Two days later, night.
In the northern Sen Republic, near the mining area.
General Lumar sank deep into the leather seat of the command vehicle, eyes cautiously fixed outside.
Outside the window, a steel torrent composed of tanks, armored vehicles, and armed pickups rolled over the cracked land of the Kaduna mining area, raising dust like a murky curtain, obscuring the dim sunset.
The entire six brigades of Sena Defense Army elite — the sharpest sword in his hand — were spreading out in a wedge combat formation.
The tracks of the T-72 tanks crushed the gravel into powder, and the diesel engines of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles roared dully, making the car windows tremble slightly.
Countless dark gun barrels pointed uniformly at the silent mining area in the distance — which contained the nation's wealth and hid the thorn in his and President Du Er's side — "Musician" Defense.
"The intelligence cannot be wrong..."
Lumar chewed this sentence repeatedly in his mind, trying to suppress the unease entwining his heart like a Poison Snake.
Weber from British MI6 had personally shown him satellite images: the mining area fortifications were obviously reinforced, and vehicle activity was frequent.
Ground informants also confirmed that the notorious desperadoes of the "Musician" Defense Company were holed up in those maze-like mine tunnels and sturdy prefabricated barracks.
President Du Er's roar in the encrypted phone call still echoed in his ears: "Lumar! Crush those rats with iron and fire for me! Take back the mining area! It is the lifeblood of the nation! It is also the guarantee of your position as Commander-in-Chief!"
"General!"
The adjutant's voice came over the in-car communicator, with a trace of imperceptible hesitation, breaking the oppressive atmosphere inside the command vehicle, "The vanguard reconnaissance battalion reports... all preset guard posts on the mining area perimeter... are empty. No signs of any activity."
"Empty?!"
Lumar's thick eyebrows instantly twisted into a dead knot, an icy chill climbed up his spine.
He slammed the communication button, suppressing anger in his voice: "Continue the reconnaissance! Order the sappers to move forward, clear any possible trap mines! The armored company provides fire cover! Keep your eyes wide open for me!"
A few minutes of waiting felt like a century.
When the new report arrived, the air inside the command vehicle nearly solidified:
"Reporting to the General! The main entrance of the mining area is wide open! No guards! The living area... like a ghost town, completely deserted! There are no landmines laid here, it's very safe... something's not right..."
"Boom!"
Lumar's fist, full of strength, slammed onto the alloy command table, causing the coffee cup to jump, the brown liquid staining the operation map marked with attack arrows.
"Order all troops! Immediately control all entrances and exits! First and third armored battalions move forward, search every inch of the mine tunnels, every warehouse, every barrack! Dig three feet if you have to, to drag them out for me!"
He almost roared out the commands, the veins on his forehead pulsing fiercely.
"Impossible! How can thousands of people disappear into thin air?!"
The massive war machine, bearing suspicion and murderous intent, cautiously ground into the depths of the mining area.
Tanks rammed into rusted iron gates, producing ear-piercing sounds of metallic distortion.
Infantry squads advanced with alternating cover in standard tactical formations, muzzles warily sweeping across every window, every corner.
However, the feedback information plunged the temperature in the command vehicle to the freezing point:
"No traces of personnel activity found at main mine shaft entrance number one! Equipment inside is silent!"
"Living area canteen, only rotting food scraps and empty cans remain! Swarmed with flies!"
"Equipment warehouse, all heavy weapons are missing! Only some excavators and mining equipment remain..."
"Office area... all computer mainframes are here, files are here, but people are gone..."
...
Deathly silence.
Suffocating silence.
Only the dry desert wind howled mournfully through broken window frames, as if mocking this bloodthirsty army that had come up empty-handed.
No gunshots of resistance, no explosions encountered, not even a single living creature found!
This area, once deemed a den of dragons and tigers, was now left to desolation, like a silent and resounding slap, ruthlessly striking Lumar's face.
"Lure the tiger away from the mountain!"
This thought pierced through Lumar's mind like a poisoned ice pick, bringing dizziness and bone-chilling cold!
Instantly cold sweat soaked through his camouflage suit.
"Damn it! We've been played!"
He was furious, tremendous fear gripped his heart — Capital Butare!
It must be extremely vulnerable now!
Just as he was about to bellow the command, "Everyone turn around! Full speed back to support Butare!" —
"General! Urgent telegram with the highest priority! From the Capital Guard Command!"
The communicator's voice carried an uncontrollable tremor, like a funeral chime sounding.
Lumar snatched the communicator, the voice within filled with apocalyptic terror and the static of despair: "General Lumar! Butare... Butare is under large-scale attack! Unknown armed forces... massive in number! The entire city... the entire city is without power! Communications... have been cut off! The President's Mansion... the President's Mansion is under fierce assault! Can't reach the President... can't reach anyone... ah—!"
After a short scream, the communication was completely swallowed by an ear-piercing busy signal!
"Hello?! Talk! What's Butare's situation?! Hello!"
Lumar frantically roared into the microphone, but was only met with silence.
Like a wounded trapped beast, he frantically switched all backup encrypted channels:
"Third Armored Brigade! This is the Command Headquarters! Respond immediately! Execute the emergency plan!"
"Air Force Command Center! Vulture Squadron! Take off immediately to support the capital when you hear this!"