Chapter 34
In Veldoria all around the country, an alert went out on all phones, TVs, and anything else connected to Wi-Fi.
AI Alert: The Government of Veldoria, by order of our King, King Ethan of Veldoria, All incidents that threaten national security will be transparent for all citizens to be made aware of. We are sorry for interrupting your day for this news report.
Lena Braxton: "Good evening, Veldoria. We interrupt your programming with breaking news from the capital. King Ethan has been attacked after the signing of the historic agreement with the country of Costa Nova. Reports are still coming in, but unconfirmed sources suggest that the King has been shot in an assassination attempt. Eyewitnesses nearby say they saw gunfire as the King's motorcade was making its way to the airport."
The screen flickers to civilian footage showing chaos at a border checkpoint, cars scattered, and people running. The camera zooms in on a brief flash of the motorcade as it speeds away from the scene.
Lena Braxton: "Civilians, who were caught up in the attack, managed to capture video footage of the moments just after the shots were fired. The chaos was immediate, and many people were unsure of what was happening."
The screen shifts to blurry footage of a figure being rushed into a car, surrounded by armed guards. The video cut out abruptly.
Lena Braxton: "At this time, we are still waiting to hear about the King's condition, though sources say it's bad. We've been told that the King is approximately ten hours away from Liberty City, where emergency medical personnel are already on high alert. Stay tuned as we continue to bring you updates as we receive them."
The screen fades to black, the unsettling silence hanging over the city as the news continues to report on the attack. The camera pans across crowds of people gathered in squares, their faces a mixture of shock, confusion, and fear.
---
POV - A Kid in Liberty City
The sound of muffled voices filled the small apartment, but it wasn't the chatter that caught young Max's attention. It was the sobs. The sound of his mother crying, the kind of cry that made his heart ache and twist. His father sat in the corner, a grim look on his face.
Max had never seen his mother cry like this before. She always smiled and always kept things calm, but not today.
"Mom," Max said softly, walking up to her. "Why are you crying?"
She turned, her eyes red and swollen, trying to force a smile. She took his hand gently, brushing her fingers against his hair.
"Oh, sweetie," she whispered, "The King... he is hurt."
"Why?"
Max didn't understand. King Ethan was strong, right? He was the leader of Veldoria, the one who always made everything better. He made mom and dad smile. People loved him. Why would anyone hurt him?
Max's mother shook her head, as though trying to find the right words. "Someone hurt him, honey. We don't know what's going to happen. But we need to be strong. We need to pray for him."
Max didn't understand, but he could feel the sadness in the air. His mother's tears, his father's quiet voice… it was all too much. And in the whole city, it seemed, was in a state of anxiety.
---
General Vorn's POV
General Vorn sat at his desk in the command center, his eyes glued to the screen in front of him. The bio-watch alerts had started coming in, and they weren't good. He could hear the faint beeping of incoming transmissions and reports as his team worked at breakneck speed. The King's vitals were unstable, and the medical team on the plane was working on him, but time was not on their side.
The AI had already sent over the medical reports, and Vorn's eyes scanned the information with surgical precision.
"Command, prep all available aircraft for a rapid response," he barked, his voice sharp with urgency. "We're sending more planes to meet them at the halfway point. I want full escort until they reach Liberty City. We cannot take any chances. Start prepping the medical facilities at the airport and Liberty Hospital. Get the Royal Suite ready. I want no problems."
He stood up, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped the edge of the desk. His thoughts were already on the next steps. The country needed stability right now, but first, the King needed to survive.
"Alert Liberty Hospital's medical director," Vorn continued, pacing the room. "Tell them to prepare for emergency surgery. We don't know what we'll be dealing with when the King gets here, but I want everything in place. Immediately."
He grabbed the intercom and spoke with authority. "I need the Royal Guard and Capitol Police to coordinate and provide full security around the airport and the hospital. They're not just guarding the King— they're guarding the future of this nation. The military is on full alert. I want every soldier ready to respond."
He ran a hand through his short-cropped hair, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. As the head of the military, it was his duty to protect the Kingdom, but tonight, the stakes were higher than they'd ever been.
"Get me an update from the intelligence agency," he ordered. "I want to know who did this, and I want them caught. Yesterday."
He moved to the map on the wall, tracing routes with his finger, directing the plans for the immediate future. He could hear the thrum of engines outside as the planes were being prepped for flight.
"We'll meet them halfway," Vorn muttered to himself. "And when we do, we'll make sure no one touches him again."
---
Back at the airport, the buzz of activity had reached a fever pitch. The ground crew, military personnel, and the intelligence team worked in tandem, ensuring that everything would be ready when the King's plane touched down.
Vorn's orders had been clear: full security perimeter, immediate emergency response, and no surprises. The helicopter that would bring the King to Liberty City had already been prepped, followed by the three Air Force escort helicopters. Every angle was covered.
The military team had already begun preparing for any possible attacks once the King was on the ground. As Vorn had ordered, additional jets were being sent to the halfway fuel point to provide air support. They wouldn't take any chances.
And once they landed, Vorn's men would be ready. The entire airport would be on lockdown. Any and all threats would be neutralized before they could reach the King.
Inside Liberty Hospital, the medical team was preparing the Royal Suite. Every inch of the room had been meticulously planned for emergencies, with a special team of doctors on standby for whatever the King would need once he arrived.
---
In the shadows, the intelligence agency had already begun sifting through any information they could find. The attack on the King had to be carefully analyzed. The President of Costa Nova had been nothing but cordial during the meeting, so it was unlikely the attack had anything to do with their country.
No, this had to be people trying to end our treaty.
A group of agents was already tracking the shooter's movements and analyzing footage from security cameras. They would find out who was behind this attack and ensure that the Kingdom of Veldoria would act swiftly.
---
The weight of the situation was palpable. The King was far from out of danger, and the nation had been thrown into a state of anxiety and grief. But with General Vorn and the full might of Veldoria's military and intelligence agencies standing ready, one thing was clear:
Veldoria would stop at nothing to protect its king, and no one would get away with this attack.