Taxes are only within machine gun range!

Chapter 141 A Huge Makeshift Team

After a while, all the combat personnel gathered in the conference room, and Brandon reported all the information provided by the "agents".

“According to multiple sources, this is real,” Milton said, pointing to the actual flight path.

No one suspected anything.

Since Milton was able to give such a definite answer, he must have been absolutely certain.

Flora tapped the map: "The flight path is in the evening, and the sun is approaching, which is quite advantageous for us. Because the sunlight sets from the sea level above the port, it greatly affects the visibility of the port garrison."

"The same applies to transport ships. We just need to fly over the sea from the side where the sun is setting, and the guards on board will have almost no chance of spotting us."

Brandon asked, "What about noise? Helicopters must be very noisy, right? Is it possible for them to hear it?"

“They won’t hear it.” Milton dispelled Brandon’s concern. “The transport ship’s own engines are also noisy, and quite loud. By the time they can actually distinguish the noise, the machine gun shells will already be raining down on them.”

“Very good. To avoid further impact, we should avoid operating on the high seas, but we also can’t let the transport ship get too close to the coastline… Shall we set the departure time for 18 PM? Departing at that time should avoid most of the risks.”

"Then, just as planned, the Gazelle swept the deck, first attacking the antennas, followed by the UH-1, which used the hatch machine guns to suppress the enemy while rappelling down combat personnel, boarding the ship, taking control of the crew, and then approaching the port..."

"Finally, use the ship's anti-tank weapons and howitzers to directly attack the enemy armored forces gathered in the port. After destroying the target, the transport ship will withdraw and run aground on the coastline of San Marcos province. Transport the contents of the ship away as quickly as possible, and blow up anything that cannot be transported, right?"

Lopez has committed most of his forces to the main battlefield, and with the port suddenly attacked, he simply cannot spare enough troops to defend it.

“That’s right…” Milton nodded. “Also, the UH-1’s combat radius is smaller than the Gazelle’s, so remember to bring an external fuel tank before takeoff.”

"If any unforeseen circumstances arise, the mission can be terminated. The primary objective is to prevent Lopez from obtaining the howitzer, the secondary objective is to acquire the howitzer, and the final objective is to expand the gains. Understand?"

“Well, Mr. Godfather… I have a few more questions about the details…”

"Should we destroy the other passageways leading to the top deck, leaving only one?"

"I feel like we need to carry an emergency folding antenna to force the crew to maintain normal communication with the port, otherwise it might alert them."

"..."

The people in the meeting room were expressing their opinions one after another, constantly refining the plan and their respective tasks.

By the time a simple but feasible solution was ready, it was already noon.

“This is just a preliminary plan.” Milton waved his hand. “There are still nine days left, and things may change by then, so let’s leave it at that for now.”

"For the next nine days, everyone will conduct the exercise according to the current plan."

"We'll try to give Lopez the biggest surprise yet—not only will he not get the howitzers, but he'll also lose an armored unit."

"..."

……

Port Champelli, early morning.

Near a cluster of dilapidated houses outside the dock, a filthy dockworker casually stepped over a large pile of rotting garbage.

“You really don’t need to be so… cautious.” The dockworker handed over a similarly dirty document, along with a camera that looked very expensive. “The plan you gave me is completely useless, like sneaking in under the cover of darkness to take some photos… Look, I just made a copy for you, and nobody cares.”

“'Lizard,' huh? Come out... Nobody’s really checking you up.”

The agent codenamed "Lizard" then pulled it out from a pile of junk—at first glance, no, even upon closer inspection, it was difficult to tell that a living person had been hidden in that pile of junk.

This dockworker was naturally the one who provided Milton with the real information.

"Lizard" patted the dust off his body and said seriously, "Work behind enemy lines is rigorous, serious, and allows no mistakes whatsoever. Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance of being exposed, we must try our best to avoid it."

Since being assigned this job, "Lizard" has barely eaten or slept well. He knows that the intelligence he is about to obtain may, to some extent, determine the course of the battlefield.

There is no room for the slightest carelessness.

The agent entrusted with this important task had no idea how abstract it would be for the Soviet Union to steal a missile from West Germany.

"The flight information you requested is all here. Where's the money you promised me?"

"Lizard" carefully examined the document—to be honest, if it weren't for the reliable news from headquarters that this informant was trustworthy, he wouldn't have made contact with such an extremely careless person again.

"Wait a moment, let me check this document."

"..."

“Something’s not right…” Agent “Lizard” took a quick look and immediately noticed the problem. “Didn’t you say you went to make a copy? Why does this document not look so new?”

The dockworkers looked at the "lizard" as if he were a fool and said, "Because this is the original. I threw the copy over there on the dock so you wouldn't doubt me."

The "lizard" was almost dumbfounded: "...Are you crazy?! Don't you know that doing this will expose us? Find some time to switch these two documents right now!"

This isn't just being careless; it's downright ridiculous.

The dockworker shrugged: "Sir... this is Guatemala, the port of Ciampellico, not America, not the Soviet Union, and certainly not the KGB or CIA. You really don't need to worry about these things. It's not like this is the first time I've done this. Maybe this 'original' you have is just a photocopy that's already been sold?"

"Believe me, nobody cares. Everyone only makes a little money a week, and this place is spitting out so many drugs every day. Who's so desperate as to dare to interfere with you drug lords or big smugglers?"

"I wish I could sell them for as much money as possible."

Clearly, the dockworkers mistook "The Lizards" for a drug lord or a major smuggler, believing they were buying intelligence to destroy or plunder the goods of a rival group.

"Lizard": "...Here's $20. Count it carefully. Once we part ways, there will be no going back."

The dockworker happily accepted the $20 bill, carefully checked the watermark, and said blissfully, "You guys are so generous! Really, you're the most generous I've ever seen. Uh, Cartel, other people usually only give a few dollars, and even then, a whole bunch of people are fighting tooth and nail to sell it. If you don't have connections, you wouldn't even get a chance to sell it..."

"If you have any more information you'd like to buy in the future, feel free to contact me. I guarantee it's first-hand and accurate. If it's fake, I'll compensate you." With that, the dockworker happily left the dilapidated house and headed straight for the bar.

He clearly intended to reward himself with a glass of fine wine with the money he had just earned.

As for whether he'll blurt out what happened after getting drunk, that's hard to say.

The vein on "Lizard's" forehead throbbed. He didn't say anything more, bid farewell to the dockworkers, found a safe house he had bought, took several photos of the documents, hid the camera in the safe house, concealed the documents in his clothes, and quietly left.

To be honest, for a split second just now, he had the urge to draw his gun and kill the dockworker.

But after thinking about it, he decided against it—not because he was soft-hearted, but because the "godfather" had said that this person was fairly reliable.

The "lizard" naturally trusted Milton unconditionally.

After 50 minutes of maneuvering and using various counter-tracking techniques, they reached another safe house. "Lizard" then handed the document he was holding to his superior, Matteo.

“Very good, it will be delivered to Mr. Milton immediately.”

"Lizard" finally breathed a sigh of relief—he had been almost completely exhausted during his intelligence gathering at the port.

Not only because the work of a "secret agent" requires constant suspicion, which is a great psychological pressure, but also because those informants are really too unreliable.

They always manage to do things that leave people speechless.

Matteo waved his hand and said, "'Lizard,' you did a great job this time. Mr. 'Godfather' gave you special praise for your work."

"Now you have two choices. First, go back to Malakan and continue your original job. The bonus for this intelligence gathering will be included in your salary next month."

"The second option is to head to Quetzaltenango for an even more dangerous mission—to recruit informants and gather intelligence. I can't say too much about the reward, but it will definitely be more than just money. Which one do you choose?"

Milton felt that it was essential to know how the enemy was mobilizing its troops and to have sufficient intelligence sources in order to gain the initiative in the next operation.

Otherwise, we would really only be able to learn about the enemy's actions through the news.

Matteo raised his hand to stop "The Lizard" from making a rash decision, saying, "Let me finish. This mission is far more dangerous than buying intelligence in Champellico Port, because Quetzaltenango is Lopez's stronghold, a big city, and the slightest disturbance will alert him."

"If you choose this mission, you won't be able to go home until the war ends."

"Let me repeat, this mission is very dangerous, and whether or not you go is entirely voluntary... We will not force people who do not want to go to perform this mission."

Now tell me your answer.

"The lizard" agreed very quickly: "Of course I'll go!"

"Don't you want to think about it again?" Matteo took a sip of tea. "Think about what would happen if you were accidentally exposed and caught by Lopez. He's no saint."

"I've thought it through."

"Why?" Matteo finally became a little curious. "Looking at your file, you don't seem to have any major grudges against Lopez and his gang, do you?"

Unlike Matteo, whose wife and children were all killed and who was falsely accused and imprisoned, "The Lizard" was also oppressed, but his family lived well. After Milton's rule, their lives improved, and his children even attended the town's school.

Logically speaking, "Lizard" had no motive to risk his life to cause trouble for Lopez.

"Lizard" paused for a moment, then said, "Because I think that 'Godfather' is more deserving of that position than Lopez."

“I’ve heard the story of ‘The Godfather’ before. Back when we were at the garbage disposal plant, an American mocked us, calling us maggots living in a cesspool country…”

"Why have we worked so hard for so long... I believe I've worked harder than Americans, but why is it so hard for us to even survive? We haven't done anything wrong, so why have we become maggots in a cesspool?"

“I believe we also deserve to live in the light.”

“I believe only Mr. Godfather can bring us this future.”

The lizard said very seriously, "You ask me why, and my answer is that I firmly believe I am on the right path."

Matteo was a little emotional, and nodded, saying, "Good...very good! Then this task is assigned to you. Gather information on the troop movements of Lopez for Mr. 'Godfather'. If you are really captured, we only have one requirement for you, which is to remain silent for 24 hours."

"After this period of time passes, you won't have to hold on any longer, because we will destroy all the useful intelligence."

"From this day forward, you will be the eyes of the 'Godfather'!"

"Yes!"

……

A few days later, at a secluded helipad, several trucks loaded with various equipment were transporting supplies.

This includes 107mm mortars, TOW anti-tank missiles, various types of ammunition, and a variety of tactical equipment, including night vision devices.

Flora's most treasured "javelin" was something she always carried with her.

Milton watched her sighing and rubbing the "javelin" with a look of reluctance, and rolled his eyes: "That's enough. It's not like I stole it from you. I said I'd find a way to get you another set. You're acting like you've lost all your innocence."

The panel has actually started replicating the "Javelin" missile, it just needs a few more days.

“You don’t understand, people and weapons have feelings.” Flora put the javelin away and said, “By the way, news came from ‘Lizard’ that Lopez has begun to mobilize his armored forces to the front lines on a large scale. What do you mean?”

“As expected.” Milton boarded the helicopter and adjusted the communication equipment. “The howitzers are arriving. His cannon fodder haven’t achieved any results these past few days, so of course we need to launch a real all-out attack.”

"This means that the enemy cannot spare any reinforcements, and we have a high probability of being able to severely damage the garrison at the dock."

"Time's up, everyone get ready to board."

"Operation Sea Breeze begins!"

(End of this chapter)