Working as a police officer in Mexico-Chapter 1811 - 796: So Overbearing!! (Part 4)
Victor carefully reviewed every aspect and asked several sharp technical and political risk questions.
Finally, he signed his name on the cover page of the plan: "Authorized to execute."
He looked up at the two generals: "Tell James Water and his men, Mexico thanks them for their courage. Upon the mission’s success, everyone will be promoted one rank and awarded the highest honor medal. But more importantly, come back alive."
"Understood, Leader!" Kitchener and Kennedy stood at attention and saluted.
...
Guatemala City, El Mirador Manor, 2:47 AM.
Alfonso Portillo extinguished his fifth cigar and paced the meeting room.
Herman Portillo sat by the long table, nervously shaking his leg. Sir Salisbury glanced at his wristwatch, an old Patek Philippe, its dial casting a cold glow in the dim light.
"The border squad is in position."
Herman looked at the recently received encrypted telegram, "Six hours later, Usumacinta River, Marker 14."
"What about Mexico’s response?" Salisbury asked.
"Unusually quiet."
Alfonso stopped, "The border outposts we’re monitoring haven’t seen any unusual reinforcements, and the Air Force hasn’t shown any movement. Could they really be unaware?"
Salisbury raised his glass but didn’t drink, "Victor is someone you can’t judge by common sense. But in any case, when the sun rises tomorrow, the world will see evidence of the Mexican Army crossing the border to attack Guatemala’s sovereign territory. The United Nations and the Organization of American States will intervene, with the United Kingdom and the European Union leading the sanctions."
Herman’s phone vibrated.
He glanced at it, frowning: "Safe House No. 3 on the outskirts reports a blackout, a line fault occurred half an hour ago, but the backup generator also malfunctioned. Technicians have been dispatched."
Salisbury put down his glass, "A blackout? At this time?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
"Must be a coincidence."
Alfonso waved his hand, "This city loses power every other day. Besides, the manor has its power system."
"Better to increase our vigilance." Salisbury rose and went to the window. Through the thick bulletproof glass, the night outside was pitch-black, "I suggest ending the meeting early and dispersing before dawn."
"Let’s wait another hour."
Herman pointed at the map, "We need to confirm the Air Force’s coordination details. After tomorrow’s incident, three A-37 attack jets will appear over the border ’on patrol,’ capture footage of the ’engagement scene,’ and then be ’forced to retaliate.’ This requires precise timing coordination."
"Then let’s wait another hour." Salisbury returned to his seat, absentmindedly rubbing his watch strap.
What he didn’t say: Three hours ago, London’s last encrypted communication mentioned that several intelligence monitoring stations in Mexico City suddenly went silent, a usual sign of a major operation.
But the Guatemalan Department of Defense intelligence insisted that the Mexican Army was operating as usual.
Perhaps he was overthinking.
2:55 AM, 15 kilometers southeast of the manor, in a valley shrouded in dense forest.
Four ’Ghost Eagle’ rotors slowly turned, their noise reduced to a minimum by specially designed blades and silencers, sounding like distant thunder in the night wind.
Colonel James Water observed his team inside the cabin through night vision goggles.
Thirty men, in black combat suits, fully armed. HK MP5SD suppressed submachine guns, M4A1 carbines with silencers, Remington 870 breaching shotguns, M9 pistols. Each carried four M67 fragmentation grenades, two flash grenades, two smoke grenades.
Bulletproof vests, tactical vests, PRC-117G encrypted radios, AN/PVS-14 night vision goggles, AN/PEQ-15 laser indicators.
No identifying marks.
Serial numbers on all equipment were filed off.
"One minute." The pilot’s calm voice came over the headset.
Water raised a fist, and his team did a final equipment check. Nobody spoke. Only the sound of breathing, steady and long.
In the back of the cabin, two members responsible for evidence collection and communication checked digital cameras, portable scanners, and a device for quickly downloading hard drive data, the most advanced model of 1996, customized by Silicon Valley Mexico laboratories.
"Hummingbird signal confirmed."
The electronic warfare officer’s voice came over the headset, "The internal transmitter is activated, coordinates locked. Thermal imaging shows three people gathered in the building’s basement, matching target characteristics. Twelve fixed guard posts, eight patrols, three men each. Electronic suppression ready."
Water pressed the communication button: "Received. Prepare to act."
3:00 AM.
Sir Salisbury suddenly looked up, "What was that sound?"
"What?" Alfonso asked.
"Sounds like a helicopter, but very faint..."
Before he finished, all the lights on the east side of the manor went out.
The entire manor was suddenly plunged into darkness, only the emergency exit signs glowed with a faint green light.
"What’s happening?!" Herman stood up sharply.
Almost simultaneously, an explosion came from the west wall.
Then the alarm sounded, but only for half a second before turning into a piercing electrical noise.
Lieutenant Romero, the manor’s Guard Captain, yelled over the radio: "East gate breached, repeat, east gate—Ah!"
"Enemy attack!" Herman drew the pistol from his waist.
Sir Salisbury moved faster, rushing to the wall and pressing a concealed button. The floor slid open, revealing a staircase downward: "Safe room! Follow me!"
Alfonso hesitated for a second, then rushed after him.
Herman followed, shouting to the door: "Guard Corps! Hold the gate!"
In the corridor outside, three Presidential Guard soldiers just lifted their G3 rifles before falling to bursts of fire from around the staircase corner. Bullets thudded into bulletproof vests with muffled sounds, but one shot pierced through the side of the neck, blood splattering on the wall.
