Chapter 289
February 24th, 2021, 15:00
Corea
Press agencies across the world were busy reporting day and night about the situation in America. America had ruled as the world’s greatest military power for over 70 years. For the first time in history, it was directly assaulted on the mainland. The damages were incomparable to the Kamizake attacks made in Hawaii during the Second World War. The news anchors gave a slightly exaggerated report about the current state of the entire nation being in flames excitedly. People across the world could not hide their astonishment.
Every broadcasting agency across the world had attempted to discuss issue after issue to boost their ratings. They made exaggerated and baiting claims to pull their audiences to their television screens. The main story of the news flashes reported that the Corean military had landed a million troops in America and have entirely taken over the west coast. Some reported that Corea had used a weapon system that was more powerful and destructive than nuclear bombs to strike the mainland. Another report claimed that America had suffered over 10 million civilian casualties from this attack. The news outlets blended the truths and wild claims in their broadcast.
As news pundits continued to spread exaggerated and prediction reports, TV stations in the EU broadcasted factual news about the war between Corea and America.
The European Union’s source was unknown, but they had reported a summary of the war happening in America by the hour.
When President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, the U.S. started to enact policies that would put the benefit of its nation first and caused many conflicts against numerous nations. The relationship between America and the EU also became shaky due to their economic conflicts. The U.K., America’s closest ally and the bridging nation between the EU and U.S., leaving the EU in 2017 through Brexit made the U.S. and the EU drift further apart.
The Corean government used this opportunity to ally with the EU. It started to negotiate with the EU before the war broke out and requested the EU to broadcast the war to the world in an unbiased manner. The EU accepted the Corean government’s request, and the Corean government sent in footages and photos of the war against America through the Ministry of National Defense.
The Corean government had two intentions for cooperating with the EU. First, ally with France and Germany, and the EU. Second, combat the biased reports from America with the broadcasts from Europe’s television networks.
The results of operations “Wrath of God” striking mainland America were as follow:
The C-SE Epirus missiles launched by the Zeus 3 satellite survived the U.S. missile defense system’s interception attempts and struck their targets. 11 out of 18 targeted cities have returned to the stone age. These cities were: Wichita, Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Reno, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Spokane, and New York. Most of the missile defense brigades located at the west coast have all been struck first by the Corean submarines’ cruise missiles, and the defensive net had been broken down. Therefore, America could not stop the C-SE Epirus missiles from flying towards their targets at Mach 40.
New York City, the world’s economic hub out of all the eastern cities, had sustained the heaviest damage. The Brookhaven base’s 101st missile defense brigade had to focus on intercepting missiles falling towards Washington D.C. They could not afford to defend the skies above New York, despite being in charge of the MD system in the northeastern area.
Had the western missile defense brigades not sustained damages and were functional, then at least five cities would not have suffered.
The two Super Hocula submarines had launched 90 rounds of the SD-SLBN Gungnir-II missiles in their ballistic modes. These had struck the world’s largest aircraft holding facility, AMARC (Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center), and the 3rd logistics command’s reserve supplies. The American military had lost 50% of its supplies and the facilities to house them.
Finally, round one of eight C-SH Zinog II missiles launched by the Zeus 3 satellite landed on Nellis airforce base, also known as Area 51. The C-SH Zinog-II missile fell at the center of Nellis base at Mach 45 and exploded after digging through 100m into the surface. The Nellis air force base and its secret underground research facility were designed to withstand a nuclear missile attack, but the explosive power of the Zinog missiles made it collapse onto itself.
The remaining seven rounds had targeted the Lockheed Martin company’s major production facilities for jets and missiles. All major munitions factories that made weaponry for the U.S. military had been turned to dust.
The shocking and unexpected results of the war were being broadcasted by the EU’s news networks on TV. When they finished their detailed broadcast, the EU member nations and their citizens were in deep shock.
February 24th, 2021, 16:00
Downtown Hino, Yamanashi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan
The American MEAB’s (Marine Expeditionary Mobile Brigade) M4 Warthog tanks ambushed the Corean forces at the battle at Hachioji. After a 3 hour-long hide and seek, the Corean armored forces were able to oust all the M4 Warthog tanks from the city. The 60th mechanized infantry brigade and 109th mechanized infantry battalion took over the city afterward, and the rest of the Corean armored forces started to march towards downtown Hino, the second gateway to Tokyo.
The M4 Warthog tanks were more powerful than expected. The 26th armored battalion’s White Tiger tanks lost a significant amount of power after losing their outer optical equipment to the M4 Warthog tank’s 16MJ class rail guns. The parts that could be detached and replaced were fixed by having a short maintenance period while other forces kept watch, but over 50% of the required parts had to be sent to the rear for repairs. However, they could not send a major part of their forces back to the rear for repairs when they were so close to marching into Tokyo. So, the 26th armored battalion only conducted basic repairs and continued with their mission.
The division HQ ordered its forces to use the S-LLAM 60 Black Dragon missiles against the enemy tanks using guerilla tactics. Launching missiles in the middle of a busy city instead of an open field will lead to civilian casualties and damages to buildings, but it was the only way to defend against the ambushing enemy tanks. The White Tiger tanks all activated their seekers to prepare the S-LLAM 60 Black Dragon anti-air/tank missiles for launch from their four-round MLRS launch pads. Then, they slowly moved into the city.
“God! I feel so stuffy in here!” Master Sergeant Oh Sang-taek, muttered to himself out of frustration. The 712 White Tiger tank’s periscope for the vehicle commander had been taken down by the Warthog tank’s railgun rounds at Hachioji.
He wanted to open the hatch and see what was going on outside, but that would be suicide. Since it would be the equivalent to saying “I am right here, come kill me” to the enemy snipers. Master Sergeant Oh had no choice but to have his gunner’s screen linked to his display to see the outside world.
“Hehe, just keep an eye out for the Black Dragon’s seeker radar, and leave the rest to me, sir. The division’s top gun, Sergeant First Class Kim will handle everything.”
“My ass. You’re only the top gun since I do all the work and set the targets for you! All you do is step on the damn pedal to fire!”
“Sir! Aren’t you being too harsh?”
Two hours ago, these men were fighting a fierce battle that could have ended their lives. However, they started to joke around again upon entering a new city.
Beep beep beep beep~
The reconnaissance intelligence of detected M4 Warthog tanks from the Spider II drones sent out by the HQ company came in. The display abord the 712 White Tiger tanks started to show the M4 Warthog tanks as red dots and started sounding the alarm. They were 3.2km away and 100m right from the closest road.
“All right! Those bastards, we’re gonna be the ones to take them down. Okay, Sergeant Yeom?”
“Yes, commander!”
“Move next to the 711 tank and step on it!”
“Yes, sir.”
Master Sergeant Oh gave orders to Sergeant Yeom, the driver, and notified the platoon commander aboard the 711 tanks.
“This is Crimson Ox 2! Crimson Ox 1! We will take down the enemy tanks, sir. Over.”
“This is Crimson Ox 1, your periscope is not functional, Crimson Ox 2. Can you handle it? Over.”
“This is Crimson Ox 2! Sir! Why are you doubting us? The division’s top gun can handle anything. Just because our periscope is down, doesn’t mean we can’t.”
“This is Crimson Ox 1! Very well. Over.”
When the platoon commander approved their request, the 712 tank started to speed up and move past the 711 tank. It soon was moving at the lead and the photon cannon started to slowly turn left.
Vroooooo~ Vrooooooom~
The White Tiger tanks were at an advantage since they were completely aware of the enemy’s position.
“Let’s go! Speed up!”
“Yes, sir.”
The 712 tank started to crash into the cars on the road and charged wildly.
Once the 712 tank reached an intersection after speeding down the road at 80km/h, the photon cannon that had been turned right started to spark up.
Booom~
A red photon round flew out of the barrel and struck the M4 Warthog tank hiding for an ambush.
Boom!
It was a direct hit, and the turret of the Warthog tank detached from the explosion.
“Nice!” Master Sergeant Oh Young-taek cheered after watching the explosion on his monitor linked to the gunner’s scope.
“What did I tell you, sir? I am the best gunner in the-”
Boom! Booom!
Zzzzzzzzap!
A powerful shock struck the right side of the 712 tank twice.
The unexpected attack made Sergeant Yeom Hoon-gi, the 712 tank’s driver, put the gears to the maximum setting in an attempt to move back. However, the right caterpillar must have been damaged, as the tank only moved slowly and was unable to maintain its balance.
“Sergeant First Class Kim! What are you doing? Turn the turret and the scope around!” Master Sergeant Oh Young-taek, who could not see the area himself, shouted in desperation.
“Ah, sorry, sir. I hit my eye on the scope...”
“If you stay put because your eye hurts, then we will die here.”
“Yes, sir. Moving the turret, now.”
Whirl~
The turret made a smooth mechanical sound and turned 180 degrees. Two more metal rounds struck the 712 tank.
Boom! Boom!
“Goddamn it! I guess we’re the ones getting pummeled today.”
Creeeaaak Creak~
The turret seemed to have been affected by the shock and stopped moving.
“Ah! The turret’s turning plate is broken!”
Sergeant First Class Kim Young-joo tried to turn the turret with all his might, but it only moved slowly.
Master Sergeant Oh Young-taek gave an order to Sergeant Yeom Hoon-gi, “Sergeant Yeom! Back up while turning left! Sergeant First Class Kim, you tell Sergeant Yeom when you have one of the enemy’s tanks in your line of sight.”
“Yes, sir.”
As the crew aboard the 712 tank spoke to each other, another metal round from the enemy’s rail gun flew at them.
When the tank turned left, the turret finally aligned with the enemy’s that was lined up on the road at the right side.
Sergeant First Class Kim shouted, “Sergeant Yeom! Stop!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Sergeant First Class Kim! If you’re done aiming, just shoot!”
Master Sergeant Oh Young-taek was finally able to lock on two of the three enemy tanks and pressed the launch button for the Black Dragon missiles.
Woosh~ Woosh~
The 60mm four-round MLRS system equipped on both sides of the turret launched the Black Dragon missiles. They flew off while emitting white smoke, and Sergeant First Class Kim Young-joo also aimed and fired the photon cannon. The teamwork of the crew was excellent since they had been working together for a long time.
Booom~
One of the three Warthog tanks was hit by the photon cannon’s rounds. It caught on fire, and the other two Warthog tanks had their turrets fall off from being struck by the Black Dragon missiles.
“Yeah, that’s right. Take that, you Yanks! Ha ha ha!” Master Sergeant Oh Young-taek clenched his fists and shouted after seeing the explosion. The confident look on his face vanished, and the enemy’s tank clearly showed up on the scope.
The Black Dragon missiles had struck the turrets of the Warthog tank’s turrets. But they seemed to have avoided internal explosions. The railguns of the tanks turned to point directly at the 712 tank.
“Wha- what? I thought they were taken down by the Black Dragon missiles. Hey, what are you guys doing?! Sergeant First Class Kim! Shoot them down.”
“Our turret is too slow, sir.”
The 712 tank had its right caterpillar and turret’s turnplate damaged. It couldn’t move freely and took a long time to aim at the enemy. It was at its most vulnerable state.
“Goddamn it... we’re screwed.”
Boom! Boom!
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