In the pitch-dark forest sky, a helicopter flew low at high speed.


    It was a black-painted Bell 205 with no markings or identification numbers on its body. There were no navigation lights, and the interior was completely dark, blending the helicopter into the night sky. The rapidly spinning rotor formed a blurred outline, resembling a giant ghost flying in the darkness.


    The helicopter belonged to an aviation service company called SkyLink, and both pilots were former members of the U.S. Army''s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, a unit known for its expertise in flying under harsh conditions and at night, earning them the nickname "Night Stalkers." Their mission tonight was to use the cover of night to deliver six heavily armed desperados to a landing zone in the mountains near the provincial border.


    Deng Shiyang sat on the floor with his gun, leaning against his field pack. He stretched his legs slightly and shifted his numb bottom. The seats had been removed from the cabin, and the hard floor combined with the deafening noise made him uncomfortable. Compared to this, the thin cushion of a Humvee felt like heaven.


    Suddenly, a hand pressed down on his shoulder, and Mark''s voice came to his ear, mixed with the warmth of his breath, "Three minutes. Get ready."


    Deng Shiyang nodded firmly, then put on his ELITE II single-sided radio headset and flipped down the AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision device mounted on his head. He turned on the switch.


    The pitch-black cabin instantly turned green, revealing two contractors in U.S. four-color jungle camouflage. Both were wearing similar night vision devices and headsets, with faces covered in camo paint as they handled their M4 carbines equipped with suppressors.


    Deng Shiyang braced the gun''s butt against the floor, pulled the charging handle on the back of the receiver, activated the DBAL-A2 infrared laser pointer mounted on the handguard, and checked the safety, ensuring the selector was set to "safe."


    Meanwhile, the helicopter suddenly tilted forward and descended rapidly.


    To reduce the risk of being detected by engine noise, the pilots began the landing without circling the landing zone for reconnaissance. Soon, the vibrations from the landing skids hitting the ground traveled up through Deng Shiyang’s spine.


    "Disembark." Keith''s voice came through the headset.


    Everyone quickly tossed their packs out of the cabin and jumped off the helicopter in single file. Deng Shiyang stepped over the gear on the ground, dropped to one knee in the strong wind from the rotor, switched off the safety, shouldered his rifle, and aimed the bright green beam of the laser pointer at the woods bordering the clearing, scanning the surroundings for threats.


    As soon as the passengers disembarked, the helicopter rose into the air and quickly disappeared into the night.


    The team waited on the clearing for a while, confirming the safety of the area before notifying the helicopter via radio to return. They then grabbed their gear and ran into the forest.


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    Knowing that the guerrillas lacked night vision equipment, Keith decided to adopt a "rest by day, move by night" approach. He ordered the team to march through the night to reach the target zone before dawn.


    The six-man team formed a loose column as they moved through the forest. Their movements were very quiet, and after entering the woods, they didn’t speak, communicating only through hand signals to avoid making any noise.


    In night operations, sound is the biggest enemy of concealment. In the stillness of the night, the sound of chambering a round can be heard from a quarter mile away. Any unnecessary noise could reveal their presence and lead to the team’s annihilation. Thus, everyone was meticulous when organizing their gear, using tape to secure anything that could make noise when moving and wrapping metal objects in cloth inside their packs to prevent them from clinking together.


    The point man played a crucial role in determining the mission''s success. Not only did he have to find the correct and safe path, but he also bore the responsibility for the safety of the entire team.


    In the jungle, traps were often more dangerous than enemies: pits filled with sharpened stakes, "bear traps" made from boards studded with spikes, and booby traps with tripwires that triggered explosives or other mechanisms—all of these could inflict serious injury or death if triggered.


    Thus, the point man was Du preez, the most experienced combat veteran. Using his night vision device, he carefully scanned the ground and the surrounding jungle, avoiding traps as he slowly advanced. In addition, he had tied a piece of fishing line to his rifle''s barrel, with a lead sinker on the other end, creating a makeshift "tripwire detector." By holding the rifle parallel to the ground with the sinker dangling ahead, any irregular movement of the sinker could reveal tripwires in the path.


    The rest of the team followed Du preez, keeping about ten yards behind him and stepping in his footprints to avoid traps. Each member kept their rifle at the ready, covering different directions and prepared to engage at any moment.


    Deng Shiyang walked in the middle of the column, following Keith closely and covering the "nine o''clock" direction. The night vision turned the forest into an array of green shapes of varying sizes and shades, creating a surreal landscape that resembled a sci-fi movie scene. The sight gave him a sense of unreality.


    But the buzzing mosquitoes circling nearby quickly brought him back to reality.


    Insects in the jungle posed a serious threat, especially mosquitoes that could carry malaria. These local mosquitoes were like flying venomous pests, larger than flies and capable of biting through clothing to leave swollen welts that could take at least a week to heal. Although the insect repellent provided by Harrowby was effective, it was easily washed away by sweat, and in the humid jungle, sweating profusely was inevitable. As a result, the repellent was consumed quickly.


    For this reason, the team took a ten-minute break every hour.


    This time, the resting spot was under a tall Brazil nut tree. The six men divided into two groups, taking turns resting and keeping watch.


    During the break, Deng Shiyang took out a bottle of insect repellent and sprayed it on his face and the backs of his hands. Then he pulled a pack of gum from his shirt pocket and popped two pieces into his mouth.


    Salt tablets and candies were essential for field operations. Since cigarette smoke could be detected from hundreds of yards away in clear weather, smoking was prohibited during infiltration missions, and salt tablets helped alleviate nicotine cravings. The sweetness of candy could reduce fatigue, stimulate saliva production, and relieve thirst. Different candies served various purposes: sour fruit candies accelerated saliva production, coffee candies provided a pick-me-up, chocolate added energy, and chewing gum helped ease mental tension through the rhythmic movement of the jaw.


    The night infiltration proceeded smoothly. Although the hot, humid South American environment was difficult to endure, the jungle was not as dense as expected, and there were no traps or booby traps encountered, which reduced many potential problems. After a night of intermittent marching, the team arrived near the guerrilla camp just before dawn.