Chapter 593

Chapter 593: Running Errands

“The team has been preparing for almost half a year. Oh, no wonder you’re not aware since you’ve been running around everywhere.”

Old Pan realized Lin Mo’s confused expression and understood that this guy was still relatively new to their Special Forces team. Despite quickly rising to at least a major with impressive achievements, he had never participated in the national ranking battles held every four years among various special forces teams.

These ranking battles determined how many resources the special forces could obtain from the Ministry of Defense. It was a form of competition.

The annual investment in special forces could amount to astronomical figures, and even if that wealth was evenly distributed to each member, it would instantly create millionaires.

The main purpose of such a massive investment was to maintain a unit with elite combat capabilities that could respond to localized small-scale wars at any time. In the event of conflict, the first units deployed would be the various Special Forces teams, either to crush the war at its onset with overwhelming force or to buy time for the main combat troops to assemble.

As for infiltration and reconnaissance, those were tasks for the special operations forces, while the Special Forces assigned to wipe out all incoming enemies. The deployment of special forces meant that the military had no intention of exercising morals and ethics, leading to a conclusion of absolute destruction.

The reason for the four-year cycle was primarily due to the physical fitness decline of soldier kings after prolonged combat. Every four years, there would be a change in combat effectiveness, while evaluating the strengths of each special forces unit.

In this military competition, most events focused on the ground troops’ confrontations. The Aircrew Group primarily engaged in quick deployment, ground attacks, and equipment repairs, which took up a very small portion of the competition and were essentially supplementary tasks. In fact, the chances of helicopters engaging in combat were extremely low.

A few shoulder-mounted anti-air missiles could bring down any armed helicopter, meaning that it usually didn’t require the armed helicopters to intervene. The biggest strength of armed helicopters lay in ground suppression and anti-tank warfare.

“Can I participate?” Lin Mo asked weakly.

If he donned the full knight armor that Qi Fei had gifted him and wielded that terrifying Giant Sword, it seemed a single unit wouldn’t be enough for him to conquer.

“You?! Just come along to watch the excitement, the whole team is going anyway; one more person won’t make a difference.”

Old Pan released him with a playful punch and pointed at the robot named Gold Coin, saying, “It’s going too. The quadrennial competition is not just a test of people; it’s also a testing ground for equipment suppliers. All competition expenses are sponsored by those manufacturers. After a half-month competition, losing a few hundred million is just a drop in the bucket.”

It appeared that Lin Mo was the only jet fighter pilot in the Special Forces team, and there were no plans to form an aerial unit. One fighter jet was enough for each pilot to meet the needs of special forces operations nationwide.

If Lin Mo wanted to take part in such a competition, he wouldn’t find anyone qualified to be his opponent, nor could he find someone to judge his performance.

Only another ace could defeat an ace.

Naturally, Major Lin Mo became the most unnecessary one. He didn’t even get to run errands, and he was completely unaware of the preparations happening for the Special Forces military competition, focusing instead on his aircraft and living a simple life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset.

“Everyone’s going?” Lin Mo’s eyes widened. Wouldn’t that leave the base empty? What if someone launched an attack?

Perhaps sensing the doubt in Lin Mo’s expression, Old Pan reassured him, “Don’t worry. During these days while the whole team is out, the base’s entire defense system will be activated. It’s not like there are no people in the base; there are dozens from the safety department, as well as those combat mechanical soldiers. Even the cooks in the cafeteria, if they pick up a gun, are no less capable than special forces. Do you know that chef—Ma Banggang? The one with arms thicker than your legs? His family’s cooking techniques were honed from the battlefields of resisting the Japanese and Korean War assistance, wielding a steel ladle known as a strange weapon, specially designed for knocking heads and joints.”

“…”

The Special Forces were not just known as the kings of soldiers, but also as a concentration camp for monsters.

Given its status as a national strategic military base, the defense systems were extremely comprehensive. Even if there were no people present, the intelligent security systems could ensure not even a fly could enter.

If any fool dared to come looking for death, it would just provide the returning special warriors with extra rations. Once the armed special forces fought on their home turf, their familiarity with the terrain would at least double their combat effectiveness.

Within a week, the four squads of the Special Forces dispersed like a flock of scattered birds, carrying nothing but some money and a change of clothes. They looked like ordinary people, exiting from several secret exits of the “Night” Underground Base, a few at a time.

Once they left the base, the military competition officially began.

War could break out at any moment. This warning became the motto of every commander in the special forces. This phrase echoed throughout the entire military competition project.

The first battle took place in a military restricted area in Gansu Province, which had already been sealed off. All special forces operatives, including the team leader, were required to infiltrate and cross eleven lines of defense without any weapons or special equipment, gathering in a designated area. The final number of arrivals would determine the official contestants for each special forces team.

The brutal elimination process began from the start.

Gansu Province is one of China’s most complex terrains, with mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, deserts, and gobi interspersed throughout. From subtropical climates to high-cold regions, it served as an excellent training ground for special forces to adapt to different battlefields.

However, the Aircrew Groups of each Special Operations Team didn’t have to work as hard. They took their respective helicopters directly to the assembly points for the exercise. The initial assembly points for each Special Forces unit were randomly selected, featuring different terrain characteristics. Sometimes, they were fortunate enough to have a defensible location, but at other times, they could end up in a misfortunate pit and would have to climb in to retrieve the necessary combat gear.

This design set by the Ministry of Defense, as the organizer, added an element of unpredictability and surprise to the entire competition.

Unlike the assembly points for ground troops, all the helicopter squadrons gathered at a designated location. After all, the air force, even if it was army aviation, was a national asset and faced significant constraints during movement.

“We’re here! Let’s get out and stretch a bit.”

Old Pan removed his headset after flying for four straight hours, feeling as if his body was about to go numb from sitting.

On a vast area of grass, no fewer than 100 helicopters of various types were parked.

“Hey? There are foreigners?” From the co-pilot seat, Lin Mo spotted a group of foreign officers visiting the nearby helipad, noticing that among them were dozens of soldiers with different skin colors and hair, wearing uniforms that were clearly not Chinese.

“Oh! Special guests!” Old Pan glanced in the direction Lin Mo was pointing. He clearly wasn’t surprised, as it wasn’t his first encounter with such situations. He continued, “It’s a normal military exchange. It’s quite common to have military representatives from countries like America, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Their military competitions sometimes invite our people to participate. Nicely put, it’s called a visit; not-so-nicely, it’s a show of military strength. We also need to show off occasionally.”

Lin Mo grinned. The situation felt similar to loudly proclaiming that China does not seek hegemony or expansion while secretly engaging in covert arms deals with others.

If things were really as nice as they claimed to the public, then how did the largest territories in the Kashmir region contested by India and Pakistan come about? How did that piece of territory in the northern mountains of Afghanistan connect almost directly to mainland China? Did they think that China, represented as a magnificent rooster on the world map, would lay any eggs?

The “Dragon General”-themed dual-use digital tactical armor immediately captured everyone’s attention as Lin Mo stepped off the helicopter.

It was too eye-catching and too futuristic. Henghai Defense had meticulously crafted this warfare suit for Lin Mo—both practical and incredibly appealing.

Tactical armor for pilots couldn’t be as low-profile and unobtrusive as that of ground forces; it had to consider the rescue operations after ejection. Yet, with Lin Mo’s customization requests, it also had characteristics of ground combat, so it was coated in a matte black finish. Otherwise, it would have used a bright orange color.

“Director Zhang, what is that? Is it China’s latest individual tactical armor? Could it possibly be the legendary ‘Kua Fu’?”

Colonel David de Hider of the U.S. Air Force didn’t expect to see China’s most advanced individual tactical armor here. It resembled the Americans’ “Future Warrior,” but it was much sleeker and did not appear overly muscular.

He was aware that China had previously developed an internal version of the “Kua Fu” individual tactical armor.

Director Zhang, who was responsible for receiving foreign military delegations, didn’t recognize this advanced battle suit, which still hadn’t reached its final version. However, he couldn’t let the foreigners think he was uninformed, so he simply made up a story, misleadingly claiming, “Yes, that is our most advanced digital tactical armor.”

The military officers from various countries nodded and exchanged knowing glances.

“I see, it looks very advanced! Is the person wearing it a pilot?”

“It should be; I just saw him in the helicopter cockpit.”

“Why did China decide to equip helicopter pilots with such tactical armor?”

“Of course, it’s for combat needs. These are armed helicopters, which can enhance firepower precision and also increase pilot protection.”

The clueless bureaucrats unwittingly misled the foreign officers probing for information, which was unexpected for everyone.

“These guys, why are they staring at me? Do they want to steal military secrets?”

Lin Mo noticed the foreign officers intently gazing at him.

“Well, they’re basically no different from spies; they just have excellent military qualities.”

Old Pan knew that officers involved in international military exchanges typically came with missions for intelligence gathering or analysis, and some might even hide special spy equipment.

“I’m leaving then!”

With the strength enhancement system activated and the overload balancing device engaged, Lin Mo suddenly vanished from his spot.

“Where did he go?” Old Pan and the foreign officers stared wide-eyed, their mouths agape.