124: Chapter 124 Clearing

In the Niger desert, outside a small US military outpost.

A large gap had been blasted into the perimeter wall, with debris flying everywhere.

The US soldiers inside the base were in a total panic; they had lived in peace for too long and had never experienced actual warfare.

Falcon held his AK12, crouching as he charged at the front, while speaking into his headset:

"Group One, assault with me! Group Two, continue the feint and draw their fire!"

"Copy that!"

The mercenaries of Group Two lay behind the sand dunes, pulling their triggers in a wild strafe. Bullets kicked up dust at the base's main gate, pinning down the US counterattack.

The sniper, perched at a high vantage point, reported calmly:

"Brother Ying, there was a US machine gunner on the west side. He's been dealt with."

Just as he finished speaking, there was another muffled thud. Another US soldier attempting to take over the machine gun was shot directly in the head, brain matter splattering across the ground.

Cheetah, carrying an RPG, followed behind Falcon and shouted: "Brother Ying, the armored vehicles in the courtyard are moving!"

"Brother Ying, the armored vehicles in the courtyard are moving!"

Falcon glanced over out of the corner of his eye. Two armored vehicles were starting up. He immediately roared:

"Give them the RPGs! Take them all out!"

"You got it!"

Cheetah aimed at the nearest armored vehicle and pulled the trigger; the rocket screeched forth.

With a loud "boom," the armored vehicle was instantly transformed into a fireball. Not even a scream escaped from the US soldiers inside.

As the other armored vehicle tried to turn its turret, another team member's RPG followed closely, hitting the gun barrel directly. It instantly stalled on the spot, emitting black smoke.

"Charge in! End this quickly!"

Falcon ducked and rushed through the wall. He ran head-on into two US soldiers aiming their rifles. He fired twice, hitting them precisely in the chest, and they collapsed.

The members of Group One followed closely behind, advancing in a tactical formation.

"Three behind the cover on the left!"

A team member shouted and tossed a grenade. With a "boom," the US soldiers behind the cover were blown away.

"Someone's firing from the command room on the right!"

Cheetah shouted while providing suppressive fire. Bullets clattered against the command room's door.

Falcon said coldly:

"Throw smoke grenades! Block their line of sight!"

Two smoke grenades were thrown, and white smoke instantly enveloped the area around the command room. The US soldiers immediately lost their targets.

"Go!"

Falcon led the charge into the smoke. Wearing thermal imaging goggles, he pulled the trigger on the figures appearing on his display, taking down two US soldiers in succession.

Cheetah kicked open the command room door. Inside, a US officer was using a communicator to call for help when a team member shot him in the head. The communicator fell to the floor, emitting a crackling static sound.

"Brother Ying, the command room is secured! The radar station is to the north!"

Falcon took a quick look and gave a decisive order:

"Blow up the command room, then follow me to take out the radar station!"

"Yes, sir!"

The team members immediately set the explosives and then followed Falcon as they charged north.

Four US soldiers at the radar station entrance put up a desperate resistance, firing wildly at the approaching team. One member of Group One was shot in the arm and let out a muffled groan, but he didn't stop.

"Wounded, fall back!"

Falcon roared, advancing while laying down fire.

"The rest of you, surround them and finish them off!"

The team members fanned out in three-man tactical units, surrounding the resisting US soldiers. They opened fire with everything they had, and the four soldiers were instantly riddled with bullets, falling motionless to the ground.

"Hurry, set the explosives! We leave as soon as it's blown!" Falcon urged. The team members nimbly attached explosives to the radar equipment.

Just then, a shout from a lookout on the perimeter came through the headset:

"Brother Ying! Trouble! US reinforcements are coming. They're five kilometers out and will be here any moment!"

Cheetah's expression changed as he shouted:

"Brother Ying!"

Falcon narrowed his eyes and said:

"Retreat, then detonate the explosives!"

"Copy that, detonating!"

After his comrades had retreated to a safe distance, the team member in charge of the explosives immediately pressed the remote.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

A series of massive explosions rang out. The command room, the radar station, and the remaining partially destroyed armored vehicle were instantly reduced to ruins, with flames shooting into the sky.

Falcon roared into his headset:

"Follow the planned route! Retreat quickly! The extraction vehicles are waiting there!"

The Group One members supported their wounded comrade and retreated rapidly. The mercenaries of Group Two also stopped their feint and followed the retreat.

The lights of the US reinforcement vehicles were drawing closer and closer.

Falcon led the rear guard, glancing back at the approaching US forces before quickly vanishing into the desert night.

Behind them, the US base was a sea of fire, leaving the arriving reinforcements in a state of chaos.

Half an hour later, at a temporary safehouse on the border of Niger, Africa.

Inside, the team members were tending to their wounds. Various pieces of equipment covered in gunpowder residue were scattered across the floor.

Falcon wiped the dust from his face and picked up an encrypted satellite phone from the table to place a call.

The call was quickly connected, and the voice of the head of the Overseas Security Headquarters came from the other end:

"Falcon, what is the mission status?"

Falcon replied:

"Reporting to Headquarters: The small US military outpost in Niger has been completely destroyed. The radar, armored vehicles, and command room have all been reduced to ruins. Over thirty US soldiers were killed or wounded; not a single one escaped the net."

"On our side, only one member of Group One sustained minor injuries. There are no serious injuries or fatalities. Everyone has safely returned to the safehouse. Mission accomplished!"

The head of the headquarters praised:

"Beautifully done! I'll report this to the Boss immediately. Rest and reorganize where you are, look after the wounded, and wait for further instructions."

"Yes, sir!"

Falcon replied and then hung up the phone.

Not long after, in the study of Greentown Shanghai Rose Garden.

Chen Mo sat behind his desk, flipping through recent documents.

Old Xu knocked and entered.

Chen Mo put down his pen and asked, "Is there news from Africa?"

Old Xu replied:

"Yes, Mr. Chen. The Overseas Security Headquarters just sent back word!"

"Falcon led the team and wiped out that small US base in Niger. The facilities are completely destroyed, and not a single US soldier was left alive. One brother has minor injuries, and everyone else has returned safely."

"The entire US outpost is engulfed in flames, leaving no trace behind. Even if they investigate, they will only find that Russian-made weapons were used."

Hearing this, Chen Mo smiled and said:

"Not bad. This Falcon is very reliable."

Old Xu nodded in agreement:

"Yes, Falcon previously served in Wolf Fang and has participated in many battles."

"Mhm."

Chen Mo then instructed:

"Send word overseas to give bonuses to the team members who participated. Double the compensation for the injured brother. Let them rest well and wait for the next set of arrangements."

"Yes, Mr. Chen! I'll see to it immediately!"

Old Xu replied, then turned and walked out of the study to make the arrangements.