Chapter 137
"Madam, are you interested in expanding your business to Afghanistan?"
After the interlude, as Vera returned to her seat, the general suddenly asked a question out of the blue.
"Investing in Afghanistan..."
After a moment's hesitation, Vera unscrewed the cap of a bottle of Junke brand electrolyte water, a product provided by the base's canteen, and took a large gulp. She looked thoughtfully at the general and asked, "General, has the military's 'Operation Enduring Freedom' achieved a balance between revenue and expenditure?"
"This is an investment."
The general emphasized this point.
Investing always involves risk.
I don't think it will work.
Vera shook her head directly.
"The CCP's example serves as a cautionary tale. Impoverished and treacherous lands teeming with bandits, plagued by religious conflicts, border disputes, and ethnic hatred—all the world's problems can be found here. To put it negatively, unless everyone involved in the chain of hatred is severed and eradicated..."
But even if it were possible, there's no need.
"Or perhaps a heavy bet."
After a pause, Vera continued with her usual composure, "It takes genuine sincerity and real money to spend over a decade patiently rebuilding, changing, and reshaping; otherwise, achieving a balance between income and expenditure is simply out of the question. But how is that possible?"
This is her business strategy for the San Francisco Bay Area and her home base in California.
Afghanistan is not worth it.
"In the long run, complacency and low-intensity counterinsurgency are of no benefit to the sustainable development of the military. Endless attacks, battles with little sense of honor, and constant attrition will only drain the national defense forces."
"Discussions regarding the reconstruction of Order in Afghanistan, commercial investment, and Militech are not open to participation."
Vera wasn't afraid to point out anything.
She can't control the Pentagon's military strategy for now, but she can offer suggestions to build momentum for the future.
Whether they listen or not is up to them, but Vera guesses they won't.
Perhaps no one can truly stomach this rotten meal from Afghanistan, but by constantly adding new rice to prevent it from completely spoiling, and by planting it entirely with wild herbs, certain individuals and groups can still profit.
Vera's own attitude was very clear: Afghanistan, even if given land and minerals, she would not go there!
Selling goods, providing military prosthetics, and high-end trauma treatment services are all acceptable, but investing in local participation in 'building democracy' is something only those who want to do are welcome.
This is a mess, and it will be the legal basis for Vera to settle scores with certain people and even amend the law in the future. Even if the military science department cannot remain untainted by the mud, it is best not to get too involved.
"Ms. Russell, aren't you being overly pessimistic?"
"Taking a pessimistic approach to things, always starting from the worst angle, I would call it being cautious."
Finally, it was time to get down to business. Chris, sitting back down, breathed a sigh of relief.
He couldn't get a word in edgewise about this, but that didn't stop him from listening attentively.
Discarding all other thoughts, Chris immediately nodded to himself.
Realistically speaking, he agreed with Vera's point of view.
In the 1980s, the CCP provided a decade-long aid for development in Afghanistan. Now, the USA is providing aid again, and local Afghanistan are already suffering from PTSD.
During my month in Afghanistan, I participated in dozens of operations, including rescue, search, disinfection, and anti-BOW operations. Naturally, I encountered locals during this time, and their hostile and hateful gazes left a deep impression on me.
The vast majority of locals in the mountains do not trust any outsiders at all, and any communication they do have is most likely intended to cause trouble...
With that thought in mind, Chris's gaze gradually drifted into the distance.
In front of the canteen, the red and blue federal flag, the flags of various branches of the armed forces, and the logo flags of Militech fluttered in the heat of the wind.
Further away, there is a cluster of old, abandoned buildings, which is still within the Bagram Air Base.
The site originally contained three large hangars, one control tower, numerous barracks and warehouses, five large helipads, and 110 concrete bunkers, all built by the former CCCP. However, after years of infighting among warlords in Afghanistan, these buildings and facilities had been almost completely destroyed. By Gekka, the U. S. military had only managed to properly repair less than half of them.
"Salute complete!"
At this point, the fancy gun handling performance offstage also ended.
Several cooks began serving the dishes.
The soldiers were self-service, while Vera's table was served.
Pineapple and ham, apple roasted turkey, orange roasted wild duck, American steak, apple salad, fried bananas...
The general himself said it was a menu for the soldiers, so it was impossible to have the refined style of a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Afghanistan doesn't have the necessary conditions either, and even if it did, that would be a future possibility.
The diet of American soldiers is characterized by a lot of meat and fish; they can't live without meat.
There was no argument, just a difference of opinion, and Vera's conversation with the general naturally came to an end.
They just didn't manage to fool the military science department and went straight into action. Oh well, there are always other people interested in Afghanistan's land and mines.
"Then let's look forward to the demonstration this afternoon. I believe Militech will not disappoint us."
The general easily changed the subject.
"Certainly."
Vera raised her chilled beer can, lightly clinked glasses with the Admiral, then looked at Chris, swirling her beer, "Shall we have a toast?"
I'll need you soon.
Judging by the timing, the military Counter-Intelligence Department personnel who have infiltrated Travis Company should be in place by now.
Afternoon.
In the Paropamisus Mountains region of northwestern Afghanistan, under the scorching sun, in a natural cave that has been artificially excavated and expanded, passing through layers of reinforced concrete walls, stands a spacious, dark space filled with many tall culture tanks.
In front of the main control screen, which was flashing blue light, stood a tall man dressed in black, wearing a black overcoat and sunglasses, Albert Wesker, quietly watching the news that Vera Adelheid had arrived in Afghanistan.
The screen on the left.
This is news about the San Francisco World Expo, which remains incredibly popular even today.
[2002, Militech Archives.]
[Damn! We'll remember this forever.]
[#4 We are pioneers in human technology; our goal is the stars and the sea, an endless pursuit.]
On the right side of the screen are C-130 Hercules transport planes that are still taking off and landing at Bagram Air Base.
A reporter accompanying the group captured a scene where the CEO of Military Science and Technology stood side by side with the Commander of the USA Central Command, inspecting the honor guard's fancy rifle drill demonstration and receiving cheers from frontline soldiers.
"...Not enough, far from enough. Even Chris, that guy who should have died at Sergei's hands long ago, who rose to power by sponging off women, has gained such power. William, I understand the pressure you face more and more now..."
With one hand on his forehead, Wesker's veins bulged and throbbed. Beneath his low-set sunglasses, his dark yellow, inhuman vertical pupils looked particularly terrifying in the darkness.
He felt incredibly frustrated.
And just as he was spending a month lulling the BSAA Organization, preparing to lure Chris into a trap and then surround and kill him, Vera arrived, flying to Afghanistan.
With her billions in military aid.
Vera is probably demonstrating military weapons right now.
On the other side, the delayed transmission of footage showed a blurry distant view of cluster munitions falling like a rain of iron meteors through the air, accompanied by bursts of fire, smoke, and earth-shaking tremors, along with the cameraman's constant exclamations.
"..."
A suffocating silence.
Reason told Wesker that showing himself now would be tantamount to suicide.
Should we avoid direct confrontation for now...?
"Retreat..."
Another retreat!
After a long pause, the man sighed silently, "Power... I need more power. The T-Virus and the Progenitor Virus are far from enough..."
A hoarse, deep voice softly sounded from his lips.
Looking down, Wesker noticed a cell phone had appeared in his hand.
—Excella Gionne—
A person's name is displayed on it.
Just as Wesker was about to dial, a beep sounded.
"What's up?"
Wesker paused what he was doing, picked up the communication headset on the console, and asked.
"Sir... an emergency! A group of people has suddenly gone missing in Charikar (an Afghanistan city, 11 kilometers from Ram). They may have gone alone. According to... according to an employee of the same rank as the group leader, he has a history of feuds with the Military Science Institute and that Vera Adelheid. His family's company went bankrupt because of the Military Science Institute's aggressive expansion of its business..."
"So what?!"
Wesker seemed to realize something, and his breathing involuntarily became heavier.
"... He has repeatedly stated in his daily life that he will make the other party pay the price, and he is suspected of having PTSD. The notes found in his personal room contain very messy extreme remarks and curse graffiti... He, he may be going to assassinate Vera Adelheid..."
"Damn it! You just realized? You idiot! How long has he been gone? Bring him back!"
Even after giving the order, Wesker remained unsettled, and just as he had expected, the news on the screen quietly switched a few minutes later.
"This is CNN News. We have an urgent news briefing. Just now, Vera Adelheid Russell, Chairman and CEO of Militech Group, a renowned scientist and entrepreneur in the United States, was attacked in Afghanistan..."
~~~~~
138
Chapter 138 Vera: I'm Iron Man!. Jpg.
A dozen minutes ago.
The firing range outside Bagram Air Base in the afternoon.
Scorching sun, yellow sand, hot wind, gunshots, cannon fire, and clamor.
Da da—
Clang clang clang clang—
Bang, bang—
Chirp, chirp, chirp chirp—
Thump, boom, thump, boom—
Facing the Hindu Kush Mountains, in this training facility specially built by the USA's Afghanistan garrison, Humvee and transport trucks roared in turn, and the sounds of gunfire from large, medium, and small caliber weapons rang out continuously.
During the deployment test, the fixed heavy firepower spewed forth a hail of bullets that pierced the atmosphere.
Hundreds of meters away, on the mounds of earth with human-shaped targets, circular targets, and various obstacles, clouds of yellowish-brown dust rose up in response.
The vehicle was still burning, with scattered wreckage on it, and all around were the mannequin pieces that had been reduced to dust.
Training preparation area.
With the help of military engineers, hundreds of army soldiers have donned the EX0-A1.2 (castrated) standard exoskeleton and are rapidly adapting to the enhanced physical functions of the exoskeleton.
Even basic exoskeletons, with their framework consisting of a metal skeleton and an electrically driven system, can enhance human strength and mobility.
Putting everything else aside, the artillerymen serving the XM777 155mm howitzers are having a great time.
The loader and ammunition handler, in particular, effortlessly pushed the rapid-fire efficiency to the limit of the artillery's design.
The generals nodded in approval.
They even discussed the possibility of restarting the 203mm heavy artillery project on the spot, allowing military industrial groups, including the Military Science and Technology Bureau, to compete for the design.
Big root is still the best.
After all, one of the important factors in phasing out artillery pieces larger than 155mm was that 155mm shells were already the limit that a single soldier could carry and transport. Adding more caliber would be counterproductive in terms of human-machine efficiency.