CHAPTER 176: NOW THEY BELIEVE

The screen flickers to life with the familiar logo of NGNN. A serious-looking newscaster, Elena Marquez, sits behind the desk. Her voice carries a tone of urgency, the kind that grips viewers instantly.

"Good evening, Nortasia. This is Elena Marquez with breaking news. Tonight, the world has witnessed one of the most shocking and unprecedented military events in modern history.

Just hours ago, Icelandia launched a coordinated missile strike, targeting six critical states across Nortasia. The order came directly from President Liam Thompson himself, in what officials are calling an ’unprovoked act of aggression.’

But what followed has left military experts and citizens alike stunned. The missiles never reached their intended targets. Instead, they met an unexpected and extraordinary resistance... our very own Aegis V defense system.

For our viewers unfamiliar with the program, the Aegis V is Nortasia’s newly upgraded satellite-based missile redirection system, designed in secrecy and only rumored until now. Tonight, it has proven not just to be real, but to be a game-changer.

Of the six missiles launched from Icelandia, here is what we know:

One was intercepted midair, locked onto by the Aegis V guidance, and turned back toward its launch point. In a matter of minutes, that missile crashed directly into Icelandia’s own Missile Station in Secon, obliterating the very base from which the strike originated. Reports from local sources confirm that the station, along with nearby towns, has been reduced to rubble. Icelandia has effectively struck itself.

Two additional missiles were redirected but failed to make it back to their origin. One detonated in an uninhabited desert region along the border of Etravia, creating a massive crater but sparing human lives. The other fell short over the northern mountains of Velcor, causing tremors and rockslides but, once again, no recorded civilian casualties.

The remaining three missiles were engaged directly by Icelandia’s own defense units. Their Defence System, scrambling in desperation to protect their territories from their own weapons, managed to divert them from populated areas. The warheads plunged harmlessly into the Icelandic Ocean, sending shockwaves across the waters but leaving the mainland untouched.

Military analysts are calling this a humiliating failure for Icelandia, one that will be remembered for decades. Instead of crippling Nortasia, their aggression has backfired spectacularly, striking their own soil, straining their defense capabilities, and exposing a vulnerability they long boasted did not exist.

In the capital tonight, crowds have attempted to gather at the Presidential Palace, chanting praises for President Jayden Cole and the Nortasian Defence Council. Many are calling this moment a historic turning point — proof that Nortasia is no longer a fragile nation under threat, but a rising power capable of defending itself against the world’s most notorious military giant.

Experts warn, however, that while this victory is significant, it may also escalate the conflict. Icelandia, wounded and humiliated, may choose to retaliate with even more devastating force. International leaders are urging restraint, but as one senior official told NGNN just moments ago, quote: ’Nortasia must remain vigilant. Tonight we won the battle of the skies, but the war is far from over.’

Once again, if you are just tuning in: Icelandia launched six missiles toward Nortasia earlier this evening. All six failed. One returned to its source, destroying Icelandia’s own Missile Station. Two detonated in unpopulated areas. Three were forced into the Icelandic Ocean by their own defences. Not a single Nortasian life was lost.

This is Elena Marquez, NGNN, and we will continue to provide live updates as this story develops. For now, Nortasia sleeps under the protection of a shield it never knew it had... the Aegis V. And tonight, that shield has proven unbreakable."

...

After watching the news, Jayden shrugged and left his room, heading straight to Charlotte’s office.

Harper and Charlotte were sitting right in front of the systems, their eyes wet, as if they had just done something they never wanted to.

Charlotte’s system was working hand in hand with the Aegis, so it was with the location system that they redirected the missiles back to Icelandia.

The news had clearly stated that no redirected missiles affected populated places, so Jayden wanted to know why they were having indifferent looks on their faces.

"What’s the problem?" he asked.

Charlotte turned to him, her eyes faint.

"Icelandia is too populated. We would have killed thousands if we sent the missiles to some cities... Cammy and Temi advised us not to do that," she said.

"But I wanted to. Really... hundreds of people lost their lives here. They should have felt more of the retaliation," Charlotte said with a scowl.

"The towns affected after the hit on Secon had over three hundred people. It should be okay for now. We should try not to act like them. In fact, President Liam is the problem here. If we can kill him, then I think the war would be over," Jayden said.

"Hardest thing to do. Eight presidents tried to kill this same man, and they never succeeded. I don’t know how, but he seems unkillable. The only way to kill him is to bombard his country with bombs and let him burn there with his people," Harper said.

"We are not doing that," Jayden shook his head.

"I agree with that. We can’t just take out a whole nation because of the insanity of their president. We need to consider the fact that it’s the leaders who are making the vile decisions, and not the people who wouldn’t even have a say," Camilia said.

"Killing them all makes us no different from them. We just have to do what’s right, and send a message to the world that we aren’t as weak as they think we are. That we are strong," Temi added.

At the end of the day, it appeared that Charlotte and Harper had a different perspective on the case, while Cammy and Temi had theirs as well.

As for Becky and Paula... well, they were just the ladies who watched as everything unfolded, and wouldn’t say "no" to any decision, as far as it was from the boss.

The sweetest outcome was that they had passed a strong message to the Icelandians, and had proven the citizens of Nortasia wrong that Jayden...

Jayden Ian Cole, is the right president they need.