From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 620 All come on stage
National Capital Region, Presidential Palace.

Outside the huge lawn, groups of students, led by their teachers, were walking towards the visitor entrance of the Presidential Palace. As a rare weekly open day, today was no exception and attracted teachers and students from the school to come for patriotism education.

Although the open areas are mainly public office areas, business areas, and some rooms that are not commonly used on weekdays, people who have made reservations have to wait until a year later.

At the entrance for tourists, two Secret Service HCPs painted black stand quietly behind the security gate like two giant guards. At this moment, they are in low-power operation, and only the main monitor on the head keeps observing the surroundings to confirm whether there are any abnormal units.

Some Secret Service agents are guarding and patrolling around and guiding visitors to go on the right path. The lightweight exoskeletons they wear have a special appearance design, which almost blends in with their all-black uniforms, making these Secret Service agents look less conspicuous and oppressive than military and police personnel.

Some students would even excitedly find them or HCP to take photos together, and these agents generally would not refuse these requests as long as it did not affect their official duties.

After all, this is the federal capital, the safest place in the federation, and they can't imagine what problems could happen here.
Until a rapid reminder sounded in their ears, followed by the tense command of the commander of the presidential special forces:

"Everyone, please note that the president has issued a martial law order. The tour of the presidential palace is suspended! Teams 1-6 are starting to clear the area! Operation 'Mockingbird' has begun. All personnel are in combat mode. Teams 7-12 are heading to the equipment depot to change into combat gear! This is not a drill. Repeat."

At the beginning of each year, the Secret Service will set a new round of operation codes. These operations or missions with fixed codes are generally not simple tasks.

The codename "Mockingbird" means that the presidential palace will encounter a huge threat, the president will be escorted to the bunker, and the presidential palace will activate all defense facilities. All Secret Service agents will also enter combat status and are authorized to shoot all suspicious persons entering the warning area.
Although they still had many doubts in their hearts, as agents of the Secret Service, they immediately began to carry out orders.

The security gate was closed, and the teachers and students who were unable to enter the Presidential Palace for a visit were complaining loudly, but the two HCPs that were officially activated behind the gate made them unconsciously step back.

After the teachers saw the martial law order posted on their respective terminals, they first confirmed its authenticity, and then no longer dared to delay and took their students away quickly.

Tourists who had already entered the Presidential Palace for a visit were quickly taken out by Secret Service agents and ordered to leave the security area within 200 meters of the Presidential Palace boundary.

Teams of agents quickly changed their clothes, installed additional bulletproof plates on their exoskeletons, and took out various military weapons and explosives from the armory, and quickly came to the preset positions raised from the ground in various parts of the Presidential Palace.

Near the position, fortress-like heavy particle turrets continued to rise under the huge lawn. The sound of metal friction was particularly harsh in the silent air. The front end of the acceleration track flashed a chilling light, as if it was the eyes of the god of death, ruthlessly watching everything in the outside world.

Combined with the composite armored walls that rose around it, a temporary defense line was formed that completely surrounded the Presidential Palace. When the Atlas Group demonstrated this "retro" defense combination on the Pella IV and it stood the test, the Presidential Palace quickly improved its defense measures.

"All heavy particle turrets have been raised, and the anti-aircraft high-energy lasers and charged particle cannons have also been activated!"

"The deflection force field generators in various locations are operating stably, and the automatic protection mode has been activated!"

"All agents on duty at the Presidential Palace are in place. Support forces have already departed from the Secret Service Headquarters and are expected to arrive in 10 minutes!"

The information was gathered in the hands of the security commander of the Presidential Palace. When he saw that all the defense facilities of the Presidential Palace turned green on the small virtual sandbox, and the "VIP logo" representing the president also arrived at the underground bunker, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least the president will not be killed in the presidential office by the armed opposition forces like a certain president in history.
"What?! Have you confirmed that the 2nd and 3rd Capital Guard Regiments have rebelled?"

In the underground bunker, Brandon, who had just contacted the martial law commander, Major General Henry, heard bad news right away.

"Yes, Mr. President."

Major General Henry said in a low voice:
"We have completely lost contact with the 2nd and 3rd Regiments. The surveillance satellites over the capital have also discovered that the two troops have left their bases with all their heavy equipment. The 2nd Regiment is on the march, and judging by the route, they are preparing to head to the Capitol. The 3rd Regiment has deployed an urban combat formation. Their target should be the Ministry of Defense building."

"The Department of Defense building, Secretary Miller is in danger."

Brandon frowned, and it was unclear whether he was worried about the safety of Defense Secretary Miller or something else.

The Ministry of Defence building in the Federal Capital Territory does not have much security.

The outside of the Ministry of Defense building is guarded by the armed police of the block where it is located. In fact, the main job of the police in this block is to ensure the stability of the outer area.

Police officers will investigate and question ordinary vehicles entering the Ministry of Defense building at important intersections, which is the first line of defense under normal circumstances.

However, even though the equipment and firepower of these armed police are far superior to those of ordinary local police, they are still far behind the regular army. At least the police force will be equipped with a few multi-legged tanks at most, not HCP.
As for the interior of the Ministry of Defense building, although there are more security personnel, these federal police, Secret Service agents and defense contractors are at most a "light infantry" unit. In Amber's words, their firepower is not even as strong as the guards of the Atlas foreign office.
So Brandon knew very well that if no other troops came to support, the Ministry of Defense building would definitely not be able to be defended.

"Major General Henry, how many troops do you have under your control?" Brandon asked.

"The garrison headquarters has a battalion of troops, but they only have infantry fighting vehicles and no other heavy equipment. We have also contacted the 1st Garrison Regiment, and they are ready to go at any time."

Brandon: "Let the 1st Security Regiment go directly to the Ministry of Defense building for support. We must not let the rebels capture it!"

"The Ministry of National Defense building? What about you? The guard force of the Presidential Palace is also limited." Major General Henry asked in surprise. He did not expect that the president would ask him to give priority to protecting the Ministry of National Defense.

"The Presidential Palace still has some defense facilities, and other 'armed forces' will be there to support it soon, so there is no need to worry for now. But the Ministry of National Defense is different. Facing a regiment of troops, their defense forces can't put up any resistance."

Brandon said, looking at a troop approaching the presidential palace on the holographic sand table.

Major General Henry on the other side of the communication, although he didn't know what unit the "armed forces" the president gave him, he had to admit that what Brandon said was indeed correct. The situation in the Ministry of Defense building was indeed more dangerous than that in the Presidential Palace.

But the problem is that the current threats do not all come from within the National Capital Region.

"Mr. President," Major General Henry continued, "There is a situation that I must inform you of. The Second and Third Garrison Heavy Combined Brigades have left their bases and are rapidly approaching the Capital Special District. They have cut off contact with the martial law headquarters, and the vanguard has also deployed an attack formation."

"Have the Second and Third Garrison Brigades also been controlled?"

This sudden news made Brandon realize that the situation was more complicated than he had imagined, but even so he still insisted on his decision.

"The order remains unchanged. It will take some time for the two brigades to enter the city, but the Ministry of Defense will be attacked soon. Send someone to support them first!" "Yes, sir!"

After finishing the communication with the garrison headquarters, Brandon looked up at a senior officer in the bunker and asked, "Who is the commander of the First Garrison Brigade?"

"It's Colonel Cullen."

The senior officer who answered had just listened to the conversation between Brandon and Major General Henry, so he guessed what Brandon wanted to ask, so he continued:

"When he was nominated for promotion to the commander of the Capital Garrison Brigade, he had a lot of trouble with the congressmen because of some political issues. He was even opposed by the congressmen during his first promotion. Among all the promotions of senior officers in that batch, only his promotion was rejected."

Brandon's eyes lit up. "It sounds like this Colonel Cullen doesn't get along well with the congressmen?"

"Indeed." The senior officer nodded, "and his nomination for promotion was also recommended by the Secretary of the Army, who was promoted by the Secretary of Defense."

"So he is one of our 'own'?"

"Yes, under the current circumstances, they are indeed 'one of our own'."

After hearing the officer's answer, Brandon no longer hesitated and directly asked the communications personnel in the bunker to connect to the headquarters of the 1st Garrison Brigade.

Soon, a middle-aged officer, fully armed with a combat exoskeleton, appeared on the holographic projection platform.

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"Mr. President! The First Capital Garrison Brigade has assembled and is awaiting orders!"

Colonel Cullen stood up straight and saluted, and a sense of solemnity almost overwhelmed him.

Brandon looked at the middle-aged soldier and said slowly, "Colonel Cullen, it's time for the Federation to test you."

"Understood, sir! We have been waiting for this order."
-
At the same time, Secret Service agents who were on high alert outside the Presidential Palace, as well as some armed police who had received orders to come for support, also discovered that an unidentified armed group was approaching.

"The drone has spotted an unknown armed group - 231 armed personnel, 12 light multi-legged tanks, 6 medium multi-legged tanks, and 3 HCPs! They have passed the intersection of Constitution Street and Liberty Avenue!"

"Keep watch! Everyone prepare for battle!"

Although the Presidential Palace defense commander immediately issued the order to "prepare for battle", he was still muttering in his heart.

Because this team did not show any intention to attack, and the drone that just discovered them was just an ordinary one equipped by the peripheral armed police, and it was not shot down under such circumstances, it shows that the other party did not intend to attack them.

Thinking of this, the defense commander couldn't help but think that before entering the bunker, President Brandon had told him that armed units would come to support him.

“Could it be this team?”

The defense commander was thinking about this when he heard the adjutant nearby say, "Report! Received the laser identification code from an unknown unit, etc., identified?! The combat support system marked it as a friendly unit!"

"Is it really a friendly unit?"

The defense commander was stunned for a moment, and then the communication channel in the team also received an access request.

After carefully having the communicator set up a temporary communication line and asking the electronic warfare technicians to be ready to launch electronic warfare attacks at any time, the defense commander connected the communication, and a cold voice came from the other side.

"This is the 'Corporate Federation' security team. We have been commissioned to assist in the defense of the Presidential Palace. Please guide us to the defensive position."

The defense commander had heard of the name "Corporate Federation". It was rumored that after the disintegration of the "military-industrial complex", some companies formed a "mutual aid group" to tide over the crisis. And now it seems that this "corporate federation" seems to have some relationship with the president?
However, the defense commander could not care about these things at the moment. Having this additional armed force was like "a timely help" to him.

So after confirming several times that the opponent's laser identification code was correct, the defense commander temporarily incorporated them into the tactical network and placed them under unified command.

The latter did not hesitate and quickly adjusted the marching direction, rushing towards the designated outer defense zone of the Presidential Palace.

Just when the defense commander was rejoicing at the increased protection of the presidential palace, the combat support system suddenly issued an alarm.

"Warning! Strong electric field reaction detected! Determined to be heavy particle cannon fire!"

"boom!"

The next second, a blue-white beam of light flashed across the street without warning and hit the back of the armed team that had just arrived.

Amid the violent explosions, the defense commander only saw that in the list of support units that had just been organized, the icons representing a dozen armed personnel and three light multi-legged tanks were marked with red crosses.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! The attack is coming from the direction of Constitution Street, and multiple HCPs are approaching quickly!"

The adjutant in charge of monitoring the battlefield situation shouted, and then the drone monitoring screen in front of him turned into a distorted screen. It was obvious that the real enemy appeared this time.

The sudden attack obviously stunned the security team of the "Corporate Federation". The originally neat and fast-marching team was scattered by a single shot, but the three HCP pilots in the team did react. They immediately slid to the back of the team and activated the deflection field without hesitation.

The next second, a series of attacks swept over, stirring up a frenzy of silver snakes, causing the entire street intersection to be engulfed in a violent flash of light.

It also means that the fierce war between the two sides of the coup has officially begun.

(End of this chapter)