Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 654 Diving Training, Seaplane Combat, Underwater Spire

Night had fallen over Lake Tana, but the tents in the U.S. expedition's encampment on Tark Island were still lit.

Because of the arrival of the Germans, everyone is stepping up preparations.

As a crucial device for underwater exploration, diving suits are being used by staff who are currently adjusting the equipment.

In order to take the secret treasure from the underwater temple without anyone noticing, Fang Wen was prepared to go underwater, so he seriously inquired about and learned how to use a diving suit.

The staff explained, "We use a diving suit provided by Morse Diving Equipment Company, which is a 'heavy-duty full-body diving suit.' Has Mr. Fang used this type of diving suit before?"

Fang Wen replied, "I used it once in Türkiye, but I wasn't the one who went underwater then. This kind of wetsuit is too bulky and doesn't allow for flexible movement. Do you have any other options?"

“Yes,” the staff member said, picking up a rubber diving suit. “This is a frogman suit from the French company Boshat. It was originally only used by the military, but our Holy Light Gospel Society bought it from France at a high price. It uses a rubber-coated lining with a nylon lining, which is very waterproof. Wearing it, along with a closed-type breathing apparatus and a high-pressure air tank, you can dive underwater for half an hour.”

(Frogman equipment during World War II)

Fang Wen took the diving suit, put it on under the guidance of the staff, and then put on the other equipment.

The entire diving equipment is lighter than a heavy-duty diving suit, but it is still quite heavy.

Wearing a diving suit, Fang Wen also carried two backpacks: a high-pressure oxygen cylinder on the right and a carbon dioxide absorption tank on the left.

The shoulder is equipped with a breathing bag, as well as a closed respirator with a head cover.

This equipment is for military use.

Carbon dioxide in exhaled breath is absorbed by the chemical absorbent (potassium hydroxide) in the carbon dioxide absorption canister.

The consumed oxygen is then replenished as needed via high-pressure gas cylinders.

Therefore, no bubbles are generated underwater, allowing for covert underwater operations.

This is a device that is only equipped by the frogman units of the United States, Britain, France and Germany in this day and age.

After getting dressed and carrying all his gear, Fang Wen walked toward the dock on flippers that resembled duck feet.

The staff and Gong Xiuneng went along, just in case.

At the dock, Fang Wen had a rope tied around his waist, with Gong Xiuneng holding the other end of the rope.

"Commander, be careful, don't let the rope come off."

Fang Wen nodded: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After he finished speaking, he made a gesture to the staff to go into the water, and then jumped into the lake.

At this time, the nighttime temperature on the Ethiopian highlands is 10 degrees Celsius, and the underwater temperature is even lower, only a few degrees.

Despite wearing a diving suit, Fang Wen did not feel the expected damp cold.

The Borshat frogman suit has a dense rubber coating and a nylon lining that locks in body heat, with only a slightly cool touch coming from the sealed areas at the neck and wrists.

He suddenly sank half a meter, and the weight of the two backpacks on his back was mostly offset by buoyancy in the water. It was no longer the feeling of sinking on land, but rather like a pair of invisible hands supporting his shoulder blades, keeping his body in a delicate balance.

Fang Wen raised his hand and pressed the sealing buckle on the edge of the mask, then tried to inhale.

The airflow from the closed respirator, accompanied by a slight hissing sound, rushes into the nasal cavity. It is not a high concentration of oxygen, but ordinary compressed normal air.

He breathed, adjusting to the underwater environment.

His physical and mental abilities, far exceeding those of ordinary people, allowed him to adapt quickly.

He looked around at the underwater world.

At night, the lake is pitch black below, with extremely low visibility; even with a waterproof lamp, visibility is only a few meters.

And overhead, because of the lower depth, the moon could be faintly seen in the sky.

It's time to try underwater swimming.

With a gentle push from his flippers, Fang Wen's rubber blades, resembling "duck feet," traced an arc in the water. His strength gave him a propulsion force greater than he had imagined, allowing him to swim more than ten meters in an instant.

They couldn't go any further; the rope binding them was almost at its end, and Fang Wen didn't want Gong Xiuneng to pull him out of the water.

He twisted his body, moved his flippers, and swam back.

This time, I deliberately slowed down my movements to feel the harmony between my fins and the water flow.

His powerful mental strength allowed him to perceive many details, which in turn changed his underwater swimming movements, making him more agile.

Next, it's time to try deep-sea diving.

Fang Wen lowered his body, his webbed feet moving, and swam downwards like a fish.

As the depth increases, the underwater temperature decreases and the water becomes increasingly dark.

Around the waterproof light, tiny schools of fish chased after the light.

Fangwen's portable waterproof light attracted the fish to swim along with it.

After playing for a while, he began to check the condition of his diving equipment.

The pressure gauge on the right-side high-pressure gas cylinder is stable, with no signs of leakage;

There was no abnormal warmth coming from the carbon dioxide absorption tank on the left. He remembered that the staff had said that if the absorbent failed, the tank would get hot, which was the most dangerous sign.

At this moment, the rope binding her waist was pulled.

The agreed-upon time for diving has arrived.

Fang Wen then swam upwards and soon surfaced.

On the dock, Gong Xiuneng, who had been tense, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Fang Wen emerge.

He reached out and, together with the staff, pulled Fang Wen onto the dock. After Fang Wen removed his breathing mask, he asked anxiously, "Commander, are you alright?"

Fang Wen smiled and said, "It's alright, this thing is even easier than I thought. That's enough, no need to practice anymore, I've already mastered it."

"Should I learn it too?" Gong Xiuneng asked.

"No need. Just stay on the ship or plane and watch the safety rope like you are now. If you see anything, just pull me up."

"it is good."

After they finished talking, Fang Wen took off his diving suit and went back to the plane to rest.

Because of the Germans, Fang Wen had more faith in the safety of airplanes.

The next morning.

At 5 a.m., all the personnel involved in the aerial exploration operation got up. Fang Wen and Gong Xiuneng also got up from the plane and went to the campsite for breakfast.

They had a simple Western-style breakfast: a hot dog meal.

We sliced ​​the leftover bread from yesterday, toasted it, and then filled it with sausage and fried eggs, along with a cup of coffee for everyone.

After breakfast, everyone walked together to the pier, boarded the plane, and began their journey.

The airplane engine started, glided on the water for a while, and then took off into the sky.

This scene was witnessed by Germans at the southern lakeside port, who immediately reported the situation.

Immediately afterwards, two Ar 196s took off and chased after the direction in which Fang Wen's plane had disappeared.

Above the lake, Fang Wen piloted the aircraft while simultaneously activating his mechanical senses.

This can compensate for the lack of radar detection devices on civilian watercraft.

He could see the Ar 196 seaplane chasing from behind very clearly.

Fang Wen pondered in his heart.

To successfully locate the underwater temple today, we must get rid of the interference from these two aircraft.

The two aircraft are similar in performance, but the German Ar 196 is a military amphibious aircraft with a machine gun mounted in the nose, giving it a certain air deterrent capability.

The plane Fang Wen was piloting did not have the protection of a gunship, and if it were hit, the people inside would face a life-threatening situation.

Therefore, it was necessary to deter the two German military amphibious aircraft from approaching.

It seems we need to bring out the secret weapon hidden in the plane.

Thinking of this, he said, "Gong Xiuneng, go to the rear storage room and open the innermost sealed cabinet."

"It's the regimental commander."

Gong Xiuneng quickly ran to the rear cabin, opened the storage room door, and immediately saw a locked, sealed cabinet at the very back.

That kind of lock is a special lock, and Gong Xiuneng has the key to unlock it.

He walked over, used the key to unlock the cabinet, and pulled open the door.

The cabinet was filled with weapons: Taishan sniper rifles, rocket launchers, submachine guns, grenades, and more.

Gong Xiuneng quickly closed the cabinet door, walked out of the storage room, and asked loudly, "Commander, the cabinet is open."

"Take out the airburst grenade launcher from the third floor, load it with ammunition, and wait for my command."

"Okay." Gong Xiuneng followed Fang Wen's instructions and loaded 20 smoke bombs into the airburst grenade launcher.

While Gong Xiuneng was loading ammunition, Fang Wen explained the situation to Steve and two geological historians in the cockpit.

"The German planes are catching up; we need to find a way to drive them away."

"How do we get there in time?" Steve asked anxiously, and the two scholars also panicked.

"All you need to do is open the hatch when I give the order, and my bodyguards and I will take care of the rest. Oh, and make sure the safety ropes are secure; there will be some turbulence later."

The three of them didn't fully understand what Fang Wen meant by the bumpy ride, but they still followed Fang Wen's instructions, tied the safety ropes, and stood by the cabin door to wait.

At this moment, Gong Xiuneng also finished loading the ammunition and pushed the airburst bomb launcher to the hatch.

The plane behind us was only 3000 meters away.

Fang Wen controlled the aircraft's direction.

The aircraft made a large maneuver, adjusting its fuselage to face the enemy aircraft from the side.

"Open the hatch."

At Fang Wen's command, Steve and two geologists worked together to open the hatch.

Despite the strong winds, Gong Xiuneng stood firm, braving the wind and ready for battle.

Moments later, the enemy aircraft was about to enter the designated firing range, and Fang Wen, having grasped the lead time for firing, immediately gave the order.

"Elevation angle 1 mark, continue firing."

Having cooperated with the team in numerous battles, Gong Xiuneng reacted with lightning speed, turning the adjuster and launching the missile immediately after adjusting the launch port.

A series of airburst projectiles were launched, exploding within a range of 800-1000 meters.

This area is exactly where the Ar 196 seaplane would enter.

The airburst bombs exploded in succession, creating a large amount of smoke that enveloped the aircraft.

Meanwhile, the burning material that was constantly generating smoke was also attached to the wings, making it look as if the wings were on fire and emitting smoke.

This frightened the German pilot, who then hastily turned around and fled.

The remaining plane, however, was still approaching the aircraft piloted by Fang Wen.

"Close the cabin door and hold on tight to the handrails!" Fang Wen shouted.

Steve and his team hurriedly turned the axle, but due to their nervousness, they turned it in the wrong direction and couldn't close the hatch.

Seeing this, Gong Xiuneng rushed over and closed the cabin door.

As soon as the cabin door closed, Fang Wen pushed the stick sharply to lower the nose of the plane, which quickly descended and flew at a low altitude of 300 meters above the lake.

This flight pattern allowed them to avoid being pursued by enemy aircraft, enabling the two planes to separate in a staggered, alternating pattern.

But because of the rapid descent, Steve and the two geologists, who had never experienced this kind of flight before, were thrown out.

Fortunately, the safety rope was there, so they weren't seriously injured, only suffering minor abrasions.

Mechanical senses spread out like radar, and the propeller speed and flight trajectory of the enemy aircraft behind him were clearly reflected in Fang Wen's mind: that Ar 196 was trying to adjust its course and continue the pursuit.

"Gong Xiuneng, adjust the launcher to a depression angle of 2 degrees. Steve, you guys prepare to open the hatch." Fang Wen continued to issue orders, his voice calm and composed.

After regaining their composure, Steve and the two geologists exchanged a glance and went back to the hatch to prepare.

The plane suddenly pulled up, forming a 15-degree angle with the Ar 196 seaplane, and rushed past it.

This change startled the German pilots, who instinctively wanted to swerve to avoid it.

But these were all his illusions. Everything was within Fang Wen's precise calculations, and a plane collision was simply impossible.

While the German pilots were scrambling to catch up, the Taishan seaplane had already taken to high altitude and completed its spatial readjustment.

The aircraft veered, with one side facing Ar 196.

"Open the hatch."

Following Fang Wen's command, Steve and his team immediately opened the hatch.

This time, due to the plane tilting, small, unsecured items inside the cabin were instantly flung out.

Gong Xiuneng braced his feet against the ground and gripped the launcher with both hands, waiting.

At the right angle and the moment the firing range was reached, Fang Wen gave the order.

"emission."

Upon hearing the command, Gong Xiuneng quickly pressed the launch button. The metal gears made a crisp "click" sound, and the remaining airburst bombs shot out, trailing a light smoke, and exploded in the area below.

The dense fragments scattered, forming a white expanse on the lake surface.

The enemy pilot was caught off guard and hurriedly pulled up to avoid it, but was still affected.

The pilot of the Ar 196, lost in the smoke and with only a few hundred meters above the lake, crashed the plane headfirst into the water.

Fortunately, it was a seaplane, and thanks to the buoyancy of the float, it did not sink.

However, this angle still caused the aircraft's float support to break, making it unable to take off again and forcing it to float on the lake awaiting rescue.

Fang Wen then spoke up: "Close the hatch, it's safe now."

The two seaplanes were damaged but not destroyed. This was intentional on Fang Wen's part; he wanted the treasure, but he couldn't afford to strain relations with the Germans.

After closing the hatch, Gong Xiuneng casually put the airburst grenade launcher back into the weapons cabinet and locked it.

Steve and the two scientists, however, slumped to the left on the floor near the hatch, utterly exhausted.

"Do you do this often in the East?" White asked.

“Anything can happen during wartime, it’s normal,” Fang Wen replied as he piloted the plane toward the exploration area.

The 'minor conflict' he just experienced was nothing compared to his aerial combat experience with Gong Xiuneng.

After a 30-minute flight, the plane arrived at the exploration area.

"We've arrived," Fang Wen reminded them.

Only then did the two geologists begin their exploration.

According to the detection plan agreed upon yesterday, the main task is to conduct echo detection, comparing the echo data of five suspicious areas to identify the most likely one.

The echo detection in this area was completed quickly, and Fang Wen then piloted the plane to fly to another area.

The five detection zones were explored in a short time, taking only one hour, as preliminary exploration had been conducted yesterday.

After the exploration was completed, the two scientists conducted data analysis on the plane.

"We compared the echo data from zones 1 to 5. Zones 1, 3, and 4 are relatively weak, suggesting they are likely natural underwater caves that do not have the foundation for large-scale man-made structures, so they can be ruled out. The echo data from zones 2 and 5 both suggest the possibility of large underwater caves, but we cannot determine which one is the underwater temple."

After listening to the two scientists' analysis, Fang Wen pondered the matter.

He was certain that the real underwater temple was in Zone 2; Zone 5 was just a larger volcanic cave.

But how do we guide them?
Fang Wen piloted the plane over Zone 2 and observed the lake below.

Suddenly, he noticed something he hadn't noticed before.

There are three black dots on the lake surface below.

Because of the angle, it wasn't very obvious, and Fang Wen didn't notice it either.

He took out the piercing gem hanging around his neck and activated his X-ray vision ability.

It combined X-ray vision with mechanical perception, allowing it to penetrate the lake water.

The scene below suddenly came into view.

There are three black obelisks there.

Not far away, underwater, one can vaguely make out the shape of a man-made temple.

The center of the triangle formed by the three obelisks is an altar-like structure.

Fang Wen smiled and feigned surprise, saying, "Look down there, it looks like there's something there."

(End of this chapter)