"The Voodoo Boys are dealt with. They shouldn't be making any moves for now."
Jackie walked over to Chris and spoke.
Chris nodded in acknowledgment. "Jackie, after this, take your people to the outskirts of Pacifica and keep an eye on the situation there. A few other squads will be operating at the same time. Don't expose yourselves."
"Surveillance? Has Militech made a move?"
Jackie looked at Chris with some curiosity. Back in Nevada, he had mostly worked under Chris, so the two of them were on fairly good terms.
"Yeah. New United States forces are about to reach the area around Pacifica. I need you to monitor what's going on there."
Chris answered plainly. There was no point in hiding it.
"Just surveillance?"
"Yes. Surveillance is enough. We need this New United States force to enter Night City."
Chris crossed his arms and nodded.
"Got it."
Jackie replied, then turned and headed outside to continue the mission.
...
On the outskirts of Pacifica, patrol troops from Northern California were wandering around the border zone in a lax manner, showing little sense of responsibility.
For a long time, neither the New United States nor Southern California had launched any attacks on Night City, and the garrison here had all but lost its vigilance.
Especially this time, the New United States operation was a covert one. They hadn't made a big show of deploying troops in the open.
"Honestly, the people up top are something else. There's no war here at all, yet they still send us out to stand guard. Damn it."
One soldier complained, taking a deep breath, his face full of irritation.
"What's so bad about that? Come on, man, this is Night City—one of the most prosperous cities around. Don't tell me the sex dolls here are low quality."
Another soldier bumped his shoulder and laughed.
"Screw you. I'm not like you guys. What do you know? I just want to get back and spend time with my daughter."
The first soldier rolled his eyes and waved him off.
"Oh right, I almost forgot. You're married now. You used to be the wildest one when we were out."
"What do you know? When you're out here, you don't always have to follow the rules so strictly."
"Oh? Look at you, suddenly getting philosophical?"
Whoosh—
In the middle of their animated banter, a sharp whistling sound suddenly tore through the air. Blood splashed across one soldier's face.
His pupils shrank instantly. Without hesitation, he roared, "En—"
Whoosh—
Another bullet punched straight through his head, adding yet another corpse to the ground.
"Target eliminated. You may continue advancing. Area ahead is clear."
"Copy."
As the comms channel fell silent once again, more than a dozen figures slowly rose out of the darkness. The faint green markings on their bodies had dimmed completely, clearly a measure taken to conceal themselves.
These troops were part of the New United States' BARGHEST unit. Along with BARGHEST, several other special forces units had entered Pacifica as well: the Peregrines, the Mad Bulls, the Skyhawks, and more.
Without exception, every one of these New United States units possessed terrifying individual combat capability.
While BARGHEST struck, the other special forces units seized the moment as well, launching their own attacks. In less than ten minutes, they wiped out all Northern California patrol units around Pacifica.
Some personnel were deliberately left behind, disguised as patrol troops to continue routine rounds and buy time, while the main force had already pushed past the outposts and gone quiet.
As if they were waiting for something.
"Commander Fidel, all units are in position."
Inside an abandoned building in Pacifica, Hansen immediately sent a report to Fidel.
"Very good. Continue with your mission. Assemble the mortars and attack the checkpoint. Your strike will be the final signal."
"Yes, sir!"
Hansen saluted toward the comms, then cut the connection.
"You all heard him. Get to work."
At his words, Murphy and the others quickly dispersed, heading for the rooftop to begin assembling the weapons.
"Hansen, I need to talk to you."
Farida suddenly walked up to him, her face full of concern.
Hansen looked at her, slightly surprised. "What is it? Go on."
"Lindell's mental state is starting to look unstable. I think you should report his situation to headquarters."
"What happened?"
Hansen frowned immediately.
"In the last fight, he beat several Northern California soldiers who were already incapacitated to death with his bare hands. I know it was combat, but… this wasn't just killing enemies. He was enjoying the act itself. I'm worried—"
"I understand. I'll report Lindell's condition. For now, though, you'll need to keep him heavily medicated."
Hansen's expression turned grim. The last thing he wanted was a three-hundred-pound cyberpsycho suddenly going on a rampage inside his unit.
"Mm. After this operation, it's best to send Lindell to the hospital. Some Cyberware has to be removed. He definitely ignored me and secretly installed something again."
Farida nodded. Seeing that Hansen had taken her warning seriously, she turned and left to prepare a high-dose Inhibitor.
While they were talking, the mortar on the rooftop had already been fully assembled.
"Hansen, what do you think? Fire right away?"
Murphy turned his head and asked as Hansen walked over.
"Yes. Let Yuri and the others know to get ready to attack."
Murphy nodded, then sat down behind the mortar and began making adjustments.
Before long, a shell was loaded.
At the same time, flashes of fire suddenly appeared on several other rooftops. Clearly, Hansen's unit wasn't the only one that had received the order.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderous explosions echoed across Pacifica in an instant. Countless residents jolted awake in panic, only to see towering flames and thick black smoke slowly rising into the sky.
Inside the Petrochem Stadium, the Voodoo Boys all wore grim expressions.
"What was coming has finally arrived."
Bridget gazed at the distant flames, her tone calm.
"Have everyone prepare to fight a guerrilla war inside the city."
"Are we really going to fight the New United States head-on?"
Placide frowned.
"We don't have a choice. If we try to leave, we won't get far. All we can do is stall for time."
Bridget glanced in the direction Jackie and the others had come from, then shook her head.
When Yuri saw the flames ahead, a smile spread across his face.
"Guys, it's our turn to take the stage!"
...
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