Building a Conglomerate in Another World-Chapter 166: A War Again

The sun was just beginning to rise over the Amerathian capital when President Theodore Clay was summoned to the Oval Office. His chief of staff, William Harrington, entered the room with a stack of documents and a grim expression that immediately caught Clay’s attention.

"Mr. President," Harrington began, his voice steady but tense, "we have a situation in Panama."

Clay, still seated at his desk, set down the coffee he had been sipping and straightened. "What kind of situation?" he asked, his sharp blue eyes narrowing.

Harrington handed him a brief. "A skirmish, sir. Gran Colombian forces initiated an attack on our troops and workers near the canal site. It was a full-fledged assault, and while our forces managed to repel them, we suffered casualties—both military and civilian."

Clay’s jaw tightened as he scanned the report. "How many?"

"Five dead, including two engineers," Harrington said grimly. "Another dozen wounded."

Clay slammed the folder shut and stood, pacing the room. "Damn it! I knew this would happen the moment we committed to Panama. But an outright attack? This is an act of war!"

Harrington nodded. "It’s clear that Gran Colombia is unwilling to back down. Ramirez’s forces retreated, but our intelligence suggests they’re regrouping near the border. They’re likely preparing for another strike."

Clay stopped pacing and turned to Harrington, his voice low but firm. "Get the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Joint Chiefs in here now. We need to plan our next move."

As Harrington left to summon the officials, Clay sat back down, his mind racing. The canal project had always been a gamble, but now it was threatening to spiral into a full-scale war. He knew the stakes were high—not just for Amerathia, but for global trade and his administration’s legacy.

Meanwhile, in Bogotá, President Mariano Velásquez was locked in a similar state of outrage. The report of the failed assault reached him early in the morning, and the details only fueled his fury.

"They slaughtered our men," Velásquez growled, slamming his fist onto the table in his office. "Dozens dead, and for what? To protect a rebellion that they instigated?"

General Rodrigo Ibarra, standing rigidly at attention, nodded. "The Amerathians are far better equipped than we anticipated. Their machine guns and rifles outclass anything we have in the field."

Velásquez’s foreign minister, Felipe Ortega, cleared his throat. "Mr. President, this incident will not go unnoticed by the international community. If we escalate this into an all-out war, we risk alienating potential allies."

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Velásquez turned to Ortega, his eyes blazing. "And what do you propose? That we sit back and let Amerathia carve Panama out of our republic like a butcher slicing meat? No, Minister. We cannot allow this insult to stand."

Ortega hesitated, then spoke cautiously. "Mr. President, I’m not suggesting inaction. But if we rush into war unprepared, we may lose everything. Perhaps we should reach out to our allies in Europe for support before making any rash decisions."

Velásquez leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in thought. "We’ll do both. Begin diplomatic efforts immediately—reach out to Spain and France. But at the same time, I want our military mobilized. Ramirez must reinforce his position near the border, and we need to prepare for a prolonged conflict if necessary."

"Yes, Mr. President," Ortega said, bowing slightly before leaving the room.

Velásquez turned to Ibarra. "Send word to Ramirez. Tell him to hold his ground and prepare for reinforcements. This fight is far from over."

Back in Amerathia, President Clay’s office was a hive of activity as his top officials gathered around the conference table. Secretary of Defense Jonathan Graves spoke first, his tone measured but urgent.

"Mr. President, we have a clear provocation here. Gran Colombian forces initiated an unprovoked attack on our troops and civilians. This cannot go unanswered."

Secretary of State Eleanor Moore, seated beside Graves, nodded in agreement. "I’ve already begun drafting a formal condemnation to send to the Gran Colombian government. But words alone won’t be enough. We need to demonstrate that there are consequences for their actions."

Clay leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table. "What kind of consequences are we talking about?"

Graves answered immediately. "We recommend deploying additional troops to Panama, both to secure the canal site and to send a clear message to Gran Colombia. At the same time, we should position our navy along their coastline to enforce a blockade if necessary."

Moore added, "We should also reach out to our allies. If this escalates into a broader conflict, we’ll need international support."

Clay nodded slowly, considering their advice. "What’s the risk of escalation? If we move more troops into Panama, won’t that provoke them further?"

Graves didn’t hesitate. "It’s a risk, sir. But if we don’t respond decisively, they’ll see it as a sign of weakness. They’ll keep pushing, and the situation will only get worse."

Clay sighed, rubbing his temples. He hated the idea of sending more soldiers into harm’s way, but he knew Graves was right. "All right," he said finally. "Begin preparations for troop deployments. And Eleanor, I want that condemnation on my desk within the hour."

"Yes, Mr. President," Moore said, gathering her papers.

As the meeting ended and the officials began to file out, Clay turned to Harrington. "This isn’t just about Panama anymore," he said quietly. "This is about our reputation as a global power. If we back down now, it’ll embolden every rival we have."

Harrington nodded. "You’re absolutely right, sir. But we need to handle this carefully. A war with Gran Colombia could drag on for years."

Clay’s jaw tightened. "Then we’d better make sure it doesn’t come to that."

The tension between the two nations was palpable as messages and orders flew back and forth. In Bogotá, Velásquez’s government worked to rally support for their cause, portraying Amerathia as an imperial aggressor. In Amerathia, Clay prepared to address the nation, determined to unite the public behind his decision to stand firm in Panama.

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Both leaders knew the stakes. The conflict in Panama was no longer just about a canal—it had become a test of national pride and power. And with both sides refusing to back down, the world braced for the storm that was about to break.