Chapter 615: A Time for Decisive Action: Before the Skirmish

February 13th, 2021, 09:00

Japan

On the night of the 11th, the prime minister’s cabinet held an emergency meeting. After they had come to a decision, Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro had used his authority to call for an emergency mobilization based on the national emergency. The Japanese military was now able to draft every man between the ages of 19 to 35.

The citizens of Japan, who heard the news about the emergency draft and mobilization through the TV, swore in anger. The thought of their beloved sons and husbands being sent off to war had angered the citizens. Protests broke out everywhere. Most of the people who were protesting were young wives and mothers with sons old enough to be drafted. Despite the mobilization order being in effect for over an hour, most young men hid in their homes or ran to the countryside in disguise.

However, the military police in charge of drafting had already set up checkpoints on the roads connecting cities. The men who were in the age range of being drafted were caught by the military police. Once they were determined to be of age, they were shipped off to boot camp immediately.

The irony was, before the war broke out against Corea, many right-wing political groups had already been making anti-Corean protests. After the war broke out against Corea, the protests became more active. Many young men carrying the Japanese imperial flag with messages such as “Death to all the Joesnjins (a derogatory term for Corean)” or “Fire and death to the Corean peninsula!” took the lead.

However, when the emergency draft had taken effect, they were nowhere to be seen. A few of the right-wing groups had claimed to have entered into service voluntarily, but most had already fled to avoid being drafted.

Compared to the young men of Corea who had lined up at the military’s human resources department after the war against China broke out, the number of Japanese men wanting to serve their country was very low.

With this declaration of war and emergency drafting, scenes of young men being dragged off by the military police were seen from Tokyo all the way to small cities and towns across Japan.

Based on the numbers, Japan should have been able to draft about 9 million men. About 100,000 had been drafted on the first day. However, the Japanese government had not put one thing into consideration.

The fact was they had been at war this whole time. Also, due to the numerous missile strikes and fighter jet bombings, many military factories had been destroyed. Also, over 50,000 Corean special forces were operating across the nation.

A draft should be called for well in advance to use that time to put the men through basic training. However, Japan had drafted men after the Corean marines had landed on their soil and heading towards Tokyo. Where were they going to find the time to draft and train men that would be fit for battle?

The men in Japan were not like those in Corea, who mostly had military experience and were serving as a reserve force. The most important aspect was, Japan lacked the weapons to hand out to the men they train. There were only a handful of military factories that were operational, and the rest had been destroyed.

Minister of National Defense Shibasaki had urged Deputy Prime Minister Aso Taro to call for a draft to coax America into entering the war. While Corea was fighting against America, the time they could buy could be used to arm their drafted men and go into retaliation.

The issue was whether America would enter into a war against Corea as the Japanese prime minister’s cabinet wished. Based on the current situation, the possibility was quite high, but no one could predict the future. The Japanese cabinet seemed like they would attempt to bring America into the fray by paying them an astronomical sum of money.

* * *

February 13th, 2021, 14:00

20km away from the southern seas of Jeju Island.

Last night, the 11th carrier strike group under America’s 3rd fleet sailed with the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier (CVN-78) at the lead. The destroyers and submarines had approached 510km south from Jeju Island.

The Corean navy had mobilized all of their operable forces to the Kang-jung navy base. A few of the destroyers were supplied with ammunition and other supplies. Then, they gathered 20km away from Jeju Island and prepared to respond.

The Corean vessels under the navy’s 7th maritime flotilla consisted of five Hocula destroyers, two Aegis destroyers, four anti-air destroyers, two Hocula submarines, and six type 214 submarines, were standing by in a 50km radius.

While the naval forces were moving busily to respond to the American navy’s movements, the international airport at Jeju Island had 24 Phoenix fighter jets in a neat formation, ready to go. Also, the 25th fighter wing that had almost finished their recovery had their 24 Phoenix fighter jets ready to take off at a moment’s notice.

Lastly, six artillery battalions operating the SSM-700K Haesung 3A surface-to-ship missiles across the entire island prepared for battle.

Meanwhile, at the seas 156km northwest of Okinawa.

The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier (CVN-78) was sailing north while being escorted by the Ticonderoga class Aegis destroyer, the Chosin (CG-65), the Aleburke class Aegis destroyer, the John Paul Jones (DDG-53), the Pickney (DDG-91), Samson(DDG-102), William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), Spruance (DDG-111) and the Custice (FFG-38) escorting vessel.

At the front of the 11th carrier strike group, the 15th submarine fleet’s LA class nuclear submarine Providence (SSN-719), Fitzburg (SSN-720), and Chicago (SSN-721) were searching the area for any enemy submarines. From the rear, the Ohio class nuclear submarine Alaska (SSBN-732), and Rhode Island (SSBN-740) were tailing them.

The Gerald R.Ford, which had a load displacement of 110,000t had the E-2F early warning plane (Hawkeye 2000) and F-35C jets, and the electronic warfare jet EA-18G Growler jets aboard its flight deck.

The 7th carrier strike group had been standing by at the Yokosuka area to rendezvous with the 11th carrier strike group. The Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier (CVN-76), the Blueridge amphibious vessel (LLC-19), the Cowpence Aegis destroyer (CG-63), Shiloh (CG-67) destroyer, The Rassen (DDG-82) Aegis destroyer, the McCampell (DDG-85), and the Mustin (DDG-89) had moved along the Shigoku Islands and headed west.

* * *

February 13th, 2021, 15:30

Seoul Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK military joint command center)

Seoul was greeted by winter rain. The streets covered by dirty, half-melted snow had washed away.

Chairman Kang Ui-sik had left the underground bunker. When he was able to see the outside scenery from his window after being underground for so long, his stress seemed to have washed away.

Chairman Kang Ui-sik was leaning on the window when a knock on his office door made him turn around.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Sir! It’s a call from General Bruce Wright, the commander of the U.S armed forces in Japan.”

“Bruce Wright?”

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“General Bruce Wright was once the commander of the U.S armed forces in Corea. Chairman Kang and General Wright had met each other before. When the U.S armed forces had left for Japan in 2019, he was transferred to be the Pentagon’s operations commander. In June of 2020, he had been promoted to general and became the commander of the U.S armed forces in Japan.

“Yes, sir. He’s on line 2.”

“All right.”

Chairman Kang Ui-sik walked up to his desk, pressed the number 2 button, and put the receiver to his ear.

“This is Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Kang Ui-sik.”

-Hello? This is Commander Bruce Wright of the U.S armed forces in Japan.

“Hello. Have you been well?”

-Yes, all thanks to you, Chairman Kang.

“I see. Commander Wright! What’s the occasion for this phone call?”

-To be honest, I didn’t call you on official business.

“So, a social call?”

-Yes, are you aware that the U.S 7th and 3rd fleets are mobilizing towards Corea?

“Yes, I am well aware.”

-Chairman Kang! Things are looking grim. One misstep could lead to America entering the war as well. I am on friendly terms with you, so I wanted to take the opportunity to notify you about this matter.

“Our government is considering warring against America as well.”

General Bruce Wright had fallen silent from Chairman Kang Ui-sik’s words. He must have been shocked by his statement.

-Truly? Is Corea capable of warring against our nation as well?

“It’s not something I can say for certain so easily. However, our government is preparing for the worst.”

-Chairman Kang! What outcome does Corea want from warring against America?”

Chairman Kang could only laugh at General Bruce Wright’s words.

“General Wright! There’s something I would like to ask instead. Why is it that America did not take a neutral stance in the war, and showing favor to one side? Is Japan the only ally to America and not Corea?”

-That is not true. Our government thinks the war between Japan and Corea could cause damages to our three nations’ alliance and make it difficult to maintain peace in Northeast Asia.

Chairman Kang Ui-sik firmly responded to General Bruce Wright.

“Did you just say peace in Northeast Asia? We have united with North Korea that was a nuclear threat, and our nation has put China under our heel. There are no more threats, what threat to the peace in our region are you talking about? I don’t understand what you mean.”

When General Bruce Wright could not answer Chairman Kang Ui-sik, he fell silent. Chairman Kang sighed and then continued to speak.

“This truly is a difficult situation. I am sure you called me with good intentions. I am sorry for making you feel even more confused, General.”

-No, it’s nothing, Chairman Kang! I am also a soldier, so I called out of the hope that things don’t escalate.

“Yes. I understand. Thank you for calling.”

-Chairman, I will call you again. I just hope the war between Corea and Japan ends smoothly.

“Yes, I apologize for causing damages to the American bases from the recent air-strikes. We tried to avoid them as much as possible, but it wasn’t easy.”

-No, that’s fine, Chairman Kang. It was our fault for housing the Japanese forces in our bases. So, it was something we had to think about as well.

“Thank you for understanding. Let’s talk again soon.”

Chairman Kang Ui-sik hung up the phone and looked at the rain pouring harder than before through his window.

“Did General Wright really make a social call? Or was he ordered by his superiors to see what our stance was?”

It really didn’t matter for Chairman Kang Ui-sik. Corea had already chosen a path.

The dark sky full of rain clouds continued to pour.

“My my, the rain is really going at it today.”

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