Chapter 1942 - 1424: Suicide

10:08 AM, the "Frost Raven" team arrived near the ambush area on Route 7.

The terrain here was indeed as treacherous as described in the intel.

The road entered through a narrow mountain pass and then wound along the mountainside, forming a nearly 180-degree sharp turn at Eagle's Beak Rock.

On the left was a rocky mountainside, and on the right was a steep slope that descended to a dry riverbed.

Two pickup trucks stopped in a natural depression 500 meters before the curve, concealed by rocks and bushes, completely invisible from the road.

"All clear." Falcon and Merlin got out first, holding their guns and guarding the sides.

Scarface surveyed his surroundings. Years of battlefield experience kept his senses on high alert.

The wind blew from the northwest, carrying the scent of dust and dry plants. There were bird calls in the distance, but nearby it was unusually quiet. Too quiet.

"Something's not right." He whispered to Crow.

"I feel it too." Crow was adjusting a portable spectrum analyzer: "The radio interference seems severe, we can only maintain short-range communications."

"Could be the terrain." Falcon Eagle unloaded her sniper rifle from the car: "I've read about this area, the rocks here are rich in iron ore, which might affect the signal."

Scarface nodded, but the unease in his heart did not dissipate.

He signaled the team members to gather around.

"Proceed as planned, but increase speed. Vulture, you have forty minutes to set up the IED. Falcon Eagle, find a sniper position but make sure there are at least two retreat routes. Others, set up assault positions and retreat vehicles."

The team quickly dispersed like a well-trained pack of wolves, each move precise and efficient.

Vulture carried his explosive gear, carefully advancing along the roadside.

He chose the IED emplacement point at a small depression at the curve's entrance, where natural rock crevices could hide the explosives. He crouched down and began placing them.

Three hundred meters away, inside a rock-disguised observation point, the Central Intelligence Agency sniper "Hawkeye" monitored Vulture's every move through his scope.

"Target A is placing explosive devices." He reported softly: "Using ceramic casing IED, unknown model."

"Copy that." Grey Eagle's voice came through the earpiece: "Let him finish placing it. Wait until he returns to the main team area to take action."

"Understood."

It took Vulture twenty minutes to complete the IED installation.

He camouflaged the detonator as an ordinary rock at the roadside, connecting it to the main charge with an almost invisible wire.

Afterward, he stepped back a few paces, checked his work, nodded in satisfaction, and began walking back.

Meanwhile, Falcon Eagle had climbed onto a prominent platform on the left rock wall.

The view here was excellent, covering the entire curve and two hundred meters of road before and after.

She built a simple sniper position using rocks and camouflage net, adjusted the rifle stand, and started calculating shooting parameters.

"Sniper in position, on the northeast rock wall, about fifteen meters elevation." Another Central Intelligence Agency sniper "Divine Shooter" reported.

He was lurking at a higher position, his gun already aimed at Falcon Eagle's head.

"Received. Awaiting orders."

Scarface and the others were setting up assault positions on the other side of the curve. They hid the two pickup trucks behind rocks, covering them with camouflage nets.

Mountain Eagle and Crow were digging foxholes at the roadside edge, while Scarface checked the AT4 rocket launcher.

By 10:55 AM, all arrangements were basically complete.

"Scarface, I think we should evacuate." Crow suddenly said, with an unmistakable tension in his voice: "It's too quiet around, not even a bird."

Scarface frowned.

He had noticed it too.

There were bird calls in the distance when they first arrived, but now it was completely silent.

This was a natural alarm; something had frightened the animals away.

"Alright, I also feel something isn't right, let's pull out!" He ordered.

Falcon and Merlin immediately moved towards the designated retreat direction.

There was a narrow path leading to a hidden valley behind the mountain, where two prepared civilian cars were hidden.

But they had traveled less than a hundred meters and stopped.

"Scarface... there's a problem." Falcon's voice, filled with obvious trembling, came through the radio: "The place where we hid the cars, the tires have been slashed. Both cars."

Scarface's heart sank.

This was no coincidence.

"Everyone, evacuate immediately! Abandon equipment, disperse and retreat!" He shouted into the radio.

But it was already too late.

The first to fall was Vulture.

He had just stood up to run towards the vehicles when a soft "pop" sounded. A small hole appeared in his forehead, a mist of blood burst from the back of his head, and his body fell straight down.

"Sniper!" Mountain Eagle shouted, quickly rolling into a foxhole.

Then came the second and third muffled sniper rifle shots.

Merlin and Falcon were hit almost simultaneously, one in the chest, the other in the neck, killed instantly.

Scarface immediately fell to the ground, rolling behind a rock.

"Falcon Eagle! Fight back!" He shouted into the radio.

But there was no response from the sniper position.

On the rock wall, Falcon Eagle was already dead.

At the moment Scarface gave the retreat order, a .338 Lapua Magnum bullet shot into her sniper position from above, piercing through the camouflage net and her helmet, precisely hitting the back of her head. She didn't even hear the gunshot.

"Scarface, we're surrounded!" Crow shouted from the foxhole: "There are enemies in all directions! They've been lying in wait for us! We've been sold out!"

Scarface cautiously peeked out from the edge of the rock to observe.