Damn the World, Ride a Submarine - Chapter 176



Only Krnovel

Episode 176 – Mafiarchy

The CNN news screen overlapped with images of US Marines riding on landing craft.

* * * * * *

“This is Eugene Kim from CNN. Please take the studio mic.”

The screen showed the doors of a landing craft opening onto the shore and U.S. Marines moving quickly toward them.

Although it was a safe coastal beachhead, they did not appear to let their guard down.

“Thank you, Eugene Kim! Stay tuned to see if the US can punish Iran and regain influence in the Middle East. That was CNN’s John Walker.” ······

* * * * * * * *

The United States judged that the threat from China had been sufficiently blocked by the OSS, or rather, left China to the OSS and invaded Iran.

As the saying goes, ‘even a rotten tooth is a good tooth’.

The US made a spectacular landing on Iranian soil, seemingly replicating Operation Desert Storm, the previous invasion of Iraq.

However, the dispersion of Iran’s military power across a vast territory stretching from Iran to Iraq would not be a disadvantage only for Iran.

This was an issue that could have led the United States into another quagmire, depending on what its strategic goals were.

No matter how great the military power of the United States is, it cannot occupy and rule that vast land.

Ultimately, the United States will have political negotiations in mind at some point.

Finding a political compromise in a war caused by a complex mix of political and religious beliefs—Islamic fundamentalism and Zionism—would not be easy.

As a result, the entire world was affected by war, and every continent was suffering from war and plunder.

And the name of the US military operation was on my mind.

Operation Phoenix Rising. ‘The Resurrection of the Phoenix’ It was possible to guess that the glory of a strong America was compared to the phoenix.

However, the phoenix is ​​a bird that lives for hundreds of years, then burns itself and is resurrected from the ashes.

America had been around for hundreds of years, and now it was basically burning. I had an ominous thought that maybe it was just choosing to burn itself out a little faster and turn to ashes.

In this chaos, the only places that maintained peace were the Northeast Asian countries belonging to ESSO.

Although the Philippines was also a member of ESSO, it was dragged into the Chinese war by China’s attack on the new camp, and even Indonesia and Malaysia were classified as warring states by sending troops to PATA.

…

We established a secure communication with Chief Lee of the Information Department.

“Ah, sir ···”

“Sir, I heard about the US invasion of Iran from the news.”

When I pointed out to the chief that he had not been informed in advance of signs of a US invasion of Iran, I could hear the strength draining from his voice.

“I’m sorry, sir. I think we let our guard down because we were so focused on China.”

“There must have been a large-scale movement of military resources, sir!”

“Yes. I am waiting to hear from you.”

“It’s good to rely on direct information about trends in the United States, but please expand the organization and budget to analyze and update indirect information.”

“Yes, I understand. I apologize for worrying you.”

“No. There’s no need to feel sorry. Even if we’re allies. I just want you to know.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

“By the way, it seems like China won’t stay still… What do you think?”

“Yes. It seems like the confusion is being resolved little by little, but it seems like they can’t decide on a strategic means.”

“What options are they considering?”

“If we synthesize the information obtained through wiretapping and intelligence assets within China, it seems that they are considering three options. First, they will push the 550,000 troops from Yunnan Province into Laos using human wave tactics.”

“It’ll be different than during the Korean War, right?”

“The Chinese People’s Army knows this too. They know that given our preparedness, their troops will simply be cut down. But since waiting around is not a viable option, they seem to be trying to use a blunt strategy.”

“Anyway, I understand. What next?”

“The second is to attack the OSS fleet using all remaining missiles. They are also considering using hypersonic missiles that are not yet complete.”

“…”

“But if this attack fails, it will consume almost all of the conventional strategic assets. I think they are worried. As a last resort···.”

“?”

“The third strategy I am considering is to mobilize the North Sea and Yellow Sea fleets. Bring both fleets down to the South China Sea and fight a battle.”

“Are you saying that this is literally a showdown between heaven and earth?”

“Yes, but the Chinese Navy has lost confidence in naval warfare, and the Communist Party also seems to have a negative view of it.”

“Um… Chief. First, please spread the false information that once the Chinese North Sea and South Sea fleets withdraw, the Far Eastern Republic and North Korea will advance to the three northeastern provinces.”

“Wouldn’t that be counterproductive? China might launch a preemptive strike….”

The deputy director expressed concern over the order to spread disinformation that ‘if China’s North Sea and Yellow Sea fleets move south, the OSS and ESSO countries could invade China’s three northeastern provinces.’

“Sir, disinformation could lead China to misjudge and launch a preemptive strike against the Far Eastern Republic.”

“In the current situation, China will not be able to voluntarily expand the front. The Far Eastern Republic will have to resolve its issues with Russia, and there is no practical benefit to invading North Korea.”

“Now that I hear you say it, that’s true.”

“But if China implements the three options mentioned above simultaneously ···.”

“ah ···.”

“That would be a burden to us as well. It would mean easily crossing one option off the list, and there are certainly forces within China who would like that information.”

“Okay, I will prepare and implement it immediately.”

Although we have superior military technology than China and have an advantage at sea, we cannot keep up with China in terms of absolute quantity.

And China’s resilience due to its size was also an issue that could not be ignored.

It was clear that if China were to use all means to attack our fleet in the South China Sea, it could inflict significant damage.

The largest of them were the North Sea and Yellow Sea fleets, which were still intact. Even if those two fleets were to move south and attack us, it would not be easy to attack China as we were spreading misinformation, and there would be no immediate benefit.

This time, for sure. They had to use their notoriety for invading a country and paying back 1,500 missiles for a hundred, just because there were a few casualties.

…

One of the countries affected by the worldwide chain of phone calls was Ukraine.

With Iran invading Israel and China at war with Vietnam, the United States was waging a new war with Iran.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Russia launched a major offensive and occupied most of the area east of the Dnieper River, equivalent to 40% of Ukraine’s territory. Kiev, the former capital city straddling the Dnieper River, became the front line.

With Polish support, the western and northern regions were recovered, but that was it. Poland had secured a sufficient military buffer zone, and support from the West was bound to decrease.

Only Ukraine was stamping its feet.

Although our OSS Black Sea Fleet and Crimean Brigade were stationed near Sevastopol, they were in no position to help the Eastern Front.

We were stationed there to secure the grain and resource transport route in the Black Sea, and we had a difficult force to defend the Crimean Peninsula.

In order to resolve the shortage of troops, Ukraine deployed most of its regular Ukrainian forces, including the Marine Division in Crimea, to the Eastern Front, leaving the OOS forces to defend Crimea and the Black Sea on their own.

Europe, which had been relatively peaceful for some time, was becoming increasingly chaotic.

The land of the former Yugoslavia, where ethnic cleansing began, fell into chaos before the wounds of tragedy had even healed.

The war between Serbia and Kosovo spread to neighboring Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and then North Macedonia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

All the countries between Greece and Hungary were embroiled in war, and the press was calling it ‘the Third World War in Europe’. The European version of the Warring States Period had arrived.

After the third winter, resource shortages revived independentism and national egoism, leading to a chain of conflicts between regional states with historically deep nationalist sentiments.

France, Britain, and Germany were fighting another war.

Depending on which side they supported in the war between Israel and Palestine, citizens were divided into two sides, and neo-Nazis and hooligans joined in, resulting in simultaneous riots.

The situation was so serious that the police force could no longer handle it, and the debate over mobilizing the military and opening fire was becoming fierce.

In particular, France, with its large number of immigrants and refugees, has reached a critical level, to the point where certain areas of the city have been occupied and controlled by rioters.

In France, North African immigrants from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia formed their own separate groups, while immigrants from Senegal and Mali formed the West African group.

Refugees from Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea, and other countries, including Syria, have formed groups to protect themselves and sometimes even participate in looting.

Asian immigrants from Cambodia, Laos, and other countries were also forced to band together to protect themselves.

This entrenched pattern of rioting further solidified racism, leading even European immigrants from Spain, Poland, and other countries to form violent groups.

A state of anarchy was created when a riot force centered around immigrants took control of a specific area.

The French government, unable to resolve the situation in time, ended up abandoning the areas occupied by immigrants. This was truly the French version of the 5th and 16th Nations era.

This social phenomenon occurred throughout Europe.

Rather than suppress the uprisings by force, European countries adopted a strategy of isolating the region.

This had another side effect: immigrant communities and slums suffered from shortages of supplies, which led to yet another system of plunder and power.

This inevitably led to the resurgence of gangs and mafia.

The Mafia used the isolation and control to their advantage and grew in power, and over the course of three winters, their power grew even further.

The war and economic instability in Eastern Europe led to the spread of viruses called Mafiarchy (mafiarchy politics) and Mafianism by several prominent mafia bosses.

It spread like dominoes throughout Europe, from England to Italy and Germany.

…