"So your actions must be proactive," Myers' voice was decisive. "Find them, assess them. The woman named Morris, and the 'boss' behind her, are key.
If cooperation is possible, ensure they are on our side. Trade orders, resources, or even concessions for their technology. At the very least, ensure they remain neutral.
If they cannot be controlled, or if their threat is confirmed to be too great..."
She paused, her eyes cold.
"Then preparations for physical elimination must be made before they become a bigger problem. NUSA will prepare diplomatically, in public opinion, and with necessary military deployments to create a favorable environment for reclaiming lost territory and to bear international pressure.
But the cutting edge of action, the tentacles of intelligence, and the ultimate task of ensuring technological superiority falls into our hands, requires you to execute."
She emphasized at the end, her gaze sweeping over every titan present: "Remember, this is not a simple business competition; this is the prelude to national unification! Militech's interests will be inextricably linked to NUSA's destiny as never before.
Seize this 'opportunity,' and we will collectively write history. Profits and territory will reach unprecedented heights."
The communication cut off, and the screen reverted to the image of the burning Arasaka Tower.
The conference room fell into an even deeper silence.
Myers' intervention instantly elevated an inter-corporate strategic assessment to a level combining national warfare and strategic speculation.
The Executive Officer slowly exhaled, his eyes sharpening. His previous hesitation was replaced by a pragmatic greed and sense of urgency.
"Issue the order," his voice was now filled with resolve. "Fully upgrade combat readiness, expand production lines, but maintain a low-profile stance of 'shock and regret' externally.
The intelligence department is granted top clearance and unlimited budget. I want to know everything about Maine's crew, the 'boss,' and Morris, with a focus on establishing direct contact channels.
At the same time, closely monitor all movements of Arasaka, especially the deployment of their domestic fleet and elite forces."
He looked around at everyone, adding a point Myers hadn't explicitly stated but which everyone understood: "Concurrently, draft an 'Unification Day' contingency plan, covering all aspects from full military intervention to post-war order reconstruction, and assess the feasibility of acquiring and reverse-engineering the technology of that force.
We must ensure that no matter how this storm evolves, the ultimate winner in technology, market, and territory must be NUSA, and us, Militech."
The brief excitement had long been replaced by immense responsibility, risk, and a craving for technology and market dominance.
Militech's titans clearly realized that Pandora's Box of war might have been opened by an unseen hand.
They not only had to guess the owner of this hand but also find a way to guide or even control this power, to destroy their old rival while firmly grasping that coveted technological legacy and the immense war dividends in their own hands.
The prospect of unification and unlimited business opportunities were equally enticing, but the path to the throne was already fraught with unknown thorns and opportunities.
---
In the soundproof office on the top floor of the Kang Tao North America Branch in Night City, overlooking the city's neon lights, the heavy atmosphere was almost solidified.
The Branch Head had just cut off an emergency video call with the Asia Headquarters. He leaned back in his high-backed chair, looking slightly fatigued, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the smooth desktop, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead glinting faintly under the cold light.
He looked around at the core management team seated at the conference table, his voice calm after being suppressed, yet unable to hide a hint of subtle resentment: "Headquarters has once again explicitly denied any involvement in this matter."
He paused, as if chewing on every word of the headquarters' directive, "They believe we are facing a serious strategic misjudgment and demand that we avoid direct conflict with Arasaka at all costs."
"Avoid conflict?" The Head of Security practically spat the words through gritted teeth. He slammed his fist on the table. "Now the whole city is saying we did it! Motive, capability—we fit every criterion!
The friction between us and Arasaka in Southeast Asia is well-known, and now all the blame is falling on our North America Branch!
The market and relationships we've painstakingly built here could very well be ruined by Headquarters' 'caution'!"
The Head of Finance pushed up his glasses, his tone cold: "Headquarters is far away in Asia; they consider global strategic balance. But can they truly feel our performance here, our profits and losses here?
If Arasaka retaliates, our assets and personnel in North America will be the first to suffer.
We cannot take this blame for nothing; we must take action, at least to muddy the waters, and not sit idly by."
"Action? What action?" The Branch Head interrupted the increasingly heated discussion, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Headquarters has already decided. They will send a 'Senior Action Supervisor' to handle this matter with full authority, and he will bring an elite special operations team directly under Headquarters."
This news made the faces of those present even grimmer.
The term "full authority" often meant that the power of local management like them would be sidelined.
"Another parachute drop?" The Head of Operations grumbled softly. "They don't trust our judgment at all. We've been here for years; we understand Night City's rules.
When people from Headquarters come, they'll just follow their rigid procedures. By then, let alone turning the crisis around, we might not even be able to maintain the current situation."
The Head of Security snorted coldly: "Perhaps Headquarters isn't just looking to solve the problem? Using this crisis to take over North American affairs and turn all of us into puppets executing orders—that's their real goal.
The autonomy we've worked so hard to achieve over the years..."
The Branch Head raised his hand, stopping the rest of the sentence, but his eyes already acknowledged this speculation.
The long-standing undercurrent of power struggles between Headquarters and the North America Branch became clear at this moment.
Headquarters wanted to control the situation and avoid getting burned; the North America Branch, however, was more inclined to use the crisis to gain greater independence and benefits for itself amidst the chaos, not even ruling out the possibility of completely breaking free from Headquarters' constraints at some point in the future.
"Before Headquarters' special envoy arrives," the Branch Head took a deep breath, lowering his voice, "our mission is clear. On the surface, everything follows Headquarters' instructions: maintain a low profile and never actively provoke Arasaka.
But secretly, use all our networks in Night City, all secret channels not reported to Headquarters, to find Maine's crew, or any intermediary who can contact them.
Be quick; we must establish our contact before Headquarters' people interfere."
His gaze swept over his confidantes, his tone becoming meaningful: "This force... it's a disaster, but also an opportunity. If our North America Branch can be the first to control it, or rather, 'cooperate' with it, then our leverage with Headquarters will be completely different.
At that time, whether Headquarters takes us over, or whether we gain greater autonomy, or even... it remains to be seen based on this achievement and strength."
Kang Tao North America Branch's strategy, driven by both Headquarters' pressure and its own ambition, became increasingly clear and dangerous.
They not only had to deal with Arasaka's potential retaliation and external suspicions but also had to seize the initiative in the internal power struggle with the Headquarters faction.
This unknown force that destroyed Arasaka Tower, in their eyes, was no longer just a key, but potentially a heavy hammer to break the existing power structure.