231: Chapter 231 Escape from Death

"Damn it! Aircraft 2033! Land immediately and report the situation!"

Faced with the suddenly taking-off helicopter, the Federal Army was thrown into chaos, as these aircraft hadn't taken off for a long time due to a shortage of aviation fuel.

But now...

"Damn it! Get down—"

The AH-64, laden with rocket pods, unleashed a barrage on the command post, flying toward the parking lot while firing rockets at the other helicopters on the tarmac to destroy them.

Some people scrambled to fire their rifles in a panic, while others ran to the parking lot, attempting to drive vehicles and use their autocannons.

The AH-64's RWR was blaring incessantly; clearly, something had locked onto it.

But it didn't matter. In the end, it banked backward and crashed into the corner of the parking lot, firing its last few rockets at the storage depot.

The bombs that had been planted in advance were detonated by the rockets, sending fuel and ammunition flying into the sky along with them. A mushroom cloud, accompanied by a shockwave, erupted from the storage depot, blowing away nearby military tents, fragile buildings, and everyone in the vicinity.

The helicopter crashed to the ground, landing next to that Type 96 captured from the Democratic Front army in the Rocky Mountains, smashing a hole in the wall on one side.

The surviving Federal Army soldiers scrambled to their feet and rushed over, only to be greeted by vehicle-mounted machine gun fire.

The Type 96's turret rotated, aiming at the densest part of the crowd, and a high-explosive shell invited them to perform a flight show.

Then, the engine roared to life, the coaxial machine gun swept continuously at the other Federal Army soldiers to suppress them, while the hull began to turn, facing directly toward the hole.

The short-start Type 96B main battle tank quickly drove out of the parking lot, pushing onto the main road while braving machine gun fire and hastily deployed rocket launchers.

The vehicle drivers behind them scrambled to climb into their vehicles to pursue, only to find that there was no fuel in them, and the ammunition had been completely scavenged.

The next moment, a chain reaction of explosions began. Several jeeps that had driven out first had just reached the main gate when they exploded along with the other vehicles in the parking lot, blowing away the main gate's guard post and fire points as well.

"Woohoo!"

Li Ming had escaped to survival. He drove toward the due west, first avoiding the pursuers, and then found a corner to stow the tank away.

This was a treasure, after all; he couldn't afford to lose it.

Afterward, Li Ming quickly headed back. There was gunfire everywhere in the inner city; it looked like the situation wasn't very good, and they were likely fighting everywhere.

The situation was just as Li Ming had expected, but the primary target was not the Mediation Force.

Smoke was still rising from Diller's newly acquired AUG. The people of the Freedom Network had begun their operation the moment they heard the explosions.

As for what they were doing? Naturally, it was their specialty: raids.

Relying on their homemade explosives, they quickly blew open the walls of several guard posts, rushed in to eliminate the Federal Army soldiers, and then promptly looted all the supplies and firearms inside.

On the other side, the Texas People's Army used landmines to attack a patrol convoy and even captured a Stryker.

Other gangs also had, more or less, taken action.

The wide distribution of these gangs' actions rendered the defenses deployed by the Mediation Force ineffective for a time, as it caused reinforcements from all directions to be almost completely intercepted, while many guard posts in other directions were also attacked and seized by the Mediation Force.

Meanwhile, Maria was still looking for Li Ming.

Yes, she had gotten lost first, getting lost on the road while driving a very fuel-hungry tank.

"Alright, what now?"

Maria looked outside, "It seems I've driven a bit too far..."

Bang!

"Eh?!"

Suddenly seeing a figure crash onto the tank, Maria was startled, only to realize it was Li Ming.

"Li Ming? Why are you here?"

"Your tank hull is so huge, how could I not know you were here?" Li Ming retorted, "Hurry back! They're about to catch up!"

"Oh, oh! Get inside and sit tight!"

She pulled Li Ming into the hatch on the other side and let him sit in the gunner's position. Li Ming took the controls while she braced her legs standing outside, and they were the only two in the vehicle.

Was she really operating the entire vehicle by herself? Li Ming clicked his tongue; War Thunder girls were truly terrifying.

"You're driving a tank all by yourself?"

"Things are a bit complicated! ...Let's talk about it when we get back!"

"Alrighty..."

A rocket flew over their heads, and the surrounding patrolling Federal Army troops were all rushing toward them.

The sound of other gas turbine engines came from ahead; if nothing went wrong, it should be the abrams that the Federal Army had hidden nearby.

As expected, upon rushing to the next intersection, Li Ming poked his head out and could see several Humvees wobbly chasing them from behind, while an abrams drove out from the front, followed by a Buk.

"Li Ming, leave it to me! You get back inside!"

"Alrighty..." Li Ming obediently hid back down and checked the gunner's weapon system.

Damn, I can't read Russian.

But there was no need for Li Ming to operate it; the T-80 UE-1's turret rotated automatically, while Maria stood on the turret, holding an RPG-7 in her hands.

She leaped, suspended in mid-air, and fired the RPG amidst the crisscrossing rain of bullets. At the same time, the T-80 also opened fire. Before they could react, both the Buk and the abrams were hit and set ablaze.

Maria fell back onto the turret, "Li Ming! Pull me back in!"

Li Ming poked his head out and dragged Maria into the tank.

"Hiss! Easy..."

"You're injured?" Li Ming was stunned for a moment.

"Just got bitten by a mosquito, it's nothing..." Maria's face was a bit pale, but she still sat up and returned to her commander's seat.

The Humvees behind them stopped beside the wreckage of the tanks and did not pursue further.

The sound of gunfire gradually faded away.

Li Ming pulled a medical kit from behind himself, "Let's find a place to stop."

Her right thigh had been shot; the extent of the injury was unclear, but blood kept oozing out. It wouldn't be good if this continued.

"Hey, there's no need... Hey! Li Ming!"

"Listen to me! Relax!"

Li Ming somewhat roughly dragged her leg over, and she subconsciously gave him a hard kick with her uninjured left leg.

But Li Ming didn't let go; instead, he quite forcefully pulled her leg over.

Maria was both shocked and angry, but seeing his serious expression, her anger gradually subsided.

"...Li Ming, you stop the bleeding first, then disinfect."

"Mm... like this?"

"You haven't received battlefield first aid training?"

"No."

"Sigh! You... just follow my instructions."

Originally, Maria intended to say she would do it herself, but for some reason, she chose to guide Li Ming in performing the action.

It was very dim inside the tank, and Li Ming didn't notice that her face was already burning red because of Li Ming's hands fiddling with her leg.

...

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