On the day the Ozham operation was launched, at 4 p.m.
Colonel Kote was in the "Outpost" command center, growing a bit impatient.
The "performance" on the Ozham battlefield was still ongoing, with the governnt army and the 1515 Ard Forces engaging in an inefficient artillery battle across mines and trenches.
The anticipated breakthrough had not appeared.
He could not wait any longer.
Dusk was the perfect ti for a surprise attack—
The helicopter pilots could get good visibility with night vision goggles while still maintaining a level of stealth.
"Initiate Operation 'Flank Surgery'," Kote ordered.
The target was a hilly area codenad "Harvest Area," about twelve kiloters northeast of Tetric City, overlooking a main dirt road connecting the 1515 Ard Forces' rear supply point and the frontline positions.
By occupying it and establishing a forward observation post, precise guided artillery and airstrikes could sever the enemy's supply arteries and even guide forces to tear open the flank.
The mission was to be carried out by Thunder Defense's most elite "Combat Knife" strike platoon, consisting of thirty-two mbers, all handpicked and briefly trained by the company's chief instructor, Drake, specializing in aerial assault and behind-enemy-lines raids.
They would directly penetrate the high ground of the "Harvest Area" in two specially modified, armored, and self-defensive UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
At 4:40 p.m., the setting sun began to paint the western dunes a dark golden hue.
"Combat Knife 01, 02, ready for takeoff. Route Alpha, maintain low altitude, fly along the dry riverbed, attention to radar and visual concealnt. Rapid landing after reaching the 'Harvest Area' and establish a periter."
The flight control officer's voice was calm and clear.
"Combat Knife 01 received."
"Combat Knife 02 received."
The rotor blades of the two Black Hawks began to accelerate, stirring up yellow sand everywhere. The "Thunder Defense" emblem on the fuselage and the nacing insignia spray-painted by the rcenaries themselves flickered in the sunset.
Inside the cabin, the fully ard "Combat Knife" team mbers made a final equipnt check: SCAR-H rifles with silencers, M320 grenade launchers, Barrett anti-materiel rifles, laser designators, thermal imagers…
Now, they were the sharpest dagger in Kote's hand.
The aircraft lifted off, tilted slightly forward, and rapidly sped northeast.
The pilot maintained an altitude of less than thirty ters from the ground, using the undulating hills and dry riverbeds as cover.
The AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles turned the twilight world into a blurry green image, with the white gravel banks of the riverbeds being the only clear landmarks.
"Flight is stable; no abnormal heat sources detected."
On the "Sentry" warning aircraft, the radar operator reported.
The massive circular radar do rotated slowly, scanning the vast area below.
Kote watched as the green dots representing the two Black Hawks moved steadily across the map, and he felt slightly relieved.
Just then, the intelligence officer monitoring communications and electronic signals suddenly looked up:
"Sir, a brief low-power radio signal burst was detected near the 'Harvest Area,' with vague characteristics, unable to determine the specific source and content. The signal lasted less than two seconds."
Kote frowned, "Is it a civilian frequency or a military band?"
"A very crowded low-end band, possibly a civilian walkie-talkie, but the encryption mode is very primitive, more like... a decoy or trigger."
"Notify 'Combat Knife' to remain alert." Kote felt a twinge of unease. Was it too smooth? Or was he being too paranoid?
"Combat Knife 01 acknowledged."
The Black Hawk formation continued to penetrate deeper. They had already flown nearly ten kiloters out of the Alliance Army's control zone, surrounded by increasingly barren hills and rocky terrain.
The target "Harvest Area" was less than five kiloters ahead, a region composed of several rolling hills and a relatively flat valley in the middle.
At 6:08 p.m., the last traces of twilight were quickly fading away.
"Prepare to enter the target area, touchdown in one minute."
The lead pilot notified the rear cabin.
Suddenly!
Without any warning, just as the two Black Hawks were preparing to turn along a narrow valley, slowing down and slightly ascending to find a suitable landing point—
On the left hillside, three ticulously camouflaged rocks and bushes were suddenly thrown aside!
Three scorching thick streams of fire crossed each other without warning!
The roar of 14.5mm KPV heavy machine guns and 12.7mm DShK anti-aircraft guns instantly drowned out the rotor noise!
Tracer rounds drew deadly crimson trajectories in the dusky air, like the Grim Reaper's whip lashing out at the steel birds in the sky!
"Evade! Evade! Evade!"
The lead pilot yelled, pulling the control stick almost to the limit.
The Black Hawk tilted sharply to the right, while flares puffed out from both sides according to evasion procedures, creating a dazzling blaze and heat source behind the aircraft.
But the ambushers had chosen their position with cunning precision.
They weren't using outdated Soviet shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles but direct-fire weapons.
They had been waiting for the mont when the helicopters slowed, turned, and assud a relatively clumsy posture.
Moreover, the fire ca from above, practically bypassing the heavily reinforced belly armor of the Black Hawks.
Thud, thud, thud!
A series of dull impact sounds.
The tail boom, right cabin door, and engine nacelle of Black Hawk 01 were hit simultaneously by multiple large-caliber bullets, sparks flying.
A piercing alarm sounded.
That wasn't all.
Almost simultaneously with the heavy machine gun fire, at least three man-portable air defense missiles, trailing long white smoke trails, launched skyward from the opposite side of the valley and the higher ridges behind!
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