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Chapter 182: Tsunami

California is a state on the Pacific coast of the western United States.

Before the gold rush, it was a desolate place where no one lived and wildlife was scarce.

With the discovery of gold mines, this area gradually prospered.

Today, it is one of the most developed states in the United States, with an economic scale surpassing that of the United Kingdom.

San Diego, a city on the Pacific coast of California, is located in the extreme southwest corner of the continental United States. It is the second-largest city in California, following Los Angeles.

San Diego is home to numerous military bases, primarily for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

The most notable of these is the San Diego Naval Base, where the headquarters of the U.S. Third Fleet are stationed.

Many people believe that the most powerful fleet in the U.S. is the Seventh Fleet, which makes its presence known in the Far East. However, that is not the case.

The real powerhouse is the Third Fleet, which includes four aircraft carrier battle groups, a surface ship brigade, an attack helicopter wing, a littoral combat ship squadron, and an expeditionary detachment.

This fleet operates independently, following orders from the joint commander to carry out various tasks, such as implementing Pacific theater strategies during wartime, preventing regional conflicts during peacetime, and training the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The Third Fleet boasts four nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and its overall strength is nearly one-third of that of the entire U.S. Navy.

San Diego enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with rare summer rains. Its warm climate, stunning coastline, and numerous beaches make it a popular resort destination.

However, today at noon, an unexpected downpour disrupted the clear sky. Vacationers, caught off guard by the unpredictable weather, could only grumble.

What no one anticipated was that this heavy rain was just the precursor to a massive tsunami!

An unprecedentedly huge tsunami, with waves thousands of feet high, obscured the sky and made everything appear tiny.

The power of the ocean revealed the true meaning of overwhelming force. Everything in the path of the colossal waves was instantly destroyed.

Inside the San Diego Naval Base, the piercing alarm blared.

"Run! The tsunami is coming..."

"It's over, we're finished!"

Desperate cries echoed everywhere as countless people fled in panic.

An officer watched helplessly as a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, appearing like a mere flatboat against the monstrous waves, was lifted thousands of meters into the air.

Then it plummeted towards a shipyard.

"Boom!" The explosion was followed by immediate submersion by the waves.

The sea giant, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, a symbol of supreme maritime power and a fate-determining entity for some nations, was instantly shattered by nature's might.

"Is this the Lihe number?" he muttered.

There was no time for sorrow. While soldiers could escape quickly, the fleet could not.

On this day, destined to be remembered in history, the San Diego Naval Base, the second-largest naval base of the U.S. Navy and the largest port in the Pacific, suffered the most devastating attack in human history.

Including the Third Fleet, nearly a hundred warships in the base were either destroyed by the tsunami or swept into the sea.

The only fortunate aspect was that, thanks to immediate rescue efforts, the loss of personnel was relatively low. Moreover, the previous heavy rain provided enough time for many to evacuate from the beach.

Even so, this was a catastrophe. For the country, the loss was several times greater than the attack on Pearl Harbor in the previous century. Four Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and four Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines had become history.

The most powerful Third Fleet, capable of decimating more than 90% of the world's countries, was obliterated in just a few hours. One-third of the formidable navy that the United States relied on to assert its dominance had evaporated.

"Revenge! This must be avenged!"

The top officials in Washington were in turmoil as they received the news.

The four-star general who had personally overseen the nuclear launch was now furiously demanding, "This is a direct challenge to us, and it cannot go unanswered! I propose an all-out war at any cost!"

The other officials fell silent. The destruction of the Third Fleet in a matter of hours suggested that the enemy had the capability to do even more damage.

After all, they did not have the courage to risk everything on a single gamble.

"Chief, there's an unknown email!"

A soldier opened the message, revealing a nuclear symbol and a small map.

Virginia?

"Norfolk! Norfolk Naval Base! They are warning us!"

A middle-aged man exclaimed, and everyone gasped in shock.

The largest naval base, with three major fleets and five nuclear-powered aircraft carriers! If it follows the fate of San Diego, it could mark the end of an era of dominance!

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