Yang Fanglie competed with Stark at the meeting of the chiefs of general staff, and Zhang Xiaogang also met an evenly matched opponent, American commissioner Smith.

Like Mr. Zhang, Mr. Smith comes from the U.S. intelligence agencies and uses a pseudonym.

Because Smith was an agent of the U.S. Defense Intelligence and Security Agency before serving as a special commissioner, and this intelligence agency is not at the same level as the well-known CIA and NSA, and the scale is also very small, counting the sweepers, the total number of people is less than 1,500, while the CIA has more than 100,000 employees, and the NSA is close to 200,000. Zhang Xiaogang didn't know much about Smith's situation before he became a special commissioner, but he only knew that this guy was handpicked by Stark, and he was particularly capable, and he had cracked several intelligence cases related to national defense information security, and he had also participated in some secret operations planned by the National Defense Intelligence and Security Agency, and he was well-known in the Pentagon.

In the Security Affairs Liaison Office, Smith is Zhang's number one opponent.

In terms of dealing with people, the two are very different. Zhang Xiaogang is relatively high-profile, and his words are extremely sharp, like a cactus ball full of thorns. Smith is a low-key man who rarely offends others in words, like an inconspicuous weed. Just poisonous and often inconspicuous weeds.

In the past two years, Zhang Xiaogang and Smith have fought and calculated with each other, but they have never made trouble to the point of turning their faces.

In the Council of Planetary Defense, the commissioner is just a "handyman" and not the chief of the general staff who represents the will of the country. Although this restricts the words and deeds of the commissioner to a certain extent, it also makes the contradictions of the commissioner seem insignificant, so many things that cannot be resolved by the chief of the general staff, or cannot be resolved by the chief of the general staff, especially dirty deeds, are often handled by the commissioner.

Now, it's the turn of the two commissioners.

"Zhang, you shouldn't be angry no matter what." Smith acted a little aggrieved, as if he was the victim and Zhang Xiaogang was the culprit. "Although there are differences and contradictions between us, you also know that our Chief of General Staff has made great efforts to clear up the misunderstanding. Now, if you return to Gwadar without saying a word, what will others think if it gets out? ”

"Smith, you're also worried about what other people will think? The news has long been out of the country, and what others think has nothing to do with me, and I don't care. We are correspondents, and our priority is to ensure the safety of key personnel. "Zhang Xiaogang is not polite, he is never polite to Smith." Under strict supervision, the desert island dragon was able to escape, stealing not only the Doomsday Warrior system, but also one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. As far as I know, the U.S. military did not send fighter jets to intercept and pursue the incident immediately after the incident. If we hadn't happened to be on our way to Diego Garcia, and if I hadn't arranged for two escort fighters, do you know what would have happened? The fighter jet piloted by Ryuzhijian on the desert island had six medium-range air-to-air missiles and two combat missiles, as well as an aerial gun with hundreds of shells. If there were no escort fighters, the transport plane we were on would definitely have been knocked down. I'm a small person, it's nothing, but on the same plane with me are Luo Jinyong, my country's chief scientific advisor, and Chu Tianjiang, a doomsday warrior. They are all big shots, they have to make mistakes, you can take responsibility, can your chief of the General Staff be responsible? Your regulatory measures, and the way you handled them after the incident, were extremely irresponsible. Do you think I can still trust you? ”

You never believed me. Smith sighed and said, "The problems you raised do exist, and they are indeed very serious, but you have to consider the actual situation. We didn't send fighter jets, not because we didn't want to, but because it didn't make sense. ”

"Fart! What would you think if one day, the transport plane you were flying in was shot down by our fighter jets, and I said the same? And, Smith, let's not forget that not long ago, on my last flight to Diego Garcia, our transport plane was almost knocked down. Zhang Xiaogang decided to give Smith some colors to see. I've already investigated, and the two pilots we rescued have all confessed. I didn't embarrass you about this matter, firstly, it did not have serious consequences, and secondly, it gave you a little face. You don't have a face. If you really want to tear your face, let us go to the summit to confront each other, it will definitely not do you any good! ”

Smith was a thief and was speechless.

"I'm going to start with that, until we find out what happened and until we get a satisfactory answer, we're going to stay in Gwadar and not go anywhere."

"But ......"

"But what? If you can convince me now, I will immediately take Luo Jinyong and Chu Tianjiang on the plane, and I will be able to arrive at Diego Garcia in four hours. ”

Smith is not a stupid person, Zhang Xiaogang clenched and insisted on asking Smith to hand over the scapegoat.

If he really wants to turn his face, Zhang Xiaogang won't waste time here.

Is it better to make a scapegoat, Howard or Burke? There will be no third candidate, because Zhang Xiaogang knows that they have something to do with it.

Smith was in a quandary. Stark only told him to stabilize Zhang Xiaogang and let Zhang Xiaogang and them go to Diego Garcia, but he didn't tell him how to deal with Zhang Xiaogang, let alone tell him whether to sacrifice Howard or Burke. Smith couldn't have asked Stark's opinion at this time.

What to do?

Howard is the commander of the Doomsday Force, and he is made a scapegoat, with the least possible consequence being dismissal and the selection of a new commander from among those recommended by China and Russia. As the saying goes, once the son of heaven is a courtier, the new commander will definitely adjust the personnel mix of the doomsday troops. Because Petronovich's assessment results are not satisfactory, and China has close relations with Russia, it is very likely that Chu Tianjiang will replace Aldrich as the captain of the Doomsday Force. As a result, the Doomsday Force will be controlled by China and Russia.

Burke is the chief scientific advisor to the United States and the head of the Scientific Advisory Board, overseeing all scientific research and defense projects, and knowing a lot of hidden secrets. In the scientific advisory board, the most qualified to replace Burke is Luo Jinyong, and Luo Jinyong's talent is originally above Burke, and he is also the scientific advisor who is most familiar with various projects and projects except Burke, and no one can compete with him. Luo Jinyong sat in Burke's position, and he would inevitably have access to a large number of secrets, and he would dominate the scientific advisory board.

To choose between Howard and Burke is to choose between the Doomsday Force and the Scientific Advisory Board.

Which one is more important?

If a few months ago, Smith would have gotten away from Howard without hesitation. The Doomsday Force is important, and it is only one of many scientific research projects and defense projects. The use of a substitute for the commander of the Doomsday Force can also create contradictions between China and Russia. Smith believes Stark will do the same.

Now, Smith didn't know what to do.

After the acceleration of the 2014X1 asteroid, most of the scientific research projects and defense projects were either discontinued because they lost their value or could not be completed in time, and among the few projects and projects that were retained, only two were the most important, Operation Courage and the Doomsday Force.

The former will only succeed and not fail, while the latter will decide the fate of mankind after the success of the former.

Not only the fate of humanity, but also the fate of individual nations.

Letting Howard take the blame at this time will inevitably lead to the loss of control of the Doomsday Force, and keeping Burke may not bring more benefits to the United States.

Allowing Burke to take the blame would mean losing his dominance on the Scientific Advisory Board.

Is there any value for the Scientific Advisory Board after Judgment Day? Smith couldn't see it. He even felt that before Judgment Day, the Scientific Advisory Board would fall apart because of the contradictions between the member countries, and it would not be possible to maintain it until after Judgment Day.

"Smith, contact me when you're ready, I'm going to rest." Smith thought about it for a long time, and Zhang Xiaogang was a little impatient.

"Zhang ......," Smith said without further hesitation, "as you mentioned earlier, Professor Burke is inescapable of taking responsibility in this incident. ”

"Are you sure it's Professor Burke who is primarily responsible?"

Why is Zhang Xiaogang in a hurry to draw conclusions? Smith was a little confused, but the words were out of his mouth, and he couldn't repent. "In this case, Professor Burke was held accountable for mismanagement and dereliction of duty in handling the incident. Although he is only a researcher, he must be held accountable for this. ”

"Well, I take your word for it. Now I wonder how Burke got involved with the Doomsday Warriors. Zhang Xiaogang did not directly mention the Desert Island Dragon Warrior, emphasizing that the Desert Island Dragon Warrior is still a Doomsday Warrior, and the Doomsday Warrior is under the management of the Doomsday Force.

The question "...... this" stumped Smith.

"Smith, don't tell me that Burke is doing small things behind the Planetary Defense Council, such as stealing something from the Desert Island Dragon Fitness."

"No, of course not!" Smith immediately denied it, only he denied it too quickly.

"So, why did Burke have something to do with the desert island dragon health?" Zhang Xiaogang made his words clear. "According to the resolution made by the Council of Chiefs of General Staff, after reducing Japan to observer, the Doomsday Force will control the desert island Ryunoken until the Doomsday Warriors sent by Italy join. During this time, the desert island dragon should be under the custody of the Doomsday Force, and it is impossible to have anything to do with your country's chief scientific advisor. In addition, the fact that the scientific advisors of other countries were not aware of the incident of the desert island of Long Zhijian indicates that the matter has nothing to do with the Scientific Advisory Board. If it weren't for Burke's small moves behind the Planetary Defense Council, you tell me, would there be a more reasonable explanation? ”

Zhang Xiaogang pressed forward step by step, making Smith unable to parry.

"Smith, we're all smart and understanding. There are so many dirty things that we have experienced and dealt with, and it is one thing to hold accountable, and quite another to be held accountable. Zhang Xiaogang saw that Smith confessed Burke, making it clear that he was protecting Howard. Things have developed to this point, and it is necessary not only to hold the main responsible person accountable, but also to follow it safely. We now have to think about how to put an end to this matter and how to give a satisfactory answer to the 10 chiefs of the General Staff. In any case, our supreme purpose is to defend human civilization. ”

"Zhang, you're right, but ......"

"What?" Zhang Xiaogang smiled and said, "Even if Burke eats leopard gall, he won't dare to carry the Planetary Defense Council behind his back." Besides, he's an astrophysicist and astronomer, and his expertise has nothing to do with the Doomsday Warrior system, so you think he can get something useful out of the Desert Island Dragon Fitness on his own? Even if you believe it, I don't believe it, he's just a poor scapegoat. ”

Smith didn't say anything, and the story he made up couldn't fool Zhang Xiaogang at all.

"Let's put it this way, to let Burke take the blame is nothing more than to give the Chiefs of Staff an account so that the matter can be closed. If we can solve this problem properly, we will not embarrass Burke. With his talents, he was not suitable to be the head of the Scientific Advisory Board for a long time. ”

"I agree with you, and I agree with the election of another person in charge."

"How is Luo Jinyong?"

"This ......" Smith hesitated a little, Zhang Xiaogang's request was too direct.

"In terms of talent, ability, and performance, Luo Jinyong is above Burke. Smith, you're not going to object, are you? ”

"This ...... I'll think about it. ”

"I want a definite answer."

Smith gritted his teeth and said, "I admit your statement, and I will also explain this matter to General Stark and try to get General Stark's support." ”

"Very well, this can be one of the basic conditions for reconciliation."

"One?" Smith frowned, could there be other conditions?