Invasion of America

Chapter 119 Overexcitement
Before dawn in Washington, news of Harden's plane crash was gradually reaching Dongda University and was directly reported to ***'s desk.

The initial news was that Harden went missing after attending a U.S. Navy party, and since the crash site was at the mouth of the sea, it was highly likely that even his body would be difficult to find.

All those in the know were immediately filled with sighs and heartache.

"Sigh, I knew his position was dangerous, but I didn't expect it to be this dangerous. He's only been in power for a few days, has he already been exposed?"

"The struggle between China and the United States is a long and arduous one, and we really can't expect any shortcuts."

"Let's seal up the relevant files. Perhaps people will be surprised to discover this extraordinary person and event decades from now."

At this moment, news of Harden's plane crash dominated the headlines of major media outlets.

Almost all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, skin color, or ethnicity, reacted to this news with extreme shock, yet it was also expected.

Not only the American internet, but the whole world immediately took notice of this matter, and related comments emerged like a tsunami.

"This is a despicable assassination; the US political establishment has lost all ability to correct its mistakes."

"It's over. Although I hate Harden, he shouldn't have died like this. This is dictatorship. We've become the very thing we hate most."

"A person who was truly willing to do things is gone, leaving behind a bunch of useless people who do nothing, never make mistakes, and only talk about getting votes."

As Americans mourned Harden's death and denounced the darkness of Washington's politics, satellite antennas were erected in the "Playground" shelter to send encrypted messages back home using highly directional microwaves.

Just as the police were figuring out how to handle this highly classified case, they were surprised to learn that 'Harden' was not dead.

"He fell from a height of 600 meters and didn't die?"

"This guy also rescued the two people who were with him. The three rescued people have been transferred to a safe area and are receiving emergency treatment."

"What are we going to do now? Washington is planning to give him a state funeral."

The situation took a complete 180-degree turn, catching everyone in the know off guard. And an even more surprising development was then presented to the officials.

"Data sent back by the homeland surveillance satellite shows that the USS Ford, which is docked at the Norfolk Naval Base, is exhibiting abnormal infrared signatures. Preliminary analysis suggests that its internal compartments may be on fire."

ah.? !
That aircraft carrier seems to have just been visited by that kid. What a coincidence! Could it be related to him?
In space orbits hundreds or even tens of thousands of kilometers above the Earth, reconnaissance satellites of military powers watch over potential adversaries' "major weapons" with the vigilance of tireless eagles.

The USS Ford, a supercarrier equipped with cutting-edge technology, is under constant surveillance, and any slight movement will attract attention.

The Russian news agency TASS is the most fond of capturing this kind of 'fun'.

As soon as the first unusual wisp of smoke rose inside the USS Ford, they were quick to release news:
"Based on infrared signature analysis from military reconnaissance satellites, the USS Ford aircraft carrier, located at Norfolk Naval Base, is on fire."

This news initially did not cause much of a stir in the international media.

After all, the powerful image that the U.S. Navy has cultivated over the years is deeply ingrained in people's minds. How could such a low-level fire accident occur on a supercarrier that costs hundreds of billions of dollars?
Russians often fabricate news, and the comment section of TASS news reports is filled with various comments questioning and mocking the news.

"Let's worry about your ill-fated 'Kuznetsov' first. It was the one that was actually burned. When will it leave the shipyard?"

"Have some basic military knowledge, okay? The USS Ford is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with strict protection measures in its core areas. Even if an accident occurs, it is impossible for it to emit thick smoke like an ordinary warship."

"When will you Slavic beasts go to the front lines? We look forward to you fighting a second 'Afghan War' and tasting the bitterness of disintegration once again."

Faced with a flood of doubts and ridicule, TASS did not back down and quickly presented even stronger evidence—several infrared and optical imaging photos taken by satellites in different orbits.

Infrared photographs clearly show that the surface of the USS Ford, anchored at the Norfolk Naval Base, exhibits unusually high temperatures.

The massive hull resembled a red-hot iron block scorched by flames, with the central heat source area being dazzlingly bright.

In the optical photographs, thick black plumes of smoke were seen continuously billowing from the midsection and stern of the USS Ford, shooting straight into the sky and leaving glaring inky streaks in the gray-blue sky.

At the port's docks, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances swarmed like ants, and a large number of fireboats and tugboats were also rapidly approaching within the port.

People could clearly see that several port control vessels were using high-pressure water cannons to spray water jets violently at the hull of the USS Ford in an attempt to reduce its ever-increasing temperature.

However, the water jets impacting the sides and deck only turned into white mist and did not have any effect at all.

A TASS military commentator seized the opportunity to publish a highly sarcastic commentary, filled with mockery and schadenfreude:
"Such intense infrared signatures and billowing smoke are enough to indicate that the fire inside this most advanced aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy has completely spiraled out of control."

It is highly likely that it has burned through multiple decks and even threatened the core area of ​​the ship.

The seawater sprayed from the outside is almost futile in extinguishing the flames deep inside; at best, it only provides some psychological comfort.

"We can now open a betting pool to see if this super battleship, which cost a whopping $13 billion to build, will ultimately be completely destroyed by this fire and turned into a pile of expensive scrap metal."

The commenter added sarcastically, "Hopefully this fire won't cause as many casualties and a long repair period as it did with the Forrestal and Enterprise."

And certainly not like the USS Miami nuclear submarine and the USS Bonhomme Richard amphibious assault ship, which were burned to the point of being scrapped.

Now the world realized that America had gotten itself into even bigger trouble—its prized aircraft carrier was actually on fire.
-
The fire on the USS Ford started at night. Despite the efforts of hundreds of damage control personnel, the raging flames did not diminish at all. Instead, they became even more ferocious as they spread through the ventilation ducts and flammable materials.

By daybreak, all non-combat personnel on board had already evacuated.

Port fire brigade and local fire department vehicles arrived with sirens blaring, their bright orange fire trucks contrasting sharply with the gray warships.

General Alvin, carrying four silver stars, was on the verge of madness. Faced with a series of situation reports, he had exhausted all means and was fighting like a cornered beast.

With a displacement of over 100,000 tons, the massive hull of the USS Ford resembles a steel island floating on the water.

The flight deck is tens of meters above the ground and can only be connected by a few narrow gangways.

This acts as a natural barrier, greatly limiting the rapid deployment of firefighters and heavy firefighting equipment.

The water jets sprayed from the outside scattered most of their length high into the air, rendering them ineffective against the raging fires hidden deep inside the ship's hull—they were merely scratching the surface and could not reach the vital point at all.

Admiral Alvin knew that the only hope lay in activating the warship's own fire suppression system and getting the sprinkler systems throughout the compartments to work.

Just then, the general's adjutant staggered over with unfocused eyes, and said in a trembling voice filled with despair, "General... there's an extremely bad situation."

Trapped in the 'living and housing area,' the renovation workers, finding all escape routes blocked, desperate to survive,... used an acetylene cutter to forcibly cut open several fireproof, sealed doors.

The admiral was both shocked and furious. "Where did this acetylene cutting machine come from? Who gave them permission to bring that thing onto the warship?" It's normal to bring some equipment when it comes to renovations.

Dismantling the steel-framed compartments requires some tough work.

So isn't it perfectly reasonable for those renovation workers to bring acetylene cutting machines onto the ship?
The lieutenant colonel said with a sob in his voice, "What's worse is that the fire has spread to the electrical system of the damage control equipment."

Some of the critical fire pumps have lost power and are unable to pump water to fight the fire. Currently, the temperature in the power compartment has risen sharply, and the nuclear reactor…”

The lieutenant colonel's voice abruptly stopped, not because he didn't want to continue, but because the situation had deteriorated to an indescribable degree.

Even with the naked eye, Admiral Alvin could clearly see that not only were there no more firefighters boarding the USS Ford, but people in fireproof suits were frantically evacuating from the gangway.

The reason is simple: the internal structure of this supercarrier is extremely complex, with twenty-five decks, each divided into countless compartments with different functions, like a giant maze.

Even experienced naval sailors are often only familiar with the area where they work.

For outsiders, venturing inside is like the blind men and the elephant. Moreover, the ship is currently filled with high temperatures and toxic fumes, with visibility practically zero.

Those firefighters who finally managed to board the warship often couldn't even accurately locate the source of the fire before being forced back by the sweltering heat and thick smoke.

If they don't evacuate now, all that awaits them is to be consumed by flames.

What about the damage control personnel who are most familiar with the internal structure of warships?

During the months-long maintenance period, thousands of crew members had already taken turns on leave. Some went ashore to enjoy a well-deserved vacation, while others unfortunately contracted the virus and are receiving treatment in hospitals.

The difficulty of recalling them all in a short period of time is virtually insurmountable.

A roar came from the sky as an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, carrying a huge yellow fire bucket, swooped down and poured thousands of liters of water onto the smoke-filled flight deck.

This small amount of water was woefully inadequate for the raging fire inside the ship, evaporating instantly without even a slight cooling effect.

General Alvin stood like a statue before the harbor pier, slowly turning around. His gaze swept over the dozen or so officers behind him, their shoulder insignia gleaming with high-ranking military rank. He couldn't suppress a roar of fury:

"What are you all standing here for? Use your pig brains and think of a solution!"
"At least find out which damned bastard started this fire! If I catch him, I'll kill him a hundred times over!"
-
Inside the medical room of the "Playground" shelter.

Xiao Jinlang lay stiffly on the hospital bed, a white neck brace fixing his neck like a shackle.

Now in his fifties, with graying temples, this fall from a height of several hundred meters was a nightmare of narrow escape from death for this old man.

He didn't die from the fall, but half of his soul was shattered by the fright.

When he woke up in a daze, he was told that he had multiple fractures, more than a dozen soft tissue contusions, and a concussion.

Every slight movement was accompanied by unbearable pain.

Fortunately, Zhou Qingfeng's rescue was very timely, and Chen Rui also quickly arrived by plane. The medical personnel and equipment in the shelter were unexpectedly excellent.

This series of factors miraculously pulled Lao Xiao back from the brink of death.

After examination, the doctor determined that since there was no internal bleeding, Xiao Jinlang only needed to rest quietly for half a month to gradually recover.

The younger girl, Shani, is in a more serious condition and needs to be transferred to a well-equipped, reputable hospital as soon as possible for further treatment.

At this moment, the realistic white disguise on Xiao Jinlang's face had been carefully removed, revealing his originally slightly dark complexion.

The hospital bed was slightly raised so that he could lie in a semi-reclined position, making it easier for him to eat and drink, and maintain basic physiological functions.

A young nurse thoughtfully turned on the wall-mounted TV in the ward, hoping to play some news programs to cheer up the elderly man who had just been out of danger.

On the screen, the host was broadcasting the news in a somber tone that "Harden" had gone missing and that the search and rescue operation was progressing poorly. The helicopter was circling over the vast sea, and the atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.

This news meant nothing to Lao Xiao. Just a few minutes later, the news feed suddenly switched, and a striking headline filled the screen:
Breaking news! The USS Ford aircraft carrier, docked at Naval Base Norfolk, is on fire!

In the footage, thick black smoke rises from the massive aircraft carrier like a rolling python, with flames faintly visible, creating a shocking contrast with the surrounding azure sea.

"According to the official statement, the fire is still under control, and the Navy is confident that it will be extinguished within hours," the news anchor calmly reported the official statement.

"However, several international media outlets have expressed doubts, believing that the scale of the fire far exceeds expectations and that it is highly likely to get out of control."

Analysts have pointed out that the flames may have destroyed many important compartments of the warship, and may even have burned through the internal deck. If the fire spreads to the nuclear reactor area below, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"The White House has publicly stated that it will do everything in its power to mobilize all available firefighting resources in the surrounding area to assist the Navy in its firefighting efforts."

The Pentagon also issued a statement saying it would not stand idly by while the expensive USS Ford aircraft carrier was engulfed in flames.

"Another well-informed source revealed that the USS Ford has been staying in naval port recently to undergo interior renovations."

During this period, there may be many violations such as chaotic management, some personnel leaving their posts without authorization, and violations of fire safety regulations.

This is very likely the direct cause of the fire.

"As for the specific losses caused by the fire, it is not yet possible to make an accurate assessment."

However, several members of Congress stated in interviews that regardless of the extent of the damage to the USS Ford, they have full confidence in the post-disaster recovery efforts.

At first, Xiao Jinlang stared wide-eyed at the supercarrier billowing thick smoke on the television screen with a look of amazement, as if watching a spectacle.

When he heard the words "renovation," "fire safety," and "chaotic management" mentioned in the news, his previously calm expression suddenly turned agitated, and his wrinkled eyes twitched violently.

Because of the thick neck brace he was wearing, he could not turn his head freely, let alone speak clearly. He could only try his best to open his mouth wide, making muffled "hoho" sounds from his throat.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" The young nurse next to him was startled by Xiao Jinlang's sudden reaction. She quickly got up, bent down, and asked with concern.

She leaned close to Lao Xiao's mouth, listening carefully to the subtle sounds he made.

After a moment, she managed to catch a few broken, indistinct whispers. The voice was hoarse and rapid, sounding somewhat overly excited, but completely incomprehensible.

"That...that pee...it was that pee...that brat...one pee...and took down an...aircraft carrier!"

(End of this chapter)