Aron, who was watching the parade from within a real-world synchronized time bubble in the universal simulation said, "If you were unaware of the military's inherent weakness, you would assume they were of world-class caliber."
[All those weapons originate from Adolf's private forces' warehouse, and they will be promptly reclaimed and returned to them. As for the cars appearing brand new, their impeccable condition can be attributed to a skillful paint job.] Nova, as always sitting near Aron, answered immediately.
Observing the situation, Aron asked, "Is everything proceeding according to plan?"
Nova reported, [Yes, everything is in place. And with a majority of the private forces' weapons in the hands of the soldiers participating in the parade, dealing with the private forces will be easier than anticipated. At the moment we are simply waiting for the first shot to be fired before I issue the order to everyone, signaling them to make their move.]
As they kept their eyes fixed on the unfolding events, they remained watchful until the parade eventually concluded. The pivotal moment arrived when Adolf stood up and commenced his walk towards his car.
Aron, seeing this, his voice tinged with anxiety, he said, "It appears that the awaited time has arrived."
Nova reassured Aron, sensing his unease, by saying, [You invested ample time in planning every detail with me, so don't fret about any potential mishaps. If your forces face difficulties, remember that you are fully capable of taking matters into your own hands.]
"Thanks," Aron managed to say, but before he could finish his sentence, a gunshot resounded from the screen displaying the parade. Aron exclaimed, "Finally."
With prior knowledge of the imminent events, Nova, who had made thorough preparations and already gained control over the uplink facility responsible for broadcasting the parade's video feed to the international audience, initiated the transmission of an alternative feed. This feed, meticulously simulated and rendered, aimed to deceive international viewers, leaving them completely unaware of the unfolding situation.
Simultaneously, Nova utilized her control over CONNECT to start monitoring all internet activity, intercepting any information that had the potential to inform the world about the ongoing coup.
Furthermore, she employed the radio signal transmission towers to jam all radio communications, whether encrypted or not, except for those utilized by the evacuating foreign ministers heading to the airport.
By doing so, Nova aimed to facilitate their coordinated escape while mitigating the risk of attracting unwanted attention and potential backlash from the international community if they were detained.
Leveraging the communication infrastructure, she orchestrated the synchronized efforts of the coup forces, ensuring strategic cohesion and efficient execution of their planned actions.
While doing all of those she was also harnessing the sensors embedded in the personal devices of all citizens, online-connected cameras, and any accessible sensors within the country, employing this vast network to create a digital replica of the nation.
By continuously updating and redesigning the plan based on the reactions of Adolf and his forces, Nova rendered any countermeasures they devised obsolete the moment she became aware of them.
This adaptive approach allowed her to maintain a strategic advantage, constantly staying ahead of the opposition and adjusting the coup strategy accordingly.
....
The streets in which the parade took place.
As soon as Lilungulu and his father heard the gunshot and witnessed the security team swiftly escorting Adolf and the other visitors away, they wasted no time.
They swiftly joined the multitude of frantic individuals, all attempting to escape the scene, and hurried towards where they had parked their cars.
Their primary objective was to reach their vehicle and return home before something terrible happened to them.
Amid the frenzy, people resorted to pulling and stomping on one another in their desperate attempt to ensure their own survival.
Some even went to the extent of pushing their slower-running partners aside, prioritizing their own well-being.
As time elapsed, the chaos intensified with nobody present to restore order, causing the situation to spiral further out of control.
When Lilungulu and his father finally reached their parked car, their clothes were tattered from grappling with others who were trying to shove them aside in their haste to run ahead.
Without wasting a moment, they immediately boarded the vehicle, casting aside any sense of etiquette or rules, January accelerated with a sense of urgency, driving as if there were no tomorrow.
"What the..." January couldn't help but utter those words in astonishment as he was compelled to stop. The road ahead was congested with military trucks overflowing with heavily armed soldiers, all moving in the same direction.
"Where are they going?" Lilungulu asked his father, his voice trembling in fear and a slight tinge of sadness evident as he realized he had lost his bag amidst the commotion.
"They are heading towards his excellency's private forces headquarters," January replied to his son.
Lilungulu, perplexed by the situation, further asked "Why aren't they attempting to restore order and quell the chaos?"
Before his father could answer, a military truck equipped with a loudspeaker began broadcasting an official announcement, capturing their attention.
"Attention, citizens of Edenia. This is an official announcement from the Military," the voice echoed through the speaker.
"Due to the current circumstances and in the interest of public safety, a curfew is being implemented across the entire city.
This curfew will take immediate effect and will remain in place until further notice.
We kindly request that you return to your homes immediately and remain there until further instructions.
Anyone found outside their residence one hour from now, unless en route to their homes due to distance, will be subject to arrest."
"They have begun enforcing it," January replied to his son, his voice filled with concern, as the distant sound of the announcement grew fainter.
In a hushed tone, almost ensuring that his son wouldn't hear, he quietly muttered, "I hope it will be resolved by tomorrow," his words carrying a hint of worry, as he knew or suspected what was unfolding.
...
Back to the site of the parade.
Moments after the onset of chaos, the soldiers who had taken part in the parade received the order to board the military trucks that had transported them there, along with their weapons.
Wondering why they were not ordered to control the chaotic public, the soldiers boarded the trucks only to find boxes filled with magazines inside.
Their surprise grew when they received another order: "Within those trucks, you will find boxes containing magazines. Load your weapons with them immediately."
Following the command, the soldiers swiftly loaded their weapons with the ammunition from the magazines as the trucks began moving in a synchronized convoy, transporting the armed soldiers to various locations throughout the city.
During the journey, the soldiers received detailed briefings from their commanders regarding their objectives upon arrival. These commanders had been previously informed and briefed on the plan weeks ago, actively participating in its development.
Some of the soldiers who were quick-witted immediately grasped the unfolding situation, while others who were slower to comprehend took a bit longer to realize the true nature of the plan.
However, regardless of their individual understanding, no one made an attempt to stop or resist.
The prevailing sentiment among the soldiers was a collective weariness of being continuously regarded as second-rate military personnel compared to the dictator's private forces.
This shared frustration among the soldiers served as a catalyst, igniting a common purpose and driving their collective agreement to the orders.
"Let's go," exclaimed some of the soldiers, their faces displaying a mix of excitement and contentment as they welcomed the unfolding events.
However, alongside their happiness, there were also traces of apprehension and fear lingering within them for the face-off that was about to happen.
...…
In addition to Edenia, other major cities within Eden, including Oasisville, Blissfield, Astoria, Avalon, and several others, were engulfed in chaos.
However, this turmoil did not stem from the gunshot incident; rather, it was the direct consequence of Alexander's call to action.
The protesters had already begun their demonstrations earlier in the day, but it was upon receiving news of the incident that Alexander issued the order for their actions to become more aggressive.
As soon as they received the order, the protest leaders in those cities immediately directed the groups towards government offices.
This decision instilled fear in some of the protesters who were aware that soldiers were stationed at these locations and would respond with violence to disperse them. Despite this knowledge, and with a sheep-like mentality, they continued to follow the directives of their leaders.
Upon reaching the government buildings, they were taken aback to find all the soldiers had vanished, leaving no one to impede their progress.
Encouraged by this unexpected turn of events, the protest leaders forged ahead, and their followers grew increasingly emboldened. As they advanced towards the government building, they began wreaking havoc and vandalizing government properties along the way.
With each act of property destruction, their audacity swelled further. When they finally reached the government building, guided by the leaders' influence, they forcefully kicked down the barricades and stormed inside, swiftly taking control.
Fueled by their pent-up anger stemming from the experiences under Adolf and his family's leadership, they unleashed their wrath by vandalizing and demolishing the properties within the buildings.
