While Song Heping's team was struggling to survive in the sea of sand, the scene he predicted was playing out in a much more tragic manner just tens of kilometers behind.
Lieutenant Colonel Adams, the SBS Special Forces Commander, and the GNA armed elite pursuers he led had similarly plunged headfirst into the continuously escalating super sandstorm.
At first, they relied on their numerous vehicles and sophisticated equipment to attempt a forced pursuit.
But when the sand concentration reached a critical point, when fine sand completely clogged the air filters, and when the rampant wind swayed the almost ten-ton armored vehicles, disaster struck.
Reports of stalled engines spread like a plague through the radio channels, instantly drowning out the commander's orders.
"Alpha 1 stalled!"
"Bravo 2 stalled! Unable to restart!"
"Command vehicle! Command vehicle has lost power!"
...
The massive convoy of thousands was paralyzed in the heart of the sandstorm in no time, as if hit by a petrification spell.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Without the protection of their vehicles, the soldiers were exposed to the savage sandstorm.
Sand grains, sweeping across like buckshot, made it impossible for people to keep their eyes open or maintain their footing.
The enormous sand walls moved, swallowing their vision and their sense of direction.
"Stay put! Find cover on the spot to avoid the sandstorm!"
Captain Don's voice roared over the radio, but the signal was severely disrupted by the sandstorm, breaking intermittently.
Panic spread like wildfire.
Most GNA soldiers were temporarily conscripted, with much less discipline compared to elite units like the SBS.
In the dire situation of lost command and protection, survival instincts overpowered discipline.
Some attempted to find shelter on foot but vanished within a few steps into the boundless yellow sand, without a trace.
Even more frightening were the moving sand dunes and quicksand traps.
Several vehicles attempting to move got stuck in the deep sand and were quickly buried halfway.
Some soldiers hiding under vehicles were buried alive by suddenly collapsing dunes or moving vehicles.
The chilling screams and desperate shouts were torn apart by the wind, vanishing in an instant.
The sandstorm became the most fair yet cruel Reaper.
"Stay calm! Gather together and follow your superiors!"
Captain Don tried to control the situation.
But he quickly realized that all his efforts were futile.
With thousands of people in chaos, the scene wasn't something a few SBS members could control, not to mention in this environment full of raging wind and sand, shouts were swallowed by the wind before they traveled ten meters.
In the end, Captain Don could only give up the struggle and organize his small team to shelter from the storm on their own.
The SBS members, due to their stronger discipline and survival skills, could barely maintain the assembly of small groups and find rocks or leeward slopes for shelter.
But the GNA troops suffered heavy losses, countless were dispersed, buried, suffocated, or injured in the chaos, unable to move.
Looking at the hellish scene and listening to chaotic pleas and reports over the radio, Major Ali, the highest commander on site of the GNA armed forces, wore a sullen face.
Pursue?
Now it would be a blessing to keep one's life and gather the remaining troops.
Song Heping's small unit seemed to have merged with the sandstorm itself, traceless and elusive.
Almost simultaneously, at the MI6 headquarters along the Thames River in London, the atmosphere in the strategic monitoring room was grave.
On the huge screen, the recently overhead reconnaissance satellite transmitted images no longer depicting clear desert terrain and vehicle heat signals.
The screen showed only a boundless, violently swirling yellow-brown vortex. The sandstorm was so vast that it completely obscured all surface details.
Infrared imaging was equally ineffective, as the entire surface temperature had been homogenized by the thick sand dust layer.
"Sir, latest overhead imagery. Sandstorm coverage exceeds expectations, visibility in the central area is zero. Unable to identify any ground targets, including SBS beacons and the Song Heping convoy signals previously marked."
The analyst's voice carried a hint of resignation.
Technical Director Selena stood in front of the screen, her brows furrowed.
Her exquisite makeup could not hide the worry in her eyes.
"Magnify the storm's edge area, attempt to find any abnormal heat sources or movement traces."
"We've tried, sir. No valid information. Sand interference too strong, completely overwhelming the signals."
The analyst shook his head.
Selena was silent for a moment.
"Where was the SBS last reported position?"
"Coordinates reported before losing contact at the storm's central area edge, approximately 15 kilometers from the last observed position of Song Heping's convoy. But currently... it's impossible to determine their exact status and movements."