Tame Region, jungle.
It was already 2:00 am.
By now, the search perimeter had shrunk to about 300 square kilometers.
All the forces were concentrated in this small area.
Colonel James looked at the troop deployment map on his laptop, then glanced at his watch.
"Give the order to all groups, have them speed up the search, I want to see results before dawn!"
"Yes, Commander."
The communications sergeant quickly picked up the radio and started calling the various groups, preparing to issue the orders.
Suddenly, the lights in the tent began to flicker, dimming and brightening intermittently.
James couldn't help but look up towards the hanging light above him.
Soon, the lights returned to normal.
The communication sergeant then refocused on his task, about to issue the orders when the lights flickered again.
"What's happening?"
James shouted to another subordinate in the tent, "Go check, what's wrong with the generator? The voltage seems unstable!"
For the command post, power supply was one of the key logistical supports.
Without power, aside from laptops and radios that could still operate for a while on battery, many other devices would be inoperable, significantly affecting command efficiency.
Before James's men could leave the tent, the entire command post suddenly went dark.
"A blackout?!"
James stormed out of the tent, furious.
"Freddie! Freddie! Where are you?!"
"I'm right here."
Lieutenant Colonel Freddie quickly appeared in front of James.
"What exactly is happening? What's wrong with the field generators?!"
"I don't know…"
Freddie feigned surprise, spreading his hands.
"Colonel, don't worry, I'll go check it out myself."
After speaking, he summoned two subordinates and went to check the generators.
Once the power went out, the whole command post was plunged into darkness, with only the laptops still glowing from their battery supply.
"What are you standing around for?!"
James was cursing inwardly.
This mishap at a crucial moment seemed like an ominous sign.
"Hurry up and send out the order, tell the search troops to speed up! These lazybones! I see many groups moving sluggishly, are they falling asleep?!"
The communication sergeant promptly opened the communication channel, repeated the order, and notified all groups to intensify their search efforts.
A staff member approached and whispered to Colonel James, "Commander, we have received urgent intelligence."
"What intelligence?" James asked, turning his head.
"The highest Commander of CCOPE is missing," the staff member said.
"What?!" Colonel James was genuinely shocked this time, turning to face his subordinate, "When did this happen?"
"Half an hour ago. According to intelligence, he was supposed to come to the Tame Region personally but disappeared off the radar ten minutes after his plane left the airport. No one knows his whereabouts now. Our intelligence department analyzed that he might have been kidnapped by the ELN."
"Kidnapped by the ELN?!" James was first stunned, then cursed, "Damn it all! How could someone be kidnapped on a plane? He wasn't in a car! Since when does the ELN have pilots?"
The staff member continued, "This information is indeed reliable. Prior to this, the director of the Intelligence Bureau, Gonzalez, was also kidnapped. Since last night until now, a large number of officials and their family members on the Colombian government side have been kidnapped, and attacks have occurred at military camps, police stations, and administrative buildings in various places, all under the pressure from ELN, who likely have found out that Morins is still alive."
"Stupid idiots!"
James was furious again.
"If it wasn't for Freddie's men carrying cellphones, we would have had at least three more days!"
He paced back and forth restlessly, then stopped and added, "It appears that the situation is deteriorating much faster than I anticipated..."
James's gaze returned to the troop distribution map on the laptop screen.
"No, it seems I have to go into the jungle myself."
The staff member cautioned, "Colonel, although we are military advisors and now authorized to command this operation, we are still outsiders going into the field..."
Seeing the anger on James's face in the moonlight, he hesitated to continue.
So he reminded with some difficulty, "I'm not saying we are overstepping our bounds, but is it worth doing this?"
"Hmph! What do you think the Pentagon sent us here for? ELN and FARC are both leftist guerrillas that must be eradicated, as they pose a great threat to the current government. This concerns the cooperation between our two countries, understand? That's our mission! Otherwise, why do you think we train their Special Forces?"
He paused then ordered, "Arrange a helicopter immediately to take me to where Mars and his group are. I need to join them."
Mars was currently the commander of the frontline search team, one of four jungle combat experts, leading an AGLAN squad.
"Alright, I'll go handle it immediately."
The staff officer had just finished speaking and was about to turn around when he came face-to-face with Lieutenant Colonel Freddie, who was hurrying over.
"Colonel! I have an urgent order."
"What urgent order?!"
James sensed something unusual.
Lieutenant Colonel Freddie said, "The Joint Chiefs of Staff just called, ordering us to immediately cease the search operation."
"What?!"
James was like a stepped-on old dog, nearly bursting into furious barks on the spot.
"Stop the operation?! Impossible! We're so close, just a bit more and we would capture Morins. Didn't you inform your superiors? Didn't you tell the people at the Joint Chiefs of Staff?!"
"We all know." Freddie said, "The Joint Chiefs are aware too. They are very grateful for your cooperation and assistance, Colonel. We will submit a report to your superiors explaining all this and propose to award you a medal..."
"Bullshit!"
James exploded, "Who wants a damn medal?! I am a professional soldier! I am responsible for military operations, and since you asked me to take over, we must see it through. My dictionary doesn't include the word 'quit'!"
Suddenly, he noticed the expression on Freddie's face.
It was an expression of relief.
James was greatly puzzled and frowned, "Lieutenant Colonel, you seem quite relaxed..."
"Me?"
Freddie was immediately embarrassed.
"Relaxed? Not really... I just feel sad that the operation has come to this..."
"Go to hell, you sad?! Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"
James pointed at Freddie's nose, almost poking his bridge.
"You seem quite happy that the operation could stop. Tell me, Lieutenant Colonel, have you been bought off too?!"
Freddie hurriedly defended himself, "No way! It's the decision of our superiors, I'm sorry, Colonel, I truly can't influence it. A soldier's supreme duty is to obey orders."
"No way! I don't agree!"
James was still insisting when the staff officer returned to his side.
"Colonel, the aircraft is ready."
Upon hearing this, Freddie looked terrified, "Colonel, what are you going to do?!"
James began donning his individual equipment handed to him by the staff officer, while sneering, "I'm going to the jungle myself, can you stop me?"
Freddie's face turned pale instantaneously.
James was a Colonel in the United States Special Forces, the military advisor sent here by the US Department of Defense, representing the United States.
Indeed, he had no way to deal with him.
Seeing Freddie frozen in place, James scorned, "I finally understand why you have been unable to eliminate the anti-government armed forces and drug trafficking groups over the years. It's not a matter of capability, but attitude."
This remark completely infuriated Freddie.
Even a clay figure has three points of fire.
This insult to the Colombian Military was unbearable for him.
"Colonel, you can insult me, but not our country and military. Why the anti-government forces and drug trafficking groups have survived numerous encirclements over the years, who do you think has been providing them with supplies? Do you think our Intelligence Bureau doesn't know?"
This comment essentially tore off the facade.
It was true that when the relationship between the old Colombian government and the US was poor, the CIA covertly supported those anti-government forces, supplying them with arms and even helping them oppose the government.
These were public secrets.
Previously, everyone kept silent and said nothing. Now at this point, Freddie was not holding back anymore, confronting him directly.
"I am a soldier, I don't question these things."
James knew he was in the wrong and didn't want to continue the argument here.
He turned and walked toward the helipad.
"Colonel, I will order that the aircraft not be allowed to take off!"
Freddie's voice came from behind.
James turned his head, his face full of fury, then scoffed, "Good..."
He gave Freddie a thumbs up.
"Finally showing some spirit, a far cry from your earlier self, Freddie... but don't forget, my men and I can fly helicopters. Do you dare stop me? Would you dare shoot at me?"
After speaking, he walked toward the Black Hawk Helicopter with his two staff officers.
"Damn it!"
Freddie stamped his foot behind him and shouted, "Colonel, I will order my men to pull back entirely. You will get no support, just back down!"
James completely ignored him and boarded the Black Hawk Helicopter with the two staff officers.
"Order our team to immediately establish a tactical channel and command system, cut off communications with AGLAN, build a mobile command post if there is no power. They're faltering, we'll do it ourselves! It's just two people, pin down their last position, notify Mars and the others, regroup with us three to form a seven-man combat team, which I will personally command!"
"Yes, sir!"