Working as a police officer in Mexico
Chapter 838 - 452: Spark, Conflict! (Long Chapter)_3

Casare immediately stood up, his face flushed, "Loyalty!"

"Loyalty!!"

"Long live!!"

Victor stood up and saluted, "Let us all encourage one another."

Everyone felt a surge of strength. As they left the office one by one, their eyes were glowing with determination.

Victor stopped Defense Minister Kennedy and Chief of Staff Admiral Horatio Herbert Kitchener.

Just as the two were puzzled, his first sentence made their spirits rise.

"What do you think about launching a southern offensive this coming May?"

Was he planning to wipe out all the southern drug traffickers?!

Victor stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his gaze somewhat tense. "Those southern drug traffickers have always been like a thorn stabbing into our heart. Even when our relations with the Americans were good, they secretly aided them. Now that things have soured, they will undoubtedly support them entirely."

After all…

This was already a war of belief.

At its core, it was a matter of national survival.

Kennedy and Horatio exchanged glances. Finally, the former thought for a moment and said, "It's like beating a dog when we strike at the southern traffickers, but I fear the U.S. military might get involved. So, if we move, I suggest we end it swiftly!"

Horatio Herbert Kitchener nodded, "I agree."

"According to intelligence, there has already been significant discord between the Gulf Group and Los Zetas in the southern camp. Last time, it was Colombian Pablo who mediated, but the anger is still there. With our infiltrators stirring the pot, internal chaos is just around the corner."

"Draft an operational plan and conduct a wargame simulation. Treat everything as if it's the real battlefield."

"Understood."

"For now, don't discuss this with anyone else. Let us deliberate within the military first."

The two exchanged another glance and nodded vigorously.

Just as Victor was about to continue speaking, the phone on the desk rang.

He raised an eyebrow. "Hello~"

"General, this is the Coastal Defense Command. I'm Erich Albert Reidel, reporting an urgent situation. Two U.S. cruisers are maneuvering to block our merchant ships and have effectively sealed off our waters!"

At San Lucas Wan Corner port in Baja California State, Reidel gripped the telephone tightly, his piercing gaze trained on the Bainbridge and Long Beach cruisers on the horizon. He squinted, his tone marked with palpable tension.

He feared… that he might not be able to restrain himself from engaging them.

As the commanding officer of the Coastal Defense Group, he had the authority to report directly to the National Palace.

After all, Mexico doesn't fear ground conflicts—with an Army of 250,000, they could withstand anything for a while.

But sudden strikes from the sea? Those were the most terrifying.

The two cruisers were herding a cruise ship…

Like walking a dog.

"Have they entered our territorial waters?"

"No…"

The other end of the line went silent for a moment before asking again, "Are you certain?"

Erich Albert Reidel became sharp in an instant. "Yes! They're firing at us now!"

"Sink them!"

"Understood!"

The commander of the Coastal Defense Group, after hanging up the phone, suddenly lit up. He picked up the radio in the command room and ordered, "All units, take your positions, adjust the targeting reticles…"

The soldiers of the Coastal Defense Group, already at the ready, held their breath and steadied themselves.

Apart from the MK7-caliber 406mm main cannons at the port, there were also Soviet-made AK-726 twin-barreled 76.2mm (3-inch) naval guns.

And six "secret weapons!"

A-222 Bereg "Coastline" self-propelled coastal artillery!

These weapons, manufactured by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, didn't surface publicly until 1993. For now, they weren't known by that name.

Instead, adopting local customs, Mexicans called them the "Victor" coastal artillery.

"Fire!"

With Reidel's command, the guns roared!

The plan was simple: take down one ship first…

The unlucky Bainbridge, under everyone's watchful eyes…

Was struck on its deck!

It all happened so suddenly.

The other cruiser, Long Beach, acted like the "cheerleader" in a brawl. Seeing its "brother" getting beaten, its instincts urged it to move in and help.

Yet the coastal artillery defenses were too dense, and fear overwhelmed it…

So, it fled!

Yes, under everyone's gaze, it retreated.

That left the Bainbridge completely doomed.

"Counterattack! Counterattack!" The captain screamed himself hoarse, but the response he got was…

"Sir, our weapons systems have been destroyed…" the chief petty officer said mournfully.

The captain stood motionless, looking at the panicked sailors, utterly at a loss.

The famed discipline of the U.S. Navy…

Had been exhausted back in World War II. Today's commanders seemed equally at a loss when faced with sudden challenges.

"The ship's going down!"

Someone shouted.

Cue a dozen sailors, wearing life preservers, jumping into the sea.

"Sir, we should get out of here," the deputy captain urged, pulling him toward a lifeboat.

"No! No! I will sink with the Bainbridge!" the captain yelled…

But his legs moved at lightning speed.

None of them had any plans to go down heroically. Dying meant losing everything.

A group of high-ranking officers boarded the lifeboats and dashed away.

From afar, observing the blazing Bainbridge, everyone was momentarily dumbstruck.

The captain knelt in the lifeboat, hammering at it furiously.

December 27th.

"The San Lucas Wan Corner naval skirmish erupts!"

The Pentagon was stunned!

"This is war! This is a declaration of war!" Acting President James Dan Quayle slammed the table with fury.

Beside him, the old Defense Minister Rumsfeld remained silent.

He too felt…

Victor had gone too far.

We were just conducting "freedom of navigation" exercises at sea, and you destroyed our ship?

That's more domineering than the Soviet Union!

What galled him most was Victor's blatant inheritance of Soviet legacies.

What exactly are you plotting?

Wasn't there an agreement between the Vieri family and the Rumsfeld family to co-rule North America?

You're flagrantly disobedient.

And disobedience warrants a beating.

"Deploy troops immediately; the U.S.-Mexico relationship requires a war."

"Ahem… Ahem…" Advisor Richardson coughed loudly.

He cast a weary glance at James Dan Quayle, who then regained his composure.

He wasn't the President.

He was merely acting, just a transitional figure. Within at most a month, he'd be gone.

His words carried no weight.

James Dan Quayle went silent…

The office became eerily quiet.

"Do we really have no means to sanction him?" he finally shouted in frustration.

"We do."

As everyone was at a loss for words, someone finally spoke.

All eyes turned to—none other than the old Defense Minister Rumsfeld.

"If we could take down the Soviet Union with rumors, we can do the same to Victor."

Though his tone was calm, the dense murderous intent in his words was palpable to all.

"Doesn't he preach GC ideology?"

"Then let's show everyone just how wealthy Victor truly is!"

"Can a wealthy man truly empathize with the working class? No! Impossible!"

"Let the world see his ugly façade."

As he said this, Rumsfeld slammed the table forcefully.

Documents cluttered on the desk fell to the floor.

James Dan Quayle involuntarily flinched, his right eye twitching fiercely. He glanced at Advisor Richardson.

Their eyes appeared to be exchanging thoughts.

Wasn't this old man's granddaughter involved with Victor? Why was he so riled up?

Who knew?

"Sir, leave this matter to me," Rumsfeld said darkly.

The acting President subconsciously nodded.

"Then I'll take my leave." The old man rose and marched toward the door, but suddenly stopped. "We mustn't let the Mexicans capitalize on this. In addition to imposing a naval blockade, I recommend an airspace blockade as well—position the aircraft carrier closer to Southern Baja California."

"Let the world witness our fury!"

"We cannot allow that Northern European giant to awaken in North America. The future must belong solely to the United States."

With that, the old Defense Minister departed decisively and resolutely.

Leaving James Dan Quayle stunned.

He exhaled deeply.

"Do as he says."

"We must salvage our dignity."

...

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