"I'm so glad to see you're okay."
Maureen hugged Zoe tightly, her nose sore and she almost cried. She was not only worried about her friend, but also felt wronged for herself.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, she was blamed and became the acting president. She had to fight wits and courage with a group of professional bureaucrats all night, while also worrying about the safety of her friends and loved ones.
"Why didn't he come out with you?" Maureen couldn't wait to whisper in the lounge, the two of them finally having a moment alone.
Zoe whispered about her meeting with David Rossi before being sent to the Pentagon.
"They suspect a hidden mastermind behind all this, one who not only knew about the Aurora Project but was also secretly utilizing Department of Defense resources to perfect the Samaritan.
Jack believes the Capitol attack was merely an accident, and that controlling the Cerberus system is the true purpose. This time, someone truly wants to start a world war."
The Minuteman III intercontinental missile, a Cold War artifact, though aging, remains a coveted national treasure for 99% of the world's nations.
With a global strike range, each rocket carries three thermonuclear warheads, enough to destroy or completely disable any major city worldwide.
It's a veritable "Sword of Damocles."
Although Maureen had been briefed and ordered the Air Force to conduct a swift and thorough investigation of all missile units on combat readiness, she still found the seemingly unrealistic prospect of a world war difficult to believe.
After all, the Federation had been a beacon of the world for nearly half a century. While it might occasionally bully a few smaller nations to profit from war, neither the upper echelons nor the lower echelons had much interest in a world war.
After all, this wasn't the era of World War I or II. Even if the entire world went to war, North America could still secure a position in the rear and profit from the war.
So Maureen couldn't understand what kind of person would want to start a world war in this way.
"It can't be the president of the Han Nation; he might be dead in the Capitol," Zoe curled her lips.
Maureen wasn't as optimistic, and subconsciously glanced toward the lounge door. "Or maybe
he's right here in the Pentagon." Aiding the "Always Vigilant" terrorists in stealing an AC130, bribing the missile unit's duty officer, and previously providing large sums of money to train assassins in South Africa, all of this indicated that the other party held a high position in the Federation.
Zoe pondered for a moment, finally whispering, "Israel?"
But she quickly shook her head, dismissing the idea. While the Judah Consortium's influence was deeply entrenched within the Federation, this wouldn't benefit the plutocrats.
Local wars could certainly generate profit, but under a nuclear bomb, all was equal.
Even if the wealthy could escape disaster by hiding in an underground bunker, without their millions of cattle and horses, their money would become worthless.
Maureen fished a wet wipe from her purse and handed it to Zoe, reassuring her. "Ms. Moger has an idea. She believes the other party is at least an insider of Project Aurora.
And according to Mr. Finch, there were only eight people initially privy to the plan, including him.
I've asked the NSA's 'controller,' who runs the Intelligence Support Operations Directorate, to come to the Pentagon immediately. I've also invited those friends Jack calls 'POIs.' Perhaps we'll soon learn the truth."
"I hope so. I'm only worried about Jack right now. I hope he..."
Zoe was only halfway through her worried words when there was a gentle knock on the lounge door, followed by Joy Reacher's voice. "Ladies, there's been some noise at the White House front door. You'd better come and check it out."
--
The Federation's military command structure has two distinct characteristics. One is civilian control of the military, with the Department of Defense commanding all three services.
The second is a bit more complicated: the separation of command and management, with a dual system for operations and daily management. This means military management is divided into two aspects: the operational command system and the military management system.
Therefore, in the federal government, the Secretary of Defense is the highest administrative officer of the military. Although a civilian position, with no military rank, all active-duty personnel, including the Chiefs of Staff of the various services, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, address him as "Sir."
Generally speaking, the Secretary of Defense isn't required to understand military affairs, or even anything in general, as war decisions rest with the President, while command rests with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Nevertheless, the Secretary of Defense remains highly important among Cabinet members, serving as a bridge between the President and the military, and a key lobbying target for the military-industrial complex.
The current Secretary of Defense, named Hegseth, is remarkably young, barely 45, a true second-generation politician.
Although he served in the National Guard for three years, it's not often that one can retire with the rank of Army Major after just two months in Iraq.
This middle-aged man, who bears a passing resemblance to Henry Cavill, appears to be in a state of disarray, completely lacking the fortitude and fearlessness he displayed during the video call with the Pentagon.
As several searchlights came on, the sleepy media reporters gathered outside the cordon instantly perked up.
Major television stations like the BBC brought in vehicles equipped with lifts, sending their photographers over ten meters into the air. Other media outlets, not to be outdone, climbed onto vehicle roofs when they lacked lifts, desperate for firsthand footage.
Inside the Pentagon, images from various angles and formats were projected onto the command screens, capturing the defense secretary's distraught appearance with unmistakable clarity.
"Is he crying?" Maureen narrowed her eyes slightly and asked with some uncertainty. However, no one answered, and everyone's attention was focused on the real-time screen.
Hegseth was kicked hard out of the main entrance of the White House, and he fell on the steps in a panic. There was a faint light shaking at him a few times inside the door, and someone seemed to be shouting orders at him.
There was a lot of discussion in the underground command center for a while.
"What are they going to do? Humiliate him in public?"
"No, shoot him in public. They plan to show us their determination."
"Our plan worked!" Someone excitedly clapped his fist.
Mr. Secretary of Defense stood up from the steps in embarrassment and limped toward the lawn in front of the White House while sobbing. Behind him, the black muzzle of a gun was slowly raised.
Michael Collier, who was standing far away from the door, had a sinister smile on his face. His purpose was simple. The Secretary of Defense, who easily revealed the "Cerberus" code after just being beaten, was no longer useful and could be used as waste.
"Bang!"
Gunshots rang out, and Hegseth let out a shrill scream, freezing in place, his entire body trembling. Just as everyone thought he'd been shot, more and more intense gunfire rang out from inside the White House.
Michael Collier's hand trembled, and though he pulled the trigger, the bullet flew nowhere, and the men protecting him fell one after another in the sudden roar of gunfire.
"Move!"
At the same time, at the command of David Rossi from the forward command post, four Black Hawks, previously patrolling in the distance, suddenly changed their flight path and headed straight for the White House.
Two special operations teams launched simultaneously, reaching the main entrance flowerbed in a matter of moments. One soldier, recklessly throwing himself upon the panicked Secretary of Defense, fell upon him.
After confirming that he was free of explosives, two more soldiers, bearing shields, advanced and dragged Hegseth back.
Almost instantly, a Black Hawk flew over the White House, and General Electric's flagship six-barrel Gatling gun unleashed a long stream of flames, instantly pulverizing the seven or eight militants patrolling the rooftop.
In the rush, only one shoulder-fired Stinger missile was activated. A bolt of fire shot skyward, but it missed its target, lost in the dazzling barrage of decoys, exploding into a volley of fireworks in mid-air.
"Retreat!"
Michael Collier, who had originally planned to kill in public to establish his authority, was terrified by the sudden turn of events and turned and ran for the corridor leading to the elevators.
He couldn't understand why the situation had so drastically reversed in the blink of an eye, when he had clearly controlled the White House interior and even taken five or six extra personnel with him before leaving the bunker.
Seeing his men wiped out in the blink of an eye, Collier didn't have time to think. He rushed into the corridor, picked up the intercom, and shouted as he ran.
"Cease fire! Alert! Secure the gate!"
At Jason Hayes' command, the SEALs lying in ambush raised their guns and watched Michael Collier disappear alone at the end of the corridor.
As the SEALs launched an ambush and Black Hawks cleared the roof from above, multiple special operations teams stormed the White House from different directions.
The two teams at the main entrance, leaving one behind to escort the Secretary of Defense away, were the first to enter the White House and reunite with Team B.
They didn't rush to the red elevator leading to the underground bunker, but instead began clearing each floor, aiming to eliminate any still-confusing terrorists on the periphery.
"Sir, this way!" A shout startled Collier, who stumbled around the corner of the hallway. Reflexively, he aimed his gun at a subordinate waiting at the elevator.
"%*&%￥@!"
The man, startled, threw up his hands, spouting a string of incomprehensible Spanish.
"Hurry, press the elevator!" Collier realized as he spoke, his mind racing. He was the only one who knew the code to the red elevator.
He rushed forward, shoved the man aside, and entered the code on the keyboard that popped up.
Soon the elevator doors opened, and Collier saw the masked Han agent still standing there, looking naive. "Are you going to stay out here and die? Come on in!"
The agent lowered his head and said nothing. After entering the elevator, he even bowed respectfully.
"Stupid monkey," Collier, a black man, muttered two rather discriminatory words and pressed the down button.
(End of Chapter)