Chapter 197: Decisive Action

This photo is a group picture taken during Li Shennan’s meeting with Defense Minister Peck at the Ministry of Defense in South Sudan.

It was obtained by an insider bribed by the Stark Action Team. It was also he who leaked the news that Li Shennan was preparing to return to the Tanga Federation.

Clark wasn’t paying attention to the smiling Li Shennan but was instead staring at the facial expression of Defense Minister Peck. As someone who had long been engaged in education, he was somewhat familiar with psychology.

From the expression on Peck’s face, Clark could discern a genuine sense of respect for Li Shennan.

Why would that be the case?

As the Defense Minister of a country, even if Li Shennan had invested heavily in South Sudan and provided a lot of support, he shouldn’t be showing such respect towards Li Shennan.

Could it be that Li Shennan has taken some measures to bring Peck under his control?

Yes, Peck’s expression did have a tinge of the way one looks at a superior.

Li Shennan, who was disguised by Du Qiu’s cosmetic surgery, how could a businessman-scientist have brought a country’s Defense Minister under his wing as a subordinate?

What does he want to do?

Clark quickly reviewed the information on Du Qiu in his mind, and it seemed that Du Qiu had never shown any political ambitions.

Something must have gone wrong!

The industrial park in South Sudan possesses the capability to disrupt Global Hawk drones, causing them to lose control – it’s probably not just a simple industrial park.

No, Dream Technology, Li Shennan’s enterprise, has factories in many countries; such an enterprise must be shut down!

Clark put the photo back on the whiteboard and then returned to his desk to pick up the phone and make a call.

“Director-General, this is Clark. The operation to capture Du Qiu failed. The military’s assault team and our action team have both lost contact, and the military has also lost a Global Hawk drone.”

“What happened? Did the South Sudanese military get involved?” Director-General Sandy asked.

In his mind, Du Qiu, who was currently going by Li Shennan in South Sudan, had invested in an industrial park.

It should have been easy for a military assault team along with a GIA action team to capture the target person during a nighttime raid on the industrial park.

After all, the GIA action team had already carried out thorough reconnaissance on the place; it was just an ordinary industrial park.

To cause such a failure and lose all contact with personnel, the only explanation would be that they were surrounded by the South Sudanese government army and disarmed.

Of course, only the military could have the capability to bring down the U.S. military’s Global Hawk drone, considering those things fly at altitudes of tens of thousands of meters.

To take it down, it would take, at the minimum, an anti-aircraft missile.

Wait – where would a newly independent and impoverished country like South Sudan get an anti-aircraft missile force from?

Just as Sandy’s questions arose, he heard Clark’s voice on the phone.

“It was Du Qiu who dealt with the military’s assault team and caused our drones to lose connection. I suspect he has been hiding in the Tanga Federation for the past two years and has developed a force with a certain warfare capability.”

Sandy was slightly taken aback and said, “If that’s the case, why hasn’t Du Qiu returned to his own country? If he really had the power you’re talking about, he could slip back into his country at any time without us noticing.

Wouldn’t his country stop negotiating with us and repeatedly demand that we hand over Du Qiu?”

Clark was also puzzled. Du Qiu had eluded the GIA, but had he also deceived his own country’s security department?

Sandy further stated, “If your recent conjecture is valid, then we have overlooked Du Qiu over the past two years, allowing him to grow and strengthen. So, what exactly does he want to do?

According to your statement, if he’s hidden within the Tanga Federation, could it be that he has gained control of the Tanga Federation government?

And then, through the Federation’s assistance, taken control of South Sudan? Yet these places, although resourceful to some extent, are not that rich.

The Tanga Federation might have some strategic value, but being landlocked, South Sudan does not hold much significance.”

Clark was at a loss for words; as a scientist and businessman, Du Qiu was supposed to be just interested in making money.

“Clark, your thought process is meticulous, but have you considered one thing? Two years ago, during a sudden emergency, would Du Qiu have had time to infiltrate the networks of three satellite companies and control their satellites?”

Clark paused, then said, “Director-General, I have been negligent. I didn’t pay enough attention to Du Qiu’s matter, nor did I review the process when he was pursued by Lagia.”

Sandy reassured him, “You don’t need to review your actions. You focused on the main affairs within the agency, which is correct.

Haven’t we recently obtained intelligence on a certain country’s new aircraft carrier? And aren’t we also aware of their recent agreement with the Persian side? That’s the achievement of your intelligence network.”

Clark hurriedly replied, “Director-General, that’s what I should do.”

Sandy continued, “Okay, about Du Qiu, let me share my opinion as a reference. From the incident with the satellite control, it is evident that someone helped Du Qiu escape our pursuit at that time.

Initially, we thought it was from Tang Country, but then Du Qiu did not return internally; instead, he vanished from the public eye.

Our current investigation has revealed that he has resurfaced with a new identity. According to what you’ve just said, I’m more inclined to believe that he has joined the organization that initially helped him.”

Clark had an epiphany and said, “The Director-General’s perspective is indeed broader; this explains why he hasn’t returned to his country yet.”

Sandy chuckled and said, “No, you should think about why that organization wanted to save Du Qiu? In doing so, they blatantly infringed upon our U.S. interests.

Then consider Du Qiu’s expertise in robotics; put the two together, and think about what a great threat that would pose to U.S. interests.”

Clark nodded and said, “The Director-General’s concern is exactly what I was thinking about. Li Shennan being one of the shareholders of Dream Technology, which, as a contract manufacturer, has factories around the world, may be the organization’s source of profit and their various strongholds.

I was thinking that we must sanction them completely, and since Du Qiu might return to his home country with that aircraft carrier fleet, we have to capture or eliminate him before he leaves Africa!”

Sandy approved, “Correct. Although your previous judgment was slightly off, the conclusion is the same. To the United States, Du Qiu has become an enormous threat.

Since the capture operation failed, then we must undertake the ultimate decisive action against Du Qiu!

Hasn’t your intelligence network hinted at a clandestine research group setting up within Dream Technology? I’ll tell you something – our combat robots have already been deployed in the Persian battlefield.

Connecting the two, you should be able to deduce what Dream Technology is helping them with, and the harm it would cause us should Du Qiu return to Dream Technology.”

“Understood. I will immediately devise a decisive action plan to ensure that Du Qiu does not return to his home country.”

“Good. I will speak with the Department of Commerce to take sanctions against Dream Technology.”

“What will be the reason? Dream Technology seems to be a combination of companies from multiple countries, some are even our allies.”

Sandy scoffed and said, “The reason, of course, is a national security threat to the United States. Just this reason alone is sufficient.

Since they are our allies, a threat to U.S. national security is a threat to their security, and they must cooperate with us.”

“Alright, Director-General, the decisive action plan will be submitted to you for review tomorrow morning.”

Sandy reminded, “Be aware that the plan must be executed before their carrier fleet reaches the Tanga Federation, otherwise it could lead to unpredictable events.”

Clark responded, “I’m aware. I initiated the capture operation upon deducing that Du Qiu intended to return to the Tanga Federation to follow their carrier fleet back home.

I will resolve the threat of Du Qiu before that happens!”

Sandy said with satisfaction, “I look forward to your plan. But aside from this, you need to push our intelligence network to quickly clarify what Dream Technology has done for their military.

I do not wish for our U.S. combat robots to be effortlessly overpowered when facing those of the Tang Country people.

This is also Mr. Lawrence’s expectation – don’t let him worry too much.”

Clark’s eyelid twitched; he knew who Lawrence was – a military industrial titan whose companies were behind many of the United States’ crucial military equipment.

“Please be assured, Director-General. The matter is already underway, and I believe we will have intelligence soon.”