Chapter 18: "Preparations For The Surgical Strike"

"In light of this evidence, we have no choice but to take action. We are ordering a surgical strike against the Lithium Gruppo di Rivoluzione, in order to bring them to justice and ensure that this kind of violence does not happen again."

After making his statement, Coles opened the floor for questions. The reporters eagerly raised their hands, hoping to get more information about the situation.

One reporter spoke up, "Mr. Coles, can you provide any evidence that Lithium Gruppo di Rivoluzione is responsible for the kidnapping of Steven Kenyetta?"

Coles confidently replied, "Yes, we have obtained intelligence reports that point towards their involvement in the kidnapping. Plus, their group has a history of engaging in violent activities against the government and innocent civilians."

Another reporter asked, "But what about the insignia of Lithium Ae Independenco Si on the kidnappers' uniforms in the video that was released?"

Coles quickly responded, "Well, it's possible that Lithium Ae Independenco Si was working in conjunction with Lithium Gruppo di Rivoluzione. We're still investigating all possible angles."

A third reporter asked, "What is your plan to rescue Steven Kenyetta from the kidnappers?"

Coles replied, "We are working closely with our law enforcement agencies and the military to launch a surgical strike against Lithium Gruppo di Rivoluzione in Aaria, where they are currently occupying. We believe that by doing so, we will not only rescue Steven but also send a strong message to all rebel groups that such actions will not be tolerated."

Reporter: What steps are you taking to ensure the safety of civilians in the Lithium Ero Zone during this operation?

Coles: We have taken extensive precautions to minimize the risk to civilians during the operation, including conducting thorough reconnaissance of the area, targeting only known rebel positions, and coordinating with local authorities to ensure the safe evacuation of non-combatants.

Reporter: Some have criticized your decision to publicly announce this operation before it has even begun. How do you respond to those critics?

Coles: We believe that transparency is essential in a democratic society and that the public has a right to know what actions their government is taking to protect them. We also hope that by publicly announcing our intentions, we can deter any further acts of violence against civilians in the region.

The reporters continued to shout questions, but Coles held up his hand, signaling that he was done.

"That's all I have to say for now," he said, stepping away from the podium. "Thank you for your time." As they left the press conference, Coles, Arnold, and Camille were already discussing their next moves.

10 Minutes later in the UPKF'S War Department :

Coles sat in his office, staring at his computer screen, lost in thought. He had been working on his plan to take down the Lithium Gruppo di Rivoluzione for hours, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

As he leaned back in his chair, he glanced around the room, taking in the expensive furnishings and artwork that adorned the walls. He had worked hard to get where he was, and he was determined to succeed no matter the cost.

Suddenly, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He answered it without looking at the caller ID.

"Sir Shawn and people from the Shield Legion are here and are requesting an audience with you," his assistant said.

Coles' eyes lit up with excitement at the mention of Shawn's name. He had always been a fan of the Shield Legion, and he knew they could help him in his current predicament.

"Please allow them inside and make sure they are comfortable," Coles said, his voice full of enthusiasm. "I'll be there shortly."

He quickly got up from his chair and headed out of the door, eager to meet with the Shield Legion and mainly Shawn and see where they have reached on the mission that he assigned them.

Shawn sat nervously in front of Coles, unsure of how the man would react to the news he was about to deliver. Coles, however, welcomed him with open arms and a warm smile.

"Shawn, my old friend! It's so good to see you," Coles exclaimed as he hugged the Sword Legion member.

Shawn couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over him as he looked into Coles' trusting eyes. How could they betray such a kind man?

"Sir, I have some troubling news to share with you," Shawn said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Coles' smile faded as he leaned forward, his eyes filled with concern. "What is it, Shawn? What's happened?"

"The Shield Legion... has betrayed you, sir. Colonel Henderson has run away with some of our men, and Lieutenant James' team is trapped in the capital city of Aaria," Shawn said, his voice shaking with emotion.

Coles' expression turned from concern to anger in an instant. He clenched his fists and his jaw tightened as he processed the news.

He couldn't believe that the Shield Legion had betrayed him and that Colonel Henderson had run away.

Shawn hung his head low as Coles' anger continued to escalate. He knew that delivering this news was not going to be easy, but he had to do it.

Coles was pacing back and forth in his office, his face red with rage. "How could they do this? We trusted them! And now we have lost Colonel Henderson and Lieutenant James' team is stuck in Aaria? This is unacceptable!" he bellowed.

Shawn tried to explain the situation, but Coles wouldn't listen. He continued to yell and point his finger at Shawn, blaming him for the Shield Legion's betrayal.

"You are responsible for this, Shawn! You and your team! You have brought shame and dishonor to the UPKF!" Coles shouted.

Shawn could feel his own anger rising. He had always been loyal to the UPKF, but he couldn't take the blame for the Shield Legion's actions. "Sir, with all due respect, we had no idea the Legion was planning to betray us. We were just as shocked as you were when it happened," he said firmly.

Coles glared at him for a moment before finally calming down. "Fine, right now, we need to focus on rescuing Lieutenant James' team and bringing them back safely," he said, his voice now controlled but still firm.

Coles took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "We need to act fast. I want you to assemble a team to rescue Lieutenant James and his team. And as for the Shield Legion and Colonel Henderson, we'll deal with them later. They'll regret crossing me."

Shawn nodded. "Agreed. We have a few leads, but we need your resources to make them work. And we need to act before it's too late."

Coles leaned forward, his eyes intense. "Then let's get to work."

10 Minutes later in the War Department's conference room :

All the high commanders of the UPKF are assembled here.

Coles slammed his fist on the table, "Fine, we'll assemble 5000 UPKF personnel for the surgical strike, but I want Shawn to lead the operation."

Shawn looked up, surprised at the sudden responsibility that had been thrust upon him.

Coles continued, "Shawn, you're going to be in charge of the operation. You'll have to gather 5000 of our best men and make sure they're trained and ready for action. We can't afford to make any mistakes, so make sure you choose the best of the best."

Shawn nodded in agreement, "Yes, sir. I'll make sure we have the best team for the job."

Coles then brought out a map of the Aaria capital city, "Here's the plan, we'll divide our forces into two divisions - the Dreg and Sword. The Dreg division will be led by Lieutenant James and the Sword division will be led by Seargent Williams. We need to place them strategically so we can surround the enemy forces and cut off their supply lines."

Shawn leaned over the map, carefully studying the terrain and analyzing the enemy's potential movements. He traced his finger along the lines and contours, visualizing the placement of the two divisions. "Okay," he said finally, straightening up. "We'll need to place the Dreg division here," he pointed to a location on the map, "in this hilly area. They can use the cover to launch surprise attacks and harass the enemy from the flank."

He then traced his finger to a different location on the map. "And the Sword division should be stationed here, just to the east of the river. We'll use the natural barrier to our advantage and bottleneck their movements. We can also send scouts across the river to gather intelligence and keep an eye on the enemy's movements."

Coles nodded, "Exactly. And once we've surrounded them, we'll launch a full-scale assault and take them out."

Coles nodded in approval, impressed by Shawn's strategic thinking. "Very well, make it happen. I want 5000 UPKF personnel ready for the surgical strike as soon as possible. We'll show them what happens when they mess with us."

Shawn added, "We'll need to be careful about civilians in the area. We don't want to cause any unnecessary casualties."

Coles agreed, "Yes, that's a good point. We'll need to make sure we avoid any civilian areas and only target enemy forces."

As the planning meeting came to a close, Shawn stood up with a determined look in his eyes. "We've got our orders, people," he declared. "And we're not going to let Coles down. We'll hit them hard, fast, and without mercy. We'll take out their supply lines, cut off their reinforcements, and make them regret ever messing with us." He paused for a moment, a sly smile crossing his face. "In the immortal words of Lieutenant James, it's time to rock and fucking roll!" The room erupted in cheers and applause as the team prepared to carry out their mission.