21st Century Goguryeo

"This is Black Moon One. Contact Black Moon Three! What are you doing? We still have plenty of time! Calm down!" shouted Major Oh Gil-sung, through the communication network when he saw the Black Moon Three aircraft flying from side to side.

"Do what you have learned! As you learned!"

Lieutenant Kim Min-ju, who finally came to her senses, replied, "Black Moon Three, copy that."

"This is Black Moon Two, squadron commander! It's strange, that our aircraft were detected by radar from such a distance," exclaimed deputy commander of Black Moon Two, Captain Ha Young-ju, via the communicator. The Black Moon squadron was currently 250 kilometers away from the enemy aircraft and flying over the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which is Korean territory.

Because of this impossible situation, he panicked. They were not only detected by Russian fighters but were attacked with missiles as well. Even though he had carried out dozens of different missions after the war began, he was never caught in such a ridiculous situation.

The missile currently aimed at Black Moon Three is the most recent version of the 40N6 surface-to-air missile launched by the S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler). With a range of 400 kilometers, a speed of Mach 12, and a maximum altitude of 185 kilometers, it outperformed the US THAAD missile.

As soon as Major Oh Gil-sung was able to confirm the identity of the missile, he issued an additional order.

"This is Black Moon One, contact Black Moon 3. Release SECM with maximum output and leave the formation and activate the afterburner!"

"This is Black Moon Three. What? Are you telling me to leave the formation during the mission?" questioned Lieutenant Kim Min-ju immediately as she was confused.

"This is Black Moon One, contact Black Moon Three. Shouldn't we first get rid of the missile? I'm not sure why you're the only one being targeted, just leave for the time being!"

"This is Black Moon Three. I'm sorry. I'm leaving."

As soon as she replied, the Black Moon Three fighter turned sharply, raised its altitude, and activated the afterburner upon reaching the desired altitude. The Black Moon Three fighter jet, which had reached the speed of Mach 9 in a heartbeat, disappeared.

Thereafter, the remaining three fighter jets belonging to the Black Moon Squadron continued to perform their duties.

The Republic of Korea Air Force fighters who were on a sortie were currently confused. They thought that only Black Moon Three was detected in the Black Moon Squadron. However, the other fighters were not as fortunate. Russian missiles have indeed been targeting all four squadron fighters and as they got closer to the Russian fighters, they were targeted by long-range air-to-air missile attacks.

Although seventh-generation fighters such as the Red Phoenix and Black Scarlet Phoenix had been deployed in numerous aerial battles, this was the first time they were detected by enemy radar from the start of the battle and were subjected to such intense air and ground attacks.

As such, under the command of each squadron commander, the Republic of Korea Air Force fighters, who began the fight at an unexpected disadvantage, entered into the largest aerial war in 21st-century history.

Meanwhile, the interception rate of the S-AAM-500 cobra air-to-air missile launched recently by the Black Moon squadron was recorded on an avionics instrument panel.

A total of 96 cobra air-to-air missiles were intercepted by Russia's latest stealth fighter Su-50 Pak-Fa fighters, with an interception rate of more than 50 percent even at a distance of more than 400 kilometers.

Currently, with the distance to the enemy fighters reduced to less than 200 kilometers, Major Oh Gil-seong commanded his squadron to launch the S-AAM-200 Rattlesnake, a mid-range air-to-air missile.

As such, the fierce battle extended to the air in a 300-kilometer radius around the northwest border, as 800 fighters from both countries and various surface-to-air missiles from both air defense units soared from the ground, embroidering the dark sky.

* * *

January 1st, 2024, 23:50

B2 bunker in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Namju (Operation room of the Armed Forces Joint Command Control Center)

The unanticipated distress from the unforeseen situation in the aerial battle that resulted from their high-stealth Red Phoenix and Black Scarlet Phoenix fighters being detected by enemy radars as well as their stealth quality being disabled led to a heavy atmosphere in the Air Force Operations Command as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff's operation room.

It was fortunate that both models were outfitted with powerful SECM (Radio Disturbance System) and excellent high maneuverability that 5th-generation fighters could not match. It was also outfitted with TCS (Transparent Containment System), which could be used in an emergency.

But the surface-to-air missiles soaring over 400 Russian fighters and mobile launch vehicles, which took place 20 minutes after the air battle began, caused great damage to the fighters, although they were able to intercept several enemy fighters at the start.

Fortunately, the pilots were able to save their lives by making an emergency escape, but this was just the beginning.

The operators in the operation room were busy gathering information from the Air Force Operations Command and each combat fleet, displaying it on the central screen as tactical symbols, while some operators in charge of communications verbally reported important information in loud voices.

As a result, the Joint Chiefs of Staff's operation room was as noisy and cluttered as a rural marketplace.

Shin Sung-yong, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was looking at the central screen with his brow furrowed while occasionally shaking his head, indicating that something was wrong.

At that moment, Air Force Chief of Staff Kim Eun-ho approached the head of the operation room and asked, "Check whether there are any Russian satellites near the battlefield."

"Yes, I will."

As soon as he received a reply, the head of the operation room immediately connected to the Apollo Reconnaissance Satellite, which was scouting the area so that the reconnaissance status could be seen on screen two.

"Air Force Chief of Staff! The Apollo 5 reconnaissance is currently displayed on screen two."

"Check all the satellites in the atmosphere."

"Yes, I will."

He then gave instructions to the Apollo 5 control manager belonging to the Overseas Reconnaissance Bureau.

Accordingly, the Apollo 5, which operates at 35,800 kilometers in normal orbit, gradually reduced the filming screen and then switched to various detection modes to identify the satellites around it.

After a while, several satellites were detected 120 kilometers outside the atmosphere where the aerial battle had taken place.

In fact, following the outbreak of the war with Russia, the Joint Chiefs of Staff detected and intercepted all Russian military satellites using aerospace forces. Even some communication satellites or private satellites have been intercepted with the president's approval when necessary. At that point, Air Force Chief of Staff Kim Eun-ho tried once more to see if any Russian military satellites had been left there. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Shin Sung-yong and other staff members watched with interest as he checked.

"According to the result of our analysis, it was confirmed that there were no Russian satellites," reported the head of the operation room who received the information from the Apollo 5 control station.

"Then what are those?"

"Four out of eight are U.S. spy satellites! The rest are low-orbit civilian satellites."

"It's a private satellite, and it moves in its order but why are the U.S. spy satellites there?" asked Air Force Chief of Staff Kim Eun-ho as he rubbed his chin.

Army Chief of Staff Lee Eun-hyung, who was next to him, said, "Don't you think they will be curious? They will definitely use this opportunity to spy on our Air Force."

"What's so interesting that they'll use four spy satellites instead of one?"

Youn Gi-youn, Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff, frowned as he watched the U.S. reconnaissance satellite shown on screen two and cursed.

"Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff! Shouldn't we call the US Department of Defense right now and ask them to take it away?"

"I wonder if we're exaggerating, after all, we're allies..."

Youn Gi-youn, Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff showed signs of discomfort and said, "What kind of alliance is that? Didn't the outbreak of the Korean-U.S. war three years ago wake you up? If they were our ally, instead of sending spy satellites to spy on us like this, they should have supported us even if it was with just a single bullet, don't you think so?"

"Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff Youn! Calm down."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Shin Sung-yong approached behind Youn Gi-youn, who was enraged, and touched his shoulder slightly and added in a regretful tone, "Even if we think so, politically, the United States is still our ally."

"So, are you saying we cannot ask them?"

"The only thing we can do is to make a request, but it's just a request and there's no coercion, so wouldn't the US Department of Defense refuse our request?"

"This, this, I should have completely devastated those sheepdogs three years ago."

Youn Gi-youn, Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff, returned to his seat and closed his mouth. Shin Sung-yong, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tried to comfort him and said, "I feel the same as well! I'm very concerned because of the U.S. spy satellites. Even if it is not compulsory, we should make the request. Lieutenant General Ahn!"

Shin Sung-yong, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the head of the intelligence division.

"Yes, Joint Chiefs of Staff!"

"Whether through the Department of Defense or by directly contacting the U.S. Department of Defense, tell them to take out those freaking spy satellites right away."

"Yes, I'll contact them."

As Oh Dong-gwun, head of the intelligence division was on his way out of the operation room, the chairman's secretary entered the room and reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"The Director of the National Intelligence Service has recently arrived at the bunker."

"Well, he was quick. Take him to the meeting room."

"Yes, I will."

Shin Sung-yong, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who checked the time on his wristwatch, called Kim Yong-hyun, Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim!"

"Yes, chairman!"

"I'm going to have a meeting with the Director of the National Intelligence Service for a while so take the command here."

"Yes, I see."

"Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff Youn and General Kang let's go together."

Shin Sung-yong, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left the operation room with Youn Gi-youn, Deputy Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Kang Jung-hyun, commander of the Special Warfare Command, and headed to the conference room.

"Yes, chairman!"

"Let's go."

* * *

January 1st, 2024. 23:50 (New China time: 23:50)

X-15 bunkers in Beijing, New China

President Wang Jing-wi, who was very drunk, took a seat in the bunker operation room and checked the current situation of the large-scale air battle between the Russian and South Korean air forces through various reconnaissance forces.

"Mr. President! Russia is calling again. It is an emergency request to participate in the joint operation."

Minister of Defense Jang Yue Fung approached the president, who was watching from the top of the operation room with half-closed eyes and delivered the emergency text that had just arrived from Russia. This was the third time. Russia has put its life and death into this air war and desperately needed the help of the New China Air Force.

"Whoa! The Russians must be in a hurry."

"Mr. President! Contrary to your judgment, Russia launched the attack at the time as promised. We signed a mutual military protection treaty and promised to join this operation, so we have to mobilize the air force we prepared right away." Minister of Defense Jang Yue Fung gathered his courage and pointed out the president's wrong judgment and expressed his opinion.

In response, President Wang Jing-wi seemed to be unpleasant but soon got up and called General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao. "Chief of Staff!"

"Yes, Mr. President!" General Chief of Staff Yuan Xiaoqiao immediately nodded and replied.

"Send all the air force that we've prepared in 20 minutes."

"Yes, I will."

"Mr. President! It'll be too late after 20 minutes. Please send them right away."

"Minister of Defense!"

President Wang Jing-wi spoke in a loud enough voice to echo throughout the entire operation room, then approached Minister of Defense Jang Yue Fung and whispered to him, "Defense Minister! I'm the Central Commander-in-Chief. I'm better than anyone else in strategy and tactics. I'm not just a politician like you! Do you know what I mean? So just shut up and watch from the side. That's what you should do if you want to keep your position as a minister."

President Wang Jing-wi returned to his seat after making a disgraceful insult to Defense Minister Jang Yue Fung.

<'You will soon regret becoming a rabies-infected dog whenever you drink.'> cursed Defense Minister Jang Yue Fung while biting his lower lip hard as he exited the operating room.