The Situation Room in the West Wing of the White House, Washington, DC, USA, around afternoon.
People were sitting at the long rectangular table inside the conference hall, and not only the inside but also the outside lobby were full of attendants and staff.
It was because the situation room was full of high-ranking officials.
The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense and even the President.
All the high-ranking officials under his command filled the conference table and were looking at the large screen in front with a serious expression.
It was because an explosion had just occurred in Hong Kong in the video being transmitted.
The president’s brow furrowed.
I don’t know all the details of the operation, but it was because I understood that the explosion was a planned sabotage operation and was used when necessary.
Around the time when the pitch-black sky was dyed red due to the explosion.
Soon the screen changed.
Satellite image of three vans disguised as press vehicles moving southeast.
It was like passing a barricade that had just been installed and stopped.
At the same time, the president let out a shallow breath.
“after… … .”
Every operation he had ever seen was important and risky, but this time was different in many ways.
To go to enemy countries and secure Norman Jones.
Of course, there is a history of entering and exiting Hong Kong, but the problem came next.
China’s response.
There was no way they were being helpless again.
Of course, more troops were being deployed than before, but there was a high possibility that more measures would be taken.
He even had a subordinate of Pikal, who had a close relationship with China.
It was unclear what serious threats there might be.
I couldn’t help but be concerned.
Simulation results from the Department of Defense and the CIA also showed several risks.
By the time I watched this with concern.
A staff member quietly entered the situation room and whispered to the Secretary of State, who then carefully reported back to the President.
“… The Chinese ambassador to the United States is waiting at the entrance of the White House, and the Chinese Foreign Minister is contacting the hotline and requesting a call with a ministerial level or higher.”
At that, the president shook his head.
It was something I had already expected, and there was nothing special about it.
“Go as planned.”
“All right.”
Delays in contact or calls, and issuance of official statements after the operation is complete.
This was the scenario the US was preparing for.
China should not have been given any room to intervene.
However, it wasn’t long before more staff came in and started making verbal reports to their direct superiors.
The same goes for Thomas, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the CIA.
Not only the two of them, but also the Secretary of State, who received an additional report, looked at the president.
The president was just getting a new report.
And there was also something unexpected in it.
“… Six black CIA operatives in Beijing and Shanghai lost contact with an emergency signal.”
“director! Didn’t most of the black agents say they were returning home or in safe houses?”
the president asked right away.
This was because the operation was particularly dangerous, and the president himself approved the report after hearing it.
The CIA director cautiously opened his mouth.
“I did, but… The safe house appears to be exposed.”
“Are you saying the Chinese were aware of the safe house? Are secrets leaked again?”
The president’s voice rose to the top.
It was because, due to the example of Norman Jones, a large-scale special audit was conducted at major facilities such as the White House, the Department of Defense, and the CIA.
Even the smallest mistakes and minor crimes were revealed, as if scraping from the bottom with a net.
In the process, even those who made a simple mistake were taken measures, and the water was changed once, and the related security regulations were further strengthened.
Another leak of confidentiality could not have happened here.
If that is possible, there will be no further action for the United States to take.
As the president looked at this, the CIA director shook his head.
“Not really. They must have obtained suspicious circumstances or related intelligence in the area.”
“… Then what happened?”
“From what has been confirmed so far, it appears that at least 200,000 Chinese military, police, and civil servants have been deployed to the city to inspect all buildings and facilities.”
“… … .”
The president wiped his face.
It was because it was unimaginable that 200,000 people moved and occupied the entire city after hearing simple intelligence.
Even 200,000 was an enormous number, equivalent to 1/7 of the US Standing Army.
This was something only China could do.
In the meantime, Thomas, who had received a similar report as the head of the Department of Defense, added an additional explanation.
“That’s right. The Chinese Communist Party temporarily occupied the area and cut off communication and traffic.”
“Were you unable to confirm the military’s movements?”
“I guessed that there would be construction or military experiments inside the unit because there were signs that a lot of construction-related vehicles were coming in and out, but it is expected that most of the troops left at that time. We will review the relevant content as soon as we return.”
At the same time, the CIA director stood up.
“I think I need to go out for a while, Mr. President.”
“… Do by that way. We will focus on ensuring the safety of our agents in China, and please check one thing before leaving.”
The president spoke in distress, and the CIA director, who was about to leave, answered.
“Yes, please.”
“Then what about safe houses in Hong Kong?”
“While planning the operation, there were no abnormal signs or dangers at all, but since the area is currently under siege and being searched, it would be better to order an escape and secure the identity of the agent.”
At that, the president nodded his head with difficulty.
“… Take action like that.”
“All right.”
The CIA director left, and the president looked up at the shaky body-cam footage.
It was similar to his genus.
It was pitch-black and it was shaking to the point of dizziness.
The president’s head bowed again.
It was acceptable that the safe house was exposed, but it was because the life and death of six black agents, and possibly more, was at stake.
Retaliation took place in Beijing and Shanghai, even unexpectedly.
when I was concerned about it.
As soon as the screen in front of my eyes changed, one of the generals in charge of the progress of the situation opened his mouth.
“Team 1 got out of Shenzhen Bay in China safely.”
“oh… … !”
After someone’s admiration, applause broke out at the same time.
Clap clap clap clap clap—!
At the same time, the president applauded, but even his heavy face did not lighten.
It was because Team 2, which was inside Hong Kong, was still in the process of being kicked out, and Team 1 was able to be kicked out thanks to the focus on them.
I was aiming for a kind of distraction effect, and it hit the spot.
Moreover, the exit process was not easy enough to carry out not only explosions in Hong Kong, but also additional disruption operations such as communication jamming.
It was a lot of work and took a lot of time.
As the president’s tension increased, Thomas, who was next to him, held out the file he had just received from a staff member.
“President.”
Wanting something, the president, who received the folder, opened the cover, and Thomas continued quietly.
“This document is from Hong Kong.”
“… … !”
Inside were photographs of Norman Jones and related documents.
To be precise, there were several high-definition images of the deceased Norman’s face and whole body, and several printed images, DNA analysis results from the safe house, and fingerprint matching results.
At the same time, Thomas opened his mouth.
“So don’t worry too much and keep an eye on them. They will come out just as they did when they infiltrated, and not a single one will be killed or injured.”
Then Thomas looked at Robert, who was occupying the last seat in the conference table.
“Isn’t it? Anderson?”
Thomas called out to Robert and asked as if to confirm.
It was because he was not as knowledgeable about that team as Robert, but at least he knew better than the president, who lacked military knowledge.
Everyone is competent, and the team leader, Jake, was a legendary monster, but among them, Kang-tae was more outstanding, so he couldn’t be modified or judged.
In particular, shooting skills were impossible to analyze.
It was the result of acquiring a video and analyzing Kang-tae’s posture frame by frame, the direction of his gaze when shooting, and the strength of his finger pulling the trigger.
He was perfect both physically and mentally.
As I looked at it with that thought in mind, Robert nodded as if he knew well.
“you’re right.”
Thomas asked the president again, thinking that it was a fact rather than a chit-chat.
“Do you remember when he offered me the post of minister?”
“… I will.”
The president replied with a firm face.
At a time when the status of the military fell due to a confidentiality leak, he asked Thomas to lead the military.
Instead of another person with excellent administrative ability, I asked him to become a pillar to support the military with a strong spirit, and also to protect it from threats to the United States.
Thomas recalled that time as well.
“So, Mr. President, do not be alarmed.”
“Do I look like that?”
“Yes, I feel like I’ve aged 3 years in 30 minutes.”
“Then, my life may end before the end of my term, so I’ll make up my mind quickly.”
“Okay, Mr. President.”
While the Minister of Defense was answering, a change occurred on the screen as well.
The patrol boat was approaching the coast near Daepoong Bay, east of Hong Kong, where it was about to leave.
Wait for the radio to come and go quickly.
Before I knew it, MCX, who was checking the chamber, appeared on the body cam video.
It is also a situation that Kang-tae is manipulating.
There was a very high probability that an engagement would break out soon.
Even the president knew it well.
It was because as soon as you got out of that narrow coast, there was the wide South China Sea, and there was a US Navy warship protecting Taiwan and the US forces in Taiwan.
They had no choice but to overpower the guard boat and escape.
Of course, it would be nice if they didn’t get caught, but that seemed unlikely.
It was because there were not one or two patrol boats.
Ships sent from China were lined up on the nearby shore, as if creating a tight boundary.
It’s as if they’re not allowed to go out to sea.
Not only Hong Kong’s eastern side, but also the western side, from which they had just escaped, was being blocked.
Additional information came in.
A Chinese navy warship is also said to be coming nearby.
Soon after, the president asked.
“Are machine guns deployed on Chinese patrol boats?”
“There are many things that are missing, but there are many things that are there.”
“… … .”
The president fell silent again.
I would have thought so if it was one ship, but it was because more than 10 ships were displayed on the sea.
Even if three or four people board, there will be 30 to 40 people when it is full.
Most of all, the condition of the allies was not good.
I don’t know if it was shooting while standing on the same boat, but it was because I had to get out of the sea while hanging on a 1-meter cylindrical propeller.
If you’re hanging there, you won’t be able to shoot.
with a splash.
With the sound of water, Kang-tae and about a dozen other people were moving while clinging to the diver’s thrusters.
As soon as the underwater motors sounded, gunshots began to ring out as if they had been waiting.
“… … !”
the president paused
It was because the Chinese radio that was being wiretapped said that a navy warship was moving and that the nearby military base and police were approaching the shore.
Around the time when you want to stay in the water as quickly as possible and not get hit.
Kang-tae’s personal body cam appeared on the screen, and soon the shooting on the surface really began.
Empty, empty, empty—!
It was like firing a machine gun.
It also exploded while exchanging magazines, but soon the meeting room became quiet.
The gunfire on the screen stopped, and that was because even those who watched it didn’t even breathe and just looked at it.
Soon Kang-tae’s voice on the radio filled the situation room.
– 025 Bravo branch, all clear.