It was late at night, but Regal Rock (Black Rock) was bustling. Within hours, the largest estate of Springfield had turned into a war fortress. Its boundary walls had been reinforced to withstand even tank bombardments. If the city's defenses fell, Regal Rock was the bastion where NWO could make its last stand.
Victor gathered his war council in the main conference room. His three five-star generals—Maverick, Valerie, and Drew were present. General Lance Baker had been temporarily inducted into the NWO as a four-star. At the same time, Clive Baron and Elsa Madison had also been promoted. Michael Bolton and the other four-stars were in attendance as well. Finally, Victor's cousin, the Governor of Springfield, was there.
A fifteen-foot wide LED screen showed the tactical positions of NWO and military troops, along with real-time feed from cameras and other sensors.
"Give me a summary of the latest reports, Mav," Victor said, leaning over the conference table.
Maverick fiddled with his keyboard for a few seconds. "Sir, General Baker has spread his platoons all around Springfield in strategic positions. The local and State Police are also cooperating."
"Sounds good. What about war artillery on the ground?"
"At the moment, we have mobilized the following: Twenty Greyhound armored cars, ten Leopard heavy tanks, five howitzers, three M-19 anti-aircraft guns."
"And naval force?"
"Three Burke-class naval destroyers are currently at our disposal. General Baker will sail in his fleet, whose numbers are not yet confirmed."
Lance nodded. "I will have the details within an hour, sir."
"I see. What about air support?"
"Two Valkyries and one F-35 are ready to fly."
Victor acknowledged the answers and scratched his chin. "What are the chances that Monolith will attack the land borders?"
Michael Bolton spoke up. "It's highly likely, sir. It would also give them enough cover since Springfield is surrounded by dense forest and hills."
"I see. Drew? How are things within the city? Do you need help?"
Drew Archibald crossed his arms confidently. "As you already know, sir, Eminent Domain has been executed all over the city. So, attempts of Monolith agents to usurp businesses and properties failed miserably. Moreover, Elsa installed surrogates in every company where owners were assassinated. Rest assured, things are under control. You can comfortably focus on the battle ahead."
Victor nodded and cast a glance of appreciation towards Elsa. She was a young attorney, but her legal knowledge and capabilities were world-class.
"What about Starfall?" He asked, rising to his full height.
"It's already on its way, sir," Drew replied immediately. However, his face showed reluctance and concern.
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Do you have anything else to say, Drew? Out with it. There are no secrets in my war council."
The five-star general bowed before speaking. "Are you sure you want to activate Starfall, sir? The last you used the weapon… Thousands died."
"Thousands of enemies died, you mean," Val interjected him. Drew Archibald was the pacifist among Victor's advisors, while Val always advocated using brute force. They were always at loggerheads for their approach to war.
"Regardless, I hope history won't be repeated," Drew concluded. Val stepped forward, giving him a stern look. Victor held up a hand to stop her. She unclenched her jaw and returned to her position.
"Enough!" Victor began. "Drew, I have always appreciated your counsel; you know that very well. You are also aware I am not a war-monger. I'd rather spend my days caring for my grandfather and contributing to the city's growth. The situation we are currently in—was engineered by Monolith and the Puppetmaster. They have already killed innocents, and if we don't stop them, more will die. I intend to stop them. I wish I'd never need to use Starfall in this war. But if human lives are at stake, I will not hold back. Do you understand?"
Both Val and Drew bowed their heads in reverence. "Yes, sir!"
"Alright! I want everyone to be alert, especially for assassins in the night. The Puppetmaster may try to attack key members before the first battle. But also make sure you say farewell to your loved ones and have enough rest before dawn. We don't know how long this war may last and whether we will survive it."
"Yes, sir!" The entire war council said in unison.
"Dismissed!" Victor announced and walked out of the conference hall. It had been a long day for him. The past few hours' grueling events left the man with stubborn stains. He went to his suite and took a warm shower.
After a light dinner, Victor went to the terrace over the fifth floor. It overlooked the city. Springfield twinkled with a million lights, apparently unaware of the upcoming war and destruction.
Victor reflected on his present situation. His life was quite chaotic for someone pretending to be an ordinary man. Be it jumping from fighter jets, being targeted by a thousand bullets, or surviving a bomb explosion, the man wondered when he would have peace again.
Carol had betrayed him in the worst possible way. He no longer felt any emotion for her. But Victor recalled their physical intimacy, and his heart skipped a beat. It had awoken something in him. Now that he was free…