I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun-Chapter 788: Washington D.C (10)

The beginning of 2031 was stained with gunfire and blood, just like any other year.

Not long ago, people living through the year's end would wish simple things like, "I hope next year is better than this one," or "I hope next year isn't worse than this one."

However, it didn’t take long for people to realize that those were not simple wishes, but wishes far beyond what they deserved.

Though they say that beneath the bottom there is always a deeper bottom, people who somehow survived across major U.S. cities could feel that, despite a new year passing, the country was sinking deeper and deeper into a pit.

When the Christmas peace that lasted not even a week ended, Washington D.C. was hit by a massive disaster, and the aftershocks continued for a long while.

However, for those in the military who were not particularly bound by the transition from one year to the next, their focus lay elsewhere.

At the point where Task Force Dagger clashed with Black Eagle at the Potomac Event Center, Black Eagle's movements began to take a strange turn.

What had seemed like a relatively subdued Black Eagle began to split into smaller groups and started "cleaning" Washington D.C. with a focus on pushing out other enemies rather than the U.S. military stationed at the Pentagon.

The Sons of Eagle, armed carriers, and gangs roaming the capital had lost their value to Black Eagle, and the result was a disposal-type ending.

"I’m curious about their intentions, but...""I’d like to smack them once, but since the Potomac Event Center, no one's been poking their head out from HQ. For now, we focus on retaking the air defense network."

The fact that Black Eagle had some sort of hidden agenda was known even by the Pentagon's rookies, but as they didn’t know exactly what it was, Dagger Team couldn’t afford to act rashly.

Therefore, the chosen method was the straightforward approach. Creating separate variables would only be possible if the Pentagon could handle the consequences, and unfortunately, the situation with the U.S. forces stationed in Washington D.C. wasn’t favorable.

Thus, Dagger Team did what they could. They helped sort out the scattered U.S. forces to the north, selected a base where a large-scale force couldn’t cross, and served as a guide while thoroughly dealing with the air defense forces that had fallen to Black Eagle.

However, the air defense network was a highly valuable strategic point for Black Eagle.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

Black Eagle defended the region desperately. The reason was simple: if the position was breached and the air defense network fell into U.S. hands, the U.S. Strategic Command stationed inland would intervene.

To put it more simply, if the position fell, it would mean a hellish rain of ballistic missiles over Black Eagle's heads. While there were indeed members of Black Eagle in the Strategic Command...

That was exactly why they had no choice but to be on high alert.

"It’s not that hitting them repeatedly won’t have an effect, but it’s difficult now.""It would’ve been easier if we could just wipe out that point entirely from the map, but since that’s not the case, this is quite tricky..."

No matter how elite Dagger Team was, they weren’t all-powerful.

Especially since the choice wasn’t ‘total destruction’ or ‘annihilation,’ but ‘recapture,’ which limited their options. Of course, if they had the option to annihilate, Dagger Team could have considered any method.

In fact, Dagger Team even had the authority to consider using a newly developed laser hydrogen bomb in a nuclear briefcase and even had discussions about secretly airdropping it near Black Eagle's HQ by the Washington Monument, but in the end, it fell through.

Time passed slowly but rapidly, and January, February, and March of 2031 breezed by like the cold winter wind.

But, as always, silence in the world was never a good sign, and most people were quietly gathering energy for what could be described as... a big bang.

Then, on a day transitioning from March to April, and especially on a morning when Black Eagle caused an uproar.

"All units of Kestrel, alert: we are moving to New Jersey. There is no air defense network like in Washington D.C., so if you don’t want to be hit by the hellish fire from above, refrain from any rash actions."

"Be aware that the front lines are difficult to distinguish, so there’s a possibility of friendly fire from the allied forces. If you're not U.S. military, do not retaliate even if attacked."

The Black Eagle forces stationed on Kestrel, leading three battalions, headed toward New Jersey. In line with their mission to shake up the air defense network, the allied forces scattered across New Jersey also launched a massive offensive.

Once again, Dagger Team’s movements stirred a front that extended hundreds of kilometers.

"...An attack? Manhattan? Again!?"

"New Haven and JFK Airport are under attack again, and the air defense network set up in New Jersey is facing a severe assault!"

"Goddamn it, at a time like this...!"

Meanwhile, Central Park HQ, Manhattan.

The area closest to the epicenter began to feel the effects.

"Check the network! Where is the attack starting from!?"

"All points marked on the front lines are under assault! New Jersey, Long Island, New Haven... and along the Hudson River front, allied forces are shelling!"

"Don’t confuse the main forces with the support ones. What we need to figure out is what those bastards are aiming for with their attacks! Leave the front line to the soldiers there!"

"Reports from Manhattan: enemy spotted near HQ! The enemy is firing artillery toward HQ from drones over New Jersey! Impact in 3 seconds!"

"Damn, get down!"

Boom!

Above Central Park, as cherry blossoms fluttered in the air, the HQ shook with the continuous sounds of artillery. The delicate cherry petals fell to the ground, while interception lasers activated to intercept falling high-explosive shells. The ones that couldn’t be intercepted were blocked by the HQ’s energy shield, but that alone was enough to put the HQ on high alert.

For the operations officers, who were in charge of coordinating the mission and sorting information, this was akin to a bolt from the blue.

Reports began to pour in from various sources.

"...All outpost commanders, report! What’s the situation outside the posts!?"

"From our current position, we can’t see ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the enemy because of the buildings. However, artillery fire is continuous. The military police are urgently moving civilians in HQ to shelters, but at this rate, we’ll be the ones getting hit."

"Damn bastards, they sure know how to poke at the weak points...!"

At Central Park HQ and the missile base on Governors Island.

These locations had superior defense systems, but that was only because they were immobile strongholds. In other words, they were vulnerable to long-range attacks.

This time was different from the last time the allied forces invaded Manhattan. Back then, the allied forces had just scattered, and even operating mobile artillery was a struggle.

In contrast, now that enough time had passed, it was inevitable once the coordinates of Central Park were known.

Boom!

"The buildings are collapsing."

"Most of the area around HQ is surrounded by skyscrapers, so if they shoot from afar, it won't hit HQ, but... it’s still painful."

"Manhattan is..."

The second attack was different from the first in many ways.

While the first attack had been strong enough to break through the southern defense line, it had still planted the idea that "HQ is not safe." But the second attack’s first major strike was the explosion and collapse of buildings symbolizing the U.S., invoking memories of the 9/11 attacks.

The pride and sense of safety that came with the name "America" began to suffer irreversible damage.

"What can we do...?"

"Task Force Aricon has been dispatched to Governors Island."

At this point, there weren’t many Icarus operators left in Manhattan. Unfortunately, there had never been enough enemies to meet the needs of Icarus operators.

In any case, Task Force Aricon, burdened with numerous responsibilities, was dispatched to the most critical position right after the offensive began.

The missile base on Governors Island. The largest base responsible for the U.S. military's northeastern air defense network, and because of that, it was the point the allied forces needed to focus all their power on destroying.

It didn’t take long for Brooklyn to become a sea of fire.

Meanwhile, for support from friendly forces, fires began to erupt from Governors Island.

Missiles.

Whoosh!

"There’s a saying in situations like this: if you save it, you end up throwing it all away... damn it. If Strategic Command worked faster, we wouldn’t have to use everything."

"Redstone Arsenal has also approved the use of ballistic missiles. Considering that, we should be able to prepare for the worst-case scenario."

"...Damn it. This wasn’t what I wanted. The world’s a hellhole."

In the worst-case scenario, the fall of Central Park HQ.

Using something like a ballistic missile would naturally prevent that scenario, but the decision was made by humans. And no one in TOC wanted to use a ballistic missile.

With a single request, dozens, if not over a hundred, could die. Especially in situations where distinguishing between friend and foe was difficult.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Where to drop it so that not even one of our own soldiers dies, whether the request for a broken arrow (friendly fire) will come in on time, and many more...

"..."

If only Dagger Team had been here.

Someone almost said those words, but stopped.

Meanwhile, the ballistic missiles launched from Governors Island flew in all directions and struck the ground. With every impact, a brilliant flash was visible on drone screens.

On the screen, it appeared to be nothing but flashing lights, but the operations officers knew that the allied forces, and even the National Guard requesting friendly fire, were being torn apart to the point where they couldn’t even identify the bodies.

"...Ugh!"

"Hold on. Hold it in. We have plenty of work to do before we can puke."

Someone threw up, and someone else comforted them. It was a common occurrence.

But even that was a luxury they didn’t have the time for.

"44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from New Jersey has joined! The allied forces... are targeting the U.S. northeastern air defense network!"

"We’ve received word from the 12th Carrier Strike Group stationed at Norfolk Navy Base, Virginia! They can provide air support and air defense if needed!"

"Goddamn it, forget about 'if'! Just get here as fast as you can! I’ll mark the coordinates until then!"

In the blink of an eye, all of the U.S. forces’ available strength gathered in the northeastern U.S.

But, conversely, it also meant that the allied forces had thrown all their cards on the table.

The rebuilt Pave Force – the air defense network for the northeastern U.S. – began to be deactivated again. Survivors struggling to survive in the northeastern U.S. saw flashes in the sky.

It was a high-altitude nuclear weapon.

A massive EMP covered New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, and just a moment later, dozens of transport planes that had just taken off from Maine began flying toward Washington D.C. via Pennsylvania.

The situation was quickly spiraling into disaster.

"Drone crash! EMP hit!"

"Damn it, get the remaining ones back up! With EMP defense equipment! If we lose contact and can’t find the location, we’re done! We can’t use ballistic missiles either!"

"All units stationed across the regions are losing contact! Immediate resolution is needed!"

"It’s not that there’s no solution, but..."

Chief Operations Officer Kane began sorting through the situation in his mind.

Central Park HQ was coordinating all the battles in the vicinity, launching reconnaissance drones to track the front lines, and providing air support with MQ-20 Avengers.

However, the EMP in this situation was especially troublesome. It was like having your eyes and ears ripped out and your arms and legs severed at the same time.

'Once the EMP’s effects pass, I can launch the reconnaissance drones again, but the communication...'

In this urgent situation, could they reconnect the communication network?

Without reconnaissance information, it was difficult to pinpoint the enemy’s position at any given moment, and even if they did, the communications were cut off, leaving them unable to give any instructions on how to proceed.

To resolve this, the quickest way would be to redistribute the communication equipment that had been damaged...

Kane's mind briefly flashed with the image of a messenger carrying important communication equipment, racing through Manhattan.

'...If it were that easy, we would’ve sent someone already.'

Since the EMP’s effects were still present, they couldn’t just send anyone. Even if soldiers stationed at HQ were sent, there would be no way to contact them.

Sending someone to contact the scattered U.S. military forces in New York would have been a good method. But how would they track the messenger's location in real-time? What if they were caught by friendly fire on their way?

Moreover, F-35s and F/A-44s had been deployed from Virginia for air support. A mistake could easily turn into friendly fire.

In Kane’s mind, a potential solution began to take shape.

They needed a messenger. Someone with extraordinary survivability, capable of maintaining communication even if another EMP hit, and quickly processing and relaying the necessary information in a form required by TOC.

And, even in the worst-case scenario without operational helicopters, transport planes, or large drones, someone who could still reach the destination.

That person... could only be one of the Icarus operators.

"Wait a second."

But just then, Kane Whitebrim’s eyes locked onto a familiar figure.

With fur flying from their tail and ears, this figure moved quickly, managing equipment, and without a pause, immediately grabbed various devices to do their best.

And, on their left hand, they wore the Icarus gear.

It was Lapland.

In the next moment, Kane walked up quickly, grabbed Lapland's left hand, and lifted it.

"Wait, what’s this!?"

"Lapland, gear up right now."

"Eh!?"

Kane found his solution.

Lapland's hardship was about to begin.

"...Is that why you’re all geared up like this?"

"You caught me while I was busy! You said only I could do this...!"

"...It’s the situation. It can't be helped."

And ten minutes later.

The 107th Military Police Company, which had been sorting out the chaos at HQ, unexpectedly picked up Lapland.

They had five minutes until departure.