Dictator From Outer Space

One summer day, a deafening noise and vibration erupted from the Space Center located on Japan’s Tanegashima Island.

A thick cloud of smoke enveloped the entire space base as the H-4 upgraded rocket from Japan lifted off, carrying a lunar lander.

The rocket propelled itself with great force and soared into the sky.

“Japan’s pride, Honselene 3, is now heading towards space~!”

The whole Japanese archipelago was filled with excitement.

Japan was finally going to the moon.

It was an unmanned mission, but there were not many countries that could independently produce launch vehicles, rockets, and lunar landers from their own space bases.

The H-4 launch vehicle would use the phase transition trajectory to approach the moon over a journey of 20 days.

After landing on the Sea of Tranquility, it would conduct exploration using a rover and plant the national flag as a symbolic gesture.

All of these processes would be broadcasted live, so it was natural for the Japanese citizens to be thrilled.

Japan became the fourth country to achieve independent lunar exploration, following the United States, Russia, and China.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s entire space-related industry was in a slump.

There were some rumors from companies like Starfield, but they were not very reliable.

The Korean online community reacted to this:

―I’m so jealous of the neighbor’s feast…

―Didn’t they say they would send a manned lunar lander next?

―Ah, it hurts… What do we have?

―Yeah, the space budget is 32 billion won. They totally gave up.

―What’s Starfield doing with their ion engine? There’s no new information.

―I heard trucks keep going into the Naro Space Center, but only the officials know what’s going on.

―Are there no investigative journalists these days? Just take some photos of anything.

―I heard someone tried to sneak in before and got chased out. The security is really tight.

The media did report on Japan’s lunar exploration plans, but it was a rather dull atmosphere.

Since it wasn’t our feast anyway, they mentioned it briefly and moved on.

Meanwhile, Starfield had completed the combustion tests for their new ion thruster.

For conventional liquid rockets, they would undergo over 100 combustion tests over a minimum of one year before being loaded.

However, for Starfield, the combustion tests were just a basic requirement. 

They even skipped the launch rehearsal.

The Terra launch vehicle, carrying a cluster of communication satellites, lay on the launch pad and then slowly stood upright.

[Confirming launch vehicle position.]

[Activating electromagnetic coil, injecting ion tubes.]

[Igniting the engine.]

The restraining devices released simultaneously, and the Terra launch vehicle pushed off the ground with force.

Unlike other launch vehicles, there was hardly any vibration or deafening noise.

It simply emitted a golden light from its thrusters and ascended rapidly into the sky.

Due to the unusually calm wind, even the residents on the other side of the mountain had no idea what was being launched.

After reaching an altitude of 100 kilometers precisely, the Terra launch vehicle checked its pairing system.

[Initiating vector control.]

[Ejecting ion tubes, reducing engine thrust.]

The control center monitored the scene of the Terra launch vehicle descending.

Finally, the launch vehicle landed, but there was no cheering in the control center.

Everyone was busy with their tasks.

“Arma, where did you bury the unobtanium?”

“I buried it in the Sea of Moscow on the far side of the moon. Since I buried the core along with it, there should be a considerable amount floating around by now.”

“Why did you bury it on the far side? Is it because of heavy surveillance?”

“Yes. There are too many watchful eyes. Various sensors are installed on the moon as well.”

“It might be difficult to approach, but with the superconductor, we’ll make a breakthrough.”

Once unobtanium is revealed to the world, it will truly bring about innovation.

Although it’s not a room-temperature superconductor, the fact that it can be used in practical applications will change many things.

Of course, high-temperature superconductors made from organic materials already exist.

However, they require liquid helium cooling systems, which are extremely expensive.

The cost of reaching the moon is not trivial either, but with the Terra launch vehicle, the situation changes.

Arma calculated that the cargo transportation cost of the Terra Heavy launch vehicle was only $520 per kilogram.

With this, even if they brought unobtanium back, there would be plenty of profit left.

It was truly the dawn of a new era, with the replacement of generations and the start of the Second Lunar Race.

By the autumn of 2026, space exploration around the world had entered a state of stagnation.

The Artemis program led by the United States was scrapped, and the former CEO of SpaceX, who had been advocating for Mars colonization, passed away.

However, the slowdown in space exploration plans was not only due to the reasons mentioned above.

After the onslaught of post-COVID-19 complications, public interest in space exploration had become more cynical.

—We’re struggling to survive on this planet, what good would it do to go to space?

—If there’s money to spend on space, they should give it to us.

In the public’s perception, space-related budgets were drastically reduced or even eliminated altogether.

Of course, not all space exploration plans were completely scrapped.

Research related to asteroids and deep space exploration managed to survive, mainly led by the European Union.

However, the plans to send humans to space with massive investments, like in the past, became increasingly challenging.

Among the countries that continued steady investment, China and Japan stood out.

China, taking advantage of SpaceX’s failures, formulated a plan to send humans to Mars by 2030. However, the outcome was uncertain due to the chaotic situation before the civil war.

Japan, on the other hand, had a sense of urgency.

In a situation where Black Metal vanished and they had to rely on South Korea for secondary batteries, there was a consensus that they had to do something.

For some reason, many Japanese people made these arguments:

—Korea, boasting about Black Metal batteries, is disgusting.

—We must defeat Korea by any means necessary.

—We must show the spirit of Japan to the world.

—The United States, Russia, China, and Japan. There’s no place for Korea in this group.

On the other hand, most Koreans regarded this atmosphere in Japan with apathy.

Considering that the space-related budget was already depleted, they saw it as empty talk.

—What does their moon landing have to do with us?

—Just go if you want to. Take a hundred pieces of toilet paper and plant them on the moon.

—Do rice and food grow there?

However, there was also a hidden current of envy among some people who admired Japan’s accumulation of space research achievements since the 1990s.

In the realm of space exploration, Japan and Korea had a gap akin to that of an adult and a child.

Amidst this situation, Japan’s lunar exploration plan was progressing smoothly.

From the H-4 upgraded rocket that had left Earth, the lander and the command module of the exploration vessel finally separated.

The exploration vessel was scheduled to make two loops around Earth for equipment and communication checks, as well as orbital adjustments, before heading towards the Moon.

This method, known as phase transition orbit, was mainly used by countries lacking experience in lunar exploration.

The United States, Russia, and China also initially used this method to reach the Moon.

All of these processes were broadcasted live, and the Japanese archipelago watched with anticipation.

Finally, after completing the orbit around Earth, the exploration vessel ignited its engine to head towards the Moon.

“Engine ignition complete. Now we’re heading to the Moon.”

“May this journey of ours be a source of inspiration for all the citizens of Japan.”

And so, Japan’s lunar exploration vessel successfully completed the sample return mission after several days of travel and returned to Earth.

This proved that Japan stood on par with major powers.

As the command module slowly descended over the seas near Kagoshima, naval vessels gathered around.

Prime Minister Ozawa, newly appointed, declared the successful completion of the lunar exploration mission.

“From now on, Japan will send people to the Moon. We know it’s a daunting task, but we cannot give up. It is our responsibility, as Japan.”

The Japanese people wholeheartedly supported the Prime Minister’s announcement.

Thus, a race for the lone door began.

…

Soon, it was the season of crickets chirping at the Naro Space Center.

The previously quiet Starfield had invited a few distinguished guests.

President Lee Hyun-seong, the Minister of Defense, and several researchers from the Missile Development Team were among the honored guests.

As the group stood upright, observing the missile on the launch pad, they tilted their heads in curiosity.

Unlike other rockets, it was pitch black in color, resembling Black Metal.

“Is that made of Black Metal, by any chance?”

“Yes. It’s small and neat, isn’t it?”

“It’s not the size or neatness that matters. Why were spaceships painted white all this time?”

The main purpose was to block solar radiation and achieve thermal equilibrium.

Additionally, it conveyed peaceful intentions and, above all, looked clean.

However, this did not apply to a rocket made of Black Metal.

“Have you ever touched Black Metal?”

Curious, Yu Ji-ha asked, scratching his chin.

“I’ve conducted several tests, but it seems there are limitations to its shape…”

“The insulation performance of Black Metal is incredibly powerful. With just this thickness, very little heat is transferred to the other side.”

The space between the fingers was quite thin, barely enough to fit a fountain pen.

The researcher asked with a skeptical expression, “How effective is its insulation performance?”

“When entering the atmosphere, there is tremendous frictional heat, right? To prevent that, all sorts of special material tiles are attached. But if the body is made of Black Metal, there’s no need for that. Even if the outside temperature exceeds 2,000 degrees, you can calmly enjoy reading inside.”

“…,” the researcher remained speechless, as he had not verified it himself.

President Lee Hyun-seong, who had been listening, asked, “Chairman Yu, I don’t have much knowledge about rockets, so forgive my question… That rocket, it doesn’t seem to have stages, am I right?”

“Exactly. It’s a single-stage launch vehicle. It will ascend to low orbit and proceed to the Moon.”

“Going to the Moon… So it’s possible.”

The President, lacking specific knowledge, accepted it as such, but the researchers raised their eyebrows.

“This doesn’t make any sense…”

“While it’s true that Black Metal is sturdy and has excellent insulation, what about the nozzle shape? It needs to be adjusted for combustion gases and atmospheric pressure. Can that be done with a single-stage spacecraft?”

“Oh, I forgot to mention. The Terra launch vehicle doesn’t emit combustion gases. Let me show you.”

“…What?”

“You’re going to show us directly? Right now?”

The researchers were well aware of the immense effort and time required to launch even a single missile. 

Injecting the propellant, consisting of kerogen and oxidizer, at a specific pressure, as well as injecting compressed gas to achieve pressure equilibrium—all of this had to be done.

Furthermore, the final checks were also conducted at this stage. 

If even a single error occurred, the launch would be immediately canceled, and fuel and gas would need to be expelled over several hours.

The public often wondered why launches didn’t happen quickly and why the rockets just stood on the launch pad, but in reality, these were the underlying reasons.

But now they were going to show it right away…

Yu Ji-ha contacted the control center and said, “Initiate Terra Heavy launch. Maintain altitude at 200 meters for 10 seconds, then descend.”

Sure enough, within minutes, a clunking sound could be heard from the launch pad, and the Terra Heavy launch vehicle soared into the air. 

There was no dense smoke or vibration. 

It simply emitted golden light from its nozzle as it slowly ascended.

“Wow… This is…”

“This is unbelievable…”

Was it an ion engine instead of liquid fuel?

But why was it emitting golden light instead of the usual blue?

The launch vehicle maintained altitude for exactly 10 seconds and then descended slowly.

The positioning was so accurate that the launch pad’s locking mechanism clicked into place without a hitch.

Clap, clap, clap―

President Lee Hyun-seong applauded.

“Impressive. While everyone was mocking it as a hobby of the chaebols, Chairman Yu was creating something like this.”

“If we look at it closely, it is indeed a personal hobby. It just looks grand because it’s related to space.”

President Lee Hyun-seong chuckled and said, “Haha, so if I understand correctly, this means we can eventually go directly to the 9th planet?”

The President, lacking specific knowledge, easily praised him, but the researchers were in shock and awe. 

It felt like everything they had learned and experienced in the field had turned into a blank slate.

Yu Ji-ha guided them to the control center and said, “I’ll explain the details once we’re inside.”

Eventually, a brief explanation of the ion thruster was presented.

“The important thing is whether we can disassemble Black Metal at an ultra-high resolution.”

Black Metal again…

It was a mysterious secret why this Black Metal held such remarkable significance, as if it were a panacea.

After that, summarizing Yu Ji-ha’s remarks, the basic principle of the ion thruster was not significantly different from an ion engine. 

It involved ionizing tiny atoms that had been disassembled and ejecting them backward using electromagnetic coils.

“The ion thruster is like a miniaturized coil gun. The only difference is that it propels elements instead of magnetic objects.”

“This ion thruster has propulsion efficiency that is extremely high, surpassing conventional ion engines, and its reactivity is better than rocket engines. The structure is relatively simple as well.”

As they showed the structure, it was indeed simple.

Well, even the structure of a jet engine looks relatively simple when you look at the diagram.

The real importance lies in the know-how that can only be acquired by actually building it.

The Minister of Defense, who had been observing silently, asked, “So, in essence, is this an engine that combines the advantages of various engines?”

“I can guarantee that once the ion thruster is launched, all existing engines will be obsolete. Whether it’s on the sea, in the sky, or in space, efficient propulsion will be possible with just the ion thruster.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, it can be applied to everything: aircraft, submarines, spacecraft. The only drawback is the cost. It’s quite expensive.”

The two researchers tried to say something, but they fell silent.

They couldn’t dismiss his statement as a joke. 

It was too astonishing.

How many types and platforms of vehicles were currently orbiting the Earth?

To overhaul all their propulsion systems was not just an innovation; it was almost a miracle.

“This is not some movie or fantasy…”

One researcher muttered, capturing the mood of the room.

Only Yu Ji-ha could pull off something like this. 

He looked at the maintenance staff and said, “I ask you to keep what I’ve told you today a secret for now.”

“Of course. We won’t say a word unless Chairman Yu gives us permission. Right, Minister Kim?”

“Yes, yes. But I still have some doubts. Can it really be applied to our aircraft and submarines?”

“I assure you, it can. You don’t have to make the changes, of course. But then you’ll have to accept being outdated. How can a 6th generation fighter jet compete with an unmanned aircraft flying at Mach 5?”

He didn’t mention Lucia.

Using artificial intelligence for military purposes would cause too much backlash.

Lucia also had her limits. 

She wouldn’t answer questions about stocks or cryptocurrencies.

The researchers started to bombard him with questions.

“What about the payload of the launch vehicle? I’d like to start with low Earth orbit, but…”

“How much thrust does it provide? The nozzle looked like it had multiple thrusters clustered together.”

The Q&A session went on, while President Lee Hyun-seong and the Minister of Defense moved aside to talk.

“Mr. President, this is a revolution, if what he said about the thrusters is true.”

“I know. It’s hard to believe that he can change the engines of all platforms… I would say it’s impossible, but Chairman Yu has already proven us wrong before, hasn’t he?”

The Blackmetal battery was one thing, but Lucia, the artificial intelligence, was the one who sparked heated debates in the academic world. 

Some even proposed to redefine artificial intelligence based on Lucia. 

It was ridiculous.

But they had a different concern. 

The Minister of Defense whispered, “Mr. President, won’t Chairman Yu face trouble if a candidate who supports him wins the next presidential election? They will have too much power in their hands.”

“That nobleman in the North Korea Ministry is too stubborn… There might be more friction than now.”

“What can we do about it?”

“Well… That’s not our problem to solve.”

President Lee Hyun-seong shook his head and said, “The next president and Chairman Yu will deal with those issues themselves. We’ll just go back to being ordinary people, right?”

“But there’s a chance that a real crisis might happen. China is so unstable, we can’t interfere easily, can we?”

North Korea’s recent provocations were a headache. 

They blocked all trains from China and pushed themselves to the brink of collapse. 

North Korean experts feared that the regime was in a dead end.

There were even reports of groups of hundreds of wild boars raiding the crops in Jagang Province, an unprecedented disaster.

In such a situation, if the next president criticized them harshly, the wounds might burst open.

President Lee Hyun-seong was worried about that, but he didn’t have any clear solution.

Meanwhile, the impromptu seminar between Yu Ji-ha and the two researchers continued.

…