The sixty-day military campaign officially began the moment General Mattis set foot on the African continent...
The vanguard forces departed from an Air Force base in Tennessee and, after a ten-hour flight, arrived at the border region of Kenya.
Near the Wakandan border in Kenya, the guide, Ulysses Klaue, had been waiting for a long time, accompanied by a contingent of mutants and members of the Brotherhood.
Standing amidst the vast grasslands of East Africa, the American soldiers who were accustomed to deployments in the Middle East or their homeland gazed in awe at the famous Great Rift Valley and the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
Supplies and equipment were continuously transported via military cargo planes, while the newly erected camp stood like a fortress, with rows of neatly arranged structures.
The U.S. military was attempting to seal off this stretch of the border to encircle Wakanda. The soldiers, having traveled thousands of miles to this unfamiliar land, appeared to be in high spirits.
In their eyes, war was the best way to earn honors and medals, as well as one of the quickest paths to higher ranks.
Kenya, for its part, had no objections to America's actions. As one of the African nations receiving the most aid from the U.S., the two countries maintained strong diplomatic relations and frequently engaged in joint military exercises. Both sides understood the precious value of vibranium and acted with mutual understanding.
Moreover, Wakanda was not a member of the East African Community. The nation had repeatedly rejected Kenya's attempts to establish diplomatic ties. Due to its isolationist and conservative policies, Wakanda had long been diplomatically isolated.
Most nations viewed Wakanda's international disputes with detached amusement, while the world powers with real influence remained unaware of vibranium's existence and thus had no reason to intervene.
In this war game, Wakanda would have to fight alone. Their prince, T'Challa, had committed murder with irrefutable evidence, while the self-proclaimed persecuted royal heir, who was now packaged by certain interests as an exiled leader, claimed that his father had died in an unjust power struggle and that he had spent years living in fear and hardship.
"General, this is Mr. Ulysses Klaue. He is familiar with Wakanda's internal affairs and has valuable intelligence channels. You may find him useful when necessary." John introduced the smuggler to General Mattis before turning to Killmonger, "This is the son of Prince N'Jobu of Wakanda. He has a legitimate claim to the throne. In Wakandan tradition, any royal-blooded descendant may challenge the king to a fair duel. The victor becomes the new ruler."
"A bunch of backward savages!" General Mattis made no effort to hide his disdain.
He glanced at Killmonger and sneered, "And some say this country possesses technology surpassing the rest of the world? Ridiculous! What do they think governs a nation? A bunch of primitives brawling with spears and clubs like it's the Stone Age? Perhaps Wakandans need to learn the power of planes and artillery..."
The fifty-seven-year-old Army general had nothing but contempt for Wakanda. His illustrious career was filled with achievements, rivaling even his old adversary, Thaddeus Ross.
Mattis had enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve at nineteen, later serving as a second lieutenant. By the time of the first Gulf War, he had risen to lieutenant colonel and was part of the 'Breaker' task force that stormed Kuwait City.
Ten years later, Mattis was promoted to colonel and led the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade into Afghanistan. He also took command of the U.S. Navy's Task Force 58, making him the first Marine officer in American history to command a naval fleet.
So of course, he had every right to dismiss Wakanda's so-called technological superiority. A warlike nation, no matter how fierce, stood no chance against advanced weaponry.
"A country with less than 200 000 troops can only have so much military strength."
Killmonger remained silent, while Ulysses forced an awkward chuckle... after all, as a small-time player, he couldn't afford to offend anyone.
Ignoring the two insignificant figures, General Mattis strode out of the camp onto the desolate plains...
Behind him stretched an airfield crowded with military transport planes, bustling with logistics personnel. Over the next sixty days, this would serve as the U.S. military's forward base, fueling the war machine.
Wakanda would soon be engulfed in flames, until its king either accepted the terms of occupation or abdicated, surrendering the ancient nation and its vibranium wealth.
General Mattis checked the time. NATO forces should already be mobilizing.
After the Cold War, in order to adapt to new global security demands, NATO members established rapid-response forces.
America was no exception. The Department of Defense had created rapid-deployment units capable of overseas operations, leveraging formidable air and sea transport to deploy a light brigade within four days, a division in twelve, and two divisions in thirty.
The Air Force and Navy operated similarly, each equipped for swift international crisis response. This 'flexible defense' strategy relied on multinational cooperation, which reduced costs while maintaining military readiness.
Soon, roughly 150 000 NATO rapid-response troops would flood into the battlefield over sixty days; aerial bombardments, ground assaults, relentless offensives. As always, the usual tactics would be deployed until Wakanda bowed beneath the Eagle's wings.
The strong prey on the weak... a merciless law of nature, and often, of geopolitics.
Wakanda was a treasure trove laid bare before thieves, lacking the military might to defend itself. Even in this so-called civilized era, violence only needed a veneer of justification.
After this war, Mattis was certain he would ascend further.
Though U.S. law required military officers to wait seven years post-retirement before becoming Secretary of Defense, since when were rules unbreakable?
President Underwood, who was currently in office, was no stickler for tradition. His re-election was inevitable, and Mattis intended to secure his own rise.
Both he and Thaddeus Ross were nearing retirement, and both eyed the Secretary of Defense position. A decisive victory in this war would let their backers carve up the spoils, securing his cabinet seat beyond doubt.
On one side of the border, General Mattis stood brimming with ambition...
...
On the other, King T'Chaka of Wakanda stood upon his throne...
All tribal elders, except the reclusive Jabari in the mountains, had gathered, preparing for Wakanda's first war in history.
The old king, clad in an enlarged vibranium suit, held his Black Panther helmet. He looked up, sensing a vast unseen shadow looming over his nation.
Faintly, he thought he heard the thunder of artillery; the harbinger of war's relentless march...