Chapter 235: Radiant Light in the Sky

At this moment, Star Ocean had already locked onto the positions of the three U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups and was keeping them under real-time surveillance.

A few screens beside the large display were showing the current status of these three fleets.

It was sunrise over the Indian Ocean, and the three vast U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle groups were majestically cruising along the sea surface.

On the large screen, an image showed a section of the ocean floor 60 meters below the surface, where a massive nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine was silently gliding through the water.

This submarine was none other than the U.S. Navy’s Marilan, an Ohio-class strategic nuclear submarine, equipped with D-5 Trident II intercontinental ballistic missiles.

It’s one of the most fearsome strategic nuclear strike weapons on Earth.

At the moment, the submarine was preparing for a missile launch.

Ning Shuangshuang, looking at the image of the submarine on the screen, said worriedly, “Du Qiu, the intercontinental ballistic missiles on this submarine are incredibly powerful.

If it’s a W-88 warhead, then just one has a yield of 475 kilotons of TNT.

If we can’t intercept it successfully, our location here…”

Du Qiu smiled confidently and replied, “Don’t worry. The Marilan is currently approaching the Bay of Bengal, about 6,200 kilometers from us.

It’s estimated that the Marilan will launch its D-5 ICBM at a high angle, which means it’ll fly at least one or two thousand kilometers outside the atmosphere.

The space-based defense system I established can easily capture the target and destroy it with precision.

According to the ballistic trajectory, the nuclear explosion will occur in the vicinities of the South Asian Peninsula in space.”

Ning Shuangshuang expressed her concern, “But… won’t the nuclear radiation contamination…”

Du Qiu shook his head, “At such a high orbit, the impact of nuclear radiation is minimal. Even if some pollutants fall into the atmosphere, it should be negligible.

Even if there’s still some, given the airflow over the Indian Ocean, it’s very likely to ultimately settle on the South Asian Peninsula.”

“Why? Wouldn’t it drift to other areas of the world?” Ning Shuangshuang asked, somewhat astonished.

Du Qiu explained, “Firstly, the amount of nuclear radiation that reaches the ground is already very sparse. Secondly, there is a southwest monsoon over the Indian Ocean, which can only blow these residual radioactive particles onto the peninsula.

As for whether it can be blown further, just look to the north of the peninsula, and you’ll see the Tibetan Plateau, which it simply cannot cross.”

Ning Shuangshuang felt relieved, “As long as there’s no severe nuclear radiation contamination, that’s good.”

In her view, the destructiveness of a nuclear bomb explosion mainly consists of shockwaves, nuclear radiation, light radiation, among other factors.

Space is a vacuum, without air, so there’s no shockwave, and the intense light produced during an explosion doesn’t have much effect on the ground from space.

If the last factor, nuclear radiation, doesn’t cause significant contamination, then there’s no problem with the interception operation.

At this moment, Star Ocean’s voice sounded.

“Sir, madam, the U.S. military has dispatched a total of 25 special forces teams, three of which were lurking near the industrial park. The Iron Guard Corps has eliminated all of them.”

Du Qiu nodded, “Very good. There are ten minutes left until midnight, just in time.

Post a message on the official website of Dream Technology, stating that the U.S. military brazenly invaded the Tanga Federation and broke into the industrial park. Dream Technology’s security department fought back fiercely and wiped them all out.”

“Okay, sir.”

Ning Shuangshuang asked, “You want to emphasize to the world that it was the U.S. military who came knocking, and Dream Technology was forced to retaliate, right?”

“Smart. The more Dream Technology appears to be aggrieved and helpless, the more shocking our counterattack will be in the future, and it will deter the enemy from rashly starting conflict again.”

As the news released by Star Ocean went public, paired with several photos of the firefight, the Iron Guard’s cool security immediately attracted countless fans.

“Damn, Dream Technology’s security equipment is badass, isn’t it?”

“That gear is too cool, and they seem very capable in combat. Look at the insignia on the corpses of the U.S. forces in the photos, that’s definitely Delta Force.”

“The Americans really met their match this time.”

“Folks, don’t be too optimistic. The U.S. military has only sent a vanguard of special forces with few numbers and can’t take advantage. Once the three aircraft carrier strike groups catch up, Dream Technology will be in trouble.”

“Why does Dream Technology act so tough?”

“What else can they do? The Americans point at their nose and call them terrorists. Saying no won’t stop them from attacking, so the only option is to fight back.”

“The guy above has a point, dead either way might as well come back fighting.”

“Yeah, it really seems like Dream Technology is doomed this time. The U.S. military is on their doorstep, and probably what follows is a barrage of missile and aircraft strikes from the three aircraft carriers.”

“Don’t you find it strange? The Tanga Federation hasn’t made any statement. Are they just watching the U.S. military trample over their sovereignty?”

“How can the Tanga Federation’s military strength match the U.S. military?”

“Well, it should be stronger than the security forces of Dream Technology. After all, they were once the strongest military in East Africa.”

“You just said it, they were just the strongest in East Africa. The U.S. military is the strongest on Earth.”

…

Netizens loved the excitement and had no fear of making a big deal; various comments and discussions were endless.

At this moment, the closest to the East African coast was the Calvinston aircraft carrier strike group. When Admiral Myers, the frontline commander of the Iron Wall Encirclement operation, saw those photos, his face turned ashen.

“Damn it, have all our task forces lost contact?”

“Yes, general. A total of 25 special forces teams were dispatched, and now all have lost contact. Before the loss of contact, all reported being surrounded and attacked by enemy’s heavy firepower.”

Myers turned to the Calvinston carrier fleet commander McCassey and asked, “How much longer until the fleet reaches the designated position?”

McCassey checked his watch and replied, “About 24 hours. Additionally, the Rossford fleet will need 30 hours, and the Regan fleet 35 hours.

I really don’t understand why the headquarters requested the dispatch of the vanguard teams so early.”

Myers said, “It was to ensure the target didn’t evacuate.”

Meanwhile, he silently sighed inside, as General Curtis had specifically informed him that the Marilan’s strike operation would be moved from the third wave to the first.

That meant after the nuclear strike, their three carrier strike groups would only arrive over a day later, effectively just going through the motions.

For secrecy’s sake, this change required that he could not tell the other generals at the frontline command.

Myers couldn’t understand, could it be that the U.S. military frontline generals were likely to leak information?

Unable to converse with anyone, his vexation was palpable.

Myers instructed his aide-de-camp, “Notify General Dulles to prepare a second batch of vanguard teams. After our fleet reaches the predetermined sea area, they will enter the Tanga Federation territory.”

“Yes, general.”

McCassey, puzzled, asked, “General, are you still wanting ground reconnaissance teams to direct us to the target?”

“I need to know if the target is still there when we reach the predetermined sea area.”

After Myers finished speaking, feeling somewhat oppressed, he stepped out of the command room and stood on the outer corridor, watching the deck crew busy at work.

“General, is there something on your mind?” McCassey followed him out.

Myers was silent, considering whether or not to inform McCassey when suddenly, a dazzling and radiant light flashed in the sky.

It was just past eight in the morning, with the sun rising midway into the sky,

Yet the brilliance atop the heavens was even brighter than the sun!

Myers, looking at the dazzling light, his expression changed drastically, “McCassey, do you think this glow could be from a nuclear bomb exploding in nearby outer space?”

McCassey, taken aback, looked up, raised his hand to shield the blinding light, and after observing, said solemnly, “Indeed, a nuclear bomb has exploded in outer space, and it is not small in yield.”

Myers asked further, “The fleet won’t be affected, right?”

McCassey shook his head, “No, all our naval vessels can fend off electromagnetic pulse attacks, including the aircraft onboard.

However, judging by the extent of this light, I estimate that the majority of the electrical infrastructure in India and Silan country is probably wrecked.

But who would detonate a nuclear bomb in space at this time?”

Myers’s expression shifted as he finally clenched his teeth and said, “McCassey, the third wave of the Iron Wall Encirclement plan’s attack has been moved up as the first wave.

The Marilan submarine just likely launched a D-5 missile, but now that this has happened, I guess Dream Technology has intercepted the D-5 in space!”

“What?! McCassey was stunned.

The third wave of nuclear attacks was moved up?

But if there’s a nuclear attack, why do our carrier strike groups have to rush over? To bask in nuclear radiation?

Wait, that’s not right. The nuclear attack was intercepted?

He widened his eyes, staring at Myers, “Dream Technology actually has the capability to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles?”