International Operation

Following Miss Stark's explanation, General Hager quickly grasped the gravity of the situation. His face was grim as he separated himself from the group, made his way to a corner, and took out his phone to report to his superiors. The officers from the Department of Defense, left behind, were busy feigning interest in the decor of the Baxter Building. Yet, in reality, each of them had their ears perked, straining to hear what General Hager was reporting.

"Sir, we're in serious trouble… That's the situation in a nutshell. I hope the Department of Defense can approve this mission order immediately, and that the White House will promptly contact 10 Downing Street to begin a joint international operation. We must stop this crisis. It's our only chance to prevent disaster."

To ensure rapid approval, he described the situation as if Earth were on the brink of ruin.

"Can you guarantee success?"

The voice on the other end of the line was calm and somewhat wary. Under normal circumstances, such a report might have been dismissed as a joke. However, everyone present knew that abnormal events were already happening, and all must brace themselves for the worst, even if Earth's destruction was at stake.

"We don't have another choice, Sir. If we lose this chance, we might lose our only way to turn the tide. I can't guarantee success, but I swear I'll try my best. God help us—God help America."

Thanks to General Hager's insistence, the Department of Defense gave a positive response: they would promptly contact the White House and notify the British government to provide support for this anomaly-capturing operation. They instructed General Hager to bring his team to a nearby military base outside New York, promising to provide any resources necessary to avert the impending crisis.

For America—or rather, for human civilization—this was both the first and last stand.

No one knew what the outcome would be. No one knew if things would play out as Miss Stark had outlined, capturing the Herald of the Swarm as a means to stop it. Nor could anyone be certain that, even if they succeeded in capturing it, they would glean any actionable insights. Humanity knew virtually nothing about the Swarm.

Yet it was precisely because of this lack of knowledge that humanity would not simply sit and wait for extinction, allowing the Swarm to obliterate Earth with ease. If there was even the slightest chance, they would fight to the last. Waiting to die was not in their nature.

Miss Stark continued to watch events unfold with detached interest, the hint of a smile curling at the corners of her mouth. She was satisfied that these people hadn't lost their will to fight but instead chose to seize this small hope of survival. It was a good sign.

After finishing the call, General Hager took a deep breath, his grip on his phone trembling slightly. As if having made a difficult decision, he returned to the group, removed his cap, and held it over his heart, bowing his head before Miss Stark.

"The committee wishes to invite you to serve as an advisor, Miss Stark. Please—help us. You're the only one who might be able to save us."

It wasn't her status or wealth that compelled a brigadier general to bow to a businesswoman. Rather, it was that Miss Stark was the only person who had provided accurate information and predicted the crisis. The Department of Defense was well aware that the heir of Stark Industries wasn't merely a business magnate. Beneath that persona was a technical expert of exceptional caliber, one far beyond the average.

In such desperate circumstances, even a general representing national pride had to put aside his dignity, lower his head, and ask for Miss Stark's help—for the nation, for humanity's future. Far from disgraceful, his actions carried a spirit of sacrifice that caught Miss Stark slightly off-guard, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

"Originally, I had no intention of intervening in this matter, but you've changed my mind. I'll help. Reed, you didn't step in during New York's recent turmoil, but no one's getting out of this one. How about pitching in?"

Miss Stark nodded slightly, her gaze then turning to Reed Richards, who'd been quietly observing the proceedings.

Reed was stunned for a few seconds, then quickly pieced it together. She was deliberately placing him in a difficult position. Connecting this with the appearance of the hard drive on his desk, Reed realized she'd intended to pull him into this mess from the start. Then again, with Earth on the line, could he really refuse?

"Do I have a choice? Since you're already covering our wedding expenses, I suppose it's only fair to lend you a hand."

The DoD's newly formed joint committee gained another ally. The Fantastic Four agreed to act as the public face of the mission, while Miss Stark joined the committee's members, camouflaging herself as part of the advisory team. Together, they submitted an application for an international operation to the British government.

In no time, the White House and 10 Downing Street issued a joint order authorizing the cross-border mission. Though the British knew nothing of the events, when the White House unceremoniously dialed the Prime Minister's residence, everyone understood the severity of the matter.

Whether or not the British government believed the U.S.'s explanation, they certainly wouldn't be pleased to see the Thames freeze over like the Japanese coastline, revealing a massive pit leading straight to Earth's core. Although they resented the idea of American interference in domestic affairs, they lacked the means to intercept the enemy or summon other heroes to help. In the end, they reluctantly accepted the assistance of the Fantastic Four and their advisory team.

Per Miss Stark's suggestion, the operation team was lean and combat-focused. Besides twenty-four fully armed soldiers, only the Fantastic Four, liaison and commanding officer General Hager, and military advisor Miss Stark made up the cross-border task force.

The twenty-four soldiers General Hager had summoned were far from ordinary troops—they were members of the U.S. Army's elite Special Forces, known as the Green Berets. Each was a tactical master, skilled in at least one foreign language and possessing technical expertise in weapons, engineering, communications, or medicine. Trained comprehensively, they were also capable of leading an infantry company if needed. Every soldier here could be called a battle-hardened elite, with the lowest rank among them being a lieutenant.

Typically, Special Forces teams operate in groups of twelve, meaning these twenty-four were split into two different units. Deploying two teams at once was a rare move, and the C-17 Globemaster heavy transport plane on the airstrip underscored just how critical this mission was.

Their orders had come suddenly; no one knew the objective, only that they were to take commands from a brigadier general.

They didn't even know their destination was London. They had simply been ordered to equip themselves as quickly as possible, board a transport vehicle to the military airport, and meet the group of misfits awaiting them here.

Who were these people? There were four individuals in dark blue bodysuits—two men, a woman, and an enormous stone-like creature in a deep hue. And next to them stood a young white woman in a business suit and high heels, holding a red metal briefcase.

Who let these civilians in? Did they know this was a restricted military area?

"All personnel, load equipment onto the plane and prepare for takeoff—"

The professional soldiers eyed the odd assembly with suspicion. Still, orders were orders, and General Hager's command left them no room for objection. The two elite teams began transporting their weapons and equipment to the transport plane's cargo hold.

For this mission, the military airport had cleared an entire runway and temporarily suspended all operations, including fighter jet takeoffs and landings. Miss Stark and General Hager hadn't even had time to change clothes; they stood amidst the soldiers in mismatched outfits—Miss Stark in a sharp business dress and General Hager in his full military dress uniform. Their attire looked wildly out of place for a combat operation.

"Need a hand with that?"

Whether it was to show off his masculinity or because he still hadn't given up on flirting, Johnny Storm sidled up to Miss Stark and whispered in her ear, flashing a wide grin, showing off his perfect white teeth.

Miss Stark glanced at him and shrugged, saying nothing. Her response left Johnny feeling optimistic; if a woman allowed a man to help carry something, it meant he had a chance. This small favor might let him impress her and, in his mind, lay the groundwork for something more.

In the brief seconds that followed, Johnny's mind conjured up visions of their entire future together, even down to the names of their potential children. His face broke into a foolish smile that prompted Miss Stark to step back half a pace, snapping him back to reality. Realizing it wasn't the time for such daydreams, he bent down to grab the handle of her briefcase.

The metal briefcase was constructed with a special metallic coating and featured a unique reflective sheen. Its corners were encased in black matte plastic, giving it a high-tech appearance. The briefcase was large enough to fit a sizable blanket, and Johnny couldn't help but wonder what was inside that made it worth lugging around.

But as he tried to lift it, his expression became quite extraordinary—he couldn't lift it. He tried again and again, applying all his strength, but the case remained solidly in place. This wasn't possible!

"What…what do you have in here?"

Johnny looked at Miss Stark, baffled. How had she managed to bring a case along that even he couldn't lift, yet carried it so effortlessly?

"Just a few odds and ends I thought might be useful. You're not saying you can't lift a briefcase, are you, Johnny?"

Amusement flickered across Miss Stark's face as she teased him mercilessly. Embarrassed but determined not to show weakness, Johnny squared his shoulders and forced a smile. No way he'd admit defeat, especially in front of a beautiful woman—there was no way he'd say he couldn't do it!

"Of course not…you go ahead. I'll catch up in a second!"

Watching Johnny stubbornly try to save face, Miss Stark chuckled, waving as she continued toward the C-17's open cargo door. The briefcase contained equipment she might need in a pinch, each weighing about 100 kilograms, with fifty packed inside. The entire case weighed over five tons. Only a heavy-duty lifting device could handle it; she doubted anyone could lift it unaided.

Johnny Storm's power was flame-based, but his physical strength had also increased, likely surpassing even Captain Steve Rogers. However, five tons was beyond most human capabilities. Behind her, Johnny grimaced as he tried pushing, pulling, and inching the case forward.

The C-17 Globemaster's preparations were complete, the gear stowed and secured, and the soldiers strapped into their seats. Curious glances followed Johnny as he struggled along the runway, some showing amusement, but no one moved to help. Only after several minutes, when Johnny finally dragged the briefcase to the doorway, did the cargo ramp begin to close.

Why did he get himself into this mess? His brother-in-law had warned him not to flirt with this woman, that she was out of his league, but that face, that smile…he couldn't help himself. Damn, his mouth had really gotten him in trouble this time!

Lying flat on the floor, Johnny was filled with regret.

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