Under the watchful eyes of the entire English nation, the spacecraft began to taxi down the runway. It had barely moved 100 meters before it ascended into the air.
On television, the two astronauts were the least engaging part of the show. They appeared for barely two seconds during liftoff before the camera shifted to the twelve fully armed soldiers in the cargo bay.
Unlike conventional rockets, the Mars spacecraft didn't need to ascend vertically into space. Thanks to its immense power, it launched like an airplane, accelerating rapidly into space at high speed.
In less than fifteen minutes, the spacecraft was above the United States. One of the soldiers designated as the spokesperson stood up, pointed to the specialized glass window, and smiled at the spherical probe hovering in the cargo bay.
"We are now above the United States. From here, I can clearly see the Great Lakes. In about 30 seconds, we'll reach the Pacific Ocean. After that, we'll return to the Atlantic Ocean.
Our mission today is to conduct a simulated personnel drop and emergency spacecraft landing on an uninhabited island in the Atlantic.
The purpose of this exercise is to prepare for potential emergencies during Mars and lunar missions.
Let me emphasize: this exercise is not aimed at any specific party. Please do not overinterpret our intentions."
The announcement, combined with the reveal that the exercise would take place on an uninhabited island just over 300 kilometers from U.S. territory, drew knowing smiles from most viewers.
Meanwhile, American audiences watching the broadcast were seething. Many cursed at their screens, frustrated by the clear message being sent. But with the island situated beyond U.S. jurisdiction, all they could do was lodge meaningless protests.
With the spacecraft's successful test flight, it was clear that England wouldn't bow to U.S. pressure.
William, having confirmed through Sunday that the emergency landing pods—modified from Predator single-person space pods—could safely be retrieved within three minutes without risk of leaks, gave the order for four fully armed soldiers to prepare for deployment.
The soldiers donned their gear and entered the landing pods in the cargo bay. Moments later, the pods were launched from the spacecraft into space, descending toward the uninhabited island.
Two minutes later, four loud thuds echoed as the pods slammed into the island, kicking up plumes of dust.
A spherical probe that had accompanied the descent livestreamed the event, capturing the soldiers' expressions and physical condition.
As the dust settled, the pod doors opened. The soldiers, momentarily disoriented, quickly recovered and confirmed they were unharmed.
Waving enthusiastically at the probe, they shared their impressions and assured viewers of their well-being.
The spacecraft then retrieved the pods, and the soldiers regrouped with eight others who had landed with the spacecraft. Together, they conducted a limited mock skirmish on the island.
The display filled the English people with pride. Those who analyzed the implications of the technology quickly realized its potential.
If the landing pods could be modified to carry weapons—or even nuclear warheads—the spacecraft could deliver payloads from launch to target in just 15 minutes.
A nuclear strike using pods the size of single beds could obliterate targets within 20 to 30 minutes, an attack speed unmatched by any nation, including the United States.
After this demonstration, few would dare challenge England openly.
Despite his goal of strengthening England's global influence, William had no desire for the nation to become a global troublemaker.
As the four-star general standing beside him was practically trembling with excitement, William issued a stern warning:
"While I'm not opposed to granting limited access to the spacecraft, its control will remain firmly in my hands.
If anyone tries to use the spacecraft to stir up trouble—or worse, target me—I'll ensure they understand the meaning of retribution.
Not just immediate payback, but revenge across generations.
And let me remind you, if I choose, the spacecraft can make a round trip to the Moon in ten days, carrying 50 tons of gold each time.
If that doesn't deter those idiots, I'll build ten specialized transport ships, each 30 meters long. Within a month, 1,500 tons of gold will flood the market.
A year later, 18,000 tons of gold will have entered Earth's financial markets.
The global economy will collapse. Financial markets will become worthless. And every capitalist will watch as their wealth evaporates or plunges into bankruptcy."
The general's enthusiasm was dampened, and others nearby who had been contemplating exploiting William's invention were left speechless.
The prospect of using gold as a weapon was terrifying. Even a single spacecraft injecting 1,800 tons of gold into the market annually would cause gold prices to plummet.
Although 1,800 tons might not seem like much, the mere possibility of William increasing supply tenfold could destroy market confidence.
As gold prices crashed, currencies tied to gold would lose value.
If the U.S.'s substantial gold reserves lost half their worth, the world would face another inevitable financial crisis.
While some were paralyzed with dread, others saw opportunity.
To certain capitalists, William's implied threat was just another tool to exploit. They began scheming to leak news of his plans, hoping to profit from the ensuing chaos in the futures market.
Their short-term greed blinded them to the long-term consequences, epitomizing why governments simultaneously encouraged and regulated capitalism.
Few capitalists cared about the broader societal impact of their actions.
William, who was no saint himself, had no intention of stopping these opportunists.
First, he wanted the market to feel the ripple effect of his offhand remarks. If mere words could trigger reactions, the actual execution of his plans would be exponentially more devastating.
The fear of William's actions potentially dismantling the global financial system served as a stark warning to both enemies and allies.
Second, William understood that as a member of England's elite, the officials and socialites present at the demonstration were natural allies.
Even those who might compete with him in other areas would rally behind him on issues that affected their collective interests.
For William, this was a calculated move. While he had no intention of carrying out his threat in full, the possibility of him weaponizing gold served as a powerful deterrent to those plotting against him—or simply watching from the sidelines.
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 120)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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