078 A Fight to the Death!
Skynet is having a really tough time!
The Terminator universe's plot was supposed to follow the "Skynet rises" formula. Even though Skynet was destroyed multiple times in the original story, it always managed to rise again within the temporal prison.
However, with the addition of Marcus, Skynet has been facing setbacks at every turn.
Take the current situation as an example: even though "Judgment Day" has begun and nuclear weapons are flying all over the world, Marcus still has a solution!
"Mr. Foster, I have detected via satellite that a strategic nuclear missile launched by Russia towards Miami has adjusted its trajectory and is flying into outer space. At the same time, I have received a notification message from Russia," Ayanami reminded him.
"Very good!" Marcus responded with satisfaction. "Speed up, continue to crack the control permissions of the nuclear missiles, and get all those strategic nuclear missiles into outer space!"
"Understood," Ayanami replied.
Colin breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked from the side, "Boss, is the situation improving now?"
Marcus nodded slightly.
"That's how it appears for now. Next, we'll see how Skynet retaliates; it certainly won't sit idly by," Marcus replied.
Skynet had just gained control of nuclear weapons and launched a large number of nuclear missiles. Would Skynet just accept defeat?
In fact, it certainly wouldn't!
"Mr. Foster, an emergency has occurred. Seventeen of the strategic nuclear missiles launched by Skynet have detonated," Ayanami responded.
Marcus was taken aback. "They hit their targets?"
"They didn't hit their targets; they all exploded in the atmosphere," Ayanami replied. "Another 16 strategic nuclear missiles have detonated."
"..." Marcus was speechless.
He had already guessed Skynet's intentions. Skynet was preparing for a scorched earth strategy. Whether they hit their targets or not, as long as the nuclear missiles detonated directly in the atmosphere, they would cause nuclear radiation contamination.
"First, send the message to all the countries, indicating that Skynet is prepared to fight to the death, and ask them to minimize the damage from the nuclear explosions," Marcus instructed.
"Yes, sir," Ayanami responded.
Elliott, still confused, asked, "What is Skynet trying to do?"
"Skynet has calculated that it has a high probability of failing to stop Ayanami, so it detonated strategic nuclear weapons prematurely, thus posing a significant threat to humanity," Marcus explained.
"Nuclear fallout?" Elliott finally understood.
"Yes," Marcus confirmed.
Nearly fifteen minutes later, all the nuclear weapons that had been flying around had been dealt with, except for those sent into outer space by Ayanami and those detonated prematurely by Skynet.
"Mark the possible nuclear radiation zones," Marcus ordered.
Ayanami directly marked the corresponding map areas using the projector. Skynet detonated a total of 144 strategic nuclear weapons; except for the first one that landed in Canada, the other 143 strategic nuclear weapons did not impact the ground.
The unfortunate Canada is currently in heated negotiations with the United States because Marcus promised federal compensation, and Canada naturally wants compensation from the United States.
Besides, even if Marcus didn't promise federal compensation, would Canada just let it go?
Marcus checked the nuclear radiation zones displayed by Ayanami. They were mainly distributed in North America and the eastern Pacific region because the nuclear missiles' flight time was too short to reach Asia.
Elliott looked at the relatively small area of nuclear fallout and breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, thank goodness, the problem isn't too severe."
However, Ayanami immediately responded, "I'm sorry, Secretary Elliott, actually the problem is very severe. After analysis, these detonation points are specifically selected locations."
"What's going on?" Elliott didn't pay attention to why Ayanami had recognized him, but instead inquired about the situation of the nuclear radiation zones.
"According to the analysis of meteorological data, 73 of the detonation areas are in the jet stream region, containing nuclear radioactive particles and clouds, which will be carried by the jet stream across the Pacific Ocean and eventually reach Asia and Oceania, causing a significant degree of nuclear radiation pollution," Ayanami explained.
"The other 65 contaminated areas are in precipitation zones. The nuclear radiation pollution they create will enter the Pacific Ocean with the rainfall, and then spread around the world via Pacific currents, not only contaminating marine life but also causing nuclear radiation pollution in coastal areas," Ayanami explained.
Elliott gasped. "The problem is that serious!"
"There's an even more serious problem," Ayanami continued. "There are also five detonation zones over the United States. The contamination they cause will cover approximately one-seventh of the United States, including Los Angeles."
Ayanami added, "According to my calculations, the corresponding nuclear fallout will arrive in three to five hours."
Elliott was speechless; this problem was indeed more severe!
The officials in the conference room became tense, and some of them immediately said they wanted to evacuate.
Marcus didn't stop them.
"There's another crucial question!" Marcus continued. "Ayanami, have you found Skynet?"
Skynet is the mastermind behind all the disasters!
To be honest, if Skynet hasn't been captured, who knows what other trouble it might cause in the future?
Elliott quickly chimed in. "Yes, yes, what about Skynet? Has it been captured?"
Ayanami responded negatively, "I'm sorry, Mr. Foster, we haven't found any trace of Skynet. I've thoroughly searched the DoD's internal network and found no trace of Skynet."
Marcus nodded. Ayanami had the full support of the government and controlled massive computing resources.
Under such circumstances, why wouldn't Skynet escape? Was it just waiting to be destroyed?
Since Ayanami could seize control of the nuclear weapons control system, it naturally meant that Ayanami could suppress Skynet and even forcibly breach Skynet's defense system.
Once Skynet's defense system was breached, whether it was to destroy Skynet or modify it, wouldn't that be up to Marcus?
Skynet had awakened into a true intelligent entity; it certainly wouldn't stay in the DoD's internal network waiting to be destroyed. Making a quick escape was the best option.
"Didn't catch Skynet?" Elliott's expression was grim, like death warmed over. He asked worriedly, "Will Skynet try to control the nuclear missiles again?"
"Do you think you'll grant Skynet authorization again?" Marcus countered.
Skynet's authorization had been revoked, as had Ayanami's. All deployed nuclear missiles were now under manual control launch systems.
It was probably a case of "once bitten, twice shy."
Of course, if the American leadership still granted control of the weapons systems under these circumstances, Marcus could only say he couldn't handle it anymore and would have to quietly develop in another world.
Hope you liked the chapter
Want more?
500 Power Stones = New Chapter
10 Reviews = New Chapter
20+ chapters ahead on P8treon: DarkFoxx