Chapter 549: 72

May 12, 2020, 09:00

Korea.

Once the South-North representative meetings were over and the North Korean aid policy passed Congress, the first aid project started was North Korea’s road expansion project. A number of construction companies’ vehicles, equipment, and trucks hauling materials crossed the unification bridge and then passed through Gaesung toward Pyeong yang.

If this line of hundreds of cars was seen from above, it truly would have been something to behold.

The North Korean unification aid agreement had four stages, and the first was expanding the roads in North Korea. First, they would expand the highway that connected Gaesung and Pyeong yang. Then, they would construct highways to connect Pyeong yang and Shinuiju, Pyeongyang and Huicheon, and Hwacheon and Manpo. They would also build a new road to connect Hwacheon, Hyesan, and Huiryung.

Due to haphazard concrete work, the highways in North Korea were so poorly made that they could hardly pass as highways. They didn’t have lanes, and the shoulders were too narrow. Moreover, they were titled and uneven in certain areas.

The expansion of roads was prioritized to lessen the burden of moving materials and supplies to North Korea after reunification, and also for the hidden purpose of securing a path for Korea’s armed forces in the event of war.

Few of the opposing party members criticized the policy as a waste of taxpayer money. In fact, some of the policies that were suggested would even benefit South Korea. Among these were joint policies related to the NLL (Northern Limit Line), which gave South Korea jurisdiction to crack down on Chinese finishing ships that illegally crossed the border.

* * *

May 22, 2020, 23:40

Kyungi-do Yeonpyeong Island, Northern Limit Line, N 37’18’, E 124’82’

Undersea defense satellite Posiden 2 had detected ten illegal Chinese fishing ships crossing the NLL, and immediately linked the data to the coastguard’s headquarters in Yeonpyeong Island. In response, the coastguard sent out two recently commissioned 500t class patrol ships, the Taegeuk 551 and 552, which used their powerful plasma engines to speed toward the illegal Chinese fishing ships at a speed of 55 knots.

Under bright lights and flying red five-starred flags, the ten Chinese fishing ships used double nets to catch all the crabs in the area. A moment later, when the Korean coastguard ships sped toward the vicinity, the ten Chinese ships got into formation and installed metal bars and nets at their starboards to prevent boarding. The Chinese crewmen on deck prepared long metal spears three meters long, along with axes and scythes, to meet the coastguard with.

The Taeguk 551 and 552 each sent out a boat to disrupt the Chinese ship’s movements, then began to broadcast a warning as they closed in.

“The Chinese fishing ships are illegally fishing in Korean waters. Therefore, the Chinese ships should lay down their arms and cooperate with an investigation.”

However, the crew of the Chinese ships protested even more, shouting as they raised their weapons. When one of the boats from the coastguard was about to pass the head of the Chinese fleet, one of the Chinese ships sped past the group and shot out to the front.

Whirrrl~

“Stop!”

Bang!

The boat that was heading to the front of the fleet crashed into the coastguard boat. The boat flipped over, and nine crew members fell into the ocean. Some of them were sucked underneath the ship.

The coastguard boat sped toward the wreckage and tried to rescue those who had fallen into the water. The Chinese fishing ships took this as their chance to speed away toward the North Korean and Chinese sea border.

“Boat 2, did you rescue the crew?”

“We’re missing two of them. It seems they were sucked under and can’t surface. Requesting divers.”

Superintendent Oh Kyung-joon, the captain of the Taeguk 552, radioed over to the captain of the Taeguk 551. “Taeguk 551, please focus on search and rescue. The 552 will handle the arrest.”

“This is Taeguk 551. Understood. Over.”

Taeguk 552 headed toward the Chinese fleet, which had split formation, and then gave chase to the closest ship. A moment later, the Taeguk 552 rammed into the ship at the fast speed of 55 knots. The rear end of the Chinese ship was destroyed, and the engine spewed black smoke, signalling its wreckage. The Taeguk 552 then gave chase to the other Chinese ships.

After 30 minutes, the Taeuk 552 had rammed into four Chinese ships and was now giving chase to the fifth Chinese ship, which was headed for international waters.

“Captain, we’ll be in Chinese waters soon. It will be difficult to continue the chase,” Sergeant Lee Won-hyung, the helmsman, said to the captain as he looked at the digital map.

Rather than answer his statement, the captain told him to call the Incheon Costguard. “Get the Incheon Coastguard on the line.”

“This is Taeguk 552, currently in pursuit of an illegal Chinese fishing ship headed toward international waters. We are 5 km away from reaching China’s seaboard. Requesting to fire Vulcan guns. Over.”

-Stand by.

At the words “stand by,” Superintendant Oh Kyung-joon left the communication line open, as if for the coastguard to hear, and began to swear.

“My a*s. The f*ck do they mean, “stand by”! Didn’t they get the report of a boat being attacked?”

Soon a radio message from the Incheon Coastguard came through.

-We approve of warning shots only. Over

“Repeat, Over.”

-We will only allow warning shots. Over.

“D*mn it.”

Superintendent Oh Kyung-joon grabbed the comms microphone and ordered the Vulcan operator via the radio.

“Open fire on the rear end of the Chinese fishing ship.”

“Captain, weren’t we supposed to only fire warning shots?”

“Helmsman! You stay put. I’ll take responsibility for what happens.”

Whirrl~

The 20mm Vulcan equipped at the head of the ship aimed toward the Chinese fishing ship that was speeding away.

“Open fire!”

Whirl.

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Pew. Bang. Bang.

A red beam of light shot forth over the dark ocean’s surface, and the Chinese ship that was trying to reach its own waters sparked up from its rear and lit into flames.

“Bullseye!”

“Conduct the arrest.”

At Superintendent Oh Kyung-joon’s firm order, the Teageuk 552’s engines roared, and the ship began to navigate the rough waves.

“Ahhh, help!”

The Chinese ship was aflame. It rocked back and forth in the rough waves and couldn’t go anywhere. The crew that survived were busy screaming for help and trying to douse the flames with seawater. An urgent radio message came from the Aegis Destroyer Tae-Jong (DDG-996) to the Taeguk 552 sailing toward the Chinese fishing ships.

-Two Chinese destroyers appeared 115 km away. Requesting to immediately sail back. Requesting to immediately sail back.

“This is Taeguk 552, will sail back immediately.

Superintendent Oh Kyung-jun licked his lips as if he still wanted to go through with the arrests of the Chinese ships, but he followed the Tae-Jong destroyer’s immediate order to sail back, and relayed the order to the helmsman.

“I was about to bring those b*stards in. Helmsman, change course to 1-7-5.”

The underground defense satellite Posiden 2 detected China’s 1st North Sea Fleet’s 4,200t Ruda-class Haulbin destroyer and the Qing-dao destroyer heading toward the Taeguk 552 at full speed, and sent the data to the Navy’s 2nd Fleet. The Navy’s King Tae-Jong destroyer (DDG-996), which was deployed this April, had ordered to sail back immediately. The Taeguk 552 drew a large half circle and changed its course to Yeon Pyeong island.

Whoosh~ Whirl~

An anti-ship missile YJ-82(C-802) rose diagonally from each of the Chinese destroyers, the Haulbin and the Qing-dao. Their target was obviously the Taeguk 552.

Meanwhile, at the 2nd Naval Fleet’s Aegis Kin Tae-Jong (DDG-996) destroyer’s battle command center…

“A missile has been launched from both the Haulbin and Qing-dao. The target is the Taeguk 552, and they are six minutes, seven seconds away from hitting their mark, and 322 knots away from our ship.”

The radar specialist’s voice rang throughout the command center. Captain Lee Gil-young gave the order himself.

“Everyone to battle stations.”

“Everyone to battle stations! Everyone to battle stations!”

As the crewmen ran in all directions to get into position, Captain Lee Gil-young continued to give orders.

“If we fail to intercept, is there enough time for another try?”

“Negative. We only have 34 seconds between the time to check the interception and the missile hitting the mark.”

“So we only have one shot, eh? Standby for interception on target 1 and 2 and fire two rounds of SM-3 at each of the targets.”

“Firing two rounds of SM-3 at targets 1 and 2!”

At the captain’s order, the weapons master repeated the order from the command center and pressed the button to launch the missiles set to their targets.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~

“All four anti-air missiles have been launched. 3 minutes and 28 seconds away from reaching the target.”

From the VLS launchpad aboard the Aegis Tae-Jong destroyer (DDG-996) four SM-3 block 1C anti-air missiles spewed white smoke and flew into the air. It seemed wasteful to use missiles against ballistic missiles, but since the target was 250 km away, there was no other choice. The captain looked at the anti-air missiles flying away in the sky and checked his watch. At that moment, the Taeguk 552 received information that the anti-ship missiles were headed in their direction, and since they had no means to retaliate, they zig-zagged at top speed and fearfully struggled to avoid the missiles.

A moment later, an anti-ship missile hit the anti-aircraft missile from the Great King Tae-Jong destroyer (DDG-996) at the mid-point between the Chinese destroyer and the Taeguk 552, causing an explosion. However, the second target avoided the SM-3 Block 1C anti-air missile’s strike and, using the sea-skimming method, kept charging toward the Taeguk 552.

*(The SM-3 Block 1C in the novel is an imaginary missile that can strike down ballistic missiles and cruise missiles).

“Target 1 struck down successfully! Failure to hit target 2. Second attempt also failed!”

The crew of the Tae-Jong (DDG-996) destroyer all let out a moan at the missile’s failure.

“D*mn Americans. They sell us this crap at such an expensive price. Sons of b*tches.”

Captain Lee Gil-young stood up angrily and kicked his chair. All he could do now was watch the Chinese’s anti-ship missile hit the Taeguk 552.

“Twenty seconds left until the Taeguk 552 is hit. 19, 18…”

The anti-ship missile was within striking distance of the Taeguk 552, and it was about to change into the pop-up strike mode when a beam of light from the sky split the missile into thousands of pieces, and the missile disappeared into the ocean. Not realizing what had happened, the radar operator, who was watching the radar, became speechless. The Chinese missile had vanished from the radar.

“Ah! The anti-ship missile… vanished, no, hit… vanished. It seems to have crashed into the ocean!”

Captain Lee Gil-young scolded the radar specialist, who was rambling, and asked, “What are you saying? Can’t you be more precise?” However, the specialist also could not properly assess the situation.

“Regardless, the Taeguk 552 is safe.”

The truth was that the missile had been struck down by satellite Zeus 1’s laser cannon. At the Navy Headquarters’ request, the aerospace force command center had already prepared to strike down the missile.

“Taeguk 552 has reached our seas.”

The Taeguk 552, which was firing all the flares and chaffs left in its arsenal, while maneuvering from left to right, just reached Korean waters.

“Good. From now on we retaliate against the Chinese destroyers if they fire any more missiles toward our coastguard ships. Stand by with two missiles each for destroyer 1 and 2.”

“Anti-ship missiles target set. Standing by for launch.”

However, the Chinese destroyers didn’t fire anymore missiles at the Taeguk 552, instead sending out anti-submarine choppers to the Chinese fishing ships that were on fire.

That day, of the twelve illegal Chinese fishing ships, four were partially destroyed, while one was expected to sink. The two ships that fled to North Korea’s sea territory past the NLL were arrested by the 250t sentry ship sent out from Baekryung Island, totaling in 6 arrests. However, it was also a sad day for two of the special forces from the coastguard, who passed away in the line of duty. This became the spark that ignited the diplomatic war between China and Korea.

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