Chapter 12: Rendezvous
“Where is Yang Rui?” Gao Yun asked from the command center.
“Report, they are stuck on the road, only two intersections away from the target location.”
Gao Yun frowned, looking at the images transmitted by the small reconnaissance drone on the screen. “Why didn’t the previous reconnaissance detect the enemy?”
“The rebels burned a large number of car tires in the city, which significantly reduced the reconnaissance effectiveness in the airspace. Moreover, this route was provided by the Government Army.”
“Damn it, we were played by these scumbags,” Gao Yun slammed the table in anger. The current situation put the special operations team in a very awkward position. From the images, the rebels didn't have many people, but their defensive position was chosen very cleverly. They had piled sandbags in all the windows of a building at a corner, setting up snipers and heavy machine guns inside. With a small number of mobile forces, they had completely blocked the convoy, which lacked heavy weapons, preventing it from moving forward.
“Tell Yang Rui to change routes, don’t get entangled with them,” Gao Yun stood up and gave the order.
“But, most roads now have roadblocks set up by the rebels. Other routes would take at least twice as long.”
“There’s no choice. Even if Yang Rui can take down this building in a short time, who knows if there will be other troubles ahead? The overseas Chinese at the embassy can’t wait that long.”
“Yes.”
“Old Gao,” just as he was speaking, Zhao Haiguang rushed in, handing over the phone. “It’s Consul He Qingliu’s call.”
“Captain, this position is too disadvantageous for us. Without heavy weapons, it’s very difficult to take down their cover in a short time,” Xu Hong, in a black combat uniform, crouched behind a blown-over Humvee, holding a Type 95-1 assault rifle. “Gu Shun and Li Dong can barely suppress their rockets, but there’s nothing we can do about the machine gun positions inside the building.”
“These bastards from the Government Army, most of them ran away as soon as the fighting started,” Yang Rui suppressed his anger. “We need to turn back and find another road.”
Just as he was about to issue orders to his team, Gao Yun’s voice came through the walkie-talkie first. “Yang Rui, the situation has changed. The embassy convoy has broken through the rebel blockade. You now need to use the newly planned route to rendezvous with them.”
“Understood,” Yang Rui looked at his terminal, a new route had already been sent. He pressed the PTT button and said, “Attention all, plan changed. We need to use the new route to rendezvous with the embassy convoy. Team 1, start the vehicles. Team 2, provide cover and bring up the rear.” Yang Rui paused, then continued, “Also, keep an eye on the Government Army personnel. If anyone makes a call, throw them out of the vehicle.”
“Understood.”
Xu Hong, who was on alert nearby, said in surprise, “Are the armed police this awesome now?”
“Captain, I have a feeling we’re going to be laughed at,” Gu Shun’s voice came through the walkie-talkie.
“Agreed.”
“Agreed +1.”
“Agreed +2.”
“Shut up, don’t occupy the channel with junk information.”
On the other side, the overseas Chinese had finally all boarded the trucks. “We don’t have enough people. Have your people operate the machine guns on the roof,” Dong Qin shouted to Luo Jialing from inside a military Humvee. As she spoke, she climbed into the turret, skillfully loading a belt of ammunition into the M2 heavy machine gun. Luo Jialing’s eyes twitched as she watched. She reached out, grabbed Dong Qin’s tactical vest, and pulled her out of the turret, pushing her onto the seat. She then stood up herself, shouting, “What on earth did Xu Chuan teach you?”
Soon, the MRAP drove out of the factory area. Compared to its massive body, the Humvee looked like a grandchild. The trucks quickly followed behind the MRAP, with two Humvees bringing up the rear. The road security was still left to the armed police.
More than twenty people were all crammed into the truck. Without a bulletproof body, encountering an attack would be a huge disaster, so the entire convoy drove very fast. It was clearly a specially chosen route, bypassing almost all combat zones. Bob Lee and Curtis jumped onto the vehicle halfway, and the convoy only slowed down slightly without stopping. In the warship's command center, everyone nervously watched the images transmitted by the drone. Less than a kilometer from the overseas Chinese convoy, a rebel convoy of nearly twenty armed pickups was closely pursuing them.
“01, 01, I see them!” Yang Rui shouted loudly into the walkie-talkie. The Navy’s rescue convoy had finally arrived. The convoy skillfully split into several parts: one quickly overtook the MRAP and rushed to the front to clear the way, two guarded the sides of the truck, and the last two slowed down and followed at the rear, using their turret machine guns to fire warning shots at the rebel convoy, whose lead pickup drivers were now visible behind them.
“The rebels have stopped,” the drone footage in the command center showed that the rebel armed pickups had stopped their pursuit. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Gao Yun’s face was grim. “Damn it, if it weren’t for orders from above, I’d wipe them out directly.”
Looking at the increasingly close port, Luo Jialing finally breathed a sigh of relief. She retreated from the turret, completely slumped in her seat from exhaustion. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her top pocket, gently tapped one out with her pinky, and bit it directly with her mouth. She then rummaged through her pockets, but her lighter was gone. She confusedly checked her other pockets, then resignedly accepted reality, muttering two indistinct curses with the cigarette still in her mouth.
Dong Qin, sitting nearby, laughingly took a Zippo lighter from a pouch at her waist and handed it over. Luo Jialing took it and skillfully lit her cigarette, but she didn't hand it back. She held it in her hand and looked at it. “Limited edition, right?” she said, then casually put it in her own pocket. “Little kids aren’t allowed to smoke, got it?”
Dong Qin’s beautiful eyes rolled. “Forget it, it’s yours.”
Luo Jialing took a few deep drags. “Where’s Xu Chuan? I thought he’d come personally.”
“Something happened at Green Valley Energy. Brother Chuan rushed over there.”
Luo Jialing froze, then anxiously asked, “What happened? I contacted the Yemen Intelligence Bureau, and they promised to send their directly subordinate special forces to meet us.”
“Apparently, they didn’t make it. A LS De’s people attacked Green Valley Energy three hours ago,” Dong Qin continued, seeing Luo Jialing’s face turn pale. “But Brother Chuan has already gotten Aunt Deng out, so don’t worry.”
“Thank goodness. For a moment, I thought my career was over,” Luo Jialing said with lingering fear.
Not long after, the convoy finally drove into the safe zone set up by the Navy within the port. “Team One, assist the consulate in verifying the identities of all overseas Chinese! Team Two, maintain vigilance!” Yang Rui, the assault team leader, jumped out of the vehicle and shouted.
Deputy leader Xu Hong led his men to surround the convoy. They had already learned on the way that there was a group of unidentified armed personnel here. Although these people claimed to be from the Yemen government and indeed rescued their compatriots besieged by the rebels, necessary security measures still could not be omitted.
“Consul He, I am Zhao Haiguang,” Political Commissar Zhao Haiguang was already waiting at the gangway of the warship.
“Political Commissar Zhao, you’ve truly gone to so much trouble for us. I didn’t expect so many things to happen.”
“It was truly too dangerous. Our assault team was ambushed by the rebels. They have inside men in the Government Army,” Zhao Haiguang explained, then continued, “Let’s board the ship first. Our superiors are waiting on the line.”
Luo Jialing watched the Navy assault team members and the Umbrella employees glaring at each other like fighting cocks, then casually walked to the side. “Delta Force members, USMC reconnaissance snipers, Rangers, and these guys who clearly look like professional soldiers. What is Xu Chuan planning?” Luo Jialing thought wildly to herself. “And those people from back home, these are all officers. With them as a core, he could easily raise an army.”
Dong Qin greeted Dr. Lu and Xuan Xuan, who were sitting in the MRAP. “Uncle Lu, you and Xuan Xuan go aboard first. Auntie is already on her way.”
“Thank you, Dong Qin,” Lu Jiacheng said gratefully but also with some confusion. “But, why are you here?”
Dong Qin smiled. “This is my job.” She picked up the dispirited Xuan Xuan, stopping Lu Jiacheng from asking further questions. “Let Brother Chuan explain it to you later.”