CHAPTER 179: WATCH THE SKIES

"Mister President, I believe that you have stopped doubting us at this point. You have seen what we are capable of, and aren’t what the world thinks we are. We are stronger, mightier, and smarter than the world thinks. We are weak..."

"We are leaving the first satellite network on for the next one minute, for as long as we talk. So... I don’t have much to say. I just have a request for you."

"You are endangering the people of Icelandia, because we know that they don’t want war. Same as my people, who would be greatly protected if war comes anyway..."

"But yours... We have the weapons to break through your Defence Systems. If you think we are lying, then you can dare us to prove it."

"We don’t want to murder innocent people, even though the people of Nortasia want massive vengeance for the people that lost their lives after your first attacks."

"We won’t take revenge in folds, but rather unite the world and prepare for the real threat. The arrival of the Sovereign Protocols."

"So, Mister President. I ask you to step down as President of Icelandia, and end the group of the Alliance, as we would advise the Independent Society to do the same, reuniting the world together."

"Like I said, it’s not an order. It’s a request, but if you won’t consider my request, I would have to make it an order..."

"And it would go the hard way."

"Have a nice day, Mister President... This is the last time I’ll call you that."

...

President Liam Thompson wasn’t only baffled by that speech from Jayden, he also felt his gut wrench.

President Boski and President Ruiz were there, wide-eyed at the bold statement from the young man. Of course, they wouldn’t have believed that he would be so strong-hearted to come up with such an idea.

Command the President of Icelandia to step down? How was that even possible?

"Don’t be frightened by his frail words, Mister President. We are in this together, and I promise we are the ones coming out victorious. Trust me," President Ruiz said.

"He is trying to put more fear into you, Mister President. We know he wouldn’t do anything. No human can wipe out an entire nation, no matter how bad they can be," President Boski said.

"I wiped out an entire nation," President Liam cut in.

"Actually, it was a city, Mister President," President Boski hesitated before replying.

"It was a city that already called themselves an independent nation. So we would call it that way," Liam glared.

President Boski decided to give a shrug of defeat, as he had tried to put President Liam’s mind at ease, but he was even making this hard on himself.

After pondering for a while, he finally decided to say something about Jayden Cole’s threats.

"I am not stepping down. No one can make me do that, not even that small rat that thinks he is dangerous and smart. I will destroy him and his country, and I’ll add it to my records of having an entire country wiped out."

The two men sitting across from him felt the tension in those statements, and they couldn’t help but nod.

"That is the spirit, Mister President. After this, Icelandia would praise you for centuries and honor what you did in the war against Nortasia," President Ruiz said, giving a side look at President Boski who also agreed with a nod.

"Thank you both for your support. Now I have seen that I have not just business friends, but true assisting friends. When the war is over, I promise to reduce the share percentage of our deals to sixty-forty."

President Boski and President Ruiz exchanged weird glances, before turning back to him.

"Wow, we would be so honored, Mister President. That would be so generous of you," President Boski said.

"Thank you, Mister President. We would be more than honored," President Ruiz added.

They left the Presidential Palace after the meeting. A private jet was waiting for them at the private airport somewhere near the presidential building, where the President of Icelandia’s transport crafts were parked.

As soon as they took off, President Boski and Ruiz exchanged the same weird glances they exhibited back in the chamber with President Liam, but this time... They couldn’t help but laugh right after.

"Sixty to forty my ass. Man, who told him he’s going to live to make that deal?" President Ruiz asked as he laughed out his guts.

"He is so foolish to think he could get a way out of this. In no time, he’ll be dead, and we will all be free from this goddamned alliance culture!" President Boski bellowed.

"I don’t just want him dead. I want the whole of Nortasia wiped out, so Espana would be the next World Power," President Ruiz spoke.

But then, he noticed the frown from President Boski and chuckled.

"Trust me, I won’t need fifty percent of your national profits. You know I am not that greedy," he said, still laughing.

"All we need to do is eliminate him. I would be very okay with everything else. That man has terrorized the whole world. If I hadn’t had a mission against him, I wouldn’t have joined the Alliance. The Independent Society is better," President Boski stated.

"For sure... They have no stupid business rules, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have red flags," Ruiz stated.

"What red flags?" Boski asked.

"Don’t you know? The President of Nestonia has ordered every country to give him reports about every weapon they produce. He is literally taking authority over them, claiming that he is the commander of the war to come against the nations of the Alliance," Ruiz explained.

"I would never allow that," Boski shook his head.

"You see? President Liam takes our resources, President Nolan takes their weapons. Which do you think is better?" Ruiz then asked.

"Uhm, the Alliance?" President Boski asked with a confused look.

"No, idiot. None is better. That’s why we would have to eliminate them, using Jayden Cole’s power. I believe that young man can cause a lot of chaos for these stubborn-headed leaders, and we are going to take advantage of it."

"That’s some great genius idea, Ruiz," Boski had his brows furrowed in amazement.

"Don’t praise me. Let’s get the job done first. Until then, you can worship me if you want," President Ruiz said.

"Don’t be a cow, Ruiz. You should be the one worshiping me, because I brought the idea of persuading him to fight back against Nortasia," Boski bellowed.

"Yeah, right. But after that, I have been the master planner, right?" President Ruiz winked.

President Boski shook his head in slight upset as he turned away.

These two could be playful grown men sometimes, but they were working on something big... Something that would bring the great President Liam down.

This actually meant that Jayden Cole and Nolan Scammerer weren’t the only enemies he had.

He had more, but it was a bad deal not to know.

******

"How many do you see?"

"Twelve... No, sixteen. They are coming in large numbers. I see thirty now... Damn, fifty..."

"Can the Aegis V withstand them?"

"I don’t know... We should call Harper in. We’d have to calculate the impact power against the shielding power of Aegis V."

Beep!

"Harper, come over to the tech room now."

Charlotte and Jayden were alone in her tech room, as they watched several missiles launch straight toward the map of Nortasia.

Different sides on target, and surprisingly... Just surprisingly... Ten of these missiles were coming for Dominion City, the capital of Nortasia.

That was a huge kick in the face, as Jayden felt his heart pounding uncontrollably.

"Yeah, that’s the reply he is giving you after your speech," Charlotte looked at him, shaking her head.

"He just signed a death wish garantum," Jayden muttered as he watched the missiles approach, all indicators showing the time they would make an impact.

Harper rushed in a few minutes later as she walked over to the screen.

"Fifty ballistic missiles. Can the Aegis V shield all?" Charlotte asked with a calm tone, waiting for a sure "yes" from her.

However...

Harper suddenly flinched, as she stared with striking eyes at the display on the screen.

"Harper? Can it?"

Still, she remained silent.

"Harper? Harper, are you okay?" Jayden asked.

Suddenly, Harper dashed out of the room, sprinting out like she had just been hit by a sudden realization.

Jayden and Charlotte, understanding what that could mean, rushed out and followed suit.

Harper sprinted all the way out of the building and settled at the compound, where the sky could be clearly seen.

Jayden and Charlotte met her there, confused, as they wanted to know why she had acted that way.

Charlotte was already thinking Harper wanted to see the sky one last time before she got bombed, and she... She would prefer a deep, long kiss from Jayden if that would happen.

However, when they approached her and asked why she reacted that way...

"Stand with me... Let’s watch the skies. It’s only three minutes before they make impact, so we’ll know if the missiles will penetrate, or not..."

That reply held a lot of obviousness, making it clear.

Jayden just couldn’t help but smile, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and watched.