Chapter 478: The Fierce Battle Begins (Part II)

He gave Frenzy an important task, then sent him away.

Optimus Prime also had to face a headache-inducing problem; he had to communicate and explain to NEST, or rather the United States, about his unauthorized dispatch of Autobots to patrol near the Mariana Trench.

This was clearly not a matter that could be easily brushed aside!

The result was just as Optimus Prime had feared; when Lieutenant Colonel William, who was responsible for the daily training and missions of the NEST troops, learned of this from him, the smile that had been on his face instantly vanished.

He was silent for a good while before replying with utmost solemnity: "... Old friend, although I would very much like to help you, this matter is no longer something I can intervene in. I need to report this to the Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately... Lord Optimus Prime, I fear you have poked a hornet's nest this time!"

After the failure of the last operation planned by NEST—Severed Dawn Operation, which aimed to annihilate Decepticons potentially collaborating with Russia at the Severodvinsk naval base—cracks had appeared in the alliance between the Autobots and the United States government.

The U. S. government, especially the military and major arms manufacturers, had been coveting the advanced technology possessed by the Autobots for a long time; the voices in Washington clamoring to drive the Autobots off Earth if they did not cooperate had never ceased.

After the failure of Severed Dawn Operation, faced with the fact that their traditional rival—Russia—had very likely acquired a significant amount of alien technology, although Washington had temporarily suppressed those uncooperative voices, the hostility of the U. S. Military-Industrial Complex toward the Autobots began to turn into malice at a visible rate.

A military plan specifically for dealing with Autobots and Decepticons—"Cemetery Wind"—had already been approved, embedded within the new year's special supplementary draft for U. S. military spending. A special unit, distinct from the "NEST troops" and composed entirely of U. S. soldiers, aimed at having sufficient power for the United States to counter the Autobots and Decepticons when they threatened "U. S. interests," had taken its first step toward secret construction.

The United States' underhanded actions did not stop there. Thousands of the top U. S. military and scientific researchers who had flowed out of Sector 7 had been packaged by research institutions and top weapons laboratories under the Military-Industrial Complex. Over a dozen Decepticon corpses killed by Autobots had been secretly excavated from their original burial sites and sent to several of the top weapons laboratories and companies within the United States for research.

During this process, a new materials development company named "KSI" gained the favor of the U. S. military and was also allocated a Decepticon corpse for research.

The attitude of Washington toward the Autobots had undergone such an obvious shift that when the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who were directly responsible for NEST, relayed Lieutenant Colonel William's report to Washington, President Cheney, who was about to face the end of his term, was instantly consumed by rage.

"... Damn it, what exactly do these aliens want to do? Is the cooperation agreement we signed just toilet paper?"

Although it was already late at night when the news reached the United States, as one encrypted phone call after another was made from the White House, the Pentagon and intelligence agencies were thrown into chaos, and countless employees who had already finished work were recalled to headquarters for overtime.

Including the Defense Minister and several cabinet members, they were all urgently summoned to the White House to attend a meeting.

Inside the Oval Office, Cheney, who was now completely devoid of sleepiness, sat with his Defense Minister, cabinet members, and several aides and advisors. The entire conference room was now overcast with gloom; almost everyone had a grim face, either frowning in deep thought, closing their eyes in contemplation, or whispering their thoughts to the two or three people beside them.

"Those alien machines, what exactly do they want to do?"

After a long time, Cheney was the first to speak, but his tone was very unkind; he even no longer treated the Autobots as life forms equal to humans.

Defense Minister Voight put on a pair of reading glasses; like Cheney, barring any surprises, he had only a few months left in his term.

"New emperor, new courtiers" was not a concept only understood by the Chinese; every time after a U. S. presidential election, the first thing a new president does upon taking office is to purge the White House, the cabinet, and intelligence agencies, replacing them with their own confidants to hold key government positions.

Rubbing his temples, Voight looked down at the document in front of him, not wanting to respond to any gazes. "... The intelligence relayed from NEST says that while the Autobots were tracking the AllSpark Fragment stolen from B-14 Sector a while ago, they accidentally obtained information that the Decepticons were attempting to use it to resurrect Megatron."

Defense Minister Voight could be considered one of the primary voices within the United States advocating for an alliance with the Autobots.

It was just a pity that he also knew the strength and influence of the U. S. Military-Industrial Complex, so in the face of the current shift in domestic attitude toward the Autobots, Voight had never attempted to stop it.

Secretary of State Gaberli was the spokesperson for the U. S. Military-Industrial Complex. Upon hearing this, he immediately let out a cold snort: "These damn alien invaders are becoming more and more excessive. Previously, they refused to share technology with us, and even refused to let us study the Decepticons they killed... Now, they are even ignoring the agreement. I believe this cannot just be let go!"

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peisi did not take up his point. After finishing the document everyone had a copy of, he frowned slightly and looked at the Director of National Intelligence, who was sitting a few seats away from him: "... Is it confirmed that the fragment stolen from B-14 Sector was taken by the Decepticons?"

There were over a dozen intelligence agencies in the United States, and the Director of National Intelligence was the highest official responsible for managing and coordinating these numerous agencies, nominated and appointed directly by the President.

This term's Director of National Intelligence was held by a Deputy Secretary of State who had previously served as the U. S. Ambassador to Iraq and possessed enough leverage to coordinate the dozen-plus intelligence agencies.

Some time ago, the AllSpark Fragment stored and studied in the U. S. B-14 Sector was stolen. The intelligence obtained by the joint tracking efforts of seven intelligence agencies, including the FBI, the Ministry of State Security, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, was ultimately concentrated in the hands of this term's Director of National Intelligence, John.

Seeing all eyes focused on him, Director of National Intelligence John nodded slightly.

"The fragment was stolen by a mechanical monster resembling a puma. According to intelligence provided by the Autobots who assisted in our investigation, that mechanical monster is named Ravage, a member of the Decepticon intelligence agency—the Cassette Corps—the same as Frenzy, who attacked us before!"

Gaberli's face instantly turned dark. "Your Excellency, what are your own investigation results?"

His hostile attitude toward the Autobots was known to everyone in Washington.

Therefore, although John was unhappy inside, his good composure prevented him from showing any impatience: "... Our intelligence personnel, radar, and spy satellites cannot lock onto a mechanical monster that can run at speeds exceeding 600 miles per hour on the ground, and can also fly and dive, so we cannot verify the authenticity of the intelligence provided by the Autobots!"

After speaking, he gently placed the document in his hand on the desk in front of him and tapped it lightly with his hand.

Voight couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He was very glad that he had exchanged views and opinions on the Autobots and Decepticons with Director of National Intelligence John beforehand.

Otherwise, if he really let people like Gaberli mess around, once the Autobots were forced away, the only ones left to face the Decepticon threat directly would be themselves.

Clearly, the current United States did not possess that capability.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peisi clearly understood the meaning expressed in John's words and adjusted his glasses. "I propose sending a special envoy to Diego Garcia to negotiate with the Autobots, but please do not forget the tragedy in Las Vegas... Megatron's corpse must not be lost. I propose that the original patrol fleet near Guam be restored, with the costs to be paid from the special naval military funds!"

Gaberli was clearly unwilling to let the Autobots off so easily and was about to continue fanning the flames.

President Cheney suddenly interrupted him. "... Las Vegas, huh... Alright, but the Navy will definitely have opinions on this. This requires you, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to do the work!"

The Las Vegas tragedy that Peisi just mentioned immediately jolted Cheney out of his anger.

A war between the Autobots and Decepticons in Las Vegas had cost the U. S. military thousands of soldiers, dozens of fighter jets, and countless other equipment.

Although this matter would be kept permanently secret because it involved extraterrestrial life, it had already become a major stain on Cheney's term that he couldn't shake off no matter how hard he tried.

And this stain also made the hot-headed Cheney recall the gap in strength between the United States and the Autobots and Decepticons.

Coupled with the fact that his term was ending in three or four months, he finally suppressed the anger in his heart and decided to leave the trouble of the Autobots to the person who was very likely to become the first Black president in U. S. history to resolve.