The forest was a virtual inferno on the heights, the jets using modified Napalm missiles before sharply banking away northwards, the roar of their engines terrifying the fleeing civilians below as the aircraft swept along the river at low level. Shattered armour and smouldering body parts lay between the burning trees, the intense heat melting and bending the mortar tubes, a Morgon forward support unit obliterated against a weapon they had never experienced before.
The silhouettes of tall muscular figures skirted the rising steam and flames, the flickering illumination reflecting against thick armoured plate as branches cracked and splintered beneath the heavy bodies, several with mobile rocket launchers across their backs, the red glowing eyes of a commander staring down at the casualties in the clearing with rising anger and hatred. Glimpsing the molten decapitated helmet of the mobile artillery unit’s commander, the eyes glowed dark red, the dead officer had advanced too far forward in an eagerness to slaughter the fleeing residents from the south…
The armoured helmet turned away, muffled explosions and gunfire erupting further south once more, the young Korean marine trainees still fighting frantically in Busan, cut off and without hope...sacrificing their own lives to delay the majority of the invaders.
Gusung swallowed hard as he glimpsed the brightly burning army vehicles to the south of the wide river, his head shaking as he considered the waterway had saved the south from the North Korean invasion just after the Second World War. He swallowed in dread as he considered the Americans and United Nations had intervened then to save his country from an overwhelming invader, now realising no one would come to their aid…that his nation was on its own.
Flashes in the distance as marines engaged the Morgon forward reconnaissance unit with their automatic rifles, most of the enemy troops still advancing through the heavily wooded slope above the road. Then his frame shook, further bright flashes in the trees to his right, a deep rumble and clumps filling the air, his wife gasping as the roar continued.
Beneath the long wide bridge, hundreds of armoured bodies surged through the water, breaking the surface occasionally for air, their objective to move much further up the river to attack the next target, Daegu. The fourth largest city in South Korea, Daegu was situated one third of the distance to Seoul and then beyond, the border with North Korea…attacking Daegu would cut off most of the human forces south of the city, causing panic and desperation amongst civilians and the military alike.
Gusung stared at the lines of flickering brake lights heading northwards ahead, the rain beginning to fall heavily across the windscreen as the Hyundai edged forward, noticing soldiers in camouflaged uniforms emerge from the forest on either side of the wide thoroughfare and begin to march grimly towards the bridge behind. His foot dropped to the brake, pulling the car over to the side of the road, the soaked soldiers moving aside to allow him to stop, a deep resigned sigh coming from his chest as the infantrymen walked past on either side of the Hyundai. Gritting his teeth in reluctance as he turned to look his frightened wife in the eyes, the stare was distracted as he glimpsed the artillery explosions high in the woods on the south bank, biting his lower lip as he thought of the terrified civilians attempting to flee in panic. Their eyes met once more, her head shaking as she realised his intention, her voice pleading and desperate, ‘No…no, please don’t…we all need to be together!’
Tears filled his eyes as he smiled grimly, ‘I am an ex-marine, they need every man…’ His eyes closed briefly as she began to openly sob, ‘Drive to your parent’s house in the north…I will come and join you there.’ Gusung’s jaw tensed as he glimpsed the tears rolling down her cheeks, ‘We will all be fine…but this is desperate now, we cannot all hide…someone has to stand against them.’
Slowly she nodded, the faces of his two crying young children emerging either side of their mother between the seats, his lips forcing a comforting smile in response, ‘You all need to be very brave…do as your mother says and go with her to grandma and grandpas’ house…they will make your favourite sushi and barbecue meats. You remember their table barbecue…the warm floor and soft blankets for when it is cold?’ He hesitated as the children nodded solemnly, ‘You will have all that until I come later…maybe a couple of days. Daddy will just help these soldiers…it is his duty…’
Gusung slipped from the driver’s seat and into the pelting rain, wiping his eyes as he grimaced in emotional turmoil, his head turning to stare at the wooded hill behind, dark smoke rising on the horizon. Frowning in doubt as he considered he had seen dark dots in the sky, he forced a smile as his drenched wife emerged before him, grasping her shoulders, ‘Be brave…Jaelim…take them north and to safety. Eat well and tell our parents I love them…get both couples together and head north if I am not there in four days.’ He instinctively pulled her to him as she shuddered, tears flowing down her rain soaked face, his chest shuddering as their sodden bodies held each other. Her head slowly turned upwards as they immediately entwined in passionate embrace, only parting as they realised the two children’s grinning faces were pushed against the condensation filled rear window, the dog panting on the seat nearby, wagging its tail. Distant cracks of gunfire rang out from the south bank, Gusung stiffening and glancing round, seeing a nearby officer in a forward command tent on the outskirts of the trees to the right, his jaw tensing.
He grinned reassuringly as Jaelim sniffed, nodding in reluctant understanding, ‘We had better get going…it will take hours. You need to go and speak to them…get a uniform and rifle.’
