Chapter 45

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Chapter 45: Digging at Team 7759’s Corner

“Lin Mo, you are amazing! You still managed to find them!” Chen Haiqing, who was in the same training class as Lin Mo, genuinely admired him. It was clear that Lin Mo was not as simple as he appeared, Chen Haiqing thought to himself.

He understood well that fighter jets fly at high speed, and the low-altitude airflow over the Gobi is unpredictable. You can’t fly too close to the ground, and finding a target across the vast desert is no easy task. The longer Chen Haiqing spent with Lin Mo, the more he felt Lin Mo was born for the sky. Over time, this feeling grew stronger. If those who selected their batch of trainees could see Lin Mo’s flying skills now, they might just reconsider that Lin Mo’s only specialty was his excellent physical fitness.

Lin Mo was just opening the bulletproof glass canopy and taking off his helmet when he heard Chen Haiqing’s envious words as he crawled out of the cockpit. After unbuckling his seatbelt, Lin Mo pushed against the hatch and sprung out, jumping out without even using the ladder. He landed smoothly and walked a few steps, giving Chen Haiqing a light punch while smiling. “Luck is also part of strength! I happened to spot them; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been easy to find.”

“Second Captain Lin, Second Lieutenant Chen, I can’t thank you enough!” A smiling communications director from the airport approached Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing, expressing his gratitude.

Not long after Lin Mo discovered the research team, two transport helicopters from the nearest army aviation unit took off, following the beacon Lin Mo launched. Two hours later, they located the barely alive research team. Lin Mo and his team’s search mission was deemed a complete success.

Time was running out for the trapped research team. Had it not been for the two J-10s conducting a carpet search, finding this team in the vast desert would have been extremely difficult.

An air force colonel took advantage of the lively scene, welcoming the rescue heroes back and discreetly pulled Lin Mo’s shoulder, speaking in a friendly tone only he and Lin Mo could appreciate. “Second Captain Lin! Interested in coming to our Northwest Military District’s Base Seven? We have top-notch equipment; most is brand new. I can offer you double pay, no, ten times the pay, top pilot treatment, housing allocation, and if you have a girlfriend, I can help arrange things for her at a state-owned enterprise or a government job. If you’re single, you can pick any girl from our Northwest Military District!” He threw a tempting barrage of proposals at Lin Mo, clearly trying to lure him away.

Once the rescue helicopter found the research team, it confirmed the number of people and their condition reported by Lin Mo, all entirely consistent with reality. This extraordinary vision and judgment skill made the colonel see Lin Mo as a potential ace pilot.

What’s the first rule for pilot physical exams? Vision!

Even though the officer was a colonel, and Lin Mo was just a rookie with less than a year of service, there was a huge gap between their ranks. Despite the colonel’s direct approach, Lin Mo decided to show some respect. He cleared his throat and replied, “Uh! I’m personally fine with it, but we need our leader’s approval first!” He subtly shifted the ball back, aware that if he seemed overly eager for the benefits, his comrades would probably point fingers at him.

The colonel grinned and confidently patted Lin Mo’s shoulder, thinking Lin Mo was swayed. He proceeded to reassure Lin Mo, “As soon as you join me, I’ll elevate you to Non-Commissioned Officer right away. If you perform well, becoming an officer in three years won’t be hard!”

The colonel’s offer was not light; typical young men might feel overwhelmed and readily accept. But Lin Mo blinked a few times and casually brushed off the tempting offer, leaving the colonel feeling oddly disheartened when his attempts fell flat.

Lin Mo had dealt with such recruitment offers before. In another world, spies from enemy nations attempted to bribe dragon riders to defect, but all of them ended up crushed by the dragons. The allure of wealth and women was tempting, yet personal strength means little in war.

Defectors usually end up alone on a pillar of shame. Even if they manage to blend into a new team, there will still be subtle fractures, especially considering a knight who values honor as their life cannot bear to have the title of traitor cast over them. For dragon knights, dealing with such enticements was child’s play.

“This guy is definitely a veteran!” the colonel muttered under his breath, feeling Lin Mo’s resistance made him realize he misjudged the situation.

The research team’s vehicle seeking help initially found the government but lost its way back through the Gobi. The local government and related departments were immediately alerted since Gobi expeditions carry certain risks. Consequently, local authorities requested military assistance while mobilizing limited manpower and resources. Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing were therefore drafted to fly two J-10s to help with the search. In such life-or-death situations, the military had specific protocols for handling things, and a series of follow-up operations concerned both Chinese and American parties.

In less than a day, Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing completed their mission. The rescue operation, which weighed heavily on both sides, relieved everyone, resulting in a joyous resolution, with the air force playing a crucial role.

The rescue center and airport were not at the same location, and the rescued scientific team members were transported elsewhere by army helicopters for treatment. The cafeteria at the airport prepared a lavish dinner for Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing. In this deserted Gobi base where even greenhouse vegetables couldn’t grow, all the fresh meat and vegetables on the table had to be airlifted in.

The colonel who had tried to lure Lin Mo initially planned to toast him and Chen Haiqing with strong liquor, assuring them to relax and enjoy a good meal, take a long shower, and sleep well before leaving the next day. Whether his true intentions were different was left unspoken. However, Lin Mo insisted on returning to base early, stating he couldn’t fly under the influence, which was fortunate since the “Chicken Coop” sent a telegram urging Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing to return to base before nightfall, allowing them to leave just in time.

As night fell, guided by the runway lights, Lin Mo and Chen Haiqing took off again in their refueled J-10s, heading home.

Outside the cockpit was pitch black, a hand couldn’t see even five fingers, with only the wingtips and tail signal lights flickering. At an altitude of 9,000 meters, the external temperature had dropped to minus thirty-seven degrees, but atmospheric visibility was excellent. Occasionally flying over towns and roads, the ground sparkled like a luminous pearl necklace, similar to LED strips. For Lin Mo, who had flown several night missions, the specific landmark lights and military satellite navigation ensured he wouldn’t get lost. He had honed the experience to fly simply by monitoring the instrument data.

As aircraft number 11, Lin Mo led the team, while Chen Haiqing, in aircraft number 9, flew parallel to Lin Mo about a hundred meters away, both planes cruising in formation. As officially inducted pilots of the air force, these two skilled pilots skillfully maneuvered their 12-ton metal hawks.

“Report to Chicken Coop! We will arrive home in forty-seven minutes.” Chen Haiqing communicated with the base.

“Received! Please maintain your course!” the tower at Chicken Coop responded. The tower had four shifts, each lasting six hours, to ensure someone was always on duty 24/7, even if there were no flights scheduled, maintaining vigilance year-round without exception.

“Zii…” Electronic noise filled Lin Mo’s headset, usually signaling a call from one side.

“Chicken Coop calling Gold Coin, Chicken Coop calling Gold Coin!”

“Gold Coin received!” Lin Mo responded, glancing over at the number 9 aircraft where Chen Haiqing remained focused. This seemed to be a call directed at Lin Mo alone.

“Please note, this is a special order. Coordinates are east longitude ×× degrees, north latitude ×× degrees, landing on the G315 highway section and loading live ammunition. Detailed tasks will be handed over upon arrival. The temporary task contact verification code is K85AW5, channel is ××××, encrypted section: 7445. Please note that takeoff and landing time is only 45 minutes. You are to complete this task alone. Please maintain confidentiality. Once again, this is a special order. Do you need me to repeat it?!”