October 16th, 2023, 13:30 (Iran Standard Time 08:00)

  Iran, Tehran, 12th province, near the Ridley Hotel

  The NIS Foreign Intelligence Department’s 1st unit agents who had rescued Minister Kang Kyung-hee, her chief secretary, and bodyguards the day before, started to move early in the morning to investigate the bombing.

  The Corean Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent in an official letter to the Iranian government about sending in an investigation team for the bombing, but Unit 1 had gone into an independent investigation separate from the official one.

  Team Leader Park Gi-oong and his three agents started to collect intel about the Iranian government officials, and Manager Lee Ja-sung started to tail Director Ruslan Nigmatullin from Russia’s SVR Middle East branch.

  Manager Lee Ja-sung could not shake off the thought of Russia being involved in the bombing from his head. He did not have any hard evidence, so he avoided reporting it back to HQ since it would only be confusing for the agency. To obtain hard proof, Manager Lee Ja-sung and his agents started to tail Ruslan Nigmatullin and focused on following his daily activities.

  Based on the current affairs, Director Ruslan Nigmatullin visited Iran’s supreme leader, and he was outside the city of Tehran when the terrorist bombing happened. The director of the Middle Eastern branch of an intelligence agency being absent from the city when the Corean minister of foreign affairs visited Tehran was the most suspicious part. Manager Lee Ja-sung attempted to figure out what Iran’s Supreme Leader Mustafa Hosseini Hamanei and him discussed during the visit to look for clues.

  Due to the terrorist attack from yesterday, the city was on high alert and there were many armed policemen stationed in downtown Tehran.

  Manager Lee Ja-sung and Chief Youn Ho-hyun were dressed in traditional Arabic clothing and observing inside a black van in front of the Ridley Hotel, waiting for Director Ruslan Nigmatullin to emerge.

  Around 8:30, Director Ruslan Nigmatullin and his three secretaries emerged from the hotel lobby.

  Assistant Manager Oh Suk-jin, who had been drinking coffee at the lobby’s café, alerted everyone through the silent communication system-

  Mother polar bear and three cubs in the lobby!

  “Great! Assistant Manager Oh, check the polar bear’s nest in 10 minutes! Be careful.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  Manager Lee Ja-sung and his agents decided to inspect the hotel room Ruslan Nigmatullin was staying in.

  Soon, Ruslan Nigmatullin and his entourage moved through the hotel’s lobby to get into two black vans. They started to drive away from the hotel.

  “Chief Youn and I will follow the mother polar bear.”
-

  Yes, sir. Be careful.

  “Chief Youn. Let’s go!”


  “Yes, sir.”


  Chief Youn Ho-hyun started the car and carefully tailed the black van. Manager Lee Ja-sung used the VR-M2 optical device to check the interior of the black vans and attempted to bug their conversation. He hoped listening to the conversations the SVR agents were having could help find some clues.

  Meanwhile, Assistant Managers Oh Suk-jin and Park Won-ho who had been drinking coffee at the lobby’s cafe put down their cups and stood up. They moved towards the hotel’s elevators.

  The agents boarded the elevator and got off on the 5th floor. They activated the TCS mode on their suits and walked down the hallway. After moving past a few rooms, they arrived at room 503. It was the one Director Ruslan Nigmatullin was staying in.

  “One, two. There are only two cameras.”


  When the agents checked the hallway for security cameras, there were only two filming room 503. They started to check the interior of the room with their shield glasses in X-ray vision. Luckily, no one seemed to be present.

  Assistant Manager Oh Suk-jin manipulated the X-C01 console on his left wrist, and a powerful jamming wave swept through the entire hallway to stop the security cameras from filming. Assistant Manager Park Won-ho used this chance to open the door with the skeleton smart key.

  The two agents were surprised by the interior of room 503 being more lavish than expected. The living room was as large as a suite should be, and every corner in the room was decorated in Arabian style.

  “This bastard’s doing well for himself,” Assistant Manager Park Won-ho turned off the TCS mode and muttered to himself while glancing around the room.

  Assistant manager Oh Suk-jin who immediately began investigating scolded him, “Hey! We don’t have time for a tour! Manager Lee is going to have our heads if we don’t find any clues. Start looking.”


  “Ah! Come on, Assistant Manager Oh! You’re too strict,” Assistant Manager Park Won-ho, who was his junior from the academy, headed to the bedroom while complaining.

  While the agents were combing through the entire suite starting from the bedroom, the room door opened.

  “Shhh! Go into TCS mode.”


  Assistant Managers Oh Suk-jin and Park Won-ho activated their cloaking system when they heard the door open and clung to the wall.

  “Who would come in here at a time like this?” Chief Park Won-ho, clinging to the bedroom wall like a fly, asked through the silent communication line.

  “How would I know?” Assistant Manager Oh Suk-jin poked his head through the door and glanced at the man who just entered the hotel suite.

  It was a Russian man who was almost 2m tall. The man buried himself into the living room sofa and turned on the TV with the remote.

  “What the-! Who the hell is that?”


  “I’ll take care of it, Assistant Manager Oh!” Assistant Manager Park Won-ho saw the man as well and spoke to Assistant Manager Oh on the communication line.

  “Wait, do we need to engage him? Can’t we just quietly investigate and leave quietly?”


  “We looked high and low, but didn’t find anything did we, sir? Why don’t we beat the information out of that guy?”


  “Hmmm……,” Assistant Manager Oh Suk-jin took a moment to consider the idea. Then, he answered, “All right! Let’s do that!”


  “Okay!”


  October 16th, 2023, 16:00

  The South State, Jeju Island, Seoguipo-si, Kangjung-dong, the naval base

  On February 2023, Corea’s first aircraft carrier, the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) was deployed to the field under the 12th carrier strike group founded by the naval strategic command. The Kangjung navy base was host to the 7th mobile fleet and the carrier strike group and had over 50,000 tons worth of navy equipment docked. The Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001), boasting the largest size and load displacement of 150,000 tons, was loading numerous supplies carried via containers on small freighter trucks.

  During the East Asian War in 2021, 30% of Corea’s naval forces were lost. Through two years of recovery projects and shipbuilding, the sunken destroyers and escorting ships were all newly built and deployed to the field in order.

  The half-sunken destroyers and escorting ships were all refurbished with improved technology before they were sent back into the field.

  Heavy cruisers that matched the Chungmugong Lee Sun-shin, Park Yeol (CG-1102), and Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103) were newly built and deployed to the field as well. The Cha Ri-suk (CG-1105) and Kang Woo-gyu (CG-1106) were scheduled to be deployed to the field in December.

  Meanwhile, the Youn Bong-gil (SS-077) that sunk in during the South Sea battle and the Hong Beom-do (SS-079) that was sunk by Japan’s nuclear submarine had their names inherited by two 260 class Super Hocula submarines, and both of them had been deployed to the field.

  The 12th carrier strike group consisted of the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) aircraft carrier as the main vessel, three heavy Hocula cruisers, the Chungmugong Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101), Park Yeol (CG-1102), and Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103), and four 260 class Super Hocula submarines, the Lee Hui-hyung (SSP-091), Choi Jun (SSP-092), Youn Bong-gil (SSP-093), Hong Beom-do (SSP-094).

  The 12th carrier strike group’s organization was a bit different compared to the U.S, which operated 10 carrier strike groups. Instead of consisting of one aircraft carrier, 6-8 anti-air destroyers, and 3-4 nuclear submarines, the 12th carrier strike group had one aircraft carrier, three heavy cruisers, and four Super Hocula submarines. There were concerns about the formation of the carrier strike group being too weak, but the Chungmugong Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101) heavy cruiser single-handedly destroyed the Japanese navy’s escorting fleet and carrier strike group during the Dok-do Island battle. With such power, three Hocula heavy cruisers would be enough to defend the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) against jets, ships, and submarines. The addition of four newly developed 260 class Super Hocula submarines with the latest technology being included in the formation also cleared any further concerns.

  Corea’s first carrier strike group now had the power equivalent to most nations’ entire navy, and it was now taking a step further to become an ocean navy capable of being deployed in any warzone.

  The crew of the 12th carrier strike group had finished training and testing the basic operations of the vessels for six months. The crew and their families had a simple goodbye ceremony and were now busily loading supplies and equipment aboard the ships.

  Two days ago, the Blue House’s NSC (National Security Council) meeting concluded that the peacekeeping forces must be reinforced. Instead of a force from the army, the Ministry of National Defense decided to deploy the 12th carrier strike group that had been training to the Gulf of Oman.

  They needed a naval and aerial force to pressure the southern regions of Iran rather than forces on the ground. The 12th carrier strike group had fit the criteria and were thus deployed to the field.

  The Baekbum Gim Gu’s (CV-001) flight deck had 48 of the world’s first vertical take-off and variable wing equipped unmanned bomber, the CUF/A-29NP Phoenix, two CB-N31P Blue Dragon tactical bombers, 20 WAH-91SP Peregrine Falcon attack choppers, two CP-N92SP Aqua Dragon naval patrol planes, and two CE-N91SP Peacock early-warning planes. The aircraft carrier was also capable of transporting the marine’s fully armed next-generation armored battalion.

  The most amazing thing about the aircraft carrier was that it did not have the aircrafts all lined up at the flight deck but stored within the ship by opening up its four doors on each side. By having the aircrafts land back in the carrier’s interior, it was able to protect the aircrafts from being attacked by enemy vessels during landing. This design of the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) was outside the box compared to the conventional aircraft carrier designs, and the ship looked like a spaceship from the future. The carrier itself also had numerous weapons to defend against jets, ships, and submarines independently.

  The Corean military could have deployed its air force to the Republic of Kurdistan as well, but the sensitive technological equipment would have needed continuous maintenance from the rough Middle Eastern environment compared to the one in Corea. It wasn’t easy for the air force to deploy a repairing force and their equipment overseas when they never had the experience.

  However, an aircraft carrier was different. The ship itself had the equipment and crew that could conduct repairs and maintenance. The carrier strike group would also be able to disperse the Iranian military forces gathered at the western border. Finally, the crew could get some experience after training for six months and become more skilled in the field.

  These reasons made the minister of national defense suggest deploying the 12th carrier strike group during the NSC (National Security Council) meeting.

  Knock knock!

  A knock came at the naval base’s commander’s office on the 3rd floor of the headquarters building.

  “Come in!”


  “Sir! We have just finished loading all the supplies for the carrier strike group,” a secretary, who was a lieutenant colonel, saluted the commander and reported in.

  “Ha ha, would you look at the time, commander,” Brigadier General Kim Ki-young looked at his watch while speaking to Major General Ahn Hyung-woo, who was promoted from his position of 7th mobile fleet’s admiral to the naval base’s commander.

  Brigadier General Kim Ki-young was also the commander of the 72nd maritime flotilla until he was promoted to brigadier general and commander of Corea’s first carrier strike group.

  “Yeah, time flies. I didn’t notice from exchanging stories from the past.”


  The two admirals were reminiscing and discussing the South Sea battle that took place during the East Asian War.

  “Please be safe, and make sure our men come back home safely.”


  “Yes, I will do my best, sir. Commander, I will see you soon, sir!”


  Brigadier General Kim Ki-young was in a neat uniform as he walked back down to his office on the second floor. He listened to the reports from his aides and captain of each vessel before walking out to board his ship, the Chungmugong Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101).

  Commander Ahn Hyung-woo, officers from the base, and soldiers all came out to cheer them on.

  Brigadier General Kim Ki-hyung responded with a salute. He and his aides all started to board the Chungmugong Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101) cruiser. Then, a loud horn sounded throughout the entire Kangjung navy base for the ships to set sail.

  The numerous vessels of the 12th carrier strike group were sailing off to the field instead of training. They were aided by tugboats and slowly moved out of the breakwater walls.

  The 12th carrier strike group was starting its 13,000km journey in a triangular formation. Four 260 class Super Hocula submarines were sailing ahead and behind them from 100m below the surface.