Chapter 45: The President’s Decision
"Kelly, come to my base. I have something for you to do," Zemo instructed.
Senator Kelly immediately responded, "Yes, Baron Zemo. I'll be there right away."
When Kelly arrived at Zemo's base, he was handed a USB drive.
"Deliver this to the President. Explain the dangers of mutants. I'm confident he'll deploy the military to eliminate them. Make sure our people are embedded in the operation. I need the body of Experiment Ten."
"Understood, Baron Zemo."
...
At White House.
The President's secretary knocked on his door and entered. "Mr. President, Senator Kelly is here to see you."
The President looked up. "Send him in."
As Senator Kelly approached, the President asked, "What brings you here? If it's about Mr. Stark and Azeroth Technologies' mech suits again, there's no need. We have no authority to demand the technology of a private company."
"No, Mr. President. This is about something else." Kelly pulled out a USB drive from his bag. "There's a video on this that you need to see."
The President, slightly skeptical, took the USB and plugged it into his laptop. The video revealed a group of mutant children, secretly filmed by HYDRA agents. The children were practicing their abilities, showcasing astonishing powers.
The President frowned. "Senator Kelly, why are you showing me a movie clip? I don't have time for this."
"Mr. President, this is no movie. This footage is real, captured by our personnel who stumbled upon these mutants," Kelly explained.
The President remained doubtful. "How is this possible? Why haven't I heard about this from the CIA, S.H.I.E.L.D., or the military? I doubt your small pharmaceutical company could uncover something they missed."
"Mr. President, these mutants are hiding in Westchester, New York, in a heavily forested area. Satellite surveillance can't detect them. I learned about them by chance," Kelly lied, concealing HYDRA's involvement.
"These individuals have undergone genetic mutations, granting them extraordinary abilities. We call them mutants. From the video, you can see powers like phasing through walls, transforming into water, and flight. They're young, yet they're already organized and equipped with a base. It's clear someone is guiding them, likely for malicious purposes," Kelly warned.
The President asked, "Are they like that Spider-Man swinging around New York?"
Spider-Man's recent activities had caused a stir. Even the President had heard of his unparalleled agility and strength. HYDRA had noticed Peter Parker but couldn't gather intelligence due to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrecy.
"No, Mr. President. Mutants are born with an X-gene mutation. Spider-Man's abilities come from an accident, and he's actively helping law enforcement. But if these mutants turn to crime, imagine the consequences…"
Kelly continued, but the President remained silent, engrossed in the video. Thoughts of the potential threat began to weigh heavily.
"Mr. President, consider this. If these mutants are being mobilized for a coup or an assassination, how would we defend ourselves?" Kelly's voice took on a grave tone.
"What do you suggest we do?" the President asked.
Kelly's response was chilling. "Deploy the military to attack their base and eliminate the threat before it grows."
Watching the young mutants in the video, the President hesitated. They were just children. He also worried about the potential loss if the military failed to neutralize them. The risk of retaliation loomed large. "Go back for now. I'll consider it."
"Very well, Mr. President. But before I leave, we've developed a serum that temporarily suppresses mutant abilities," Kelly added.
The President's concerns deepened. His reluctance stemmed from the ethical implications of targeting children and the fear of military failure. He was also terrified of becoming a target himself.
"Wait." Kelly's words prompted the President to make a decision. "Stay here. I'll summon the Secretary of Defense and several generals to discuss this."
Kelly couldn't hide his satisfaction. The President had taken the bait.
The President called his secretary. "Notify General Ross, General Stryker, and Secretary Mann to come to my office immediately."
...
"Mr. President," the officials greeted as they entered the Oval Office.
"Take a look at this," the President said, turning his laptop to face them.
After watching the video, the group looked perplexed.
"This footage comes from a location in Westchester, New York. These mutants pose a significant threat to our government and seem to be preparing for an attack. I've decided to deploy the military to neutralize them. What are your thoughts?"
General Ross hesitated. "Mr. President, is this information reliable? It seems far-fetched."
"Senator Kelly, explain to them," the President instructed.
Kelly reiterated his fabricated story, emphasizing the mutants' danger. The officials, though initially skeptical, began to consider the gravity of the situation. Some had heard sporadic reports of mutants but dismissed them as delusions or fabrications.
"Senator Kelly, can your gene suppressant guarantee results?" one of them asked.
"Absolutely. We've tested it thoroughly," Kelly assured.
The group quickly agreed to the operation. General Ross, preoccupied with other duties, offered limited support, while General Stryker took charge, providing the bulk of the forces.
...
An inevitable confrontation was set in motion. Garus now faced not just HYDRA but the full force of the U.S. government. Meanwhile, he remained unaware of these developments, enjoying a vacation in Hawaii's Pacific islands.
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