January 23rd, 2024, 06:40 (Local time: 07:40)

  At sea (the unified combat command center of the Gerald R. Ford [CVN-78]), 385 kilometers from the east end of Katsuura, Chiba, Japan

  It was close to one hour from when the naval warfare had started against the combined fleets of the Republic of Korea. The sun had begun to appear from the eastern horizon, and the surrounding region started getting brighter. In the skies, both countries’ fighter jets were just about to go into the second

  wave of dogfight combat.

  The Pacific Fleet, which had an advantage with a larger number of units in the first wave of dogfight combat, won the battle but they struggled more than expected. The ratio of F-35B and C Lightning II fighter jets that were shot down in the fight was 1:2 in favor of Korea, but the Pacific Fleet still had

  292 F-35B and C Lightning Il fighter jets in perfect condition. Compared to this, the combined fleet of Korea had 22 out of 80 fighter jets shot down, leaving them with only 58 jets.

  If there were to be two more waves of dogfights, then the expected result using simple math, with the assumption that a similar number of jets would be shot down, would be that the Korean Navy would only have 9 CWA-11P Phoenix fighter jets left.

  In addition to this, 140 F-35B and C Lightning II fighter jets had participated in the first wave of dogfight combat. If in the second wave, more than 200 jets participated in the battle, it was expected that the ratio of the jets that would be shot down would be less than 1:2. This meant that in the third wave

  of dogfight combat, they would be able to eliminate the CWA-1P Phoenix fighter jets.

  But this was, in any case, only the hopes of the command staff of the Pacific Fleet. The seas they were fighting at was very close to Korea, and currently, there had been 28 CF/A-25P Black Zhujak fighter jets that had been dispatched from the 18th Fighter Wing based at the Sakata Airbase in Honshu, as

  well as 24 CF-21P Zhujak jets and 24 CF/A-25P Black Zhujak jets, armed with anti-warship missiles, dispatched from the 25th Fighter Wing based at the Jejudo Airbase.

  Even if the CWA-11P Phoenix fighter jets weren’t counted, the number of CF-21P Zhujak and CF/A-25P Black Zhujak fighter jets that would participate in the dogfights were as many as 52 jets.

  The whole world had seen how terrifying these two models of fighter jets were during the first Northeast Asian War. Thus, even if the Pacific Fleet sent out all of their F-35B and C Lightning Il fighter jets just to fight off the Korean fighter jets, leaving none for fighting against the warships, it was

  possible that they would not be able to win this battle.

  However, the Pacific Fleet had something up its sleeves, as well. They secretly had four Atlas reconnaissance satellites, in low orbit, over the seas where they were to neutralize the powerful stealth function of the CF-21P Zhujak and CF/A-25P Black Zhujak fighter jets.

  These Atlas reconnaissance satellites’ appearance was different from the ones given to Russia. They each had the British flag painted on them and the use of these satellites was also declared to be for weather observation purposes. Furthermore, the satellites’ country of origin was set as England. This was

  something that Korea would never notice.

  This was a countermeasure to the past painful memory of when all of the American military satellites were attacked by Korea. They were able to shoot down 22 of the 6th generation CWA-11P Phoenix fighter jets with the help of the Atlas reconnaissance satellites, as well.

  Each country hid its cards and entered into the second wave of dogfight combat. On the seas, dozens of destroyers and cruisers fired supersonic-speed anti-warship missiles at each other without rest, with each ship firing anti-aircraft missiles to intercept the anti-warship missiles flying toward each

  ship.

  ‘The SSM-1000K Avaris’s anti-warship missile flew through the spiderweb-like interception fire net and struck below the bridge, on the phased array radar panel of the Pacific Fleet’s ist warship group—the Higgins (DDG-76).

  ‘The SSM-1000K Avaris’s anti-warship missile, with a diameter of 5.2 millimeters and a length of 8.05 meters, moved at a supersonic speed of Mach 10. It shook the interior of the ship and was just about to exit through the helicopter hangar past the stack area, when the timer went off, blowing up the

  missile.

  The Higgins (DDG-76), with a length of 150 meters, was pushed back due to the supersonic speed, and the top part of the ship ripped into pieces and blew away. When the timer went off, blowing up the SSM-1000K Avaris’s anti-warship missile, the Higgins (DDG-76) split into two and flew upward

  toward the sky before heading back down straight into the sea.

  Through the monitor, Commander Rubin Scott sighed deeply, watching the Higgins (DDG-76) being rapidly swallowed by the ocean after it had been ripped in two by one anti-warship missile.

  This was the terrible result of losing the eight Zumwalt-class Destroyers in the previous fight. If those destroyers hadn’t been annihilated and had participated in the fight along with the main fleet of the Pacific Fleet, defense against air attacks would’ve been two times stronger. Even if the SSM-1000K

  Avaris’s anti-warship missiles could travel at the supersonic speed of Mach 10, there would have been a chance to defend against it.

  It wasn’t a 100 percent guarantee, but if the defense against air attacks had been strengthened, the chance of ally destroyers being hit would have been lowered. The Zumwalt-class destroyers, especially, were equipped with two 8MJ-class railguns intended for interception, which meant that the last

  close-quarters defense was much more powerful than the Arleigh Burke-class cruisers. Losing them was something that they would regret forever.

  As he watched the Higgins (DDG-76) being rapidly swallowed by the ocean after it had been ripped in two by one anti-warship missile through the monitor, Commander Rubin Scott sighed so loudly that even the staff in the combat command center of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) could hear it.

  Commander Rubin Scott was also very sorry about the eight Zumwalt-class destroyers that were buried deep in the ocean. It was a well-known fact that he would be the one taking the responsibility and retiring, regardless of whether they won this war or not. Because of the many thoughts going through

  his mind, including what would happen to him after the war, he couldn’t help but sigh.

  “Admiral! Captain Donovan was indeed being a bit greedy, but anyone would have lost in that situation.” Only Strategic Officer Jimmy Lopez understood the feelings of Admiral Rubin Scott, who was sighing excessively.

  “No. I tried to use a strategy that was too greedy! Even if the opponent seemed weak, I should’ve done everything that I could have and attacked!”


  Admiral Rubin Scott, who did not hesitate to criticise himself, couldn’t take his eyes off of the monitor showing the sea where the Higgins (DDG-76) had now completely disappeared into.

  Meanwhile, there were both bad and good news.

  The bad news was that, along with the Higgins (DDG-76), another ally destroyer had been hit with an anti-warship missile.

  ‘That destroyer was unfortunately the Jeremiah A. Denton (DDG-129), which was an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and at that, a Flight IIB, which was very close to the newest generation.

  Just a few moments later, the monitor switched to show the Jeremiah A. Denton (DDG-129), which was engulfed in black flames and completely destroyed.

  It was a relief that, unlike the Higgins (DDG-76), the Jeremiah A. Denton (DDG-129) only tilted a bit toward the left, and it didn’t seem as if it was sinking. That could be why no crew members were appearing outside of the ship. It also seemed that the fire control system was working fine—anti-warship

  missiles were being fired regularly from the VLS (vertical launching system) at the front of the ship. Not counting the eight Zumwalt-class destroyers that were previously shot down, the Jeremiah A. Denton (DDG-129) was the fifth destroyer hit.

  ‘The good news was that for the first time, a destroyer from the combined fleet of the Republic of Korea was hit. It was the WangGeon (DDH-978) of the 2nd destroyer group of the 2nd Fleet.

  Since it was an enemy destroyer, it wasn’t possible to watch it through the monitor, but it was truly happy news indeed.

  This was a chance to bring up the morale that had plummeted. The loss of morale had followed the decrease in confidence, which was because five destroyers on the side of the ally had been shot down, while none of the destroyers on the enemy side was damaged, even when not taking into account the

  eight Zumwalt-class destroyers.

  keK

  January 24th, 2024, 07:00

  The atmosphere of the North Pole, Earth

  Namgoong-won had pulled an all-nighter working on the hacking program. It was tested for eight hours, then, after a few modifications and corrections, inserted into the X-119P.

  ‘The X-119P was then moved to SungNam Base, where the ist Space Fighter Wing was located, and attached to the internal armory of the CFS/A-31SP Three-toed Crow space fighter jet of the Alpha squadron.

  At that moment, the CFS/A-31SP Three-toed Crow space fighter jet that had the X-119P attached, was in mid-flight in space after breaking through the atmosphere.

  “The current distance to the target is 1833K. It’ll reach its target five minutes from now.” Resistance Operational Control Officer Jo Eun-bin reported briefly. The object they had currently designated as the target was the Hubble Space Telescope, which was orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 610 kilometers,

  performing photometric and spectral observations.

  “What’s the speed of the target?”


  “It’s 1 space velocity.”


  It wasn’t an easy task to trace a satellite orbiting at the speed of 1 space velocity outside of the earth’s atmosphere. If it was an operation to destroy it, it would’ve been as simple as attacking it with a laser gun after tracking it generally, but the operation given to them wasn’t to destroy the satellite. Rather,

  it was to attach the X-119P from the internal armory to the outside wall of the second satellite of the Hubble Space Telescope.

  In other words, they had to get as close as possible to the second satellite of the Hubble Space Telescope, orbiting at the speed of 1 space velocity and fire the X-119P.

  It was a very dangerous operation, as a simple mistake could cause them to collide with the Hubble Space Telescope since there was also relative speed to consider. This was the reason why Lieutenant Colonel Choi Young-ho, who was a veteran even within the 1st Space Fighter Wing, was in charge of this

  operation.

  “Good! Let’s get closer to it until we’re 1 kilometer away!”


  “Sir? Captain! Isn’t 1 kilometer too dangerous? What if we collide…” Officer Lee Tae-bin, the co-pilot, asked with a slightly worried expression.

  “We don’t have a choice. Do you think the weapon we’re using is a laser?”


  “But 1 kilometer…”


  “Shut up, I’ll be doing the controlling so you take care to monitor our surroundings, Officer Lee!”


  “Yes, sir.”


  ‘A few moments later, the CFS/A-31SP Three-toed Crow space fighter jet, which had been flying at a speed of Mach 30, slowly got closer, keeping its speed similar to the speed of the target, and finally got to within 1 kilometer of the target.

  Normally, on the ground, 1 kilometer would be considered a safe distance, but in space, and at the speed of 1 space velocity, which was around 7.9 kilometers per second, 1 kilometer was a very close distance. Just a small mistake could cause them to collide and turn into space dust.

  “Keeping current distance! The speed is also the same as the target.”


  “Good! Let’s start.”


  The center bottom fairings of the internal armory opened, and the X-119P, which was attached to the connecting rod, appeared.

  “Targeting completed! Standing by to fire!” Officer Jo Eun-bin reported after completing fire procedures. Officer Lee Tae-bin reported regarding the surrounding environment soon after.

  “Current surrounding state good!”


  “Fire!” ordered Lieutenant Colonel Choi Young-ho. Officer Jo Eun-bin pressed the button to fire and with propellants launching it ahead, the X-119P shot forward, much like a missile.

  ‘The X-119P momentarily went above the speed of 1 space velocity when the propellant’s force was added to the original acceleration of the CFS/A-31SP Three-toed Crow space fighter jet, but it looked very slow because of the target’s relative speed.

  A few minutes later, the X-119P arrived at the second satellite of the Hubble Space Telescope, flying at a similar speed as the target’s, and landed on the exterior wall without much impact.

  In the case of the second satellite of the Hubble Space Telescope, going at the speed of 1 space velocity, it was possible to deviate from orbit and fall to Earth or explode with just a slight impact.

  As soon as the X-119P touched the exterior wall, four pin rods protruded from the front of it, allowing it to fix itself to the second satellite of the Hubble Space Telescope so that it wouldn’t fall off. Then, from the center of the front of it, the control rod pack came out, piercing through the exterior wall,

  entering the interior.

  “Su-success,” shouted Officer Jo Eun-bin in a high pitched voice. He had been watching through the monitor with much tension.

  “Phew! Good work, everyone!” said Lieutenant Colonel Choi Young-ho, letting out a deep sigh of relief. He had also been tense inside, as this was an operation he hadn’t done before, as well.

  “Haha, you’ve worked the hardest, Captain.”


  “Then, you drive on the way back!”


  “Sure. Leave it to me and rest well, Captain!”


  ‘The CFS/A-31SP Three-toed Crow space fighter jet, having successfully completed a potentially dangerous mission, switched pilots, entered the atmosphere, and began its return flight……