Chapter 90 What is Desire

Compared to the agonizing days on the front lines, Lynn always felt that time passed exceptionally quickly in the Special Operations Force camp. Day after day, seven days flew by in the blink of an eye. In solitude, he pondered not only because of the abundance of food and relatively safe environment but also because he had the opportunity to witness and interact with advanced equipment and special warfare techniques beyond the imagination of civilians and ordinary soldiers. Unlike the primal instinct for survival when he first arrived, he now harbored more lofty ideals and devoted himself fully to rigorous training every day. Perhaps due to his advanced military knowledge or innate talent in this area, he quickly progressed from being a laggard to leading the pack in parallel competitions such as firearms basics, power principles, and driving skills, surpassing many soldiers who had entered the training camp before him.

The dinner on this day was particularly sumptuous.

Unlike most soldiers in his group who were engrossed in devouring their meals, Lynn noticed a change in atmosphere from the beginning. Lorenz Bach, who hadn't been seen for four days, sat calmly and composedly at the head of the long dining table. He was still wearing that handsome and cool black leather jacket, and the training officers dressed similarly beside him seemed like mere decorations. It was evident that the young SS captain appeared somewhat tired, likely from recent arduous travels. Typically, the veteran soldiers of the special forces didn't always dine together with the new recruits; sometimes they ate earlier, sometimes later. However, today, the people sitting at the two adjacent long tables appeared exceptionally organized, and among them was Sergeant Eric, whom Lynn had rarely encountered since entering the camp.

Was this the graduation dinner for the reservist soldiers?

Lynn thought to himself. In the past week, he had learned everything he could about conventional firearms, anti-tank weapons, combat and non-combat vehicles, and electrical instruments, except for seamanship and piloting, which were difficult to master in the short term. The training staff had also specially arranged three nights for everyone to familiarize themselves with the practical operation of the "Vampire" infrared night vision goggles and basic night combat tactics. In live-fire exercises, each person had used at least two hundred rounds of ammunition and ten explosive devices, all in a Germany already suffering from extreme shortages of supplies!

Objectively assessing himself, Lynn felt that he could now handle the normal combat tasks of the "Vampire" assault team, just like the time he crossed the Soviet front lines to raid the armored unit's camp. If he could be assigned to the same group as Sergeant Eric, he could learn even more practical combat experience from the veterans. However, with less than three months left until the end of the war, Lynn knew that before the collapse of the Empire, a series of extremely fierce battles had occurred, with many fanatical devotees of the Führer fighting to the death on the front lines. While their spirit was commendable, it was not a rational act. Therefore, Lynn made up his mind: to quickly accumulate military merits, strive to become a commander of a combat squad as soon as possible, build good relationships with his comrades, and once assigned to a highly dangerous "death mission" by senior commanders or when Germany announced its surrender, gather troops, arm themselves, find a place to evade Allied searches, and seize the opportunity to make a difference after the war!

As the soldiers finished the food on their plates, Lynn heard the training officer suddenly shout, "Warrior Company, stand up!"

"Warrior Company" was the nickname he had specially given to this special forces reserve unit, comprising around a hundred and thirty soldiers, roughly the size of an infantry company during wartime. These reserve soldiers, originally from different units and with varying war experiences, had indeed demonstrated a vigorous fighting spirit during training most of the time.

Whoosh...

Over a hundred soldiers rose to their feet at the dining table, accompanied by the sound of chairs moving, creating an imposing atmosphere.

Before lining up, Lynn deliberately glanced towards Bach's direction. The young colonel sat calmly at the head of the table, still wearing his handsome black leather jacket, seemingly detached from everything happening around him.

Looking around, Lynn noticed that the veteran soldiers were also fully focused on the sumptuous food before them.

The more so, the stranger Lynn felt.

Under the guidance of the training officers, the reservist soldiers boarded several military trucks and arrived at a combat training ground about 20 kilometers north of the military camp. Lynn had been here twice before, both times marching cross-country from the camp, then engaging in group confrontations and simulated night combat. Lynn heard from his roommate, who shared the same room with him, that they had trained here four times before, with similar content to what followed.

This combat training ground was located on the edge of a large birch forest, with the main body being a "village" covering an area roughly the size of two football fields. It was surrounded by the most common field fortifications found on battlefields, with straw men wearing Allied uniforms inside and simulated wooden tanks, vehicles, and artillery pieces. Additionally, there were field hospitals, ammunition depots, fuel depots, and command posts, almost everything a Allied camp would have. However, when Lynn first arrived here, what came to mind was still the village he had raided with the "Nightstalkers" on the Eastern Front.

After all personnel disembarked, the training officer instructed everyone to line up and announced that tonight would be the final simulated exercise for the reserve unit. The entire "Warrior Company" was tasked with defending the village and preventing the enemy from destroying three key targets: the command post, ammunition depot, and fuel depot. Since blank ammunition was being used, both attacking and defending sides were required to withdraw from combat voluntarily if they were fired upon by the opponent first; firing at each other simultaneously would result in a "double kill."

After receiving thirty rounds of blank ammunition and a white cloth that must be tied around their arms, the training officer made a special request: all soldiers were to form their own teams, with every ten forming a squad, and three squads forming a platoon, while individuals without teams would be assigned to platoon and company headquarters. Squad members were to elect a squad leader, who would then decide the squad's composition, followed by the selection of a platoon leader from each platoon, and finally, the selection of a company commander from among the three platoon leaders.

Although the training officer spoke quickly, his voice was loud enough for Lynn to understand his intentions, and Lynn quickly made calculations and analysis in his mind. A mere seven days were not enough for him to get to know every person in the reserve unit, let alone judge their abilities. So, while almost everyone was busy "finding friends," Lynn stood silently aside.

During routine reserve training, six small teams were formed, with six soldiers selected by the training officer to serve as team leaders. Naturally, when forming combat squads and platoons, soldiers primarily considered these small teams along with dormitory arrangements. As for those who were left without teams, there were newcomers like Lynn and those who usually kept to themselves or had poor interpersonal relationships.

The training officer instructed these unaffiliated individuals to stand aside, and then left the squad leaders to organize them into platoons. After a slight argument, twelve combat squads were formed into four combat platoons, with the highest-ranking or most outstanding soldiers in training appointed as platoon leaders, and the squads that failed to be included were taken to join the group of unaffiliated individuals by the training officer.

It was like setting up a stall to sell fruit, as the training officer stood beside these unaffiliated individuals and loudly announced, "Each platoon needs two soldiers to serve as platoon guards and communication personnel. Please have the squad leaders choose from among these people!"

With that, he stood there calmly, observing as the squad leaders made their selections.

Lynn deliberately took a step back.

Soon, eight soldiers were chosen by the squad leaders, leaving seven people including Lynn (please do not use the previous chapter's 132 people to calculate, as personnel changes may occur during this week).

"You will serve as the guards and communication personnel for the company headquarters!"

While speaking, the training officer showed no obvious approval or disapproval towards these unclaimed individuals. Then, he turned around and loudly announced to the soldiers who had already lined up according to squad and platoon formations:

"Remember the squad and platoon you are in now. From now until a new adjustment is made by the higher command, you will act according to this organization!"

Some soldiers were surprised, while others were relieved.

Lynn could feel the disappointment and anxiety of the four people around him, but he straightened his chest without any hesitation.

With an unprecedented seriousness, the training officer said solemnly:

"Alright, next, please choose your own company commander. Remember, his decisions will determine the success or failure of this unit and the fate of each of you!"