August 20th, 2018 10:00

  Choongbook Chungju-si 17th Fighter Wing underground research center X-21 lab (Rocket engine development lab).

  The aerospace industry could be considered the center of the future scientific field, and Korea’s first project in the field was its space launch vehicle, the KSLV (Korea Space Launch Vehicle)-1. The project was planned to have its first launch in 2005 but faced two bitter failures and was only a success on its third try in January 2013. However, it was only considered a half success because of Russia’s technological cooperation. In response, the Korean government created Woori-Naro KSLV-2 with its technology and erected policies and began to enter the aerospace industry in full swing.

  The Woori-Naro rocket was based on the original Naro rocket and exchanged the Russian single-level liquid propel engine system (oxidizing tank, fuel tank, engine) to the 500t high-level powered plasma rocket engine the X-21 lab developed, reducing the length of the rocket to a third of its size and increased output so it could reach an altitude of 36,000 kilometers equal to a geostationary satellite’s orbit. Also, the researchers kept budgetary elements in mind and designed an automatic homing function to the engine after detaching with its vernier engines to return. This function would allow the engine to be used multiple times and reduce the high costs for each launch. The second item being developed was a second-stage engine that would put the satellite into exact orbit. The engine was state-of-the-art and had a 100t output and was able to put three satellites into the desired orbit.

  Full length: 45m

  Diameter: 3.2m

  Weight: 55t

  Levels: 2 stages

  Orbit: LEO, low orbit ~ GTO geostationary transfer orbit

  Satellite: 100kg ~ 100,000kg, lower weight class satellite ~ high weight class satellite.

  Meanwhile, the X-21 lab successfully finished the tests and diagnostics to the plasma superprotonic stage 1 rocket engine they developed over a year and a half and was now conducting the final tests for the second stage rocket engine. The second stage rocket engine had one main engine and eight vernier engines on the exterior. The simulations in virtual space for the eight vernier engines reaching the desired orbit has been going smoothly so far. Head researcher Kim Gwang-lae, who was operating the second stage rocket moving in vast speeds and eight vernier engines in order at the 36,000-kilometer orbit, looked at the graph representing the speed and course of the rocket ordered the other researchers.

  “Report on reaching the desired orbit.”


  “Current orbit entrance speed and rate is normal.”


  Chief researcher Ahn Hyung-soo answered as he looked at the simulation computers.

  “Status report on the second stage rocket engine and vernier engines.”


  “All clear for main engine and eight vernier engines.”


  Head researcher Kim Gwang-lae, who felt a bit of satisfaction from the answers of the other researchers manipulated the computer to set the simulation for an emergency, and a researcher next to him shouted urgently.

  “Space debris that seems to be remains of a satellite detected in the direction of movement, five seconds before the crash.”


  The upper three vernier engines of the second stage rocket all suddenly accelerated and broke away from the desired orbit by 10 degrees when the rocket was reaching the first targeted orbit at fast speeds. When the second-stage rocket dodged all the space debris and used the thrust from the lower vernier engines and returned to normal orbit, the 40 or so researchers cried out and cheered. However, there was still more of the simulation left, so the lab turned quiet again and orders from Dr. Kim Gwang-lae were given.

  “Confirm satellite 1 reaching target orbit.”


  “20 seconds, 10 seconds, 1 second, satellite 1 reached detachment orbit, pairing open, satellite 1 detaching.”


  When the pairing covering the first satellite detached from the second stage rocket and the first satellite detached from the rocket and reached the target orbit, Chief Researcher Ahn Hyung-soo shouted.

  “Satellite 1 has successfully reached target orbit.”


  After the second satellite reached its target orbit, it also detached from the rocket.

  “Satellite 2 has successfully reached target orbit.”


  When it reached the point for the third and final satellite to detach, the 40 researchers looked at the simulation screen full of anxiety and restlessness.

  “Satellite 3 detached, satellite 3 has also successfully reached orbit.”


  With hearing Chief Ahn Hyung-soo’s relieved tone, the X-21 lab’s mood changed to celebration in an instant and everyone happily congratulated each other.

  “Dr. Kim, it’s a success. Congratulations.”


  Dr. Lee Su-jin, who was watching the test from the start, smiled brightly to head researcher Kim Gwang-lae and offered congratulations.

  “Thank you. It’s a relief that all the researchers’ hard work wasn’t in vain. But I am still concerned whether the autopilot system will perform smoothly like in the simulation.”


  “Well, including today’s test, you have succeeded all three times, so I think you don’t need to be worried, right?”


  “Well, I still can’t help but be worried I guess. Hahaha.”


  After a year and a half of work, the X-21 lab successfully finished testing the first and second stage rockets. Only precision diagnostics were left before the rocket would be sent to the manufacturing plant.

  Meanwhile, the X-22 lab was working on the final tests on the Hera satellite that was equipped from the planet-wide Turkion-X wireless communication system developed in the X-4 lab. The communication satellite was 20 times heavier than the standard one, weighing in at 20t. The satellite was able to be built that heavy because it was equipped with miniature plasma superprotonic vernier engines. The reason the satellite was equipped with the plasma superprotonic vernier engine, was to have it move to the desired orbit when needed.

  Head Researcher Oh Dong-jin, who just heard the X-21 lab completed the third simulation for the second stage rocket, whispered to the Hera satellite.

  “I guess the day you leave home isn’t far away, huh?”


  Three satellites with a simple design and made out of a silver-colored material was emitting various colored lights.

  * * *

  August 22nd, 2018 14:00

  Seoul Jung-ku Secret Bureau of Corruption Investigation conference room.

  “These are all the information we obtained from investigating Executive Director Yoo Gi-tae of the Korean electricity power corporation and Oh Man-han ex-Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs from September of 2015 to December 2016 when Rhodeycall bought 25% of the shares of the Korean electricity power corporation.”


  Manager Jang Soo-won from investigation unit 1 pointed towards the screen and started the briefing.

  “The first slide is information related to Oh Man-han ex-Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs. We have found that Oh Man-gi, Oh Man-han’s cousin bought 6,600-square-meters of land near Cheongpyeong. The seller was Lee Myung-bon. The price was 3,000 dollars per three-square-meters, 50% lower than the market value, and we have also confirmed the true owner of the land as Oh Man-han, not Oh Man-gil. This seems to be a deal that was made in the form of a request regarding Rhodeycall purchasing 25% of the shares during the Korean electricity power corporation’s sale of shares.”


  On the screen was a diagram that showed the relationship between ex-Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs Oh Man-han, his cousin Oh Man-gil, and Lee Myung-bon (Rhodeycall).

  “This is the second data.”


  “At the time Executive Director Yoo Gi-tae was ordered from ex-Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs Oh Man-han to sell the shares of the Korea electricity power corporation and coaxed the other executives to his side and lead the campaign to sell the shares to the paper company Rhodeycall. In return, we confirmed he was gifted a house that is worth a million dollars in a suburb of LA. Unit 1’s head, Kang Chul-joong, is collecting evidence related to this information.”


  “When will be able to obtain the evidence?”


  Director Ahn Kyung-hoon, who was sitting in the middle of the room with his arms crossed, asked.

  “We expect to obtain all the evidence by September.”


  “Good, what will be the charges when we have the evidence?”


  “Ex-Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs Oh Man-han will be charged with illegal bribery and accepting a bribe, Executive Director Yoo Gi-tae will be chared with illegal trading and accepting a bribe, Lee Myung-bon’s entire property is targeted by the Investigation Bureau of Traitorous Individuals to be returned to the state treasury so it will be processed there.”


  “Manager Jang?”


  “Yes, Director.”


  “It is important to put bastards like Oh Man-han and Yoo Gi-tae away, but we must ensure descendants of Japanese Imperial loyalists like Lee Myung-bon get a taste of hell! Put all of them away without missing any.”


  “Yes! Understood sir.”


  * * *

  September 1st, 2018 09:00

  Choongbook Chungju-si Seowon-ku Bongmu mountain Olympus base.

  After the simple completion ceremony, freight trains and shipping trucks were delivering research supplies, food, and other military supplies for 20 straight days without rest and filled up the storage facilities. The personnel in the facility included defense industry employees, national defense research center members, and the base facilities maintenance staff, all of whom worked livelily despite the strict security of Olympus Base.

  The underground 17th floor of Olympus Base was under construction from building an underground road connecting the base to the 17th Fighter Wing underground research facility. This would satisfy the need to have all the newly developed items from the 17th Fighter Wing underground research facility to the Olympus Base in secret. It also could be used as an emergency escape route.

  Brigadier general Oh Young-il, who was once the head of construction of Olympus Base, was now the commander of Olympus Base and was listening to reports from each department at the central command center on the 17th floor equipped with security monitors.

  “This morning at 9:00, Olympus Base had 11,708 individuals out of the 12,900, consisting of 812 external security agents, 688 internal security agents, 7,620 defense industry workers, 380 workers outside on leave, 400 national defense research center employees, and 3,000 maintenance crew members for Olympus Base. Today, there are 12 freight trains and 120 transport trucks expected to arrive.” Department Head Kang Mu-jin, who was in charge of Olympus Base security, reported.

  “The first day is the most important. Make sure to check the external and internal security agents and the freight trains and trucks enter and leave are adhering to regulations.”


  “I will make sure of it.”


  When Department Head Kang Mu-jin bowed his head slightly and answered, followed by Director Lee Jin-hyun, who was responsible for the entire defense industry.

  “I will now report on the defense industries that will move into Olympus Base. Out of the 32 industries that moved into the Base, 31 of them all began normal production at 9:00 this morning. The one that did not start production received contact from the research facility that a manufacturing part’s dimensions have been changed and are on standby. We expect it to begin operating as soon as they receive the changed dimensions. Also, we will have the security class for all workers at 17:00 after work is over for 30 minutes, and all location tracking chips have been implanted.”