Chapter 123
Chapter 123
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: A Bold Proposition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Boeing has agreed to sell us the airframes.”
A month had already passed since my return from the United States. CEO Kim finally informed me that Boeing had expressed its intention to sell us the airframes alone.
Thanks to this, the early warning aircraft development project, which had been halted, was back on track. We were now in a position to begin in earnest the development of our own MESA radar, the improvement of the multiband AESA, and the development of control systems and sensors.
“But I’m worried about what comes next. Our original plan was to use Motor Sich’s engines to produce various large military aircraft, but isn’t there a risk that it could all fall through?”
“No, I don’t think that will be the case.”
I firmly shook my head at CEO Kim’s persistent worries.
He looked at me as if to ask where my confidence came from, and I continued.
“To be honest, the U.S. government is well aware that this whole affair was unreasonable.”
“It may have been unreasonable, but there’s no guarantee they won’t be unreasonable again.”
“That’s why we have Michael on our side. To make the U.S. Department of Defense realize that messing with us won’t do them any good.”
“…”
CEO Kim looked at me blankly.
His expression seemed to ask if we really had enough influence to matter to the U.S. Department of Defense.
But that was the reaction of someone who didn’t understand just how much of an impact our work had had on the United States.
Unlike in my past life, America’s defense sector now relied heavily on foreign-produced components in many areas, and at the center of it all was a company called Jaewoo.
“It seems you still haven’t grasped the reality of it, but we have a surprisingly massive influence on America’s military power.”
“…”
“And that influence is now enough to surpass most lobbying efforts. So, as we promised, we just need to stay out of the civilian sector and do our work.”
CEO Kim still wore a look of disbelief.
I smiled faintly and asked him the real reason for his visit, and he suddenly placed a document on the desk.
“Oh, right. Aerospace is conducting a drone test around 3 p.m. this afternoon. Do you plan on attending?”
The attack drone, which had been given a one-year development timeline, was already showing significant progress.
Exactly seven months after development began.
It wasn't surprising, since most of the materials, components, and the control system were already prepared. There was no reason for it to take a long time from the start.
“Of course, I’ll be there in person.”
I immediately headed to Jaewoo Aerospace.
CEO Ahn, who had already arrived, was busy directing preparations for the demonstration. The researchers were all huddled together, so engrossed that they didn’t even notice me approaching.
“What are you all doing?”
“Oh? When did you get here?”
Amused by their surprise, I smiled and looked at the object that had so completely captured their attention.
It wasn’t the planned multiple launch rocket system, but a killer drone attached to the body of an unmanned aircraft about the size of an adult.
Puzzled, I glanced at CEO Ahn, who spoke with an awkward expression.
“Ah, this is just something the lab built as a test.”
“You built an unmanned aircraft as a test?”
“Well, it’s a bit of a stretch to call this an unmanned aircraft. It’s more like a slightly sturdier and more powerful RC plane.”
“Why did you build something like that?”
“We’re experimenting with it because we thought it might be a good idea to mount it on a medium-altitude UAV in the future.”
“Mounting a drone on another drone?”
It seemed like a rather novel concept.
After all, there was no rule saying that a medium-altitude surveillance drone had to fly around carrying only Hellfire missiles like the American ones.
Especially when the target wasn't a tank, overusing Hellfire missiles wasn’t a very cost-effective option. Our drone, in particular, was more than capable of eliminating most targets, and it had the added advantage of increasing its operational range.
“Even so, can an RC plane of this size really fly with a kamikaze drone attached? The kamikaze drone may be small, but it must be quite heavy, right?”
At my words, CEO Ahn grinned and nodded at a nearby researcher.
The researcher immediately started the RC plane’s engine, and to my surprise, it took off into the sky within seconds, carrying the kamikaze drone.
“Impressive.”
“We fitted it with a small jet engine. Anyway, you’ll want to watch closely from here on out.”
My interest piqued, I focused on the flying RC plane.
Suddenly, a researcher pressed a button on the controller, and the attached drone detached with a click. It then spread its wings, glided through the air for a moment, and then dove toward its target: a truck.
*Boom!*
Even for a drone only slightly larger than an artillery shell, its destructive power was terrifying.
The truck’s driver’s seat and the entire roof were blown away.
Just then, one of the researchers added another intriguing comment.
“If we equip that drone with a tungsten penetrator, it can pierce the top armor of most tanks and explode inside. In other words, we’ve created a weapon that could completely change the paradigm of the battlefield.”
His words reminded me of the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia from my previous life.
Armenian tanks had been practically massacred by Azerbaijani combat drones.
As the researcher said, that conflict had completely shifted the paradigm of warfare and had been the event that announced the importance of drones to the world.
“Hmm.”
As I was lost in thought, an idea flashed through my mind.
A killer drone that could be deployed not just from a multiple launch system, but also from an unmanned aircraft.
And I knew of a perfect place where it could be used most effectively.
*********
“You want me to arrange a meeting with the Director of the NIS?”
A few days later, I asked CEO Ahn to set up a meeting for me with the current Director of the National Intelligence Service.
At my sudden request, CEO Ahn stared at me, his eyes narrowed. I immediately shared my thoughts with him.
“My god! Do you have any idea how big of a problem that could become?”
“Of course, I do.”
CEO Ahn frowned at my firm reply.
What could he be thinking? After a long moment of his eyes darting back and forth, he spoke again in a low, somber voice.
“Arranging a meeting with the NIS Director is not a problem. But something this dangerous will require the President’s permission.”
“Of course, it will. That’s all the more reason why I need to meet with the new NIS Director.”
He sighed, a deep *whoosh*.
If I were to interpret his expression, it was one of someone thinking, *‘What on earth was I thinking, joining this company?’*
As I stood up with a smile, he spoke again urgently.
“Speaking of the NIS, I got a call from the Director this morning.”
“What about?”
“He said the North Korean agent who targeted you hasn't completely crossed back over to the North yet. He received the information through the CIA.”
I was already aware of that fact.
I put on an unconcerned expression, but he continued with a serious look on his face.
“The problem is, there’s a high probability he has re-entered South Korea.”
“Are you sure?”
That was unexpected news, so I asked again.
CEO Ahn nodded firmly, pulling a photograph from his pocket.
“The new NIS Director sent me this photo. It was recently taken by our informants in China. As you can see, the background is a pier. In other words, the man is attempting to smuggle himself back into South Korea.”
“Then can’t we catch him by questioning the crews of our ships returning to port after fishing? He couldn't have entered our ports on a Chinese fishing boat; he would have had to transfer to one of our vessels at some point.”
“Of course, we did that. But they couldn’t find any trace of him on any of the ships that recently returned from fishing expeditions.”
“Are you sure they didn’t miss him? Or could there be someone in our Coast Guard helping him?”
“Unlikely. It’s a stretch to think someone in the Coast Guard is helping him. It’s more likely they just missed him. The bigger issue, if things are going this way, is that we have to start suspecting China.”
“Why China?”
I tilted my head, confused.
“Without China’s help, he couldn’t smuggle himself in and out like it’s nothing. Setting aside our Coast Guard, it’s not easy to evade Chinese surveillance every time.”
He probably had a point.
Frankly, illegal border crossings weren’t as easy as they were made out to be in movies and dramas.
A one-in-ten success rate would be considered high.
As CEO Ahn said, being able to move between China and South Korea at will like that would be impossible without someone’s help.
"Anyway, the important thing is that you need to be as careful as possible for the time being. We are also preparing thoroughly, but you never know what can happen.”
“…”
******
*Screech!*
A few days later, the meeting I had requested with the NIS Director took place at a location in Gangnam.
Perhaps due to the gravity of the matter, the place he chose was one of the NIS’s civilian safe houses.
CEO Ahn, experiencing the much-improved security measures compared to his time, marveled repeatedly.
“A lot has changed since my time here. Then again, it should have been like this long ago.”
I smiled at his words and followed the agents guiding us.
After walking down a long corridor, we opened the door to an office, where NIS Director Yang Tae-yong, who was on the phone, shot up from his seat to greet us.
“Welcome.”
The NIS Director, who still had a friendly demeanor, shook my hand and immediately offered us seats.
Perhaps because of the importance of the issue, even beneath his smile, shadows flickered across his face from time to time.
“The matter has been reported to the President.”
“…”
We both focused on Director Yang’s lips.
His next words would determine whether this plan could be executed or not.
Fortunately, the smile on his face didn’t seem to carry a negative meaning, but he still didn’t give a clear answer.
*‘Then again, how could anyone make a decision on something like this so easily?’*
I was the crazy one for even thinking of it.
“The President has given his tacit approval.”
As I was lost in thought, Director Yang’s answer came.
“…”
Even though I was the one who proposed it, I never expected it to be accepted so easily.
Stunned by the thought that my insane fantasy was becoming a reality, I could only blink and stare at him for a while.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You’re the one who suggested it, Chairman Jin.”
“Ah, it’s nothing. So, have you contacted Mossad?”
“Yes, I just finished a call with them a little while ago. As you said, Chairman Jin, there are currently a large number of North Korean nuclear technicians residing in Iran. But how on earth did you know that?”
For me, it was something I was bound to know.
Before I returned to the past, the issue of nuclear personnel exchange between Iran and North Korea had become an international issue.
My only concern had been that I couldn't be certain of the exact timing, but fortunately, it seemed my prediction was correct.
“I also have my own channels of communication with the U.S. Department of Defense, so I came to know about it.”
Director Yang nodded at my vague answer.
He seemed to accept it, knowing that I had recently visited the United States and that I often obtained a great deal of information through them.
“Well, with your connections, Chairman Jin, I suppose it’s possible. Anyway, according to Mossad, the North Korean nuclear technicians who have been in Iran are scheduled to return to the North in about a month. Because of that, Israel is also seriously considering your proposal.”
“I’m sure they have a lot to consider. It’s not something that can be done with an ordinary resolve. But a positive answer will come soon.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Director Yang’s eyes gleamed as he asked.
I took a sip from the water glass in front of me, then looked him straight in the eye and said.
“Because the fire at Israel’s feet is burning hotter than ours.”
“…”
“Simply put, Iran possessing nuclear weapons has a completely different meaning than North Korea. For North Korea, the main purpose is to maintain its regime, but it’s no exaggeration to say that Iran is developing them for actual use.”
“Surely not.”
“Of course, I can’t guarantee that I’m completely right. But considering the thousands of years of hatred and historical background between the two nations, it’s entirely possible.”
Director Yang’s gaze wavered intensely.
After being lost in thought for a long time, he suddenly blurted out something completely unrelated.
“Now I think I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Why everyone, from the key military commanders to the former president, and even the current senior officials at the NIS, praises you so highly, Chairman Jin.”
“…”
“Honestly, I could never have imagined using Israel in such a way.”
“But it’s not like we’re in a position to carry out such an operation on our own. So, naturally, we have to put someone who can make it happen at the forefront.”
At my words, Director Yang bit his lip again.
What was he thinking? After staring into my eyes for a long time, he asked softly.
“This is a question I’ve wanted to ask from the beginning, but why did you come up with this plan in the first place? Frankly, there’s no direct profit for us in this. Besides, eliminating a few North Korean nuclear technicians won’t make the North’s nuclear problem disappear completely.”
“You’re right. Eliminating a few North Korean nuclear technicians won’t solve our problem completely. But it can buy us time.”
“…”
“And it’s not like we gain nothing at all. If this succeeds, there will be plenty of allies who will be desperate to buy our drones one way or another.”
“But wouldn’t it be problematic if it’s revealed that we made them?”
“What is there for us to be troubled by? Because Israel used our weapons? By that logic, every arms manufacturer that supplies Israel should be in trouble. In short, the responsibility lies with the user of the weapon, not the supplier.”
The NIS Director couldn’t argue with that.
It wasn’t exactly an incorrect statement.
Finally, he nodded in agreement, and at that moment, I added one more thing.
“And honestly, this is also a warning to the North. That we, too, have ways to get to them.”
“…”