Chapter 1339
Silent Hunt
Chapter 1339 Silent Hunt
The desert north of Kirkuk.
Local time: 04:30-04:55.
Five MRZR all-terrain vehicles sped across the desert, which was covered with gravel and dry valleys, like ghosts gliding close to the ground.
The engine has been specially tuned so that the low-frequency roar is mostly swallowed up by the terrain and wind noise. The tires are low-noise sand tires, but they still inevitably make a small crunching sound when crushing gravel.
The driver relied entirely on the low-light visibility provided by the night vision device and the pre-entered GPS waypoints for navigation, and turned off all the vehicle lights.
Song Heping sat in the passenger seat of the lead car, his body bobbing violently with the jolting.
In the night vision goggles, the world appears as a patchwork of varying shades of green.
The terrain ahead began to rise, and the outline of the blurry hills in the distance gradually became clear.
There was only occasional, slight electrical noise from the car radio.
The commandos huddled in the cramped space, clutching their weapons to avoid making any noise.
With three kilometers to go before the target infiltration point, Song Heping raised his fist and made a "stop" gesture.
The convoy gradually slowed down and finally stopped on the shady side of a rocky hill, where the engines shut off.
Absolute silence enveloped them instantly, broken only by the mournful sound of the desert night wind whistling through the cracks in the rocks and the chirping of unknown insects.
"Final check, five minutes."
Song Heping gave the order in a low voice through the individual radio, and the voice was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the bone conduction microphone.
"Sniper team, support team, establish initial positions. Assault team, follow me."
The team members silently slid off the vehicle and quickly spread out to form a perimeter around it.
Led by Jiang Feng, the four snipers, carrying heavy firearms and observation equipment, crouched low and ran towards a higher rocky platform on the right.
The view from there is expansive, overlooking the western entrance of the hilly area about two kilometers away. Although the exact location of the cliff top cannot be seen due to the angle, it is possible to monitor the bottom of the canyon and any enemy sentries or vehicles that may appear on the perimeter.
Under Abuyu's command, the six-man support team began to build a makeshift defensive position between two huge rocks, setting up two Mk 48 machine guns with their muzzles pointed at the convoy's route and the opposite slope on the west side of the canyon where enemy activity might occur.
They simultaneously deployed vibration sensors and infrared warning devices, forming an alarm defense line.
Song Heping then led twenty assault team members on foot to the final climbing starting point.
They formed a loose but visually connected column and advanced along the edge of the ridge, using every shady spot and rock for cover.
The ground was loose gravel and sand, and each step required careful control of the force and angle of each footfall to minimize noise.
Under the night vision goggles, the rock face ahead that needed to be climbed became increasingly clear.
It was a nearly vertical limestone cliff, about forty meters high, with a severely weathered surface, covered with cracks and protruding rock edges, presenting a rough texture against the green backdrop.
When they were still 100 meters from the bottom of the rock face, Song Heping clenched his fist again, and the group came to a complete stop, crouching behind several large rocks.
He raised the thermal imaging monocular and carefully scanned the upper edge and sides of the rock face.
The screen displays a world of black, white, and gray, with temperature differences outlining its contours.
The rock face itself is a cold, dark gray, with a few very faint, almost blending-into-the-environment pale gray spots on the upper edge, remaining still.
"At two o'clock, about two meters below the edge of the cliff, there is a heat source. It might be a hidden sentry."
Song Heping spoke in a very low voice on the radio channel.
"At the eleven o'clock position, in the inward depression at the top of the cliff, there is also a static heat source. The rest of the area is clean."
Sure enough, there were sentries.
The special forces team that Barzani sent out were not fools; they still set up sentries on the west side, a direction that was theoretically unfavorable for an attack.
The location was well chosen, hidden below the ridgeline of the cliff top, completely invisible from the east side of the canyon, yet able to monitor a large area approaching from the west.
"Sniper team, 'Ghost One' calling. On the western edge of the cliff top, coordinates Alpha-7 and Bravo-3, there are suspected sniping outposts. Can you observe and lock onto them?"
Song Heping called out to Jiang Feng.
A few seconds later, Jiang Feng's voice came, equally soft:
"Observation confirmed. Alpha-7 is in the shadows below the rock eaves, and Bravo-3 is behind a rock crevice. Both are in a sitting or leaning position, with minimal movement. My position does not provide a direct firing angle; they are hiding on the reverse slope. You need to approach and deal with them."
"receive."
Song Heping turned to the assault team behind him and gestured: Two sentries spotted, need to be silently eliminated.
He selected two team members codenamed "Iron Wolf" and "Shadow".
These two demonstrated exceptional close-quarters combat and wilderness tracking abilities during the selection process.
"Iron Wolf" is a former member of the Russian Spetsnaz special forces, while "Shadow" is a former special operations soldier from Colombia, skilled in covert operations in jungles and mountains.
"You two, come with me first. 'Iron Wolf' to the left, 'Shadow' to the right. The rest of you, stay put and remain alert. Wait for our signal."
Song Heping drew a Strider combat knife from the scabbard on his leg. The blade had a matte finish and did not reflect light.
He tossed the HK416 behind him and checked the silenced Glock 19 pistol mounted on his chest, making sure he could draw it quickly.
Like geckos, the three began to move towards the darkest shadows at the bottom of the rock wall.
They chose an area with many cracks and shrub remnants as their starting point for climbing.
Climbing is a basic skill for special forces, but it must be done while fully loaded and completely concealed.
They cannot use climbing ropes because the friction of the ropes and the sound of the hooks may be exposed, and can only rely on their bare hands and simple rock wedges and grappling knots for assistance.
Song Heping was the first to find a crack, inserting his fingers into the cold rock crevice and tentatively searching for a foothold.
He uses the standard "three-point fixation" principle, keeping three contact points stable at all times while moving, moving only one hand or one foot.
The movements are slow and precise, with each exertion controlled to a minimum to avoid kicking off loose stones.
Night vision devices provide good depth perception, but the slipperiness and vulnerability of rocks still need to be judged by touch.
"Iron Wolf" and "Shadow" separated to his side and below, each searching for its own path.
During the climb, the only sounds were their own suppressed breathing, the faint rustling of their combat gear against the rough rock surface, and the ever-present sound of the wind in the distance.
Sweat seeped from my forehead and stung my eyes, but I couldn't wipe it away.
All attention was focused on the points where the fingers and toes touched the rock, and on the darkness above, for there lurked deadly eyes.
Fortunately, the slope is not particularly steep. As long as you are careful not to slip and fall and not to make any noise that would alert the sentries above, everything will be fine.
The climb took about twenty minutes.
When Song Heping's fingers finally touched the edge of the cliff top, he stopped, his whole body pressed against the rock wall like a protruding rock.
He carefully extended the night vision lens slowly beyond the edge, revealing only a small portion of it.
In view, the top of the cliff is a relatively flat open area covered with large and small pebbles. After extending about 30 meters to the east, the terrain begins to slope downwards, leading into the hilly area, which is also where Highway 1 passes through.
About fifteen meters away at his two o'clock position, under a protruding rock, huddled a figure wrapped in a blanket, holding a rifle in his arms, his head occasionally twitching slightly, as if resisting sleepiness.
This is exactly the sentinel shown in the thermal imaging.
Song Heping turned his head back and made a "ready" gesture to the two positions below.
He needs to take out two sentries at the same time, without any screams or gunshots.
So he raised his hand and signaled "Iron Wolf" to take charge of the left side, while "Shadow" and he would take charge of the right side together.
Like death slowly rising from the ground, the three silently climbed to the top of the cliff, then crouched low, using the loose rocks as cover, and crawled toward their target.
The ground was loose sand and gravel, and you had to use your elbows and knees to carefully avoid rolling rocks while crawling.
It took them nearly three minutes to crawl 15 meters.
When he was about five meters away from the sentry, Song Heping stopped and gestured towards the "shadow"—
You attract attention from the front, I'll attack from the side and back.
He drew his Glock 19 silenced pistol, released the safety, and gripped the Strider knife in reverse with his left hand.
"Shadow" picked up a small pebble from the ground and gently tossed it toward a rock about two meters in front of the sentry.
A soft "click" sounded.
The sentry was startled, looked up, and was wide awake. He quickly picked up his rifle and looked warily in the direction where the stone had landed.
Just as his attention was drawn, Song Heping suddenly sprang up from the side and behind, his left hand covering the sentry's mouth and nose from behind like an iron clamp, while at the same time the Strider blade in his right hand precisely pierced into the gap between the skull and cervical vertebrae below the ear, penetrating deep into the brainstem.
The movements were swift, precise, and deadly.
The sentry's body convulsed violently, struggling a few times like a dying fish, before collapsing and being gently laid down by Song Heping without making any meaningful sound.
Almost simultaneously, three very faint tapping sounds came through the headphones—this was the success signal from "Iron Wolf".
The other sentry has also been dealt with.
As expected of a ruthless individual from the Russian elite special forces, he acts decisively and efficiently without any hesitation.
perfect!
Song Heping spoke two words into the radio microphone: "Sentry cleared. Route secure. Assault team, begin climbing." The seventeen assault team members waiting below immediately began their operation.
They split into three groups and began to climb in an orderly manner along the route opened up by Song Heping and the other two.
This time they can use the static rope that Song Heping and the others threw down for protection, but absolute silence is still required.
The entire climb lasted approximately twenty-five minutes.
The last team member climbed to the top of the cliff at 05:18.
Everyone gathered in the shadows on the western edge of the cliff top to catch their breath and organize their equipment.
Song Heping used thermal imaging to scan the front and the top of the cliff to the east again.
The thermal signals from the three main positions on the eastern cliff top remained unchanged, with no abnormal movement.
The two heat source clusters near the lower edge of the hill also remain unchanged.
According to electronic reconnaissance information provided by the US military, the enemy's communication channels only had occasional static noise and a brief Korde question.
"Time: 05:20".
Song Heping looked at his luminous wristwatch.
"Square into groups as planned and move to the target position. Remember, synchronization is key. Sniper group, support group, report the situation."
"Sniper team in position, good visibility, able to monitor the bottom of the canyon and part of the eastern cliff top. No abnormalities detected," Jiang Feng reported.
"Support team in position, rear is secure," Abuyu's voice came through.
"Alright. Assault teams, group confirmation: Group A, led by me, target position one (northernmost); Group B, led by 'Butcher,' target position two (middle position); Group C, led by 'Hunter,' target position three (southernmost); Group D, led by 'Wanderer,' mobile reserve team, also responsible for clearing any scattered sentries or sensors on the western flank that may have been missed. Attack start time: 05:30 sharp, based on my signal. Move out."
The four five-person teams spread out like mercury spilling across the ground, skimming the surface and using every rock and depression in the terrain to sneak towards the three target positions on the eastern cliff top.
They moved a little faster than when they were climbing, but remained cautious.
The panoramic view provided by night vision goggles allows them to maintain their sense of direction and awareness of their teammates' positions in complex terrain.
Song Heping's Group A target was the northernmost position, which was also the highest and had the best view.
According to thermal imaging, there are four heat sources there.
The position was set up in a natural rock depression, backed by a huge rock wall, with a view covering the entire northern entrance of the canyon and part of the road.
They need to approach from the side and rear, where there is a blind spot.
When they were about fifty meters away from the position, Song Heping signaled the group to stop.
He lay down behind a rock and observed carefully.
The outline of the position became clear in the night vision goggles: the edge of the pit was made of rubble to form a simple firing emplacement, and a PKM general-purpose machine gun was mounted on the emplacement, with its muzzle pointing down into the canyon.
Four figures were seen: two leaning against the rock wall, seemingly resting; one sitting next to a machine gun; and the other walking a little further away, possibly a sentry or observer.
Faint sounds of German conversation could be heard, the voices were very low.
Song Heping used sign language: machine gunners and observers first, the two resting men second.
He assigned targets—he and his teammate "Rattlesnake" would take out the machine gunner and the nearest resting man; his teammates "Venom" and "Viper" would take out the observer and another resting man; and his teammate "Centipede" would be responsible for guarding the perimeter and providing follow-up fire.
They were like four separate venomous snakes, creeping towards the edge of the pit from different directions.
The gravel on the ground was the most dangerous. Song Heping carefully probed the path with his palms and forearms, clearing away any stones that might roll.
The distance has been reduced to twenty meters...
ten meters...
five meters...
The breathing of the soldiers in the position could be clearly heard, and a faint smell of tobacco could be detected, indicating that someone was secretly smoking.
These special forces members of the Kold's forces were not cautious enough and had problems with discipline...
The time is 05:28.
Song Heping's heart was beating steadily and powerfully.
He raised his clenched right fist, signaling readiness. All the team members' fingers were on the triggers or gripping the handles of their knives.
05:29:50.
05:29:55.
05:30:00.
time up!
Song Heping suddenly swung his right hand forward!
Almost simultaneously, four assault teams sprang from different shadows and pounced on their respective targets.
Song Heping leaped up like a cheetah, taking three steps to cover the last ten meters. In the instant the machine gunner turned his head in astonishment, his left hand covered his mouth and nose, while his right hand pressed a silenced Glock pistol against his temple with a muffled "thud".
The machine gunner's body went limp.
The resting man next to him was startled awake and instinctively reached for his rifle, but "Rattlesnake" behind Song Heping had already arrived. A vicious dagger pierced his carotid artery, and his other hand tightly covered his mouth.
Blood splattered on the rocks, appearing even darker black in the night vision goggles.
"Venom" and "Viper" succeeded simultaneously. "Venom" used a noose to lasso the observer's neck from the side and rear, pulled him backward sharply, and pressed his knee against his back. The noose tightened instantly, severing the trachea and carotid artery.
"Viper" then pounced on the last resting person, repeatedly stabbing him in the chest and abdomen with a serrated tactical knife to ensure he was instantly incapacitated and unable to shout.
The entire killing was completed in four seconds.
Only the sounds of corpses falling and slight convulsions remained in the crater. Song Heping quickly scanned the area, confirming that all four targets were completely dead.
He pressed PTT and reported in a low voice: "Group A, position cleared, green."
Almost simultaneously, nearly overlapping short reports came through the earpiece:
"Group B, position two cleared, green."
"Group C, three-way clearing of the position, green."
"Group D, the western area has been cleared. No additional enemies found. Green."
Perfectly synchronized.
At four main clifftop positions, twelve enemies were silently eliminated almost simultaneously. Domination of the canyon changed hands in five seconds.
"Sniper team, what's the situation at the bottom of the canyon?" Song Heping asked immediately.
"No abnormal reactions were observed at the two bottom positions. The heat source has not moved, and there are no signs of gathering. Communication is silent."
Jiang Feng's voice came through, carrying a hint of relaxation after tension.
"Very good. Assault team, take control of the position immediately and inspect enemy equipment, especially communication devices. Look for any timed reporting procedures or alarm triggers. Team D, establish a surveillance point at the bottom of the canyon. Sniper team, mark the specific personnel and heavy weapon positions at the two positions at the bottom."
The team members acted swiftly.
Song Heping conducted a quick inspection of the newly captured position.
The enemy soldiers who were killed were wearing the desert camouflage commonly seen on soldiers of the Abuyu Brigade, and their equipment consisted entirely of Russian-made or Eastern European weapons.
These included an AK-74M rifle, a PKM machine gun, an RPG-7 rocket launcher, a pair of binoculars, and a rather new-looking Harris tactical radio.
He picked up the radio and tuned it to the frequency used by the enemy; all he could hear was static.
He examined the body again and found a simple map and a handwritten note on a man who appeared to be a squad leader.
The note was written in Korde. With the dim light from his night vision goggles, Song Heping could barely make out the keywords: "The convoy is expected to arrive at 11:00... Target vehicle confirmed (black Mercedes)... Awaiting attack instructions from superiors, prioritizing the use of 'Kornet' missiles..."
really.
The details of the plan all match up.
The intelligence provided by Duke this time was accurate.
He quickly put the note away.
Similar reports came from other positions: the enemy was well-equipped, with anti-tank missiles, Kornet launchers at the bottom of the canyon, and well-camouflaged firing positions, but vigilance was at its lowest point before dawn, when they were most drowsy.
No sophisticated alarm devices or timed reporting mechanisms were found, suggesting that the squad commander was careless. He was overconfident in the stealth of the ambush, or rather, he did not expect someone to launch a reverse clearance operation from an almost impossible direction.
"There are two positions at the bottom, each with about six people."
Jiang Feng's voice came again; he had already scanned it carefully with a high-powered microscope.
"One is behind a boulder at a bend in the riverbed, which should be an anti-tank missile team; you can see the launch tubes. The other is in the bushes on the opposite slope, which are support and guard personnel. They take turns resting, and at least half of them are currently sleeping."
Song Heping watched the horizon gradually turn white.
The darkest hour is passing, but dawn is still some time away. They need to decide how to deal with the last twelve enemies at the bottom.
Second update, 10,000 words complete.
Today is the Winter Solstice. I wish all my readers, brothers and sisters, a happy holiday.
(End of this chapter)