The blast wave of the grenade explosion threw the sand three meters high.
Major Carter spat out a mouthful of blood, his retina still imprinted with the flash trails of the recent volley.
Dozens of muzzle flashes flickered uniformly three hundred meters away on the dunes, like the eyes of the Grim Reaper.
Surrounded by mercenaries of "Musician" defense, Carter knew there was no way out.
Song Heping's deployment was exceedingly precise; the plan was comprehensive, indicating thorough preparation, just waiting for us to support the Green Berets and then trap them.
Encircle and trap the reinforcements.
This term floated in Carter's mind.
He had learned this military strategy in military school.
It was a tactic that the China People military excelled at.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall historical data from the Peninsula War, sensing a familiar aroma.
Escape was impossible.
Originally, there was a gap at the 9 o'clock position for retreat.
Unfortunately, just recently, muzzle flashes appeared there too.
Indicating the gap was now blocked.
Contact with the Green Beret squad was entirely lost.
Carter could easily imagine those poor fellows now soaked in blood, collectively fallen.
Despair surged from his heart like a tide once again.
Yet death compelled him to muster his spirit.
Can't fall apart.
Only fight.
Fight to the end!
"7 o'clock direction! Spread out!"
His roar exploded in the encrypted channel.
The Delta team members instantly transformed into moving shadows, with 7.62mm rounds chasing their heels into the sand.
Technical Sergeant Thomson had just set up the AN/PAS-23 thermal imager when a 40mm grenade exploded before him.
Carter saw the twenty-one-year-old Texan fly up like a rag doll, his left leg missing below the knee.
"Medic!"
Carter rolled to the edge of the crater, the butt of the SCAR-H smashing heavily against his ribs.
The sniper behind the distant dunes opened fire.
The sound of the 7.62mm steel core bullet penetrating the ballistic helmet was like a hammer smashing open a watermelon. Carter felt warm liquid splatter on the back of his neck—Sergeant Hansen's brains.
"Form a defensive circle! D3 formation!"
Carter kicked away the twitching corpse and pulled the last two M67 hand grenades from his tactical vest.
With the metallic snap of the pin being pulled, he saw seven black shadows closing in a fan shape.
Sergeant Gray's M249 suddenly roared.
The 5.56mm belt tore across the sand like hot wire, severing two mercenaries at the waist.
But the suppressing fire from Group B arrived swiftly, the 7.62×54mmR bullets from the PKM machine gun shredding the rock where Gray was hiding.
"Communications channel restored! We've contacted headquarters!"
Communications Officer Wilson's voice crackled with static, but it brought hope.
The previously silent communications channel suddenly filled with voices.
"Calling Team D, calling Team D."
"This is Team D, it's a trap! All operations tonight were leaked! We're surrounded near the Green Berets' point of attack, requesting urgent support!"
"Received, Predator has launched, will arrive within forty minutes at the latest, hold on!"
"Forty minutes... we're down to seven men!"
"Hold on! Just forty minutes!"
"FUCK!"
Carter knew venting his anger was pointless at this moment.
He pulled out a small box and took a pill from it.
This was a special drug issued by the Special Forces.
Carter didn't even know the exact composition.
But he was sure it contained stimulants; the military had given it the codename "G1."