February 27th, 2021, 19:50

  The depths 5km southwest of Muroran Port, Hokkaido, Japan (the Kuroshio’s (SS-596) location)

  The Kuroshio (SS-596) and two other Oyashio class submarines had changed their destination from Tomakomai Port to Muroran Port. After sailing for two hours, the submarines had arrived at Muroran Port. The Kuroshio (SS-596) and the two other submarines surfaced and started to sail into the inner region of the port.

  Luckily, Hokkaido had not been targeted throughout the war unlike other areas of the country. The citizens of Hokkaido mostly lived out their days in peace, but Muroran Port was quiet.

  All commercial and fishing ships were docked, and there were no people to be seen anywhere. The port was only full of seagulls flying in the cold winter air from the ocean and otherwise seemed dead.

  Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro and his entourage started to disembark from the Kuroshio (SS-596) despite not being able to contact the 3rd fighter wing’s Misawa base.

  “Really, there’s no one to guide us? Why is this port so empty?” Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro stepped up to the dock feebly and asked in a weak tone after looking around.

  “It seems the assault on Tomakomai Port caused all the citizens to evacuate, sir,” the chief of navy’s staff Murakawa answered while helping the deputy prime minister walk.

  Dozens of navy soldiers started to run towards the port. The soldier who seemed to be the senior officer walked up, saluted, then introduced himself.

  “Sir! I am Lieutenant Ochoji Hatse from the Muroran coastguards.”


  Lieutenant Ochoji Hatse seemed tense from seeing the commander of the Japanese navy.

  “Tell us what happened here!” Colonel Yamato Inoue, the operations director of the navy, asked the lieutenant as if to scold him.

  “Ah! Weren’t you aware, sir?”


  “Know what? I asked to you give us the details since we don’t know, didn’t I?”


  “Yes! Apologies, sir. The Corean military’s attack on Hokkaido this morning annihilated Sapporo, the 2nd fighter wing’s Chitose base, the 3rd fighter wing’s Misawa base, the 2nd mechanized infantry division’s Ahashika base, and every other smaller military facility have been wiped out as well.”


  The words from Ochoji Hatse were an enormous shock to everyone.

  “The Misawa and Chitose bases have been annihilated?” The air force’s chief of staff Kitano Takeshi shoved past the aides-de-camp and shouted his question.

  “Yes, based on what we could confirm, they have been wiped out……”


  “What?! What kind of attacks they made that the bases were wiped out with a singular strike?”


  When Commander Kitano Takeshi asked, Lieutenant Ochoji Hatse seemed to be flustered since he was just a mere coastguard’s commanding officer and fell silent. That was when someone pointed in a direction and spoke up.

  “Isn’t, isn’t that where Sapporo is?”


  There were layers of large mountains blocking the view from Muroran Port to where Sapporo was, but everyone could see smoke rising from the city. Judging by the distance, there was no doubt Sapporo was on fire.

  “There’s one more thing, sir……”


  “What is it?”


  Lieutenant Ochoji Hatse, who was already tense from Colonel Yamato Inou yelling at him, gave another shocking report.

  “Could it be- did you not hear about what happened to Tokyo, sir?”


  “Tokyo? Tell us!”


  “We cannot be sure since all of our communication devices are down, but based on the news report from Corea and neighboring nations, Tokyo and other major cities in Honshu have been all hit by the Corean military’s tactical weapons and are now in ruin. The news networks have been talking about it all day, sir.”


  “Is, is that true?”


  “Yes, sir. The Corean news networks and other foreign networks are reporting the same thing.”


  “What, what has happened overnight? I must go and see for myself!”


  “Yes, sir. We will escort you to our office.”


  When the deputy prime minister was about to follow the coastguards, the air force’s chief of staff Commander Kitano Takeshi spoke to him.

  “Sir, with your permission, I would like to head to Misawa base.”


  Commander Kitano Takeshi wanted to personally see whether Japan’s last air force bases under the 2nd and 3rd fighter wings have been wiped out.

  “Yes. Go and give me a report after you see things for yourself, commander.”


  “Thank you, sir. Please stay safe.”


  The air force’s chief of staff Kitano Takeshi saluted the deputy prime minister in a disciplined manner and walked to the coastguard’s parking lot.

  Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro and his entourage who had heard the unbelievable news started to move to the coastguard’s office to watch the news from Corea.

  The Corean 24-hour news channel was broadcasting President Suh Hyun-woo’s national address from the morning and the footage from the Japanese cities turned to ruins in a split-screen. When Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro heard the snippet of President Suh Hyun-woo suggesting Japan’s unconditional surrender, his legs gave out.

  During World War II, Japan surrendered to the U.S. after being struck by two nuclear bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The nation had become the second most powerful economic power after 1950 by using the Korean War as an opportunity to increase industrialization and provide supplies. Old habits seemed to not die so easily, since the descendants of imperialist criminals attempted to return to the ways of their ancestors after Japan became an economic power in the world.

  Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro had maintained his political career by not favoring either the alt-right or the progressive parties and seeking relationships that were in his favor. He caught Prime Minister Abe’s eye and was nominated as his deputy. Despite his political standpoint, Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro couldn’t help but tear up out of shock after seeing the state of his nation.

  “Half of Tokyo is now in ruins…… How could this happen overnight? Try to contact Joint Commander Masaki Hajime at the new Yokota bunker immediately.”


  “Yes, deputy prime minister,” Chief of Navy’s staff Murakawa answered Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro and asked lieutenant Ochoji Hatse, “Where is the communication room?”


  “I’ll take you there, sir.”


  Commander Murakawa followed the coastguard’s commanding officer and left the room. When there were only government bureaucrats left in the room, Minister of Labor Uchida spoke to the deputy prime minister.

  “Sir! I think we should accept Corea’s offer to surrender.”


  Minister Uchida’s words made the entire coastguard’s office freeze.

  Minister of Cabinet Secretaries Tsuga Yoshihide, who was now second in command to Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro, responded angrily, “What do you mean? Surrender to the Coreans?”


  “Didn’t you listen to the Corean president’s statement? If we don’t surrender, Corea will attack using their tactical weapons for a second and third time until we do. Must we continue this war that has no shred of hope left? Or will we surrender after our nation turns into an inhabitable burning wreck?

  Corea’s tactical weapons are far more powerful compared to the nuclear bombs that fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Also, Joint Commander Masaki Hajime’s use of tactical nukes has justified Corea to retaliate by using their own tactical missiles. The international community is also not on our side,” Minister of Labor Uchida, who had been skeptical about the war against Corea from the start, spoke while expressing his opinion.

  “We cannot just unconditionally surrender to Corea now. No, we can’t allow that.”


  While Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro was tearing up in his chair, the minister of cabinet secretaries and minister of labor continued to argue.

  “Our nation is in ruins once again thanks to the god damned imperialistic ideologies. Am I wrong?”


  “Minister Uchida! Choose your words carefully! God damned imperialism, are you serious?”


  “Am I wrong? Let’s hear from the other ministers.”


  Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro and the other ministers’ faces were all grim. When the argument became more heated and the conversation started to lose course, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ochi Hurume intervened.

  “Why don’t we decide the matter after we can contact joint commander Masaki Hajime at the Yokota base, sir?”


  “Minister Ochi! Not you as well……”


  Minister of Cabinet Secretaries Tsuga Yoshihide glared at the minister of foreign affairs. Minister Ochi Hurume did not answer him and closed his eyes.

  Chief of Navy’s staff Murakawa returned from the communication office.

  “How did it go? Could you reach them?”


  Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro seemed to have regained his composure a bit and asked the navy’s chief of staff. However, Commander Murakawa’s face was grim and he did not respond. Colonel Yamato Inoue, the navy’s operation director, answered instead.

  “The thing is, sir…… It seems the Yokota base was also hit by the Corean military’s tactical weapon and has been annihilated.”


  “Re-really? So, that means Commander Masaki Hajime has died in the line of duty?”


  “Yes, we were unable to contact the new Yokota base, so we attempted to contact the forces that entered the city. The 9th fighter wing’s surviving forces have confirmed it, sir.”


  Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro seemed to have given up or maybe he had no more tears left. He fell silent and closed his eyes while slumping on his seat.

  “So, what’s the status on the forces defending Tokyo?” Minister of Cabinet Secretaries Tsuga Yoshihide asked in Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro’s stead.

  “They, they have been annihilated. Every military force at downtown Tokyo and surrounding cities have all been……”


  Operations Director Yamato Inoue could not continue.

  “Can everyone leave for a bit? I would like to have a moment to myself,” Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro spoke quietly.

  The numerous government bureaucrats and military commanders all silently left the office. Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro had to start contemplating about the thing he didn’t want to in the first place.

  “Should Japan give up everything we have fought for and accept Corea’s offer for an unconditional surrender or keep fighting…… But Japan’s military has lost too much and there are no more forces left to continue the war.”


  There was only one answer. Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro had to accept Corea’s offer and surrender unconditionally to Corea.

  To be honest there was nothing left to consider. The only caveat was what kind of terms Corea would want for Japan’s surrender. If Japan were to surrender unconditionally, then it would have to accept every single demand the Corean government made. Therefore, the best option was to not surrender unconditionally but partially give Japan’s own terms as well for the surrender.

  Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro seemed to have made up his mind after an hour had passed, and called over the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ochi Hurume.

  “Minister Ochi! Contact the Corean government and tell them we will surrender with our own terms as well.”


  “So, we are going to surrender with our own demands, sir?”


  “Yes.”


  “Then, what kind of demands……”


  “As the defeated nation, we will ask the Corean government to negotiate their demands and write a document that outlines them after both parties are in agreement.”


  “I don’t know if the Corean government would accept that, sir……”


  “You’re the minister of foreign affairs. Is that the best you can do?”


  “No, sir. I will do everything within my power!”


  The hotline to the Corean ministry of foreign affairs had been disconnected due to the ongoing war for the past two months. Minister Ochi Hurume contacted the Corean ministry by going through Taiwan’s embassy which was friendly towards Japan.

  * * *

  February 27th, 2021, 21:00

  Seoul, Jongro-ku, Minister of Foreign Affair’s office

  The Taiwanese embassy had contacted the minister’s office about Minister Ochi Hurume’s request to discuss the surrender. Minister Kim Jae-hak opened up the communication line to Japan temporarily and started to videocall the Japanese minister.

  “My, you’re still alive? I thought you would have met your end at the new Yokota base.”


  Minister Kim Jae-hak’s greeting was rude and inconsiderate. However, Minister Ochi Hurume had no choice but to stifle his anger and pretend to be calm.

  “Are you disappointed? That I’m still alive?”


  “Ha ha, disappointed? I was just happy to see you, minister. Anyways, let’s cut to the chase. Corea’s joint chief of staff is preparing for a second attack as we speak.”


  “Secondary strikes? We are here to discuss the surrender, please contact the military and stop them.”


  “Hmm, Minister Ochi Hurume! We have not agreed on anything yet. Why would we stop when nothing has been set in stone? As soon as Japan accepts the offer of unconditional surrender, it will all be over. Our secondary strikes will be stopped as well.”


  To Minister Ochi Hurume, Minister Kim Jae-hak’s tone was sarcastic from the start. However, it could very well be just his personal bias.

  “Very well! We will surrender to Corea. However, we demand to surrender after both nations come to a formal agreement on certain terms. How is that?”


  “My my, you’re still going on about that. The Corean government has no intention to come to an agreement nor discuss terms. We are demanding a complete surrender from Japan. That is it. Do you accept or not?”


  “Minister! Please let us discuss the terms for both parties in secret but make the surrender seem unconditional for the public. I beg you, please.”


  Minister Ochi Hurume bowed deeply and begged through the screen. However, Minister Kim Jae-hak adamantly refused.

  “I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, and here you are repeating yourself. This is my final warning. The Corean government wants Japan’s unconditional surrender. If this is not acceptable, then I would like to end this call. In about 30 minutes, our military will begin its second missile strikes across Japan. This time the smaller cities will be targeted as well, so send out an evacuation order immediately. I’ll be going now.”


  Click!

  Minister Kim Jae-hak didn’t let Minister Ochi Hurume respond and hung up.

  “Those Japanese bastards, they are trying to pull one more stunt even though it’s the end. They want to set terms and make it seem like an unconditional surrender? They really are two-faced!”