February 10, 1996, early morning, thick fog enveloped everything.
The Illinois-Indiana State Border, once a symbol of welcome for interstate travelers, now loomed in the fog like a tombstone.
West of the state border, a hilly area was covered by camouflage nets.
Numerous M1A1 "Abrams" main battle tanks, repainted with the Illinois star emblem, and the low rumble of M2 "Bradley" infantry fighting vehicles, with their exhaust ports spewing white mist mixing with the morning fog.
The soldiers wore Illinois standard digital camouflage, repeatedly checking their equipment, with expressions of nervous excitement on their faces.
Beside an M2A3 command version "Bradley" equipped with extra communication antennas, at the front line, Ludwig Becker glanced at his wristwatch, the hands precisely pointing to the moment of attack initiation.
He picked up the transmitter, his voice transmitted through an encrypted channel to the ears of every attack unit commander.
