The Military Massacre
The news that A.R.G.U.S. had been breached quickly reached Dick Cheney. Realizing the severity of the situation, he immediately notified the Fourth Mechanized Infantry Division, who had not yet left Coast City, ordering them to check the base and find out what happened.
Simultaneously, Amanda Waller received the news. Disregarding the work in her hands, she rushed to the base. It contained vital research data, heavy equipment, and the alien corpse, which absolutely could not fall into the hands of others.
Unfortunately, she was too late. By the time she arrived, the base was engulfed in fire.
The military camp was riddled with bomb craters. Several armored vehicles belched thick smoke, the glaring number "4" on them particularly striking.
The Fourth Mechanized Infantry Division was wiped out!
Five field-grade officers, including the regimental commander, Carrick, were all dead, and the soldiers suffered countless casualties—the division was practically annihilated.
Amanda immediately sent people to gather intelligence.
When she learned that the soldiers had been "massacred" by a red-skinned alien wearing a green uniform, her face went completely pale.
It's over. Everything is over.
The Blame Game
When the news reached Washington, the White House, which had only recently calmed down, plunged into chaos once more—this time, far more violently. While Hector was arrogant, he was, ultimately, an Earthling. This was different: a hostile alien intelligence had invaded a critical experimental base and slaughtered their soldiers.
This was not a provocation; this was a declaration of war!
A cloud of anxiety hung over the office. The military brass, usually arrogant and overbearing, were all silent, no one daring to speak first.
Wage war?
Are you kidding? How?
They knew nothing about the enemy: what race they belonged to, where their homeworld was, whether they had nuclear weapons, and so on. Furthermore, the opponent only sent one person to annihilate the Army's ace—the Fourth Mechanized Infantry Division. If dozens or hundreds of them came...
Imagining the scenario, the generals from the Department of Defense wished they could shrink their heads into their collars.
This war was unwinnable; they were not on the same level.
"Why is everyone silent? Did you all lose your tongues?"
Joel Nash's face was heavy as he glared intensely at the "big shots" seated around the table. Perhaps due to the approaching election, his expression held a kind of morbid excitement, like a lunatic who'd had too much alcohol and drugs.
"Harvey, this falls to you. Investigate thoroughly and give me an answer within three days."
FBI Director Jack Harvey immediately stood up. "The Fourth Mechanized Infantry Division and A.R.G.U.S. are both subordinate to the Department of Defense. When something happens to them, the CIA or a special task force should be responsible. The FBI cannot overstep its jurisdiction."
He then sat back down, his expression calm and unrevealing of his inner thoughts.
Joel Nash's cheeks immediately flushed, and he began to cough. As he coughed, he looked toward CIA Director Ted Lambert. The latter patted his beer belly, eyes lowered, looking like a sleeping Buddha.
He wasn't stupid. Why would he touch such a hot potato? That was an alien, not some Middle Eastern local; they weren't so easily intimidated. Furthermore, the entire incident reeked of something suspicious.
Why would the alien choose to invade the A.R.G.U.S. base, and nowhere else?
There had to be a reason. Dick Cheney was the boss of A.R.G.U.S. If he wouldn't speak, why should anyone interfere? Wouldn't it be better to watch them tear each other apart? As for the alien, it was only one person, not a horde. What's the rush?
Having made up his mind, Ted half-closed his eyes, entering a state of feigned sleep.
Seeing this, Joel's face turned green. He took several deep breaths to compose himself, then also fell silent.
Since no one wanted to cooperate, then everyone could suffer.
The air fell into an awkward silence. The group of high-ranking officials stared at each other, looking less like leaders controlling the fate of the nation and more like a group of pouting children.
Since the matter had occurred, it eventually had to be resolved. Since no one else would take the heat, Dick Cheney, the secret boss of A.R.G.U.S., had to step forward.
"This is not just a matter for the military and A.R.G.U.S. It concerns national security. I need your assistance."
Jack Harvey sneered. "Mr. Vice President, according to the intelligence I received, the Fourth Mechanized Infantry Division was the one who first attacked the red-skinned alien to prevent the alien corpse, stored in the A.R.G.U.S. base, from being taken."
"An alien! An alien corpse! The matter is simple: your greed is what triggered this conflict. Don't drag 'national security' into it."
The room erupted in gasps. The heads of various departments turned their suspicious gaze toward Dick Cheney.
An alien?
There really was an alien, and they were completely unaware of such an important secret.
CIA Director Ted Lambert opened his eyes, gave Dick Cheney a cold glance, and closed them again.
Attorney General Marshall Warren stood up and asked with extreme seriousness,
"Mr. President, were you aware of this matter?"
Joel Nash shook his head without hesitation. "This is the first I'm hearing of it."
Dick Cheney's face instantly drained of color, turning as white as paper. The reason he hadn't spoken earlier was his fear of being exposed and having the inside story revealed. Jack Harvey had just done so without mercy.
The generals from the Department of Defense subtly shifted their chairs, creating distance between themselves and Cheney.
Political struggle is brutal. A seemingly calm surface often conceals raging undercurrents, and the slightest misstep can leave one vulnerable.
Facing a dozen pairs of scrutinizing eyes, Dick Cheney was speechless. Unable to explain himself, he chose not to. He said grimly,
"I will find that alien who endangered national security and provide an explanation to you, the fallen soldiers, and all our citizens."
With that, he rose from his chair and strode out of the office.
"The Vice President is finished!"
This phrase hung in everyone's minds. This kind of situation couldn't be solved by a mere explanation. Even if he somehow managed to capture the alien, he wouldn't be able to hold onto his current position. No one supports a failed liar.
Joel Nash suddenly felt happy.
He had been agonizing over how to deal with Dick Cheney and the military generals behind him. He never expected an alien to solve the problem. Now, with the military lacking a spokesperson, they would have no choice but to accept him as President, even if they resented it.
With the Army's support, his chances of winning the election had increased by several percentage points.
You damned alien, I love you.
A New Threat
The DC world had many differences from the Earth of old, something Luke realized immediately after transmigrating. Perhaps because of the sheer number of disasters, terrorist organizations, cults, demons, aliens, and metahumans, the US government in this world lacked a strong sense of unified responsibility.
It was less a unified government and more a loose confederation of dozens of states.
State governors often ignored the President, and the President, in turn, wouldn't interfere with the states' daily affairs. Take Gotham, for instance: it was a complete mess, yet the government fully supported it!
Many times, Luke wondered if those fools had cow dung for brains. No normal person would act this way.
Thanks to the "partners" Luke had arranged in the White House, he knew exactly what happened in the office.
Red skin, green uniform, ability to create constructs...
If he wasn't mistaken, that was a Green Lantern Corps soldier, very likely Sinestro himself.
Now, that's a problem.
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