The next day.
Beyond the large panoramic window that took up an entire wall, the waters of the Han River shimmered like jewels, breaking into tiny fragments under the morning sunlight.
Seok-won sat in a top-grade leather chair in his spacious office and picked up the teacup placed before him.
The gentle aroma of the coffee beans, along with the warmth transmitted to his fingertips, lifted his mood.
On the L-shaped desk, three meticulously arranged monitors were set side by side, and Seok-won's gaze settled on the one in the center.
[As stock prices in other countries are also falling, there will be no separate stimulus measures.
In an interview with reporters yesterday afternoon, Finance Minister Sato Kazuya stated, "With major global stock markets closely interconnected, the recent crash in the U.S. stock market, combined with rapidly evolving international circumstances, is negatively impacting exchange rates and the stock market." He added, "To overcome the initial complications of a financial system crisis and economic recession facing Japan's economy, we will continue to push forward without retreat on the era-defining tasks of resolving non-performing loans and restructuring insolvent companies."
He further emphasised, "As stock prices in other countries are also declining, there will be no separate stimulus measures," firmly stating that no stimulus policies would be introduced for the continuously falling stock market.
Profits and losses from stock investments ultimately rest with the investors themselves…]
As Seok-won calmly read through an article from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, one of Japan's major daily newspapers, he took a sip of his coffee.
"The profits and losses of stock investments belong to the investors… Well, that's not exactly wrong."
However, the stock market was practically a living organism, and depending on timing and circumstances, even a trivial remark from a high-ranking government official could become a nuclear bomb that sent shockwaves through the market.
Shifting his gaze to the side, Seok-won looked at the Nikkei and yen exchange rate charts displayed on the monitor to his left and muttered to himself.
"Right now is exactly one of those times."
[Nikkei : 8,981.73 (↓ 2228.38)]
[JPY : 130.11 (↑ 0.8)]
Amid a plunging stock market and a soaring exchange rate, the hopes of investors who had been expecting the government to introduce some countermeasure were completely shattered by a single remark from Minister Sato.
With that expectation gone, nothing but disappointment and fear remained in the market.
"The Japanese government must have known the market would take a hit, but it's not like they could back down either. In the end, they had no choice but to stick with a hardline approach."
Murmuring, he set down his teacup.
Watching as not only Japan but also the United States and Europe—as well as major Asian markets such as Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore—were all plunging, a deep smile spread across Seok-won's lips.
It was more than simple satisfaction; it was the smile of a victor winning the game by an overwhelming score.
"Everything is unfolding just as intended."
***
November 3, 2002, international waters near Kuwait in the Persian Gulf, Middle East.
"It's time for the operation, Captain."
Commander Joseph Cohen, the executive officer of the U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Cheyenne, spoke as he looked at Captain Robert Bloom standing beside him.
At that, Captain Robert—his beard thick and unkempt—rolled up his sleeve to check the time before issuing an order in a low, steady voice.
"Good. Let's open the first act with style. Bring us up to periscope depth. Drain the ballast tanks!"
As he listened to the executive officer and the helmsmen repeat his orders, Captain Robert moved toward the periscope installed to one side.
As compressed air was injected into the ballast tanks that controlled buoyancy, the water that had filled them was forced out. The massive nuclear submarine—previously crouched on the seabed—slowly began to rise toward the surface.
Having remained hidden in the deep, dark ocean, the moment of surfacing like this was the most nerve-wracking time for a submarine crew.
"Periscope observation. Check the time."
With practiced ease, Captain Robert spread both handles and gripped them, pressing his eyes firmly against the eyepiece.
As the periscope rose above the surface, he slowly rotated his body in a full circle, scanning the surroundings.
Though it was pitch-dark, with not a single star in the sky, it posed no problem thanks to the light-amplifying night-vision device installed in the periscope.
Beyond the entirely green-tinted lens, the surface of the sea showed no movement other than gently rippling waves, lying in a silence that felt like the calm before a storm.
Pulling his eyes away from the periscope, Captain Robert folded the handles back down and spoke.
"Lower the periscope. Report the observation results!"
At that, the crew members—each seated at their assigned consoles with headsets on—began reporting in quick succession.
"We've detected multiple aircraft signals to the southwest, including radar emissions from a friendly E-3 early warning aircraft. Judging by their heading, they appear to be a strike package en route to bomb major targets inside Iraq, including Baghdad."
"Several vessels are operating near Kuwait and Iran's Kharg Island, but they are too far away to interfere with the operation."
Captain Robert gave a small nod and issued his command.
"Good. Surface the vessel. And confirm the target coordinates one last time!"
"Yes, sir."
Watching the crew move in perfect coordination, just as they had drilled endlessly, Captain Robert raised one hand and checked the watch on his wrist once more.
Five minutes remained until the operation began.
In the pitch-black darkness, with even the moonlight obscured by clouds, white foam suddenly began to bubble up in the calm waters of the Persian Gulf—then a massive, steel whale painted black surged up through the surface.
It was the U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, SSN-773 Cheyenne.
The 62nd and final Los Angeles-class attack submarine to be built, it was a formidable beast equipped with twelve vertical launch systems (VLS), capable of unleashing dozens of Tomahawk missiles at once to strike ground targets.
As the glow from the consoles and various instruments filled the interior, illuminating the tense, rigid faces of the crew, Captain Robert turned his head to look over, and Executive Officer Joseph immediately responded.
"29 degrees 14 minutes 32.7 seconds north, 49 degrees 22 minutes 6.3 seconds east. Confirmed our position."
"Open all vertical launch tubes."
"Yes, sir. Opening vertical launch tube hatches!"
After Executive Officer Joseph loudly repeated the order, a heavy mechanical sound reverberated through the hull, and before long, the thick covers of the vertical launch systems—arranged in two rows in front of the sail—swung fully open.
"Vertical launch tubes open!"
"Hold position for now."
Captain Robert turned his gaze to the watch on his wrist.
Amid the heavy tension, not only Executive Officer Joseph but every crew member in the control room remained silent, all eyes fixed on Captain Robert.
Though it was only a matter of minutes, it felt as long as an eternity.
The moment the clock struck exactly midnight, Captain Robert lifted his head, grabbed the hand microphone in front of him, and brought it to his mouth as he issued a firm command.
"From this moment, Operation Iraqi Freedom begins. Fire every missile in the launch tubes, starting from number one and give that moustached dictator in Baghdad a taste of hell. Launch!"
The moment the command was given, the Latino petty officer seated at the console forcefully pressed the missile launch button—its safety cover already flipped open—and shouted in response.
"Launch!"
Whoooosh!
At that moment, the Tomahawk missile loaded inside the vertical launcher shot upward with tremendous force, spewing bright red flames and smoke from its tail.
Immediately following it, the second and third Tomahawk missiles were launched in rapid succession without pause, and in an instant, dozens of missiles tore through the air with sharp, piercing sounds as they defied gravity and soared vertically.
The blazing launch flames flashed brightly, illuminating the surroundings like broad daylight, and the dozens of Tomahawk missiles streaking across the dark night sky appeared almost beautiful—like a meteor shower.
But in reality, it would be more accurate to call them a deadly rain of fire, delivering destruction and terror to their intended targets.
The sea, which only moments ago had been filled with ear-splitting launch roars and swirling flames, was quickly swallowed once again by pitch-black darkness, leaving behind only drifting white smoke clouds and the acrid stench of gunpowder.
Having fired all the Tomahawk missiles it carried, the Cheyenne quietly slipped beneath the surface once more, concealing its massive hull just as it had before.
Beginning with the approximately forty Tomahawk missiles launched from the Cheyenne, dozens of U.S. Navy and coalition warships deployed across the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea simultaneously unleashed hundreds of cruise missiles toward Iraq.
In addition, hundreds of coalition fighter jets and bombers—led by F-117 stealth aircraft—carried out intense bombardments across Iraq, marking the beginning of the Iraq War.
***
November 3, 2002. 6:25 a.m.
Ring—! Ring—!
In the dark room, Seok-won—who had been asleep on the bed—stirred and woke at the loud ringing sound.
Groping with one hand, he picked up the phone from the bedside table and answered, his eyes half-closed and his voice thick with sleep.
"Hello."
[Boss, the war has broken out. Since midnight, coalition forces have been launching a barrage of cruise missiles and airstrikes on Iraq, turning Baghdad into a sea of fire.]
"...!"
Seok-won's mouth fell open as a look of shock spread across his face.
It felt as if cold water had been splashed over his hazy mind, instantly driving away all traces of sleep.
A month earlier, the U.S. Congress had approved military operations against Iraq, and President Bush had been assembling coalition forces while concentrating land, sea, and air power in the Middle East—but he had expected that full-scale war wouldn't break out until next year.
'This is happening far too soon.'
Even Operation Desert Storm—waged by his father, President Bush, to drive Iraq out of Kuwait—had only begun after months of preparation, during which forces were assembled, and necessary supplies were gathered.
In his memories before regression, the coalition forces formed by the United States had clearly invaded Iraq around March of the following year, after the midterm elections had concluded.
Naturally, he had assumed it would be the same this time and had been taking things easy—but hearing that the attack had suddenly begun left him no choice but to be shocked.
"Is this confirmed information?"
[Of course. All broadcasters, including CNN, are issuing breaking news alerts right now, so please check for yourself.]
"Hold on a moment."
Seok-won hurried out to the living room, grabbed the remote from the table, and turned on the large wall-mounted television.
As he tuned into CNN's satellite broadcast, the screen was filled with images of Baghdad engulfed in blazing red flames amid the darkness, accompanied by the urgent voice of a female anchor.
Air raid sirens wailed throughout the city, and buildings collapsing and being consumed by fire came into view.
Although Iraqi forces were resisting with anti-aircraft fire, cruise missiles and aerial bombs—striking their targets with precision out of the darkness—sent massive explosions and towering pillars of fire erupting across the city.
"They're really striking Iraq."
Seok-won muttered, stroking his chin with a slightly bewildered expression.
It seemed that, somehow, a butterfly effect caused by him had brought the outbreak of war forward earlier than originally expected.
TL/n -
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was the U.S.-led military campaign launched in March 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. It marked the beginning of the Iraq War and was one of the most significant military operations of the early 21st century.