Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 278 - 265 Is It Possible

Chapter 278: Chapter 265 Is It Possible

The plane took off from Paris, flew over the Mediterranean, through the airspaces of Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad, and other countries, heading straight for the Central African Republic.

That trip was no short journey, over three thousand kilometers long, requiring six or seven hours of flight to arrive. The most troublesome part was that the plane was a French A400M medium transport aircraft, a military transport aircraft with no real passenger cabin, so the trek was rather torturous.

The cargo area was a mix of people and supplies, carrying various provisions for the troops stationed in Central Africa, including a large amount of equipment for Gao Yi and his team, then a pile of ammunition, and finally beds fixed in the plane, designated for the wounded.

When it was time to leave, Gao Yi felt no sorrow; instead, Marina and Emily came personally to the airport to see him off, leaving amid an odd and awkward atmosphere.

It was as if Gao Yi and his team were fleeing Paris.

For secrecy, only a few of them, including Gao Yi, were on this plane. The flight was originally just a cargo delivery for the troops in Central Africa, and Gao Yi’s team was merely an additional appendage.

Most of the space in the cargo bay was occupied by goods, so Gao Yi and his team had to make do with staying on the edge of the cargo area, which was very uncomfortable, much worse than the economy class of a commercial airliner.

There was certainly no comfort, but the secrecy was absolutely strong; he couldn’t believe that they could sneak into Africa like this without being discovered.

There was nothing else worth mentioning, just a bit of excitement at the beginning, then only boredom and monotony left.

Nearly halfway through the flight, after spending more than two hours on the plane, Gao Yi lay between the cabin wall and the cargo, soundly asleep.

Youth is great; he could sleep in any environment whenever he wanted to.

But accidents often occur at seemingly ordinary and dull moments.

With a loud boom, the sound was intense, and the plane suddenly shook, jolting Gao Yi into the air.

Gao Yi woke up, then fell back onto the mat, and at that moment, red flashing lights started to brighten up the cargo hold, accompanied by an unsettling alarm.

"What’s going on, air turbulence?" asked Gao Yi, aware that planes could bump when hitting air currents, sometimes very severely, but the sound just now seemed too loud to be mere turbulence.

Feng Biao anxiously shouted, "That’s an alarm; if it were just turbulence, there wouldn’t be such an alarm! We’re in danger now, damn, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, are you being retaliated against?"

Li Jie’s voice trembled, "Retaliation? For what?"

"Destroy what you can’t have!" Feng Biao screamed, then grabbed the cabin’s handrail and yelled, "We’re losing altitude, the plane is going to crash, oh my god! That woman is ruthless!"

Feng Biao panicked; Gao Yi was shocked.

Lucy started to make the sign of the cross.

The plane was indeed rapidly losing altitude, a feeling of weightlessness was clearly noticeable. Such severe weightlessness wouldn’t occur without a continuous and swift descent.

But soon, the sensation of weightlessness disappeared, and Gao Yi felt his previously buoyant body regain its weight, thudding onto the floor.

The sharply descending plane stabilized, having at least resumed level flight.

Luca was sitting in front, he reached for the telephone on the cabin wall, shouting urgently, "What happened?"

This was a transport aircraft, equipped with phones for communication between the cargo hold and the cockpit, multiple ones at that. If the plane was on an airdrop mission, it would notify the cargo bay staff via phone.

Now Luca was inquiring of the pilot what had occurred.

"Hydraulic system failure, fuel line leakage, the right engine stopped, we dropped five thousand meters; we must make an emergency landing."

The co-pilot dutifully informed Luca of the situation. Meanwhile, during the conversation between the co-pilot and Luca, the pilot’s calls could be clearly heard by Luca.

"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is a French Air Force transport plane, we have a serious accident, need to make an emergency forced landing, is anyone receiving this..."

Luca’s face went pale, he turned around, and shouted to everyone, "We’re going to crash!"

"Not going to crash, we just need an emergency forced landing, we will land at the nearest airport!"

The pilot corrected Luca through the phone.

Although to Luca, forced landing and a crash didn’t seem much different.

A wave of deep regret flooded Gao Yi’s heart. He turned to Feng Biao, "Can it be true? That vicious?"

Feng Biao roared, "You’re just realizing now? A woman’s fury can be far worse than a man’s. You had the meat at your lips and didn’t eat it, serves you right! Now you’re getting your just desserts!"

Lin Xianghua clasped his hands over his head and then quiveringly said, "Are we going to die?"

"Did you all hear that sound just now? Was it an explosion? Was it an explosion?" Only Li Jie was still preoccupied with technical issues. However, this was normal, too—if it was an explosion, then someone had tampered with the plane, someone was out for their lives.

Gao Yi still couldn’t believe it, whether it was Marina or Emily. Although both of them seemed somewhat resentful today when they bid him farewell, they surely wouldn’t go so far as to take his life.

"The exterior isn’t on fire."

The A400’s cargo hold also has portholes, with one small window at the front, middle, and rear on each side, allowing a view of the outside conditions.

Luca ran to the window on the left side and peered out, but didn’t notice any obvious anomalies with the wings or propellers. He yelled, "Check the other side."

It was extremely chaotic, extremely frantic.

Gao Yi urged anxiously, "We might as well ask the pilot directly, we’re fine, we’re okay, if they really wanted to kill me, why would they need a plane?"

Gao Yi thought that if Marina truly wanted him dead, why would she need a plane? Plus, this transport was French Air Force property, not under her control. And even if Marina really wanted to plant a bomb, she wouldn’t have had the chance, right?

Besides, if someone really wanted him dead, a large bomb would have done it—airplane disintegrating in mid-air, no need for their shouting and screaming here.

But at that moment, Feng Biao asserted again, his voice filled with endless resentment, "Boss, are you dumb? If they just killed you outright, would the Saudis let it go? Creating a seemingly normal aviation accident would be perfect, just put it down as an accident, an air crash, who can say anything about it?"

Gao Yi’s confidence waned as he admitted with shock, "Am I really so hated? Is it necessary?"

"The more love you draw, the more hate you attract," Feng Biao said, "I told you, women aren’t reasonable. Marina is the most ruthless of them all. Ah, brothers, see you in the next life then, such a pity for my two flower-like wives..."

Feng Biao firmly believed they were being dragged down by Gao Yi, who was targeted by a woman turned bitter from love.

Finally, Lucy declared loudly, "If we’re going to die, so be it, what’s there to fear!"

Saying she wasn’t afraid, but Lucy’s voice carried a crying tone.

Just then, the phone mounted on the wall started blinking again. Li Jie grabbed it and spoke urgently, "Hello! How are things going? What’s the situation?"

"We must make a forced landing nearby. We’re currently above Tunisia, and the closest airport is Tripoli Airport. We’ve established contact with the airport and are about to make a forced landing at Tripoli Airport. Prepare for a forced landing. Over and out."

The pilot just announced it.

Before boarding the plane, the pilot had been aware of the unusual identities of these passengers. So, they needed to be informed of any issues and where they would making a forced landing.

Holding the phone, Li Jie said to the panicked crowd, "Don’t be scared, the plane is going to land, we’re making an emergency landing at Tripoli Airport. Our current location is practically on the border line between Tunisia and Libya, just over a hundred kilometers from Tripoli Airport. The plane’s condition is fine, we’ll definitely be able to land."

Li Jie’s words served as a reassurance to those on the brink of despair.

Gao Yi’s heart settled a bit.

Luca stopped running around aimlessly, but Feng Biao asked, "What? Ask if it’s a mechanical fault, weather-related, or if someone tampered with the plane."

Li Jie held the receiver and said, "Hello, is it a mechanical fault or weather-related?"

"Severe mechanical failure."

"Is it an accident or caused by sabotage?"

"Can’t determine that. I have to end the call now; please don’t disturb us unless it’s necessary. Over and out."

The call disconnected.

Li Jie addressed everyone, "A mechanical fault is certain, but the pilot can’t confirm whether it’s an accident or sabotage. I think it’s probably just a regular mechanical fault. If it was sabotage, we’d be finished, with no chance for an emergency landing."

This was an emergency landing, not quite the same as a forced landing.

A real forced landing involves bringing the aircraft down on the ground or water forcibly, leaving matters to fate, with nine out of ten attempts likely to fail.

But an emergency landing is at an airport, which is much safer than a forced landing.

However, Luca then voiced with urgency, "Hold on, which airport in Tripoli?"

"He didn’t say."

Luca said hurriedly, "Tripoli has two airports, Tripoli Airport has ceased operations due to severe damage, with Mitiga Airport replacing Tripoli International Airport and still in use. And right now, Mitiga Airport is under the control of the Libyan Unity Government Army."

After hurriedly explaining, Luca took a breath and said, "Guys, you need to understand something, in reality, it’s the United States that actually controls the airport. The United States claims to have withdrawn all its forces from Libya, but they have secret forces there – or rather, the most powerful military force in Libya now is the CIA! The CIA!"

CIA.

Just hearing that name was unsettling.

Gao Yi couldn’t help asking, "How do you know all this?"

"Didn’t you watch the movie ’13 Hours’? It’s very clear in the movie that the Americans always have secret forces there, and it’s actually the CIA, that’s what it is."

Gao Yi tugged at his hair hard and exclaimed, "Damn."

Although the information came from a movie, Luca felt it made a lot of sense.

"Think about it, if it were the CIA who sabotaged the plane, and as we near Tripoli, something suddenly happens, and the plane can only make a forced landing. The closest airport is only Tripoli Airport, not under French control. The moment our plane lands, the CIA could capture us alive, capture us alive, guys. Is there any better opportunity than this?"

Luca spread his hands, speaking urgently, "Think about it, is there a possibility I’m right? Is there?"