The Luleliu region, Cold Current City.
At eight o'clock in the evening, local time, lead-gray rain clouds gathered in the sky. Lightning tore through the dark clouds, and thousands of tons of rainwater poured down on the city.
Rockets, glowing red, streaked through the rain curtain, diving from the dark clouds towards the city. Explosions could be heard every few seconds. After each explosion, the vehicles parked on nearby streets would react with a start, their headlights flashing incessantly.
Civilians ran everywhere in the streets, but there were no screams or cries. Everyone silently and quickly sought the nearest air-raid shelter. The people here had grown up in war. Men were drafted into the army at fifteen, and older people had almost all been to the battlefield. They had seen too many dead and were not frightened by rockets flying in the distance.
Military trucks sped across the flooded roads, their numbers astonishingly large.
Some trucks carried soldiers. At intersections or outside air-raid shelters, they braked sharply, and a dozen soldiers armed with assault rifles disembarked like a flowing stream, nimbly constructing barricades on the main streets. The trucks then accelerated and roared away, quickly disappearing at the rain-soaked intersections.
Other trucks were covered with black waterproof tarps, beneath which were huge and strange outlines, often anti-aircraft guns and missiles. These trucks completely ignored traffic lights, honking their horns aggressively as they sped through the rain-washed roads, charging towards the outskirts.
At the street corner, a dim little light illuminated a wonton stall.
This wonton stall was a typical roadside stand. A flatbed cart was parked by the roadside, its bed containing an induction cooker, a wok, large blue-and-white bowls, and seasonings like cilantro, soy sauce, and vinegar. Beside it were three small wooden tables, with two unfinished bowls of wontons left on them.
The large umbrella providing shelter from the rain dripped a curtain of water, the heavy downpour drumming against it.
A white man in an apron rummaged behind the cart and took out a laptop, placing it on the table.
The computer was clearly not a civilian model but a waterproof military version. The wind picked up in the alley, and the rain slanted onto the desktop, drenching the computer keyboard like a showerhead. However, the screen remained steadily lit, rapidly displaying a cascade of windows.
"Simmons Chazo, identification number 7716, location: Cold Current City, Luleliu region. My sector is under rocket attack."
"Report in detail!" a voice came from the computer.
"There are nine agents in this city. I am the team leader, and all members are currently safe."
"The first rocket fell twenty minutes ago, hitting the military airport in the northern part of the city. After a successful test shot, approximately two hundred rockets bombarded the military airport. It is said that seventy percent of the military aircraft were destroyed, with over three hundred casualties. This information has not yet been confirmed."
"The military headquarters building in the city center was attacked by laser-guided glide missiles. The missiles were released by a formation of enemy aircraft, which were reportedly all shot down. Some enemy aircraft wreckage fell on Cold Current High School in the northern part of the city, causing numerous casualties among students who had not yet evacuated. This information has not yet been confirmed."
"The dam in the southern part of the city was destroyed by aerial bombs. The floodwaters will inundate several villages in the suburbs within half an hour. Local military forces are currently expediting the transfer of villagers. However, on-site transport capacity is insufficient, and it is estimated that one thousand people will not be able to evacuate before the flood arrives. This information has been confirmed."
"The Cold Current Bridge was destroyed. There are no signs of external projectiles, and it is suspected that Gunter military elements infiltrated the city and planted explosives on the bridge to carry out the demolition. There was five minutes of exchange of fire near the Cold Current Bridge. Our agents witnessed a large number of military police and civilians killed by gunfire, possibly related to the firefight with the bridge demolitionists. Specific casualty figures are unknown."
"A total of 8 large hospitals in the city were attacked by rockets. Several small private hospitals and clinics were also attacked, the exact number is unknown."
"A firefight occurred at the military hospital in the northern part of the city. Four vans carrying masked gunmen stormed the hospital after the air raid, spraying submachine guns indiscriminately, killing everyone they saw. They also threw grenades and Molotov cocktails at fleeing medical staff. One of our agents arrived at the scene, and according to his description, there were countless casualties. The hospital corridors were piled high with dead bodies. A company of local troops rushed to the hospital to suppress the attack, and the exchange of fire is still ongoing. The gunmen are believed to be holding some hostages inside the hospital, possibly including high-ranking military officers and their families, which has led to a stalemate."
"Several buildings in the city's commercial district were hit by missiles, causing fires that are currently being extinguished. This information has been confirmed, but casualty figures are unknown."
"Aerial bombs, identified as Viper 33 thermobaric bombs commonly used by the Gunter military, have landed at some intersections but have not detonated, possibly due to substandard quality. Local military forces are mobilizing bomb disposal teams to defuse the unexploded ordnance at various intersections. These unexploded bombs have prevented a large number of military vehicles from arriving on time. Consequently, in the outskirts of the city, the military has demolished some low-lying abandoned buildings to create temporary passages."
Simmons Chazo stopped speaking at this point and glanced at his phone.
"The latest news just came in: the local loop subway system has suffered a terrorist attack. Masked gunmen detonated explosives on four subway trains, causing numerous passenger deaths and injuries due to impact. Approximately twenty masked gunmen are currently inside the subway line, using the train wreckage as cover and engaging in a firefight with the responding military and police. Many passengers have been caught in the crossfire. The army is mobilizing knockout gas, preparing to inject it into the subway system through the central air conditioning. It is currently unclear whether the masked gunmen are equipped with gas masks. If they are, the knockout gas tactic will be ineffective and may even cause some injured passengers to die faster."
"There is virtually no one on the streets now except for the military. It is raining heavily, and the roads are severely flooded. Pedestrians have taken shelter in nearby buildings or air-raid shelters. Soldiers are constructing barricades and rain protection facilities near the air-raid shelters to prevent them from being flooded."
"The above is the current situation as we understand it. Based on our assessment, the city's air raid interception rate is extremely poor. An unknown number of terrorists are carrying out suicide attacks at important locations, tying up a significant portion of the military forces. However, the overall situation is stable. Preliminary defense lines have been established in various districts and outside the city. Even if the enemy launches a large-scale assault, these lines can hold for at least 48 hours."
The computer was silent for two seconds, then a voice emerged:
"Commander Jiang Ye has just commended your work and will soon issue commendations."
Simmons Chazo's eyes widened. He immediately straightened his chest, stood at attention, and saluted crisply.
"Your team is to continue tracking movements within the city. Report normal situations via text and significant events via video link. The current war situation is still unclear, but this wave of attacks is likely aimed at occupying the Luleliu region. Please ensure your communication remains open, pay attention to your personal safety, and if the situation deteriorates to a certain extent, a special aircraft will be dispatched to a designated location to evacuate you."
"Yes! We guarantee the mission will be completed!" Simmons Chazo said emphatically.