Tokyo, August 20th, 2025

Both Katsuma and Setagawa, lovebirds of the National Guard Unit 330 "Peace Busters", had been showered with gratitudes directly from Chief of Cyber Staff, General Tokiyo Ueda, for their recently successful penetration of the part of Chinese Great Firewall protecting it's Southern region. A temporary window that allowed allied groups such as Hong Kong resistance group "White Umbrellas" to insert a malware through Chinese railway network on the said area, disrupting shipment of troops and military equipment, especially those who used Hong Kong as port of embarkation into a crawl.

Another group, identified by the CDF as "Bio132FF" from Indonesia, wholly consist of Chinese Indonesians eager to show their uncompromising loyalty to their country had managed to infect similar system in Chinese airports used for airlift operation using that window.

And right now, as part of their well deserved break for two weeks, the couple had been invited for lunch with the Prime Minister as a reward for a job well done.

Meeting the Prime Minister was not something high on either of their minds. The naturally rebellious inclination of hackers had been growing inside them for sometime in contradiction of their strong patriotism, hence the hard discipline needed to keep everything in check by their commanding officer.

On the other hand, after lunch, they both walked away with a better understanding of Nishikino. Even with his physician background, he had a good grasp on cyber warfare and cyber security, something neither of them expected from any politician.

"I have to be thankful for my chief cyber officer and everyone else, this include people from America, Israel, Estonia, India, Korea, and many more who helped me understand things further. Before that, my understanding of cyber security was limited in the defensive part, in context of healthcare." Nishikino told them softly, in reference to General Ueda; the only female member of the Imperial Joint Staff.

As unofficial youth representatives of the CDF, they also felt a renewed purpose to not let the country down after seeing how their direct efforts were affecting the war.

Colonel Jinta Tenkubashi was beaming in pride of his opportunity to be with the PM close and personal, even if it's for sake of his duty accompanying Katsuma and Setagawa. Upon return to their nest in UTokyo, also known as the Todai, he watched as both returned to their station.

With precision, he looked at his wristwatch, just in time as other shinobis returned. "Alright, people, sorry to disrupt your break, but as I had just returned from the Kantei, our American friend had given us had another target. We are to join them to execute a finishing blow against Chinese forces in Kyushu by crashing their communication. As this is will be the whole unit attack, there will be diversions as well!"

I promise, all of you will receive the best psychological care after all of this ends... He exhaled and then kicked off the large monitor, showing a drone feed that allowed even under-18 years old members to see that the final push led by 4th and 8th Division defending Kyushu supported by a brigade of US Marines and South Korean Army as well as Okinawa-based separate 15th Brigade was well underway centered with the city of Kitakyushu both from land, air, and sea.

The Colonel walked to the front of the room, standing in front of the monitors. Then he announced, "We have to be grateful to American 12th Marines and our Unit 739 who found out their frequency and other protocols of their force holding Kyushu, added by information from defectors. Now, I need everyone of you to get through their backdoors and make them blind, dumb, and deaf. Let's finish this battle, bringing the war one step closer to victory."

Then he walked to the side of the room to let the shinobis to do their work.

Katsuma pulled another iced tea of the fridge near his work station, turned on his favorite music and began to type away. He was working on three different twenty inch monitors while reclining in a soft leather chair given by a mysterious benefactor with his headphones on, while Setagawa was setting up the malware that would jump from their command network to personal hand-held devices used by the PLA in order to bog down their communications system with a concerted DDoS attack from every networked device used by the PLA in Kyushu.

As soon as Setagawa was ready, Katsuma and two other shinobis, Cyber Defense Force ROTC Cadet Leading Private Hiiro Nakayama and Junko Sanpei plus some faraway Americans holding up in some uninhabited Japanese island fired up the attack sequence, by simultaneously moving from folder to folder, system to system within the army brigades, naval squadron, and air squadrons in Kyushu, every swipes and clicks by both lovers activate a series of newly released viruses and crypto‑locker protocols developed in India that would shut everything down, then summarily lock them out of their systems when they tried to reboot them. It also incorporate a self-destruct mode to reduce it's detection by the PLA. This means that planes and drones and helicopters would crash or be grounded, army units lost their bearings, and ships affected rendered dead in the water, unable to move or defend themselves against any attacks. It was going to be a bloodbath.

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Major Gu Huang

50th Tank Battalion, 18th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade, 104th Special Army Group, People's Liberation Army

Hikari City

August 20th, 2025

Right now, we're calling each other using Japanese codes that we had picked up. "This is Fukae 6 to all units, we got Chinese armored forces all over the place. Please assist!"

It was a miracle that we did not lose more units from Coalition's relentless strikes, added with encouraging reports that the lead Japanese unit in Hikari, 31st Infantry Regiment, was reeling from a massive airstrike our leaders had sent for them. It's time for finishing blow.

"We are taking fire from Chinese tanks! One of our squad has been lost!" shouted another.

With that, thus far, our brigade had managed to put themselves ready to boost the flagging morale of our foreign allies. With our cyber comrades had been able to access the tactical frequency of 5th Brigade it managed to interfere with it. Despite heavy losses, our just-executed air strikes both from China as well as our attack helos stationed here in Japan was effective against both the 31st as well as the element of 11th Tank Regiment coming to assist the former.

Those pilots also managed to force the Coalition naval task force on shore to retreat; one cruiser, four destroyers, and two frigates and the roughly similar number of unmanned combat ships. Most of them managed to escape but being out of position, they posed little threat to us now.

Captain Bagua briefly detected a small Japanese surveillance UGV, probably from the 31st.

However, before they could identify the location, the ground drone had gone offline. While they were still trying to figure out what was going on, a transmission arrived from our intelligence officer. "Comrade Major, we just received a transmission from the element of the Japanese 11th Tanks. They say they are on the way to assist us." A chuckle was visible on his voice.

I forwarded the discovery to Colonel Junhua, and right now, our plan is still in motion. Once the Japanese and other Coalition forces arrived, we could attack with full force.

"I hope we pull this off so I can be back with my wife, Comrade Major. She was my reason to fight, remember." said my gunner. He brought my memory back on the stories about how Sergeant Suifang used to "lay flat" (1) before his mother exhorted him to do something useful, and the PLAGF was the way to do it, out from his impulsive statement to his mother he quoted at me a year before the war. I'll go Army, then. From there, he established himself and even managed to get married, something that seems to get more difficult to do every year.

I checked my comm back, confirming that everything was in place. The fascists will soon be squashed here...

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11th Tank Regt. Combat Team Command Post

"Sound the alarm, those bastards had penetrated our comm!" shouted Okazaki to his staff. "And get our higher up there aware! Hayaku!"

"Indeed, some the call of distress that we received were a part to lure our armor into an ambush." said his operations officer, his fists clenched tighter as he spoke, an unconscious expression of his anger.

In the meantime, the attached CDF specialists reported their success somewhere behind our lines. "Eagle 6, be advised, we've been able to regain control of the UGV in question by Ultra‑High Frequency (UHF) system. Once we re‑established connection, we moved the drone closer in the direction of supposed transmission and we've been able to determine with certainty that the Chinese were able to use our language to lure us, while the 31st has been forced to dig in."

To his luck, both brigade and division command had shown awareness on the attack. On the other hand, Yamabuki reminded him on the worst option.

"Use your authority to call for retreat, or otherwise!" replied the brigade commander briefly. A similar response was also received from the acting division commander, Brigadier General (2) Seigo Narazaki, from his location somewhere around Hiroshima Prefecture, as at the same time the airstrikes hit Hikari, Okazaki had received confirmation that the division HQ has been raided by Chinese special forces, costing the Nerimas their commander Major General Hiiro Nakagawa.

The loss of Nakagawa added to the growing list of Coalition general officers and admirals perished in duty; another example from Japan was 13th Brigade commander Brigadier General Jiro Matsuyama who refused to surrender and instead shot himself in his headquarters.

This is the art of 21st century's warfare - ability of national militaries to fight in a network disrupted state, also known as 5th Generation Warfare. Okazaki mumbled, steady as he was, and soon his education and training kicked off. And from there, he decided to call for his personal tank. It's time for the CP to disperse and relocate before the Chinese figured everything out.

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1/LT Kousei Arima

11th Tank Regimental Combat Team, 5th Brigade, 1st Division, Eastern Army, JIGDF

It was Lieutenant Horokeu who warned us about the first sign of Chinese air strike incoming, but the telltale SAM contrails had given everyone that warning and we act accordingly. Even with our layered defenses, a good number of them, perhaps a wing, broke through, and the regiment was not spared with team net reported that one tank of my platoon was hit, and few more.

I could hear Kawashima cursing, but I am focused on my, and looking on my left side and found one burning tank. It was Kirigaya's. I tried to assist but the smoke from the stricken armor was not yet dissipated. It turned out that the impact of a Chinese air-launched LS series laser guided bomb - equivalent to American Paveway, Israeli Lizard, or French HAMMER - was lessened somewhat by the laser disruptor part of the Seki system as well as our own EW unit, but the explosive force was still enough to knock it out.

I was convinced that I had lost my wingman as well as the tank. Main gun rounds in the turret ammo compartment and the hull were still cooking off, throwing great balls of flame and smoke into the air. The blow-off panels, designed to come off when the ammunition detonated in order to vent the ensuing blast up and away from the crew, were lying fifty meters away from where Tank 12 sat. Just as I am about to call the Captain that 12 was a write off, the gunner's hatch on it swung open.

I decided to leave the rest of the platoon to Minato while I tend to Kirigaya, and to my surprise I saw 12's gunner climb out into the street below, turn around, then reach down to help someone else. I decided to order Watari for a halt and called First Sergeant Kashiwagi, telling him that the platoon needed the ambulance service and Type 11 armored recovery vehicle ASAP.

The halt allowed the rest of the regiment to caught up and reorganize. Soon the Captain was on the line with Colonel Okazaki, the latter warned of a new Chinese trick, with the fact on how some transmission of help that was supposedly from the 31st was a set up. In addition, he asked Kawashima on whether the Team could continue in the lead or if he needed to pass Inu Company forward.

My platoon was able to rally around the shattered Tank 12, but the fate of others was not known yet until a three second interval that seems to be forever.

Lt. Toyosaki reported that his wingman was gone, and finally to my relief, my wife. Most of her force was still there, with the exception of one of her NCOs.

"Please don't let it be Tsubaki."

A second transmission dispelled my fear. But the loss of one of these people remained a blow for the Mech Platoon. "Takami... was the last to ensure his squad got covered... before the bomb hits."

Knowing the fact, we decided to press on.

"We have a change of plan, but we have to keep moving!" Kawashima soon ordered me to leave the recovery of personnel and tank 12 and the rest of the unit who got disabled to the now busy First Sgt. Kashiwagi and move out. It's a hard pill to swallow, but we have a job to do. Added with tracks carrying infantry from Team Inu led by two tanks on our right side, moving at the same general direction as Team Kirin, plus 32nd Infantry's Team Taro behind us.

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1/LT Kaori Arima, 3rd (Mechanized) Platoon

Few minutes before

Everything is dark, until a faint voice that turned out to be a yell brought me out from slumber. Something heavy had hit me. That's what I remember.

"Ma'am!"

"Lieutenant!"

I groaned. "What's... happening?"

"The Reds bombed us." It was Nakashima, my platoon sergeant.

"What time is this?" I stood up.

"14.03 Zulu" he replied.

A plane roared overhead and we ducked, but we relaxed upon recognizing it as a pair of Typhoons with their BAE Systems/Leonardo Mosquito drone companion.

"British?" I asked.

"Iie, ma'am" it was Tsubaki who replied. "I saw a patch of green and red in the circle. Those are Italians." Everyone was noticed that follow on Chinese aircraft were still in the area and friendly aircraft were still engaging them. Two more Typhoons followed the first pair of Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force, literally "Military Aeronautics") jets.

"Anyway, give me the count." I told my NCOs.

"We lost Sgt. Takami." Morishima replied. "He was the last to be outside, ensuring his squad to be in cover, but he did not make it. For my squad, I lost Pvt. Koizumi."

Tsubaki added to the report. "Yashio caught the most of the blast, he's going to need evac." she pointed at where the medics were currently treating the said soldier.

"God bless their soul..." quipped my radioman, while I put on a silent mode, processing on what happened.

I wiped a stray tear that was forming, and replied. "We got a job to do." Just in time as Uesaka handed me the receiver. "The Captain is on the line, he's worried."

"...Hai, I understand." I put down the receiver before facing what was left of my platoon.

"Alright people, after the ambulance came, we are to stick to the plan; that means we're to keep advancing. Toyosaki's tanks are ready to support us! Those Reds will pay."

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Major Gu Huang

4th Tank Battalion, 18th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade, 104th Special Army Group, People's Liberation Army

Outskirts of Hikari City

When we made an initial contact with the lead Japanese tanks that were supposed to aid their comrades near the town's main railway station, it was an absolute pandemonium. Some were caught by surprise either by the battalion itself or the foreign volunteer infantry nearby, but others seems to be more aware. They knew they were trapped, but why those Japanese looked so easy to deceive? Nevertheless, we have a plan of such contingency. Matters made worse before we reached Shunan, as sketchy SITREP from our comrades in Kyushu was described in one word; Incapacitated. In addition, group army level communication had been spotty as well.

The highest level of authority that we could still reach was the brigade command. The senior colonel had told us on our way "...In case of (static), we're to keep fighting (static) immediate objective (static) Beijing order..."

My gunner told me it was a cyberattack by the Japanese, which led me to question if the bombing raids on Tokyo was actually as effective as our high command said.

"FIRE!" "COMRADE GUNNER-SABOT-TWO TANKS FIRE!" "TARGET-NEXT TANK-FIRE!" Even with the change, part of the battalion, lead by our scout platoon, swung around to the flanks between the Japanese position, and began to engage at any targets of opportunity.

With tanks losses from both sides, the Japanese retreated, but instead of a rout, their withdrawal was unexpectedly orderly covered by the bane of our existence - their ground drones!

I dared myself, under heavy fire, to man the QJC-88 tank mounted heavy machine gun, giving leeway to my gunner to deal with heavier, armored, targets.

One crawler knocked out, then the next one. However, I could not engage much longer thanks to the increased fire from the drone's autocannons. Seeing that opportunity when I dived back to the turret, the surviving drones as well as concealed Japanese infantry launched their barrage of missiles. Laser guided, hence knocking out those launchers will end it. That's when the JD-3 dazzler will do the trick.

The apparatus worked as following; after the laser warning receiver receives enemy laser illumination, the system would automatically activate a low-intensity laser to search and locate the enemy's laser source, in this case those pesky UGVs then intensifying the beam to damage or destroy it's optic sensors.

Sure enough, it scattered some of the missiles, relieving the need of hard-kill GL5 to intercept it, but my order to everyone in the company to engage it did not reach all, to my consternation as two tanks burst to flames.

The view outside was staggering too, the burning houses in Hikari, fitting to it's name, Flames, interrupted by the impact of incoming artillery rounds, leaped high above the heads of Japanese soldiers and disappeared in low hanging clouds, mixed with smokes from burning vehicles from all sides.

The Japanese tried again, perhaps by some foolhardy company commanders. This time, Xiaojun had disembarked his infantry to join a company of foreign volunteers guarding the station's main approach.

But they learned fast, and extensively fired while on the move, and my frontal armor had taken two hits. Theirs' smaller silhouette also presented a more difficult target to hit.

Two recon UAV runs indicated several Japanese and their allies - later identified as Indians - the same people that caused us trouble in the Himalayas!

I decided to split up, however when we're reorganize, our weapon radar operators warned incoming artillery and the ensuing counter-battery fire were opening up.

"Damn! Those tank and robot attacks must be a ploy to identify our position, comrades!" I cursed, before ordering everyone in my company to push forward following the infantry that had began their own advance, knowing the substantial presence of Coalition infantry inside. There was no choice but to hunt the Japanese tanks inside the city...

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Glossary:

(1). "Lay Flat" is a translation of Chinese term tang ping, a lifestyle choice as well as a method of social protest and disobedience against social pressure to work hard to the point of overwork (such as long work hours that were increasingly regarded as a rat race with ever diminishing return). Unlike hikikomori culture in Japan, those who opted for tang ping lifestyle are not socially isolated, but merely choose to lower their professional and economic ambitions and simplify their goals, still being fiscally productive for their own essential needs, and prioritize psychological health over economic materialism.

(2). In real life Japan Self Defense Forces as well as in Chinese military forces; both PRC's People's Liberation Army and Taiwan's Republic of China Armed Forces, one-star ranks of Brigadier General in ground and air branch or Commodore/Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in it's maritime branch does not exists. but I took liberty here to made these set of ranks exist in Japan.