Gale

7 p.m., southeast of Afrin, 4 kilometers from Mayer.

The three-car convoy of the Dongfeng Corps sped towards Aleppo, raising dust all the way.

Chen Chen checked the equipment again. From the night vision goggles to the body armor, from the gun barrel to the magazine, nothing was missing.

He did this not to relieve tension, but simply to ensure that he would not be burdened by any inexplicable details after the battle began.

Similarly, all combatants on the vehicle have completed wearing and checking their equipment. As long as something happens, they will definitely be able to complete the formation deployment within 10 seconds and organize a powerful counterattack.

However, such preparations did not give Chen Chen peace of mind.

Because for their team, only when facing enemies of the "same level" can they have a chance to fight.

The question is, will the United States really fight with itself on the same level?

Will they really send a special operations team, wait somewhere, use volleys, and use rocket launchers, portable anti-tank missiles, large-caliber machine guns, and sniper rifles to deal with the Dongfeng Corps?

This is most likely impossible.

If that special operations team really existed, then the only role they would play would probably be reconnaissance.

Perhaps at this moment, they have dispersed into groups of 10 or more, lurking on a certain hillside.

Perhaps in a few minutes, they will receive high-resolution photos taken from spy satellites controlled by the National Reconnaissance Office, and then analyze their own things based on the information in the photos.

Immediately afterwards, they will set up antennas, fly drones, and continuously search for their position within a 10-kilometer radius area.

Then, they will lock the convoy and report the specific characteristics and movements of the target. After receiving their information, the fighter that has already taken off as the real attacker will quickly lock the target and use several air-to-surface missiles to blow up the convoy into pieces. Fragments!

This is real special operations in the context of air support - who said special operations must be hand-to-hand?

Those soldiers are not necessarily the knives inserted into the enemy's throat, but they may also be the eyes hiding in the dark.

Chen Chen held a simple regional map in his hand. After checking it quickly, his brows suddenly frowned.

"slow down."

“No more trips to Aleppo.”

After the words fell, the three cars slowed down almost at the same time, and Chen Chen continued:

"The special forces mentioned earlier, we still don't know where they are."

"But what is certain is that this special force must exist."

"Whether they are DEVGRU, 24 STS, Rangers, or berets, in short, if they don't show up in Istanbul, they must show up in Syria."

"Now, we are a confirmed high-value target. According to the hypothetical principle, we are likely to be the first target after they show up."

"And the no-fly zone in Syria has been established, and NATO fighter jets may fly over at any time."

"Of course, they may face various compliance or process issues, but I think in this extreme situation, they won't worry too much."

"And this means that our biggest threat does not come from the ground, but from the air!"

Having said this, Chen Chen paused for a moment.

Then, with his own position as the center, he drew a large circle on the map.

"The only fighter jets that the United States may dispatch are F-16s, F-15s or FA-18s. The Warthog is impossible. The war in Syria has not yet begun, and they do not have the conditions for close-ground strikes."

"According to the range of the fighter jets and their combat strategy, their possible take-off location is only on the Mediterranean Sea or Al-Assad Air Base."

"The flight time will not exceed 30 minutes. Including preparation and target identification time, we only have about 45 minutes from the time the fighter takes off to the missile hits."

"And now, we are still about 30 minutes away from Aleppo."

"If there is any accident on the way, we may all be attacked by air on the way, and by that time, we will not have any chance to fight back or hide."

"So... we can't go directly to Aleppo."

"We have to stop first, we have to dodge the first round of aerial strikes!"

Chen Chen's brows frowned more and more, and he became more and more aware of the accuracy of his analysis.

This is not a "principle" that can be explained logically, and there is no evidence, but he knows that the next plot must develop in this direction.

Because, if it were him, he would choose such a strategy!

"sure?"

After hearing his words, Xia Xing had a solemn expression.

After thinking for a moment, she said:

"Staying outside Aleppo itself carries huge risks. We may not find any support here. Once the situation changes, we may be directly involved in war."

"At that time, it will be difficult for us to escape successfully."

"Is it possible that our whereabouts will be discovered before entering Syria?"

Chen Chen interrupted Xia Xing and asked directly.

"Yes, but the most dangerous thing is during the transit period. We cannot guarantee 100% safety."

"Then do as I say!"

Chen Chen said decisively:

"Even considering the best case scenario, after we enter Syria, the other side should be targeting us."

"Time is of the essence and enemy aircraft may have already entered Syrian airspace."

"Find a way to confirm this news, but before we do, let's go to Tal Rifat!"

“It’s 8 kilometers away, don’t take the highway, go straight through it!”

"clear!"

After the order was given, the three vehicles immediately turned around and drove wildly in the direction of Tallifat.

The terrain here is basically flat desert or dry farmland, and there is a smooth road under the wheels of high-performance off-road vehicles.

The vehicle was traveling very fast, and after just 5 minutes, the distance between them and Tallifaat had been shortened to less than 6 kilometers.

Chen Chen put on his night vision goggles vigilantly, but since there was no thermal imaging mode, his perception of his surroundings was extremely limited.

After thinking for a moment, he continued to order:

"All vehicles turn off their lights!"

The action was executed immediately. In the darkness, Xia Xing, who was not carrying a night vision device, suddenly felt some kind of fear.

"Why turn off the lights?"

Xia Xing continued to ask doubtfully:

"If we had a reconnaissance drone above us, in this case we would have already installed thermal imaging modules, let alone fighter jets. There would be no way we could escape."

"It's not about hiding from drones."

Chen Chen shook his head and explained:

"What we want to hide from is the enemy on the ground. If they exist, we can at least cause some trouble for them."

"Understood."

Without any more questions, Xia Xing decisively closed her mouth.

She fumbled and pulled out the FN57 pistol that Chen Chen had requested from her thigh, and unskillfully pulled the slide to load it.

Her breathing had obviously become a little rapid, probably because she realized that a fierce battle was right in front of her, and this time, she couldn't avoid it.

Noticing her performance, Chen Chen did not speak to comfort, but said in a serious but calm tone:

"If a fight breaks out in a while, the only thing you have to do is find a bunker and protect yourself."

"Don't be aggressive and don't try to help us."

"Remember, there is only one situation where you need to shoot, and that is when the enemy points the gun at you within 10 meters."

"In any other situation, even if the enemy has put a gun to my head, don't shoot."

"Run if you can, hide if you can't, do you understand?"

"clear."

Xia Xing nodded solemnly and then said:

"I have received systematic military training and I know what to do."

"But you haven't really been on the battlefield."

"In every previous action, you were de facto absent."

"Even the gun in your hand is unfamiliar to you."

"So, you can only restrain your instincts as much as possible, and try not to do bad things with good intentions, is that clear?"

"clear!"

Xia Xing answered again. Chen Chen didn't say any more, but quickly contacted the cars behind him and ordered everyone to observe carefully and report any suspicious targets in time.

——

However, his order seemed redundant.

Because less than 3 seconds after this order was issued, Chen Chen suddenly saw the flickering car lights through the rearview mirror.

At this moment, everyone's hearts were lifted.

The location they were in now was a desert between two roads. In a place like this, how could a car other than them drive there? !

Either it's a very low probability coincidence, or it's

Coming for them!

"Ready to fight!"

Chen Chen immediately gave the order, and then, the crisp sound of glass breaking sounded in the back seat of the car.

Yang Shu used the window hammer on his dagger to smash the rear windshield, and then set up the OVS-96 anti-material sniper rifle he had just obtained.

Li Bang and Banji in the other two cars did the same thing, but what they set up was the PKMS that they were already very familiar with.

PKMS loaded with armor-piercing projectiles.

It is not difficult to visually measure the distance in the wilderness. Even just from the brightness of the light, it is obvious that the distance between the two sides is getting closer.

The three vehicles of the Dongfeng Corps have been accelerating!

Regardless of whether he came for the Dongfeng Corps or not, he is now.

In Syria, the Dongfeng Corps has no friendly forces.

Anyone who dares to get close is an enemy.

At this time, the team only has the last 4 kilometers left from Tallifat and is expected to arrive within 5 minutes.

The few cars behind have already caught up to within 400 meters.

However, because Chen Chen had turned off the car lights in advance, the other party's pursuit did not seem to be too smooth.

They have not yet located the specific location of the three vehicles of the Dongfeng Corps, but are obviously pursuing the general direction guided by the drone.

Keep betting that they can't find it, or give it a try?

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chen ordered:

"Seize the commanding heights, stop for 10 seconds, and try a round!"

"clear!"

Everyone's response came over the radio, and then three cars rushed up the high slope in front of them.

Braking and parking were completed in one go. Almost as soon as the vehicle came to a stop, Yangshu opened fire.

"boom!"

The 12.7mm B-32 incendiary bomb came out of the barrel and drew a dark red trajectory in the night sky.

There is no doubt that the position of the Dongfeng Corps has been exposed, but with the blessing of the POS12×56 scope, the bullet accurately hit the front windshield of the Humvee chasing behind.

The Hummer visibly deviated from the direction of travel, but it did not lose control.

Apparently the bullet hit the driver, but it wasn't fatal!

Immediately afterwards, the two PKMS roared and opened fire. At the moment when the rear convoy stopped and tried to deploy, a round of standard blocking fire had already covered their parking range.

"Bang bang bang bang bang -"

With a firing rate of 700 rounds per minute, PKMS quickly emptied most of the drums. Then, without any hesitation, the three-vehicle convoy continued to set off.

This was like a warning to stay away from strangers, but it was also a fatal blow.

The lights of Tal Rifaat were already dimly visible, and those small towns that were supposed to spend a peaceful night did not yet know what the sound of gunshots so close at hand meant.

In the distance, inside the Humvee.

The Humvee driver who was hit by a B-32 incendiary bomb groaned in pain. The medic tore off his body armor. After quickly checking the injury, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"Fortunately, the bulletproof glass and bulletproof inserts blocked it twice. The bullets shattered and it was just a flesh wound."

"If it had been a little further up, the bullet fragments would have hit his neck, so you're lucky."

Hearing his words, the commander standing beside him nodded silently.

He looked through the thermal fusion night vision device at the three off-road vehicles that were gradually moving away. The muscles on his face were shaking slightly with anger and helplessness.

After a moment, he asked:

"Are we exposed? Why did they temporarily change direction?"

"Absolutely not, it should just be their instinct."

The adjutant immediately denied it, while the commander sighed heavily and continued:

"Fucking unlucky."

"I don't know whether I should say that they are too sensitive, or that the CIA's acting skills are too poor."

"I have already said that we must not let them realize that they are being followed. At least we must design more conflicts to make them think that they have thrown away the pursuers."

"It's like this. Damn it, if I had known they were going to Tallifat, we might as well have just waited there!"

"To miss them in this way is like a blessing from God!"

After hearing his words, the adjutant subconsciously wanted to speak, but before he could speak, the commander continued.

"But that's okay."

"Continue to pursue, lock onto their position and don't lose them."

"Notify air support, change the scheduled combat plan, and prepare for bombing of buildings."

"I don't believe it. They can escape the hellfire. How can they escape the battle axe?"

"The operation in Syria has begun anyway."

“If it doesn’t work once, try it a few more times!”