GATE: Task Force Guillotine

Chapter 20: Reaction

White House, DC Washington

April 1, 2028, 23:50

The atmosphere in the Oval Office was calm, though an undercurrent of tension lingered beneath the surface. A large television screen displayed the live feed from Tokyo, where the parliamentary hearing was well underway. The muted hum of voices filled the room as senior officials observed the proceedings, their expressions ranging from neutral to mildly intrigued.

President Samuel Whitaker leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the screen. He exhaled softly before murmuring, "Hmm. Going well so far."

Across from him, Secretary of Defense Robert Hastings smirked, arms crossed as he observed the exchange. "Quite the political theater, huh?" he remarked dryly.

National Security Advisor Emily Carter scoffed. "No kidding. They're making a spectacle out of what should be a straightforward situation."

Whitaker arched a brow. "Over a hundred civilians dead is a 'straightforward situation'?"

Carter shrugged. "In the sense that it's not hard to figure out who's at fault here... and it's not us."

Press Secretary Daniel Ross let out a short chuckle. "Yeah, for once my job's gonna be easy."

Whitaker shifted his focus to him. "How's the media reacting so far?"

Ross adjusted his tie, checking his phone before responding. "After the testimonies, some major outlets are already tweaking their headlines."

Hastings glanced over. "Good or bad?"

Ross hesitated, then shrugged. "Mixed." He exhaled through his nose before adding, "Still, some of the mil-types are already questioning why Delta is on the ground instead of the Green Berets... How the hell am I supposed to answer that?"

Hastings smirked, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it—I'll handle that one."

Ross exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "Appreciate it. The last thing I need is some retired colonel tearing me apart on a primetime panel."

Whitaker leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Still, I do wonder, Hastings—why were you so insistent on sending Delta? I was about to greenlight 1st SFG, and you nearly flipped the damn table over it."

Hastings' smirk faded, his demeanor turning serious. "Because Delta was the right tool for the job," he said simply.

Whitaker frowned. "Explain."

Hastings took a measured breath before leaning back. "We've got American civilians dead, over a hundred more missing presumably captured. That makes this a hostage rescue operation—Delta's bread and butter. Green Berets are great, but they train foreign forces. Delta gets people out." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before adding, "And let's be real—their opsec is tighter. No one's gonna post mission details on Instagram."

Whitaker let out a quiet exhale, conceding the point. "Fair enough." He shifted his gaze to the CIA Director, Eleanor Matthews, who had been silently listening. "How are our spooks holding up?"

Matthews finally spoke, her tone measured. "We've got assets in Tokyo, keeping tabs on Beijing and Moscow. So far, they're staying in their lanes."

Whitaker leaned back, rubbing his chin. "Let's hope it stays that way. The last thing we need is a pile of dead bodies. Are they still going through with the kidnapping?"