483: Chapter 480: The Counter Charge 483: Chapter 480: The Counter Charge Blocked in front, pursued from behind, and soon to be under attack from aircraft looming in the sky, with nowhere to hide or take cover—this was looking like the end.
Having quickly reviewed the imminent situation in his mind, Gao Yang immediately concluded that they could no longer continue forward.
The aircraft would arrive in an instant, and it was impossible for the convoy to hide from an aerial assault.
Nate’s complexion finally changed.
No matter how formidable the Angel Mercenary Corps was, they were still human, not Superman with his underwear worn outside.
Outnumbered and with the element of surprise lost, moving forward was akin to seeking death.
Even if they could forcibly break through the blockade, how many would survive was uncertain.
“Stop the vehicles, turn around, head back!”
In the urgency of the moment, Gao Yang shouted the command.
Nate demanded gravely, “Give me a reason!”
“There’s a lot of traffic heading into the city, and this road isn’t blocked yet.
The police and military haven’t reacted that quickly.
We traveled from south to north across most of the city area.
Everyone knows we’re trying to break out to the north, so their focus is all there.
Taking advantage of the fact that Bogota hasn’t been completely sealed off yet, we have a chance to switch directions and avoid the pursuers.
We need to split up; the convoy is too conspicuous.
Slow down and move with the traffic flow; at least the aircraft above won’t be able to pick us out.”
Gao Yang’s explanation was brief, but Nate understood—the original plan to continue evacuation was no longer viable.
It was a desperate move to actively head into the city, but it could offer a chance of survival.
Most crucially, even if discovered within the city, at least they wouldn’t be subjected to aerial bombardment.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Nate immediately issued instructions through the radio: “Stop, turn around and head into the city.
Spread out, slow down, and don’t cluster into a convoy.
Try to blend into the traffic flow.
Ditch the pickups with distinctive features.
Chloe, quickly find out the police blockade situation and look for a safe route.”
The lead vehicle made a sharp turn and started heading towards the city.
Two pickups stopped, and their occupants scattered and got into sedans.
The vehicles in the convoy promptly turned on the motorway and began to head toward the Bogota they had just fought their way out of.
The convoy of more than twenty vehicles spread out, extending three to four kilometers from front to back.
With the vehicles dispersed, a forceful breakthrough would be difficult if they encountered a blockade.
Their only hope was to avoid detection.
Gao Yang’s vehicle turned around and began to head into the city, the speed dropping from over 120 kilometers per hour to just over 70.
No.
50 Motorway was very busy, and the outbound direction was already affected with few vehicles.
Traffic hadn’t stopped completely; vehicles still merged onto No.
50 from various side streets.
However, the volume of traffic heading into the city was quite high, with a constant flow of various vehicles.
Not long after they had started moving toward the city, Gao Yang heard a loud whoosh overhead.
Looking down from the rear window, he saw only the tail end of two jet fighters flying at ultra-low altitude.
“Mirage, searching along No.
50,” he murmured.
After a moment of silent relief that they would have been under attack by cannons or even bombs had they continued on their original route, he took a deep breath.
A hint of relief appeared on Nate’s face.
He glanced back and let out a sigh, saying, “Ram, you think on your feet pretty quickly.”
After making his casual remark, Nate spoke into the radio again: “Chloe, any updates?”
“Report, just received news—areas in downtown Bogota where battles have occurred have been cordoned off by a large police presence, but they are severely understaffed.
They’ve only set up barricades near the main intersections around a few battle sites.
They’re unable to seal off the entire route.
Even with the army’s mobilization, it’s not feasible to block off the entire city in the short term.
Additionally, it seems Bogota’s high-level officials aren’t planning to blockade the entire city.”
Nate’s expression finally relaxed a bit.
He spoke softly, “Good, keep monitoring the situation in the city and find a safe route.
Also, locate another appropriate camp that we can take over.”
While Nate was speaking, Gao Yang, who had been looking out the front window, whispered, “Look, there’s another plane.
Why is it a propeller plane?”
Gao Yang had spotted four planes flying along No.
50; however, these planes were much slower than the Mirage 5s that had just passed and were much quieter.
They were indeed old-fashioned propeller planes.
After a glance, Nate whispered back, “Super Tucano aircraft, Brazilian-made two-seater trainers that becomes highly effective when converted into ground attack planes; very successful for Colombia in combating drug traffickers and guerrillas, much more suited to the task than the Mirage 5.
What worries me is these planes.
Although propeller-driven, their payload capacity reaches one and a half tons, and they can be equipped with anything.
The slow flight speed doesn’t cause them to zoom past like the Mirage 5; they can hover overhead and take their time attacking us.”
Nate explained, and Gao Yang suddenly remembered.
There are hardly any countries left in the world that use propeller aircraft as their main fighters or attack aircraft, and Colombia is one of them.
The impression had stuck with him; it was just that he hadn’t expected to actually encounter one.
Although the Super Tucano is a propeller-driven plane, it’s anything but outdated.
With a powerful engine, its external load can reach 1550 kilograms.
It has two fixed .50 caliber machine guns built into the wings and can be fitted with gun pods, rocket pods, free-fall bombs, cluster bombs, laser-guided bombs, anti-tank missiles, and even infrared air-to-air missiles.
It’s capable of both ground attacks and air combat.
The Colombian Air Force, masterful in utilizing the Super Tucano, has a reasonably good combat record.
They wouldn’t stand a chance against the air forces of other modern nations, but for anti-terrorist and counter-guerrilla operations, they have more than enough capacity.
The Super Tucano’s greatest advantage against guerrillas lacking anti-air weapons is its stall speed of only 148 kilometers per hour as a propeller plane.
This slow speed allows pilots to leisurely search for and identify targets.
The strength of the Colombian Air Force is nothing special; its main aircraft are the Mirage 5 and the Super Tucano.
However, when tasked with ground-attack missions, the Mirage 5 is far less agile at low altitudes compared to the Super Tucano.
The Mirage 5, being faster, would zip over the battlefield, giving pilots little time for identification and attack.
In contrast, the Super Tucano can afford to take its time; there’s no worry of ground attacks, allowing it to unleash its powerful firepower on the ground targets.
Gao Yang’s vivid memory of the Super Tucano comes primarily from knowing that the U.S.
military ordered twenty of them for use in Afghanistan.
The U.S.
military certainly isn’t short of aircraft, but the characteristics of the Super Tucano are particularly well-suited to Afghanistan’s low-intensity conflict that requires long patrol durations.
With a ferry range of 2855 kilometers and an endurance time of 8 hours and 40 minutes, not to mention a cruising speed of 520 kilometers per hour, the Super Tucano can patrol and monitor the battlefield at low speed for extended periods.
Upon receiving a call, it can immediately rush to the battlefield to provide support.
Watching four Super Tucanos fly overhead from the rear car window, Gao Yang and Nate instinctively wiped sweat off their brows.
If they had turned around just two minutes slower and the Super Tucanos had caught up with them, incessantly attacking from above, the mere thought was terrifying.
If targeted by the Super Tucano in an attack run, no exaggeration, at least half of their people would be killed or wounded.
As the Super Tucanos flew further away, Nate finally exhaled and said, “I can’t believe I didn’t think to run into the city.
Ram, I’m glad I followed your idea.
Now that we’ve blended into the traffic, I feel like even if we’re attacked again, at least it won’t be from the air.”
“Report, intelligence suggests that after entering the urban area, we proceed onto C180 Street, then turn right onto C172 Street, continue onto Boyaca Avenue, and head south until we exit the city from the south and join No.
40 Motorway.
According to reliable information, Boyaca Avenue is not blocked, and there are no orders to block No.
40 Motorway.”
Nate immediately said, “Follow this route.”
After saying this, a smile finally appeared on Nate’s face.
He turned to Gao Yang and said, “Looks like we’re heading to the southern rainforest again, just in a different direction.
But things seem a lot simpler now.
Let’s hope we can get out before they catch on.”
Gao Yang pondered briefly then said in a grave voice, “Is there a way to continually draw their attention northward?
That would give us more time to escape.”
After thinking for a moment, Nate grinned and said, “Cunning guy, but indeed I do have a way.”
Finishing his sentence, Nate immediately spoke into the radio, “Find a guerrilla group near No.
50 Motorway with enough strength.
In their name, release a message taking responsibility for everything happening in the Bogota urban area, and do it quickly.”
Gao Yang, puzzled, asked, “Given our current situation, how can we send a message out?
Oh, I understand now.
Do you have somebody else arranged in the Bogota urban area?
You have a dedicated person for gathering intelligence and sending messages, right?”
Nate’s smile widened slightly as he replied, “Since you came up with a good idea, I’ll let you in on a secret.
Remember, as a mercenary, wherever you are, always leave someone on the outside.
Even if you’re surrounded, you’ll have someone to gather intelligence and arrange many things.
Of course, that person needs to be highly capable.”
Nate made it sound simple, but upon further consideration, Gao Yang realized just how difficult this would be.
Little Donnie would certainly not be up to the task if asked to play this role.
Gao Yang wanted to ask Nate in detail about the responsibilities and operations of this person left on the outside, but it certainly wasn’t the right time for such questions.
“Report, Jaguar Corps spotted.
Their convoy just passed us by.”
Upon hearing the message relayed from the vehicle ahead via his earphone, it didn’t take long for Gao Yang to see a convoy composed of many military vehicles passing by them — trucks, jeeps, and wheeled armored vehicles.
Counting them up, there were more than forty vehicles in total.
(To be continued.
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