Empire Conquest-Chapter 776 - 60: Rejoining the Team After Much Trouble
After seeing the helicopter flying toward them, Lian Mingyang and Jiang Shanggui dashed out from their hiding spots in the bushes and launched a signal flare that produced yellow smoke.
It was a "Z-8T" helicopter marked with the insignia of the Empire’s Air Force.
After landing, four Special Soldiers from the Air Force’s Search and Rescue Squadron rushed out—two headed straight for Lian Mingyang and Jiang Shanggui while the other two stood guard.
They practically dragged the two men onto the helicopter.
From landing to lifting off again, it took less than half a minute.
There were also three Air Force pilots inside the helicopter, all members of the "Black Spider" squadron equipped with "Attack-9".
Without a doubt, they had been shot down while on a mission.
Fortunately, the three pilots had only suffered minor injuries and were otherwise alright aside from being in low spirits. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
However, there was nothing to be pleased about.
According to the three pilots, their squadron had lost five "Attack-9" in the first round of fighting, and another two pilots had not survived.
The battle was truly brutal.
Lian Mingyang and Jiang Shanggui were lucky; they had evaded the enemy’s search teams, managed to make contact with their own forces, and stumbled upon this rescue team.
Due to range limits, the "Z-8T" only took Lian Mingyang and the others to a field airport just outside Akhtubinsk.
Many pilots were still awaiting rescue, and the Air Force’s Special Forces responsible for the search and rescue missions only handled transporting the rescued pilots to the relatively safer rear areas.
After dropping off Lian Mingyang and the other pilots and refueling the helicopter, the rescue team took off again without delay. The Special Soldiers also quickly grabbed some food during the refueling and restocked items needed for the rescue operations, like first aid kits.
As for ammunition, surprisingly little was used.
Their mission was merely to locate and retrieve pilots stranded behind enemy lines, not to engage in combat or risk an encounter with sizable enemy forces.
Indeed, even the field airport was only relatively safer.
At the field airport’s headquarters, Lian Mingyang learned more details.
Volzhsky had been captured by the enemy—more precisely, the defending Eastern Luosha Army had broken out, abandoning the city that was sure to fall.
Fortunately, the valiant reprisal by the Eastern Luosha Armored Forces had successfully dampened the enemy’s offensive momentum.
Now, the enemy’s vanguard had reached Kapsingyar, but had stopped advancing due to severe losses, albeit temporarily.
Once the second-line troops were in place, the enemy would continue toward Astrakhan, with Akhtubinsk next on their list.
A few hours earlier, the Northwest Battle Zone Headquarters had ordered the Imperial Army to retreat.
The Eastern Luosha Army would send an infantry battalion here to guard this not particularly vital field airport, providing cover as the Imperial Army withdrew toward Astrakhan.
Additionally, the situation on other fronts was also dire.
At Rostov, the Western Luosha Armored Forces had breached the first line of defense without significant losses and were currently advancing toward Tikhoretsk.
Although the Eastern Luosha Army had strengthened their defensive positions in Kinosdanor, planning to hold out, the chances of keeping the city were slim.
It was probable that Novorossiysk would be besieged within a few days.
In the north, from Ulyanovsk and Saratov, the Western Luosha Armored Forces had made breakthroughs and were expected to reach the outskirts of Samara within three days. If no unforeseen events occurred, these Western Luosha troops could advance to the outskirts of Orenburg within a week.
Overall, the Eastern Group’s defensive line on the east bank of the Volga River had completely collapsed.
Lian Mingyang and Jiang Shanggui’s goal was simply to return to Changala base as soon as possible and rejoin the fight using armed helicopters.
That was assuming any armed helicopters were still operational.
"You don’t know?"
The commander of the field airport, Tang Boxiong, a forty-something Air Force Major.
Seeing the confused looks on Lian Mingyang and Jiang Shanggui’s faces, Tang Boxiong sighed before saying, "After the war began, Changala base was subjected to a saturation missile strike and has been completely destroyed. Because there are still many unexploded timed bombs, the Land Air Force hasn’t sent any combat troops there."
"All destroyed?" Jiang Shanggui was obviously incredulous.
Tang Boxiong nodded, then added, "As far as I know, there is a Land Air Force unit at Atla that will participate in defending Astrakhan."
"How can we get to Atla?" Lian Mingyang did not dwell on other issues; their priority was to rejoin their unit.
"We will go east to Yushtagan to organize a defensive line there, not Atla." Tang Boxiong spoke these words as he wrote a note. "Go to the logistics department at the airport, take this note, and you can drive away a military vehicle, taking everything you need for Atla."
"But..."
"I can only help you so much."
Jiang Shanggui wanted to say more, but Lian Mingyang had already taken the note from Tang Boxiong’s hand.
"Major, thank you very much. If there’s a chance, I hope we can fight side by side."
Tang Boxiong just nodded, then shook hands with Lian Mingyang.
Leaving the headquarters, which was the only barracks at the field airport, Lian Mingyang couldn’t help but sigh.
"Boss, this isn’t much of a solution, from here to Atla..."
