When General Thaddeus Ross arrived at the border between Kenya and Wakanda aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D.-exclusive airliner, accompanied by Umbrella's security forces, the letter authorizing him to take command had also been delivered to General Mattis.
Burdened by a loser's frustration and resentment, Mattis met with his old rival. He could not understand why Thaddeus had chosen to stand by coldly before, only to wade into this mess now.
With two remarkably impressive battles, Wakanda had proven its military strength. This Third World country had shocked the world. Its seemingly backward methods of warfare and Vibranium weapons so extravagant they seemed to burn money were all utterly unbelievable. Before the war escalated to the use of nuclear weapons, the ever-overbearing Bald Eagle had no choice but to grudgingly admit that this was America's Waterloo.
The world powers were all watching. If Wakanda could withstand America's massive offensive, its international standing would rise to a new level, and it would gain recognition from other nations. Perhaps this was an opportunity for its rise.
As for the defeated Bald Eagle, it would have to face both military spending and domestic public opinion. The newly inaugurated president would surely find that quite the headache.
"Looks like you're very confident."
Mattis had originally wanted to offer a few warnings, but when he saw General Ross's proud, self-assured expression, he swallowed his words.
"The times have changed, old friend," General Ross said with an air of superiority. "Just like that saying from the last century: 'Only tanks can defeat tanks.' This is the age of superhumans. Cutting-edge technology can determine the course of war. Much like the old debate between battleship advocates and carrier advocates, the kind of warfare you understand has already been left behind by the tide of history."
The old man who had