The shrill battle alarm rang out like an air-raid siren in the cities, its mournful, drawn-out "Woooooo..." instantly sweeping through the entire camp of the 46th Air Cavalry Regiment.
In the battalion headquarters mess hall, Zhang Tie had just sat down with his tray and was about to pick up his chopsticks when the piercing alarm reached his ears...
The alarm froze the mess hall for less than half a second. "All squadrons, prepare for battle! Follow me!" Zhang Tie roared, then became the first to charge from the mess hall toward the airfield.
At that moment, every air cavalryman of the entire 1st Battalion followed Zhang Tie out like a stream of fire...
"What is this... what is this..." Old Gao, who managed the battalion mess hall, had just emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming basin of stir-fry when he saw everyone charging out. Furious, he cursed, "****ing devil brats, can't even let us eat one peaceful meal..."
"I'll take off first. All squadrons follow in order—use the tactics we drill every day..." Zhang Tie issued orders as he pulled up the zipper of his air cavalry combat suit. He did not run particularly fast, merely staying ahead of everyone without leaving them behind. Yet seeing Zhang Tie charge ahead first, every Warrior of the 1st Battalion howled as they rushed after him. One figure surged ahead from behind, leaping past several squadron commanders like a monkey and running tightly alongside Zhang Tie. Seeing the figure dart over, Zhang Tie called out, "Fei Hao..."
"Here, Battalion Commander. I'm right behind you..."
Fei Hao was not tall, but he was exceptionally lean and capable. He was the gunner on Zhang Tie's aircraft, and one of the best assistant gunners in the entire 1st Battalion.
The battle alarm did not