The World of American Drama: From the Los Angeles Patrol

Chapter 1518 The Fall of Olympus (Fifteen)

"It's good to see you're okay."

Maureen hugged Zoe tightly, her nose felt sore and she almost cried. She was not only worried about her friend, but also felt wronged for herself.

Suddenly, disaster struck, and he became the acting president, spending the entire night battling wits with a group of professional bureaucrats while also worrying about the safety of his friends and loved ones.

"Why didn't he come out with you?" In the lounge, the two finally had a moment alone, and Maureen couldn't wait to ask in a low voice.

Zoe recounted in a low voice her meeting with David Rossi before being sent to the Pentagon.

"They suspect that there is a mastermind behind all of this, someone who not only knew about the existence of the 'Aurora Borealis' project, but also secretly used Department of Defense resources to improve 'Samaritan'."

Jack believed the Capitol building incident was merely an accident; controlling the Cerberus system was the real objective, and this time someone genuinely wanted to instigate a world war.

Although the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is an outdated product of the Cold War, it remains a coveted national treasure for 99% of the world's countries.

With a global strike range, each rocket carries three thermonuclear warheads, enough to destroy or completely paralyze any major city in the world once it lands.

This is the real "Sword of Damocles".

Although Maureen had been informed beforehand and ordered the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation of all missile units on combat readiness, she still found the idea of ​​a world war, which sounded so far-fetched, hard to believe.

The Federation has been a beacon of the world for nearly half a century. Although it occasionally bullies a few small countries to make a living from war, neither the upper nor lower classes have much interest in world wars.

After all, this is not the time of World War I or II. Even if the whole world is fighting each other to the death, North America can still stay in the rear and make a fortune from the war.

So Maureen couldn't understand what kind of person would want to start a world war in this way.

"It certainly won't be that South Korean president; he might already be dead in the Capitol Building," Zoe said, pursing her lips.

Maureen wasn't as optimistic as her, and subconsciously looked towards the entrance to the lounge, "Or maybe it's inside this Pentagon."

Assisting “always vigilant” terrorists in stealing an AC130, bribing a duty officer in the missile force, and previously providing substantial funds to assist in training suicide bombers in South Africa all indicate that the other party holds a significant position within the federation.

Zoe thought for a while, and finally whispered a single word, "Israel?"

But she quickly shook her head and dismissed the guess. Although the Judah financial group was deeply entrenched within the Federation, doing so would not benefit those financial tycoons at all.

Local wars can indeed generate profits, but under nuclear weapons, all beings are equal.

Even if the rich manage to escape by hiding in underground bunkers, without their countless cattle and horses, their money will become worthless.

Maureen took out a wet wipe from her bag and handed it to Zoe, saying comfortingly, "Ms. Morge has an idea; she believes that the other party is at least an insider of the 'Northern Lights' project."

According to Mr. Finch, there were only eight people, including himself, who initially knew about the plan.

I've already requested that the NSA's "chief controller" of the "Intelligence Support Operations Division" come to the Pentagon immediately, and I've also invited those friends Jack referred to as "POIs." Perhaps we'll soon know the truth.

"I hope so. My only worry now is Jack; I hope so."

Zoe had only spoken half her worried words when there was a gentle knock on the lounge door, followed by Joey Reicher's voice, "Ladies, there's some noise at the White House front gate. You'd better come and take a look."
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The federal military command has two characteristics: one is that civilians control military power, and the other is that the Department of Defense commands the three armed forces.

The second one is a bit more complicated, with a separation of command and management, and a dual-track system for combat and daily management, which means that military management is divided into two aspects: the combat command system and the military management system.

Therefore, in the federal government, the Secretary of Defense is the highest-ranking military administrator. Although he is a civilian and does not even have a military rank, all active-duty military personnel, including the chiefs of staff of each service, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, must address him as "Sir."

However, the Secretary of Defense usually does not need to understand military affairs, or even anything at all, because the power to make war decisions rests with the President, while the power to command rests with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

However, the Minister of Defense remains highly important among cabinet ministers. He serves as a bridge between the president and the military, and is also a key lobbying target for the defense industry.

The current defense minister is named Hageses, and he is very young, not even 45 years old, making him a true second-generation politician.

Although he served in the National Guard for three years, it's not like an ordinary person could spend two months in Iraq and retire with the rank of Army Major.

The middle-aged man, who at first glance bears a striking resemblance to Henry Cavill ("Superman"), was in a very disheveled state, completely lacking the fortitude and fearlessness that President Yin had displayed during his video call with the Pentagon.

As several searchlights illuminated the scene, the media reporters who had been dozing off outside the cordon instantly perked up.

Major television networks like the BBC brought in filming vehicles equipped with lifts, sending their photographers more than ten meters into the air. Other media outlets were not to be outdone; those without lifts simply climbed onto the roofs of their vehicles, all in an effort to capture firsthand footage.

Inside the Pentagon, images from various angles and using different imaging methods were projected onto the command screens, clearly showing the Secretary of Defense's disheveled appearance. "Is he crying?" Maureen asked, her eyes slightly narrowed, somewhat uncertain. However, no one answered; everyone's attention was focused on the live feed.

Hagibis was kicked hard out of the White House main entrance and fell awkwardly onto the steps. A light inside flickered towards him, and it seemed that someone inside was shouting orders at him.

There was a great deal of discussion in the underground command center.

"What are they going to do? Humiliate him in public?"

"No, it was a public shooting; they intended to show us their resolve."

"Our plan worked!" someone exclaimed excitedly, clenching their fist in celebration.

The Secretary of Defense rose awkwardly from the steps, sobbing as he limped toward the lawn in front of the White House, while behind him, the dark muzzles of guns slowly rose.

Michael Collier, standing far from the doorway, grinned maliciously. His purpose was simple: the Secretary of Defense, who had easily revealed the Cerberus code after just one beating, was now useless and could be put to good use.

"boom!"

Gunshots rang out, and Hagersese let out a piercing scream, stopping in place and trembling all over. Just when everyone thought he had been shot, more and more intense gunshots rang out inside the White House.

Michael Collier's hand trembled, and although he pulled the trigger, the bullet flew off somewhere, while his men protecting him fell one after another in the sudden sound of gunfire.

"action!"

At the same time, with a command from David Rossi in the forward command post, four Black Hawk helicopters that were originally patrolling in the distance suddenly changed their flight path and headed straight for the White House.

Two special operations teams launched an attack simultaneously and quickly reached the flower bed at the main gate. One of the soldiers bravely tackled the panicked Minister of National Defense who was standing there in disarray.

After confirming that he had no explosives on him, two more soldiers stepped forward with shields and dragged Hagibis back.

Almost simultaneously, Black Hawk Down over the White House, and GE's flagship product—a six-barreled Gatling gun—unleashed long tongues of fire, instantly turning seven or eight armed men patrolling the roof into mincemeat.

In the rush, only one shoulder-fired Stinger missile was activated. A flame shot straight into the sky but failed to hit any target. Instead, it was lost in the dazzling barrage of decoy flares and exploded into a firework in mid-air.

"Get out!"

Michael Collier, who originally planned to commit murder in public to establish his authority, was terrified by this sudden turn of events and turned to run towards the corridor leading to the elevator.

He couldn't understand how the situation could have completely reversed in the blink of an eye, when just a second ago the White House was still under his control and he had even brought five or six more subordinates with him when he left the underground bunker.
Seeing his subordinates die one by one in the blink of an eye, Collier didn't think twice. He rushed into the corridor, grabbed the walkie-talkie, and started shouting as he ran.

"Cease fire! Guard the gates!"

At Jason Hayes's command, the seals lying in ambush all raised their guns, watching as Michael Collier disappeared alone at the end of the corridor.

As the SEALs launched their ambush and Black Hawks swept the rooftops in the sky, multiple special operations teams stormed into the White House from different directions.

After leaving one person to help the Secretary of Defense away, the two teams in front of the main entrance were the first to enter the White House and join Team B.

Instead of rushing to the red elevator leading to the underground fortress, they began clearing the area floor by floor, aiming to eliminate the still somewhat bewildered terrorists on the periphery as quickly as possible.

"Sir, this way!" A shout startled Collier, who was staggering around the corner of the corridor. He instinctively raised his gun and pointed it at a subordinate waiting at the elevator.

"%*&%￥@"

The other person was so frightened that they immediately raised their hands and uttered a string of incomprehensible Spanish.

"Press the elevator button!" Collier realized he'd been scared out of his wits as soon as the words left his mouth; he was the only one who knew the password for this red elevator.

So he rushed forward in a huff, shoved the other person aside, and entered the access code on the automatically popped-up keyboard.

The elevator doors opened quickly, and seeing the South Korean agent in the black mask still standing there dumbfounded, Collier snapped, "Are you just going to stay out there and wait to die? Get in here!"

The other person kept their head down and didn't dare to say a word. After entering the elevator, they even bowed respectfully to him.

“Stupid monkey.” Collier, a Black man, muttered two discriminatory words under his breath as he pressed the down button on the elevator.

(End of this chapter)