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THE INTEL ON CHOE IL-Sung was solid. It had been confirmed through three independent sources, including the CIA, British MI-6, and even the South Korean National Intelligence Service. It was as good as they were going to get, given the time sensitive nature of their mission.
Choe Il-Sung was Kim Jong-Un’s second in command and arguably the most powerful person in North Korea. His existence was unknown to the Western world except in the most highly classified intelligence communities. He was rarely seen in public and the few times he had been spotted next to Jong-Il and Jong-Un, he was labeled simply as a “policy adviser.”
But several defectors and inside sources confirmed that Il-Sung was actually the man behind the curtain. He was the puppet master guiding the despotic North Korean regime with a thirst for vengeance after losing his father in the Korean War. He believed the West was the source of North Korea’s problems, and that the only way to be taken seriously on the world stage was through a military show of force – specifically a crippling EMP attack on U.S. soil.
According to their sources, all three intelligence agencies believed that Il-Sung was to make a rare appearance at a garrison in southeast North Korea at 0900 hrs near Kosong. It was believed to be the location of one of the ICBM silos capable of launching the EMP attack. Kruger would have only a fleeting shot opportunity as Il-Sung inspected the workers and surface facility before going into the underground bunker, but it was the best chance they had.
They had a partial view of the silo and a clear line of sight to the hangars next to it. Even if Il-Sung drove straight into the hangar, there was just enough opportunity for Kruger to make the shot. That’s why they had chosen the CheyTac M200. Although it was unsuppressed, its accuracy was unmatched out to 2500 yards. At just over two thousand yards, they had just enough wiggle room to take the shot and get the hell out of Dodge.
“Vehicle approaching,” Ringo whispered. He was lying prone next to Kruger, monitoring the facility with his electro-optical/infrared binoculars. “Bearing one-one-five, eighteen hundred fifty-five yards.”
“Contact,” replied Kruger.
The military SUV came to a stop just outside the hangar. Two men exited and forcefully pulled out a third person wearing a hood. Kruger watched through his scope as the men pushed the prisoner out into the open and stopped.
As Kruger watched the prisoner through his scope, Ringo called out a new threat.
“Tracked vehicle, bearing one-two-five, twenty-five hundred yards, moving toward the objective,” he said.
“What is it?” Kruger whispered.
“Looks like triple A,” Ringo said.
The M1992 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was the North Korean version of the Russian ZSU-23-4 Shika. It was fitted with two 30 MM anti-aircraft guns capable of firing 800 High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) rounds per minute per barrel. It also had its own tracking and surveillance radar on the roof capable of tracking multiple air to air targets at once.
But as the tracked vehicle lumbered toward the open area where the prisoner was standing next to the two men, Kruger realized that the M1992 wasn’t to be used for its intended purpose. They were about to witness an execution in the most brutal fashion.
The M1992 stopped short of the prisoner and the vehicle commander emerged from the turret. Moments later, two more vehicles approached from the same direction as the first SUV and stopped. As they stopped next to the SUV, Kruger realized they were the armored limousines known to transport Il-Sung.
Several men with suits exited followed by a man wearing a tan general’s uniform. Kruger immediately identified him as Il-Sung. He approached the soldiers standing by the prisoner. They rendered a sharp salute and then stood at parade rest.
“Positive contact on the Wizard,” Ringo said, using the codename they had come up with for the man behind the North Korean curtain. “One thousand, nine hundred and four yards, wind left to right at two.”
Kruger adjusted his scope as he zeroed in on Il-Sung who was still walking toward the prisoner. At this distance, he needed to wait until Il-Sung stopped to get a clean shot to ensure their escape.
Il-Sung stopped a few feet short of the prisoner and gestured to one of the soldiers. Ringo called out the new dope as the soldier next to the prisoner ripped off the hood.
Kruger felt like he had been punched in the stomach as he saw who it was. Natasha!
The reality came rushing to him as Il-Sung said a few words and then walked back to the front of the vehicles where his security detail was waiting. He was about to watch the woman he loved be executed by North Korean artillery. It took every bit of restraint he had not to start shooting to give her a chance to run, but he knew he had no choice. Il-Sung had to die today.
“Jesus, mate, isn’t that-”
“Just call it out,” Kruger said.
The two soldiers forced Natasha to her knees. Kruger exhaled slowly as he tried to steel himself.
“We can take out the guy in the turret and save her,” Ringo said. “One thousand nine hundred and-”
“No,” Kruger interrupted. “Stay on the Wizard.”
“They’ll kill her, mate,” Ringo protested.
“They’re going to kill her anyway,” Kruger said grimly. “And a lot of other people will die with her if I don’t make this shot.”
“You can make both,” Ringo argued.
“Stay on Wizard,” Kruger said angrily.
Ringo called out the information. Kruger made final adjustments to the windage.
Ringo took a deep breath and then said, “Send it.”
The M1992 fired just as Kruger squeezed the trigger. The sound of its 30MM cannon masked the shot. The round impacted Il-Sung in the chest, straight through his heart. He crumpled instantly.
Kruger fought the urge to yell out as he heard the M1992 fire. A feeling of dread and despair suddenly overcame him as he tried to control his building rage.
“I’m so sorry,” Ringo said.
Ignoring Ringo’s gesture, Kruger shook it off and quickly started disassembling the rifle and rolling up his shooter’s mat. “Let’s move.”
Ringo followed suit. As they slowly crept out of the woods, the M1992 started blindly firing toward the hillside. The security detail had obviously figured out the shot had come from that direction.
Kruger ducked as tree branches fell around them and the two started running down the hillside toward their preplanned extraction route.
“Oracle, we’re moving to EXFIL,” Kruger said over the secure satellite radio.
“Copy that,” Coolio replied. “You’ve stirred the hornet’s nest. Lots of chatter right now.”
“Raven copies,” Kruger replied.
Their exfil plan required them to make it to the water in Kosong where SEAL Team Six would rendezvous and take them to USS Mississippi, a Virginia-class submarine that was waiting just off the coast. It was tenuous at best, but the only chance they had since the airspace was contested and they were too far in-country to make it through to the DMZ on foot.
They raced down the hill as the M1992 continued launching unguided volleys toward them. Kruger was sure the operator had no idea where they were, but the splintering wood seemed to tell a different story. The operator of the artillery piece was making damned good educated guesses.
Kruger nearly ran into Ringo as he reached the edge of the tree line at the bottom of the hill and froze. As he looked past Ringo, he saw a small platoon of North Korean soldiers heading toward them.
The soldiers saw them and opened fire just as they took cover behind a fallen tree.