October 28, 2020, 06:10 (CST 05:10). Chinese Central Military Commission Integrated Command Post Bunker Conference Room in Beijing, China.

  Chinese Central Military Commission Vice President Kan Kuichou succinctly reported the status of damages from the Korean tactical ballistic missiles. Then, there was a call from the command centers of Army Groups 39 and 16. Army Group 39 reported that 50 percent of their forces were lost, and they were moving to the rear area. Army Group 16 reported that 40 percent of their forces were lost, and each battalion spread out to construct trenches and camouflage themselves.

  President Xi Jinping had no way of relaxing his expression after receiving such a report. Not accepting the common sense of Korea conducting a surprise attack against China, he found it hard to accept the reality that the main unit of ground forces and the Northern Theater strategy battalion that had prepared for war for over 20 days were destroyed like fallen leaves.

  The Chinese Central Military Commission, to find stolidity, entered the conference to discuss countermeasures and strategize a drastic retaliation. First was to retreat each army group that was in the state of destruction. They would lose too much military power to advance to North Korea, and it was necessary to recoup.

  They began preparation for a nuclear attack, believing it was justice for a surprise attack without a declaration of war from Korea. A few moments later, after surveying the Korean Peninsula with reconnaissance satellite Jian Bing-5, all battalions were told to prepare for an attack with various missiles, including tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

  October 28, 2020, 6:15. CC Tanker (Strategic satellite interceptor Zeus 1 Control Room) in Seoul Yongsan-gu.

  “Currently, Chinese reconnaissance satellite Jian Bing-5 is entering the Korean Peninsula sky at an altitude of 235 miles,” reported the radar detection operator in charge in a strong voice.

  “Check again if it’s a Chinese reconnaissance satellite.”


  “I’m certain, sir.”


  “Good! Confirm location.”


  “Current location 03-12-55, location confirmed.”


  Reconnaissance satellite Jian Bing 5, from an altitude of 235 miles, was entering the sky above the Korean Peninsula at a high speed towards Jeju Island. While scouting every move of the Korean Peninsula and sending various photos to the Chinese control room, Jian Bing-3 was hit with a single stream of light and burned in a large explosion.

  “Jian Bing-5 interception was successful.”


  With an unthinkable Jian Bing-5 interception explosion, The Chinese Integrated Command Post had to retaliate without fully understanding the conditions of the Korean peninsula.

  October 28, 2020, 06:40, National Crisis Management Center basement bunker in Seoul Jongro-ku Blue House.

  Minister Kang Hyun-soo, after receiving a phone call from the Chairman of the Joint Staffs, spoke to the president. “Mr. President! Currently, I believe everything is going according to what we thought. It has been reported that the Chinese reconnaissance satellite was successfully intercepted.”


  “That’s a relief. Is there still no retaliation from China?”


  “That is correct. Mr. President. Because we have intercepted their reconnaissance satellite, it will take some time for them to accurately assess the situation.”


  “Though that is true, I am still very concerned at the small chance of China’s nuclear retaliation.”


  “You do not need to worry, as the joint staff has currently activated the KAMD system. They will not allow even one missile to fall on the Korean Peninsula.”


  “Yes. I have to trust them.”


  At this moment, Chief Secretary Na Sung-tae, who was watching from the back seat, joined the conversation. “Mr. President, to make a public announcement soon, you need to start the preparations now.”


  “Is it already time?”


  After looking at his watch, the president stood up from his seat and turned towards Minister Kang Hyun-soo to speak. “Minister Kang, please stay here and hold the fort. I will go with the National Security Director.”


  “Yes, understood.”


  “Let’s go.” The president, with heavy shoulders, went towards the elevator to head to the official residence.

  October 28, 2020, 08:00, Blue House (Chunchu-gwan Press Hall) in Seoul Jongro-ku.

  Currently, in the Blue House Press Hall, journalists accredited to the Blue House waited nervously to hear the public announcement from the president early in the morning. Moments later, President Seo Hyun-woo entered the press hall. The president, who stood behind the lectern, paused briefly before carefully opening his mouth.

  “My fellow citizens, how are you? I have come here today to make a public announcement to you all. On Friday at four o’clock, the Korean army made the first strike towards China for attempting to invade the Korean Peninsula. This was based on article three, which states that ‘the territory of the Republic of Korea shall consist of the Korean peninsula and its adjacent islands,’ and the movement of four army groups of the Northern Theater to the Yalu River border to invade the Korean peninsula since the 15th was concluded as an act of aggression, leaving us no choice but to order a surprise attack to win the war. I am deeply sorry for having to make such a decision. However, with the agreement of the North and the South for a federal reunification, China’s aggression can only be regarded as an unscrupulous action to disrupt a peaceful reunification and once again separate the Korean Peninsula into the North and South and disrupt the world order. Thus, the surprise attack against China’s aggression was just, and if China does not immediately withdraw all military forces in the Yalu River area, Korea will thoroughly punish them for their threat to homeland security and for the fulfillment of international social justice.”


  The president, whose throat had dried up briefly, took a sip of water before continuing.

  “Starting now, the Republic of Korea will mobilize for war and be under martial law. Fellow citizens, please join in the reunification of the motherland and the fulfillment of international social justice. Furthermore, there will be no societal turbulence due to the war, and I will promise that we will not allow a single missile to fall on the Korean peninsula. As usual, workers will go to their offices and students will go to school. There is only one thing I ask for, to cheer on our Korean armed soldiers who are fighting against China for the safety of our nation. This concludes the public announcement. Thank you.”


  The short and succinct public announcement was delivered throughout not only the Korean peninsula, but also to Western countries, and countries around the world who heard it were completely shaken up. Realistically, Korea starting a war with China with their strength did not make sense to them. The United States had the same reaction. The United States had known about China’s army group’s movements through reconnaissance satellites and military intelligence over ten days ago. However, they hadn’t sent this information to Korea, because they were contemplating which side would bring more benefits to their national interest. The United States government judged that it would be more beneficial for them to have a war in the Korean peninsula due to their distant political and military relationship and didn’t tell Korea about any of the Chinese military movements. They could only be surprised that Korea had more sophisticated information and ran the risk of a surprise attack.

  With this news of the start of war between the two Northeast Asian countries, the media from countries all around the world sent out neutral opinions, debating their own nation’s beneficial dealings.

  October 28, 2020, 08:50, National Crisis Management Center basement bunker in Seoul Jongro-ku Blue House.

  The president, upon returning to the National Crisis Management Center after presenting the public announcement, asked the Chief Secretary, “How is the response from the citizens? Are there any large commotions?”


  “Do not worry. Currently, each political party, through press conferences, is unified in their nationalism and has appeased the citizens with the reason that this was an unavoidable war necessary to unify the nation.”


  “That’s a relief. With the help of the congress, my heart is a bit lighter.”


  While the president was entering the National Crisis Management Center with many dignitaries, one secretary with a surprised look in his eyes ran over to report.

  “China has currently deployed various ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Also, China’s President Xi Jinping is issuing a national statement about their drastic retaliation for Korea’s aggression and stating that they will refer to the UN Security Council.”


  This was expected. President Seo Hyun-woo replied in a calm and collected tone, “It’s finally starting. Let’s head to the center.”


  October 28, 2020, 08:55, B2 Bunker (Armed Forces Joint Command Control situation room) in Seoul Yongsan-ku.

  “Currently, all regions of China are deploying ballistic missiles. The quantity is now at 80, but it is increasing.”


  The correspondent operators gathered and summed up the flooding information from the military and reported in real time as if they were shouting.

  “Additional information from the second fleet, the West Coast Fleet, says that the North Sea Fleet has deployed 38 cruise missiles in the direction of Incheon and Seoul.”


  “China’s ballistic missiles have increased from 80 to 140.”


  Five hours after the start of war, China’s drastic missile retaliation plan finally started. In this moment, the Chairman of the Joint Staff, who was waiting with confidence so they could sufficiently stop the predicted Chinese retaliation plan, started sweating from both of his palms.

  “This is the picture we expected. Order each division to take responsibility with certainty and intercept like we planned.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  On the 500-inch central screen, the digital map displaying the entire Korean peninsula and Chinese campaign started showing red dotted lines that indicated missile projectiles from China to the Korean peninsula, and the dotted lines were increasing.

  “The second fleet can take care of the cruise missiles, but the problem is the ballistic missiles. If there’s a nuclear missile among them, intercept it with top priority. Did you confirm the current ballistic missile types?”


  “Yes. Currently, out of the 185 ballistic missiles, 120 of them are confirmed to be DF-21, Dong Feng-21s, and the rest are DF-15. From the Central Theater Command, 150 cruise missile CJ-10, or Chang Jian-10s, have been deployed.”


  “From many regions of the Western Theater Command, 45 DF-3, Dong Feng-3, ballistic missiles and others have been deployed. There is a high chance that they are nuclear missiles.”


  The Joint Integrated Command Center was in pandemonium. Once the various ballistic and cruise missile count became larger, the operator’s reports sounded like a shriek, and the shriek continued.

  “Twenty-two ballistic missile DF-4s, Dong Feng-4s, have been deployed from the Central Theater Command.”


  “What? Even a DF-4? Xi Jinping really made up his mind, firing the one that ranges 3,350 miles towards the Korean peninsula.”


  “Chairman of the Joint Staff, Zeus 1 is starting the interception for ballistic missiles. It’s on the fifth screen.”


  Chairman of the Joint Staff, Kang Yi-sik, turned to the fifth screen after hearing the operator’s report. The screen showed a target priority list for the DF-21 ballistic missiles currently rising into the atmosphere and the preparation for interception.

  October 28, 2020, 08:57, CC Tanker (Strategic satellite interceptor Zeus 1 Control Room) in Seoul Yongsan-ku.

  “Starting with Apollo 1, data link ON.”


  “Confirm target location list.”


  “Two hundred ten target location list confirmed!”


  The current world’s busiest person was probably the operator in charge of interception. The operator’s ten fingers moved at the speed of light to do his best in his responsibility to gather information about the 200 ballistic missiles and their impact time, order of danger, and more in order to determine which ballistic missile to intercept first and prepare for it.

  Once the large central screen displayed the target location list in order, the interceptor immediately passed an order.

  “Confirm Plasma output.”


  “Plasma output is at 100 percent.”


  “Consecutive fire!”


  “Fire!”


  With the interceptor’s firing order, consecutive blue streams of light shot out of Zeus 1’s laser port.

  Zap— Zap— Zap— Zap—


  Seen from space, every time the Zeus 1 drew a stream a blue light, China’s DF-21 ballistic missiles entering the atmosphere disintegrated mid-air and turned to pieces. Following this, the controller asked while watching calmly from the control room, “Current progress report of the interception.”


  “All 65 DF-21 ballistic missile interceptions complete.”


  “Fifty-six of 120 DF-21 ballistic missile interceptions successful.”


  “Twelve of 45 DF-3 ballistic missile interceptions successful.”


  “Ten of 22 DF-4 ballistic missile interceptions successful.”


  “Currently, 143 of 252 ballistic missiles have been successfully intercepted.”


  Zeus 1 followed the already input locations and relentlessly shot blue light streams to intercept China’s ballistic missiles. However, an unexpected variable arose.

  Beep beep beep beep!

  “Plasma output is at 35 percent! Interceptor, sir, with Zeus’ plasma output drop, we can only shoot a few more than ten times.”


  The operator in charge of plasma output management turned and shouted in an urgent voice, “What? The output?”