Chapter 282
February 23rd, 2021, 13:00
The Jotetsu Road at Jotetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
The 9th Mechanized Infantry Division, which consisted of one Armored Brigade, two Mechanized Infantry Brigades, and an Artillery Brigade, flew the division and national flag while mobilizing at high speed.
After landing in Japan, they started from Kanazawa and took over Hakui, Hotsu, Takaoka, Tonami, Nanto, and Uozu to reach their final destination of Honshu. The division managed to take the cities without spilling any blood since there were no defending forces to stop them. However, it was a large area for a single division to take over, so they moved about quickly.
The 9th Mechanized Infantry Division’s headquarters was ordered by the expeditionary force commander to leave only a platoon’s worth of soldiers at each small city and march toward Tokyo to join the 20th Armored Division in attacking Tokyo.
Major General Jo Tae-jin, the commander of the 9th division, ordered his forces to mobilize. Each subordinate force started to follow the Hokyuriku Road and joined up to form a force the size of a division. Now the 9th division was entering into the roads at Jotetsu.
The 9th division moved past the southeastern plains from Jotetsu where the 20th Armored Division had encamped. During the war against China, the division did not have a chance to show off its strength except for the invasion of Daren. They were upset since they were mostly tasked with operations taking over the cities that were already attacked. Now, they had their chance with the march to Tokyo, so morale was high.
* * *
February 23rd, 2021, 14:00
The Jotetsu Road along Jotetsu, Niigata Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
The 20th Armored Division was able to rest and conduct maintenance for a whole day at their temporary encampment at Jotetsu. They were prepared to move by morning and started to head south along the Jotetsu Road. The 9th division was 10km behind them, and the forces were moving toward their final encampment before marching into Tokyo in 22 hours.
“Wow! The weather is killer today.”
Sergeant First Class Kim Young-joo, the 712 tank’s gunner under the 26th Armored Battalion of the 60th Armored Brigade, exposed his upper body from the gunner’s hatch and opened up his arms to embrace the cold winter winds. Since he had dealt with the Siberian cold, the winter winds of Japan felt like a cool breeze.
“Hey! Sergeant Kim! Does the radiation feel great?”
Master Sergeant Oh Young-taek, who was wearing a mini mask from the vehicle commander’s seat, glanced at Sergeant First Class Kim Young-joo with a patronizing look on his face. All the men from the 26th Armored Battalion who performed excellently during the war against China had been promoted a rank.
“Sir! Why are you so worried about radiation when we have our disinfecting kits? Are you worried about protecting your precious balls before getting married?”
“Why, you! I’m going to get discharged and marry the minute this war is over.”
“Sir! You have a girlfriend?”
“Hehe, don’t worry! Women are lining up back at home to meet me.”
“Ha! You’re going to get stood up if they are blind dates. Am I right, Sergeant Yeom?”
“You’re right, sir. He is going to get stood up the minute the lady sees him.”
“I’ve been too easy on you guys since the war against China was over.”
“Sir! I’m a sergeant first class now. You’re being too harsh.”
“I’m a sergeant, the highest rank of all enlisted men too, sir.”
“My ass. Hahaha!”
“Haha ha~”
“All right, men. Let’s survive the march to Tokyo as well and keep laughing like this. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. We will.”
The crew of the 712 tank had been through hell and back for 2 months and their camaraderie was deeper than ever.
* * *
February 23rd, 2021, 14:00 (U.S.T 01:00)
The San Diego navy base, California, U.S.A.
The 3rd and 7th fleets under the Pacific fleet sustained damages more severe than expected. They were now out of the war effort. At the naval base at San Diego, there was an enormous naval fleet amassing.
The Atlantic fleet, which consisted of the 4th and 6th fleets, had gathered in San Diego. The 15th carrier strike group, newly formed with the Ford-class Barack Obama (CVN-80), was waiting at the San Diego base for its first mission.
Over 100 ships, including different types of landing and transport vessels, were busy loading weapons and equipment. At the nearby shores, five carrier strike groups were gathering to set sail. In the depths, over 30 L.A., Virginia, and Ohio class nuclear submarines were on watch for enemy submarines.
Excluding the two carrier strike groups deployed to the Middle East, every naval force was gathered at San Diego. The U.S. was gathering all of its naval power, over 30,000 marines and equipment to strike Corea with all they had. They were soon to depart and aid the expeditionary forces in Japan.
* * *
February 23rd, 2021, 17:00
Osaka City Hall, Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
The 3rd Mobile Marine Division’s occupation was delayed due to the appearance of the U.S. MEABs (Marine Expeditionary Armored Brigade) two days ago. Corea’s 3rd Mobile Marine Division had finished occupying Osaka at 17:00 hours.
There was a flag-raising ceremony at the city hall. A Corean flag had replaced the tattered Japanese one. Numerous Corean press agencies and the military press were in attendance, filming and photographing the ceremony as the Corean national anthem rang out in large speakers. The marines all raised the large Corean flag in a disciplined manner in line with the national anthem.
The Corean flag being flown at Osaka’s city hall was broadcasted live across the world. Following Corea’s occupation this morning, the flag-raising at Osaka was being broadcasted live. The pride of Corea’s citizens was elevated, and the world press reported the war between Corea and Japan would soon conclude with Corea being victorious.
Many press agencies that did not favor America’s breaking of its neutrality to join Japan in the war reported in detail how Corea was fighting against Japan and America. They started asserting their own opinions on how America should act for both the war and future in the most objective manner as possible.
* * *
February 23rd, 2021, 22:00
The skies above Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
The 3rd heavy armored rappel brigade under the 3rd military command was aboard the CC-502 planes and arrived above Nagoya after 40 minutes. The dazzling night view of Nagoya was nowhere to be seen. Most of the lights were off in the city, and the flashes from explosions lit up the area instead.
As the surrounding 10 cities, including Nagoya, were fighting a fierce urban battle throughout the day, the lights inside the CC-502 transport plane turned red from green. It was a signal for the forces that the time to jump was near.
—10 minutes before the jump, 10 minutes before the jump—
One of the men in heavy armor started to walk toward the center after the announcement came through. There was a gold star on the black helmet that he was wearing. It was Brigadier General Song Il-hong, the brigade’s commander. The entire brigade consisted of NCOs and COs, and the commander was famous for conducting missions with his own men. He was that confident of his men compared to other commanders.
“Our 3rd Armored Brigade is the best of the 3rd military command. We do not know failure. Our comrades down on the surface are depending on us while fighting with their lives on the line. Do you understand?” Brigade Commander Song Il-hong’s voice carried across every plane and soldier aboard through the communication line.
“Yes, Commander.” The voices of the soldiers rang across four CC-502 transport planes.
“Very well! I will put my trust in you. Do not show any mercy to the enemy. War is where you kill or be killed. Let’s begin after our brigade oath!”
“Yes, sir.” The 1,200 soldiers under the 3rd Heavy Armored Brigade raised their right fist.
“Begin!”
“Onwards! Even if our nation forgets us, we will not forget it. It would be enough to give my life for our country! If we go together, we will be victorious. Onward! Onward!” Each member of the brigade shouted while raising both of their hands into the air. Shouting an oath before the battle was the best way to raise morale and reduce fear. The commander wanted to ease up the tension of his forces before entering the battle.
“All right. Everyone, undo your safety belts and check your equipment.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Soon an announcement came up from the plane’s cockpit.
—5 minutes before the jump! 5 minutes before the jump!—
The 6th Armored Brigade’s commander stepped forward and shouted, “Everyone, up! Move to the hatch in groups of companies. Prepare to jump.”
The men started to move calmly and swiftly toward the four hatches placed on the sides of the plane. Then, the siren started to ring.
Weeeee! Wooooo! Weeee! Woooo!
The hatch doors started opening slowly. The men firmly gripped the handles due to the pressure from the open doors. A powerful wind attempted to suck away the men aboard.
—10 seconds before the jump! 9! 8... 0, jump!—
The men started to jump from the four open hatches.
Woosh~ Woosh~ Woosh~
The men jumping from the four hatches created a spectacular scene. Some of the men who jumped earlier started to operate their flight devices after free-falling. They started to open up their arms and fly toward their designated landing zones.
As 1,200 lights flew down from the sky, the ground was full of explosions, flashes, and lights from laser beams. The battle below was fierce. Cannon fire and flames littered the surface and greeted the Heavy Armored Brigade’s men.
* * *
February 23rd, 2021, 23:00
The Japanese army base at Yamanashi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
This base was 8km east of Mount Fuji, and it was where the 1st armored division used to train. Now, it was the encampment for Corea’s 20th armored division that had moved along the Jotetsu Road.
The 20th armored division had arrived after traveling 260km for eight hours. The plains 8km west of the base were covered in white snow, and the snow-covered Mount Fuji created a splendid view. The 20th armored division had left the mountain and started to line up for battle at night using their searchlights.
As they approached Tokyo, the 20th armored division conducted reconnaissance to prevent ambushes. They arrived at the area later than expected. The division commander ordered his forces to finish getting into formation so they could rest. The march to Tokyo was to begin in 13 hours, so the commander wanted the men to rest as much as possible.
The 9th Mechanized Infantry Division moving behind them also arrived at Saku and conducted maintenance before marching to Tokyo.