Chapter 243: On the Brink of Battle

The USS Rossford Carrier Strike Group consisted of 12 ships of various types: one aircraft carrier, four anti-aircraft cruisers, four anti-submarine destroyers, one supply ship, and two attack nuclear submarines.

The USS Regan Carrier Strike Group was similarly outfitted. Both carrier groups, with their battle formations, sailed the high seas in a grand and imposing manner.

However, at this moment, the battle formation was thrown into sudden chaos.

Nevertheless, every cruiser and destroyer rapidly launched anti-aircraft missiles, and their close-in weapons systems were cranked to their maximum firing angles to fiercely engage the plummeting fireballs from the sky.

The battle escalated to a fever pitch in an instant.

There were numerous fireballs in the sky, covering the expanse of the sea below.

The first to suffer were the eight patrol fighters high above; with their high-speed status, they should have been able to escape the range of the fireball onslaught.

Initially, they attempted to use their maneuverability to intercept the fireballs and buy time for the formation.

However, it quickly became apparent that interception was impossible; the fireballs fell too fast for either their air-to-air missiles or cannons to lock on.

Consequently, one by one, the fireballs struck the fighters, instantly turning them into fireballs themselves, with the pilots not even having time to eject.

Unknown to these pilots, on their radar screens, even higher in the sky, was another fresh wave of fireballs descending.

Back aboard the USS Rossford, someone noticed this and immediately reported it to General Robert.

Before General Robert could react, a massive impact and explosion sounded. The aircraft carrier shook violently, sending everyone in the command center tumbling.

As they struggled to rise, more impacts and explosions occurred, followed closely by a fireball that hit the command room directly, turning it into a sea of fire.

From above, one could see the USS Rossford and the USS Regan being hit by many fireballs.

Their awe-inspiring flight decks made eye-catching targets, and their impressive massive structures became slow-moving sitting ducks.

The fireballs soon riddled the carriers with holes. Despite the crew’s desperate attempts to salvage the situation, the carriers inevitably began to sink rapidly.

The sea surface boiled over like dumplings in a pot from the relentless rain of fireballs, while the surrounding cruisers and destroyers scrambled to maneuver at high speed.

Still, they could not outrun the falling death from above. The second and third waves of fireballs soon followed.

Under everyone’s despairing gaze, this celestial inferno engulfed all the warships on the sea surface.

The entire ordeal lasted a mere two minutes!

At a distance of approximately 50 nautical miles, the USS Calvinson Carrier Strike Group could “witness” the entire scene through radar.

Admiral Myers, already dismissed from his role, listlessly raised his binoculars, the red glow in the western sky his field of view had disappeared.

While he couldn’t see what was happening at a distance, the intensity of the fireball shower dropping into the sky was vividly displayed on the radar screen.

Combining what he saw through his binoculars with the radar display, there was no doubt about the outcome of these high-velocity objects hitting the sea surface where the carrier strike groups were located.

In just two minutes, two of the mightiest carrier strike groups of Earth had vanished.

This time frame wasn’t even sufficient for the USS Calvinson to communicate with the forward two carrier formations before all their signals abruptly ceased.

The standby fighters from the USS Calvinson’s formation were now heading westward, soon to report back on the situation ahead.

Looking at Admiral Myers’ disheartened state, Commander McCassey asked, “General, should we… retreat?”

Admiral Myers shrugged and replied, “You can decide for yourself or report the situation here to headquarters. As for me, I’ve been relieved of my duties, so I have no authority to advise.”

McCassey responded, “No, you’re still our commander, and we need your orders. If not for your command, we would be the ones facing the assault right now. As for headquarters, they’re just some guys sitting in their offices, sipping coffee, making snap decisions. I can’t leave the fate of the fleet in their hands.”

Myers managed a wry smile. “Faced with Dream Technology’s space-based weapons, our aircraft carrier groups are obsolete.”

“General, those high-speed objects didn’t come from space!”

Myers paused, puzzled. “If they didn’t come from space, how could they achieve such velocity? And how could they land precisely on moving carrier groups?”

A greater sense of dread crept up.

“We must retreat!”

Though no longer in a position to command, Myers still voiced the retreat.

McCassey nodded, “Yes, General. We’ll retreat immediately! But if there are survivors ahead, shouldn’t we rescue them?”

Myers sighed, “Go ahead and send the rescue helicopters to pick up the survivors. But the fleet needs to turn around first; I don’t think Dream Technology will strike us again if we do that.”

McCassey got the message and immediately went to issue the orders.

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As nations were still pondering the potential upheavals from yesterday’s events, Dream Technology’s official website released a third battle report.

“In light of the U.S. Navy’s carrier strike groups accelerating towards us, and to sternly punish the U.S. Military’s acts of aggression as a warning to the U.S. Government, our company carried out an annihilative strike against two U.S. Navy carrier strike groups in the Indian Ocean at 7:10 am local time!

In this action, we completely sank both USS Rossford and USS Regan Carrier Strike Groups!

We again caution the U.S. Government to refrain from using force against our company, lest the responsibility for escalating the conflict lies with the U.S. Do not deceive yourselves!”

This third battle report shockingly captured countless gazes anew.

If the interception of intercontinental missiles in space by Dream Technology’s space-based weapons was somewhat intangible to the public, the annihilation of two U.S. Navy carrier strike groups, in full, was something everyone could comprehend.

After all, the might of a U.S. Navy carrier strike group was well-known. A single carrier strike group could easily obliterate a small country, and two could contend with a major power.

It is commonly known that whenever a crisis arises anywhere in the world, the president of the United States will ask, “Where’s the nearest carrier?”—highlighting the U.S. Military’s reliance and confidence in their carriers.

Yet such formidable forces were easily annihilated by Dream Technology’s space-based weapons. Did they really use those again?

After all, Dream Technology doesn’t have a navy or air force, so how did they strike carrier strike groups thousands of miles away?

In silence, the global powers responded. The United Nations Secretary-General Trust called for restraint from both Dream Technology and the United States, urging not to let the conflict escalate further.

Moreover, Trust expressed his intent to fly to the Tanga Federation, hoping to meet with the decision-makers at Dream Technology.

As UN Secretary-General, standing by as two powers clash could threaten the entire world.

What if the United States, out of rage, recklessly launches nukes from their arsenal?

As a Earth superpower, the United States has never suffered such a setback.

Yet here was Dream Technology, thought to be weak and at the mercy of the U.S. Military, showing astounding strength. Not only can they intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles, but they can also easily annihilate two U.S. Navy carrier strike groups—a feat not even the second and third largest powers on Earth could achieve against U.S. forces.

Not just Secretary-General Trust but also the second and third largest countries issued statements urging both parties to keep calm and cease fire unconditionally.

Regional powers like Pakistan, India, and Japan likewise put out calls for a halt in hostilities.

Europe, after several hours of silence, made a statement in the name of the European Union, calling for an immediate ceasefire and offering to host negotiations.

German Chancellor Karen even directly addressed Rein Leinar, hoping he would meet U.S. President Radack in Berlin to resolve the conflict through talk.

In a sea of appeals for ceasefire, the United States remained silent.

But the U.S. Congress was convening an emergency meeting to discuss whether the attacks on the U.S. Military warranted the legal framework for a formal declaration of war.

The entire world tensed up—if the United States formally declared war on Dream Technology, NATO would be obliged to do the same.

The entire Western world declaring war on a single corporate entity, Dream Technology, would inevitably plunge the world into total conflict. Especially considering Dream Technology’s ownership of space-based weapons, it would mean global impact, not just a regional war.

Fear set in—could the world really be on the brink of a great war?