Ah Huo saw that the US military helicopters in the sky had not heeded his warning to leave, but instead began airlifting fully armed combat personnel onto the desalination ship. He immediately issued the order to attack the tail rotor of the CH-47 "Chinook" transport helicopter with the Type-1 Special Weapon.

Following Ah Huo's combat order, a shell shot out at high speed from an opening on the desalination ship housing their command center, hurtling toward the helicopter's tail rotor.

"Warning, vessel below may be deploying weapons—Chinook," the transport helicopter's system alerted the US troops onboard, having detected the anomaly from the desalination ship. But before the warning could even finish, the Americans spotted a flash below, and the shell struck the helicopter's tail rotor.

The projectile traveled at an incredible speed; it was detected by the aircraft's radar system just as it made impact. The shell struck the tail rotor precisely, exploding and blowing the entire assembly clear from the fuselage.

With the loss of a critical support point, the Chinook transport helicopter instantly lost its balance. The entire fuselage began to spin violently and shudder, while the rear section rapidly dropped toward the sea.

The two US soldiers rappelling down on the ropes were violently jolted by the helicopter's violent tremors, losing their grip. They tumbled onto the deck below. Though not immediately killed, they were immobilized and swiftly captured by security personnel who had been lying in wait.

"Captain, what do we do? Our aircraft is out of control and about to crash onto the deck of the ship below," the pilot shouted nervously.

"Damn it, they actually dared to attack a US aircraft. Tony, use every means necessary to pull her up, get clear of the deck and the desalination ship, and try for an emergency landing on the distant sea surface—that’s our only chance," the US captain on board ground out through gritted teeth.

With the pilot's desperate efforts, the CH-47 "Chinook" transport helicopter, now missing its tail rotor, wobbled away from the desalination ship below. However, due to the catastrophic imbalance, sustained flight was impossible, and its altitude dropped steadily, clearly destined for a crash into the ocean.

"Boss Huo, they're trying to ditch on the water. What should we do? Should we finish them off?" the security operator who controlled the Type-1 Special Weapon asked, his face alight with excitement.

"They are no longer a threat to us. We will leave them for now and just observe the situation, but the two Special Weapons must remain on high alert," Ah Huo replied.

Directly ahead of Ah Huo and his men, the CH-47 "Chinook" transport helicopter finally succumbed, hitting the ocean surface. Yet, the pilot's skill was clearly extraordinary; despite the forced ditching, the aircraft did not explode. Furthermore, it was equipped with comprehensive escape gear, allowing the more than forty US soldiers inside to evacuate quickly. The CH-47 "Chinook" transport helicopter soon sank beneath the waves.

The US soldiers dispersed across three life rafts, staring blankly at the massive complex of desalination plants in the distance and the swirling vortex left by the sinking helicopter. They couldn't believe they had been attacked. Forced to evacuate into the sea, most of their weaponry had been discarded. They now possessed only a few light arms—equipment wholly inadequate to complete their original mission.

"Charlie, contact base immediately. Tell them our direct assault plan has failed. We were attacked by an unknown weapon system from a Star Group desalination ship. We have lost our CH-47 'Chinook' transport helicopter. I am requesting immediate execution of Plan B, and activation of Plan [Redacted]; authorize this immediately. Our mighty US military is omnipotent and will complete this mission," the Captain commanded with forced composure. The sudden assault from the desalination ship had dampened morale, and the Captain's timely encouragement was intended to fuel the next phase.

Soon, the communications specialist named Charlie used his equipment on a specific frequency to contact the rear base, providing a detailed report of the unfolding events and requesting authorization for Plan B and the activation of Plan [Redacted].

"Boss Huo, since we’ve already captured two of their soldiers, and the rest are in the water below, shouldn't we just capture all of them?" one mercenary asked.

Ah Huo laughed. "The Americans on the surface are currently outside our immediate defensive perimeter; we don't need to concern ourselves with them. As for the two we have already captured, we'll hold them temporarily until we receive orders from the Boss on how to proceed."

So, the security personnel and mercenaries of the Star Group remained on the desalination ship, their weapons trained on the US soldiers in the sea, warning them not to approach the ship or they would open fire.

"Captain, why don't we just move in? With our superior personal strength, we could easily seize the desalination ship. The security on board are just ordinary people; they are no match for us. Even though we lost a chopper, we could still complete the mission without resorting to Plan B!" a Black soldier asked in confusion.

"Shut up, Henry. What do you know? Have you forgotten how our aircraft was shot down? That shell moved incredibly fast; I've never seen a weapon like it. Do you think they only had one of those things? If we charge in now, and they hit us with that weapon, we'd just be throwing our lives away. Do you honestly believe these forty-plus soldiers, without any heavy weapons, can take down that desalination ship?" the Captain retorted sharply.

"But Captain, Johnny and Fire Chicken were captured. Aren't we going to rescue them? They are our comrades," Sergeant Henry argued back.

"Who said we aren't going to rescue them? We are formidable US soldiers; no person or force on this earth can make us fear or retreat. Remember, the Persian Gulf is our territory. Executing Plan B and Plan [Redacted] will show them our defiance and allow us to complete this mission properly, instead of dying pointlessly," the Captain sneered. Having two of his men captured was a deep affront to the soldiers who prided themselves on unparalleled military might, making the retrieval of their comrades a necessary part of their retaliation.

"Boss Huo, our radar detected two aircraft eighty kilometers away in the sky. Their flight path is directly toward our desalination ship," the security personnel monitoring the radar suddenly reported.

"Do you have any specifics on those two aircraft?" Ah Huo inquired. A murderous aura emanated from him. Since they had already broken the taboo and fired, they might as well commit fully and eliminate every aggressor.

"Not precisely clear on the situation yet, but based on their current speed and trajectory, they should be directly overhead in about ten minutes," the radar security replied.

"Activate the Type-1 Special Weapon, lock onto those two aircraft, and shoot them down immediately if they enter our 20-kilometer range. Use the Type-2 Special Weapon as a backup, ready to provide mutual defense at all times. Simultaneously, activate the Type-1 and Type-2 Special Weapons on the second desalination ship for complete preparedness," Ah Huo issued his orders calmly.

As Ah Huo's commands were implemented, two openings slowly opened five meters beneath the surface of the second desalination ship. These openings rotated continuously 360 degrees, monitoring the entire seabed area beneath the desalination plant complex.

The life rafts carrying the US soldiers bobbed on the ocean surface. The Captain ordered his men to paddle hard, moving away from the desalination plant complex. Ah Huo watched them retreat coldly from the ship, making no move to stop them.

Five minutes later, the US communications specialist reported, "Captain, two Predator unmanned hunter-killers are forty kilometers out. They are awaiting your command."

Major Carl of Task Force 13 looked toward the desalination ship, then took the communicator. "This is Major Carl of the 13th Special Operations Task Force. I order you to launch two laser-guided missiles at the target."

At an altitude of 7,500 meters, forty kilometers from the Star Group desalination ship, two uniquely shaped Predator unmanned hunter-killers flew steadily. Upon receiving Major Carl’s command, the remote operators launched one laser-guided missile each toward the Star Group desalination ship. Propelled by rocket boosters, the two missiles flew forward.

"Boss Huo, those two aircraft are forty kilometers out and have just launched two missiles at us. We have confirmed they are US Predator unmanned hunter-killers," the radar security operator quickly reported.

"Heh heh, persistent to the point of foolishness. But if you come here to die, don't blame us. If we don't hurt you badly, you'll never understand the might of Star Group," Ah Huo sneered.

On the sea surface, Major Carl tracked the speed and bearing of the laser-guided missiles on his equipment display. Two other soldiers activated laser designators, aiming them at the other two desalination ships. Because two of their comrades were captured, they dared not guide the missiles toward Ah Huo's command vessel.

Soon, the white smoke trails of the missiles appeared in the sky as the two laser-guided munitions streaked toward their targets. Major Carl clenched his fist and roared, "Go, blow those sons of bitches up!"

However, when the two laser-guided missiles were still five kilometers from the Star Group desalination ship, two shells suddenly shot out from the vessel. These projectiles moved in a flash and struck the two airborne guided missiles, causing them to detonate into two fiery blossoms before falling into the sea below.

"This..." The distant US personnel were dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes. Their laser-guided missiles had just been intercepted. Those missiles were traveling at Mach 5 and were already in their terminal dive phase, making interception virtually impossible. Yet, they had been effortlessly neutralized by weapons from the desalination ship. Furthermore, they hadn't even clearly seen the intercepting weapon, which shocked them deeply.

"Captain, what now?" Henry asked, stunned.

Miller was momentarily surprised but quickly recovered. He spoke into the communicator, "Guided missiles intercepted. Requesting re-launch of missiles and formal execution of Plan [Redacted]."

At this point, the two Predator unmanned hunter-killers were less than twenty-five kilometers from the desalination ship. Following Major Carl's order, they immediately launched two more laser-guided weapons, again aimed toward the desalination ship.

"Boss Huo, the enemy's Predator unmanned hunter-killers have launched two more missiles," the radar security operator reported.

"Heh heh, did you think we only knew how to defend? Launch the Type-1 Special Weapon immediately and destroy those two missiles. Also, monitor the flight distance of those two aircraft; if they enter our 20-kilometer airspace, destroy them instantly. They are only drones; destroying them poses no issue," Ah Huo chuckled coldly.

Under the gaze of the US soldiers, two more shells burst from the desalination ship, rocketing skyward. These two projectiles intercepted the two laser-guided missiles while they were still traveling at high speed, ten kilometers away from the desalination ship. The Americans didn't even see the interceptors before the missiles were obliterated.

"Captain, the data link shows our laser-guided missiles have vanished; they must have been intercepted by those two mysterious weapons," one soldier reported.

"Damn it," Miller exclaimed, throwing his cap off. He never expected such a seemingly simple task to be so brutally difficult. Not only was his helicopter destroyed, leaving him bobbing in the ocean, but two of his men were also captured. Moreover, his reliable laser-guided missiles had been neutralized. The sudden failure of his trusted assets left him deeply disappointed and demoralized.

"Major Carl, what is the situation ahead? Why did our laser-guided missiles suddenly disappear?" the command center began inquiring about the battle status.

"The situation here is dire, sir. The enemy possesses formidable anti-missile capabilities; all our launched missiles have been intercepted," Carl reported truthfully.

"How is that possible? Aren't they just a few desalination ships? Where did they acquire such advanced anti-missile capability?" the command center commander began questioning Carl's report.

Carl was about to answer the commander’s query when he saw two more shells launch from the desalination ship. These two projectiles flashed out and vanished into the sky; he couldn't make out the nature of the shell at all. He gasped and reported, "The enemy just launched two more shells..."

However, before he could finish relaying the news, those two shells accurately struck the two Predator unmanned hunter-killers at their altitude of 7,500 meters. The Predators exploded mid-air, turning into fireballs that disintegrated as they fell toward the sea.

It turned out the two Predator unmanned hunter-killers had flown past the designated 20-kilometer alert line, prompting the weapon control personnel to fire two shells. The projectiles struck the unsuspecting Predators seven seconds later, turning them into two massive balls of flame.

Major Carl was reporting when the command center commander sighed over the radio. "You don't need to say anything more. Their last two shells targeted our Predators. We have now lost those two unmanned hunter-killers."

Major Carl stammered, "How is that possible..."

The commander stated, "Your mission has failed. Return immediately to the coastline; aircraft will meet you there to take you back to base. We will handle the rest. That is an order."

Miller was shocked. "But we still have two men in their custody, and we have a plan. We should..."

The commander paused before continuing, "Our plan has been discovered by the enemy, and they have sent us a warning. We are withdrawing, so your current mission is to return to the coast immediately and then back to base. We will manage everything else. This is an order."

Carl froze, terminated the communication, and shot a complex glance at the distant desalination ship before shouting, "Everyone paddle hard! We need to get to shore right now!"

...

"Boss Huo, the US troops on the surface are retreating," shouted a mercenary.

Ah Huo observed through his binoculars and saw the US life rafts floating on the sea slowly retreating into the distance, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He then asked, "What about the submarine below the sea?"

A security officer monitoring the underwater sonar reported, "After detecting the submarine approaching us from the seabed, we engaged it with an active sonar ping. They know they've been exposed. Perhaps they received new orders and have now retreated."

Ah Huo finally let out a true sigh of relief. The enemies in the sky, on the surface, and beneath the water had all withdrawn. He had successfully repelled the comprehensive, multi-pronged attack launched by the US military against the Star Group desalination ships, securing the secrets held within.

Only then did Ah Huo realize his undershirt was soaked with cold sweat. He had just commanded his personnel to fire upon the world's most powerful military. They had captured two enemy soldiers, destroyed one CH-47 "Chinook" transport helicopter and two Predator unmanned hunter-killers, intercepted four laser-guided missiles, and forced the retreat of the US soldiers and the submerged submarine. Reflecting on it now, everything he had done felt like a dream.

"Boss Huo, the electromagnetic shield here has been deactivated. I will contact the Hong Kong headquarters immediately for communications," the communications security officer stated.

"Contact Hong Kong headquarters immediately, and instruct the Saudi liaison officer on our ship to contact King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia right away to request military protection here. All other personnel must remain prepared for combat readiness in case the enemy returns," Ah Huo commanded calmly. Having endured the immense psychological pressure of the preceding events, he had finally forged himself into a competent commander.

Thank you to the book friend: Da Han Guo Xing for the monthly ticket support! A