Chapter 1839 - 1389: The Later Arriving Predator

10:47 PM, eight kilometers northeast of Crescent Oil Field, 300 meters altitude.

The UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter angled into the target airspace at a 45-degree incline, the low-frequency vibrations from the rotor blades cutting through the air were transmitted to each crew member through the fuselage.

Inside the cabin, there was only a faint red glow from the instrument panel, illuminating seven faces smeared with camouflage paint.

Blake secured the reinforced military tablet on his lap, his fingertips quickly sliding over the anti-glare touchscreen.

The screen was split into four displays: the top left showed real-time satellite imagery with a 0.3 meter resolution, the top right overlaid with a thermal imaging layer, the bottom left displayed synthetic aperture radar scan results, and the bottom right showed infrared images transmitted by a drone.

"Thunder-1 calling nest, arrived above target area."

Blake pressed the send button on the AN/PRC-152 individual radio, and the sound was transmitted through noise-canceling headphones.

After brief static noise, a voice processed through a KY-58 encryption device came through: "Nest received. What's the reconnaissance status?"

"Multi-sensor fusion indicates seven heat sources confirmed in the control building area, distributed according to a configuration of a three-man patrol group plus four fixed personnel."

Blake enlarged the satellite image.

"No vehicle tracks within a three-kilometer buffer zone, no temporary shelters, no unusual heat signal concentrations. The synthetic aperture radar detected an old pipeline system underground with no signs of recent activity."

He switched to the drone perspective.

An RQ-11B Big Crow drone was hovering 150 meters above the south of the oil field, and the image transmitted by the onboard FLIR thermal imager showed the abandoned oil field residential area like tombstones standing silently in a cold cemetery.

"Drone secondary verification complete."

Sniper Chains held the control terminal, her voice as calm as reporting the weather forecast.

"Small animal heat signals detected at the bottom of the east dry riverbed, the surface temperature of the west gravel highland matches nighttime cooling curves, no human heat signatures detected. The perimeter is secure!"

Blake stared at the screen.

Too clean, a cleanliness that's abnormal.

Intelligence indicated that Jalal was hiding in this abandoned oil field.

And the missing Song Heping and his "Musician" defense special forces team should also be here.

"No sign of Song Heping and his men?"

Firepower specialist Victor adjusted the ammunition feed plate of the MK48 Light Machine Gun, the 7.62mm bullets glinting coldly on the ammo chain.

Reconnaissance soldier Thom stared at the small display on his lap: "Continuous satellite surveillance shows no heat signal around the oil field, this area's day-night temperature difference is 35 degrees, without professional shelters, human heat signals at night would be as obvious as a lighthouse. Seems like that guy hasn't reached here yet, we're one step ahead."

Blake looked at the darkness outside the window.

Maybe Song Heping got held up by other matters?

Maybe the intelligence was wrong?

He checked the satellite image again.

As before, nothing was discovered.

"Oil field area confirmed anomaly-free, Thunder-1 requests permission to proceed."

After some deliberation, Blake sent a request for action to his superiors.

After a brief silence, the encrypted channel responded:

"Nest authorizes execution of 'purification protocol.' Primary target: Misu Jalal, confirm kill. Secondary target: Song Heping and 'Musician' team, eliminate upon encounter. Targets carry information of high value, if necessary, extreme measures can be taken for retrieval."

"Received. Execute 'decapitation.'

Blake gave the pilot Jacob a thumbs-up.

The Black Hawk Helicopter's nose tipped down, rotor speed altered with a low hum, beginning a rapid descent.

11:03 PM, gravel highland southeast of the oil field perimeter.

Song Heping's right cheek pressed tightly against the cold rock ground, above his head was a thick thermal camouflage net plus a layer of insulating blanket, he wore a special infrared leak-proof ghillie suit.

Having multiple layers covering him felt unpleasant.

But unpleasantness must be accepted.

This stuff can save lives.

Looking through the AN/PVS-31 binocular night vision goggles, in the green view, that Black Hawk descended like a giant iron dragonfly into the sandy soil in the northwest direction.

Distance: 820 meters.

Wind direction: northwest, wind speed: 5 meters per second.

Nighttime temperature: 17 degrees Celsius, still dropping.

"Target landed." He whispered into the bone conduction microphone fixed on his jaw: "Seven people, standard tactical team configuration. Joseph, sniper team report."

After brief static interference, Joseph's voice came through the AN/PRC-163 radio: "Sniper team in position. I'm in the compartment on top of Tank 3, view covering 270 degrees northwest. Observing enemy sniper moving towards the west elevated pipeline."

Song Heping adjusted the focus of the night vision goggles.

"OK. Report status for each team."

The voice of demolition expert Miller came through: "Demolition team in position, east side behind barbed wire, two personnel."

"Assault Team 1 in position, south side of the control building, two personnel."

"Assault Team 2 in position, rooftop of the maintenance workshop, two personnel."

Song Heping's lips curled into a slight smile.

In the past sixteen hours, the eight-member squad he led had completed precise deployment.

Nine people divided into four teams: two in the sniper team, two in the demolition team, two in each of the assault teams, and he himself as an independent Hunter.

They dug shallow shelters, covered their body temperature with Duke-supplied military-grade insulating blankets, and hid behind metal structures to evade satellite thermal scanning.

The net was set.

Just waiting for the prey to come.

The prey had now appeared.

Everything was within anticipation.

"Remember the tactical order." Song Heping said: "First clear the perimeter snipers, then gradually compress. I want Blake alive, handle others based on threat level. Jalal must be captured alive."

"Understood."

"All teams standby, execute according to the second phase plan."

11:12 PM, "Cleaner" team ground operations commenced.