Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1233 The Cheapest "Missile"

Song Heping's fingertips unconsciously tapped the conductor's platform, producing a dull thud that matched the anxious beat of his heart.

On the big screen, the dots representing enemy truck-mounted artillery flickered like will-o'-the-wisps, each brief pause signifying that the front lines were about to endure another precise and deadly barrage of steel fire.

They shoot and run, their whereabouts are elusive, and traditional counter-battle tactics seem clumsy and inefficient in the face of these "battlefield slippery eels".

"A mobile artillery group...more than fifty vehicles...this battle is fucking frustrating!"

Jiang Feng slammed his fist hard on the table, nearly knocking over the water glass.

Song Heping did not respond.

His gaze was fixed on those points of light, as if trying to etch their existence into his mind.

However, visual fatigue caused his gaze to wander, and inadvertently, it swept over a corner of the command post—where several spare hexacopter reconnaissance drones were quietly parked, their streamlined shells gleaming coldly in the dim light.

In that instant, two completely different images, like two bolts of lightning from different times and spaces, collided violently in his mind—

Previously in Dagug, the scene of drones accurately airdropping bundles of dinar banknotes amidst cheers from the militia was filled with a kind of absurd vitality; and just yesterday, when he inspected the artillery positions, the slender but agile artilleryman easily picked up an 80mm mortar shell...

"Load... airdrop... shells..."

Fragments of thoughts were instantly forged into a solid form under high pressure!

A dazzling flash of inspiration suddenly cleaved through the fog of tactics!

"If we don't need to send shells flying from tens of kilometers away, and we don't need the artillery to adjust the firing parameters and load the shells for firing..."

Song Heping muttered to himself, but his eyes suddenly became sharp and bright, as if two clusters of dark blue flames were burning deep in his pupils.

He suddenly turned around and looked at Jiang Feng:
"Or should we let our 'shells' fly there on their own?"

Jiang Feng was taken aback by these seemingly random words: "Fly there yourself? Sergeant, what do you mean?"

Song Heping spoke with barely suppressed excitement: "Remember how we threw money around in Daguge? With the payload capacity of our drones here, lifting an 80mm mortar shell is more than enough! Why don't we turn our drones into flying mortars?! We ourselves are the artillery positions, mobile and aerial!"

He practically lunged at the whiteboard, grabbed a marker, and with a screeching sound as the pen tip rubbed against the whiteboard, quickly sketched a simplified battlefield situation map and a diagram of the drone attack:

"Look! No matter how fast the 1515mm truck-mounted artillery can move, it's still just drawing lines on a two-dimensional ground! Our drones maneuver in three-dimensional space! We have an absolute advantage in altitude and vision, and also a speed advantage! We don't need to calculate complex ballistic parameters, we don't need weather corrections, and we don't need to worry about it going out of range—our 'projectile carrier' can follow it the whole time! From the moment it fires until it runs away, we're like a falcon stalking a hare, until we find the best attack position and deliver a fatal blow!"

Jiang Feng was completely stunned by this bold idea that was both imaginative and got straight to the heart of the problem.

But after only a few seconds of astonishment, his eyes blazed with the same intense light—the excitement of seeing a way out of a desperate situation!
He knew Song Heping too well. This veteran squad leader might seem quiet at times, but he often had a sharp and unconventional approach to tactical thinking!
"I get it! Using drones to suspend mortar shells, flying directly overhead, and dropping them like falling rocks?! This... this is practically giving mortars wings!"

"Yes! It's like a low-speed missile that can fly on its own and lock onto and track its target!"

Song Heping nodded emphatically and began to explain his theoretical basis in detail:

"First, the technology is entirely feasible! Our existing hexacopter drones have a maximum payload of over 15 kilograms, while an 80mm mortar shell weighs only 4 to 5 kilograms. With a simple mechanical release device—just modify the device we used to throw money at—the cost is low, the technology is mature, and it's more than enough!"

"Secondly, the tactics possess extremely strong surprise and psychological deterrence! All the enemy's attention and all their air defense plans are focused on guarding against distant artillery fire and possible high-altitude fighter jets! They would never expect that a fatal blow would come from low-altitude, slow-moving 'small planes' that they might normally disregard! This can catch them off guard, and if successful, it will deal a devastating blow to their artillery's morale! Once they know that these flying little things are carrying shells, they will not dare to stop their guns and set up their cannons as soon as they see drones hovering in the sky!"

"Third, it is extremely cost-effective and efficient! Even if the enemy uses machine guns or anti-aircraft machine guns to shoot down our drones, it is only the loss of one drone and one shell. But if we can hit the enemy and replace one of their truck-mounted artillery pieces and a well-trained artillery crew, it is a huge profit! Moreover, we can deploy multiple drones at the same time to form a 'swarm' attack wave, making it impossible for them to hide and defend against!"

"Fourth, and most importantly—the operator can visually identify targets through the high-definition real-time images transmitted back by the drone, autonomously select the most ideal time and angle for bombing, and even predict and correct its movement trajectory! This is equivalent to equipping every cheap mortar shell with an intelligent guidance head! Its accuracy far exceeds that of traditional artillery fire coverage!"

Song Heping's analysis was logically rigorous and progressive, quickly connecting and integrating seemingly unrelated technical nodes and tactical elements into a stunningly feasible solution.

Inside the command post, other staff officers who had been dejected due to the unfavorable battle situation were also drawn over, their faces regaining a spark of hope, and their whispered discussions were filled with excitement.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant, old squad leader!"

Jiang Feng excitedly punched his palm, his gaze towards Song Heping filled with admiration. "Using the lowest-tech combination to achieve the highest-tech effect! Your brain truly lives up to your reputation as a veteran from our top special forces!"

"There's no time to lose! The front lines can't afford to wait!"

Song Heping showed no sign of smugness, immediately displaying his decisive and efficient nature. He turned to the relevant officers and issued a series of clear and urgent instructions:
"Order! First, the drone unit must immediately cease all non-essential reconnaissance missions, concentrate all technical resources, select the twenty drones with the largest payloads, conduct a comprehensive inspection, and assemble them for standby!"

"Secondly, the head of the ordnance department will personally lead a team to immediately modify the air-drop release device used for scattering money, based on the previous model, and combine it with the structure of the 80mm mortar shell, to create a mechanical claw suitable for suspension and delivery! I don't care what methods you use, I want to see results in the shortest possible time!"

"Third, select the best operators, observers, and mortar squad leaders from the drone company and artillery company, and immediately form temporary 'airborne mortar teams' to simulate attack procedures, familiarize themselves with shell characteristics, and master emergency evasive maneuvers after bombing! We must be fast, and enter the battle as quickly as possible to destroy the enemy's truck-mounted artillery!"

The order was like a mountain, and the limited logistical and technical resources of the entire "Liberation Force" were instantly activated and put into efficient operation.

The members of the "airborne mortar team," who had been urgently summoned, gathered around the sand table and drone control console to conduct tactical discussions.

The heated discussion continued unabated.
"The altitude must be controlled between 80 and 100 meters! Any lower and the drone will be vulnerable to small arms fire; any higher and the trajectory of artillery shells will be affected, and accuracy cannot be guaranteed!"

"The drone's attitude must be absolutely stable when dropping bombs; hovering mode is best! Speed ​​fluctuations will greatly affect the landing point!"

"The fuse safety must be reconfirmed before takeoff! Ensure the shells are ready to fire after leaving the aircraft and explode upon landing! We cannot give the enemy time to react!"

"Operators and ammunition handlers must work together, and the bomb-dropping command must be clear and decisive!"

The air was thick with tension from intense focus.

Time ticked by, each second bringing bad news from the front lines.

The tense half hour felt like an eternity.

As the afterglow of the setting sun painted the sky a poignant blood red, the first batch of four hastily modified "bomber drones" were ready for takeoff on the tarmac.

With an 80mm mortar shell suspended beneath them, the rudimentary mounting system combined with the high-tech drone platform creates a strikingly contrasting killing tool.

At this point, the pressure on the front lines had reached the brink of collapse.

The shells rained down on the already riddled defenses of the "Liberation Forces".

Just then, a hurried and clear voice came through the communication channel from the forward reconnaissance unit: "'Hive' calling 'Falcon'! Important target spotted! In C-7 area, inside the former 'Camel' repair yard, two truck-mounted artillery pieces are undergoing maintenance, suspected to be resupplying ammunition and repairing vehicles! Coordinates have been transmitted! The surrounding area is under surveillance!"

The command center's large screen immediately switched to high-definition footage transmitted from the reconnaissance drone—

As the sun sets, two homemade truck-mounted artillery pieces, converted from M35 trucks, sit quietly in the yard, which is covered with oil stains and wreckage.

A dozen or so 1515 militants were scattered around. Some were unloading ammunition boxes from another truck, some were tapping tires with tools, and others were sitting together smoking and drinking water, appearing very relaxed.

They clearly believed the distance and position were safe, completely absorbed in their brief respite before the attack, utterly oblivious to the cold, electronic eyes overhead. Song Heping took a deep breath and then gave the order into the microphone: "Drone Company, execute the hunt immediately! Free hunt! Have a good hunt!"

"Drone unit understood! 'Swarm' deployed, begin descent, enter attack route!"

His response was the operator's calm, almost cold voice.

Four “bombing drones” carrying deadly weights took off like startled wasps.

They nimbly approached the abandoned repair shop from different directions, silently and stealthily.

The buzzing sound of the rotor spinning at high speed was perfectly masked by the continuous artillery fire in the distance and the inherent noise of the battlefield.

On the command center's screen, a split-screen view of the first-person perspectives of the four drones was displayed.

The image is shaking slightly as the drone adjusts its attitude in the airflow.

The perspective shifts from a broad, high-altitude view to a focused, low-flying one. The target rapidly zooms in on the screen, its outline becoming increasingly clear; you can even see the mottled green paint on the truck's artillery, the rough welding marks, and the dirty robes and turbans worn by the militants.

Their faces showed fatigue and relaxation. Occasionally, someone would look up at the sky, but it was just a habitual action, and their gaze was not focused on the small black dots that were quietly approaching from the dimension of death.

"Falcon One, altitude 90 meters, speed 3 meters per second, attitude stable... Target locked, cockpit area."

The voice of the operator of Unit 1 came through the radio.

The entire command center fell silent instantly. Everyone held their breath, as if afraid that even the slightest sound would disturb the prey on the screen. The only sound was the pounding of their hearts in their chests.

"bomb!"

The operator gave the final instructions.

The command was transmitted instantly via radio waves.

On the screen, you can clearly see the simple mechanical claw under the drone suddenly opening!

The dark mortar shell instantly broke free from the hook, paused briefly in the air, and then, following the ancient and eternal laws of physics, with a barely perceptible whooshing sound, fell straight and resolutely towards the driver's cab of the truck below!

Time seems to be stretched infinitely.

One second...two seconds...

boom--! ! !
A bright, blindingly bright orange-red fireball suddenly exploded from inside the repair shop!
The violent explosion precisely engulfed the cab of the target truck!

The shockwave from the explosion visibly spread outwards, tearing the driver's cab apart like a cardboard box and throwing it into the air. Several armed men nearby didn't even have time to scream before they were thrown away by the violent energy and crashed heavily onto the ruins.

The vehicle wreckage was instantly ignited, and a raging fire accompanied by thick black smoke billowed up!
"Target hit! Destroyed!"

The operator of Unit 1 finally revealed a hint of barely perceptible excitement in his voice.

Almost at the same moment!

"Falcon 2, drop the bombs!"

"Falcon III, drop the bombs!"

The other two drones also seized this fleeting opportunity and decisively dropped their suspended shells!
One of the shells hit the connection between the cannon barrel and the vehicle body of the second truck-mounted artillery almost vertically!

The other one landed near the ammunition depot!

boom! ! !
Rumble——! !

An even more violent and earth-shattering explosion occurred!
A chain reaction!

The truck-mounted artillery and the ammunition piled up nearby were directly hit, causing a catastrophic chain of explosions!

A fireball several times larger than before rose into the air, like a suddenly blooming flower of death.

The blazing flames, carrying truck debris and human remains, radiated wildly in all directions!
The barrel of the D-30 122mm howitzer was blown into the air, like a small bamboo pole that had been forcefully thrown out.

Even through the screen, the enormous shockwave still made everyone in the command center feel an invisible pressure!

The entire repair shop yard was completely transformed into a burning inferno. The remaining militants crawled out of the fire, their bodies ablaze like insects struggling in the flames. Their screams and wails seemed to echo from the screen.

"Target confirmed, completely destroyed! Repeat: Two enemy truck-mounted artillery pieces, a suspected ammunition vehicle, and ground personnel have been cleared!"

The sound of confirmation of the victory was filled with the exhilaration of triumph.

"Good job!"

"We did it! We did it!"

Inside the command center, the tension, anxiety, and despair that had been suppressed for so long instantly transformed into low, liberating cheers and enthusiastic applause!
Witnessing firsthand, through a high-definition screen, how "Death" approaches step by step under precise guidance, how it makes decisive judgments, and how it accurately brings destruction to the enemy, delivers a visual impact that no long-range artillery barrage can provide.

Song Heping felt as if he had opened the door to a new world.

Oh shit!

Drones can be used like this!

Not bad!

After defeating Hurmatu, he personally called the old fox back home and told him to contact Ferrari and order several thousand of them...

Do not!
We need to order 10,000 of these cost-effective drones and ship them to the Middle East and Africa, to be distributed to mercenary battalions and troops here.

"Relay the order immediately!"

Without pausing for a moment, Song Heping immediately seized this precious opportunity, his voice regaining its usual calmness and authority.

"Subsequent drone units should be deployed immediately using this tactic! Maximize the gains! Prioritize hunting down enemy truck-mounted artillery! We must destroy all their artillery before they even realize what's happening!!"

　Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)