708 Operation: Black (1/2)
Somalia, Hudur region. It was sunny.
A large net was formed around the village where the salt factory was located. Garrett, a modified warrior, was responsible for the frontal attack. He was supported by a Ghost Agent, as well as a Celestial Trade Marine Corps soldier who was deployed in the vicinity as backup. All combat units had arrived in their scheduled positions.
They were only waiting for the night to execute their mission!
The sun began to set, and a dim halo shrouded the outer edge of the red terrain of the earth, scattering a blood-like color to the surrounding sand dunes. Dark-skinned villagers with long branches shooed the goats back into the pen. A truck drove on the dirt road and raised a cloud of dust. Several armed militants carrying AK-47s jumped off the vehicle and ordered the villagers next to them to unload the ”tea leaves” on the truck and move them into the plant.
The Ghost Agent on the sand dunes took a deep breath, shifted her gaze from the scope, and clicked the touchscreen on her right arm a few times.
In order to prevent snipers from snooping, these militants cleverly pulled ropes between the buildings and hung dyed cloths on the rope. However, these methods weren't so effective for a Ghost Agent equipped with advanced technology.
The only problem was the civilian population in the village - it was difficult to avoid accidental injuries.
A holographic screen emerged. Before her eyes was a bird's eye view of the village. The drone had arrived over the salt factory. Using infrared identification devices, it marked the heat source belonging to the militants and used the two-line positioning method to directly present a three-dimensional position of the target on the Ghost Agent's retina.
The sky finally turned dark.
In addition to the armed militants who were still standing around, the villagers had already returned home and closed their doors and windows. The entire village was filled with silence. When the last light went out, Garrett, waiting by the highway, took out his Ripper Assault Rifle from his travel bag, loaded it cleanly, took the rifle and walked towards the wall on the periphery of the village.
The Ghost Agent, codenamed Ghost Bird, had already shared the enemy's heat source coordinates on his chip. Although their dark skin color provided them with natural night camouflage, under the monitoring of drones, they were no different from people sitting underneath a spotlight.
”At three o'clock, there are two sentinels.”
Leaning against the wall, Garrett pressed on the headset.
”Can you hit them over there?”
”There's a building in the way; you have to rely on yourself.”
”Okay.” At the same time the voice faded, Garrett took out the drone from the backpack behind him and threw it in the air like he was throwing a Frisbee.
Buzz-!
A short buzzing sound whistled past. The two sentinels didn't have time to react before a series of blood splatters appeared and they collapsed into pools of blood.
With a rifle, Garrett stepped out of the shadows and reached for the hummingbird drone that hovered over the bodies of the two men. He then proceeded in the direction of the salt factory with his rifle.
At that moment, a shrill scream coming from the distance suddenly broke through the silence of the village. Then, on the other side of the village, there was heavy gunfire!
Garrett's expression turned stern as he assumed his location had been exposed. He immediately rushed for cover and switched his rifle to automatic.
The screams awakened the sleeping villagers and lamps began to light up.
Of course, some people would never wake up again.
The lights illuminated the dark village. Cries, screams, and gunfire mixed together. Garrett waited for a long time, but the envisaged siege didn't come.
”The situation is odd.” The Ghost Bird's voice appeared in his ear.
”What happened? Can you see things from over there?” Garrett frowned.
”Zombies. The villagers are infected and turned into zombies... The zombies are now attacking the militants and they're killing each other.”
”Fu*k!”
[This madman!]
Garrett cursed, immediately lifted his rifle, and rushed toward the salt factory.
This mission didn't receive approval from the Somali authorities. At the moment, all the people in the village turned into zombies. Such a big event was absolutely impossible to cover up! The heavy casualties of unrelated civilians would inevitably draw the attention of the local warlords, international watchdogs, and UA troops stationed in the Gulf of Aden.
Celestial Trade definitely couldn't become the scapegoat!
He had to finish this quick!
Roar--!
His dark skin stained with blood, a man dashed out of the darkness and rushed at Garrett. Judging from his ferocity and speed, he obviously wasn't an ordinary zombie!