Incoming Attack

The changes within Africa had not gone unnoticed by the United States alone.

All five great powers had considerable interests in Africa. One country in the Far East had invested heavily across the continent and deployed several peacekeeping forces there. Over the past two years, it had also been trying to establish contact with the Djibouti authorities, hoping to lease a "logistics base" within that peculiar country as well.

Russia had always been a major player in Africa. Throughout Africa's many years of turmoil, the principal arms dealer behind the scenes had been Russia, whose weapons were rugged, reliable, and cheaper than American-made arms.

The United Kingdom and France needed no further mention. As world hegemons before World War II, centuries of plunder by their forebears had left them with far too many colonies in Africa.

Even though, decades ago, they had been forced by Africa's wave of independence movements to relinquish their status as colonial overlords and much of their power one after another.

After centuries of involvement, however, the United Kingdom and France remained major players in Africa—so much so that even the United States had to yield to them in this regard.

Thus, as soon as the clouds of war appeared over Africa, the other four powers took notice as well.

As it happened, the four great powers aside from the United States had all tacitly dispatched special representatives to Trindade Island.

Upon receiving a communication request from Trindade Island, Sun Cheng connected it and learned that Pioneer was reporting to him. The four great powers had very tacitly sent representatives, hoping to learn from them some of the truth behind the gathering storm in Africa.

After pondering for a moment, he gave Pioneer his instructions. "Understood. You will handle the reception. Other than our contact with