"Aldo's matter, thank you, Captain!"
Although their relationship couldn't be considered very close, they were at least acquaintances. And if it weren't for Captain America's intervention, Aldo's situation probably wouldn't have ended so quickly. So Josh, both emotionally and logically, should greet the other party.
"No need to thank me, I just truthfully said everything I knew," Captain America nodded slightly at Josh as he spoke.
"You guys are…" Josh glanced at the Howling Commandos behind him, asking with some curiosity.
"We're heading to Stalingrad!" Captain America didn't hide it and answered directly.
Although military operations should be kept confidential, firstly Josh was considered half an insider to the military, and secondly, Captain America only mentioned the general destination without specifying the time or mission, so it didn't count as a violation of regulations.
Watching Captain America and his team walk away, Josh curled his lips.
Good grief, no wonder this world is dominated by American comics—Mother Russia is having an even harder time than in the world he came from.
Hydra's strength far surpassed that of the little mustache (Hitler), so even now, when the Allies are about to land in Normandy, the Battle of Stalingrad still hasn't ended and needs Captain America and his team to assist.
Unbelievable.
The current situation in Europe was that the territories occupied by Germany were limited to its northern homeland and regions like France and Poland.
Southern Bavaria, Czechoslovakia, Austria-Hungary, the Balkans, all the way to the Stalingrad area had already been entirely occupied by Red Skull's Hydra Corps.
But that's not surprising. Although the Soviet troops were fearless, they couldn't withstand Red Skull's cheat mode.
While other countries were still struggling with oil and supplies, Hydra's troops had already begun mass equipping weapons powered by the limitless Cosmic Cube.
If not for Captain America constantly sabotaging those weapons factories, the Allied forces in Italy might have already been pushed into the sea.
"In that case, it's about time I 'contribute' more to the anti-XX cause as well!" Josh thought with a slight smirk, then turned and walked toward a jeep parked in the distance.
"To Colonel Ross' office!" Josh said to Vito in the driver's seat.
Vito didn't speak, just nodded and started the engine.
The Colonel Ross Josh was going to see was, of course, not the future Thunderbolt Ross. Judging by the era, that Thunderbolt probably hadn't even been born yet.
This Colonel Ross was named William Ross, an Army colonel and Aldo's superior. It was he who helped Aldo apply for this mission.
Also because of Aldo, Josh had established a connection with this Army colonel...With Josh now officially at odds with Joseph Kennedy, he no longer had a choice regarding his alignment within the military.
The Kennedy family held too much influence in the Navy. The eldest brother was in Naval Aviation, the second brother—who would later become that wildly imaginative president—was with Naval Intelligence, and the third brother was also in the Navy.
Under these circumstances, Josh naturally didn't want to be too close to the Navy anymore.
Given that, he had no option but to align with the Army.
As for the Air Force and Marine Corps? That was simple.
The U.S. Air Force was split off from the Army Air Corps after WWII, officially established in 1947.
And the Marine Corps…Josh would have to be crazy to associate with that fourth-tier unit. Plus, the Marine Corps was in a miserable state now, with a total strength of only about 500,000, equipped with army castoffs, most of them basking in the Pacific sun.
As for the Pentagon and Allied Supreme Command, Josh wasn't at that level yet...
But when Josh arrived at his destination and was led into Colonel Ross' office by the colonel's adjutant, he found that besides Colonel Ross, there was also an elderly man in uniform—one with three gleaming stars on his shoulder.
A lieutenant general.
"Mr. Kane, have a seat. Let me introduce—this is General John McGinnis!" Colonel Ross said upon seeing Josh.
"It's an honor to meet you, General!" Josh greeted the other man respectfully.
Although Josh now had decent ties with the military, a general was still someone to show respect to—especially one who clearly had years of service and possibly deep connections.
"Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Kane!" Seeing Josh's polite manner, General McGinnis's expression softened, and he sighed, "Young and promising—Mr. Kane is far better than certain others."
Was that…a compliment? McGinnis's cryptic comment left Josh a bit puzzled.
"Heh, no need to overthink, young man—just speaking my mind!" General McGinnis waved his hand, seeing the confusion in Josh's eyes.
"Mr. Kane, didn't you mention before that you wanted to hire some retired officers as advisors for your company? Well, how about General McGinnis?" Colonel Ross chimed in at this moment.
That floored Josh. What?! You're recommending a lieutenant general as a consultant?
Regarding this advisor thing, Josh had casually mentioned it to Colonel Ross earlier—said he was interested in the military industry but lacked insight into the military's needs, so he wanted to hire some disabled or retired officers as consultants.
He'd said this partly because he truly was interested in military industry, and partly to strengthen his ties with the Army.
He just hadn't expected Colonel Ross to go this far—recommending a lieutenant general!
But…
"I'd certainly be honored to hire an outstanding general like McGinnis as a consultant. I'm just not sure—this is such a crucial moment for the military—why is General McGinnis…?" Josh directly voiced his question without hesitation.
At such a critical time in the war, a lieutenant general was retiring? No one would believe that!
"The reason is simple. Like that boy Aldo, I made a grave mistake. So I've been stripped of all duties, and retirement is my only option now." General McGinnis responded directly to Josh's question, holding nothing back.
And after hearing his explanation, Josh finally understood why the general had said what he did earlier.
The "certain others" General McGinnis had referred to? None other than the now red-hot chief scientist of the Allied Strategic Scientific Reserve—Howard Stark.
And the reason General McGinnis had been relieved of all duties? Also because of Howard Stark.
The specific incident? It had to do with a special drug called Nightlight.
That's right—exactly the one Whitney had discussed in the Isodyne Energy Group's lab in Los Angeles with her "scandalous boyfriend" Calvin Chadwick, and also one of the reasons she came to the front lines.
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