Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 116 mesa
2:55 PM.

The wind picked up in gusts, whipping up the tarpaulins and unsealed burlap sacks.

A lingering smell of diesel fuel permeated the air at the platform.

"This is the largest batch I've ever seen."

The major stared intently as the transport cylinder was slowly hoisted up, and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

The American next to me had a cigarette in his mouth, and the smoke he exhaled was blown away by the wind.

"Yes, a total of thirty-two."

He paused, seemingly considering his words, "The original design was seven pieces per section, but this time we used a thickened heat insulation cylinder, so we had to add two more sections."

The major glanced at him sideways: "You guys are pretty shrewd, always filling it to the brim."

“We’re just following the blueprints,” the American shrugged. “The loaders, on the other hand, are incredibly efficient.”

“Yesterday’s group tied up twelve in two hours, which would take three times longer by American standards.”

"Practice makes perfect, doesn't it?" The major grinned, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

A flash of fire.

He sighed contentedly, then asked, "I heard you majored in physics?"

"University of New Mexico, Nuclear Engineering."

The American pointed to the DOE label on his jacket, "It was transferred to the Department of Energy four years ago."

New Mexico, ah.

The major's tone carried an undisguised longing: "I remember Los Alamos was there."

The American nodded: "Yes, it's an hour's drive from Albuquerque. The sky there is indeed clear, making it a popular location for an observatory."

"Are there also those flat-topped mountains?" The major gestured. "Red ones, like tables."

"You mean Mesa?" the American laughed.

“They’re everywhere over there; you can see a row of them every ten minutes by car.”

The major exhaled a puff of smoke and squinted, gazing towards the distant southwest.

“I’ve always wanted to travel there, ever since I was a child.”

"Standing on the red mountain, doing nothing, just looking—at just how blue the sky really is."

"Believe me, that view of the sky may be the best you've ever seen in your life."

After the American finished speaking, the two fell silent again.

On the opposite platform, a whole group of military freight trains were quietly waiting to be loaded.

The entire section of track was temporarily designated as a special zone for strategic materials.

A double layer of red and white warning ropes was set up around the perimeter.

"Do Not Approach" signs are placed every 20 meters.

Not far away, two Soviet-made KS-4561 cranes were working in shifts, equipped with shock-absorbing clamps underneath.

The transported object is about 1.2 meters long, with a white serial number and X-ray markings embossed on its outer shell, and weighs about 350 kilograms.

Five or six Ukrainian military technicians, wearing orange engineering armbands, stood around, using radiation dosimeters to check the serial numbers and the condition of the cylinder.

Another American engineer wearing metal-framed glasses was squatting on the ground, adjusting the time-temperature indicator label on its side.

The major watched for a while longer, and for some reason, he felt a chill run down his spine.

He tossed his cigarette butt on the ground, turned to the American, and asked:

"How about we wait in the control room?"

"The wind is getting stronger and stronger, and it doesn't look like it will stop anytime soon."

The American thought for a few seconds and then stubbed out his cigarette.

"Let's go, I—"

However, before he could finish speaking, the major suddenly frowned and drew his pistol from his waist.

The American was taken aback and instinctively bent down to find cover.

The major gestured for him not to move.

Something seemed off about the surrounding environment.

It's not the taste, nor the temperature, but—

"Did you notice?" the major asked softly.

The American looked up in bewilderment, before he could even reply.

——“Bang!”

The explosion came from the southeast corner. It was muffled and short.

The crane's hook spun halfway through the air before slamming into the side of the carriage with a loud thud.

Immediately afterwards——

"Oh!"

Another explosion.

This time it was even closer, and the sheet metal guardrail shattered instantly, sending fragments and concrete chips flying into the inner side of the platform.

"Squat down!" The major reacted and forcefully pressed the American into a blind spot of the loading frame.

The alarm above the platform finally went off at that moment.

A piercing, high-frequency shriek exploded instantly.

The explosions came one after another, with the intervals between them getting shorter and shorter.

The isolation door was cut through the main beam, directly severing the connecting bolts on the two tracks.

Before a sentry could even turn around, he was thrown to the ground.

Chaos broke out in the controlled area.

Some people shouted, ran, and drew their guns.

Many others, bewildered, crouched down, sought cover, or stood still, driven by fear.

"Enemy attack!" The major felt a buzzing in his head and roared at the top of his lungs, "All personnel on alert! Block the train! Block the train!"

He waved to two soldiers running around in the distance, while simultaneously pulling up the radio on his back to try and call for backup.

However, all that remained in the headphones was a series of intermittent noises.

— Interference has been initiated.

“They’ve blocked the signal.” The American squatted down beside him, pale-faced and trembling. “This is…this is an organized armed operation.”

On the other side of the fence, two protective piles were blown off, and the supporting structure was tilted.

The cable head was exposed on the ground, with charred marks along the track.

Zhou Yi slid silently into the drainage ditch.

He paused there briefly for half a second, quickly confirming the position of the track edge and the obstruction.

Five meters above is the inner edge of the work area.

Fifteen meters ahead is the joint control and isolation zone.

Iron fences, pile walls, and red and white striped warning netting are arranged in a semicircle, directly facing the core of the loading operation.

Zhou Yi stood up and crouched low, moving forward along the blast-proof sand pile with steady steps and his gun muzzle lowered.

There's movement at the two o'clock position.

A soldier poked half his body out from under the vehicle.

However, before he could even assess the situation ahead, a bullet pierced his throat, and his body convulsed and went limp.

Team B of the Yellow Team had already set up a crossfire line.

The group advanced in staggered formations, setting up firing positions at the edge of the controlled area.

Once the support is in place, it enters a semi-automatic compression rhythm.

Zhou Yi cut out from the slope after the broken pile, crawled six meters in a low posture, and used his elbows to support his center of gravity.

He pulled a lightweight directional breaching kit from the side pocket of his backpack and pressed it between the base and the main frame.

After completing the settings, lock the fuse for eight seconds.

They then quickly approached the guard wall.

Press your left hand against your ear, protect your neck with your right arm, curl up your body, and wait for the impact.

The explosion occurred as scheduled, with a muffled and dull sound.

The iron fence was torn in the middle, the pressure point collapsed, and the outer support was pulled out halfway and rolled to the ground.

The gap is just big enough for one person to pass through upright.

Zhou Yi cut in, pressed against the inner wall, and raised the gun muzzle along with his shoulder.

He first locked onto the left-hand passage, then scanned the area in front and the blind spot along the center line.

After confirming there was no direct threat of firefight, he gave the signal: "Fire on the left flank, three men advance side by side."

The formation changed within two seconds.

The three of them simply flipped over the gap and followed Zhou Yi to the left and right.

(End of this chapter)