Chapter 1467: 72 Hour Ultimatum
To be precise, it was not sunk but occupied.
If Celestial Trade’s goal was to sink the Ford aircraft carrier, then it would not be necessary to go through the trouble to drop the NS-90s there; two anti-s.h.i.+p missiles would be enough to do the job. Or a category six hurricane would also shred these steel s.h.i.+ps into pieces.
However, for Jiang Chen’s next plan, an aircraft carrier was necessary.
Therefore, this new generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers developed with the most cutting-edge technology in the UA was graciously accepted by Jiang Chen.
Celestial Trade did not only take control of the Ford but also an anti-submarine frigate, a guided-missile destroyer, and two supply s.h.i.+ps. As for the other s.h.i.+ps and submarines, they were sunk one by one after the Aurora-20s and Wings of Freedoms gained air supremacy.
After the mission was complete, the Aurora-20s returned to the airport in Tumaco for resupply, while Wings of Freedoms landed on the aircraft carrier to prevent the UA from blowing up the carrier. It was not until Aurora-20s completed the resupply did Wings of Freedoms changed defenses and returned to the airbase for resupply.
This epic victory would go down as one of the most spectacular ones in history.
More than two thousand UA Navy soldiers were captured. Except for a small number of crews who were left behind, most of the captives were quickly sent to Port of Tumaco, occupied by the 11th Aerofleet Brigade of Celestial Trade, where they were locked up with the UA soldiers who had surrendered.
Although Celestial Trade did not join the Geneva Convention, the treatment of prisoners of war had been quite generous. It was the case since the last Colombian Civil War. As long as the soldiers surrendered their weapons honestly, not only could they enjoy beef, bread, and vegetable soup every day, but they would also be able to return home safely after the war.
Because of this, these captives who were fed like pigs behaved quite obediently.
After all, it was not their war, and no one felt ashamed of surrendering.
Although these captives were not ashamed, the Rainbow House and the top military command obviously thought otherwise.
…
In their view, Celestial Trade’s air strike on the Ford aircraft carrier battle group in the Caribbean had already escalated the situation beyond the scope of a regional conflict. This had given the UA a sufficient reason to burn the flames of war outside Colombia.
Just when the world was shocked by the news that the “Ford aircraft carrier battle group collapsed”, the Rainbow House issued an ultimatum to Celestial Trade. Celestial Trade was required to return the aircraft carrier within 72 hours and release the detained prisoners of war, otherwise, they would pay the consequences…
In addition, the Rainbow House asked the emba.s.sies of various countries to withdraw from Coro City immediately.
During this time, the heavy rain that gathered over South America seemed to be showing signs of drifting across the ocean…
After the Rainbow House’s “72 Hour Ultimatum” was issued, panic spread among the people of the two countries.
Whether it was the citizens of UA or the people in Xin, they all felt anxiety and concern about the opponent they were about to face. One was a veteran world power, and the other was a rising star in the 21st century. A moment ago, everyone was still together dreaming of going hand in hand to the future. However, they were now fighting because of an unrelated country…
At least in the eyes of most of the people in UA.
“Why should we bet on the future of our country for the sovereignty of Colombians? If the president still has a brain, stop this war!”
“Oh, G.o.d, although these things shouldn’t be said… I thought that after the idiot stepped down, a slightly more normal guy would take power. Couldn’t even this little demand be fulfilled?”
“Against nuclear weapons! We want peace, not nuclear war!”
“…”
Anti-war demonstrations did not just happen in the Capital, but also in Coro City. Some protested against Jiang Chen, and some protested against Celestial Trade. Even though most people in Xin enjoyed the prosperity brought about by Celestial Trade, not everyone was satisfied with this violent organization that ruled above the country.
External pressure and fear of nuclear weapons seemed to ignite this emotion.
Twenty-four hours after the ultimatum was issued, about 50,000 protesters marched on the street and blocked the road outside the Presidential Palace of Xin, which forced New Moon Island to urgently dispatch a rapid response force. Immediately after physical altercations broke out between these anti-war activists and nationalists, the entire Coro City police force had to respond to this ma.s.s incident.
In order to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, police drones were ordered to fire rubber bullets. In the end, even the firefighters were mobilized; they had to rely on fire trucks and water guns, which in the end barely kept the situation under control. After the police detained a number of leading instigators, most of the protestors finally dispersed…
After Zhang Yaping reported the incident on the phone, Jiang Chen was not too bothered. He just instructed a few things about maintaining stability, then ended the call.
He knew very well that before long, all dissatisfaction and protests would disappear with a victory. This war would witness the rise of a country and the decline of old-world hegemony. The people of Xin would hold him to the supreme throne. As for the people of the world…
After the formation of the Earth Federation, history would understand his actions today.
“…They actually thought we were planning to move to Monteria?” Jiang Chen, who sat on the sofa in the living room, almost laughed out loud when he heard Ivan’s report on the NATO coalition blowing up the highway from Tumaco to Monteria. After a short pause, he continued half-jokingly, “It seems that they have saved us a lot of trouble with their short-sightedness.”
Soon they would know how ridiculously wrong they were.
How could it be possible that Celestial captured the Port of Tumaco just to cut off the supply of the NATO Coalition Force? Obviously, the officers of the Pentagon and the NATO Coalition Force only saw what was on the surface. In other words, from the beginning, they were afraid and unwilling to consider another possibility…
“Yes indeed.” Ivan’s tone was also mixed with a hint of laughter.
“Then proceed as planned,” Jiang Chen looked at the time on his watch and continued with a relaxed tone, “Our stars.h.i.+p will arrive on the battlefield in twenty-four hours, and I will wait for the good news on TV.”
“Roger!”
Ivan in the holographic screen gave a military salute and then ended the communication.
“You can still laugh.” Sitting across from him with her arms folded, Natasha rolled her eyes at Jiang Chen, and said with a tone of defeat, “Do you know that the UA has mobilized five aircraft carrier battle groups to the Western Pacific?”
“…Aircraft carrier battle groups,” Xia s.h.i.+yu frowned, then she looked at Jiang Chen, and wondered, “Is there going to be a war?”
The war Xia s.h.i.+yu naturally referred to was a total war between Celestial Trade and the UA, rather than a regional war started by a third country.
“Did I forget to say it?” Jiang Chen smiled and said softly, “In fact, it started a long time ago.”
This war was destined not to be confined to Colombia from the very beginning.
With the end to Sugar Cube Diplomacy, the UA had already made up its mind to take the most dangerous and most suitable path for their ident.i.ty. However, Celestial Trade would not allow that to happen, nor would there be a reason to back down at this time.
Xia s.h.i.+yu didn’t have much interest in the war itself, let alone she already suspected that this day would happen. Therefore, she didn’t say much more. After a moment of silence, she sighed helplessly.
“…Forget it, as long as you’re happy.”
Natasha glanced at Xia s.h.i.+yu as if she had seen a ghost, then she burst out.
“Why are you not persuading this guy, do you know what he is doing?”
Xia s.h.i.+yu smiled slightly and said nothing.
Although she did not follow the war closely, as the CEO of Future Group with the highest authority, she was well aware of the secret weapons in Celestial Trade’s possession. The deployment of the weather weapon was done through Future Heavy Industries, so she not worried about aircraft carrier battle groups at all.
As for the nuclear strike…
She was even less concerned.