Orm sneered coldly.
"If that is your choice, then prepare yourselves for war!"
With that, Orm turned and returned to his ranks.
---
Inside the White House, President Ellis leaned back in his chair, his expression grave.
The United States had never feared war—but facing an unknown enemy, Ellis had to weigh the consequences carefully.
"Mr. President!"
Secretary of Defense Ross stood up.
"Please declare the nation to be in a state of war immediately."
Ellis rose to his feet, picked up the phone, and pressed the button.
"By presidential order, the entire federation is hereby placed in a state of war!"
He then turned to Ross and spoke firmly:
"Under the authority granted to me by the Constitution, I now assume full command of all armed forces as Commander-in-Chief."
"Transmit orders to the Navy: the Atlantic Second Fleet is to enter full combat status with unrestricted fire authorization."
"The Third, Sixth, and Seventh Fleets are to proceed to the combat zone at maximum speed and be ready to join the battle at any time."
"They must intercept the enemy's underwater forces at all costs."
"Order all nearby military bases to mobilize immediately and deploy to Gotham City. Units farther away are to rush to the front using all available transport."
"Mobilize every force that can be mobilized!"
Ross frowned slightly.
"Commander-in-Chief, isn't a full mobilization premature?"
Ellis snapped back without hesitation:
"Do you want to wait until the frontline collapses before moving our forces?"
"Execute the order, Ross."
Ellis was no political amateur. Before entering politics, he had served in the Navy.
He knew that against an enemy like this, scattered forces meant defeat. Only overwhelming concentration could deliver a decisive blow.
"I understand, sir," Ross replied, turning to relay the orders.
After issuing the commands, he hesitated, then asked:
"What about the research division? It's been nearly half a year—still no usable breakthroughs?"
Ross shook his head.
"We've made some progress with the weapons and energy systems, but nothing that can be translated into battlefield-ready technology."
Ellis exhaled sharply.
"Then why do I keep hearing that LexCorp and Kord Industries have made notable advances?"
Ross replied helplessly,
"Sir… in that case, I suggest you speak directly with him."
Ellis interlaced his fingers.
"And what exactly do I have to bargain with?"
Ross fell silent.
Ellis sighed.
"Establish a joint command center. This crisis is only the beginning."
---
Across the United States, the armed forces entered full wartime posture.
The Atlantic Second Fleet rapidly deployed to its nearest combat-ready positions facing the Atlantean forces.
All naval guns were trained forward. Missile bays began preheating.
Fighter pilots strapped into cockpits, ready for immediate launch.
What they did not know was that deep beneath the ocean—beyond sonar and radar detection—countless weapons were already locked onto them.
---
At the closest military base to Washington, inside the hastily assembled Unified Command Center, Ellis sat at the head seat, watching real-time data flood the screens.
Personnel rushed back and forth. Reports stacked up in the hands of generals and strategists.
The more Ellis read, the darker his expression became.
Although the enemy had not yet fired, defense analysts unanimously concluded:
These were energy weapons.
Which meant the opposing force was a fully energy-armed military.
"No wonder they're so arrogant," Ellis muttered, loosening his collar to breathe more easily.
"Commander-in-Chief," a chief of staff reported,
"Thirty-seven minutes remain until the enemy's declared attack window."
"The Second Fleet is fully deployed. All guns and missiles are locked on target."
"Given the technological disparity, I recommend a preemptive strike."
Ellis and Ross exchanged a glance and nodded.
War was no place for sentimentality.
Any advantage had to be seized.
The United States no longer held its usual technological superiority—
so it would create one.
Forget moral lectures and abstract doctrines.
All eyes turned to President Ellis.
This order would be recorded in history.
Ellis narrowed his eyes.
"Full assault."
---
The command center erupted into motion.
The moment the order was transmitted, the Atlantic Second Fleet unleashed its firepower.
Battleship cannons roared. Missile silos ignited as hundreds of warheads streaked into the sky.
Carrier decks thundered as fully armed fighter jets launched in waves toward the Atlantean army.
On land, tanks, artillery, and missile platforms opened fire simultaneously.
The sky filled with a dense barrage—true saturation fire.
---
"Humans are exactly as expected."
Seated upon his throne, Orm let out a cold laugh.
Above the battlefield, towering jellyfish-like structures—over ten meters tall—extended dozens, then hundreds of cannon barrels from their crowns.
Energy cannons fired in unison.
A blinding wall of plasma surged upward, meeting the incoming missiles and shells head-on.
The combined energy barrage intercepted and annihilated every projectile mid-air.
Explosions bloomed across the sky like fireworks.
Compared to chemical-propellant weapons, energy weapons possessed overwhelming firing speed and efficiency.
The United States' once-proud saturation firepower was utterly meaningless before this defense.
When the smoke cleared, the Atlantean army stood completely unharmed.
Every military commander watching the feed froze in disbelief.
They had failed to even scratch the enemy.
Still, the Second Fleet did not stop.
A second wave.
A third wave.
Then—
Every ship's radar and sonar screamed warnings simultaneously.
Countless hostile signals appeared on the displays.
Before alarms could even be voiced—
Crimson energy beams erupted from below, striking the undersides of the ships.
BOOM!
Steel armor crumpled like paper before plasma-accelerated beams.
Warships were pierced clean through, detonating from within before breaking apart and sinking into the depths.
Even aircraft carriers—symbols of naval dominance—were helpless.
Before energy weapons, they had no choice but to await destruction.
---
Conventional weapons had met the future.
And they were being utterly annihilated.
___
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