Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 43: Airborne!

"Wh-..."

"Turn the convoy around!"

Before Skull Head could finish speaking, Lin Xu immediately issued an order in an unquestionable tone:

"Change of plans. We're not attacking Tianqiong Technology anymore."

"We're entering Purple Mountain Observatory, breaching the North High Peak Deep Space Observation Station to obtain its communication access and broadcast to all extraterrestrial stations."

"The broadcast targets include space stations, satellites, lunar bases, and Mars bases."

"In short..."

"Hold the fuck up?!" 

Skull Head's eyes widened like saucers.

"You want to attack Purple Mountain Observatory?? Do you even know what that place is??"

"That's fucking inside Zhong Mountain Scenic Area! Don't tell me you don't know what Zhong Mountain Scenic Area is?"

"That's the largest cadre sanatorium in the country! There's an entire company of troops stationed there!"

"Are you trying to get me killed??"

At this point, it was Lin Xu's turn to be stunned.

He realized his mistake.

When initially assessing the difficulty of capturing Purple Mountain Observatory, he'd only considered the facility's own security, completely overlooking the surrounding protection levels.

In reality, the toughest nut to crack was the Zhong Mountain Scenic Area adjacent to the observatory!

"Let's head over first!"

"We're not attacking the sanatorium! We're just passing through!"

Lin Xu took a deep breath before continuing:

"If conditions permit, we can infiltrate covertly."

"Don't worry, the Deep Space Observation Station's defenses won't be too strong. We'll get in and out fast—just get me inside and your team can withdraw immediately!"

"...The fuck you mean 'won't be too strong'!"

Skull Head gritted his teeth as he gave the order to drive, then said:

"You don't understand—breaking in won't be as simple as you think!"

"It's 2045 now. Modern warfare isn't about firepower—it's about information!"

"Our team's biggest advantage is technical superiority—we can establish electromagnetic dominance!"

"That's why we dared take your job and attack this aerospace facility!"

"Because we can impose one-way EM shielding on their security systems. Without information advantage, breaching is easy!"

"But Purple Mountain Observatory is different—there are actual military forces stationed nearby!"

"Their electronic warfare capabilities are lightyears ahead of ours. Forget establishing EM shielding—the moment our EW equipment powers on, they'll pinpoint our location instantly!"

"How the hell are we supposed to fight that? Tell me how!"

"I don't care—that's your problem to solve."

Lin Xu shook his head:

"It takes 24 minutes to reach the observation station from here, but I need at least 20 more minutes to complete the information broadcast and reception."

"That means we only have 15 minutes to breach the station and obtain full access."

"Time's running out—hurry up!"

"Fuck me, are you insane??"

Skull Head couldn't help cursing, but Lin Xu raised a hand to cut him off.

"Curse all you want—that still counts as time!"

"Do you want your money or not? If yes, move faster!"

"...I must have committed atrocities in eight past lives to deserve this!"

Skull Head gnashed his teeth as he studied the map, quickly analyzing:

"From entry point to observation station is 400 meters elevation gain—nearly 1 kilometer distance."

"Impossible to make it through conventionally. Even ignoring security, we don't have enough time. Only option is helicopter insertion."

"But helicopters are too conspicuous—we'd get detected and shot down by air defense radar instantly."

"The entire Purple Mountain area is a no-fly zone for drones, so we can't conduct high-altitude recon to map radar coverage either."

"Only one way left..."

"Parachuting?" 

Lin Xu interjected.

"Parachute your ass!"

Skull Head took a deep breath before barking into the radio:

"Old Ma, scramble seven EVTOLs for me!"

"Make it fast! We'll reach Qixia Mountain in eight minutes, then fly straight to target from there!"

"Equipment must be in position within eight minutes! Understood?"

"Understood!" 

A somewhat aged voice replied through the headset. Hearing Skull Head's plan, even Lin Xu had to admit admiration.

Professionals really were different!

While he'd been thinking of charging in blindly, Skull Head was already mobilizing cutting-edge equipment.

What was an EVTOL?

An electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft!

To put it simply—a large drone that could carry people.

Back in his original world, this technology had already been quite mature.

After twenty more years of development, these things would only perform better.

Nothing could organize a low-altitude assault more effectively than this.

Lin Xu felt slightly reassured.

Despite his verbal reluctance, Skull Head was clearly willing to try.

"Let me make this clear!"

Skull Head turned to Lin Xu solemnly:

"We're only responsible for inserting you—nothing else!"

"Six EVTOLs will draw attention from ground-based air defenses to create your breach opportunity."

"Once you land, we withdraw immediately."

"We won't participate in any follow-up combat. Whatever you plan to do, you're on your own."

"Understood?"

"The hell?? I paid you!"

Lin Xu frowned.

"No amount of money makes me suicidal enough to fight the government directly! This isn't a combat mission—it's suicide!"

"Changing missions mid-operation already breaks protocol. This is as far as I'll go—your call whether to proceed!"

"...Proceed."

Lin Xu answered through clenched teeth.

Skull Head had a point.

He'd paid them to attack Tianqiong Technology, not Purple Mountain Observatory.

When he'd ordered the police station raid earlier, Skull Head had refused then too—this refusal followed the same logic.

No matter.

His greatest advantage was unlimited trial and error.

Even alone, with proper equipment, breaching was possible.

After all, the Deep Space Observation Station wasn't a military facility—its security level was relatively low.

With superior equipment and firepower, breaching shouldn't be too difficult.

By now, the convoy had raced to Qixia Mountain.

Following Skull Head, Lin Xu disembarked and began suiting up efficiently.

Bulletproof vest, helmet, thermal imager, suppressed pistol, rifle, flashbangs...

This marked Lin Xu's first fully equipped combat deployment. As he finished gearing up, seven aircraft landed on Qixia Mountain's plateau.

"All EVTOLs with legitimate flight authorization."

Skull Head boarded one before explaining:

"We'll penetrate the no-fly zone directly, heading straight for Purple Mountain's observation station."

"Standard procedure—we'll receive three warnings."

"First is verbal order to turn back. Second warning involves jamming if ignored. Third warning means they'll open fire."

"Entire warning sequence lasts about sixty seconds."

"So after detection, you must reach target and land within that window."

"Understood?"

"Understood."

Lin Xu nodded gravely before boarding his aircraft.

"Can you fly this?"

Skull Head asked again.

"Nope."

Lin Xu answered honestly.

"But I will next time."

"Next time?? You think there'll be a next time?!"

Skull Head looked at him like he was insane.

"If you can't fly, don't touch the controls!"

"Old Ma will remotely pilot your craft—just sit tight!"

"No problem."

Lin Xu nodded.

Yet the next second, his hand reached for the control stick.

A gentle pull, and the aircraft lifted off.

"Let's go!"

Lin Xu shouted:

"Let me try first!"