REIWA JIGOKUHEN - Chaotic Disturbance of Reiwa Era

Chapter 97 - Preparatory Action

Pacific Ocean: off the coast of Acapulco

"When I think about it, we've come a long way again."

In the command center of the destroyer Izumo, Lieutenant General Hie's voice was filled with a strange emotion. As soon as the landing fleet completed the landing operation at Long Beach, it took in various helicopter units and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, replenished fuel supplies, and rested for a while before sailing to the Panama Canal, its next target for capture. In a few days, an unprecedented long-distance expeditionary operation will begin at a distance of 14.000 kilometers in a straight line from the Japanese archipelago.

But more than that, the world before the Time-Space Cataclysm seemed far away. An era that had been reasonably peaceful, if fraught with problems, suddenly vanished and history was taken by surprise. As a result, the country and the Self-Defense Forces have been forced to undergo a rapid transformation, and have become an existence that is unimaginable in comparison to the common sense of the past. It was as if the empty theory of what would happen if modern civilization were applied to a total war environment without any restrictions was fully realized. However, the reasons for the organization's existence and principles of action have not changed in any way. This is also an obvious fact.

"Is it all for the sake of the people's daily lives?"

"I wonder if some company will use that as a catchphrase in the new normal," the chief of staff standing nearby deadpanned.

"The concept of 'normal' is probably quite strong."

"No doubt about it."

After all, that's why they were here, Hie thought again.

The will to restore the everyday life that was suddenly destroyed. It was clearly the driving force behind Operation Jimmu, as it has supported the recovery from numerous catastrophes. It was a motive so close to home and so sincere that even the suspicion of predatory warfare was dismissed as "well, it can't be helped." It would also be ironically healthy to think of it as the result of a homeostatic mechanism operating on a national scale. Nevertheless... the existence of those who structurally do not fit this example comes to mind at that moment.

"By the way, where is the USFJ's fleet?"

"Currently moving east off Wake Island. No change in course."

"Hmm. They really intend to do it," Hie snorted with some surprise.

The Provisional United States Armed Forces are crumbling as an organization because it has lost almost everything that should naturally exist. The six-ship fleet, with an amphibious assault ship at its core, was packed with the remnants of the barely sane and still heading straight for them without a formal decision on what operational action to take. There was no way that anyone could not use his or her imagination to figure out what kind of mission they would be given.

"Then we must seize the Panama Canal intact."

"Yes, sir. That's essential if we're going to get to Texas or control Washington, D.C."

"You are absolutely right."

With those words, Hie intentionally numbed some of his emotions. In blitzing the three locks on the canal with heliborne troops, there was no need for unnecessary sentimentality. Besides, it must be a common practice at any age to take something out of one's mind when necessary.

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San Bernardino, California: near Norton Airfield

The city was forcibly cleared out after most of its residents fled. The first restaurant of the world's most famous hamburger chain would have been there, but it was probably abandoned or already became a clearing. Occasional sporadic gunshots echoed, followed by what sounded like drums being beaten by African warrior tribes. Whether they were federal or state army soldiers or civilians with rifles in their hands was unclear, but the core automatic gun unit handled them in a totally mechanical manner.