eurekapd Chapter 602: Dawn of Black Wind City: Falcon's Dawn
Chapter 602: Dawn of Black Wind City: Falcon's Dawn
In this land shrouded in darkness, the sunlight, like a prisoner imprisoned for a long time, finally broke through the thick layer of clouds, like a golden sword, piercing straight through the haze that had lingered for a long time over Black Wind City.
Golden light poured down like a torrent, scattering across the crumbling ruins. These once towering and sturdy buildings were now only ruins, their walls blackened by war, their roofs collapsed, as if they had been carelessly kneaded by a giant hand. Yet, illuminated by this golden light, these ruins seemed to be given new life, the charred rubble coated with an ethereal warmth, as if telling of their former glory.
The sun also illuminated the still-dry dark red stains on the streets, the silent tears of blood shed during the city's long reign of darkness. These stains seeped into the cracks in the cobblestones, mixing with dust and gunpowder smoke to create a suffocating odor. This smell permeated the air, leaving people with a deep sense of despair and helplessness.
Today, however, there seemed to be a distinct flavor in the air. It was the smell of iron and fire, of order, rebirth, and hope. Within the ruins of the city, people began to bustle. They cleared the rubble and debris from the streets and repaired the destroyed buildings. Though the work was still arduous, a long-lost hope filled their faces.
"Falcon Squad, follow me! Stay alert and watch the flanks!"
Lin Wei's voice, beamed clearly through the helmet's built-in communicator, reached every member of the Falcon Squad. She twisted the handlebars, and the "War Wolf" motorcycle beneath her lap let out a deep roar. Like a beast awakening, it rolled over the gravel-strewn streets. The spread-winged falcon logo painted on the side of the motorcycle gleamed brightly in the sunlight. Following closely behind her were her twelve team members, twelve equally sturdy motorcycles, forming a compact and swift steel torrent, tearing through the devastated city's main thoroughfare.
They are the Falcons, the first all-female motorized reconnaissance and assault squad in the new era's army. Not only are they feared vanguards on the battlefield, but they also shoulder the arduous tasks of infiltration and reconnaissance, area control, securing key points, and assisting follow-on troops in restoring order during the initial phase of urban takeover. Black Wind City, once tightly controlled by the notorious warlord "Black Wind," had its defenses shattered three days ago by the iron fist of the Liberation Army. Now, it's the turn of these "light cavalry" to penetrate the enemy's den, clearing obstacles and paving the way for the larger forces and reconstruction teams that will follow.
"Captain, a suspicious heat source has been spotted at the intersection ahead. Three of them are on the move." Team member Zhao Yan's calm voice rang out. She is the team's radar and thermal imaging expert, and can always spot hidden threats at the first opportunity.
Lin Wei's eyes narrowed, and her right hand quietly grasped the pistol hanging from the inside of the handlebars. "Slow down and form a wedge formation. Zhao Yan, report your exact position and direction of movement. Li Na, launch the drone and confirm the nature of the target."
"understand!"
Li Na, nicknamed "Eagle Eye," quickly operated the controller on her wrist, and a small four-rotor drone silently rose from the storage box on the back seat of her motorcycle. Like a real falcon, it flapped its wings and flew high into the sky, transmitting real-time images back to the helmet display of each team member.
In the picture, three furtive figures are crouching in the shadows of a half-destroyed department store, seemingly holding weapons and warily observing the street. They are ragged, sallow-faced, and their eyes are filled with fear and anxiety, but also with a hint of greed and ferocity.
"They are not the remnants of the regular army. They look more like... stragglers or defeated soldiers. They may even want to take advantage of the situation to rob others." Li Na judged.
Lin Wei breathed a sigh of relief, but her vigilance remained. "Shout out a warning message, have them lay down their weapons, leave the building, and gather in the middle of the street. I repeat, lay down your weapons, or we will take coercive measures."
Team member Chen Xi turned on the car's loudspeaker, and standard Mandarin boomed with undeniable authority: "Attention, personnel ahead! You are surrounded! Immediately lower your weapons, put your hands on your head, exit the building, and assemble in the middle of the street! This is your ultimatum!"
The sound of the loudspeaker echoed across the empty street. The three figures were clearly panicking. After a commotion, two of them seemed to want to resist, but were held down by the third. A moment later, they slowly emerged from the rubble, their hands raised, their faces filled with fear.
Lin Wei signaled for team members Zhang Lan and Wang Fang to come forward and disarm them for inspection. These two, relatively tall, were the team's primary assaulters. They deftly exited the vehicle, pointed their guns at the three men, and quickly frisked them, confiscating a rusty machete and two iron rods hidden in their arms.
"Captain, no other weapons were found, only some dry bread crumbs on the body." Zhang Lan reported.
Lin Wei looked at the three trembling men, their eyes empty, filled with a desire to survive. She sighed inwardly. The people of Black Wind City, under long-term oppression, had long since lost their sense of right and wrong. They would do anything to survive.
"Ask them if there is anyone else nearby and whether they have heard or seen any movements from other armed men." Lin Wei ordered.
After some guesswork and communication (one of them could speak a few broken Mandarin), they learned that there were indeed many stragglers and refugees like them in the area, but most of them were frightened and did not dare to move around easily. They only ventured out to find something to eat because they were extremely hungry.
Lin Wei was silent for a moment, then said to Chen Xi, "Give them some emergency food and water." Then she turned to the three men and said sternly but without malice, "This place has been liberated, and order will be restored soon. Do not attempt to commit any evil, or you will be subject to military law. Now, leave here and go to the temporary resettlement site in the east of the city. There's food and safe shelter there."
The three of them took the food and water and stood in a daze for a moment, their eyes filled with disbelief as they gazed at the heroic figures of Lin Wei and the others and the distinctive military emblems on their motorcycles. The man, who spoke Mandarin, suddenly dropped to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly to them, "Thank you... Thank you, the army... Thank you, the female Bodhisattva... The Black Wind Dogs have finally been driven away..."
The other two also knelt down and cried inconsolably.
Lin Wei felt a mixture of emotions. This was the meaning of their battle. She didn't let them kneel any longer, ordering them to leave immediately. As they staggered and disappeared around the corner, the team members' faces showed a complex expression.
"Let's go, we still have a lot of places to go." Lin Wei restarted the motorcycle. "Remember our mission. It's not just to wipe out the remaining enemies, but also to let the people here know that a new era has arrived. Peace and order are returning."
The Falcon Squad set off again, the roar of their motorcycle engines shattering the brief silence as they continued their journey deeper into the city. The sun rose higher and higher, stretching their shadows like streaks of light splitting the darkness.