Chapter 46
Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Yeonpyeong Incident
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“It's already July 1st.”
The sweltering heat was a clear sign that summer had truly arrived.
It had already been a month since my visit to the Blue House.
Preparations for accompanying the President on his trip to the United States next month had kept me incredibly busy.
“Senior Managing Director, Dr. Kim Hee-won from the research institute just called. He said the final assembly of the HVP control radar prototype is nearly complete and asked if you could please visit today.”
I wasn't the only one who had been busy.
The final assembly of the artillery AESA radar, originally scheduled for November, had been moved up by more than three months.
Every time we spoke on the phone, he mentioned how the researchers were pouring their souls into the work. It seems he wasn't exaggerating.
“Damn it... it's so hard to get a look at your face. I know you're busy, but isn't this a bit much?”
Hee-won looked like a zombie.
Never mind the dark circles that reached his knees; he looked like he'd lost at least ten kilograms.
His greasy hair, which looked like it hadn't been washed in ages, gave off a sour smell.
“Good... ugh! Work.”
“Shut up! I'm tired of those empty words... huh? What's this?”
I handed an envelope to the complaining Hee-won.
He could probably guess what was inside.
He quickly stopped talking and examined the envelope, a gasp escaping his lips.
“Holy crap! Why is the bonus this huge?”
“Don't get the wrong idea. That's for all the researchers.”
“Even so, at this amount, that's at least 200 million won per person, isn't it?”
“Hard work deserves a proper reward. If the owner gets stingy at this stage, you're bound to get traitors. Oh, and tell them that once the HVP deployment begins in earnest, another bonus of a similar amount will be paid out. That should keep anyone from getting any funny ideas.”
“They couldn't get any funny ideas even if they wanted to. You know how thoroughly we've compartmentalized the work, right? Besides, you can't even take a pen out of here freely, so how could there be a tech leak? Anyway, you should know that guy made a huge contribution again this time.”
“...”
“I'm talking about Choi In-bae, the guy who tweaked the algorithm during the millimeter-wave radar test. This time, he analyzed the source code you gave us and improved the guidance system even more. His skills are no joke. He spent about twenty days focused solely on that, and he managed to increase the guidance system's precision by another 15 percent.”
“A commendable fellow. Got it. And you know the test site is on Ganghwa Island, right?”
“Yeah, I just got the call a little while ago. It's the same place where we tested the smart munitions last time.”
“Assuming there are no issues, the military will come to transport it in about a week, so you need to have it ready for shipment by then.”
“Damn it. I'm already dying here, and you're pushing me over the edge.”
Watching him complain, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry.
Truthfully, who else could have supported me to this extent?
No matter how urgent things were, I felt I should at least treat him to a proper meal, so I canceled the rest of my schedule.
“Let's go. We'll get some of that beef you like.”
“Really? Hey! Let's get some crab instead. A new crab restaurant just opened nearby.”
*Pfft.*
I couldn't help but laugh at his childish behavior.
In the end, we headed to a specialty crab restaurant a short distance from the institute.
As if to boast that they only served crabs from Yeonpyeong Island, a large photo of the island hung on a banner by the entrance.
I froze.
Just then, a chill ran down my spine as a historical event suddenly came to mind.
1999. And Yeonpyeong Island.
Something definitely happened back then, didn't it?
That's right, the First Battle of Yeonpyeong!
“Is today July 1st?”
“Yeah. Why the sudden shock?”
Historically, the First Battle of Yeonpyeong took place on June 15th.
But now it was July 1st.
What in the world was going on?
Why hadn't the event that was supposed to happen...
*'There's no way I got the date wrong...'*
For a brief moment, I considered that possibility.
But then I remembered that it was the very day I had successfully completed my first research project.
The Battle of Yeonpyeong had overshadowed that achievement, and I still vividly remembered watching the news with resentful eyes.
“Hey. What's wrong?”
“Ah, no... I must be a bit tired.”
“That's rich. Are you trying to teach a fish how to swim?”
I gave the scowling man an awkward smile.
I pushed him into the restaurant, but my mind was racing, trying to figure out why history had been twisted.
“So, what did you decide on for the delivery system?”
Hee-won asked casually while digging into his crab.
Putting my thoughts aside for a moment, I pulled out a photo and showed it to him.
“What's this?”
“It's a launch vehicle developed by Thales. For your information, this one is being built as an unmanned, automated system.”
“You're going with an unmanned system? Why?”
“The distance at the border is too short. If the North fires its multiple rocket launchers, it only takes a few minutes for the rockets to reach their target. A human response could be too slow. So, we've built a system that fires a counter-projectile immediately upon detection.”
“Ah...”
Hee-won nodded as if he finally understood.
He stared at the photo for a long moment, then tilted his head.
“But it's not shaped like a self-propelled howitzer.”
“Since its purpose is purely defensive, there's no reason to use an expensive self-propelled howitzer. So, it's a military truck modified with a launch system mounted on top.”
“Ooh! This is good. It would be great to develop a self-propelled mortar system like this later on.”
His comment made me flinch for a second.
In fact, this design was inspired by that very concept.
The self-propelled mortar system our military developed around 2020.
Could this guy be a genius?
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“No, it's nothing.”
“Weirdo.”
He went back to focusing all his attention on the crab.
Thanks to him, the table fell silent.
My mind returned to puzzling over the twisted history.
*'Why didn't the Battle of Yeonpyeong happen? Was it delayed by this twist in history? Or has the event been erased entirely?'*
******
*Vrooom!*
A few days later, I returned to Ganghwa Island with several military officials for the prototype test of the completed HVP system.
The counter-battery radar began operating as soon as it was deployed.
The screen activated, and the built-in computer initiated its search preparation sequence.
“A target will be incoming from a distance of approximately 40 kilometers. The search radar will detect it immediately, and the linked automated system will fire a counter-projectile within seconds.”
“What's the velocity of the hypervelocity projectile used for interception?”
The question came from the Marine Corps Commandant.
Since the Marines were responsible for defending Yeonpyeong Island, where the first deployment was confirmed, his interest was understandable.
He was probably the one here who wished for success more than anyone.
“We've recently improved the propellant charge, achieving a maximum velocity of about four times the speed of sound. At that speed, it can intercept virtually anything short of a ballistic missile.”
“So what projectile are you using for the test?”
“It's a replica of the North's 240mm multiple rocket launcher.”
In truth, this exceeded the capabilities of the platform I had originally provided.
I had initially estimated the maximum interceptable projectile diameter to be 300mm.
However, the guidance system, improved by the software developer in charge, Choi In-bae, could theoretically track an object with a diameter as small as 130mm.
Essentially, that meant it could even intercept artillery shells.
[Multiple rocket launcher is ready for launch.]
Nevertheless, the reason we chose the 240mm rocket as the target was to prepare for any contingency.
Even if it was theoretically possible, it was still just a theory. Attempting it in front of VIPs without certainty and failing would be a huge embarrassment.
[Commencing countdown.]
A moment later, the countdown began over the announcement system.
The moment the count hit zero, the cannon, receiving a signal from the radar that detected the launch, immediately swiveled.
*BOOM!*
With a deafening roar, the hypervelocity projectile shot into the air in an instant.
“That reaction time is...”
The military officials' jaws dropped as they watched the counter-projectile launch in mere seconds.
*KABOOM!*
Shortly after, the incoming rocket exploded in the distant sky, scattering shrapnel, and gasps of astonishment were heard from all around.
“The second test will simulate a response to multiple rockets. According to the specs, the cannon mounted on a single vehicle can fire up to 24 hypervelocity projectiles per minute.”
*Whirrr!*
As I explained, the cannon swiveled again.
It meant another rocket had been launched from the other side.
Just as everyone's eyes fixed on the vehicle preparing to respond, the cannon mounted on it began to fire in rapid succession.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
A total of five hypervelocity projectiles were fired.
The number of rockets launched from the other side was also exactly five.
All that remained was to confirm whether it could truly engage multiple targets.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
A moment later, five explosions echoed through the sky.
It meant not a single one had been missed.
The stunned military officials blinked and stared at me, while a few of the civilian employees from the Ministry of National Defense who were with them rushed over.
“How does the cannon barrel withstand that rate of fire?”
“We replaced the traditional chrome plating on the barrel with a tantalum coating.”
The tantalum coating was one of the first things I developed after establishing the research institute.
Its original purpose was to improve the performance of self-propelled howitzer barrels; I never expected it to be used like this.
“Wasn't tantalum coating something only Germany could do?”
“It used to be. But now, we can do it too.”
“Then, for the self-propelled howitzers...”
The civilian employee hinted at his desire.
Did he think I hadn't considered that?
In fact, I was planning to discuss that very issue with Chairman Lee Yong-moon, the head of the K-9 project, soon.
“You've done excellent work. Once this is deployed, tensions in the frontline areas will decrease significantly.”
The Minister of National Defense, who had watched the entire test, shook my hand with a flushed, excited face.
All that was left was to decide on the official deployment schedule.
Seeing an opportunity, I was about to bring it up when he made an unexpected proposal.
“What if we were to temporarily deploy that prototype on Yeonpyeong Island?”
“A temporary deployment?”
“Actually, the movements of North Korean multiple rocket launcher units near Yeonpyeong Island have been unusual lately. It might just be a concern, but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared for the unexpected, would it?”
“You're saying the North Korean Army's movements are strange, not the Navy's?”
“The North Korean Navy has been surprisingly quiet. There are occasional troubles over crab fishing, but that's an annual issue. Right now, the movements of their rocket launcher units are more suspicious.”
“I have no objection. In fact, it's better for us to have it deployed in the field rather than taking it back. Will the military handle the transport?”
“Of course. But do you have enough projectiles secured?”
“We've produced a sufficient number of projectiles for testing, so we'll send those. Oh! And we have about two spare prototype vehicles, so let's send them as well.”
“Thank you. That's a great relief.”
If anything, I was the one who should be grateful.
The radar prototype needed to accumulate data through continuous performance tests anyway.
A quick field deployment was actually a benefit.
*'Still, I can't quite understand it. Is the North's naval provocation really being erased from history?'*
******
“Hmm...”
I slept in for the first time in a while.
I'd been running nonstop for well over a year and a half.
Even with a young body, the accumulated fatigue had finally caught up with me.
*'Should I sleep more...'*
Besides, it was Sunday.
There was nothing I had to do just because I woke up early.
But trying to force my already awake body back to sleep felt like a waste of time, so I got up, intending to at least go for a workout.
“Huh?”
Just as I was about to leave the house, the phone rang.
Unexpectedly, the caller was the Minister of National Defense.
Puzzled, I answered the call, and an urgent voice came from the other end.
-Senior Managing Director Jin. Have you received a call from the Director of the NIS?
"The NIS? Why?"
-Oh! Then you haven't heard the news yet.
“What news?”
-A short while ago, North Korea launched a massive artillery barrage on Yeonpyeong Island.
For a moment, I nearly dropped the phone.
I couldn't comprehend what was happening.
The Battle of Yeonpyeong, which was supposed to happen, didn't, and now there's an artillery attack?
Historically, wasn't the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island an event that was supposed to take place in 2010?
“Did the interception fail? The test HVP system is already set up on Yeonpyeong Island.”
-It didn't fail. Not a single shot was missed. Not even the shells fired by their coastal artillery. Now the US Navy and the Pentagon are flooding the Joint Chiefs of Staff with calls for confirmation... Anyway, it's absolute chaos. Damn it, we're swamped trying to figure out a response. I'm sending a car for you right now, please come to the JCS immediately.
The Minister of National Defense spoke urgently and then hung up.
I turned on the TV just in case, but the news hadn't broken on air yet.
It seemed the incident had happened just a few minutes, or perhaps tens of minutes, ago.
“It really intercepted everything, even the artillery shells?”