As he did the last few screens still broadcasting live video feeds shut off as they did the underground command bunker got enveloped In a deathly silence.
The only sounds that could be heard were the alleviated heartbeats that were slamming themselves against the ribcages.
The deep and heavy breathing and the nausea Inducing sounds of vomiting.
"T...this is a disaster, sir not only politically but also from a military point of view,"
Liberty House Speaker, a middle-aged man nearing his sixties, broke the silence, his voice raspy as if he hadn't taken a sip of water for days.
"W... We need to come up both with political and military countermeasures Immediately otherwise this will be you're the last presidency, sir"
The houses speaker declared stating the obvious, not only did the Liberty states fall from their Thraes hegemons throne.
But they had also suffered catastrophic loss of civilian life, the biggest I'm their history so far.
But they had also suffered the most humiliating military defeat In a field that they considered themselves stop be the number one.
So It was safe to say that President Thomas fate was as good as sealed the only question was how much damage to his name he could mitigate.
Yet even fully understanding that himself President Thomas remained passive as his cabinet members and military chiefs started offering their suggestions, his unfocused eyes full of guilt and regret.
While one report after another of their army and natural guards units sent to Intercept the orcs getting slaughtered like cattle flooded In one after another.
One of the generals of the Liberty States armed forces three branches slammed his fist onto the large glass table with the Liberty States electronic map depicting various icons representing their current situation.
"It's clear that our MBTs IFVs, AVs, and Infantry won't cut It were just waisting our soldiers lives we need to pull them back and bomb the green f*cks and give our air force and army the authorization to perform aerial strikes and artillery bombardment immediately. It's the only way to contain the xeno threat and protect our people,"
The general roared his saliva landing on the table.
"Authorize Ariel and artillery bombardment on our own soil are you mad?! If we do this the people will have our heads for It!"
One of the cabinet members screamed choosing to prioritize his political career over the lives of his country's citizens.
"When what do you suggest you g*damn pencil pusher?! Keep on throwing our men and women Into the slaughter house?! Why don't you pick up a rifle and go fight those monsters yourself then, you f*CK?!"
The general snapped.
"You, you..!"
The cabinet member was so furious that steam was practically coming out from his ears.
All he could do was point his trembling finger at the general while muttering like a broken machine.
Not once In his life had he been Insulted like this.
Suddenly the person who seemed to have been forgotten by everyone else spoke up.
"As the commander In chief of Liberty states armed forces I'm authorizing the use of Ariel strikes and artillery bombardments..."
President Thomas declared only to get Interrupted by another pencil pusher.
"Mr president please rethink this!"
The woman protested only to shut up upon locking her eyes with Thomas whose were currently as cold as Ice.
"... I'm also authorizing nuclear strikes as the last option"
President Thomas declared causing everyone to suck In a mouth full of cold breath because It has been almost 80 years since they dropped two atomic bombs on H*ros*ima and N*gas*ki.
Allowing to win the second world war but at a cost of almost 400 thousand civilians not taking Into consideration the collateral casualties from radiation poisoning, blindness, and all kinds of other side effects.
So one could understand the shock of the people who fully knew the public outrage and the International condemnation they would receive If they resorted to using their ultimate weapons as President Thomas made his declaration.
The horror of his decision hung heavy in the air, suffocating the room with its gravity.
Silence fell over the gathered officials, broken only by the soft hum of the ventilation system.
The Liberty House Speaker exchanged a somber glance with the other cabinet members, their faces etched with concern and fear from knowing full well that their political careers were as good as over.
"I will take full responsibility "
President Thomas continued, his voice steady but tinged with sorrow.
"The lives of our people hang in the balance, and we must do whatever it takes to protect them."
The generals of the Liberty States Armed Forces nodded in solemn agreement, recognizing the dire necessity of the situation.
They knew that their conventional forces were no match for the relentless onslaught of the Xeno invaders that proved to be even more horrifying than the Terran killing machines.
"It's time to unleash the full might of our military,"
One of the generals spoke up, his tone resolute.
"We must show these xenos that we will not go down without a fight."
President Thomas nodded in agreement, his resolve hardening with each passing moment.
He knew that the decision to authorize aerial and artillery bombardment, and even nuclear strikes, was not one to be taken lightly.
But in the face of an existential threat to their nation, there were no easy choices.
"We will fight to the last breath,"
President Thomas declared, his voice echoing with determination.
"For Liberty, for our people, for our future."
With a heavy heart, he gave the order for the military to proceed with their countermeasures, knowing that the fate of their nation hung in the balance.
As the room erupted into a flurry of activity, President Thomas could only pray that their actions would be enough to turn the tide of battle and save their homeland from destruction.
...
At the coast of Liberty York.
"Listen up you jarheads ETA 5 mike till drop so put youre war faces on"
The dropship's master chief declared while turning his head back to look at the battle ready cosmic marines.
"You heard the man 5 mins till drop, our mission Is clear find lieutenants Jagers daughter and son, and exfil any questions?"
The cosmic marines squads sergeant barked as he stood up from his crash seat and looked at his men.
"No sir!"
Came the warriors of the Imperium's steely garbled electronic reply.
"And you then youre In the field youre rank means s*it to me so keep youre mouths shut and follow my and my men's orders to the letter got It?"
The sergeant barked after focusing his eyes on Morgana and Marcus who were already doing their jobs by filming the entire thing with Marcus drone and Morgana's glass see through holographic phone.
"Noted sergeant"
Morgana roared so that the sergeant could hear her only for the accompanying them wraith fighters flight commander's voice to crackle In the two former Thraens, cosmic marines, and dropships crew earpieces.
"Styx 123, newest Intel from command you got to speed up the Thraens are about to bomb the mission area with aerial and artillery strikes over"
The wraith flight commander declared the Intel gained from TAI 0 which had infiltrated Thraes every both civilian and military communications networks long ago.
"Wraith 3 copy were speeding up over"
The pilot replied Instantly.
"Alright buckle up were speeding up"
Came the pilot's warning.
"You better keep youre lunches In youre stomach, dont even think about vomiting on my dropships floor!"
The masterchief barked while looking at the two confused Thraens.
"Hey, we're not going to..."
Morgana started protesting only to shut up after seeing the sergeant hastily plop his armored ass onto his crash seat and buckle up.
"...f*ck me!"
Morgana barely managed to mutter out as she felt herself get pushed to her left Instantly once the dropship engaged Its afterburners, the only thing keeping her from flying out from the dropship was the x-shaped safety belt.