with some celebrities." Sanghoon replied.

"What did you say?! "Some celebrities"?! They aren't just some celebrities--- Y'know what, come here and I'll give you some of my fists---" Hangyeol said as Zeke tried to stop and calm him down.

"Look. Sanghoon-nim. With all due respect, you don't even know what's beyond Gyeongsan. For all we know, there might be bigger threats inside it that could quickly kill you and your allies. If anything, its suicide." Hyungwon said. "You don't know how high of a chance you have to survive with your plan. You don't know how high of a chance you'll survive whatever happens after that, either. But let us help raise that chance. I guarantee you, you won't regret it."

Sanghoon pauses and turns away from everyone, concentrating, trying to come up with a decision that he thinks will benefit the cause.

He wasn't ready for such otherworldly predicaments, after all, and being presented with a heavy decision like this made him feel a bit nervous about it all.

Sanghoon confidently entered the military to serve the country 5 years ago. To protect it and ensure that its citizens were safe. It was his dream; an honor to become a soldier to the country you call home.