**Bravo Team**
"Long Zhan's approach was somewhat opportunistic. Even if he hadn't proposed it now, within an hour, when the Syrian army launched its attack here, Jason could have inferred this method upon seeing the toxin samples in Lucien's hands.
However, thanks to Long Zhan's 'insider knowledge' of the plot, he mentioned this method early, earning himself a significant advantage.
The operations center received Jason's report and immediately relayed the situation to the squadron command.
When Eric Ben initially heard that the samples couldn't be collected, he was furious—this operation would have been a complete waste. He immediately contacted the next level of command.
The information was passed up through several layers until it reached the top of the Ministry of Defense.
The Syrian civil war might appear to be a domestic conflict on the surface, but in reality, it was a proxy struggle between the U.S. and Russia. Its implications were far from simple.
For the U.S.-supported Syrian rebel forces to gain international legitimacy, they needed to discredit the Syrian government forces.
The claim that the Syrian army was developing biochemical weapons banned by the United Nations, once substantiated, would provide the U.S. with ammunition to act.
At best, the U.S. could deploy aircraft under the guise of an international police force to bomb various so-called biochemical research centers of the Syrian army.
At worst, they could use international military power and align with U.N. coalitions or U.S.-led alliances to impose global sanctions on Syria.
Sanctions devastate nations. At a minimum, they lead to economic collapse; at worst, they bring widespread suffering to the population.
When the Ministry of Defense received this "smear campaign" mission, they dispatched their most elite special forces unit, making it clear they did not want the plan to fail.
Hearing that the biochemical toxin samples couldn't be collected, the Ministry of Defense's top brass couldn't sit still.
They couldn't keep using "laundry powder" as a substitute!
They immediately issued a directive to DG: no matter the cost or method, they must bring back the toxin samples.
At this critical moment, Jason made another timely report.
There were 23 surviving civilians in the hospital, all of whom had been exposed to VX toxin. They were living samples. Bringing them back would provide the necessary evidence of the toxin. Jason recommended transporting all of them.
Operational group commander Eric and Bravo Team's leader Blackburn had been close friends with Jason for many years.
Reflecting on Jason's prior requests and considering this subtly loaded suggestion, they quickly deduced the underlying implications.
Both men were pragmatic field commanders, unlike the politically motivated officials at the Ministry of Defense.
Thus, without explicit acknowledgment, they chose to treat the recommendation as valid.
They relayed Jason's new request truthfully to DG's headquarters, which in turn passed it to the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry, overwhelmed with pressure, was reinvigorated upon hearing this potential solution.
Exhibiting their usual bargaining tendencies, they initially agreed to evacuate only one or two civilians, still refusing to deploy special forces for extraction.
However, Mandy, a senior CIA intelligence officer, took the call and responded as an expert.
"Given the uncertainty of the civilians' infection levels, a small sample size may be insufficient. It would be best to evacuate all of them."
The CIA's biochemical division was renowned for its unparalleled expertise—even a drop of a substance in a pool could be analyzed and extracted by them.
Handling the VX toxin, an exceptionally lethal biochemical agent, would have been child's play.
Unfortunately, the Ministry of Defense was oblivious to such capabilities. They didn't need to understand the science; they only cared about achieving their goals and securing results.
Perhaps sensing that DG was already "in cahoots," the Ministry, staffed by seasoned political veterans, realized further resistance was futile.
To secure the toxin samples and gain an upper hand against Russia on the international stage, the Ministry finally relented. They authorized the deployment of border special forces to assist in the evacuation.
After an exhausting overnight negotiation, Mandy, Eric, and their team were finally relieved when they received the Ministry's approval.
For the first time since Operation Night Hawk began, they smiled—genuine smiles.
They wasted no time contacting Bravo Team, delivering the good news to the anxious Jason.
"Well done! Pass on my gratitude to Eric Ben—I owe him one."
Eric Ben, the U.S. Red Team's commander, played a pivotal role in bridging command levels throughout the operation, and Jason had not forgotten his contribution.
After conveying his thanks, Jason turned to the others, who were also waiting for updates, and shouted, "Hey, guys! We've won.
The special forces are en route and will arrive in approximately 30 minutes.
We need to complete all evacuation preparations before they get here. Time is tight, but we must finish the job.
Long, Trent, you're in charge of the civilians. Move them to the main entrance on the first floor. Once the convoy arrives, load them onto the vehicles immediately.
The demolition team, start wiring the explosives. You have 20 minutes to set all the charges.
…"
Jason quickly issued orders to everyone. But just as the arrangements were being finalized, a new update came through his earpiece from the operations center.
After listening, Jason's face darkened. The good mood from securing special forces support instantly evaporated.
"Hey, hey, hey, everyone! New intel just came in," Jason said, raising his voice to draw attention. His expression turned serious.
"The Syrian army is advancing toward the hospital.
Satellite imagery analysts predict they'll arrive ahead of the special forces convoy.
Everyone must speed up. Finish all preparations within 20 minutes. Then move to the rooftop to engage the Syrian forces, buying time for the civilians to board."
Twenty minutes might seem like plenty, but under the circumstances, it was far from enough.
The civilians, weakened from days of starvation and toxin exposure, were barely able to move independently. At best, they needed support to walk.
For the remaining 80%, they would need to be carried or assisted to the first floor.
Complicating matters, the staircase from the second floor to the first had already been destroyed. Each person would need to be fitted with a gas mask and escorted through the basement to reach the first floor.
This process was time-intensive.
At this moment…
Long Zhan's exceptional strength became a critical asset in the mission.
While Trent could carry one civilian at a time, Long Zhan could easily shoulder one on his back while supporting another on his chest with one arm.
This allowed him to transport two civilians at once, doubling efficiency instantly.
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