January 23rd, 2024, 11:15

  Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103), 185 kilometers off the eastern shore of Katsuura, Chiba, Japan

  One hour after the start of the historic fierce battle, in the limitless waters filled with nothing but gentle waves, the Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103) was being pulled by the Char Ri-seok (CG-1104) with strong steel chains.

  The Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103), which had fended off the various offensive measures of the Pacific Fleet, such as the barrage of anti-vessel missiles from the various ships and aircraft, with its SSS-mode magnetic shield, had unfortunately been hit by one anti-vessel missile and two X-35 metal shells. The output of the SSS mode had faltered in the middle of the battle.

  Precisely speaking, the anti-vessel missile had been successfully intercepted, but the proximity to the hull meant some shrapnel ended up raining down on the bow of the Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103). However, the two X-35 metal shells proved disastrous.

  The Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103), struck by the two X-35 metal shells, saw three of its four plasma hyperphoton Mod-D engines shut down. The engines could be said to be the vessel’s heart. The ship immediately retreated with the remaining functioning engine, but it soon shut down. Therefore, the Char Ri-seok (CG-1104) went in for emergency rescue and was at that moment pulling the vessel.

  Fortunately, when the vessel was struck, there were no casualties. All 12 of the engine crew have been injured. Two who sustained heavy injuries were transferred to the medical vessel docked near Katsuura via the helicopters from the Char Ri-seok (CG-1104).

  On the other hand, the Pacific Fleet, which risked heavy casualties in their attempt to sink the Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103), didn’t achieve their goal despite sustaining heavy casualties. Then they retreated altogether.

  The Pacific Fleet, which lost two aircraft carriers, nine Zumwalt-class destroyers, and 10 Arleigh-Burke-class destroyers, had lost all of their high morale and turned their bows toward Saipan, tasting bitter defeat.

  In particular, the loss of aircraft, which could be said to be the source of the power of the Pacific Fleet, was severe. They had set sail with 390 F-35 fighter jets in total, loaded on three aircraft carriers and eight amphibious assault ships, but currently, they only had 71 F-35Cs and 55 F-35Bs left.

  The F-35C Lightning II fighter jets especially saw a heavy loss. When their mothership was sunk, they had nowhere to return to and land. Admiral Rubin Scott had ordered the pilots to abandon their jets to save their lives.

  It was a tremendous loss of key military assets, but it was unavoidable. With their remaining fuel, the jets could have landed on the airstrip in Japan, but the Pacific Fleet couldn’t risk it when they had no idea of the current situation in the country. If the airstrips had been taken by the Korean navy, they could have just handed over the pilots and fighter jets to the enemy. They didn’t have sufficient fuel to fly to the airbase in Saipan. Admiral Rubin Scott’s decision was for the best.

  The Ronald Reagan (CVN-79), their only remaining carrier, had taken in as many fighter jets as possible. The remaining jets had their pilots ejected and drowned in the sea.

  cen

  The fighter jets cost 150 million dollars per unit. Therefore, the total loss came to a staggering 4.8 billion dollars, which converted into 5.7 trillion won.

  “You did great, sir.”


  Commander An Won-seok came aboard the Sohn Byung-hee (CG-1103) on a helicopter. Then he approached Commander Seo Gil-su, saluted him, and greeted him.

  “Ah, you’re here. You did great, not me. You did a great job protecting us.”


  Giving words of encouragement to his injured crew one by one, Commander Seo Gil-su dropped his affected hopeful countenance as soon as he got out of the emergency room.

  “Sir, you seem concerned.”


  “Why wouldn’t I be? My crew were injured and hospitalized. I need some air. Let’s go outside.”


  “Shall we?”


  A moment later, Commander Seo Gil-su, standing on the deck near the bow, took out a cigarette and bit it.

  “Didn’t you stop smoking?”


  “I did. But I need this today. I borrowed it from the deputy commander.”


  Commander Seo Gil-su, lighting the cigarette with a lighter, drew in a long one and exhaled it.

  “Sir, no war is without casualties. Don’t mind it too much.”


  “They would have been fine if I hadn’t pushed

  it.”


  “I don’t think you pushed it. Thanks to your courage, the Pacific Fleet lost two aircraft carriers and completely retreated. If those two aircraft carriers had been spared, they would have replenished their strength and provoked us again. I think it was an apt decision of yours, considering everything at the moment.”


  Commander Seo Gil-su smiled faintly at the words of his academy alumnus.

  “Thank you for your comforting words, Commander An. But I still feel like a part of my heart died.”


  “There were no deaths. The severely injured had quickly been transferred to the medical vessel. Why are you like this? It isn’t like you to sulk. Could you spare one for me, by the

  way?”


  “Huh? I didn’t think you were a smoker.”


  “Since you started again, I shall too.”


  “Don’t. It is bad for your health, especially at our age.”


  Commander An Won-seok snatched the pack of cigarettes from Seo’s hand and took out a cigarette, biting it.

  “Lighter, please.”


  “Huh. Look at you.”


  Commander An Won-seok, who had snatched the lighter too, lit his cigarette and took a long draw, only to end up coughing.

  “I told you not to. You weren’t a smoker anyway.”


  “Why is it so acrid?”


  Commander Seo Gil-su, smiling at Commander An Won-seok, threw the pack of cigarettes with the deepest grimace, and smoked his cigarette without saying a word, looking at the blue waves in the waters.

  Commander Seo Gil-su wished for his worries to dissipate just like the cigarette smoke fading in the sea breeze.

  *

  *

  *

  January 23rd, 2024, 12:30

  The battle command room of the Jang Bo-go (SS-061), 14 kilometers below the sea surface, north of Miyake Island, Tokyo, Japan

  Four hours had passed since the Jang Bo-go (SS-061) began chasing the minute noise with maximum sonar output. The target of the chase, the Columbia (SSBN-901), had been sailing covertly along the Marianas Trench and had just turned southwest to sail between Kozu Island and Miyake Island along the Pacific coast of Japan.

  They sometimes lost track of the noise and felt anxious, but the sonar operators of the Jang Bo-go (SS-061), as experienced personnel, retraced the minute noise and continued the chase, quietly gliding along the currents toward their target.

  The crew of the Jang Bo-go (SS-061) were on their toes not to make any noise to maintain their cover and not be detected by their target.

  For several hours, not knowing when it would end, they couldn’t even move within the ship or talk to each other so as not to make any noise. Even in the battle command room, communication was done with hand gestures or text messages on their phones in silent mode.

  Commander Oh Sung-won used his phone to give several orders to the tactical officers across the vessel.

  *

  *

  *

  January 23rd, 2024, 13:30

  B2 Bunker (Tactical Briefing Room of the Joint Command Control Center of the Korean Armed Forces), Yongsan District, Seoul, Southern Territory

  Chairman Shin Sung-yong and various commanders and advisors of the Joint Command Control Center were conferring regarding the current situation of the war before they composed a report to be sent to the president.

  First, they addressed the battle against the Pacific Fleet, which ended up victorious, albeit with heavy casualties.

  There was a heavy mood when they discussed the casualties of the United Fleet that had prepared for many scenarios yet was struck heavily by the newly designed nuclear submarines of the United States.

  In particular, the Navy Chief of Staff and the tactical commander of the navy, who were tasked with the actual implementation of the strategies, kept their heads lowered as if they were sinners. The unfortunate outcome wasn’t due to their incompetence, but they still took responsibility for what happened as leaders.

  “We did our best. We sustained heavy damage, but the entire Pacific Fleet is retreating. It is good news, in my opinion.” Chairman Shin Sung-yong tried to cheer up the Navy Chief of Staff, Lee Gi-hyeong, and the navy tactical commander, Kim Min-ho.

  “Yes, it is. No need to be let down. We sank two of the world-renowned Ford-class aircraft carriers. It is very good news. There is no need to be downtrodden about what happened, and there is no need to focus on the bad like that.” The vice-chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Youn Gi-youn, agreed with what the chairman said.

  “It’s my fault, Mr. Chairman. I misjudged the situation, and that led to heavy casualties despite the available resources. After the war, I will take responsibility for it,” said Captain Kim Min-ho on the screen, with a sincere face.

  “Captain Kim! All responsibilities ultimately fall on me. I will take responsibility for it. You won’t. Also, the war is still ongoing. Such a burden on your heart will affect your performance. Let it go and just do your best. I won’t say this again. Do you understand my take on the situation?”


  “I do, Mr. Chairman.”


  “Good. This will conclude that matter. When will we get the damage report?”.

  “We have attained precise data. As soon as we organize it, we will send it your way. It will take roughly 30 minutes.”


  “I see. Now, how is the northwestern front?”


  The First Field Military Commander, Oh Seong-deok, answered Chairman Shin in a loud voice. He was the general commander for the entire northwestern front. “Due to the unexpected snow, all pre-established strategies have been modified. The snow has let up, but the waist-high piled-up snow has immobilized everything. The snow removal operation was ongoing until today, and everything in the bases is now back to normal.”


  “When can the forces be mobilized?” The Army Chief of Staff, Lee Eun-hyeong, asked.

  “In two days, considering the current circumstances.”


  “Two days! We hadn’t expected this unexpected enemy called snow. If it were not for it, we would have concluded the war by now.” Youn Gi-youn slammed the conference table with his palm and expressed great regret. As he said, if it were not for the heavy snowfall, the entire mobilized Korean army forces would have decimated the Russians on the northwestern and southern fronts. At the very least, they would have completely retreated from the front.

  However, regretfully, the heavy snowfall has postponed such an operation. The Russians, meeting defeat after defeat, had retreated hurriedly. Now they had time to establish defensive bases along the Onon River. The Russians who were hiding have an advantage over the Koreans who are moving in the snow-white world.

  “For them to be mobilized, the road must be cleared of snow. It couldn’t have been helped.”


  “Since it is already postponed, we are counting on your leadership as the local commander.”


  “Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the encouragement.”