Chapter 1879 - 1402: Chaotic Press Conference (Part 3)

"Legal risk?"

"Authenticity verified, no legal risk."

"Understood."

Angel hung up and, by the time she walked back into the conference room, her expression had completely changed.

"Attention everyone: clear the entire front page. Activate the Red Emergency Coverage Plan. I want all senior editors, Middle East experts, and military analysts in the Situation Room within ten minutes. Now. Right now!"

4:19 p.m., the homepage of Horizon News Group's website switched its top headline to a deep red BREAKING NEWS banner.

4:22 p.m., the first news flash went out: [Breaking: US Military Base in Mosul, Iraq hit by heavy shelling, on-site video shows multiple buildings on fire]

4:31 p.m., three on-site videos from different angles went online: the first was shot on a phone, the image shaky but clearly showing the flash of shells hitting and exploding; the second came from a drone, showing at least three key facilities in the base burning; the third was the most lethal—apparently leaked from internal base surveillance, showing soldiers running for cover amid the bombardment, mixed with terrified shouting and explosions.

4:37 p.m., a special page was launched, with the boldface headline: [Exclusive: Iliko Government Army shelling US Military Base? A ten-year alliance on the verge of collapse]

4:42 p.m., White House press briefing room.

Presidential press secretary Kael was answering questions about healthcare reform.

It was a routine briefing. The seventy-three reporters present were mostly listless—until Kael saw his deputy at the side of the stage raising an emergency cue card.

The card had only three words: HORIZON, MOSUL, ATTACK.

Kael's expression didn't change, but his pace of answering sped up noticeably as he tried to wrap up the briefing naturally.

Yet just then, veteran Washington Post reporter Emily Chen suddenly raised her phone and cut in loudly:

"Mr. Kael! Horizon News just reported that the US Military Base in Mosul has been shelled by the Iligo Government Army, with multiple on-site videos. Does the White House confirm this? Does it mean the US–Illiguo alliance has ruptured? Or is this due to some unexpected situation? Can you comment?"

The briefing room fell silent for a split second, then erupted into a jumble of noise.

Almost all the reporters simultaneously lowered their heads to check their phones—social media alerts, news pushes, messages from colleagues pouring in like a tide.

"Give us more information!"

"Are there US Army casualties?"

"Has the President been briefed?"

Kael raised both hands, trying to keep order: "Everyone, everyone! I've just seen this report. At the moment there is nothing we can confirm. The National Security Council is verifying—"

"The videos show multiple fires inside the base!"

A CNN reporter stood up and directly held up his tablet, the screen playing the drone footage.

"This looks like a systematic attack! Did the White House have prior knowledge?"

"Has the Illigo Government already declared hostility toward the US Army?"

"Is this being orchestrated by pro-Persia militants behind the scenes?"

The questions came like machine-gun fire.

Beads of sweat seeped from Kael's forehead as staff at the side of the stage frantically gestured.

He could see at least twenty reporters in the room urgently filing stories on their phones. All the live cameras had swung around, their lenses locked on his forcedly calm face.

"I have to stress—" Kael raised his voice: "Before the official investigation is complete, any report is only speculation. I currently have no information whatsoever about this incident, so I have no comment to make!"

"But are the videos authentic?" an Associated Press reporter pressed. "It's not just Horizon News Group—multiple videos are now online, showing that the Iraq Border Defense Tenth Division and a mechanized armored brigade of the Kurd Armed carried out the shelling, that they launched the attack on the US Joint Operations Base!"

The briefing collapsed into total chaos.

Reporters began arguing with each other, making phone calls, rushing out to contact their newsrooms.

Photojournalists pushed to the front row, flashes firing nonstop as they tried to capture the spokesman's embarrassed expression.

After an urgent exchange of glances with the staff at the side, Kael grabbed the folder on the podium: "Due to the urgency of the situation, this briefing is ending early. We will update you as soon as we have more information."

"Mr. Kael! Mr. Kael!"

"Is this another Benghazi?"

"When will the President make a statement?"

The shouted questions were left behind.

Kael practically jogged out of the briefing room, trailed by reporters surging forward and shouting over one another.

Security quickly sealed the corridor door, cutting off the commotion outside.

In the hallway, Kael's deputy hurried up to him, face pale: "The Ministry of Defense has confirmed the base was indeed shelled, but refuses to release details. The Joint Chiefs are in an emergency meeting. And—"

He lowered his voice. "The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal have both picked it up. It's front-page everywhere."

"Where's the President?"

"In the Oval Office. He wants you there within five minutes."