Chapter 335
October 26th, 2023, 03:30
The South State, Seoul, Jongro-ku, the Blue House, national emergency situation underground bunker
After Senator Kim Yeo-jung returned to her hotel, Chief Secretary Lim Jong-won concluded it was an urgent matter and called for an NSC (National Security Council) meeting despite it being late at night.
It was nearing 4:00 am. At the Blue House’s national emergency situation center underground bunker, all 10 ministers except for the minister of foreign affairs were in attendance under presidential approval.
“Three hours ago today, Senator Kim Yeo-jung visited the Blue House in secret and gave us a crucial piece of information,” the chief secretary started the meeting and glanced at one of the attendees.
It was Minister Kim Young-chul from the Ministry of Unification Policies. He was the chief secretary from North Korea’s secretary department and contributed greatly to the reunification between South and North Korea. He was nominated as a minister when President Choo Un-hee took office and had been performing his duties smoothly since.
“Hmm, based on the way you’re looking at me, I guess it’s about the North State?” Kim Young-chul who had high perception realized the topic would be about the North State.
“Yes, that’s right, minister!”
Chief Secretary Lim Jong-won must have been a bit worried about disclosing the information to the attendees while someone from the North State was present.
“If it’s a security issue for me to hear the information, I can leave.”
“No, Minister Kim! That’s not what I meant.”
When Minister Kim Young-chul seemed uncomfortable and attempted to leave, Chief Secretary Lim Jong-won started waving his hands and stopped him.
President Choo Un-hee smiled and spoke to Minister Kim Young-chul as well, “I think there’s a misunderstanding, Minister Kim. We would like to solve the issue together.”
“Yes, Madam President! I understand.”
“Ha ha, I guess my actions did warrant that. I apologize, Minister Kim. I guess the topic was too significant that I acted that way before disclosing the information. Please understand.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Chief Secretary Lim, let’s begin.”
“Yes, Madam President.”
Chief Lim Jong-won fixed his posture and started to discuss the main topic after the commotion had passed.
“Senator Kim Yeo-jung visited the Blue House and informed us about a planned attempt on the president’s life by the People’s Labor Party chairman, Kim Hyung-won, politicians, and government officials from the North State.”
The unbelievable words from the chief secretary’s mouth shocked every attendee. Minister Kim Young-chul’s narrow eyes became large like a frog’s and he also seemed to be in shock.
“Is- is that true?” Minister Kang Ui-sik, who was a general, kept his cool and asked calmly.
“Yes, we are unsure of when they will carry out their plan, but they are going to take action during a ceremony the president is scheduled to attend.”
“How the- what do these bastards have to complain about to plan such an attempt? Shouldn’t we arrest them all for treason, right now?” The Federal Investigation Bureau’s Director Kang Hyuck’s face was red.
“Well, the thing is, we don’t have any other evidence besides Senator Kim Yeo-jung’s statement...,” NIS Director Lee Young-jin, who knew most of the information being disclosed during the meeting, trailed off and could not continue.
“Are we really going to do nothing because of the lack of evidence? We have the witness, so we must bring them all in. This is a matter of the president’s life at stake. If the NIS can’t do it, then our organization will, Madam President!” Director Kang Hyuck rolled up his sleeve and shouted.
“You’re going to arrest senators, congressmen, and government staff without a shred of evidence? How will you take responsibility for that?”
“Ha! My god, Director Lee! Do you think this is the time to think about who is going to be responsible? Fine. I will take responsibility, so don’t worry.”
“It’s not that simple. Even if you take responsibility, Director Kang, it’s not like that will solve the issue. We don’t have any evidence for the case, and if we arrest the suspects now, then that could be seen as political surveillance and oppression against politicians from the North State.”
“Don’t you think I am aware of that? Regardless, shouldn’t we try to stop the assassination attempt on the president’s life? Now that I think about it, what has the NIS been doing the whole time it was conducting the 24-hour surveillance or whatever that we found out about this only now?”
Director Kang Hyuck’s criticism made Director Lee Young-jin bite his lower lip. If the plot to assassinate the president was true as Kim Yeo-jung has said, then Director Lee Young-jin was now compelled to resign, since the NIS did not manage to collect that intel despite watching the suspects 24 hours a day.
“Is that all you have to say?”
“No. This is just the beginning. Come on, Director Kang, please say something.”
Director Kang Hyuck must have wanted some support from National Security Director Kang Hyun-soo and looked at him. However, the argument ended with Prime Minister Lee Youn-yeon’s interjection.
“What are you two doing? Calm down,” the prime minister glanced at both of them and spoke as if to scold them both.
When the usually quiet prime minister shouted at them, the directors of both intelligence agencies coughed a few times and fell silent.
“My, now I understand why Chief Secretary Lim acted that way. I just want to apologize as a politician from the North State.” Minister Kim Young-chul felt as if he was also guilty from just being from the North State. Now he understood why Chief Secretary Lim looked at him before opening the meeting.
“Not at all. It’s been over three years since the north and south have been unified. There’s no need for you to think that way.”
* * *
October 26th, 2023, 09:30
The North State, Potong-ku, the People’s Labor Party building
“Is that what she did?”
-Yes, we have confirmed she stayed at the Blue House for an hour before returning to her hotel.
“I understand! Keep a close eye on her and report to me if there are any changes immediately.”
-Yes, understood, Chairman Kim Hyung-won, sir.
Chairman Kim Hyung-won was speaking on a flip phone on a sofa at his office and closed the phone after he was done speaking before placing it in his pocket. A middle-aged man started to speak to Chairman Kim Hyung-won.
“Comrade chairman, did Kim Yeo-jung go talk to the South Josun officials as we wanted?”
“That’s what they say. She visited the Blue House in secret at 1:00 am today. The Blue House called for an urgent NSC meeting.”
“If that is the case, then doesn’t that mean Kim Yeo-jung has spilled the beans on everything?”
“That’s right.”
When Kim Hyung-won pulled out a cigar from a small box and placed it in his mouth, the middle-aged man quickly lit it using both of his hands.
“Comrade chairman, you truly are amazing. How did you know Kim Yeo-jung will betray us?”
“Can’t you tell by looking at her? She has been influenced too heavily by South Josun democracy.”
“Is that so? I knew she would be. Since things are going the way we have planned, I am getting nervous, sir.”
“Hmm, what have you to be anxious about? You have a lot of work to do. Is Jo Myung-rok making preparations?”
“No need to worry. We have prepared for every single thing. No matter how thorough the NIS or the Federal Investigation Bureau are, they will not notice. We have Kim Hyung-chul at the Federal Investigation Bureau, don’t we, sir? He will stop all attempts from within their midst.”
“Don’t be too lax because of that. We must continue to be vigilant.”
“Yes, I understand. I am well hidden within my own area in West Manchuria right now. Ha ha ha.”
The middle-aged man, who was slyly laughing and brown-nosing Kim Hyung-won, was Governor Kim Choon-won of the West Manchuria state. He was Kim Hyung-won’s nephew from his mother’s side and was elected governor of West Manchuria thanks to his uncle’s support.
* * *
October 27th, 2023, 20:30 (Local Time 15:30)
The Indian Ocean, N 8°33’49.08″ E 66° 6’21.80″ (the Baekbum Gim Gu’s (CV-001) island flight deck)
The Corean navy’s 12th carrier strike group had set sail from Kang Jung navy base on the 16th, and after sailing for 11 straight days, it will reach its destination at the Port of Oman tomorrow afternoon.
The 12th carrier strike group was able to sail and conduct missions for six months without receiving external supplies and it sailed through the calm waves with the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) aircraft carrier at the center with three Hocula heavy cruisers in a triangular formation. They continued forward at a steady speed of 10 knots.
The four 260-class Super Hocula submarines were sailing in a rhombus formation at 100m below the surface on the watch for enemy submarines.
The Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001)’s two-story island bridge at the center of the carrier’s rear also functioned as a landing pad for aircraft. Brigadier General Kim Ki-young, the strike group’s admiral, came aboard via the chopper on the Chungmugong Lee Sun-shin (CG-1101) to lead a final training exercise before they reach their destination.
“Admiral! We will begin, sir.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Colonel Na Sang-sun, who had arrived on the bridge with Brigadier General Kim Ki-young on the chopper, alerted the start of the training exercise and gave a sign to the air boss.
While the three heavy cruisers started to distance themselves to form a defensive formation, the 400m long Baekbum Gim Gu’s (CV-001) four doors on both sides of the ship head opened and started to split in both directions.
Eight of the world’s first unmanned bombers, CUF/A-29NP Phoenix connected to the connection rods emerged.
There were numerous training exercises with the CUF/A-29NP Phoenix bombers in attendance, but it was the first time they were training in an open-ocean setting.
When the air boss’ final order for takeoff came through a moment later, the connection rods started to detach from the lower part of the Phoenix bombers. The bombers started to use their momentum from the lower engines to raise their velocity before shooting up into the atmosphere at a 45-degree angle. When they were 500m above the surface, the main variable wings opened up and shot forward.
The Phoenix bombers did not have a pilot, but numerous operators/pilots were monitoring each unit from the Baekbum Gim Gu’s (CV-001) island bridge aircraft operations room. In short, the unmanned bombers would conduct their operations under the A.I’s control, but they could be piloted manually by the operators. Depending on the operation’s risk, an actual pilot could board the bomber and fly it manually.
Since it was an unmanned bomber, the Phoenix’s maneuverability was unimaginable, thanks to the lack of a pilot and the restriction of gravity that they would face during flight.
Eight of the CUF/A-N29P Phoenix bombers had flown 100km away from the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) in a flash. The bombers started making sharp turns like in the movies and stopped from flying at maximum speeds within seconds like a sports car. They could also fly at low altitudes at a speed of 300km/h, start from a slow speed to Mach 10 in an instant like a sports car’s zero back, and freely flew around beautifully above the Indian Ocean with its variable wings.
The scenes were recorded and sent back to the Baekbum Gim Gu (CV-001) by the CE-N91SP early warning plane recording from 25km above the atmosphere.
“Admiral! We will finish the maneuverability exercise. We will now begin the second exercise, targeting.”
“Very well.”
Colonel Na Sang-sun, who was controlling the exercise while watching a large screen, reported the start of the training exercise to Admiral Kim Ki-young and relayed his order.
Soon, the CUF/A-N29P Phoenix bombers that had just shown numerous flashy high altitude maneuvers at the equator’s atmosphere now set eight virtual targets at the ocean and started to train with their various missiles and 30mm laser Vulcan guns.
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