117: Chapter 117 The "Unexpected" Incident During the Exercise

Just as Lin Zhou and Schwartzman reached an agreement, a tense standoff reached its climax far away in the Bir Tawil desert, Africa.

Ten kilometers west of the settlement.

At the position of Egypt's "Spear of the Desert" battalion, over a dozen tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were lined up, their barrels pointed at the vast target area ahead, the roar of engines echoing throughout.

Inside the command vehicle, Colonel Fatah held up his binoculars, a cold sneer appearing on his face.

He saw that less than a kilometer to the side of his position, the "Police Force" of the Cyber Freedom Republic had also deployed a position.

Two "Mengshi" assault vehicles were in the lead, with over a hundred police officers spread out in a combat formation, using the vehicles as cover, displaying a well-trained posture.

"A bunch of police officers holding rifles, daring to confront tanks? Truly courting death." The adjutant beside Fatah curled his lip and said disdainfully.

"Don't underestimate them." Fatah lowered his binoculars, his expression becoming solemn. "People who can be valued by that Lin Zhou won't be fools. If they dare to come, it means they have their own confidence." Although he spoke disdainfully, he still harbored concerns about that mysterious young man, Lin Zhou.

"Confidence? Just relying on those two thin-skinned armored vehicles? I can blow them into pieces with a single armor-piercing round!" The adjutant remained unconvinced.

Fatah ignored the adjutant's clamor and picked up the communication equipment, issuing an order.

"Attention all units! The exercise is about to begin! Target number one, the sand dune ahead, three rounds of rapid fire! Show me some momentum!"

"Yes!"

Following his order, the turrets of three modified T-62 main battle tanks slowly rotated, locking onto the distant sand dune.

"Fire!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three roars, and the muzzle flashes of the shells disappeared instantly. Three seconds later, three pillars of smoke rose from the sand dune in the distance, sand and stone exploding and filling the air.

The sound of the explosion shook the desert.

The Egyptian soldiers cheered, looking toward the police position on the side with provocative gazes, wanting to see the panicked expressions of those "police".

The result, however, disappointed them.

In the police position, there was not the slightest sign of panic. Those soldiers—oh no, police—calmly maintained their combat posture; the bombardment just now was, in their eyes, as mundane as holiday fireworks.

He Jun held up his binoculars, observing everything through his sunglasses, his eyes deep.

He knew that this was not just an exercise, but a silent contest of intimidation and counter-intimidation.

Lin Zhou had sent this "Police Force" specifically to demonstrate the technological strength of the Cyber Freedom Republic and its determination to defend its own interests to the outside world. And he, He Jun, was the sharpest blade to execute this determination.

"Report! The opponent's artillery calibration is complete; it looks like they are preparing for moving target shooting!" An observer's voice broke the brief silence.

"Understood." He Jun lowered his binoculars, his face expressionless, though inside, he had already simulated every possible move of the opponent countless times.

He had anticipated that Fatah would take the initiative to suppress their morale with this kind of brutal display of firepower.

But this also happened to expose the limitations of the opponent's thinking—they were still stuck in the realm of traditional military power competition.

"Order, drone team, take off." His voice was calm, yet carried determination and decisiveness.

A police officer carrying special equipment quickly operated it, and a sci-fi-looking reconnaissance-strike integrated drone with a wingspan of less than two meters quietly ascended, quickly climbing to an altitude of several hundred meters, turning into a tiny dot barely visible to the naked eye.

The images transmitted back by the drone were clearly presented on the tactical tablet in front of He Jun.

The entire Egyptian position, along with the target vehicle they were preparing to push out next, was in full view.

"Want to play with moving targets?" A cold sneer appeared on He Jun's face. This Colonel Fatah really couldn't hold his temper. He Jun believed that this so-called "exercise" was more like Fatah using a display of traditional force to cover up his inner anxieties.

He picked up the communication equipment.

"Rocket launcher team, attention."

"Present!"

"Do you see the truck on the left side of the opponent's position that is preparing to tow the target vehicle?"

"See it clearly!"

"I need you, just as the target vehicle appears, to say hello to it with the gear in your hands." He Jun's tone was steady and firm. "Remember, our target is that target; avoid damaging the 'friendly' truck, so as not to appear impolite." This move was a precision strike on the target, and also an imposition of humiliation on a spiritual level.

He wanted to let Fatah understand how clumsy their power was in the face of true technology.

"Understood! Guarantee the mission will be accomplished!" An eager response came from the team members in the communicator. The team members were eager to try, looking forward to surprising their opponents.

Meanwhile, on the Egyptian position.

Fatah ordered again: "Target vehicle, move out! All units prepare to conduct moving target tracking and shooting!"

A military truck, towing a simulated tank target welded from steel plates, slowly drove out from behind the position, preparing to enter the predetermined shooting track.

Just as the target vehicle poked its head out.

"Whoosh—!" A sharp sound of breaking air suddenly arose, coming from the direction of the police position.

A slender trail of fire dragging white smoke streaked across the sky at high speed.

Its flight trajectory was extremely precise, perfectly bypassing the truck in front and hitting the target vehicle behind head-on.

"Boom!!!" A huge noise, far exceeding the tank's shelling, erupted immediately!

That target vehicle made of thick steel plates exploded into a burning fireball, and twisted metal fragments, wrapped in shockwaves, splashed in all directions.

The Egyptian soldier driving the truck was scared out of his wits, slammed on the brakes, and looked in horror at the wreckage that had turned into a pile of twisted scrap metal in the rearview mirror.

The entire Egyptian position was silent.

Everyone stared at this scene, their expressions dull, their minds blank.

What kind of weapon was that?

An individual rocket launcher?

What model of individual rocket launcher is this? Its power, one shot can blow a tank target into pieces?

Moreover, that accuracy is too terrifying! Hitting the target from nearly a kilometer away without touching the vehicle in front at all!

More importantly! How can these guys hit their own target? Isn't this a provocation? It undoubtedly is!

The binoculars in Colonel Fatah's hand almost slipped.

He watched the police position, where a soldier calmly discarded the empty launch tube and then took out a new one from his back.

Anger surged in his heart.

These guys are acting so rudely. Are they not afraid of triggering a conflict?

Through the drone footage, He Jun clearly observed the ugly expression on Fatah's face.

He picked up the communication equipment, his tone polite, and connected to the opponent's open channel.

"Colonel Fatah, is the exercise still continuing? It seems we accidentally hit your towed target just now... Do you need us to help provide another one?" He Jun's words carried an indescribable sense of sarcasm.