December 15, 2020, 05:28, in the deep sea N 33° 10′ E 128° 8′ southwest of Jeju Island

  The 07-2 type (VL-ASROC) antisubmarine torpedoes, fired from the Chokai (DDG-176), dove into the water and begin to tail the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) with its passive sonar.

  “Sonar Operator, how many seconds before impact?” the Captain of the Youn Bong-gil asked.

  “One hundred thirty-three seconds, Captain.”


  “Helmsman, we are changing directions! Set azimuth to 1-8-5 and full turn starboard! Dive 20 and set the angle to 100 at full speed.”


  “Azimuth 1-8-5, full turn starboard! Diving 20 and angle to 100 at full speed.”


  “Prepare to deploy a nixie decoy.”


  “Preparing the nixie decoy.”


  The Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) banked starboard sharply and begin to slide into the depths.

  “Deploy the nixie decoy.”


  “Nixie decoy deployed.”


  Boo booom!

  The dispenser equipped at the rear of the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) submarine shot out the nixie decoy. It used its own thrust to move away in the opposite direction of the submarine. Also, the decoy began emitting the same sonar patterns of the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) in all directions to lure in the 07-2 type VL-ASROC) torpedoes. After 20 seconds had passed, the Captain asked the Sonar Operator.

  “Did they take the bait?”


  All eyes were on the Sonar Operator. He shook his head from side to side and answered.

  “It seems we have failed since the time of contact has already passed, Captain.”


  “Check again.”


  The Sonar Operator checked the patterns again as ordered by the Captain. However, the response was negative again.

  “They didn’t take the bait, sir. There are 118 seconds left before they reach us.”


  “Deploy another nixie decoy as soon as it is loaded and ready to go.”


  “Preparing another nixie decoy! Launching now.”


  Thud!

  Once again, the dispenser launched another nixie decoy, and it sent out a powerful sonar wave to lure the 07-2 type (VL-ASROC), but failed again. The latest 07-2 type submarine torpedo developed in 2018 was equipped with powerful passive sonar and could not be easily fooled.

  “Eighty-two seconds before impact.”


  “Damn, they latched on good.”


  “Transition into hard kill. Change directions! Azimuth to 0-9-5 and full turn starboard! Raise the diving angle to 60 and move at dead slow speed.”


  “Inject launch tube 5 through 8! Set the 8th one for a Great White A torpedo.”


  “Injecting tubes 5 through 8! Eighth one set to a Great White A.”


  The Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) slowed rapidly, raised its altitude, and turned starboard sharply.

  Creaaaak!

  When the pressure increased from the abrupt turn, a hair-raising sound rang throughout the hull. The Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) made a U-turn. When the 07-2 type (VL-ASROC) torpedo turned toward the hull, the Captain gave the order to launch.

  “Open launch tubes 5 and 6!”


  “Launch tubes 5 and 6 are open.”


  “Fire torpedo 5 and 6.”


  “Firing torpedo 5 and 6.”


  Boom! Boom!

  With a low resounding noise, two rounds of the Great White (K-744) torpedo were launched via air pressure and began to sail toward the 07-2 type (VL-ASROC) torpedoes.

  “Twenty seconds before impact.”


  “Seventh launch tube open and standby.”


  “Opening the seventh launch tube.”


  Everyone was holding their breath.

  “Ten seconds before impact, 9 . . . 2 . . . 1.”


  Boom!

  “Interception of the first torpedo successful! Successful! Torpedo 2! Five seconds before impact . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1. Failed! Interception failed.”


  The Captain gave another order as soon as the Sonar Operator’s report came through.

  “Launch torpedo 7.”


  “Launching torpedo 7.”


  Boom!

  “How many seconds before the enemy torpedo makes contact?”


  “Thirty-eight seconds.”


  “What about the distance?”


  “Current distance is at 680, sir.”


  It was their last chance. If they failed at intercepting the torpedo this time, then the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) would meet its end. Their situation was dire and dangerous.

  “Armsman?”


  “Yes, Captain?”


  “Inject launch tube 1, 2, 3, and 4! Do we have the sonar patterns of the main enemy vessel the Dakanami?”


  “Yes, sir. We have the patterns since we have already detected them.”


  “Good, then load the hypercavitating torpedo to launch tube 1 through 4 for the Dakanami.”


  “It’s possible. Preparing now.”


  Captain Yoo Dong-il chose the Dakanami (DD-110) as their final target if their hard kill maneuver failed to intercept the enemy torpedo.

  “Ten seconds before impact, sir.”


  “Injection for launch tubes 1 through 4 complete.”


  “Open all launch tubes.”


  “Opening all launch tubes.”


  The crew of the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) watched as they held their breath. The Sonar Operator reported.

  “Five seconds before impact, 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Failed! We failed the interception. Eighteen seconds before the enemy torpedo reaches us.”


  The Sonar Operator covered his head and despaired. They had failed their last chance and Captain Yoo Dong-gil calmly gave the last order.

  “Armsman, launch torpedoes 1 through 4.”


  “Launching torpedoes 1 through 4.”


  Boom, boom, boom, boom!

  The torpedoes launched out of their tubes repeatedly.

  The Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) did all it could before meeting its end. The Captain shouted so his voice would carry across the entire vessel.

  “Men, are you afraid? I am not, for I had you as my crew, so I am not scared. Also, thank you for your loyal service. It was a great honor to have you all alongside me. We are men of the Korean Navy so do not fear.”


  Captain Yoo Dong-il tried to say a few earnest words to lessen the fear of his crew.

  “Nine seconds before impact! Captain, it was an honor, sir!”


  The Sonar Operator shouted his farewell after giving the report.

  “Thank you, sir!”


  “Thank you, sir. I will see you in the next life!”


  “Mother!”


  The Captain of the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) all embraced each other and spoke words of gratitude to forget about the fear of death.

  “I am sorry men, for being such an incompetent Captain.”


  “Five seconds before impact, 4, 3, 2 . . .”


  Boooooom!

  Before the report of the Sonar Operator could be over, an enormous shockwave engulfed the helm. The submarine rocked back and forth and tossed the entire crew around. The power also went out.

  The scene in the submarine after the red emergency lights came on was a pitiful sight. Many of the crew had crashed into the wall or the console before being tossed onto the floor. Some of the crew tried to get up groaning, but since everything inside the submarine had been damaged including the power, there was nothing else they could do.

  “Argh . . .”


  The Captain collapsed on the floor. When he slightly regained consciousness and tried to assess the situation, he felt a suspicious vibration through the floor. That was their last. The water pressure had caused the outer walls all to tear down like a piece of paper and caused the submarine to burst. The Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) and its 27 crewmembers all gave themselves as their final gift to the Japanese ships torpedoes as they met their end in the deep sea south of Jeju Island; just like the martyr after whom the vessel was named.

  * * *

  December 15, 2020, 05:30, Jongro-ku Blue House National Emergency Center underground bunker (ROK President’s temporary living quarters), Seoul

  Ring ring ring ring! Ring ring ring ring!

  President Suh Hyun-woo, who had just started to sleep after staying up late to check the status of the war, woke from the sound of the intercom bell.

  “This is Suh Hyun-woo.”


  “I am sorry, Mr. President! It’s the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”


  “What is it?”


  “Three minutes ago, China fired 55 ballistic missiles.”


  “What? Are they nukes?”


  “We cannot say for sure, but we can’t leave out the possibility.”


  “I see. I understand. I will get to the Command Center immediately, so brief me in detail there.”


  “There is one more thing I need to report, sir.”


  “What is it?”


  The President, who was about to put down the receiver, brought it back up to his ear and asked.

  “Based on the previous operation plans, we have begun artillery strikes on the Daema Island. I am sorry for taking action first before we could report, sir.”


  “Not at all. There is no need. Wasn’t that a part of the plan already? You hold all the authority for this operation, Chairman Kang. It is fine.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  The President put down the receiver and looked at the clock on his bedside table. The clock was pointing to 5:42 a.m.

  “Chinese, Japanese—both of them don’t seem to care about the hour.”


  The President woke up, changed, and then hurried to the Command Center.

  * * *

  December 15, 2020, 05:40, Jongro-ku Blue House National Emergency Center underground bunker, Seoul

  The President arrived at the Command Center. The video call must have been connected and on standby already for Chairman Kang Ui-sik was already on the screen.

  The President sat down and immediately spoke.

  “Yes. Give me a brief report about the current situation.”


  “Yes, Mr. President. China has launched 55 ballistic missiles. Based on our analysis so far, they have fired DF-21D also known as the aircraft carrier killer anti-ship ballistic missiles.”


  “So they are not nuclear missiles?”


  “We have no way to determine that at the moment, sir.”


  “Then where are they headed?”


  “The destination has been set for 40 km south of Jeju Island. The vessels of the 3rd and 1st Fleet have been targeted, sir.”


  “What? Are they firing ballistic missiles at regular vessels instead of aircraft carriers?”


  “It seems China’s anti-naval forces are trying to turn the tables around after being pushed back by our navy, sir.”


  “Have they entered the interception process?”


  “Yes, they are at KAMD phase 1 where Zeus 1 satellite is intercepting.”


  “Would that be enough?”


  “If its 55 rounds, that is more than enough, sir.”


  The President tried to ease his fatigue by rubbing his neck and continued.

  “All right then. I will stay here and keep an eye on this a bit longer.”


  “Mr. President.”


  “Yes.”


  “I request for the approval to attack the source of the ballistic missile launches, sir.”


  “I approve.”


  “Thank you. I will report again if something else happens, sir.”


  “Very well.”


  President Suh Hyun-woo ended the video call and asked his secretary for a cup of coffee. Then he glanced on the main screen. A red line coming from China’s mainland was branching out to the ocean. They were the trajectory of the DF-21D ballistic missiles. However, the red lines began to disappear one by one before they could enter the midlevel altitude of the atmosphere.

  * * *

  December 15, 2020, 05:40, on Kyungnam Guh-jae Island Gujora beach

  Three hours ago, the 9th Marine Brigade’s Alpha Artillery Unit had finished cooling their cannons when the order to attack came from the Command headquarters. The six K-9A1 Lightning self-propelled gun did not rest and continued to fire toward the south. They maintained a fire rate of ten rounds per minute and fired the DP-ICPDM (dual-purpose modified plasma cluster bomb).

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The long cannon barrel emitted a loud explosion and white smoke while firing the DP-ICPDM rounds. The cannon fire was destroying Daema Island 80 km away. The first targets were the Japanese self-defense force’s long-ranged early radar base, their navy and air force helicopter base, and the ranger forces bunkers.

  The Alpha Artillery Unit had used all of its DP-ICPDM cluster rounds after 10 minutes and used the K-10 ammunition transport armored vehicle to resupply. The unit had repeated this process 3 times and used 1,000 rounds in a short period.

  When the operation was first planned, a few of the commanders suggested deploying assault forces to occupy the island, but the naval forces stationed at Jeju Island to defend against China’s amphibious operations attempts could not be taken away, so the suggestion was not accepted.

  * * *

  December 15, 2020, 05:50, at the Tokyo Japan Prime Minister’s official residence

  “Is that true?”


  “Yes, the artillery strikes on Tsushima Island started 30 minutes ago, and most of the military facilities are destroyed by the attack, sir.”


  “Were there any civilian casualties?”


  “There seem to be no civilian casualties. Our self-defense forces that were encamped on the island suffered the most, however.”


  National Defense Minister Shibasaki’s report was coming through the receiver.

  “I see. Please call for an emergency meeting. I will get to the Command Center right now.”


  “Yes, Prime Minister.”


  Prime Minister Abe’s face was red with anger and resembled a monkfish.

  “How dare those Josenjins attack our territory!”


  Prime Minister Abe, who had remembered the old Japanese empire and firmly held on to the belief of what it stood for, was furious and in shock by the barbarous Josenjins attacking their territory. He had expected battle on the sea from Korea for defense, but he never dreamed they would attack Japan’s territory first.

  “This will not stand!”


  Prime Minister Abe clenched both his fists and shouted, causing his cheeks to jiggle.