21st century Goguryeo

Chapter 28

November 2nd, 2016 11:00. Choongbook Chungju-si 17th Fighter Wing Underground Research Facility.

The four dead alien bodies from the capsules were moved to the biology lab by Dr. Lee Su-jin’s orders. After the fourth body was moved to the gurney, a square case on top of the capsule popped out with a sound and a flap opened. The researchers in charge of moving the bodies were surprised.

Woosh~ Whirl

“Chief Researcher Lee! You must see this.”

Dr. Lee Su-jin and Namgoong-won were thoroughly checking the inside of the ship’s second floor when they heard the other researcher’s call and ran towards the capsule.

“What’s going on?”

“Here, take a look. Something started to operate, and a square box popped out.” The researcher was calming himself as he pointed towards the small case that popped out from the capsule with his finger.

“Did you touch anything?” Dr. Lee Su-jin asked as she moved towards the capsule to take a closer look.

“I didn’t touch anything. I was just trying to move the alien body.”

The case held four index size glass containers containing a multi-colored liquid. The liquid was at a low temperature.

“What is this? It could be a container for medicine? Perhaps, since these aliens were in a long period of sleep, could it be a nutritional supplement solution to recover their strength

when they finally wake up from inside the capsule?”

Senior Researcher Hwang Gook-jin, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, spoke and began filming with his camera. “Hmm, it could be.”

Dr. Lee Su-jin answered Senior Researcher Hwang Gook-jin and ordered Researcher Kim Yoon-ho, who was standing by in a daze when he was moving the body. “Researcher Kim, please place the liquid containers in a low-temperature container and ask Researcher Kim Yoon-gi to run a thorough analysis of the multi-color liquid.”

“Yes, Dr. Lee.”

As Namgoong-won stood next to Dr. Lee Su-jin and watched Researcher Kim leave to get a low-temperature container, Dr. Lee Su-jin smiled brightly and spoke. “I’m truly having a great time working here, thanks to you. I had been considering sending in my resignation to my superiors since I couldn’t obtain any tangible results for the past three months, but...since things are going so smoothly since yesterday, I really must treat you to something big later.”

“It’s nothing. If you insist; however, I like eating meat. Ha, ha, ha.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll make sure I treat you to Korean beef.”

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

Namgoong-won and Dr. Lee Su-jin took some time to converse with each other while they waited for Researcher Kim Yoon-ho to return. When he returned two minutes later with the low-temperature case, he placed the four unknown solution containers inside.

“Well, I’m off to deliver this to Senior Researcher Kim Yoon-gi.”

“Yes. Please handle them carefully.”

“Sure.”

Dr. Lee spoke to Namgoong-won after she saw Researcher Kim Yoon-ho walk down to the first floor of the alien spacecraft. “Shall we return to our searching then?”

“Let’s go back to where we were before.”

The searching operation of the alien spacecraft took two more hours. The footage filmed that day was immediately sent to the Blue House.

November 2nd, 2016 13:30. Seoul Jong-ro ku Blue House President’s Conference Room.

National Security Director Oh Jang-soo, NIS Secretary Na Bong-il, and Minister of National Defense Kang Hyun-soo, who were urgently called this morning, were seated in the room. A moment later, Chief Secretary Na Sung-tae stood up and spoke. “The footage you will now see is from the 17th Fighter Wing’s underground research facility after they succeeded in entering the spacecraft.”

Chief Secretary Na Seung-tae gave a short explanation before playing the video. He pressed play on the remote control. The large 200-inch screen lit up brightly and began playing the footage from when the military police agents were standing by after the spacecraft’s entrance began opening. All the bureaucrats were looking at the screen intently, as if they were watching a movie. After some time passed, the footage showed the capsule opening and revealing the alien’s figure. National Security Director Oh Jang-soo spoke up. “Huh, that’s what the alien looks like? It’s larger than expected, isn’t it?”

Chairman Jeong Dong-il readjusted his glasses and answered. “It seems so. It looks to be at least three meters in height.”

The footage finished playing after 30 minutes.

The four high-ranking government bureaucrats, including the President, all seemed shocked at seeing the alien body for the first time. They did not speak. There was silence in the room as each person seemed to be immersed in thought.

The President broke the silence. “I’m sure all of you are shocked, aren’t you? I’m also shaken by this. I gathered you all here to show you the footage obviously, but the important thing is that we must begin researching the aliens and their spaceships in full swing. We have a need to elevate the security to another level. Please give me your thoughts on the current situation.”

NIS Secretary Na Bong-il answered, “Currently, the NIS is working on the final stages of receiving personal information and evaluating the candidates from different professionals working both in and outside of Korea with the support from the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning after the national safety council. We’ll send in an official report to you soon, Mr. President.”

“That’s a relief, but please hurry. What do you think we should do about elevating security?”

The Minister of National Defense answered, “Yes, Mr. President. Currently, the research facility is being guarded by the sentry force under the command of the 17th Fighter Wing. The watch inside the research facility is being conducted by military police members who are above the rank of N.C.O. The Ministry of Defense is pushing to dispatch additional special forces to erect a triple-layered security system.”

“Good. However, we must also work on ensuring the secrecy of researchers and their safety.”

The Secretary of NIS answered, “Right now, the agents dispatched from the NIS are keeping watch on a man-to-man basis to tighten security and ensure the safety of the researchers.”

“Hmm, aren’t the NIS agents seriously running low on manpower? Secretary Na?”

Secretary Na Bong-il answered as he nodded his head slightly. “Ha, ha, ha, it’s fine. You make do with what you have. Despite our low manpower, we still have no trouble performing our duty of collecting domestic and international information. You don’t need to worry.”

The President slowly looked at the four high ranking governmental bureaucrats and spoke with a serious look on his face. “I can’t help but feel sorry, Secretary Na. However, as you all know about this project, this is something important that could change the history of Korea, so I ask that you take responsibility and do your best in your positions.”

“Yes, Mr. President!”

“We’ll do all we can.”

“Please don’t worry.”

“Yes, understood.”

November 3rd, 2016 01:00. Choongbook Chungju-si 17th Fighter Wing Underground Research Facility X-2 Lab (Namgoong-won’s Laboratory).

It was 1:00 a.m., but Namgoong-won seemed to be hard at work staring at his monitor and typing away on his keyboard. Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin, who was looking at Namgoong-won, spoke to him. “Won, it’s past midnight. Aren’t you going to bed?”

“Sorry. There’s something I must finish by today.”

“If that’s the case, I’m going to bed. Don’t work too hard okay? I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin kissed Namgoong-won on the cheek, who was concentrating on his work and did not even glance at her, and left the lab.

“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Namgoong-won said goodbye by raising his hand. He took a deep breath and began typing on his laptop again. His personal tendency of concentrating on something he became interested in made him keep working until the next morning, having lost track of time.

November 3rd 2016, 09:00. Choongbook Chungju-si 17th Fighter Wing Underground Research Facility X-0 Lab (Dr. Lee Su-jin’s Laboratory).

Knock! Knock!

“Yes, come in.”

“Hello, Dr. Lee. Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Welcome. Yes, I did. Did you as well, Researcher Namgoong-won?”

“I actually stayed up all night.”

“What, why?”

“Because of this.”

Namgoong-won booted up the laptop he brought, executed a program, and turned the screen to show Dr.Lee Su-jin.

“Hmm, what is this?”

Namgoong-won stood up and began explaining his work with slightly exaggerated hand gestures. “It’s not complete yet, but the current protocol program can only send out hypersonic waves. The program I just made can also receive them. It’s a mutual protocol interlocking program.”

“Mutual interlocking... So it can receive hypersonic waves coming from the outside and analyze the reactions?”

“Bingo! When we were checking inside the alien spacecraft yesterday, I suddenly thought there could be hypersonic waves coming from the ship that we couldn’t detect.”

“Fascinating. Is there any way I can assist?”

“I was hoping to work inside the spacecraft for awhile. Speaking of which, I’d like to request my password level being elevated so I can freely enter and exit from Laboratory X-1. I also need equipment that can receive hypersonic waves.”

“Yes, alright. I can elevate your password level immediately. Also, I’ll get the hypersonic reception equipment ready by this afternoon. Does that work?”

“Yes, thank you. Doctor, I’ll go for now. I need to get some sleep, considering I stayed up all night.”

“Yes. Health is priority number one. We can’t have the VIP of the lab be sick.”

“Thank you. I’ll head off for now.”

Namgoong-won was returning to the residence area, but decided to head to the bodyguard’s break room to see Assisant Manager Lee Hye-jijn when he ran into her.

“You’re up?” she asked.

“No. I didn’t wake up; I’m just now going to bed since I stayed up all night. I just came to see you before I went to sleep.”

“Really? Then drink this and get some rest!” Assistant Manager Lee Hye-jin held out something. “It’s ginseng extract. You seem very tired these days, so I ordered it to boost your strength. It arrived this morning. Here, take it.”

“Oh! You’re the best, Assistant Manager Lee.”

Namgoong-won was smiling brightly as he received the case of ginseng extract.

“Go and get some rest! I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Yes, I’ll go.”

Namgoong-won whistled as he walked to the researcher’s residence area on the second basement level floor and fell asleep spread-eagle on the bed.