Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 279



Only Krnovel

#279. If you fall, you will fall, right?

First, the priority is to rescue the hostages and evacuate South Korean nationals, including Korean residents and staff.

Kim Kyu-sik immediately notified Sukarno by phone.

“President Sukarno, I am Kim Kyu-sik.”

-What brought you here again?

Since the words going out were not good from the beginning, naturally the words coming back were not good either.

“Troops will be dispatched to rescue our citizens who have been taken hostage and to evacuate our Korean residents and staff. So, I ask for your full cooperation in this matter.”

―What? You are sending troops to our land? What do you think of Indonesia? We are a sovereign nation!

“Calm down. Who said we are ignoring Indonesian sovereignty?”

―If sending troops isn’t a disregard for our sovereignty, then what is it?

“Didn’t you say it was to rescue our citizens who were taken hostage and to protect our citizens?”

―No way! Absolutely not! Absolutely not! We will do something about the hostages. And we will protect your people!

“Protecting our people? So there was no military presence in Minas Oil Field? Surely your military and police would have been guarding there as well?”

―… … .

When you say it like that, I have nothing to say.

What can we say when protection has already failed and there are victims and hostages?

“Let’s be clear, President Sukarno! I am saying this now because I respect your country’s sovereignty. And we are not discussing sending troops. Our Republic of Korea military will go anywhere to protect our people. Do you understand?”

-this person……!

In short, it was a notice, but Sukarno found it difficult to refuse any longer.

Now that there are victims and hostages, the justification is on their side.

-Ha! So how many people are you sending?

“Not much. One special forces unit to rescue the hostages and one brigade to protect the Korean nationals and residents and help with the evacuation.”

―… … .

Sukarno thought for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

―Let me also be clear. Your troops must leave our land as soon as the hostage rescue operation is completed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get out even if you tell me to stay longer.”

―And it’s okay for the citizens to go out, but the genetic engineers can’t. They have to stay until we call in replacement engineers.

“Let’s not talk nonsense. This time, all our citizens in Indonesia will return home.”

It is almost certain that war will break out.

But would you leave the citizens of the Republic of Korea behind and say you’re crazy?

―Where is such a law! Then how are we supposed to extract oil!

“The president clearly told me that he would nationalize the country soon and kick us out, so be prepared. So I’m leaving, so what does it matter?”

– No, that’s not true! What I’m saying is, how can you just suddenly leave like this?

“Who was the one who told me to ignore the contract and leave first? Why are you yelling so loudly!”

―… … .

“Anyway, let me be clear: we’re going out. Just know that. And if you try to sabotage our operation, something very bad will happen.”

-Hey, ik!

“I’m hanging up.”

Click!

Kim Kyu-sik put down the phone.

Then, Ambassador Lee Jong-beom, who had been watching with concern from the side, opened his mouth.

“Is that okay? I think Sukarno will go crazy.”

“It’s okay. They’ll cause a scene, but they won’t be able to interfere with our operation. Those who have a lot and have a lot to protect can’t act recklessly.”

“That is true, but… … .”

“Okay! Don’t worry about that. Just work hard to encourage the withdrawal of Korean residents. Tell the Korean residents who oppose that the government will fully compensate for the losses they suffer from this withdrawal.”

“All right.”

“And prepare to withdraw the embassy as well.”

“Yes? Are we all going back to our country? Isn’t that just downgrading our relationship?”

“Do you plan on staying here when war is certain to break out? How can you trust those guys?”

“… … .”

“First of all, the embassy staff and Korean residents are planning to go to Borneo, so prepare accordingly. Make sure to take care of sensitive documents and equipment.”

“All right.”

***

03:00, August 23, 1959.

Suwon Airport, South Korea.

Booooooo!

Twenty new tactical transport aircraft, the C-1 transport aircraft, took off one after another and began flying south.

The C-1 tactical transport aircraft was a new transport aircraft equipped with four turboprop engines, and its appearance was almost identical to the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

This is because Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) had the C-130 in mind when developing it, but there is a story that Lockheed Martin (later Lockheed Martin, merged with Martin Marietta in 1995), which developed the C-130 in 1954, about two years later than South Korea, was quite surprised when it saw KAI’s C-1 transport plane.

Because the specifications and appearances were so similar, and because transport aircraft generally look similar and KAI started production first, there was no suspicion or controversy.

In any case, the reason these new transport aircraft departed first with a small number of troops and equipment is because turboprop aircraft are slow by nature, taking more than 11 hours to get to Jakarta, and can only transport about 70 troops fully equipped.

However, since sending only civilian jets would not be possible for tactical use locally, they were dispatched in advance.

August 23rd, 9:00 AM.

At Gimpo Airport, 20 K303 passenger planes were waiting for takeoff.

These aircraft are passenger planes belonging to the state-run airline Korean Air, and were hastily leased and assembled by the Ministry of National Defense.

The 707th Special Forces Group and the 1st Special Forces Brigade troops were already on board.

“Then, please take care of our hostages and citizens.”

Minister of National Defense Nam Byung-woo personally came out to see them off.

“Don’t worry, Minister.”

“That’s right, Minister. You know our special forces’ capabilities well, don’t you?”

The commander of the 707th Special Forces Group and the commander of the 1st Special Forces Brigade, who are leading the main force of this operation, answered confidently.

“Yes, I believe you. Be careful on your way back.”

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

Swoosh!

Soon, the K303 jet passengers began to soar powerfully towards the south.

23 August 1959, 14:20 Jakarta time.

Swoosh!

The K303 jetliners carrying the main force departed from Gimpo Airport and arrived at Jakarta International Airport one after another after a flight of over 7 hours.

The C-1 tactical transport aircraft that departed first also arrived a little while ago, so the Jakarta airport apron is literally full of South Korean aircraft.

“Welcome, everyone. It was hard to get here.”

“Loyalty! Why did the Deputy Prime Minister come out in person?”

“Is that so?”

Special Forces Commander Han Ki-joo and Special Forces Brigade Commander Lim Cheol-hwan were surprised to see Kim Kyu-sik waiting for them at the airport and asked him.

“The ambassador is busy preparing for withdrawal, so I came out. And isn’t it natural for me to come out to greet our national army that has come on a difficult mission?”

“Oh my! This is embarrassing.”

In South Korea, Kim Kyu-sik’s status was truly absolute.

This is because he devoted his entire life to the struggle for independence, and after independence, he was the only person to join the government and served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, making a great contribution to making the Republic of Korea the superpower it is today.

“Yes, the camp will be set up here, right? We’ve emptied part of the building and prepared a place for the troops to be stationed.”

“Yes. The special task force is scheduled to head straight to Sumatra, but the headquarters camp was planned to be set up here. Thank you for your preparations.”

“What are you thankful for? Anyway, please take good care of our people.”

“Don’t worry. We will rescue everyone safely, even the last one.”

“Hahaha! Thank you!”

Soon, the special task force boarded ten tactical transport aircraft and flew straight to Sumatra.

17:45 Jakarta time.

The special task force arrived at the Minas Oil Field aboard a small tactical vehicle loaded onto a tactical transport plane.

The entrance to and surrounding areas of Minas Oil Field were heavily guarded by Indonesian military and police.

“You idiots, you should have been guarding things like this a long time ago.”

Special Forces Team Leader Han Ki-joo said with a dumbfounded expression.

If they had been guarding like this from the beginning, the disaster wouldn’t have happened.

“Sir, it looks like the guy over there with the serious expression on his face is the person in charge.”

“Huh! That guy, he really has a dirty look on his face.”

“Judging by your attire, you seem to be a member of Kopassus?”

“It’s none of my business whether you pick your nose or your nose-picking. Let’s go!”

“yes!”

Han Ki-joo walked briskly and stood in front of the impressionist officer.

“Are you in charge here?”

“Yes. I am Colonel Prabowo, the person in charge of security here. And you?”

“I am Colonel Han Ki-ju, here to rescue our hostages. From now on, we will take charge of this place, so you should withdraw your troops.”

“Oh my god!”

“What did you say?”

“This is our land. Don’t speak carelessly.”

“I never spoke carelessly. So, withdraw your troops quickly. Quickly!”

“… … .”

Colonel Prabowo was in a really bad mood.

No matter what anyone says, this land is Indonesian land.

But when a foreign army comes and tells them to leave, they can’t help but feel good.

But I had to get out by order of my superiors, and I didn’t want to just get out like that.

“Ugh! We want to watch the operation too. It might help.”

“Our operation is confidential. So we cannot watch it. Get out.”

“Are you saying that I can’t even watch?”

“exactly.”

“What is the reason?”

“Hey, that kid! He talks a lot. If he gets caught, he’ll get caught, right?”

“What did you say?”

When Han Ki-joo, annoyed, swore in Korean, Colonel Prabowo looked at him and frowned, not knowing whether he was swearing or not.

“I’m just talking to myself.”

“Is it like a curse word?”

“No? Oh! Okay, I told you to get out of here. Do I really have to call your superiors?”

“Fuck!”

Prabowo was very upset, but he had no choice but to leave.

They wanted to have a go at it, but seeing the special forces members who looked a head bigger than them and were armed with equipment they had never seen before made all those thoughts disappear.

“Let’s see how well you do.”

“Go!”

“… … .”

Eventually, Colonel Prabowo ordered his men to fall back and he himself fell back.

“The kid is going to get beaten?”

“That’s true.”

“Okay. The important thing now is the hostage. Get the drone ready and launch it as soon as it gets dark. Get the kids in position.”

“All right.”

Finally, at 7:30, when it started to get dark, small reconnaissance drones took off all at once, ordering the Indonesian commander and troops to step back.

Because we couldn’t just show off the cutting-edge equipment.

“Hostages and rioters have been located!”

“Damn it! Why are there so many mobs?”

“Besides, the junglers are each carrying the same extension. Some of them seem to have rifles and pistols as well.”

The thermal imaging sent by the small drone clearly showed the hostages and the rioters, and there were more rioters than expected and they were not badly armed.

“They are just rioters anyway.”

“But if even one of our hostages gets hurt, we’ll just go back and die. We probably won’t even be able to show our faces.”

“… … .”

“All snipers, deploy! Here, here, here, and there! B and D team snipers, use Barretts.”

“All right.”

Han Ki-ju was planning to use the Barrett, a sniping rifle, against those who had no sniping angle at all.

Barrett’s 12.7mm caliber bullet would have no problem penetrating a concrete wall and killing an enemy.

Time passed and it was just before 2 a.m.

Han Ki-joo spoke softly into the headset microphone.

“Operation begins!”