第二十四章:咆哮突击队

Han Lin returned to the base with nearly a hundred people. The wounded had gone ahead to rest, and the captured soldiers, exhausted in both body and mind, had also gone to sleep.

Firelight and dim lamps illuminated the camp. Though it was quiet, faint sobbing drifted from the bunks.

They were all young men in their twenties. For them, the future would be a nightmare. They had merely been born in the wrong era—born in a bleak age and raised in an age of war. All they wanted was to find someone they loved and who loved them, then live an ordinary life together.

But war had shattered their dreams. They had resolutely picked up their guns and marched onto the battlefield, for peace and for glory.

Han Lin had been here for less than half a year, yet he had met the doctor, Howard, Carter, Colonel Phillips, and Steve.

Each of them gave Han Lin the strength to keep moving forward. He hoped he would no longer be as useless as before. He had the power to change everything, which was why he had saved Dr. Erskine. He also hoped to work even harder, to truly change this terrible world, then find somewhere quiet and wait peacefully for the world to fall into crisis again.

Han Lin looked around with mixed emotions. The medical teams were still treating the wounded, and the soldiers on night watch stood ramrod straight. Howard came over with a bottle of liquor and patted Han Lin on the shoulder. "I think you need this." As he spoke, he gave the bottle a shake.

Han Lin said nothing. He took it and gulped down a large mouthful. The fiery liquor rushed down his throat into his stomach, making his throat react violently. "Cough, cough, cough..."

"This stuff is really harsh. I think beer suits me better," Han Lin said, making fun of himself.

Howard saw what was on Han Lin's mind. "Is there anything I can help with? We're friends."

"Yes, we're friends!" Han Lin stressed the word "friends," then took another huge drink and handed the bottle to Howard. He went on by himself, "Half a year ago, I was just a nobody in a peaceful era. Somehow, I ended up here. Somehow, I gained these powers. My dream was never big—I just wanted to marry, have a child, and live out my life in peace. But fate likes to toy with people. It brought me here to meet all of you."

Howard assumed Han Lin must have been missing his home across the ocean.

Han Lin drank most of the large bottle. Howard's overnight work had been no easier than that of the soldiers on the front lines, and after only a little drink, he had already fallen asleep on the ground. Han Lin carried him back to his room, then went to find Colonel Phillips.

"We got some information from Dr. Erskine about a Hydra research base. Some of Erskine's friends are there. I had planned to have Steve lead the mission alone after you left, but now it looks like you have the same idea. Tell me what you're thinking." When Colonel Phillips saw Han Lin enter, he stopped his discussion with Agent Carter.

"Rescuing scientists behind enemy lines? Isn't our mission to strike their research base as soon as possible?" Han Lin asked.

Colonel Phillips shook his head. "Rescue is one part of it. We can destroy the base while we're at it—kill two birds with one stone."

"Do we have a list of the rescue targets?" Han Lin continued.

A file was handed to Han Lin.

Betthold Stenberg, Arnim Zola—there were four or five photos in all, along with their fields of expertise and their positions within Hydra.

Han Lin recognized most of none of them, but Arnim Zola had appeared in the story. He had developed limitless energy through the Cosmic Cube and created energy weapons for Schmidt. After Schmidt was taken away by the Cosmic Cube, Zola had been absorbed into the Strategic Scientific Reserve as a researcher, while secretly strengthening Hydra. He would cause no small amount of trouble for Captain America and S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future.

"Which of them are the doctor's friends? Do we have to save them?" Han Lin asked hesitantly.

The colonel saw Han Lin's expression and immediately knew there was a problem. "Only Betthold Stenberg is the doctor's friend. The two of them once worked together on the Super Soldier Serum, but later, Schmidt took Stenberg away to develop a new drug. They never contacted each other again after that. As for the others, the doctor values their scientific abilities, but he doesn't know them well."

Han Lin nodded in understanding and pointed at Arnim Zola. "He's an extremely capable scientist. I saw a vague future where he made powerful energy weapons for Schmidt."

"If we capture him early, can we stop the research?" Colonel Phillips hurriedly asked.

"It'll be difficult. He's with Schmidt, and Red Skull considers him very important. Besides, I don't know where he is." Han Lin shook his head.

"In that case, we'll start with the research base Dr. Erskine provided and see whether we can gain anything. It would be best if we capture him, but it won't matter much if we can't," Colonel Phillips muttered.

"I need to form a team. Steve will come with me, and I'll pick eight men from the soldiers who returned today to make a ten-man squad. Howard, you need to make more combat suits. I don't want my team to start losing people after only a few missions. I'm shy around strangers... I want to train a spearhead unit." Han Lin teased Howard.

Howard rolled his eyes and nodded.

The next day, Han Lin and Steve stood side by side on the training ground. Across from them stood a group of Allied soldiers Han Lin had brought back the previous day, men who had once believed they had no chance of survival.

"I need a team to form a spearhead with the captain and me, operating behind enemy lines. The missions will be extremely dangerous. I'm only taking eight people, and those eight must be the best of the best. Anyone who believes they're qualified, step forward," Han Lin shouted to the soldiers.

Han Lin normally had no authority to do this. Many of them outranked him, and he had no right to command them. But Colonel Phillips had assigned him the role, so there he stood.

The dark-skinned Nick Fury stepped forward and stood before the formation. "If you need a team that already works well together, then my unit fits your requirements perfectly. Howling Commandos, step forward."

Nine men emerged from behind Nick Fury, of all heights and builds.

Nick Fury introduced them. "They've been my brothers from the day I enlisted until now. There were originally twenty-two of us. Thirteen died during missions, and now only the nine of us remain. We have assault troops, fire support, engineers, medics, and snipers. We should be able to meet your needs."

After witnessing Han Lin's display of power the day before, they had thought that following him would be a good path. It would be thrilling and insane, but they were all born for war. Today, Han Lin had placed the choice right before them, and they stepped out without hesitation.

Han Lin stared at the much younger, furry version of that bald-headed egg, unable to put his thoughts into words. If this was really him, then how had this legendary agent and extraordinary leader of later generations lived another seventy years while retaining the appearance of a middle-aged man? Han Lin found it utterly baffling.

Once that team had stepped forward, those behind them who had wanted to join gave up on competing. Their captain was a second lieutenant, and a unit whose lowest-ranked member was a sergeant was undoubtedly more experienced than they were.

After dismissing everyone on the spot, Han Lin took them to Howard's laboratory. Seeing Howard busy at work, Han Lin called out, "Buddy, where's the stuff I asked you to make? Get my men equipped quickly so I can head for the combat zone sooner."

Howard looked at Han Lin as though he treated him like an outsider, then rolled his eyes and dragged a large crate out from beneath the table. "I'm not giving you that much ammunition. The combat suits and equipment come to about twenty-five kilograms per set. Your suits are simplified versions, with four high-explosive grenades and two M1911s each. Choose the rest of your equipment from the armory yourselves."

Han Lin nodded and waited for his men to change. Then he asked Howard, "Are you taking us in again this time?"

Howard shook his head. "Last time, I took you to a small base near the front lines. This time, you're raiding a research base behind enemy lines. I can't guarantee I'd make it back out after flying in, so this time there'll be volunteers willing to fly you behind enemy lines. You'll have to ask Agent Carter about the specific arrangements."