The End of the Beginning
Chapter 5: Adaptation

“Report.”

“Pyongyang has surrendered. A bunker-busting nuclear bomb, dropped from a US B-2 stealth bomber, has killed the remaining leadership of the North. They are finished.” “Death toll?”

“No one is certain yet, but it is estimated to be over seven million people. Long-term radiation exposure is expected to make that number even higher. An evacuation of the entire peninsula has begun for all those that remain. South Korea will move its capital temporarily to its Japanese embassy. The bombs meant for Beijing, Tokyo, and Osaka never made it; laser defense systems in both countries successfully destroyed them before impact.” “And what’s to happen after this evacuation?”

“A UN peacekeeping force comprised of international troops will be placed in the peninsula to begin reconstruction efforts. It’s called the United Nations Mission in Korea or UNMK. It’ll remain there for decades, most likely. A coalescence of the two countries is still expected, eventually.” “And the matter of the bombs. What do they suspect?”

“In regards to us, nothing. That’s about the only good news I have. They seem to have no idea how the North got their hands on the weapons, nor how the Zumwalt missed every single one, but they do know now that they were stolen from the Chinese, after studying the remains from the successful laser intercepts.” “Hmm…”

“I’m sorry. We… We have failed.”

“Failure is a matter of opinion. Failure is but merely learning. It is… adaptation. The world may not be broken physically but its spirit is. They believe they are in their darkest hour now.” “I don’t understand…”

“When the night is darkest, people will turn to any light to stop the shadows, even when the light creates more. We shall complete our mission through a new direction.