Chapter 78: Militech and the NUSA
Unlike the emotional firestorm erupting at Biotechnica, the atmosphere within Militech's deeper, more secure Strategic Command Center was one of almost frigid rationality.
The death of Lt. Colonel Karl Strange had, of course, sent a ripple through the Special Projects Division, especially among those who had served with him. But that ripple was quickly subsumed by a larger, more utilitarian strategic analysis.
For Militech, an entity born from the old American military-industrial complex and devoted to pragmatic, profit-driven logic, the loss of one operational coordinator—while regrettable—was filed under "acceptable combat attrition."
What truly galvanized the High Command was not the death, but the technology behind it, the strategic intent, and the immense, paradigm-shifting potential it represented.
Within a physically isolated, signal-dampened virtual strategy room, the holographic avatars of key decision-makers materialized. There were no pleasantries. The meeting cut directly to the core issue.
The massive, circular display showed the preliminary field analyses of the Strange and Winters assassinations, side-by-side with an enlarged projection of the "reparations list" and ceasefire terms delivered by Elliot Kwan.
A four-star General, his hair white, his voice calm with the authority of high command, spoke first.
"The initial analysis of the operational style is complete. The infiltration vector, the timing, the execution-efficiency, and the exfiltration... it was precise, efficient, and cold. It does not match the operational doctrine of any known assassin-cell, rival corporate-ops team, or international merc-group in our database."
"The enemy chose not to maximize terror, but employed a 'precision decapitation' strike, combined with the deliberate sparing of a messenger. This, in itself, is a powerful signal." He paused, letting the others process the information.
"He is demonstrating the capability to strike any of our, or our key partners', critical-node personnel, at any time, in any location."
"But at the same time," another avatar, a woman in the severe, tailored suit of a high-level civilian administrator, interjected, "he just as clearly drew a line. This is not, at least in his current calculus, a declaration of total war."
"He used Kwan to deliver clear terms: specific resources and a total cessation of hostilities."
"This list," she gestured to the screen, "is not trivial. Several items, particularly the 'off-world extraction' crystals and high-purity radioisotopes, are costly and difficult to procure. But they are not impossible for Militech, with our channels and strategic reserves, to acquire."
"This feels like a probe. A test to see if we are willing to pay this... 'toll'... to avoid a greater, direct conflict. Or, thinking deeper, perhaps this is an intentional opening... a pretext for a more substantial dialogue."
The General nodded. "Strange's death, Winters's death, and Kwan's terror... they were the leverage, adding credibility and urgency to this 'invoice'."
"He is telling us, in the most brutal terms, that the price of continued engagement will be blood."
"And yet, it is noteworthy that he left room to negotiate. He did not burn the bridge."
"An entity capable of exploiting the Blackwall protocols for a global broadcast, possessing unknown bio-augmentation techniques, wielding high-efficiency energy weapons, and having the assets to execute an assassination of this level... the potential strategic value represented here far exceeds the personal value of Colonel Strange, or even the total materiel losses from the Route 66 operation."
At this point, another attendee—Davis, the NUSA Deputy Assistant for National Security and the direct representative of President Rosalind Myers—interjected, his tone calm and clear, elevating the discussion to the highest strategic level.
"I am here to convey the President's direct, unequivocal directive." Davis's avatar leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over the decision-makers.
"Based on a full assessment of the current situation, President Myers orders an immediate halt to all direct, large-scale military retaliation protocols."
"She emphasizes that any impulsive or excessive reaction at this stage could trigger an uncontrollable chain of events, dragging us into a high-cost, long-term conflict against an unknown variable."
Davis continued, "The President's assessment is that this entity's demonstrated capabilities have transcended the category of a conventional asymmetrical-warfare threat."
"This is no longer a simple security matter or a corporate-friction incident. This is a paradigm-shift in strategic technology."
"She instructs that the primary objective is not retaliation. It is contact—cautious, exploratory, non-public contact."
"Our core goal is to assess the possibility, and the price, of a transaction."
"On the value-scale of Militech and the NUSA, the loss of specific personnel, when weighed against the potential acquisition of a technology that could ensure market-monopoly or strategic-dominance, is an acceptable 'cost of business'."
"Technological supremacy... is the eternal core of our long-term advantage."
He elaborated, "President Myers specifically noted that the enemy's message, while forceful, was logically consistent and the objectives were clear."
"They are not seeking random destruction; they are demanding respect and compensation, and have implied a future channel for trade."
"This rational behavior, compared to pure terrorism, is the hallmark of a mature, strategic-minded entity. We must exploit this."
Another attendee, a tech-assessor, added, "From a technical standpoint, the reparations list itself is valuable intel. The specific crystals and isotopes he's demanding... their applications are in high-energy physics, directed-energy weapons, and advanced propulsion systems. This indirectly confirms our assessment of his capability. Meeting this demand will be costly, but if it buys us a window for dialogue—or even, in the future, a limited technological exchange—the potential return on investment is astronomical."
A brief silence fell as the attendees processed this strategic shift.
The General spoke first. "So, on the operational level, how do we proceed? Direct contact is high-risk. We don't even know who or where he is."
Davis replied, "The President has authorized the use of non-official, deniable channels for the initial probe."
"Encrypted, multi-node, anonymous comms. Or perhaps a trusted, neutral, third-party information broker. The core message will be: We have received your terms. We are giving them serious consideration and are willing to discuss the details of the reparations list and its execution, on the condition that all further hostile actions cease."
"At the same time, we must make it clear that any future cooperation will be based on mutual security and an exchange of value."
He concluded, "President Myers's bottom line is clear: De-escalate. Buy time. Find out what this is. If this entity truly possesses key technologies we do not understand, then bringing it into a controlled, or at least co-existent, framework is far more beneficial to our long-term interests than a high-cost, high-attrition war. The sacrifices of Colonel Strange and Ms. Winters must serve as a warning, not as the trigger for a greater disaster."
The meeting reached a consensus: All public-facing and military operations against Maine's crew and the entity behind them were to be suspended. A protocol for initiating covert contact was to be activated immediately. A cross-departmental task force would be formed to assess the feasibility of the reparations list and draft detailed risk-assessment and engagement-contingencies.
(End of Chapter)