Stealing the Nuke
After humanity entered the space age, it achieved astonishing technological feats and created marvels beyond imagination.
Of course, most of those were the work of Dr. Space, but other engineers and scientists had poured in no small effort and produced results of their own.
Weapons technology had evolved dramatically as well.
But one thing was clear.
"In the end, it's nuclear weapons."
Even in the space age, nukes remained humanity's most reliable, devastating weapon.
"No weapon more powerful than a nuke can be made."
No less than Dr. Space had said it himself.
"For now. Who knows in a few years."
He'd added that chilling caveat, but nukes were still the universal key in the space era.
No matter how tough the Mogs were, they couldn't withstand a nuclear strike.
And naturally, that power threatened humanity too.
So using nukes came with more restrictions than one might think.
"No planetary headquarters can possess nuclear weapons."
Planetary bases especially couldn't own or deploy them independently.
Authority and execution rested solely with the space battleships orbiting above.
It was a necessary measure.
A planetary base with nukes? No one knew if they'd be turned on Mogs or rival bases.
"Allow that, and everyone would start lobbing nukes. Wouldn't you press the button if your life depended on it?"
Decisively, space made death too commonplace a threat, and in those extremes, hitting the nuke button was all too easy.
Of course, exceptions existed.
"Except in unavoidable cases where a Mog that must be eliminated by any means appears."
That was the reason.
The reason a nuke existed at the Chinese base on Amotia Planet right now.
"Like a Queen, for example."
A Queen had appeared on Amotia, and nations aware of it were deploying their own methods to hunt it down.
The Chinese base had stationed a nuke for the same purpose.
Of course, it wasn't really for the Queen.
That was just a pretext. The true aim was war against other planetary bases.
And full authority over that nuke belonged to First Lieutenant Lin Zi-ai.
"I never wanted to play a card like this."
That said, Lin Zi-ai hadn't planned to draw the nuke card from the start.
Quite the opposite—she'd wanted it hidden as long as possible in this operation.
Resorting to a nuke? That proved she'd failed her role, exposed her incompetence.
In other words, she admitted it now.
By her judgment, no ability of hers could have stopped the attack on the Chinese base.
Block it? They hadn't even identified the attacker.
The recon drone sent to scout had been captured, not destroyed.
"Leaving it like this will only make things worse."
Worse still—this was just the beginning.
The enemy wouldn't stop at one strike and sue for peace.
No attack afterward? Lin Zi-ai was certain.
"They have a war specialist. Someone who knows how to drain blood dry."
The enemy was far more terrifying than she imagined.
About then, the Chinese base received a radio transmission.
Encrypted, but they decrypted it with astonishing speed.
Not due to superior codebreaking.
China lacked self-reliant innovation.
But in theft? They outdid any nation. This time too.
They'd stolen decryption keys from a spy in the US base and applied them.
"Hawk Eye is dead?"
The moment she learned of Hawk Eye's death, Lin Zi-ai thought:
"Heaven is on our side!"
Her greatest worry—Noah Winston, alias Hawk Eye—was gone.
Now she could act without fear.
Thus, First Lieutenant Lin Zi-ai declared nuclear use.
Her subordinates protested to the end.
Wasn't declaring it risky?
She answered confidently.
"We're the only ones on Amotia with a nuke. Only another nuke power gets equal treatment. No nation can bare its teeth at us without one."
A venomous smile crossed Lin Zi-ai's face, more wicked than ever.
"And in this situation, where could they get one?"
The instant the Chinese base declared nuclear use, every base on Amotia reacted swiftly.
None surrendered immediately.
But the scales had already tipped.
"Most will surrender."
No one would declare war against China willingly.
"Not with the US base fallen."
Without the US to check China, the balance didn't exist. You needed weights on both sides for the scales to budge.
Above all, everyone knew.
"Ignore the surrender demand, and they'll nuke one base as an example."
A sacrificial lamb was inevitable.
"No time. Deadline's about a week."
For Kim Seo-jun's squad, speed was essential. They raced full throttle and reached the Chinese base.
And saw it.
"Security's no joke."
The defense level was worlds apart from before.
Recovered Noah Winston took one look and said:
"I couldn't breach that."
Everyone's faces hardened.
If even Hawk Eye couldn't, it was impregnable.
"Visually, maybe. But no way. That approach is probably a minefield."
Especially if China was serious—they'd sown mines everywhere.
Kim Seo-jun worried too.
Of course, options existed.
"Only way left is tailing their vehicles on their routes. But that takes time, and they're not idiots—they'll have countermeasures."
Not easy.
It demanded time and hardship, but Kim Seo-jun wouldn't shy away.
And as Noah said, not impossible.
Couldn't just sit locked out. Vehicles would come and go.
Strike then—that was the plan.
"Changing plans."
But upon arrival, Kim Seo-jun scrapped it entirely.
Faces stiffened.
He spotted something bad.
Half right.
He had spotted something.
But not bad.
The opposite.
Minimap showing humans and mines? Didn't expect that.
His minimap displayed not just Mogs, but Chinese troops and hidden mines too.
No reason to sit in this situation.
"We infiltrate now."
"Sir?"
Eyerolls of disbelief.
No detailed explanation.
Every minute counted—speed mattered most.
Entry wasn't the end.
Find the nuke, then recover it—more steps.
Kim Seo-jun moved out. The squad tensed.
Especially Noah Winston.
"If shit hits, we charge in. Got it?"
No hesitation—rescue op if needed.
"Ignore his orders. My rank's higher. Listen to me."
No dallying over his retreat-if-trouble order.
Private Park Bo-seop and Major Lee Hye-na nodded firmly.
Noah smiled at their resolve.
"I said too much."
They waited. Exactly three hours later, Kim Seo-jun returned.
"Sergeant Kim?"
Far sooner than expected.
"We bounce."
"Bounce?"
"Pursuit starts soon."
"Busted?"
"Yes."
No questions.
Getting caught in enemy HQ was expected; escaping unscathed was the miracle.
Noah Winston said:
"Don't sweat it. Next chance coming."
"No next time."
Kim Seo-jun replied.
"Secured the nuke."
"What? How?"
"Perfect timing. They were prepping it when I infiltrated."
"Prepping?"
"For live use."
Chills ran through them.
China wasn't bluffing—they meant to demonstrate now.
A minute later, and they'd have seen a detonation.
For Kim Seo-jun, ideal luck.
No need for Jennifer Cho's help—it was fully armed and ready. Just grab and go.
"Got lucky."
That instant.
WEE-OO-WEE-OO!
The siren screamed across the Chinese base like a banshee wail.
End
ⓒ Didat#12tn7