Chapter 828: The Second Murshroom Cloud
Translator:MinEditor: Caron_
A mushroom cloud rose above Tacloban and the radiating halo illuminated against the face of enemies and allies.
At that moment, both the Country F soldiers behind the sandbag bunkers and the Moro soldiers advancing with tanks released their finger on the trigger and turned their eyes toward the bright sky in the city center.
Nuclear weapons would make all resistance and offense meaningless.
When the shockwave swept across the street, whether it was an enemy or an allied force, they were all disintegrated to dust by the scorching shockwave…
“… This is the Command Center, please respond…”
“… Buzz… Please respond…”
After opening his blurred eyes, Zhang Feng tried his best, but he couldn’t stop himself from coughing up blood.
He was in a terrible state at the moment. The surrounding gla.s.s all shattered and littered the ground. Broken jars and mud were everywhere. He was trapped under a wooden cabinet. It appeared that when the shockwave arrived, he was thrown into a flower shop.
Outside the broken window, an armored vehicle tipped over on the road, and its turret had been slashed. The spilled fuel was blazing with flames.
Tragedy…
Zhang Feng removed the stones pressed against his chest and fought hard to stand up.
When the shockwave swept across the streets, his chest felt like it was rammed by a truck. Fortunately, the protection of his kinetic skeleton and being several kilometers away from the center of the explosion saved him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t just suffer some internal bleeding
“Cough!”
Supported by a rifle, Zhang Feng walked to the side and picked up his tactical helmet.
“This is the 121st team… We … may have suffered a nuclear strike.”
“…This is the Command Center. Please organize the personnel and retreat to the landing point.”
“Roger.”
[Why is there a nuclear bomb?]
[With the scales tipping to their side, it was clear Celestial Trade wouldn’t use such weapons of ma.s.s destruction. With air superiority, in this case, the nuclear bomb must’ve been set in the city in advance…]
[How does Country F have a nuclear bomb?]
[And they actually used it in their own city?!]
[Are they crazy?]
Zhang Feng didn’t understand.
The only thing he confirmed was that half his team suffered casualties during that split second. At the edge of the city, he himself experienced such a violent shock. Then Moro’s 5th mechanized division, which already entered the urban area, most likely suffered a tragic fate already.
Country F Army was retreating to Samar Island, and Tacloban was the only way to go.
If he didn’t want to be captured, he had to immediately retreat to the landing point.
…
Within a month, one big and one small mushroom cloud rose on the surface of the earth.
The nuclear explosion in Tacloban caused a panic in the world that wasn’t any less than the previous zombie crisis.
People only felt the power of nuclear weapons in movies.
However, at that moment, all this happened in reality. Although it was only a few words in the newspapers and a scarlet bright spot on satellite imaging, the shock it brought to people was far greater than any film and television show since the Cold War.
“Last night, a nuclear explosion happened in Tacloban? Please wait, I have to confirm whether the press release made a mistake…”
“According to the data released by Country F, the confirmed death toll exceeded 20,000 people, including 13,000 civilians who have not yet withdrawn. However, after two hours, this figure was updated to 50,000 people. The specific information can be found on the official website of Country F’s government… If Celestial Trade stopped its cyberattack against Country F.”
“A spokesperson for Country F’s presidential office said the nuclear explosion was detonated by Moro and that the nuclear bomb came from Celestial Trade. However, Moro gave an opposite answer, accusing Country F of detonating the bomb in the city.”
“…Nuclear weapons are rampant. How many countries illegally hold nuclear weapons outside the framework of the nuclear non-proliferation convention? We must put an end to this unstable situation; this is important for preserving the lives of everyone on Earth…”
Five hours after the nuclear explosion, news spread to the whole world in an instant.
NASA first published a satellite image. A bright spot suddenly appeared over Leyte Island on the screen, which was clearly visible in outer s.p.a.ce. This picture, which was shot by satellites, was also used by the major media as the only picture to report on the power of nuclear weapons.
At present, the control of the city of Tacloban remained undecided. With such strong nuclear radiation remaining, no reporters could enter the area.
“It’s crazy! They actually used nuclear weapons directly!” Ivan grumbled while smas.h.i.+ng his fist against the table.
“We got set up.” Jiang Chen frowned.
The 11,000 Moro Land Forces lost more than half its men; in Celestial Trade’s two thousand soldier brigade, a total of 431 people were killed and 1,107 people suffered injured of varying degrees.
At present, all combat units retreated to their landing points.
Seizing this opportunity, F Country Army garrison on Leyte Island launched a frenzied counterattack against Moro and Celestial Trade’s positions with the support of artilleries. Because the artillery was deployed in the foothills of central Leyte and was protected by a large number of anti-aircraft guns, it brought great difficulties for air strikes.
Two frigates deployed on the coast bombarded the artilleries, but due to topography, they had little success.
At that moment, there was a heated discussion inside the command center involving this issue. Including Jiang Chen and Ivan, no officers closed their eyes for a moment.
“Why do they have nuclear weapons? When did Country F become a nuclear-armed country?!”
“Is it the Freemasonry? Israel is known for possession of nuclear weapons. If the Jewish consortium has enough influence in Israel, it isn’t too difficult to obtain nuclear weapons.”
“But what do they want to do?”
“Frame us and even pull the United Nations into this civil war!” Barkary, the logistics chief, who had been silent, suddenly spoke out.
The command desk quieted down, including Ivan and Jiang Chen. Everyone was looking at him.
“It makes sense.”
Jiang Chen nodded. Barkary’s words gave him a clearer picture in his mind.
At that point, an officer entered the command center and walked over to the commander’s desk.
“Country F requested a ceasefire. The two sides will return to their respective areas of actual control and wait for an investigation from the UN”
“Investigation? What investigation?” Jiang Chen asked with a frown.
“About which party used nuclear weapons,” the officer said with an ugly expression.
Both sides accused the other side of using nuclear weapons, and both sides had reasons why they absolutely wouldn’t use nuclear weapons. Moro clearly had an advantage and it was impossible to throw a nuclear bomb on its own soldiers. Although Country F was at a disadvantage, it was impossible that they used a nuclear bomb in their own city and on their own citizens.
In addition, both sides were non-nuclear countries.
In order to investigate the source of the nuclear weapons, the United Nations had already convened an emergency meeting and announced it would intervene in this “civil war.”
However, Jiang Chen suddenly realized a serious problem.
“The ceasefire … what about the area occupied by Country F guerrillas?”