Chasing Stars in Hollywood

Celia Miller's proposal had been meticulously crafted with the interests of the Westeros system in mind. Simon's affirmative response reassured her, indicating that her strong-willed yet not autocratic young boss would make her future work much easier and grant her more power.

Feeling encouraged, Celia moved on to the next topic. "Additionally, the new Rwandan government representatives contacted me yesterday. They hope to receive military aid from the Westeros system. Their main goal is to obtain our helicopter unit. During our military operations in Rwanda, our 12 Mi-24 attack helicopters played a crucial role."

Seeing Simon's nod, Celia continued, "It's impossible to give them the helicopters. However, we can provide them with the weapons and equipment seized from the former government forces in the two battles. But it shouldn't be a completely free gift. Simon, while our troops can't stay in Rwanda indefinitely, we can use our current leverage to cultivate our influence within the new Rwandan government."

During the two main military operations, the Westeros mercenaries had seized all the weapons and equipment from the 18,000 former government troops, including a large number of rifles, ammunition, rocket launchers, mortars, transport trucks, and tanks. This included the second battle conducted jointly with the Tutsi opposition, where the dazed Tutsi and Ugandan government forces didn't dare to contest the Westeros mercenaries for the spoils of war.

To Simon, the Hutu regime's twenty-year-old arsenal was nothing but worthless junk. However, to African governments, it was a substantial military fortune. The new Tutsi regime might covet the latest Soviet equipment of the Westeros mercenaries, especially the Mi-24 helicopters, but Simon had no intention of indulging them. The previous military actions were to prevent a genocide involving millions, not out of any particular fondness for the new Tutsi regime.

Remembering the 'African World War' that began in 1996, which engulfed Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Sudan, and other African countries in an eight-year-long conflict, Simon saw no reason to support the new Tutsi government unconditionally. This brutal war started with Rwandan-backed Congolese rebels attacking Mobutu's government, evolving into a massive regional conflict.

Africa often showcased the most primitive and bloody struggles for power, highlighted by the so-called civilized societies' continuous interventions for its abundant natural resources. Realizing this, Simon was convinced that humanity was doomed to self-destruction due to its inherent selfishness and greed.

Simon didn't plan to change anything, nor did he believe he could. Great figures throughout history had made similar attempts, only to start a new cycle. Thus, Simon's goal was to elevate his family and those closely associated with the Westeros family to the top of the world's pyramid, ensuring their survival in times of crisis.

Feeling Celia waiting for his response, Simon snapped back to the present and shook his head. "Celia, if I were to train a dog, I would never let it develop the bad habit of only obeying commands after being fed. I prefer pets that bow obediently at the sound of their master's voice."

Simon's disdainful and indifferent tone made Celia instinctively avoid his gaze. She flipped through the documents on her lap to compose herself before looking up again. "So, boss, even if we don't give them anything, we should still set our terms?"

Unconsciously, Celia reverted from calling him 'Simon' to 'boss'. Simon didn't seem to notice the subtle shift and nodded. "The Tutsi opposition taking control of Rwanda in just a week is already their biggest reward. They shouldn't expect more. Regarding the seized equipment, discuss with William McRainey and set a high price to sell it to neighboring countries. We don't need money, just exchange it for mines or similar assets. BHP in Australia will support you. This is an opportunity for other African governments to strengthen ties with the Westeros system. Any slightly intelligent government head won't refuse."

William McRainey, the commander of the Westeros mercenaries in Africa, was a former Australian Navy lieutenant commander, now 43 years old. He had led the Johnston family's private mercenary team for a decade, primarily securing the Johnston Holdings' shipping operations, making him a trusted insider of the Johnston family.

Exchanging former government forces' weapons for African mines aligned perfectly with Simon's and the old man's initial African expansion strategy. Acquiring mines would not only establish connections with African warlords or government oligarchs but also provide a legitimate business front. To protect these business interests in conflict zones, the Westeros system would need a strong security team, effectively cultivating a direct violent force.

The presence of the Westeros mercenaries in Rwanda was conspicuous and unsustainable in the long term. Simon had no intention of poaching from the South African EO Company, but he planned to retain the Ukrainian mercenaries who had undergone a baptism of fire. After further selection, these soldiers would be integrated into the Westeros system's corporate security teams across Africa.

Sensing the underlying implications in Simon's arrangements, Celia pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Although the Tutsis control the overall situation, some Hutu opposition factions are still active within Rwanda or have fled to neighboring Congo and other countries. We could stabilize Hutu sentiments by promoting reconciliation and installing our own representatives in the Rwandan government."

Simon readily agreed. At this stage, the Westeros mercenaries were at their peak in Africa, and Rwanda's situation hadn't fully stabilized. The newly empowered Tutsi opposition, despite any dissatisfaction, had to acquiesce. The defeated Hutu forces, facing a choice between survival and extinction, were also unlikely to reject the Westeros system's 'assistance'.

Celia's proposal mirrored common strategies in Africa, where nominally independent countries often remained puppets of Western powers. For example, the Tutsi opposition in Rwanda was directly supported by Uganda, which was in turn backed by Britain and the USA.

With the Cold War over, the major powers had shifted from politically driven interventions to economically motivated ones, leaving Africa's rich resources under the influence of global corporate giants rather than direct government control.

In this new landscape, economic strength was the key to influence. The rapidly rising Westeros system was more than capable of competing with established giants.

Celia and Simon continued discussing various issues needing immediate decisions, spending over half an hour without noticing the time. At 8:50, Celia mentioned, "Boss, the UN meeting starts at 10 AM. I need to leave soon to ensure I arrive on time."

Simon nodded but then shook his head. "No need to rush. We'll all go together. I'm also heading to Manhattan."

With Simon's reassurance, Celia didn't argue. If they were late, it would be on her boss. She even suspected he might intentionally want her to be late.

Simon, however, had no such intentions. "One more thing. You'll handle the compensation and arrangements for the fallen and injured Ukrainian mercenaries. The Westeros Company will also establish private military companies in the USA, Australia, and Ukraine. Dan Rubell and Martin Stillman will manage the US branch. Though it's typically a man's job, I prefer not to use men as assistants. You'll be the primary contact for these matters."

Celia, hiding her excitement, nodded quickly. She was aware of the plans for private military companies. Dan Rubell and Martin Stillman, currently under Simon's military affairs office, had mentioned it to her. She hadn't expected to play a significant role in three new companies.

Realizing this, she recalled an earlier thought and said, "Simon, with these new responsibilities, our office might need more staff. And if anyone isn't suitable for the job, they should be promptly removed."

Simon smiled and nodded. "You handle it. But if something goes wrong, I'll hold you accountable."

Celia wanted to make assurances but held back, knowing Simon didn't appreciate such gestures. Instead, she changed the topic. "Boss, do you plan to accept government military contracts for these companies?"

Simon asked, "What do you think?"

Celia replied, "I think you don't want to. However, securing government contracts would provide legitimate training opportunities. Even the best soldiers need regular combat to maintain their skills."

Simon initially didn't plan to engage in official contracts, focusing solely on building a private force. But Celia's point made sense. "Good suggestion. I'll consider it."

Knowing Simon had decided, Celia hesitated before adding, "My... husband has been probing me recently. His father, despite retiring, still has connections. If we collaborate, we could quickly establish ties with the military. The Miller family would extend its influence, creating a win-win situation."

To secure government contracts, they needed military connections. Simon was aware of the Miller family's military legacy, dating back to World War I. Unfortunately, the current heir, Philip Miller, was unreliable. However, the Miller family could be a gateway to the military.

Their connections could greatly aid the Westeros system. With the current heir's incompetence, the Miller family would inevitably become subservient to the Westeros system once the former Navy Vice Admiral Michael Miller passed.

After a moment, Simon nodded. "Alright."

Celia quietly sighed in relief. She had been reluctant to make this introduction, given the family's pressure to abandon her career to save Philip Miller's position in the Department of Defense. Despite contemplating divorce, she couldn't ignore her nine-year-old son, who was under his grandparents' care and heavily guarded.

As a mother, she wished for a better future for her child. Despite her resentment towards the Millers, she knew their resources far surpassed her own, making her unwilling to fight for custody in a potential divorce.

Having settled this, they continued discussing various topics until around 9:10 AM when they heard a loud noise outside.

Simon stood

 up. "Let's go. The helicopter is here."

Celia finally understood why Simon hadn't been in a hurry. They walked outside to find two large, sleek black helicopters on the estate's lawn. Celia recognized them as civilian versions of the Sikorsky Black Hawk.

Simon had ordered four customized helicopters from Sikorsky, but in the meantime, the Westeros family had rented four standard civilian Black Hawks for transportation. Despite being civilian models, their safety surpassed other brands, a crucial factor for Simon.

Simon, along with A Girl, Sophia, Celia, and Emily Choplin, boarded one helicopter, while his security team took the other. The helicopters departed from the Greenwich estate in Connecticut, landing within minutes at a heliport on the East River in Manhattan, just a few hundred meters from the UN headquarters.

_________________________

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] 

[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]

[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]