What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 474 Ambush
The weekend flew by
When trading resumed on Monday, the global trade sector stabilized after a brief dip.

One is that it's already almost at its lowest point, and the other is that the lost empire is all talk and no action.

Although it scared the pilots so much that they dared not fly, it must be said that these guys did have some gentlemanly manners and kept their word.

Some media outlets have unearthed previous submarine power-on records, in which they have consistently reiterated that they would not harm any innocent civilians.

Furthermore, the cargo ship that was intercepted this time was only repatriated, and not even a salvo of machine gun fire was fired as a warning.

This comparison has led to polarized opinions about the Lost Empire:

Some say that Lao Xi is all talk and no action, after all, he did a lot of things like watering down the ace fifty years ago;
Some say they don't actually harm civilians, but in any case, a major crisis seems to have gradually subsided.

In the past two days, the Empire has also actively announced that it will launch a "crushing" multi-dimensional attack on Nanmei, eliminating the threat overnight.

Only in a corner of the world, a local Hong Kong newspaper quietly published a piece of news:
"Prince of Wales Hospital has admitted a mysterious patient, suspected of having a distinguished status."

……

"Mr. Tang, your package has arrived."

Cainiao Guoguo... no, Pingtan Airport contacted Gaijin Company because they had a very important and valuable item that needed to be picked up in person; the airport dared not deliver it.

The reason is simple: the employees of the Fifth Academy who were escorting the plane casually mentioned that each aircraft cost three or four million yuan, so the airport dared not linger.

It wasn't until Tang Wen sent a car himself that an oversized, sturdy wooden crate was brought back.

This is the television observation system required for the Q-97, or in more advanced terms, an electro-optical pod.

In fact, as an aviation device, it is not that fragile, and it is designed in a modular manner in strict accordance with Tang Wen's requirements.

"This is the power button, this is the gyroscope switch, and this is the one-click calibration button. After installation, point the camera at the front of the head and press down. Wait for about two or three minutes. When the light comes on again, it means that the automatic calibration has been successful."

After the staff from the Fifth Academy explained the foolproof operation method to Tang Wen, they demonstrated it once. The device was set up on an open ground facing the sea, and a black and white image immediately appeared.

This is a compromise for reliability and to ensure smooth real-time operation, but in addition to television imaging, it is also equipped with a very sophisticated passive infrared receiving lens, which can be used to observe targets in the field in a very covert manner.

Tang Wen tried using the joystick and quickly learned how to use it to observe fishing boats several kilometers away on the sea.

It must be said that the special equipment worth millions is truly impressive. The clarity and automatic image stabilization are surprisingly good. Apart from the distortion caused by uneven air density, there are almost no other flaws in the image, making it very suitable for non-professionals.

The total price of the three pods is $300 million. Because they use the basic structure of another similar product, they are not too expensive. However, it is slow to assemble them manually in the laboratory one by one.

After considering the Q97's questionable survivability, Tang Wen spoke directly:
"I need 50 of these units first. How long will the delivery time be?"

"50 units?! That would definitely be a huge discount, I..."

"No, no, no, this price is fine, but I need it rushed."

Tang recalled the intelligence provided by the two "Thirteen Shields" that the fierce battle on the ground had begun, and these pods would soon be put into operation.

……

Itamar felt very uncomfortable being around William.

People in Nanmei naturally have a relaxed attitude, which is reflected in all aspects of their lives, and they often procrastinate on tasks.

But William is different. If Itamar has played RPGs, he'll be like a main NPC, automatically triggering dialogue when you get within a certain range of him.
How many of your ships are ready?

"What's the reason for the delay, and do I need to step in and coordinate?"

"Your marching plan is too simplistic; it only has descriptions without any actual maps?" "This map is even six months old; the rainforest environment changes rapidly!"

"Please do not allow your subordinates to come into contact with our soldiers without permission, as this could lead to a leak of secrets!"

Under William's relentless urging, Itamar, unable to hold back his pride, managed to get the sluggish system running again and collect enough ships by the second night.

Just as he had imagined, William did not rest even as night fell, but instead ordered the soldiers to load weapons and equipment onto the ship.

St. Anne was still unprepared, and all the citizens came out curiously to watch the heavenly soldiers working in an orderly manner using cars and makeshift lights.

To ensure safety, every temporarily requisitioned merchant ship and yacht was equipped with weapons in appropriate locations, or with weapon platforms that exposed armored vehicles.

By the early hours of the morning, most of the work had been completed, and the more than 4000 people were urged to set off again after only 4 hours of rest.

Enrique couldn't take it anymore and flew back, while Itamar, who was forced to stay up all night, was also feeling dizzy.

He originally thought that even if he found a boat within three days, it would take at least a week to set off. He never expected it to be so difficult. Heaven knows how so much equipment disappeared overnight.

Fortunately, he didn't have to suffer on the boat; instead, he could fly to Santarém.

When they discovered that William was also on the helicopter, those around Itamar showed a slight hint of disdain:

They thought this vengeful ghost would be with the soldiers, but it turns out he's just a good-for-nothing.

Unexpectedly, the helicopter landed at the initial base established by Ryan's team less than half an hour after takeoff.

When Itamar and the others got off the plane in a daze, they saw Marun looking at them menacingly. They thought that the "Brothers of Justice" had been exposed and they were going to be executed. Their bodies, which were not strong enough to resist, began to tremble.

The colonel's voice made them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave:
"Everyone, we can only stay here for the time being and cannot contact the outside world."

"William, what's wrong with you...?"

Itamar tried to remain calm and asked questions, but he was prepared to shift the blame to someone who couldn't handle the situation.

"That was a trap."

William then calmly explained:
"How could 4000 Marines and helicopter squadrons possibly move all of their equipment overnight? The reason for operating at night was that most of the personnel and equipment had been moved to a nearby valley, where there was a rare open space that was perfect for hiding. The riverboats that set off only carried some cheap light equipment and inflatable models."

"I'm sorry, General, but this is just in case; our enemy is far too cunning."

Itamar was relieved and secretly breathed a sigh of relief before asking:

"So that was just bait?"

"That's right. The people up there are equipped with many satellite communication devices, and we have enough cover in the sky."

William continued:

"In addition to the RQ2 drones following them covertly at high altitude, there are also early warning aircraft lying in ambush in the distance. They will be caught as soon as they appear."

Perhaps what I'm doing is unreasonable, but the Empire cannot accept unnecessary losses. In the future, we will monitor each other, and neither of us will be allowed to contact anyone outside the empire without authorization.

Itamar: "What if there's no one to command? Are we supposed to control it remotely?"

"No, General Hunter is not on the mainland. He has been disguised and infiltrating the Marin. Everything is currently under General Hunter's command."

(End of this chapter)