Infinite, Progressing from Arasaka: Retaliation Operation ×, Misdirection Operation?

With a click, the heavy automatic door opened, and the lark entered, bowing respectfully.

"Oh, Akemi, have you adapted to the new implant yet?" Miles's previously somewhat somber expression softened slightly as he looked up and gestured behind him, "Sit."

Lark nodded readily in response to Miles's instructions, then found a suitable seat behind Miles, in what resembled an assistant's chair, and sat down. She naturally connected to the intelligence network in the War Room while gesturing to the information officers and analysts beside her to assist her in understanding the data.

She quickly reviewed the meeting minutes.

"The situation has become clear."

Miles stubbed out his half-smoked premium cigarette in the ashtray, cleared his throat, and tapped his fingers on the solid wood tabletop.

"Arasaka felt they had found an opportunity and were taking advantage of it," she said.

Whether the border attack was staged or a coincidence is no longer important.

Importantly, Arasaka insisted that the New America played the wrong role in it, and the international community believed this claim. Local party members in the Western States also took the opportunity to jump out and accuse Washington of incompetence and immorality.

"Whatever Arasaka wants to do, we'll follow suit. We'll meet force with force and water with water. Lazarus Mobile Field Corps, stay put."

Miles set the tone for the strategy, "And the key moment in all of this." As she spoke, she turned her chair, leaned to the side, and pointed to the screen, saying, "Vera Adelheid Russell."

On the screen, in Los Angeles, paparazzi captured the image of Arasaka star.

"Wherever her hand reaches out, chaos and bloodshed ensue."

"In a game of such scale against us, she can't make the decision alone. And besides continuing to provide personnel and resources, Tokyo hasn't sent even a single person to oversee the operation..."

At this point, Miles looked at the Federal Intelligence Agency's foreign intelligence specialist, who was in charge of international intelligence work, and asked, "Is it really that there isn't any, or is it that you failed in your duty and didn't discover it?"

Before the intelligence officer could refute him, Miles looked at another middle-aged white man with a long face and a hooked nose.

"Saburo Arasaka's trust and regard for her are even greater than you initially estimated. Bowen, your White House Intelligence Advisory Committee is responsible for immediately raising the priority of some of her information to the same level as Sano Arasaka."

"Understood," Bowen said solemnly.

"Because of the Mendoza incident, Arasaka has the upper hand, but we can't let them lead us by the nose. Let her do what she wants. I hope the Pentagon, the Federal Intelligence Agency, Militech, and the Lazarus Lone Wolf Group can jointly formulate a top-secret plan on how to eliminate Vera Adelheid before or after the start of the war, following precedent, just like Morgan Blackhand."

With a nonchalant tone, Miles leaned back in his chair, his body looming forward, and scanned the staff and Cabinet Member in the War Room with an aggressive gaze.

Like Morgan Blackhand?

Upon hearing this, even the lark couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

Another Arasaka Tower nuclear explosion?

The politically astute White House staff exchanged a subtle glance.

Is Miles trying to become the next President Kres (the mastermind behind the Arasaka Tower nuclear attack)?

If you can't solve the problem, find a way to eliminate the person who created it. Even with exceptional personal strength, you're still just a person. Observe quietly, no matter the cost; there will always be an opportunity. Vera is human too, and she'll make mistakes and oversights.

Even if it means fighting another Unification War.

Miles narrowed his eyes.

She didn't want to explain further.

Besides the practical need to prepare for the worst, there's another factor, more or less, that Miles can't quite pinpoint.

It seems that she saw a lot of herself in Vera Adelheid...

Like repels like.

"The situations in Nevada and New Mexico have also sounded the alarm for us. I have decided to formally lift the regulations targeting the Veterans Association and notify Lazarus to resume full-scale conscription. The safety of citizens and the dignity of the Union need more Lazarus mercenaries who are capable and willing to fight to defend them," Miles continued.

Ultimately, the problem lies in insufficient troop strength.

After the Fourth Corporate War, the Lazarus Mercenary Group faced a global lull in warfare, and its business declined sharply, leading to a continuous weakening and a loss of its former strength.

Militech still harbored reservations about this ally, who had once commanded a million mercenaries and helped them withstand the attack of the Arasaka army, and whose headquarters were located right across from their own headquarters. At the time, President Kres, with the idea of 'reducing the power of the feudal lords,' chose to fuel the flames.

Every cause has its effect.

More than half a century has passed. Militech has been centralized, but Lazarus has been severely weakened. The boost from the Unification War is far from enough. Faced with the challenge of the hounds of the underworld that are coming from across states and cities, as well as local uprisings, it is simply not up to the task.

During Lazarus's heyday, it would have been bulldozed long ago.

Kress tasted the sweetness, now Miles needs to swallow the bitter pill.

It will take time to rearm Lazarus.

Restoring Lazarus's ability to mass produce troops will take more time.

"Your Excellency!" At that moment, an exclamation rang out. An informant jumped to his feet, his face filled with alarm, and shouted, "Arizona, Phoenix! Arasaka's troops have launched a Phoenix City attack on Phoenix!"

"What?"

Miles almost thought he had misheard.

So soon, Arasaka couldn't resist getting involved himself and joining the battle?

"No, Your Excellency, you'd better take a look at this," Lark whispered in Miles' ear. After obtaining authorization, her prosthetic body flashed with crimson data streams, the central screen in the War Room was activated, and with a buzzing sound, the image changed.

"... It needs to be clarified that we have accepted President Miles' statement regarding the March 30 attack on the Arasaka delegation at the US-Mexico border. At this point, we are basically certain that it was unrelated to Washington and was a case of a unilateral act of insubordination."

It was a press conference held by the Foreign Affairs Department of Night City Arasaka Tower.

"However, the fact that this matter is unrelated to Washington does not mean that the New America and its Militech are completely innocent. This was not a case of a mid-level agent infiltrating his superior's camp, but rather it was prompted by Plymouth Devin, Arizona's Chief State Secretary. We have received definite information that Plymouth Devin was promoted..."

Having heard this, Miles had basically grasped the gist of the matter.

"Absurd!"

An excuse, an opportunity to stir up trouble, a fabricated charge.

Miles stood up abruptly. "Pull up the satellite monitoring footage and real-time regional surveillance of Phoenix City."

"Yes. Retrieving the database..."

The scene changes, beep, a satellite view of Phoenix City, overlooking the entire city, the Tokinsdick neighborhood, where bursts of fiery red flames rise from the densely built-up area, billowing smoke already hundreds of meters high, twisting and turning with the airflow.

That upscale neighborhood is the residence of Chief State Secretary Plymouth Devin.

Along with this, a massive unrest swept across the city, with surveillance footage from various locations showing people storming the state capitol and burning federal flags.

Miles' face visibly darkened.

"Report." An informant cautiously peeked out.

"Explain."

"Federal Intelligence Agency Phoenix City office reports: The PHXPD (Phoenix City Police Department) has defected! Large-scale defections have occurred among the State Troopers, Marshals, SWAT teams, and National Guard, and their slogan is 'Arizona is independent again!'"

A hint of anger flashed in Miles' eyes.

Seeing the information officer's hesitant expression, she asked sternly, "Anything else?"

"... The Arasaka Heavy Equipment Investigation Team, located on the US-Mexico border, has just set off north. An international investigation team led by Soshikah is also following suit... Santa Fe, Mexico. The state capitol building suffered its largest attack in recent times, the Secretary of State was assassinated, separatists raised the Free State flag, and even larger-scale riots broke out in Nevada..."

After hearing this, Miles chuckled a few times, whether out of extreme anger or something else.

"Provocation? Is she certain that I wouldn't dare to launch a full-scale war? Is she trying to buy time, divide her forces, and cast a wide net, betting that I wouldn't dare to divide my forces? Tell Lazarus that they shouldn't hold back their field mobile units either, and to move them out."

Regarding Rosalind Miles' background, she was born into a well-off and influential East Coast family, whose ancestors were said to be among the first British immigrants on the Mayflower.

Chapter 123 Retaliation Operation ×, Misdirection Operation?

Bullets, shells, and rockets rained down on the lush, upscale community, instantly bursting into flames. Thick flames and smoke mingled, and debris swirled and fell, tilting in the wind.

"David, three o'clock position, location shared, take him out."

Amidst the deafening explosions and the incessant gunfire, David heard the sergeant from the mobile unit shouting into the noise-reduced communication line.

Looking through the optical sight at the unfortunate guy who had been blown away and was spinning around in the air a few times, he placed the blue-green interface frame over the head of the community security guard who had miraculously survived the barrage of fire and still had a look of relief on his face.

The property of a subsidiary controlled by Militech.

This affluent community, aligned with Washington's interests, would obviously not order security services from Arasaka.

According to the sergeant, those living here should be treated as enemies and slaughtered. They are all pro- Washington, or even officials directly appointed and dispatched by Washington.

Those who truly believe in the independence of the Free State, aside from spies, and who have any backbone, would not live in this wretched place and suffer such contempt.

With the red marker locked, David pulled the trigger of the Ashura Smart Sniper Rifle without hesitation.

The bullet spun as it left the muzzle. In response, through the scope, inside the burning, half-collapsed community security station, the lone wolf security guard who had only fired a few shots outwards jerked his head back violently, his helmet dented, sparks flying.

As he fell, David saw splattered fragments of his occipital bone, blood, and brain matter plastering one side of the wall.

David continued his search.

A deafening sound.

The noise-canceling headphones sensitively captured this loud, electromagnetic noise.

David looked in the direction of the sound and saw that a hole had been carved into the base of the fountain in the center of the community avenue. An electromagnetic Tungsten Dart Rounds had penetrated the stone wall, pierced through the body of the security guard hiding behind the base, and shattered his chest.

The fallen body, with its data lines and terminals on its right arm, tells the story of a technical expert operating the community's intelligent firepower.

"Hey David, you're too slow."

It's Katsuo Tanaka.

The highest point of the houses not far away.

Katsuo fired continuously with her kinetic energy sniper rifle.

Bang! At the entrance of the underground parking garage, a muscular man carrying a Type 31 heavy machine gun popped up. He had only fired a few shots while shouting at the top of his lungs when he was shot in the abdomen. He staggered and hunched over to his knees.

Compared to David, he was the more professional sniper.

Although with the company's current equipment, mass-producing sharpshooters is not too difficult.

For example, the sniper rifle David uses, manufactured using a Tsunami Defense system, can directly input target information and magnified images into the visual prosthetic body, and automatically compensate for deviations in the firing trajectory. The hardware also has a built-in spotter function.

What are you aiming for? Just raise your gun and shoot.

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

David fired three times in succession, two of which hit the disembarking enemies with precision, even when they were slightly off course.

The two security guards who intended to retaliate froze and were knocked down. Another bullet hit the metal frame of the car, but it didn't matter. The third person who got out of the car didn't have time to unleash his firepower before a full-power bullet from another direction pierced his neck.

Beep beep [Little Sun: Hey, David, what brings you to the world of bolt pulling?]

As David finished off the two dead men, he said, "Special Rapid Response Unit only accepts Flower Squad."

The Flower Squad (花队) implies a diverse range of weapons and firearms, emphasizing tactical mobility and flexibility. It requires soldiers to be proficient in a wide variety of weapons and firearms, and to be able to handle any weapon skillfully.

Just as David was about to ask about the situation on Xiaofu's side...

"Residents in the surrounding area are requested to stay at home or evacuate in an orderly manner! Anyone who chooses to go out and voluntarily enters the combat zone will bear the consequences themselves!"

"We are the Arasaka Security Department. Our sole purpose here is to summon Plymouth Devin, a suspect in the March 30th attack on the Arasaka delegation at the US-Mexico border. This is not directed against any other individual or group. To reiterate..."

Buzz... Buzz...

As the announcement was broadcast, several armored airships, boldly displaying the Arasaka logo paint scheme, and Octave heavy drones roared past in mid-air.

Although that's what the broadcast said, but... da da da da da

The machine guns spat fire, and as these giant steel birds swayed lightly, intense automatic fire roared out, with large-caliber projectiles, like elongated light chains, accurately striking the sentry gun emplacements that were activated by the program to launch counterattacks.

The steel collided, sparks flying violently, and the gun emplacement snapped and shattered, reduced to scrap metal.

The continuous and intense gunfire instantly reduced the luxury villa to fragments.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Several rockets pierced through the gaps in the main exterior wall of the villa that had been blown down.

A series of muffled thuds shattered the doors and windows, and a burst of bright yellow flames erupted. Flying glass shards flew everywhere like hailstones. Amid screams, several security personnel were caught in the blast, thrown into the air by the shockwave, their skin bursting open like ripe fruit, leaving them covered in blood.

Thump, thump. A dozen figures clad in matte black, full-length exoskeletons crashed down from the armored hovercraft.

Like a rushing, flashing ghost, it leaped over the villa's perimeter wall and platform in the blink of an eye, and almost perfectly resumed its offensive after its own firepower ceased, rapidly advancing into the villa's courtyard.

"You scum from Arasaka! Do you want to start a war?!"