280: Chapter 280 Swarms of Bees Cover the Sky

"Shadow Dancer hunting squads 1 and 2 have been deployed to preset ambush zones A and B... Equipped with Shadow Dancer Type-3s, electromagnetic pulse pistols, silenced sniper rifles, and smart Claymore mines."

"The main force of Shadow Blade is on standby at the second line, ready for mobile support at any time."

Report after report came in.

Old K's gaze was locked onto a point of light on the screen representing the Ubon Base in Thailand. High-definition imagery showed two MH-60M helicopters, specially treated for minimal radar cross-section, undergoing pre-flight preparations.

"They're coming," Old K whispered, connecting to an encrypted channel to Naypyidaw. "President, the 'Gray Wolves' have left the den. Estimated border crossing in forty-five minutes. The hunting protocol has been initiated."

From Naypyidaw, Zhang Cheng's voice came through calmly: "Proceed as planned. Remember, I want them to come in, but don't let them think they can leave easily. How are the preparations for the livestream channel?"

"Technical Death Soldiers have taken over the transponders of three commercial satellites and prepared multiple backup network push nodes. Once valuable footage is obtained, we can conduct a 'limited livestream' for specific 'audiences' (referring to the intelligence agencies and military observers of certain countries) within thirty seconds," Old K replied. This wasn't a livestream for the general public, but a "demonstration of strength" and psychological warfare aimed at specific groups.

"Very good. Old K, I'm leaving the stage to you." Zhang Cheng paused. "Welcome them to my hunting grounds."

Forty-five minutes later, above the Thai-Myanmar border, at an altitude of 150 meters.

Two MH-60M 'Pave Hawks' flew like two giant black bats, hugging the undulating ridgeline. Advanced navigation and terrain-following radar allowed them to navigate the night sky with ease. Inside the cabin, bathed in dim red light, Colonel McLean and twenty members of Team A sat in silence, with only the roar of the engines and the sound of rushing air filling their ears.

The pilot's voice came through the headset: "Colonel, we cross in one minute."

McLean looked at the GPS terminal on his wrist; the dot representing them was about to cross that invisible national border.

"All units, final gear check. We are about to enter 'Jade'. Maintain radio silence and proceed as planned."

The team members checked their firearms, ammunition, and communication equipment one last time. Confidence, mixed with the specific excitement of high-risk missions, permeated the cabin. They trusted their skills, they trusted the intelligence, and they believed the enemy was still fast asleep.

Just as the lead helicopter's nose dipped slightly, preparing to descend further to use a valley ahead as cover—

Inside the cockpit, the co-pilot suddenly stared at the multi-function display and spoke in a confused voice: "Wait... Side scan shows an abnormally weak periodic signal at ten o'clock, five kilometers away on the ridgeline... Very low power, like... a small radar's scanning beam? But the frequency is very messy, not like a military standard."

The pilot frowned: "Might be leakage from a civilian weather radar or a communication relay station. Our stealth design is enough to handle it."

"No... it's tracking us! The signal strength is fine-tuning its direction as we move!" The co-pilot's voice grew tense.

Almost simultaneously, the electronic warfare specialist in the rear cabin reported: "Detected very weak directional data link signals coming from multiple directions, converging... It looks like a drone data return network!"

McLean's heart sank. Intelligence failure? Or was the other side prepared?

"Change landing site! Abandon LZ-1, head to backup LZ-2! Speed up and clear this airspace!" he ordered decisively.

The helicopters accelerated sharply and began performing irregular maneuvers.

However, it was already too late.

In the mountain forests below them, several 'low-altitude surveillance nodes' disguised as rocks or bushes quietly rotated their apertures. These nodes were the nerve endings of the 'Firmament' system, specifically designed for low, slow, and small targets as well as stealth. Although their detection range wasn't long, they formed an invisible net along the preset mandatory flight paths.

Information was instantly transmitted back to the command center via underground fiber optic cables and frequency-hopping wireless relays.

Old K looked at the two low-altitude, fast-moving targets that had finally become clear on the screen, a cold arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Confirmed Gray Wolf Team A has entered. Coordinates: 99.17 East, 20.38 North. Heading southeast, speed 120 knots."

"Order: Swarm Wave One, induction interception, initiate."

"Hunting squads, move to forward positions on the predicted flight path. Prepare for contact."

The silent mountain forest was suddenly broken by a faint 'buzzing' sound, like a Swarm of bees vibrating their wings. From several hidden caves and under camouflage nets, dozens of palm-sized, rotor-driven black drones took to the air. They carried no weapons; instead, they flashed irregular infrared lights and flew in a specific formation directly toward the path of the two helicopters!

"What is that?!" The MH-60 pilot saw a small patch of rapidly approaching light points in his night vision goggles and was filled with doubt and alarm.

"Small drones! A lot of them!"

"Evade! Deploy infrared flares!"

The helicopters rolled violently, and white-hot infrared flares were ejected from the launchers, blooming in the air. However, those small drones didn't seem sensitive to the flares; instead, like a disturbed Swarm, some scattered while others continued to charge forward against the flares, with a few even attempting to ram the helicopters' rotors!

"Dammit! Suicide drones! Open fire!"

The door gunners on the sides of the helicopters began to fire, their muzzles tracing bright lines in the night sky and shattering several drones. But more drones gathered from all directions; their goal clearly wasn't to shoot down the helicopters, but to harass, force, expose their positions, and guide something else.

"We've been spotted! Completely exposed!" McLean roared into the internal channel. "Team A, all hands ready! Possible ground ambush! Team B, Team C, what's your position?"

Only the static of current came through the headset. Intense, unprecedented wide-band barrage jamming instantly covered this airspace! The Gray Wolves' advanced frequency-hopping encrypted communications actually fell into paralysis under this highly targeted, powerful interference!

"Communication lost! Electronic warfare, counter-measures!"

"The interference source is too strong and too dispersed! Cannot locate! We've been electronically ambushed!"

Cold sweat broke out on McLean's forehead. This was absolutely not something a warlord's militia could achieve! This was a premeditated, systematic, and technologically advanced anti-special operations trap!

"Abandon LZ-2! Find any flat ground and make an emergency landing! Fast!" he ordered hoarsely. In the air, they were sitting ducks.