November 22, 2023 at 09:00 (Iraq time 03:00)

  About 20 kilometers north of Kirkuk, Iraq The battle, which had begun during the day, had already lasted all night and into the early hours of the morning. The dark and barren fields without a blade of grass lit up the surrounding area with each explosion, whether it was large or small, and the sounds of the deafening roar were like an orchestra playing.

  The various reconnaissance drones flew in all directions and data-linked the locations of the Iraqi Golden Division tanks and armored vehicles, which were then target set and smashed by the Black Tiger tanks of the 111th Marine Battalion.

  However, after 12 hours of fighting, the Marines of the 111th Marine Battalion began to feel mentally and physically exhausted.

  Because of the increased damage, the command of Iraq’s most elite Golden Division headquarters attempted to alter their strategy.

  The Golden Division’s six armored brigades attacked and retreated from the 111th Marine Battalion repeatedly. The 111th Marine Battalion, which was defending, had to deal with the armored brigade that had been attacking irregularly from different directions for a long time with no time to rest.

  Even though the marines of the 111th Marine Battalion eventually ran out of strength, they persisted in their fight due to their marine spirit. But the issue was that there was at lack of ammunition supply. As a result, their defense against the Golden Division, which had been strong in the early stages of the attack, began to fade.

  “One o’clock direction! Set targets, automatic fire!”


  Poof! Poof!

  Quang~ Quang~

  In the dark, the 312-tank opened fire on two enemy tanks of the 2nd Armored Brigade that were maneuvering left and right from 5 kilometers away toward the defense site.

  “Now! Set the new target number one to 12 o’clock, forward distance of 5100.”


  Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung searched for a new target after leaving a burning enemy tank behind.

  However, Corporal Lee Hae-sung announced with a grim voice, “Tank commander! Only two plasma bombs left.”


  There was a small warning sound and a flashing number on the display screen, indicating the remaining number of the plasma bombs.

  “What? Have we already used all of them?”


  “Yes, what should we do, tank commander?”


  “We should get the supplies, for sure?”


  Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung rotated the vision to examine the entire front while putting the focus on target one. Due to the infrared vision mode, approximately 60 enemy tanks and armored vehicles were identified as red lights even in the dark. They were all in and out of the Black Tiger tanks’ effective range.

  “Corporal Lee, let’s take care of target number one first, then wait for supplies!”


  “Yes, sir.”


  The turret rotated automatically toward the newly set target. The aim of the gunner was then set precisely at the bottom of the turret of the enemy tank that was being targeted.

  Click!

  Poof!

  A red dot flew horizontally and hit the bottom of the turret, which had been targeted in an instant. The dust flashed from side to side with a huge explosion that caused the surrounding area to vibrate.

  Kwaang!

  The turret flipped over and flew away with colorful fires after the explosion. Then, one by one, the internal width burst forth and the dark red flames soared several meters high.

  “The enemy tank is destroyed!” Corporal Lee Hae-sung, who was checking the burning enemy tank through the scope, shouted.

  Meanwhile, Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung communicated with the platoon leader through a platoon network. “This is Akashi 2, only two ammunitions are left, urgent supply needed! Over!”


  “This is Akashi 1! The 1st and 3rd platoons are out of supply also. Over!”


  “This is Akashi Two! Check!”


  After completing communication with the platoon leader, Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung informed the crew members through the internal communication network, “The other platoons appear to have suffered the same fate as us in terms of supplies. As a result, we must wait until the supplies arrive. For the time being, let us look for a suitable cover and wait.”


  Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung, who announced the current situation, activated the Black Dragon missile ticker and set it up to fire at any time. Currently, orders from the battalion headquarters had been issued to limit the use of Black Dragon missiles, which could be used as both anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

  “Yes, sir.”


  “Sergeant Gil, do you see that small rock on Street 40 at one o’clock? Let’s go there for cover!”


  “Okay!”


  Because a full cover was impossible, the 312-tank moved toward a small rock that could assist them in covering.

  Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

  The impact was accompanied by a dull thud from the glove on the left side of the turret. A bullet hit the side of the left turret, but it bounced off, unable to penetrate the partially hydronium alloy side gloves, and became lodged in the ground.

  While other tanks were sinking one by one into the ground in dark red flames, the tanks from the Golden Division’s 2nd Panzer Brigade were still attacking with enthusiasm. It was rightly referred to as the elite of Iraq’s security forces.

  “Huck! Did we just get hit?” Corporal Lee Hae-sung freaked out and asked the tank commander.

  “Is this the time to be shocked? Check out who it is!”


  “Oh, yeah!”


  Arriving at the small rock, the shielded 312-tank began searching for the one that attacked them.

  One of the light points was spotted at the highest speed at 11 o’clock while they were checking in both directions.

  “We’ve got it. 11 o’clock, road 4500.”


  “There’s one more plasma bomb left, right?”


  “Yes!”


  “You set it up and blow it up!”


  Corporal Lee Hae-sung set the target himself and pulled the launch button on the steering wheel.

  “How dare you hit us? Die, you son of a bitch!”


  Whoosh! Whooshoo!

  The plasma bomb flew in an instant, penetrated the front gloves of an enemy tank set as a target, and exploded inside. A 50-ton tram rattled once, and soon large and small shrapnel flew in all directions and broke into pieces.

  “Enemy tank blood!”


  Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

  An alarm sounded as he was about to report this. It was the laser detection warning tone from the anti-tank guided missile.

  “The anti-tank guided missile?”


  In addition to the warning sound, the aiming laser transmission point of the anti-tank guided missile was marked with a red dot on the tank’s digital map on the display screen. It was a slightly ridged point 2,900 meters away at 3 o’clock. An armored vehicle with an anti-tank launch tube stood nearby.

  “When did these guys get there?”


  Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung pressed the launch button of the “S-LLAM 60 Black Dragon Missile”, which was a combined anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile.

  A Black Dragon missile soared into the sky with a blue flame tail in its two-extension launch tube to the right of the main turret. At the same time, a red glow, which was emitting white smoke from the ridge, soared into the sky.

  Whoops!

  The Black Dragon missile rose to 50 meters and exploded 10 meters above the laser transmission point. The penetration bullet of the Black Dragon missile penetrated the turret of the armored vehicle and exploded inside, and Tanmi’s ammunition swept the surrounding 30m area of the armored vehicle.

  As a result, the anti-tank guided missile, which had lost its laser guidance just before the shooting, exploded after being stuck in the small rock in front of the 312 tank.

  Boom! Boom!

  Large and small blocks of stone hit the 312-tank mercilessly.

  Koong! Koong! Koong!

  Large and small stones and dirt dust poured all over tank No. 312.

  “Check for optical equipment malfunction!”


  Corporal Lee Hae-sung and Sergeant Gil Min-joon reported on Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung’s order:

  “No damage to the view! Fire integrator clear!”


  “Front! All control cameras clear! Power engine clear!”


  “It’s a relief, but…… It’s a problem now that we’ve reached close range for armored vehicles.”


  At this time, good news came from the platoon leader.

  “This is Akashi 1! Akashi 2 to replenish supplies immediately. Over!”


  “Akashi 2 here! Confirmed! Over!”


  Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung shouted to Sergeant Gil Min-joon after finishing the communication, “Sergeant Gil, is it possible to get out from here without turning back?”


  “Tank commander! It is difficult.”


  “Okay! As soon as we get out from her safely, we turn and run at full speed to get the supply.”


  “Yes!”


  Sergeant Gil Min-joon manipulated the control lever as he replied, and the 312-tank turned back and went straight into the reverse direction.

  Coorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

  After some time, the 312-tank arrived at a temporary battalion supply unit where tanks from other units waited for their turn to receive supplies in a small basin five kilometers behind the defense site.

  “Hey, Staff Sergeant Choi! How long will it take?” Sergeant Kim Yoon-sung leaned over the turret and asked Staff Sergeant Choi Jung-won, a junior noncommissioned officer who guided the 132-tank.

  “You’re next. But due to the lack of supplies right now, you can only get 20.”


  “What? You want us to just go out and die?”


  “Oh! We’re going to die, too. I’m being scolded by everyone but what should I do? We’ve run out of all the supplies,” Staff Sergeant Choi Jung-won replied with a tearful look on his face. He seemed to have been scolded by other sergeants as well.

  “No, you don’t have a plan to supply the higher ranks first?”


  “I don’t know. Ask the supply officer.”


  “Ana, Jegilson, what kind of situation is this?”


  November 22, 2023, 09:00

  Ordinary Gang-gu (Secret Hideout for the Red Revolutionary Youth Group) in Pyeong-yang, North State

  “Deputy Director, 18 out of 23 are all ready for our sudden attack,” Kang Tae-yung, manager of the National Intelligence Service’s Counter-terrorism Investigation Bureau, checked the tablet PC and reported to Deputy Director Ma Dong-suk, who was looking out of the left window.

  Across the window, a five-story building built of red bricks could be seen.

  “What about our preparation?”


  “There are 52 people in the building right now, and we’ve identified all of them through facial recognition,” Manager Kang Tae-yung directly checked the tablet PC and answered Deputy Director Ma Dong-suk’s question.

  “Really? We’ll have to wait a little bit longer. When we finish all our preparations, let’s start the operation! Also, if anyone leaves the building before our attack, tell the investigators to follow them!”


  “Yes, sir.”


  Deputy Director Ma Dong-suk, who was inside a van parked on one side of an alley about 50 meters away from the red brick building where the Red Revolutionary Youth Corps members were staying, had issued an order to arrest all of them in a sudden attack.

  Currently, all investigators from the National Intelligence Service and other assessment agencies had been deployed to the organization’s branch buildings as well as its Pyeong-yang’s headquarters, and they had been waiting since dawn to arrest the members.

  Around the Red Revolution Youth Corps building, National Intelligence Service agents and investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were monitoring and waiting in parked cars.

  After some time had passed, Deputy Director Ma Dong-suk ordered them to make their move after receiving reports that preparations had been completed.

  “National Intelligence Service agents enter the building, and investigators secure and wait outside. Move in!”


  On the orders of Deputy Director Ma Dong-suk, about 30 men exited their vehicles and rushed to the red-brick building. Several used wire pools to infiltrate the rooftop.

  Kwaaang!

  Agents blew up the front door with a suppression bomb and quickly entered the building.

  “What, what?”


  Surprised by the sudden appearance of the agents, the members of the Red Revolutionary Youth Corps froze with a puzzled look on their faces.

  “You’re all under arrest on charges of subversion. Don’t move, just get on the ground!”


  When each of the agents shouted and pointed their KS5 laser pistol at them, the frightened members fell to the ground, but some ignored the warning and began to run away. As a result, severe physical fights occurred.