Chapter 334: The Hesitation

Michael Reyes paced back and forth in his private office, still reeling from the implications of the urgent notifications he had received earlier. The weather manipulation satellite he had designed in partnership with the United States government was not supposed to be activated without his explicit consent. Of course, there'd be times he'd let them use it in their field trials.

Now, it seemed, the U.S. was trying to bypass his authorization to initiate what could only be a preemptive strike against China. He knew the stakes were incredibly high.

As he tried to gather his thoughts, his phone vibrated again. This time, it was an encrypted call. Michael glanced at the screen and immediately recognized the encryption pattern. Only a few people had the capability to reach him through such secure means. He took a deep breath and accepted the call, knowing who it would be.

"Mr. Reyes," came a familiar voice after a brief silence. It was President Thomas Greene. The tone was tense, but controlled.

"Mr. President," Michael replied, keeping his voice calm. "I assume this call is about the satellite."

"Yes, it is," Greene responded. "We need your authorization to activate it. Our specialists have identified that your code is required to proceed. Time is of the essence."

Michael paused, weighing his words carefully. "Mr. President, I need to understand the full scope of this operation before I can provide my authorization. What exactly are you planning to do?"

"It's a field test," President Greene replied smoothly.

Michael stopped pacing, his brow furrowing. "A field test? Mr. President, according to the satellite telemetry and coordinates, it's tasked directly above China, specifically on the naval bases of China. This doesn't look like a test to me."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Greene spoke again. "Mr. Reyes, you must understand the strategic importance of this operation. The situation in the South China Sea is escalating, and we need to assert control without direct confrontation."'

"So you want to start a war with China now?" Michael asked, his voice edged with disbelief.

Thomas couldn't answer immediately. The silence stretched, heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter but firm.

"This is our chance, Michael. It's now or never for the United States. What do you think will happen in the next ten years? The United States will lose its global dominance. There will be none."

"So this is your best chance, huh?" Michael muttered under his breath. "I was hoping you could delay your attack for another year."

Li's eyes widened. "They wouldn't dare..."

"Prepare to engage," Li ordered. "We need to find out what this satellite is doing and neutralize it if necessary. Notify the higher command. This could be a prelude to something much larger."

As the Chinese military scrambled to respond, technicians began analyzing the satellite's transmissions, trying to decipher its purpose.

The data streams from the satellite were encrypted, making it difficult to determine its exact function. However, the positioning over critical naval installations left little doubt about its potential threat.

"We need to take it down," Li said, his voice decisive. "Deploy the DF-21D anti-satellite missiles. We cannot allow this object to compromise our security."

As the orders were relayed, the Chinese military prepared to launch its countermeasures. The DF-21D missiles were brought to their launch positions, their sleek, deadly forms glistening under the hangar lights.

"Missile is ready for launch," reported the missile officer.

"Proceed," Li commanded.

With a deafening roar, the DF-21D missile shot up into the sky, hurtling towards the satellite at incredible speed. The control room watched in tense silence as the missile's trajectory was tracked on the radar screens.

"Impact in five seconds," the radar operator announced, his voice tight with anticipation.

The missile closed the distance in a blur, its guidance systems locked onto the satellite.

"Three... two... one..."

A brilliant flash lit up the sky as the missile found its mark. The satellite exploded in a fiery burst, debris scattering into the atmosphere.

"Target destroyed," the radar operator confirmed.