The Well Church
Following the test evaluation of the TA50 lead-in fighter trainer, the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force remained silent for six months regarding the AI-equipped drones and medium-altitude UAVs. Then, quite suddenly, they reached out to Taesik.
"CEO Kim, the Ministry of National Defense has finally reached a conclusion. My apologies for the delay."
"It's quite alright. What is the verdict?"
"For the AI-equipped drones, they've decided to pursue both high-end and expendable options. They’ve also decided to adopt the medium-altitude UAVs. However, the satellite project has been postponed due to budget constraints."
"Doesn't the Ministry need military satellites for overseas operations as well?"
"The Ministry's stance is that since our primary adversary remains North Korea, expanding our operational scope to a global scale is premature."
"If that is the Ministry's decision, so be it. What about the plan to mount suicide drones on utility helicopters?"
"That was approved immediately. Since the Switchblade is already in service, they decided to adopt it for its efficiency. Because Starlink proposed such a novel concept, the Ministry is establishing entirely new operational doctrines. There are so many applications for manned-unmanned teaming that the team developing our tactics and doctrine is working overtime every single day."
Ignoring the complaints of the weary General Choi, Taesik continued with his own inquiries.
"Which fighter aircraft do you intend to integrate with the AI-equipped drones? The TA50 can be adapted immediately, but I understand the Air Force's F16s and F15Ks have restrictions imposed by their original manufacturers."
"Yes, we are aware. We’ve decided to apply it only to the TA50 and the F16. The F16s we have were delivered through licensed production, so there are no restrictions at the moment."
"Understood. We will begin development for those two platforms."
"CEO! Also, we’ve decided to proceed with the F16 performance upgrade project simultaneously. We plan to replace the analog instruments with digital ones and install the drone integration system at the same time. It’s a result we managed to secure in exchange for dropping the satellite acquisition."
"So, the performance upgrade is finally happening. It’s been 30 years since the F16 was introduced, hasn't it?"
"Yes. It’s embarrassing to say, but we are finally getting around to it."
"What about the F4s and F5s?"
"Due to budget issues, we have to keep operating them. That’s why we intend to proceed with the FA50 fighter project in parallel with the TA50 lead-in fighter trainer program."
"Is there any plan to develop an F15K-class aircraft?"
"The Air Force prefers to introduce the F35s currently operated by the US military rather than developing our own."
"So, you’re saying there is no indigenous development plan."
"Correct. For now, the Air Force still prefers US-made fighters."
After finishing the call, Taesik pondered whether to develop a twin-engine aircraft with his own funds. He was struggling with the reality that he couldn't shoulder the burden of over 8 trillion won alone when a knock at the office door drew his attention. Security Chief Park Kyung-hoon entered, followed by Section Chief Choi Jae-ho of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who walked in with a smile.
"CEO Kim, have you been well?"
"Section Chief Choi, to what do I owe the visit...?"
Taesik offered him a seat and sat on the sofa, waiting for the purpose of the visit.
"We need Starlink's help once again."
"Is it North Korea again?"
"No. A group of South Koreans on a missionary trip overseas has been kidnapped."
"Did such a thing happen?"
"It hasn't been released to the media yet to maintain security."
"I suppose you need Starlink's satellites. Since our satellites are in orbit, we will help if needed. But aren't you in charge of North Korean affairs, Section Chief?"
"We’re on emergency status, so I was assigned to coordinate this since I have a rapport with Starlink. CEO, this time we need more than just satellite support."
"What kind of help...?"
"I understand that medium-altitude UAV test evaluations are underway at Starlink Aviation... could you provide us with a drone?"
"It’s currently undergoing test evaluation supervised by the Ministry of National Defense, so it won't be easy to pull one out."
"I will handle the coordination with the Ministry of National Defense. Since our soldiers aren't familiar with operating the drones yet, I would like Starlink Aviation staff to provide support as well."
"Hmm... where were they kidnapped?"
"Afghanistan."
"There are no South Korean allies near Afghanistan, so there isn't even an airport we can use for operational cooperation..."
"We have negotiated to use the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with US cooperation."
"Understood. In return, you must guarantee the safety of our dispatched staff."
"Don't worry. The Starlink staff will only stay at Bagram Air Base to provide support, so there will be no issues regarding their safety."
"Have you located the kidnapped South Koreans?"
"Our agents are currently tracking them. They were kidnapped in the Qarabagh district of Ghazni Province, and we are searching with the help of locals."
"So, we only need to provide the medium-altitude UAV?"
"If it's not too much trouble, could you also provide the Switchblade and the air-to-ground missiles currently scheduled for mounting on the medium-altitude UAV?"
"The test evaluation hasn't been completed yet. We’ve only finished the inert warhead firing tests, so reliability isn't guaranteed..."
"I checked before coming here, and I heard the missile fuze tests are also finished, so there shouldn't be a problem."
"Understood. When do you need the support?"
"We need it immediately. Once Starlink is ready, we plan to use a military transport plane, with the Air Force's cooperation, to move it to Afghanistan."
"I will speak with CEO Jo Yoon-je of Starlink Aviation right away."
Taesik relayed the NIS's request to CEO Jo Yoon-je and decided to send the Starlink Aviation staff currently participating in the UAV test evaluation to Afghanistan immediately. Since Starlink Aviation was located right next to Sacheon Airport, the NIS decided to send a transport plane to Sacheon to load the necessary equipment and personnel.
"CEO, if we disassemble the medium-altitude UAV and send it to Afghanistan, it will take too long to disassemble and reassemble it."
"Is there no other way?"
"How about we fly it there? It would also serve as a check for the data link function with the satellites."
"What about the control station? Can we fit that on the transport plane?"
"Starlink Aviation has a fixed control station, so that’s plenty. I plan to send a mobile control station on the transport plane."
"Since the Ministry of National Defense might purchase satellites later, it wouldn't be a bad idea to test it ourselves."
After finishing the call, Taesik relayed CEO Jo Yoon-je's words to Section Chief Choi, who was waiting nearby.
"Section Chief Choi, by any chance, could you provide photos of the kidnapped hostages?"
"Why the photos...?"
"Starlink Deepmind has facial recognition software, and I intend to link it to the UAV just in case."
"Ah! You possessed such technology? I will send the photos immediately."
Taesik explained the situation to CEO Cha Youngjin of Deepmind and instructed him to link the facial recognition program, while he continued to discuss other support requirements with Section Chief Choi.
A few days after Section Chief Choi's visit, news broke that 23 members of the Well Church missionary group had been kidnapped in Afghanistan. The government tried to hide the news of the kidnapping as much as possible, but the Taliban announced the fact that they were holding South Koreans directly, demanding the immediate withdrawal of South Korean troops deployed in Afghanistan and the release of all Taliban members imprisoned by the Afghan government. They threatened the Republic of Korea, delivering a final message that they would execute the hostages if their demands were not met. The President reassured the public by stating that they would do their best to rescue the hostages and that necessary resources had been sent to Afghanistan. While the South Korean public poured out worry and resentment toward the missionary group that had gone to a dangerous area without government permission, the NIS and Starlink Aviation staff who had arrived in Afghanistan were working hard to find the kidnapped South Koreans.
Section Chief Choi Jae-ho, who arrived at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with the Starlink Aviation staff, asked,
"Still no information?"
"We are currently confirming the location with the help of religious leaders. We’ve confirmed the location up to Ghazni Province, but we don't have the specific location yet."
While he was talking to an agent, another team member shouted.
"Section Chief! The Taliban is conducting an interview with a US media outlet."
The agent immediately turned on the TV to watch the news being delivered in real-time by the US media.
At the US reporter's request, the Taliban immediately allowed a phone call with one of the hostages.
[Reporter: Who is on the line?]
[Hostage: I am Park Ji-soo from Korea.]
[Reporter: Is the place where you are being held livable?]
[Hostage: At first, we were all gathered in a cave, but now we have been divided into groups and moved to local villages. Other than the food, it's okay.]
[Reporter: Is anyone hurt?]
[Hostage: No one with me is hurt.]
Watching the media interview with the Taliban, the NIS staff began to search for the location of the cave in Ghazni Province. Then, suddenly, the agents turned their heads and focused on the TV at the words of the Taliban.
[Taliban: If the Korean government does not meet our demands, we will execute the hostages immediately. The deadline is tomorrow at midnight, so meet our demands immediately.]
Seeing that there was not much time left, Section Chief Choi shouted to the hostage negotiation team and the rescue team.
"Everyone, set the time to tomorrow night at 12:00 and confirm the location of the hostages based on the content from the interview!"
The agents scattered to carry out their assigned tasks at Section Chief Choi's instruction, and Section Chief Choi looked for the Starlink staff operating the medium-altitude UAV with anxious eyes.
"Have you found any suspicious places in Ghazni Province?"
"There's nothing caught yet. The hostages are indoors, so the facial recognition program is helpless."
Section Chief Choi picked up the phone and called Korea.
"The Taliban has declared that if we don't meet their demands by midnight tomorrow, they will execute the hostages."
[What is the negotiation team doing?]
"There are three Taliban factions leading the kidnapping, so we are struggling with negotiations. Also, they say if we pay $100,000, they will conduct an interview with the media for the hostage call. To get additional information, we need to use a domestic media outlet to collect more information."
[Getting additional information is good, but it will become a bigger problem if the media reports the content obtained from the call with the Taliban.]
"I will proceed with media censorship for now."
[Understood. I will delegate the authority to you, so use a domestic media outlet.]
"The Joongshim Ilbo is cooperative with the NIS, so I will use them. I will report back once additional information comes in."
As soon as Section Chief Choi ended the call, he immediately called an agent and instructed them to call a reporter from the Joongshim Ilbo in Korea.