Chapter 64

Episode 64. We Don’t Know What They Are (4)

***

The Foundation’s fighter jets always fly in pairs when deployed. This time, two pairs of jets were heading to Busan. It was unusual.

[This is Echo-1. Entering the operation zone.]

[This is Echo-2. Enemy position confirmed.]

Echo-1 stared at the target. The unidentified aircraft was moving at around Mach 2. It was moving at the same speed as the fighter jet, so it seemed stationary.

[This is Echo-1. Target locked. Engaging.]

A missile was launched toward the target.

But… it had no effect.

The aircraft came to a complete stop in an instant, and Echo-1’s jet flew past it at several times the speed of sound.

[This is Echo-1. Missed. The enemy aircraft is moving in a bizarre direction.]

[This is Echo-3. Target stationary confirmed. Locking on.]

***

Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Cheonghaejin ship.

The Korean military and related personnel were still monitoring the Foundation’s activities. With great difficulty.

“Uh, the UFO count has increased by four!”

“That’s not a UFO. It’s the Foundation’s fighter jets.”

“The UFO is attempting to communicate on NATO standard frequencies! Should we respond?”

“No, I told you, that’s not a UFO!”

“Something’s off. We can only detect the direction of the communication, but it’s completely invisible on radar.”

“It’s stealth, so of course it’s invisible on radar. We’re communicating with it now, so we can track its position. Damn it, are you stupid?”

“Captain. Even if it’s the Foundation, does it make sense for fighter jets to fly at Mach 3? Such jets don’t exist in the world.”

“Damn, I’m curious too. At this point, I’m starting to feel sorry for the UFO. Having to fight those monster bastards…”

“Four unidentified aircraft have disappeared!”

“They’re Foundation jets. They didn’t disappear; they’re just fully stealth. How many times do I have to say it? Stop marveling and focus on tracking the UFO!”

The officers on the bridge fell silent.

“Resuming tracking of unidentified aircraft, excluding Foundation jets. They’re steadily gaining altitude.”

“Keep tracking and relay the position to the Air Force.”

“Uh, the unidentified aircraft is flickering!”

“Must be a stealth UFO. We’ll wait. There’s nothing we can do right now.”

“The—”

The Cheonghaejin’s radar screen was now completely empty. The Foundation’s jets were stealth, and the UFO was partially stealth.

An eerie silence fell over the bridge.

A war was raging in the sky, but nothing was visible from the ground.

“Multiple unidentified aircraft have reappeared from the east! They seem to have emerged from the sea!”

“Great. These lunatics are throwing a party in our airspace.”

The captain of the Cheonghaejin sighed.

“One unidentified aircraft has crashed! Checking with the camera. Ah, it looks completely torn apart this time!”

“Move toward the wreckage!”

“Two, three unidentified aircraft are crashing!”

A shadow began to loom over the Cheonghaejin.

***

The leader of the Special Forces ‘Catfish’ team stared into the endless abyss. The abyss stared back. It should have been nothing but darkness.

But it wasn’t.

Blue fluorescent lights flickered all around. Countless deep-sea creatures were swarming toward the team leader. No dangerous fish were visible yet.

“This is Catfish-1. Team leader here. Communication with the Pine Man Ship has been lost, and the ship’s crane appears to be damaged. The Pine Man Ship may have sunk. For now, we’ll release the tether connected to the crane…”

The team leader pondered.

No response came. The crane and diving bell were slowly sinking into the deep sea.

Communication between Special Forces members also seemed impossible. The only option now was to slowly ascend to the surface.

***

I let out a sigh of relief.

Five unidentified aircraft had crashed.

The details were classified, but it was confirmed that conventional missiles were ineffective, so information-eroding missiles were used.

“The situation is under control.”

I crossed my arms.

“Let’s move to recover the wreckage. Are there any other Foundation vessels available?”

“Not at the moment. Now—”

At that moment.

The information density analysis system began flashing wildly. The bridge crew went on high alert.

“Uh?”

Startled. Uh, can you stop making that sound?

“Director! You need to see this!”

Clouds were gathering in the sky, as if trying to hide something. Or rather, clouds were descending from the sky.

“What do we do?”

I pondered for a moment.

“Well… we’ll have to launch all the fighter jets. Who knows what’s coming up from the depths of the sea.”

Another unidentified aircraft, probably. Whatever it is, we’ll kill them all today and figure out what they are.

There’s no room for compromise.

We’ll destroy every single supernatural phenomenon hostile to humanity.

I’ll have to make another call.

“Hello? Advisor An?”

“This is Advisor An. The fighter jets have been successfully launched, and cooperation with other agencies is proceeding smoothly.”

“Are the jets on standby?”

“Yes. All available jets are on standby.”

“Launch all jets toward Busan Port and request assistance from the Foundation Headquarters. A massive aircraft has appeared in the East Sea.”

Advisor An let out a small sigh.

“Sh-should I contact the Headquarters as well?”

“Uh… yes.”

I feel a bit sorry.

Foundation people hate contacting the Headquarters the most. It’s a group whose location and who answers the phone are completely unknown.

Advisor An is no different.

***

I stared at the sea.

In the distance, clouds were forming a massive cluster where the giant aircraft had emerged. It seemed like the clouds were acting as camouflage.

It didn’t matter.

The Korean Navy’s destroyer opened fire on the cloud cluster. Vulcan cannons roared, and anti-aircraft missiles were launched toward the cloud mass.

It was certainly intimidating. But it would only buy time. The first crashed aircraft had recovered within hours.

Well, it doesn’t matter. The Foundation’s jets will arrive soon. Explosions echoed for a while—

Again, sonic booms repeatedly erupted in the sky. This time, it wasn’t just one or two.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The cloud mass that had been visible on the horizon began to disperse. But this time, it wasn’t just the explosions.

A strange color filled the sky.

***

What…

Strange colors or not, overwhelming firepower left no room for resistance. The gathered clouds scattered in the wind, revealing a massive silver aircraft with a large hole in its hull.

“Is it over?”

“It’s not moving.”

“Report.”

“Yes. The massive aircraft is a cylindrical structure approximately 200 meters in size, currently floating motionless in the water.”

“It was detected rising from the deep sea via sonar, then attempted a rapid altitude gain before being intercepted by the Korean military and Foundation jets.”

Is this resolved for now?

“Yes. The aircraft’s hull is breached, and it’s definitely floating in the water, right?”

“No.”

The officer, sensing something, shook his head.

“I’ll board it myself.”

“No. What kind of madness is this?”

“I’ll board the alien aircraft. Who here is stronger than me?”

“At least take the Special Forces with you. No, this is insane. The Director boarding an alien aircraft—”

I raised my hand to cut off the officer.

“It’s already decided.”

“Director. Wait a moment.”

“Figure out how to approach it safely. Do you have a rubber boat? A helicopter might work, but it seems tricky.”

“No, is it safe? There’s no Special Forces on-site to escort you.”

I don’t know why they think they can stop me. In the end, my position as Director, my authority, everything I’ve built comes from working in the field. If I don’t go to the field, what am I?

Nothing.

Just an overbearing head researcher in the Director’s Office. So, I must go to the field this time too. Even if it’s a bit dangerous.

The sound of a door opening.

Several pairs of military boots stepped onto the bridge.

“Special Forces ‘Catfish’ Team Leader, reporting back. Director, requesting permission to enter the bridge!”

The Special Forces have arrived.

All that’s left is to board.

***

Preparing for the hunt.

The crane at the ship’s stern was broken, but one rubber boat could still be deployed.

I gathered my equipment and waited. Eight Catfish Special Forces members, having returned safely, were preparing their gear and waiting for me.

“Hello, Director.”

“Yes. Can you brief me on the operation?”