119: Live ammunition strikes, the world is silent!

October 30th.

8:00 AM Eastern Time.

The President of the United States sat in the Oval Office, his face losing color upon receiving news from the Eastern Dragon Country.

"Dragon Country announced the launch of military exercises codenamed 'Mission Accomplished'. On November 2nd, it plans to conduct a live-fire strike with a Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile in the waters surrounding Kangaroo Country, a strong response to the collision of its warship and the martyrdom of its captain. It has also closed all diplomatic negotiation channels, demanding Kangaroo Country extradite the personnel involved and pay compensation!"

"The National Security Team is deeply shocked by the Dragon Country military's uncharacteristically strong stance, believing its strategic deterrence has shifted from 'nuclear force display' to 'combat-ready deterrence', which could overturn the Asia-Pacific security framework!"

"Dragon Country may use the military exercise to establish a 'red line', warning any interveners will face an equivalent counterattack!"

Reading the relevant reports, he uncharacteristically massaged his temples.

Dragon Country's assertiveness far exceeded the White House's expectations!

And the situation was increasingly spiraling out of control!

After reading all of this, the President of the United States felt a headache coming on, and couldn't help but close the documents on his desk.

"So, what do you believe? Should the White House and the Pentagon safeguard the interests of our allies, or mend relations with Dragon Country?"

After deep thought, the President of the United States asked his National Security Advisor and the Secretary of Defense.

The root cause of this incident was entirely due to the United States.

Even the collision between Kangaroo Country's "Anzac" class destroyer and Dragon Country's Type 051 destroyer was secretly instigated by the United States.

As long as the White House insisted on protecting the interests of its allies, they didn't believe Dragon Country would dare to declare war on Kangaroo Country.

However, the consequence of doing so could be to completely push Dragon Country towards the Bear Empire.

As for mending relations with Dragon Country, that would require Kangaroo Country to make certain sacrifices.

And the consequence of doing so could lead to the United States completely losing the trust of its Western allies.

Threatening the White House's fundamental position in the Western world.

So, for a time, facing this difficult choice, the President of the United States found himself in a dilemma.

"The Pentagon believes that allied interests should take precedence. NATO is our fundamental bulwark against the Bear Empire and absolutely cannot be compromised."

"Although Kangaroo Country is not a NATO member, it has always been our most loyal ally."

"Once we sacrifice Kangaroo Country for Dragon Country, I fear our NATO allies will also re-evaluate the reliability of the White House and the Pentagon!"

The Secretary of Defense replied without hesitation.

"Then how should we handle relations with Dragon Country?"

"This time, as the newly emerging strategic nuclear power, Dragon Country has issued its most severe warning!"

The President of the United States retorted.

"Although Dragon Country successfully test-fired an intercontinental missile, it exceeded the expectations of all countries globally."

"However, if Dragon Country wants to form a global strategic nuclear threat, it will require a very long time."

"According to Pentagon assessments, the survival rate of Dragon Country's fixed launch silos in nuclear war is only 5% - 6.5%. Even if they develop a road-mobile system, the survival rate will not be higher than 10%!"

"Based on the thousands of intercontinental missiles in the nuclear arsenals of our Pentagon and the Bear Empire, if Dragon Country wants its intercontinental missiles to survive the first round of nuclear strikes, it needs to build at least hundreds to thousands of long-range and intercontinental missiles to possess nuclear retaliation capabilities."

"However, based on Dragon Country's national strength, their military budget absolutely does not support them in doing so."

"Therefore, although Dragon Country possesses intercontinental missiles, due to limitations in national strength, it is very difficult for them to become a true strategic nuclear power!"

The Secretary of Defense replied.

Regarding Dragon Country, he had overwhelming confidence in military superiority.

As world superpowers, the United States and the Bear Empire, after decades of Cold War iron curtain and arms race, which country doesn't possess thousands of intercontinental missiles?

Dragon Country has just successfully test-fired an intercontinental missile; it will take a long time to develop hundreds or thousands of intercontinental missiles!

Moreover, the Pentagon's assessment suggested that the maintenance of intercontinental missiles and a large number of nuclear warheads also requires a huge military budget.

Dragon Country simply does not possess such national strength!

Therefore, the Pentagon was not at all afraid of Dragon Country's nuclear deterrence!

"So, the Pentagon's intention is to disregard the 'red line' drawn by Dragon Country, not to upgrade its rating of the security threat in the Asia-Pacific region, and still treat it as an ordinary country?"

The President of the United States asked again.

"Exactly!"

"It's not that easy for Dragon Country to become a strategic nuclear power; at least, we in the United States will never acknowledge it!"

"Without a sufficient number of intercontinental missiles, Dragon Country itself will find it difficult to establish nuclear deterrence!"

The Secretary of Defense nodded solemnly.

"Then proceed with your plan."

"Additionally, on November 2nd, deploy all reconnaissance satellites and high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft to continuously monitor Dragon Country's 'Mission Accomplished' military exercise!"

The President of the United States made arrangements... At the same time.

Inside the Bear Empire's Siberian Military Command Center, piercing alarms shattered the silence of the snowy plains.

After the Kremlin issued the highest directive, the Strategic Rocket Forces swiftly activated the "Sky Eye" surveillance system.

The "Cosmos" series reconnaissance satellites urgently re-orbited, forming a dense monitoring network in low Earth orbit. The "Iris" high-resolution satellites in geostationary orbit aimed their cameras at the entire territory of Dragon Country, and infrared sensors continuously scanned for suspicious heat sources.

At the same time, 12 Tu-95RT strategic reconnaissance aircraft from the Far Eastern Military District roared into the sky from Vladivostok airport. The "Side-Looking Radar" mounted under their fuselages could penetrate clouds to map ground targets.

Four MiG-25RB high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance aircraft cruised along Dragon Country's border at Mach 2.8, carrying "Cyclone" optical systems capable of identifying objects as small as 30 centimeters.

All border radar stations entered combat readiness, with giant "chicken cage" phased array radars continuously rotating, electromagnetic waves surging like a tide towards the heartland of Dragon Country.

On the Siberian railway line, the speeding "Nuclear War Command Vehicle" received real-time data, as staff officers stared at screens, observing computer simulations of possible Dongfeng-6 maneuver routes.

The entire reconnaissance capability of the Bear Empire was mobilized, relentlessly scrutinizing every inch of Dragon Country's sky!

Compared to the United States, separated by a vast ocean, the Bear Country's Ministry of Defense was exceptionally cautious about Dragon Country's "Mission Accomplished" military exercise!

For example, the "Cosmos" reconnaissance satellite system is one of the world's largest and most technologically complex space-based intelligence systems, covering various types such as optical, radar, and electronic reconnaissance.

Its daily mission is to monitor NATO troop movements, aircraft carrier battle group deployments, and the entire territory of the United States. It conducts a fullInspection of the United States every 12 days and performs data comparison.

But this time, the Bear Empire urgently redeployed most of the "Cosmos" system's satellites to monitor Dragon Country's military exercise!

The Bear Country's Ministry of Defense sought to ascertain Dragon Country's intercontinental missile deterrence capabilities from the actual live-fire situation of "Mission Accomplished"!

To help the Kremlin re-evaluate the shift in its strategy towards Dragon Country!

...November 2nd.

Dragon Country, inside the Ministry of Defense's General Command Center.

A giant electronic screen flickered with real-time dynamics of the national railway network, as dozens of officers stared intently at the blinking lights.

Those were Dongfeng-6 intercontinental missile trains disguised as freight trains.

"Report! Train No. 3 has passed through the Longhai Line tunnel, satellite signal successfully obscured!"

"Train No. 5 has initiated radio silence and is heading south along the Jingguang Line!"

Peng Lin gazed at the rapidly moving red trajectories on the screen, and said coldly:

"Maintain mobility, absolutely do not let foreign forces lock onto our position!"

As early as two days ago, the Dragon Country military noticed that high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft from the United States and the Bear Empire were frequently patrolling near Dragon Country's airspace, closely monitoring the situation across Dragon Country.

However, Peng Lin still initiated the "Mission Accomplished" military exercise!

[59 minutes, 58 minutes, 57 minutes...]

Next to the central giant electronic screen, the countdown to the intercontinental missile launch was displayed.

"Chief Designer Peng, are you sure we don't need to deploy J-7 fighter jets to escort or drive away foreign reconnaissance aircraft near our airspace?"

Air Force Commander General Liu Yufei asked.

"Commander, the Air Force does not need to act!"

"This time, we are playing with our cards on the table!"

"Let the Air Forces and reconnaissance satellites of the United States and the Bear Empire monitor closely, and see if they can find our intercontinental missile launch positions!"

"Otherwise, how would these countries acknowledge our status as a strategic nuclear power!"

Peng Lin said with great confidence.

Since the Dragon Country military had already announced the strike location for the "Mission Accomplished" military exercise, they were not afraid of foreign reconnaissance methods!

Moreover, the strongest fighter jet in the Dragon Country Air Force at present was only the J-7!

As a second-generation aircraft reverse-engineered from the Bear MiG-21, the J-7 had a maximum altitude of only 18,000 meters and a combat radius of 400 kilometers, making it difficult to pose a threat to foreign high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

And besides reconnaissance aircraft, the United States and the Bear Empire also had space-based reconnaissance satellite systems.

So, instead of driving away these reconnaissance aircraft, it would be better to open the door and let the United States and the Bear Empire conduct a thorough reconnaissance!

After all, what could be more astonishing than launching an intercontinental missile silently right under the noses of two world superpowers?

9:50 AM.

Only ten minutes remained until the live launch of the Dongfeng-6.

Inside the General Command Center, everyone's breathing became hurried.

"Re-calibrate the strike target!"

"Change it to within 1 kilometer of Kangaroo Country's territorial waters!"

"The United States' reconnaissance planes are already at our doorstep, so we naturally have to give them a return gift!"

Marshal Xu Yong'an stared at the large screen, saying coldly.

Dragon Country gave foreign air forces and reconnaissance satellites an opportunity, but they were unable to detect Dragon Country's intercontinental missile launch positions.

And when it came to Dragon Country's turn to act, Dragon Country would not hold back!

"Yes!"

Peng Lin nodded silently and immediately changed the strike target.

Minutes later, as everyone held their breath and waited, the countdown ended.

"Launch!"

As the command was given, on Dragon Country's nationwide railway network, the hydraulic device on the roof of a Dongfeng-6 missile train, disguised as a freight train, suddenly opened!

The 35-meter-long silver-white missile body roared upwards amidst a cloud of dust!