Compared to the emotional storm that almost blew the roof off at Biotechnica headquarters, the atmosphere within Militech's deeper, more heavily guarded strategic decision-making center was one of almost frigid rationality.
The news of Lieutenant Colonel's death did indeed cause a ripple internally, especially within the Special Projects Department where he had worked.
However, this ripple was quickly superseded by broader, more utilitarian strategic analyses.
For a colossal entity like Militech, born from the old US military-industrial complex and fundamentally adhering to the supremacy of real-world interests, an action coordinator for a Special Projects Department, though an experienced and capable operative, could be categorized under "acceptable operational losses."
What truly tugged at the nerves of the highest decision-makers was not his individual fate, but rather the clear reflection of the technological tier, the strategic intent of the actor, and the immense potential value contained within, which could rewrite the balance of power.
In a virtual strategic room employing multiple physical isolations and signal shielding, holographic images of several key figures, capable of influencing company and even NUSA policies, quietly appeared.
Without excessive pleasantries, the meeting directly cut to the core agenda.
On a massive circular screen, preliminary field analysis reports of his and Winters' deaths were displayed side-by-side, with an enlarged projection of the compensation list and ceasefire conditions brought by Elliot Kwan next to them.
A holographic image of a white-haired elderly general, whose shoulder boards bore four general stars, spoke first. His voice was steady, carrying the composure cultivated from long-term high-ranking positions.
"The preliminary conclusions of the action style analysis are in. His choice of infiltration path, timing, execution efficiency, and final withdrawal method were precise, efficient, and ruthless, completely exceeding the common patterns of any known assassin organizations, hostile corporate special forces, or international mercenary groups recorded in our existing database."
"The other party did not choose to expand the strike area to create panic but instead adopted this combined strategy of 'precise decapitation' plus 'deliberately leaving a message.' This itself sends a strong signal." He paused slightly, allowing the attendees to digest the information.
"He is showing us his muscle, demonstrating in the most direct way that he possesses the ability to deliver fatal blows to key personnel of ours or our core partners at any time, in any place."
"But at the same time, he also clearly drew a line—this is not an all-out war, at least not in his current consideration."
Another virtual image, dressed in a well-tailored suit symbolizing a high-ranking civil servant, interjected. She was one of the senior advisors to the President's Office, known for her meticulous thinking and focus on practicality.
"Through Kwan, he clearly stated his demands: specific resources and a comprehensive ceasefire."
"This list," she pointed to the list on the screen, "indeed contains many rare items, especially those several special crystals and high-purity radioactive isotopes marked 'extraterrestrial mining,' which are not easy to acquire and come at a high cost."
"But with the channels and strategic reserves controlled by Militech, it's not impossible for us to procure them."
"This is more like a test, assessing whether we are willing to pay this 'toll' to avoid the potential for a larger, more direct conflict."
"Or, thinking a layer deeper, this might even be a deliberately left opening to initiate more substantive dialogue."
The elderly general nodded, adding, "Strange's death, Winters' death, and the terror Kwan experienced, all serve to add credibility and urgency to this 'bill'."
"He is telling us, with the cruelest reality, that the cost of continued entanglement will be blood."
"However, it is noteworthy that he left room for negotiation, not completely burning all bridges."
"An entity or individual capable of seemingly utilizing the Blackwall protocol for global broadcasts, possessing biological enhancement technology of unknown origin and significant effect, equipped with efficient energy weapons, and capable of executing assassination operations of such a level… the potential strategic value he represents far exceeds the individual value of Strange, and one could even say, far exceeds the sum of all equipment and personnel we lost in our last 'Gas Station 66' operation."
At this point, another attendee in the conference room—Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs Davis, acting as the directly authorized representative of President Rosalind Myers—interjected in a calm and clear tone, steering the discussion towards higher-level strategic considerations.
"I am conveying President Myers' clear instructions on her behalf," Davis' holographic image leaned slightly forward, his gaze sweeping over each decision-maker present.
"Based on a comprehensive assessment of the current situation, President Myers requests that we immediately suspend all direct, large-scale military retaliation plans."
"She emphasizes that any impulsive or excessive reaction at this stage could trigger uncontrollable chain reactions, potentially even dragging us into a costly and aimless long-term conflict."
Davis continued to elaborate on Myers' stance: "President Myers believes that the technological capabilities and operational patterns demonstrated by the other party have exceeded the scope of conventional asymmetric threats."
"This is no longer a simple matter of public order or inter-corporate friction, but rather a game involving potential strategic-level technological advantages."
"She instructs that the primary task at hand is not retaliation, but rather engagement—extremely cautious, tentative, and non-public engagement."
"Our core objective is to assess the possibility and specific cost of trading with the other party."
"On the scales of Militech and the national interests of NUSA it represents, specific personnel casualties are acceptable 'business costs' when pursuing greater potential benefits that could bring technological monopoly or strategic advantage."
"Absolute technological superiority and the ability to control unknown forces are the eternal core to ensuring our long-term advantage and survival."
He further explained: "President Myers specifically pointed out that the message conveyed by the other party through Kwan, though strongly worded, is clear in its logic and definite in its objectives."
"They are not seeking destruction, but rather demanding respect and compensation, and hinting at the possibility of future transactions."
"This rational mode of behavior, compared to pure terrorism or destructive actions, is more consistent with the characteristics of an entity with mature strategic thinking."
"We need to leverage this point to try and establish communication channels, to ascertain the other party's bottom line, needs, and true intentions."
Another attendee responsible for technical evaluation added: "From a technical perspective, the material list requested by the other party itself holds extremely high analytical value."
"The several special crystals and isotopes listed on the list often involve high-energy physics, directed energy weapons, and advanced propulsion systems in their application fields."
"This indirectly confirms our judgment of his level of strength."
"Meeting the demands of this list certainly requires significant resources, but if it can open a dialogue window, or even limited technological exchange in the future, the potential returns could far outweigh the investment."
A brief silence fell over the conference room as attendees digested the strategic shift brought by the President's directive.
The elderly general broke the silence: "Then, at the operational level, how should we proceed? Direct contact carries extremely high risks, and we are not even sure of the other party's true identity and location."
Davis responded: "President Myers has authorized us to use unofficial, deniable channels for initial probing."
"We can try to convey our response through encrypted networks, anonymous communications routed through multiple relays, or by utilizing reputable third-party neutral information brokers."
"The core content of the response should be: We have received the message, are seriously considering his demands, and are willing to discuss the specific details and implementation methods of the compensation list, provided that the other party guarantees no further hostile actions during this period."
"At the same time, we need to clearly express that any form of future cooperation must be built on a foundation of mutual security and exchange of interests."
He concluded by emphasizing: "President Myers' bottom line is clear: avoid escalation, buy time, and ascertain the truth."
"If the other party indeed possesses key technologies that we do not yet understand, then bringing him into a controllable range, or at least establishing some form of coexistence mechanism, is far more aligned with our long-term interests than a costly head-on conflict."
"The sacrifices of Lieutenant Colonel Strange and Ms. Winters should serve as a warning for us to seek a wiser solution, not a fuse for greater catastrophe."
The meeting ultimately reached a consensus: a complete suspension of all overt tracking and military operations targeting Maine's crew and the forces behind it; immediate initiation of procedures for contact through covert channels; and the establishment of an inter-departmental special task force responsible for evaluating the feasibility of the compensation list and developing detailed risk assessment and response plans.