November 2, 2020, 10:00 (China Standard Time 09:00), Beijing Province, China, at the Central Military Commission Joint Command Center bunker

  The Chinese Central Military Commission inevitably had to revamp their military strategies after their failure to defend Sun-Yang. They proceeded to establish a plan to retaliate. They worked all night to establish a new strategy and get the plan approved by President Xi Jin Ping.

  “We will now begin the operation’s briefing for retaliation instead of defense.”


  Vice-President Kan Kuichou was on the podium and began speaking to the heavy hitters, who were present, from the Chinese political sphere.

  “Currently, the Korean military has ordered the citizens of Sun-Yang to disperse. This can be considered the early phases of adhesion and establishing a frontline encampment by the Korean military.”


  “If that is the case, then when is the expected completion date of their encampment?”


  President Xi Jin Ping asked in a calmer tone in contrast from the day before.

  “The Korean military is getting supplies of ammunition and rations from its mainland. Also, since the order to disperse will last for three days, they should begin actively establishing their frontline encampment four to five days later.”


  “I see. Please continue.”


  “First, I will report on the status of our own People’s Liberation Army, then go over the details of our strategy. Right now, each military’s 12 army groups are under orders to mobilize. Please take a look at the map on the screen.”


  The screen lit up and a map outlining China appeared.

  “The 20th and 54th Army Group from the central provinces, the 15th Army Group from the south, and the 21st Army Group from the west will all be deployed as the leading force to reclaim the three Northeastern provinces. They will all be stationed north of Beijing.”


  Vice-President Kan Kuichou pointed, with a laser pointer, to the area in the map where each army group resided.

  “Also the 13th Army Group from the west and the 27th army group from the central province will be charged with protecting Beijing’s north and eastern areas in case of an attack. Lastly, the 38th Army Group that is going through maintenance will select its elite forces and reinforce them. The 38th Army Group will deploy the latest tanks and equipment and complete its formation by November 10 to lead the charge in retaking the three Northeastern provinces.”


  Chairman of the Politburo Standing Committee Zhang De Jiang raised his hand.

  “Yes, Chairman Zhang De Jiang.”


  “The Korean military was victorious and managed to push three of our army groups to the brink of annihilation with only three of its armored divisions in the Sun-Yang battle. I believe it would be inappropriate to have only four army groups deployed to retake Sun-Yang when the Korean military managed to be victorious under such tactical differences.”


  Vice-President Kan Kuichou frowned, embarrassed of what he heard, but he regained his composure and answered.

  “You are right, Chairman Zhang De Jiang. The Korean military’s 7th Mobile Corps and the 3rd Armored Division that were deployed achieved an easy victory against our three army groups. Therefore the Central Military Commission is officially requesting the use of tactical nukes to the Chinese Central Politics Commission as a breakthrough to retake the three Northeastern provinces.”


  The command center fell silent. At that moment, one of those present gave a wicked grin and looked at Kan Kuichou. It was Vice-President Li Qian Chao who casually spoke of tactical nukes yesterday to Vice-President Kan.

  Numerous opinions from other members of the Central Military Commission were voiced out regarding the retaliation, but they reached the conclusion that the use of tactical nukes was the only thing that could break through this situation. Kan Kuichou was not inclined to deploy nuclear bombs within China’s own territory but conceded when the military commanders supported the idea. Realistically, there was no other way they could take down Korea’s 7th Mobile Corps leading forces except through the use of tactical nuclear bombs.

  “What! Are you suggesting we use nuclear weapons in our own soil?”


  A member of the Politburo Standing Committee Liu Yun Shan shouted.

  “Mr. Liu Yun Shan, let’s present our oppositions after we finish listening to Vice-President Kan Kuichou’s briefing.”


  Vice-President Li Qian Chao, with a grin on his face, spoke as if to support Kan Kuichou’s opinion. President Xi Jin Ping also chimed in.

  “Yes. Let’s hear out Vice-President Kan Kuichou first before making a decision.”


  At President Xi Jin Ping’s words, the members of the political party all stayed silent with a dumbfounded expression on their faces.

  “I will continue the report under the assumption that the use of tactical nukes is approved. As I have said before, the Korean military is now establishing an encampment and adhesion for the three Northeastern provinces. They will block off all roads, then use reserve forces to occupy the three provinces. Our People’s Liberation Army will use tactical nukes before this western front encampment is established and strike the 7th Mobile Corps.”


  “How many tactical nukes are required?”


  Director Zhu Yao from the Ministry of State Security raised his hand and asked.

  “It will depend on the projectile type, but we expect to require 50 rounds.”


  “Fifty rounds? Do you plan to turn the three Northeastern provinces into a radiation area?”


  “No. Based on our recent battle, the Korean military’s rate of success in striking down missiles is very high. Considering this, we have concluded that 50 rounds of tactical nukes will be required.”


  “Where will the location for the launch of these missiles be?”


  Director Zhu Yao asked again.

  “Please direct your attention to the map. The red dots on the map are the areas that the Korean military must occupy before establishing a frontline encampment. These are Pan-Jin, Fu-Xin, Zhang-Wu, and Tung-Lao.”


  “So we launch tactical nukes in those areas?”


  “It will depend on the Korean military’s encampment. But considering the expected location, those areas will be the target for using the tactical nukes.”


  Vice-President Kan Kuichou pointed to multiple areas with the laser pointer. He continued speaking after glancing at the attendees with a serious look on his face.

  “We will now present the details for ‘Operation Hellfire’.”


  * * *

  November 2, 2020, 13:00 (China Standard Time 12:00), Sun-Yang Province downtown Te-Xi county, China

  The 7th Armored Assault Brigade was a force that specialized in para trooping and urban warfare. Equipped with heavy armor suits, they were the first to be deployed to the most dangerous battlefields. Therefore, they were sent to oust the guerilla forces remaining in Sun-Yang after its occupation. The brigade sent in teams of four to neutralize the threat.

  Dududu~ Pew! Bang! Boom~

  Pew~ Peeeeeepepepepw~

  The 12-mm laser miniguns used by the heavily armored infantry tore through the walls easily. The Chinese soldiers hiding behind them fell after being torn to shreds.

  – Alpha 1, we have taken the first floor! Multiple Chinese soldiers equipped with rifles, including civilians, have been detected via scan. Over!

  – Alpha 3, confirmed. Over!

  – Alpha 4, confirmed. Over!

  The Alpha Team that had secured the first floor and heading to the second floor stopped on the stairs. The Alpha Team leader, Lieutenant Oh Young-yeol gave the order to Alpha teams 3 and 4 infiltrating from the roof.

  – Alpha 1, Alpha 3, and 4 distinguished between Chinese civilians and soldiers in battle. Over!

  – Alpha 3, confirmed. Over!

  – Alpha 4, confirmed. Over!

  He signaled with his three fingers to show Staff Sergeant Kim Kyung-hwan from Alpha Team 2, then pointed to the stairs again with two fingers while wagging them. Staff Sergeant Kim Kyung-hwan ran up the stairs to the second floor with his laser minigun pointed ahead of him.

  Dudududududu~

  Staff Sergeant Kim Kyung-hwan was equipped with heavy armor like the movie Ironman. He rolled across the hall once, then fired his laser minigun in the direction where his goggles showed a red dot.

  Pew! Argh!

  The single laser beam flew through the Chinese soldier’s helmet and his forehead as he was about to fire his rifle. The Chinese soldier screamed and fell back. The Staff Sergeant then fired a stream of laser beams repeatedly on the Chinese soldiers crouching on the floor and firing their AK-47 rifles. The stream of projectiles had formed a line and turned the Chinese soldier’s body into a grotesque pile of meat, torn from head to toe.

  Pew pew pew!

  Lastly, the third Chinese soldier was shot in the chest and stomach by Lieutenant Oh Young-yeol and fell back on the wall behind him.

  – Alpha 1, we have taken the second floor. Over!

  – Alpha 3, engaging in battle on the 7th floor. Over!

  While Staff Sergeant Kim Kyung-hwan was checking the area for additional threats after he took out the three Chinese soldiers in the hallway, Alpha Team leader Lieutenant Oh Young-yeol turned clockwise and scanned the entire second floor.

  – Alpha 1, no lifeforms are detected on the second floor. Heading up. Over!-

  Alpha 3, we have taken the sixth floor. Twelve civilians found but no soldiers. Over!

  After 10 minutes had passed, the Alpha Team succeeded in taking out all the Chinese guerilla forces hiding inside the building. Within 6 hours of deploying the 1,000-men Armored Assault Brigade, the mission to eliminate the guerilla forces in Te-Xi county in Sun-Yang was completed.

  * * *

  November 3, 2020, 16:00 (China Standard Time 15:00), Sun-Yang Province Tao-Xian International Airport, China

  At the Tao-Xian International Airport, a continuous stream of civilian and military transport planes, separate from Korean commercial airlines, was landing and taking off to move supplies. Multiple A400M transport planes deployed in 2019 landed at the airport, skidded on the taxiway, and finally stopped at the loading docks. Fully armed military police were on the ground and surrounded the A400M transport planes.

  “What is in those planes that’s causing such ruckus, sir?”


  Corporal Kang Man-ho from the 51st Supplies Transport Aviation bridge under the 7th Mobile Corps asked his Platoon Commander Staff Sergeant Oh Choon-won.

  “Do you wanna know?”


  “Yes, sir.”


  “It’s confidential information that a low-ranking corporal like you shouldn’t know.”


  “Please tell me if you know, sir.”


  Corporal Kang Man-ho who was busy unloading the supplies that were coming in from the transport planes became curious when he saw one of the planes being under heavy surveillance compared to the other ones that came in before. He asked his superior Staff Sergeant Oh Choon-won about the type of equipment that one was unloading.

  “Stop lollygagging and keep unloading!”


  “You don’t know either, do you, sir?”


  “Shut up.”


  “Sorry, sir! I will keep unloading.”


  Amidst the heavy security by the policemen, the rear hatch of the A400M transport plane opened, and a caterpillar type vehicle that was larger than the typical armored vehicle appeared. It resembled the K270A1-Cheon-mu MLRS armored vehicle, and it had a symbol for radiation—a large red X—on its side.

  “Slowly, keep going forward. Okay, keep going!”


  Three armored vehicles unloaded from the A400M transport plane. The operators that came along on board the plane were swiftly escorted out of Tao-Xian airport by the military. This unloading process was repeated multiple times. The armored vehicles that were unloaded totaled 36, and each one was hastily escorted by military police before disappearing from view.

  * * *

  November 4, 2020, 10:00 (China Standard Time 09:00), south of Sun-Yang Province, China, the 60th Armored Brigade’s 26th Armored Battalion’s encampment

  After having their sweet and long four-day break, the 26th Armored Battalion prepared to move to their first target area in Lao-Dung with their engines roaring. The 711 and 712 tanks that had been separated from the group were also fully repaired and returned to the 1st platoon of the 7th company. A few minutes later, Captain Han Young-gook returned from the battalion’s strategy meeting and gave the order through the communication line.

  – This is the company commander. The 8th Company will lead the way. We, the 7th Company, will follow behind. All platoon and tank commanders are to maintain a set distance while mobilizing, and tank commanders are to monitor the area from inside their vehicles for any attacks. Over!

  – 1st Platoon confirmed. Over!

  – 2nd Platoon confirmed. Over!

  – 3rd Platoon confirmed. Over!

  – 4th Platoon confirmed. Over!

  Vrooom Vrooooooom~

  When the order to move was given by the 26th Battalion Commander Lt. Colonel Kang Hyuck-jinn, the White Tiger tanks from the 8th Company took the lead as it started moving along the Sun-Yang G1051 Highway.

  “Let’s move.”


  The 712 White Tiger tank also joined the convoy and started to move. Before they could get on the G1051 highway, the 26th armored battalion could see Sun-Yang citizens that ignored the order to evacuate getting arrested by the 25th light armored infantry division’s military police under the 1st Corps.