radiothebook Chapter 336 The "Courier" from the East
Chapter 336 The "Courier" from the East
It's 4 a.m. North American time.
At the U.S. forward base 60 kilometers away from Zone Zero, the lights were on and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
The massive shockwave from the explosion nearly destroyed all the defensive fortifications surrounding the base. Although the "Golden Light Array" of the Chinese camp blocked the most deadly energy torrent for them, the apocalyptic scene still terrified all the American soldiers in the base.
What humiliated and angered them even more were the latest news from the Pentagon and the Alaskan border.
General Marcus has "betrayed" us.
He announced the suspension of command from the White House and handed over supreme command of the North American theater to the commander-in-chief in China, who was far away in the East.
Russian troops have entered Alaska and are in armed standoff with their own "Pioneer" armored brigades.
Overnight, they went from being soldiers of the world's strongest nation to pitiful wretches betrayed by their allies, besieged by their enemies, and even having their supreme commander labeled a "traitor."
"What should we do, Colonel! Whom should we listen to?"
"Yes! The White House's order is for us to stay put and await further instructions. But General Marcus's order is for us to cooperate with the Chinese to establish a joint observation station! Which one should we follow?"
Inside the base's temporary command post, a group of officers surrounded the base's supreme commander, a middle-aged colonel named Hank, and they were arguing heatedly.
Colonel Hank was in a real bind. He took a deep drag on his cigar and paced back and forth in the command post in frustration.
He was just a commander at a forward base and never imagined that one day he would face such a crucial question as "Who is my superior?"
On one side is the White House, the president, and the symbol of the nation's highest power.
On the other side is General Marcus, the god of war in the army, an idol worshipped by countless soldiers, and he also holds that damned "key".
What's worse, now the Russians have also gotten involved.
This game of chess has become so complex that even he, a mere colonel, cannot understand it at all.
"Shut up, all of you!" Colonel Hank roared, unable to contain his anger any longer.
The command center fell silent instantly.
"We will not execute any orders from anyone until we receive a clear, written order from the Joint Chiefs of Staff!"
Colonel Hank slammed his fist on the table, making the safest, yet most reluctant, decision.
"Strengthen base defenses, consolidate all surrounding troops, treat the wounded, and assess losses. Right now, our only task is to guard our own small territory!"
"As for the Chinese..." Colonel Hank glanced at the impregnable camp not far away, still radiating a pale golden light, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "Send someone over there and ask them if they need humanitarian aid. Remember, be polite."
Just then, a radar operator suddenly stood up from his seat, his voice carrying a hint of undisguised panic.
"Reporting, Colonel! A large number of unidentified flying objects have been detected, approaching this area at high speed!"
"What?!" Colonel Hank's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be Russian bombers? Or is it retaliation from the "Sky Dome Martial Alliance"?
"How many? From which direction did they come?" He dashed to the radar screen.
"The number...exceeds three hundred! They came from...from the east, from the Pacific Ocean!"
"He's Chinese!"
Colonel Hank's mind went blank.
Three hundred!
What are they planning? A full-scale invasion?!
"Order! All personnel, enter maximum combat alert! Anti-aircraft missiles, prepare to launch!" Colonel Hank instinctively issued the combat order.
However, before he could finish speaking...
Suddenly, a calm and steady Chinese voice rang out over the base's public address system.
Next came the somewhat awkward English translation.
"This is the Earth Alliance Headquarters, North American Theater Joint Logistics Support Force, codenamed 'Dongfeng Express'."
"Our unit, under the joint orders of Commander-in-Chief Li Zhenguo and General Marcus, the interim Supreme Commander of the North American Theater, has come to provide the North American Theater with the first batch of humanitarian aid supplies and technical assistance."
"Our aircraft will arrive in the designated airspace in fifteen minutes. U.S. base, please prepare for ground guidance and reception."
"I repeat, this is the Earth Alliance..."
The broadcast is playing on a loop.
The entire US military base fell into an eerie, deathly silence.
All the American soldiers, who had just been on the verge of battle, now looked up, their faces blank, listening to the clear and unquestionable voice on the radio.
"Dongfeng...Express?"
"Humanitarian...relief supplies?"
Colonel Hank and his officers looked at each other, their minds blank.
What... what's going on here?
Just a few hours ago, they were wary of each other, and even subtly hostile.
How come, in the blink of an eye, the other person has become a "living Lei Feng" who brings warmth to me?
Moreover, it was under orders from their own General Marcus.
This is just too surreal.
"Colonel...should we...still...fight?" an officer from the air defense missile unit asked with a mournful face.
Colonel Hank's lips twitched violently a few times.
beat?
What are you talking about?!
They've come under the dual guise of "humanitarian aid" and your own family's general.
If you dare to lay a finger on me, you'll be in a military court tomorrow!
"...Lift combat alert."
Colonel Hank squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth.
"Send...send people to clear the runway. Prepare to welcome our 'ally'."
Fifteen minutes later.
A massive, sky-covering formation of aircraft appeared precisely on time above the base.
Those are three hundred of China's newest "Kunpeng" large transport aircraft.
Each one possesses a terrifying carrying capacity of hundreds of tons.
They, like a herd of docile giants, began to descend in an orderly fashion, guided by ground-based signals.
As the tail hatch of the first "Kunpeng" transport plane slowly opened...
All the American soldiers present held their breath.
They saw squads of fierce-looking Chinese soldiers, clad in exoskeletons and wielding alloy blades, marching down in orderly steps.
There was no pride of victory on their faces.
There was no sympathy or pity.
Only professionalism and composure.
Next came boxes and boxes of sealed supplies.
Yes, brand new weapons and ammunition.
Yes, there are individual rations that exude an enticing aroma.
Yes, there are various urgently needed medical supplies.
There are even small engineering robots and mobile 3D printing factories.
Look, the mountains of supplies are being continuously unloaded from the transport planes.
Many American soldiers who had been eating synthetic nutritional paste for several days had red eyes.
They couldn't help but swallow.
"My God... those... those are... braised beef flavored self-heating rations? I can smell them!"
"And weapons! Look at that battle blade! It's way more advanced than the 'Pathfinder' sabers we have!"
"They...they really came to help us?"
A murmur of barely suppressed discussion arose from the crowd.
Just then, a middle-aged man dressed in a Chinese general's uniform, with a gold star on his shoulder, stepped off the plane, surrounded by several guards.
He walked straight up to Colonel Hank and gave him a standard military salute.
"Colonel Hank, Commander of Forward Base, United States of America."
"I am Wang Jianguo, Major General, Commander of the Joint Logistics Support Force, North American Theater, China."
"By order of Commander-in-Chief Li Zhenguo and General Marcus."
"From now on, I, together with your department, will be jointly responsible for the defense and logistical support of this region."
"This is my appointment document."
Wang Jianguo handed over a document printed in Chinese, English, and Russian, and stamped with the bright red seal of the "Earth Alliance Headquarters".
Colonel Hank looked at the man before him, an Eastern man who, like himself, was a soldier, and whose eyes were equally resolute.
I looked again at that document, which had irrefutable legal effect.
He remained silent for a long time.
Then, he slowly raised his hand and returned a standard military salute.
"Welcome, General Wang."
He knew that from this moment on...
The landscape of this base, and indeed the entire North American theater, is truly about to change.