Chapter 260

"Agree."

After a moment's thought, Katsutoshi Murata nodded. "Establish an information chain to share operational data. There's no need to set a delay."

After saying that, he looked at the network security officer and emphasized, "Pay attention to the firewall."

Although we are allies, it is true that we cannot just talk the talk but walk the walk, but we still need to be vigilant.

Even if they don't share the aircraft carrier's core status data.

"Has the war warning been sent out?"

"Katsutoshi Murata asked."

"Sent. Night City received and responded. Director Vera requested that we provide more detailed data immediately, prioritizing fleet safety over treaty considerations. Tokyo Headquarters has not yet responded... Wait, General, Tokyo has responded!"

The liaison officer stood up abruptly and announced loudly, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tokyo Tower is questioning Washington about this matter. Lord Saburo has just officially authorized Director Vera of Night City Arasaka Tower and Ms. Michiko Arasaka of Los Angeles to be fully responsible for affairs with the United States. They may proceed as they see fit, according to what we consider to be the most appropriate method."

All the sergeants on the bridge heard it clearly, and everyone understood what it meant.

The prelude to the formal declaration of war.

"Call!"

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Katsutoshi Murata muttered to himself, "I never thought that the landmark event marking the start of the war would happen to me."

Uncle Dahe, I will avenge you!

He said, "Expedite the launch of carrier-based fighter jets and order the nearest CAP (Combat Air Patrol Group) to cease its fixed-route flights along the West Coast, cross the coastline, and penetrate deep into North American airspace to eliminate the threat."

The most reliable way to defend against an air attack is to gain Air Superiority. Katsutoshi Murata knew very well that by ordering Arasaka's air forces to cross the border, he meant that the Second Arvin Accord of 2076 was completely torn up.

The incursion of heavy carrier-based aircraft, which serve as air-launched platforms, is far more serious than the counter-terrorism operation a few months Night City.

The latter can be used as a pretext for counterterrorism, while the former can only be war.

However, the New America struck first.

Political and diplomatic wrangling is handled by the experts who are adept at it.

"Fully activate the 'Yata Mirror' defense system, initiate the Blaze Luminous, and prepare for an attack!"

Having said that, Katsutoshi Murata looked around and said, "Gentlemen, let us begin our revenge today! For the prosperity of Arasaka, for Lord Saburo..."

Finally, he glanced at the control panel of the energy shield system. In his mind, the concept of bloodline was overwhelmed by the rationality of 'the capable prevail'. "For Vera."

He raised his hand and shouted.

"For Arasaka!" ×N.

After the shouts of the crowd, everything fell silent, leaving only the sounds of the instruments and equipment responding.

Soon, the ship's loudspeaker began a countdown. "30 seconds remaining until the attack arrives, 29, 28, 27, 26..."

Rumble rumble rumble—

Unlike the sonic boom caused by missiles accelerating and friction with the air, the continuous explosions echoing between heaven and earth gradually approached the San Francisco Bay Area.

San Francisco residents are going crazy, they were all waiting for the Night City drama to unfold, but oh my god, why did it happen here first?!

At this moment, in the airspace east of the Bay Area, around Berkeley and Oakland, guided fire trails stretched out in a winding path, blasting and exploding for hundreds of miles, creating clusters of fireballs and dark brown smoke, resembling a ball of lines drawn by a mental patient.

The silk threads intertwine, entangle, and coil, some staggered, some colliding together, bursting open like a dye packet of 'black, white, red, orange, and gray'. Then some white threads, stained with the dye, also burst open.

That's the view you can see with the naked eye from the towering surface of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The deadly scenery was getting closer and closer, and the sound of explosions was becoming clearer and clearer.

Arasaka continued to launch Anti-air Missile, and the close-in weapon systems of those warships were activated one after another: hundreds of vertical launch unit fairings deployed simultaneously, laser close-in weapon arrays began to preheat, and electromagnetic railguns flashed with blue and white electric light as they charged... Moreover, the scale of the anti-ship missiles coming from the east to the west was equally impressive.

Those who hadn't yet managed to evacuate from the bridge upon seeing this scene must have gone mad.

For a time, people and vehicles raced across the bridge, causing a series of crashes and accidents.

Nobody wants to be the unlucky victim in a power struggle among Major Corporations.

At this moment, on the aircraft carrier's bridge, the countdown broadcast continued, "17, 15, 14..."

[Distance: 50-60KM]

"That's enough." Taking into account intelligence and the performance of similar weapons currently used by Arasaka, and estimating the distance at which the anti-ship missile would begin its terminal acceleration, Katsutoshi Murata's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he roared, "Fire!"

Buzzing—interceptor missiles roared out like a swarm of bees, heading toward their targets.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!—High-energy beams of light, like a torrential downpour, shrieked as they shot out, one after another, piercing through the incoming missile at an ultra-high speed that surpassed the terminal trajectory change speed of the missile.

Bang bang bang bang—the electric-charged needle-shaped tungsten carbide alloy projectiles instantly drew more than a dozen blinding streaks of light across the night sky. Based on trajectory measurement and pre-determination, they detonated the penetrating anti-ship missiles in mid-air.

Finally, the conventional close-in weapon system roared loudly, while programmable anti-aircraft munitions wove spiraling metal storms in the high sky, filling gaps with sheer quantity.

Boom—Boom—!!!

The shockwaves and sonic booms intertwined, and the light pollution from the series of explosions illuminated the night sky. Everyone on both sides of the Golden Gate Strait was silhouetted against the flames of the violent explosions. They looked up and could clearly see the fireworks blooming above the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was like a fireworks display ignited around the Arasaka Carrier Strike Group.

This scene was precisely captured by the military satellites of these giant corporations.

The White House, the Presidential War Room.

Having temporarily appeased his political enemies on Capitol Hill by using martial law and Militech, Miles, in a desperate gamble, is now focused on the Arasaka Seventh Fleet off the coast of San Francisco.

"As expected, they're difficult to deal with."

Seeing the exaggeratedly sophisticated multi-layered defense system array of the Arasaka Navy, Miles couldn't help but sigh that naval development had fallen far behind after the collapse of the Old USA, the loss of the West Coast by the New America, and the loss of control of the Atlantic due to the EU.

Therefore, we must destroy it!

Miles stared at the Super Aircraft Carrier on the screen, named after his young rival.

The funeral expenses she prepared for it were far more than that.

After waiting for about half a minute, the Saturation Strike consumed the Seventh Fleet's ammunition. Interspersed among the barrage, a few new anti-ship missiles, which were launched irregularly every few seconds or even half a minute, finally broke through the defenses. Relying on terminal trajectory changes at speeds of over Mach 15 and the interference of a cluster of cyber hackers, they passed through the escort ships' encirclement and interception and crashed into the elegant hull of the Adelheid!

Miles couldn't help but look forward to it.

However, the anti-ship missiles failed to hit the 'enemy'.

A fraction of a second before being hit, the side of the hull struck glowed with a crustacean-like fluorescence. There was smoke and fire, but no damage.

Bang! Miles' pupils contracted, and he slammed his hand on the table.

Damn it, an energy shield?!

"Hehehe, is it Vera or another technical department in Arasaka... I really can't afford to have any wishful thinking."

Miles suddenly laughed. She wasn't too surprised; she hadn't taken the destruction of the Adelheid so lightly.

Without hesitation, Miles pressed the communication screen beside him and said, "Drain the Nevada base's inventory. Use all your means. I don't believe that the experimental energy shield has an unlimited capacity. If necessary, have your people make good use of the secret arsenal we left over from the Unification War."

After saying that, Miles sat down again, his eyes lowered.

"Either do it at all, or do it thoroughly... I can only win."

Chapter 254 serves as the prelude to war in the cyberpunk world.

Under the cover of night, the Arasaka Tower appears exceptionally alluring, illuminated by searchlights and holographic neon advertisements.

Security Department, Mid-Level Tactical Command Center.

Cyber warfare room.

The red light symbolizing an emergency illuminated Song Zhaomei's face, with Counterintelligence Director V and SP (VIP Protection Unit) security personnel standing beside her, the blue light emanating from the screen flickering on their faces.

"... So Mi, is there any other question?"

A glowing, half-body phantom— Vera spoke as she finished greeting her subordinates with a holographic phone call during a press conference. Her tone was casual and nonchalant, as if the recent San Francisco attack had nothing to do with Arasaka.

At this moment, about a minute after the outbreak of the San Francisco Incident and the first message from the Adelheid carrier strike group detecting an incoming missile attack was received, shrill alarms were already blaring throughout the office.

"No problem, it's my duty to do the job."

Taking a deep breath, Song Zhaomei agreed without hesitation, "I am now an employee of Arasaka, and I will create value worthy of my compensation."

After a brief moment of thought, she carefully chose her words and continued, "But I cannot guarantee that the effect will be as you wish."

"The White House's crackdown on me, which has frozen my access and assessment of the scope of the leaks, must be in full swing. The Federal Intelligence Agency won't leave too many loopholes for me to exploit."

"Do your best."

Vera calmly said, "You have experience working in the White House, which is an advantage for you. Even if Miles activates an emergency response and cuts off all your access, the underlying architecture of internal security protocols cannot be overhauled overnight."

Song Zhaomei understood Vera's unspoken meaning: I am satisfied with your statement that drew a clear line, continue.

Continue with what?

Picking a fight with his former employer.

"I see."

Song Zhaomei nodded.

"Yes, thank you for your hard work."

Vera nodded.

Beep, the holographic call ended.

"Phew... looks like you passed again."

Just moments before, V had been looking completely absorbed in his work, appearing serene and composed. He immediately turned and gestured for her to proceed, revealing the sophisticated data equipment behind him and the high-end hacker chair typically reserved for Net Admin.

Looking at the strange yet familiar, coldly glowing, concave cabin equipment with countless cables of varying thicknesses and lengths integrated at its base connection, Song Zhaomei's expression was slightly complicated, but it vanished in an instant.

As expected.

Arasaka and Militech, Vera and Miles —they are, in a way, birds of a feather.

It's just a matter of who's worse.

The only difference is that under Miles's command, she needs to frequently dive deep, drill holes in the "Black Wall," and teeter on the edge of a minefield where her personality is burned away by the brainwashing of the Rogue AI.

Vera, on the other hand, doesn't need to dive deep; she can even be cured, but the price is that she becomes a regular cyber hacker involved in the business competition between Arasaka and other Major Corporations.

Especially when dealing with Militech and its allies.

"We need to hurry and not keep the people at the San Francisco branch waiting."

Seeing Song Zhaomei step into the concave cabin and touch the hacker chair, V leaned to the side and gave her a timely reminder.

On the split-screen background, footage of the roaring and turbulent airspace over the Golden Gate Strait is playing.

"This is war."

As he spoke, V glanced at SP beside him out of the corner of his eye. They were both anti-hacking agents equipped with the most advanced ICE technology.

"I know. Help me insert it."

Ignoring V's guard, Song Zhaomei lay down decisively. The flexible metal covering at the back of her head unfolded, revealing an interface.

"OK".

V was no ordinary person either; he circled around to the top of the concave cabin and deftly drew a thick connecting line.

During these past few days of counter-espionage protection, she had become quite familiar with this pitiful, pathetic, and somewhat hateful Korean woman.

Between press conferences and media interviews, whether it was because she was getting emotional during her speeches or something else, Song Zhaomei would occasionally share some of her past experiences working at the White House. As a listener, she would sometimes ask questions and sometimes make comments, effectively playing the role of a psychologist.

What is this? Building bonds like in those old Weekly Shonen Jump manga? V himself laughed.

The line between protection and surveillance is sometimes so blurred.

With a 'click' sound, the interface snap-fit was secured, and the connection was successful.

"I've infiltrated."

After saying that, Song Zhaomei lay flat and relaxed her limbs before closing her eyes.

After a brief busy tone, buzz—

It's not deep diving.

Without climbing over the "Black Wall," it felt like being adrift in a desolate and lonely deep sea, experiencing a violent downward sinking sensation as you drift towards an even darker abyss.