Airborne!

"Where..."

"Turn the convoy around!"

Before Skullhead could finish, Lin Xu immediately gave the order in an unquestionable tone:

"Change of plans. We're not hitting Skyvault Technology anymore."

"We're going into Purple Mountain Observatory, taking Beigaofeng Deep-Space Observation Station, obtaining the observation station's communications authority, and broadcasting to every off-world station."

"The broadcast targets include space stations, satellites, lunar bases, and Mars bases."

"In short..."

"Hold on a second?!"

Skullhead's eyes widened.

"You want to hit Purple Mountain Observatory?? Do you know what kind of place that is??"

"It's fucking inside Zhongshan Scenic Area! Don't tell me you don't know what Zhongshan Scenic Area is?"

"It's the country's largest convalescent retreat for officials! There's an entire company stationed there!"

"Are you trying to get me killed??"

At those words, Lin Xu froze.

That was true.

When he had first assessed the difficulty of occupying Purple Mountain Observatory, he had considered only the facility's own security, not the security level of the surrounding area.

And in truth, Zhongshan Scenic Area beside Purple Mountain Observatory was the toughest nut to crack!

"Go there first!"

"We're not attacking the convalescent retreat! We're just passing through!"

Lin Xu took a deep breath before continuing:

"If conditions allow, we can infiltrate instead."

"Don't worry. The Deep-Space Observation Station won't have much defensive strength. We'll get in and out quickly. As long as you get me inside, you can withdraw with your team!"

"...What the fuck do you mean, it won't be that strong!"

Gritting his teeth, Skullhead gave the order to drive, then said:

"You have no idea. Breaking in isn't as simple as you think!"

"It's 2045 now. Wars aren't fought with firepower—they're fought with information!"

"Our team's greatest advantage is our technological edge. We can establish electromagnetic dominance!"

"That's why we dared to take your job, why we dared to come hit this aerospace base!"

"Because we can impose one-way electromagnetic interference on the base's security. Once they lose their information advantage, we can break in easily!"

"But Purple Mountain Observatory is different. Regular military forces are stationed nearby!"

"Their electronic warfare capability is stronger than ours by who knows how many times. Forget establishing electromagnetic cover—once we turn on our electronic warfare equipment, they'll pinpoint our location in less than a second!"

"How are we supposed to fight that? Tell me, how the hell are we supposed to fight that?"

"I don't care. That's your problem to solve."

Lin Xu shook his head.

"It takes twenty-four minutes to reach the Deep-Space Observation Station from here, but I need at least another twenty minutes to complete the broadcast and receive the response."

"In other words, we only have fifteen minutes to breach the Deep-Space Observation Station and obtain full authority."

"You don't have much time. Hurry up!"

"Fuck, are you insane??"

Skullhead could not help cursing, but Lin Xu raised a hand to cut him off.

"Keep cursing. Cursing takes time too!"

"Do you still want your money? Then move!"

"...I must have had eight lifetimes of terrible luck!"

Skullhead ground his teeth.

He lowered his head to look at the map, then quickly analyzed the situation.

"From the entrance to the Deep-Space Observation Station, there's a four-hundred-meter elevation gain and nearly a kilometer of road."

"No matter how you calculate it, we can't make it. Even without considering security, there isn't enough time. We can only use helicopters to force our way in."

"But helicopters are too conspicuous. The moment we get close, air-defense radar will identify and shoot us down."

"The entire Purple Mountain area is a no-drone zone. We can't use high-altitude reconnaissance beforehand to determine the radar coverage either."

"There's only one way..."

"Parachuting?"

Lin Xu interjected.

"Parachute my ass!"

Skullhead took a deep breath and gave an order into the radio.

"Old Ma, find a way to get seven eVTOLs over here!"

"Fast! We'll reach Qixia Mountain in eight minutes, then take off from Qixia Mountain and fly straight to the target!"

"The equipment has to be in place within eight minutes! Understood?"

"Understood!"

A somewhat aged voice came through the earpiece. Hearing Skullhead's plan, Lin Xu could not help but admire him.

Professionals really were different!

All he knew was how to charge in blindly, while Skullhead was already mobilizing cutting-edge equipment!

What was an eVTOL?

A multirotor manned aircraft!

Put more vividly, it was probably a large drone capable of carrying people through the air.

Even in Lin Xu's original world, such things had already become quite mature.

After another twenty years of development, their performance could only be even stronger.

Nothing was more effective for organizing a low-altitude raid than this kind of equipment.

Lin Xu relaxed a little.

It seemed that although Skullhead was reluctant, he still intended to give it a try.

"Let me make this clear first!"

Skullhead turned to Lin Xu and spoke solemnly.

"We're only responsible for getting you inside. We won't handle anything else!"

"Six of the eVTOLs will draw the attention of the ground air-defense countermeasure systems and create an opening for you."

"Once you land, we'll withdraw immediately."

"We will not undertake any further combat missions. Whatever you intend to do afterward, you'll have to rely entirely on yourself."

"Understand?"

"Why?? I paid you!"

Lin Xu frowned.

"No matter how much you pay, I'm not directly fighting the authorities! This isn't a combat mission. It's suicide!"

"Changing the mission at the last minute already breaks the rules. This is as far as I can go. Whether you go or not is up to you!"

"...I'm going!"

Lin Xu answered through gritted teeth.

Skullhead was right.

He had paid them to attack Skyvault Technology, not Purple Mountain Observatory.

The last time he had asked Skullhead to raid a police station, Skullhead had already refused once. Refusing again for the same reason made sense.

But it did not matter.

His greatest advantage was that he could make mistakes again and again.

Though he was alone, as long as his equipment was sufficient, he still had a chance of breaking in.

After all, the Deep-Space Observation Station was not a military facility. Its security level was relatively low.

With a complete advantage in equipment and firepower, getting in would not be that difficult.

By then, the convoy had raced all the way to Qixia Mountain.

Lin Xu followed Skullhead out of the vehicle and swiftly began putting on his gear.

Body armor, helmet, thermal imager, suppressed pistol, rifle, flashbangs...

This was Lin Xu's first time entering combat fully equipped, and by the time he had finished gearing up, seven aircraft had already landed on the platform atop Qixia Mountain.

"Every one of these eVTOLs has legal flight clearance."

Skullhead stepped into one of the aircraft and continued:

"We'll fly directly into the no-fly zone and head for Purple Mountain Deep-Space Observation Station."

"Normally, we'll receive three warnings in total."

"The first is only a verbal warning to return and leave the area. If the second warning is ignored, they'll begin using jamming equipment. If the third warning is ignored, they'll definitely open fire."

"The entire three-warning process lasts sixty seconds in total—roughly."

"So once we're discovered, you have to reach the target and land within sixty seconds."

"Understood?"

"Understood."

Lin Xu nodded solemnly, then stepped into the aircraft.

"Do you know how to fly it?"

Skullhead asked again.

"No."

Lin Xu honestly shook his head.

"But I will next time."

"Next time?? You think there'll be a next time?!"

Skullhead stared at Lin Xu as though he were an idiot.

"If you don't know how to fly, don't touch the controls!"

"Old Ma will remotely control your aircraft. Just sit there and behave!"

"No problem."

Lin Xu nodded.

But the next second, his hand reached for the control stick.

With a light pull, the aircraft rose from the ground.

"Let's go!"

Lin Xu shouted:

"Let me try it first!"