"Before dawn today, we detected a powerful energy surge in Paris. While the UDF isn't sure what this means, it appears our enemy has completely lost its ability to operate. Russia and..."
In the vehicle, the radio played a declaration of unexpected victory.
Outside, it was a bright, sunny morning on a rural village road. However, the villages along the road were deserted, and the leafless trees added to the area's desolation.
Samuel Young, seated in the back, was browsing the latest information on a tablet. As the radio announced, after he had initiated a **Reset**, returning to "yesterday," the Mimics rampaging across 01 Earth had completely shut down, unable to resist the UDF's full counteroffensive.
Even if he hadn't been able to actively **Reset**, Samuel would have "forced" it, as he had promised to "see you yesterday." The participants in the Paris raid were his most trusted allies, crucial for maintaining his control over ATLAS.
Externally, these soldiers were seen as mercenaries working with the military, motivated by money. Internally, they were members of the "ATLAS Response Service" (ARS), an elite force with its ranks and identification numbers.
The ARS's roots trace back to the late 19th century, initially formed by Arthur Morgan and others raised by Samuel. As ATLAS expanded into the military-industrial complex, this security team evolved into a more militarized unit, becoming the ARS.
Most of the elite ARS members are descendants of Arthur Morgan and his team, trained from a young age in academics and physical conditioning. The "ordinary" ARS members were carefully selected, often veterans with notable service records but who had faced personal crises leading to bankruptcy and societal abandonment.
ATLAS offered these veterans wages and benefits far superior to the federal military, alongside the best medical care. Before hiring, ATLAS's HR and investigators thoroughly vetted their personal relationships, spending habits, and family attitudes.
For those facing desperation and then rejuvenated by ATLAS or Samuel himself, their loyalty was assured.
Since its establishment, ARS has assisted ATLAS in covertly handling numerous threats and has been hired by the U.S. military for particularly dangerous missions.
Currently, ARS consists of six companies, with personnel numbers fluctuating between 3,500 and 3,600.
The First Company, the elite of the elite, is equipped with the best gear and more privileges, known internally as "Hunters." They were the ones who assisted Samuel in the Paris raid.
The Second, Third, and Fourth are infantry companies, while the Fifth and Sixth are armor and aviation companies. Typically, the Second through Sixth companies are mixed and deployed across ATLAS's foreign bases, ensuring the security of overseas assets, factories, and personnel, capable of handling low to mid-intensity conflicts.
The aviation company is unique to ATLAS, possessing numerous aerial vehicles, providing ARS with rapid deployment capabilities in regions like Africa, the Middle East, and South America. The UH-1H, CH-53E, and AH-1W that transported the Hunters to Paris are part of the Sixth Aviation Company.
Besides standard transport vehicles, the aviation company also has several AC-130 gunships and legally acquired A-10 Warthogs and F-16 Fighting Falcons. This arsenal enables ARS to call in airstrikes when facing tough enemies or fortifications in their operational areas.
ATLAS currently has military bases in Kenya (East Africa), Bolivia (South America), and the border region between Syria and Iraq. Including outposts, base stations, and regular contract security, ATLAS's military expenditure to maintain all these units' operations is at least $1.8 billion annually.
In 1992, ATLAS spent $1.92 billion on this alone. This expenditure isn't fixed and can fluctuate depending on new equipment purchases or inflation. However, one thing is certain: this "military budget" will continue to grow, though "buying a coffee cup for $1,300" is an impossibility within ATLAS.
Between 1988 and 1991, Samuel stockpiled a significant amount of cash. After the Soviet Union's collapse on December 26, 1991, he acquired large amounts of military equipment at low prices from Eastern Europe. Due to various restrictions, ATLAS couldn't fully integrate this equipment, instead reselling it at a higher price.
Fortunately, thanks to maintaining good relations with other arms dealers, being a top client, and often "sponsoring" the U.S. military, ATLAS's recruitment of a significant number of former Soviet scientists was overlooked.
Even Vought International, noticing ATLAS's recent "unusual" behavior, didn't pay much attention, as there was no direct conflict of interest, and the companies had cooperated in some areas.
Losing the entire ARS First Company would have been a catastrophic result that Samuel could not afford. Moreover, he had invested a lot of emotional energy into the First Company; its commander was the great-grandson of Arthur Morgan, with skills and physical abilities matching the original Arthur Morgan. He was the top operative in ARS and one of the best in the entire United States.
Therefore, regardless of the cost, Samuel had to **Reset** to "resurrect" the First Company's members.
At this moment, after reviewing the progress of the ruins base construction and signing documents titled "Ghana Park Construction" and "Ghana Mining Development," Samuel set aside his tablet.
He reclined slightly, trying to clear his mind by looking out the window.
But it was no use.
Ever since he **Reset** and heard the cold voice mention the arrival of "two descendants," Samuel's mind had been on edge. Although the voice had gone silent after that, not providing any further information, possibly due to his newly acquired subtle psionic abilities or some kind of perception, Samuel kept experiencing vague visions.
Soon after, he had Arthur and twenty-plus Hunters drive to a location 20 kilometers west of the space gate.
Not long after, a sign indicating "Aulnois en Perthois" flashed by the right side of the vehicle.
From an aerial view, the convoy of five black military SUVs slowed down and eventually stopped in an open area on the outskirts of a small town.
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