Chapter 1: The Pain of Losing a Comrade

It was only when the pickup truck reached a wider section of the road that Chutianjiang pulled the trigger, then cycled the bolt to reload and fired the second shot

Understood! Wu Haiyuan nudged his partner with his elbow. "X 1" is the code for the special forces operation to rescue hostages and head to the evacuation point, while "five minutes" indicates the arrival time

Wu Haiyuan fell to the ground and did not respond

At the front is an armed pickup truck, followed by more than ten pickup trucks and off-road vehicles, most of which are equipped with heavy machine guns

Chu Tianjiang did not relent; he returned to his sniping position with the M200 sniper rifle in hand. On the highway, the pirates who witnessed the helicopter crash were thrown into disarray, attempting to flee in their vehicles. Chu Tianjiang gave the pirates no chance, beginning to target their vehicles with the M200.

However, these efforts were in vain

Four years ago, you said the same thing

According to the regulations of the Tiger Brigade, all spoils obtained during the execution of unofficial covert operations are owned and kept by individuals

The distance exceeds 2,000 meters, but the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft flies at a constant speed along a fixed route, and the wind is relatively weak, resulting in very minimal impact

What should we do now?" Wu Haiyuan felt a bit anxious. "The communication is cut off; no one will come to our rescue.

Leading the convoy was a military off-road vehicle, followed by five civilian off-road vehicles, and at the rear was an armed pickup truck. The special forces participating in the rescue operation numbered fewer than twenty.

Three days ago, two individuals boarded a Y-20A transport aircraft, heading to Somalia

Chu Tianjiang turned his head to glance at his partner, and Wu Haiyuan's complaints were entirely understandable

This location is very ideal, as the entire stretch of road falls within the range of a sniper rifle, and the closest distance exceeds the effective range of the AK series assault rifles. If the enemy approaches, Wu Haiyuan's automatic rifle can be used for suppression. Even if the enemy is equipped with light machine guns and general-purpose machine guns, the threat to the two snipers is not significant. Since the sniper position is located at the edge of a high ground, it is only necessary to be vigilant against threats from the air

Wu Haiyuan let out a bitter smile. "What else can I say? Guo Xiong has been very stubborn since childhood, and I worry that if this continues, his character will become problematic"

Chu Tianjiang had already loaded the sniper rifle, carefully inserting a finely polished bullet into the chamber. The enemy leader was hiding behind a Toyota SUV, holding a walkie-talkie, searching for a target for the artillery. When he poked his head out again, Chu Tianjiang seized the brief two seconds of opportunity

"Excellent marksmanship!" Wu Haiyuan murmured in admiration. He had absolute confidence in his partner's shooting skills, as Chu Tianjiang was trained by him personally

Two bullets struck accurately, causing the pickup truck to overturn on the highway, blocking the road.

As expected

Promise me to take good care of Guoxiong

Wu Haiyuan suddenly cursed, and Chu Tianjiang immediately set up his sniper rifle

The helicopter is climbing higher, preparing to launch another attack

The helicopter flew back from the valley, bypassing the highlands

"Old Wu, it's time to make a run for it." Chu Tianjiang reloaded the sniper rifle. "Damn it, I won't let those bastards from the military intelligence bureau get away with this."

As Chutianjiang reloaded the sniper rifle, the pirates on the road were already in disarray

The sniper's position is on the high ground on the southern bank of the valley, with the Darolgan River in front and a winding mountain road on the opposite bank.

The helicopter emitted black smoke and began to sway from side to side. The two pilots frantically moved the control sticks, attempting to stabilize the helicopter's ascent

Then find another one. Chutianjiang was reluctant to mention this matter, but he had no choice but to bring it up

Tian Jiang... and the books help me... take good care of... Guo... Guo Xiong...'' Wu Haiyuan took out a photo from his chest pocket and handed it to Chu Tianjiang

Seven days ago, this cargo ship, which was in a hurry to return to Guangzhou, was hijacked by pirates in the southeastern part of the Gulf of Aden. By the time the escort fleet arrived, the cargo ship had already been taken over by the pirates. After negotiations, the pirates released twenty-seven crew members but refused to release the captain and four other crew members, demanding a ransom of five million dollars.

The primary weapon of pirates is the AK rifle, which has an effective range of 400 meters. It poses little threat to snipers; the main threat comes from machine guns with a range exceeding 800 meters

Dust was raised by vehicles speeding behind the hills across the river. Northern Somalia is one of the driest regions in East Africa, and the Daror River, which is less than two hundred kilometers long, is a seasonal river that experiences eight months of dry flow throughout the year, except during the rainy season from June to October

"Viper received." Wu Haiyuan is the observer responsible for communication. "Viper" is the call sign for the two individuals

Fortunately, this group of pirates was not wealthy enough to own a helicopter

Using mortars against snipers is akin to relying on luck. The effective lethal range of an 82mm mortar shell against a prone individual does not exceed five meters. If the sniper is concealed in a depression, unless there is a direct hit, shells landing nearby will not harm the sniper at all

Upon receiving Chu Tianjiang's response, Wu Haiyuan closed his eyes, and his right hand, which had been gripping Chu Tianjiang's arm, also loosened.

Request for approval, permission to fire. Repeat, permission to fire

The helicopter dove into the canyon behind the highlands, avoiding the range of fire from the sniper rifles

If it were not for this group of pirates hijacking the cargo ship, they would not have come to this cursed place, and Wu Haiyuan would not have sacrificed himself

Under the guidance of Wu Haiyuan, Chu Tianjiang successfully eliminated two pirates who attempted to use heavy machine guns

At this moment, the ballistic computer of the M200 played a crucial role

The bullet struck Wu Haiyuan in the abdomen, and blood had already soaked through his camouflage uniform. There was also a large wound on his lower back, left by the bullet that had penetrated his body.

Chutianjiang will not have the slightest mercy towards pirates

Chutian looked up at the sky, and at an altitude of several thousand meters, there was at least one long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft equipped with a high-resolution optical camera monitoring the entire area

The two individuals are positioned such that they are directly facing a straight road approximately 500 meters long. The front of the road is less than 800 meters from the sniper point, while the far end is about 500 meters from the sniper point

As the helicopter flew closer, Chu Tianjiang fired five shots in quick succession

The bullet struck the fuel tank of the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and the leaked fuel was drawn into the engine, resulting in the engine being destroyed.

The first shot missed the target; however, the small Doppler radar controlled by the ballistic computer detected the ballistic error. Subsequently, data from the laser rangefinder and the meteorological environment sensor were combined to correct the trajectory, and the adjustment data was displayed on the sight.

"Machine gunner, distance seven hundred seventy." Wu Haiyuan began to fully assist Chu Tianjiang

X 1, five minutes

Old Wu, we should leave quickly. Old Wu...

Enemy chief, distance 820, take the walkie-talkie.

I promise, I promise you, I will definitely take good care of Guoxiong. Hold on, you must hold on, I ... ...

Eliminate the pirates, Chutianjiang saw an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft flying in from the north

Do not bother her; I am not planning to get married yet

For targets within 1,000 meters, especially large targets such as vehicles, the impact of the accuracy differences of specialized ammunition can be considered negligible and - figure - book

The cause originated from a Chinese-flagged cargo ship

Damn! Chutianjiang cursed inwardly. Those bastards at the Military Intelligence Bureau deserve to be damned!

The transport aircraft did not land, but instead allowed two individuals to parachute over the beach. Subsequently, the two spent three days venturing inland, arriving at this location

Old Wu

Chutian Jiang continued to gaze ahead at the road, feeling that the rescue operation would not proceed so smoothly. The pirates would surely send people to intercept and would definitely pursue the rescue team

Old Wu, let us each take care of our own matters and not worry about each other

Old Wu, hold on, I will take you back

By the time Chu Tianjiang finished firing the third batch of bullets, more than ten corpses lay on the road, while the remaining pirates hid behind the vehicles, no longer daring to show their heads.

After laying down his partner's body, Chu Tianjiang ran a few meters away to pick up the M200 high-precision sniper rifle hidden beneath the camouflage net

Four years ago, Wu Haiyuan's wife, Zhao Shuyun, lost her life in a car accident. If it were not for his son, remarriage would not be a difficult matter for someone like Wu Haiyuan. Over the past few years, his comrades in the brigade have introduced several potential partners to him, but most of these attempts have failed due to the fact that Wu Haiyuan has a son.

"Damn it, we have been abandoned," Wu Haiyuan said as he picked up the monocular.

When the bullet struck the shaft, a blinding flash of light erupted

The first shot struck the machine gunner in the head, and the second shot hit the driver of the pickup truck. Although the exact impact points were not visible, the windshield and side windows were stained red with blood, indicating that the driver was in grave danger. The pickup truck continued to move for over 10 meters due to inertia before overturning on the highway

This is a family portrait taken four years ago, when Wu Guoxiong turned two years old. Zhao Shuyun is holding her son, while Wu Haiyuan stands in the back.

A rumbling sound came from the sky

After his partner sacrificed himself, the only thing Chu Tianjiang could do, aside from taking care of his partner's orphan, was to seek revenge for his partner

Only after witnessing the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft plummet into the valley, trailing black smoke, did Chu Tianjiang put away his sniper rifle

Compared to the Remington 700, the M200 possesses significantly greater power

Old Wu—Chutian Jiang rushed over and picked up the barely conscious Wu Haiyuan

"Who knows?" Wu Haiyuan clearly harbored a bellyful of grievances

July 7, 2016, near the Daror River in northern Somalia

The production of this type of helicopter exceeds 800 units, equipping dozens of countries

What do you plan to do, give them a beating

The road was not blocked, and the convoy passed through smoothly

What are you doing

The second shot hit the target accurately

How do you say it

As three leaves fell, the helicopter emitted black smoke and plunged into the valley.

At least knock out a few of their molars

In September, he will start elementary school, and all the enrollment procedures have been completed. Wu Haiyuan sighed and said, "Guoxiong has grown up; there are many things I can no longer hide from him. Your sister-in-law left early, and I have seldom been by his side. Before I set off, he asked me if he could retaliate if he was bullied"

The "Little Antelope" is a lightweight general-purpose helicopter developed by a French aerospace company, primarily used for reconnaissance missions, but it can also be equipped with weapons for attack missions

This gun is a trophy that Wu Haiyuan obtained eight years ago during a covert operation from a Navy SEAL sniper he had killed. Six years ago, after the birth of his son, Wu Haiyuan passed the position of shooter to Chu Tianjiang and simultaneously gifted this gun to Chu Tianjiang

This gun is a trophy captured by Chu Tianjiang in Afghanistan last year

The reconnaissance aircraft flies at an altitude of less than 1,000 meters, with a very slow speed, likely as personnel from the military intelligence agency seek to ascertain the outcome of the battle

Chutianjiang finished organizing his weapons and equipment, and was just about to exit the sniper position when Wu Haiyuan firmly pressed down on his shoulder

As Chutianjiang reloaded the bullets, the helicopter had already approached and began to fire its machine guns. Bullets fell in rows beside the two men, kicking up a large amount of dust

Chutian Jiang uses a Remington 700 sniper rifle equipped with a heavy barrel

Chutian Jiang also got up and raised his sniper rifle to fire at the helicopter

I am your elder brother; I was the one who brought you into the Tiger Brigade. Can I just ignore you? Moreover... damn it!

Old Wu, don't worry about so much anymore

This is the last bullet in the magazine, reloading will take a few seconds, and the helicopter has already reached the ideal altitude and is about to open fire

When Chu Tianjiang and Wu Haiyuan arrived at Gwadar Port, the intelligence agency had already located the site where the pirates were holding the hostages. The special forces accompanying the escort fleet were also prepared for the rescue operation. However, the intelligence agency believed it was necessary to arrange a support force to cover the rescue operation

It has been confirmed, request for withdrawal. Wu Haiyuan put down the monocular telescope. "X 2" is the code for the rescue team to arrive and pass through the covered area

Chu Tianjiang and Wu Haiyuan's mission is to prevent pirates from pursuing the rescue team

Wu Haiyuan smiled and said, "Don't just focus on talking about me; before we set off, your mother called me again."

Has Guo Xiong started elementary school? Chu Tianjiang is responsible for monitoring the road ahead

After the death of two individuals, the other pirates no longer dared to climb onto the pickup truck to use the heavy machine gun. They all took cover behind the vehicles and blindly fired their rifles in the direction of the sniper's position

Wu Haiyuan shook his head with a bitter smile; this was not the first time. Last year, he rescued Chinese enterprise engineers who had been kidnapped in Afghanistan, the year before that he protected a surveying team constructing an oil pipeline in Pakistan, and there had been several similar situations in previous operations.

Chutianjiang turned the gun towards the road ahead, and the convoy had already rounded the bend

In order to avenge Wu Haiyuan, Chu Tianjiang must return alive, and he cannot let others know, at least not let those bastards from the Military Intelligence Bureau know that he is still alive

Ahead on the highway, dust raised by vehicles has already appeared at the bend. On the other side of the road, a pickup truck mounted with a heavy machine gun is speeding towards the convoy. The pickup is driven by a pirate, while another pirate stands in the cargo bed, responsible for operating the heavy machine gun

Compared to standard ammunition, the accuracy of specialized ammunition is somewhat reduced, but this is primarily evident beyond 1,000 meters

What else can we do?" Wu Haiyuan glanced at his partner. Chu Tianjiang was nearly thirty years old; not to mention marriage, he didn't even have a long-term girlfriend.

In less than fifteen minutes, dozens of pirates on the highway were either dead or injured, and those who survived would not live much longer. Decades of warfare have rendered Somalia one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. In the absence of modern medical facilities, being shot is tantamount to a death sentence

Home is on another continent, and Chu Tianjiang is unable to leave with his partner's remains; all he can take with him are the identity badge and that photograph stained with blood

The projectile flew for less than two seconds, piercing through the enemy's forehead and shattering the entire skull.

The helicopter was rapidly approaching, and Chutianjiang had no time to adjust the sight.

Over the past nine years, Wu Haiyuan has shielded Chu Tianjiang from bullets three times, sustaining serious injuries on two occasions. Once, he spent seven days in the intensive care unit, during which doctors issued five notices of critical condition. However, he persevered and returned to duty a month later. Chu Tianjiang has always believed that Wu Haiyuan would not die on the battlefield.

Although the M200 is a standard high-precision long-range sniper rifle, all its designs aim to enhance long-range accuracy as per m.hetushucom.com. Even the ammunition is composed of a single metal projectile to reduce disturbances caused by material inconsistencies during long-range shooting. However, as a large-caliber sniper rifle, it can utilize specialized ammunition such as armor-piercing incendiary explosive rounds. After seizing this sniper rifle, Chu Tianjiang produced a batch of specialized ammunition. As a large-caliber sniper rifle, it can utilize specialized ammunition such as armor-piercing incendiary explosive rounds. After seizing this sniper rifle, Chu Tianjiang produced a batch of specialized ammunition

Chutian Jiang chewed gum, staring at the shepherd on the riverbank in the distance, mentally planning the retreat route. Beside him, his partner Wu Haiyuan used a laser rangefinder to verify the reference coordinates on the road one by one, occasionally correcting significantly erroneous data with a pencil, and muttering a few curses under his breath.

Chutianjiang did not concern himself with much; he had already aimed at the machine gunner on the lead vehicle, then pulled the trigger and fired a shot at the driver of the pickup truck

Damn it, it's too close. How could the enemy get so near!" Chu Tianjiang cursed.

Old Wu, tell me, what on earth is the reason for sending us to this godforsaken place

The scope was mounted on the Picatinny tactical rail and had already been calibrated. Chu Tianjiang did not aim at the pilot, but rather at the helicopter's rotor shaft. The first shot hit the engine's air intake, the second shot missed, the third shot struck the rotor, and the fourth shot hit above the cockpit

Before his departure, Wu Haiyuan put in a great deal of effort to convince his son that he would return in just a few days

Old Wu—Chutian Jiang tightly held onto Wu Haiyuan, refusing to believe that Wu Haiyuan was already dead

Nine years ago, when Chu Tianjiang became a special forces soldier, Wu Haiyuan had already served in the Tiger Brigade for three years. In the first three years, Chu Tianjiang was Wu Haiyuan's observer and learned a great deal from him. According to the rules of the Tiger Brigade, once Chu Tianjiang became a veteran, their partnership would end, and each would take on a new recruit. After the birth of his son, Wu Haiyuan began to contemplate retirement. To retain him, the brigade commander broke with tradition and allowed the two to continue working together, with Chu Tianjiang serving as the shooter. Although Wu Haiyuan submitted another retirement application after the death of his wife, he stayed on at Chu Tianjiang's urging, agreeing not to bring up the topic of retirement again.

For the past four years, Chutianjiang has been plagued by self-reproach

The bullets struck the belly of the helicopter, sparking tiny flashes, but posed no threat to the aircraft. As the helicopter flew overhead, Chu Tianjiang turned around and continued firing at it. If he could miraculously hit the tail rotor of the helicopter, he could bring it down.

If you don't bring your girlfriend home for a day, your mother won't let me have a peaceful day. By the time I was your age, my son was already three years old

The road is not very wide, with three sections that are extremely narrow, barely allowing two off-road vehicles to pass side by side. If the rescue team is pursued, destroying the lead enemy vehicle is sufficient to halt the convoy. Under the threat of snipers, the pirates cannot move the vehicles blocking the road

Calling Snake's Nest ... ... Calling Snake's Nest ... ... Damn! Wu Haiyuan adjusted the radio and switched to the emergency communication channel, yet he still could not establish contact with the rear.

Unfortunately, the helicopter was equipped with bulletproof glass, and the distance was too great; the 7.62mm armor-piercing rounds only left a few white marks on the windshield

Understood! Wu Haiyuan picked up the monocular telescope to take a look at the pickup truck, then glanced at the booklet. "Distance 580, wind direction left, wind force 3, angle 27"

Viper, X 2, please confirm

Request for approval, action concluded. Repeat, action concluded

Both individuals were taken aback, and soon saw a helicopter flying out from behind the hills on the opposite bank of the river. It was a SA342 "Gazelle" light helicopter, painted in desert camouflage, equipped with gun pods and rocket launchers on both sides, and devoid of any markings.

Helicopter

Call the snake's nest, call the snake's nest, pursuit convoy detected. Repeat, pursuit convoy detected

In two years, we will discuss it again when Guoxiong has grown a bit more

The helicopter flew directly towards the location where the sniper was ambushed, launching several rockets from a distance of 1,000 meters, but the impact points were significantly off target

Do not say they are pirates; even regular army gunners may not be able to hit a sniper several hundred meters away with a mortar

Piracy is a heinous crime, unforgivable. Those intelligence personnel who abandoned them must also be held accountable for Wu Haiyuan's death, and they must pay for Wu Haiyuan's life

Eliminate all enemies, and then return to settle accounts with the bastards of the military intelligence agency! Chu Tianjiang was not flustered, for panic would only make the situation more perilous

"It's about time, let's retreat." Wu Haiyuan began to pack up his equipment

The road surface at the location of the pickup truck overturning is relatively wide, and it did not block the highway

Due to an impending mission, they did not go to the photo studio, but instead had Chu Tianjiang take this family portrait for them. During that mission, Wu Haiyuan shielded Chu Tianjiang from a bullet and spent over a month in the hospital upon returning. While Wu Haiyuan was hospitalized, Zhao Shuyun had to care for both her son and her husband. One morning, while driving to the hospital, Zhao Shuyun, exhausted, failed to notice a large truck approaching from the side. Chu Tianjiang clearly remembers Wu Haiyuan's devastated expression upon receiving the tragic news. One morning, while driving to the hospital, Zhao Shuyun, exhausted, failed to notice a large truck approaching from the side. Chu Tianjiang clearly remembers Wu Haiyuan's devastated expression upon receiving the tragic news

If Wu Haiyuan had not shielded him from the bullet, Zhao Shuyun would not have experienced excessive fatigue, would not have gone to the hospital every day to care for her husband, and consequently would not have encountered the car accident

The convoy of the rescue team has just passed the section of the road where the pickup truck overturned, and ahead on the highway, a pirate pursuit convoy has appeared

The two individuals are special forces soldiers directly under the General Staff Headquarters, having collaborated for nine years. Five days ago, an order from the Military Intelligence Bureau compelled them to rush to Gwadar Port in Pakistan overnight. Wu Guoxiong had no choice but to place his six-year-old son in the care of the team leader's family, thus canceling his summer vacation plans

The Chutian Jiangjia M200 has targeted the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft

We have been discovered! Wu Haiyuan rose and knelt on one knee, firing an automatic rifle at the helicopter

On the highway, the pirates have already spotted the sniper and have roughly determined that the sniper is ambushed on the high ground across the river, but they cannot confirm the exact location. The convoy has come to a halt, with three pickup trucks blocking the road, and more than ten pirates are using the vehicles for cover to begin setting up a mortar.

Money is not abundant; simply paying a ransom for a person is not the choice of the Chinese authorities

There is no response, and communication has been interrupted

The viper called the snake den, reporting a direct threat and requesting a fire order

According to the information provided by the Military Intelligence Bureau, the village where the pirates are holding hostages is located approximately ten kilometers upstream. The Military Intelligence Bureau has arranged for several off-road vehicles for the special forces through local informants. After rescuing the hostages, the special forces will proceed to the evacuation point located five kilometers downstream

Viper ... ... Viper ... ... Please respond upon receipt ... ...

Chutianjiang immediately removed the bullet from the sniper rifle and replaced it with a row of armor-piercing rounds

The driving speed of the pickup truck is approximately 40 kilometers per hour, which does not have a significant impact

At this time, the pirates had roughly determined the position of the sniper and began to use mortars. The first shell landed more than twenty meters to the left of Chu Tianjiang, the second shell's impact point was closer, while the third shell landed even further off. In the subsequent second round of shelling, the impact points of the three shells also showed significant deviation.

After taking a deep breath, Chu Tianjiang fired the fifth shot