Chapter 140: Against all odds
The speed had reached over 100 km per hour, as the two beasts rushed on the highway. Fortunately, there were many lanes and the probability of collision dropped.
Tang Ziyi only lamented the other road users, not bothering to pullover at all if there was a free available lane. A big truck couldn't swerve in and out swiftly and it decreased the speed unnecessarily.
She asked the driver to blare the siren and horned more to ensure no one got in the way afterward. Even though their action might annoy others, they couldn't help.
After a while speeding on the highway, Tang Ziyi looked at the GPS shown on the screen, watching the blue line of their path and warned her driver. "Take the right lane. We'll be turning right soon."
The driver nodded. She was also paying attention to the map. At the next cloverleaf intersection, they had to turn right to move on another highway and soon enter the hot area.
Slowing down a little at a curve, she kept the speed stable and joined in the lane. The sirens and lights helped her mitigate some troubles from other drivers.
"Turn right again at the first road you see." Tang Ziyi's voice notified her again.
Tang Ziyi tilted her head back, and saw the girls busy on their own. "All Bravos, we're nearing the area. Final weapon and radio check."
"Roger. Bravo One."
"1-1 check." The radio checks process followed suit and reports from the other team entered her ears.
Afterward, the girls behind slammed their magazines in, locked and loaded all their firearms, sitting up straight in their seats. Going through the process roughly several times, their movements well-coordinated and precise.
Tang Ziyi nodded inwardly, finished her QBZ-192 and looked at her driver who couldn't load her weapons yet.
"Let me do it for you." Tang Ziyi grabbed her carbine out from the handguard, its muzzle pointed upward, leaning beside her driver's right leg.
"Thank you, boss."
She helped her driver, loaded in the magazine, ensure the safety trigger was on and returned the weapon to its original position gently. "Magazine in. You just need to pull the charging handle and everything is ready."
Patting her driver's shoulder, Tang Ziyi pressed her radio. "Bravo to Command, 5 minutes had passed. We're about to leave the highway and reach the hot district. Please advise."
"Bravos, understood. Our teams are waiting for you. Please hurry if you can."
"Copied that, Command."
"Boss, you better see this." The driver's tone sounded bad and Tang Ziyi watched the front in the distance.
Their armored truck had turned right on the curve, leaving the highway and saw more and more vehicles, slowing down ahead, pressing them to slow down as well.
Traffic became congested and it appeared their ETA might also change. Usually, the road they were on was a two-lane, leaving another wide lane width so that the emergency vehicles could pass.
But the other road users had taken the spot and her driver had to stop, changing the tone of the siren. The Aegis issued a rumbling siren, rapid low frequency, to attract attention and alert everyone of their presence.
Fortunately, some drivers saw them and maneuvered to give as much space as they could. Still, The lady driver cursed out at the unscrupulous drivers who had broken the rules. She also pioneered and maneuvered her vehicle to a crawl within a tight spot.
The AI system aids and 360 views supported her action despite her vehicle merely a palm size away from hitting others. Like an expert, she was able to overtake.
The Aegis behind simply had to follow her orientation and drove without breaking a sweat. Tang Ziyi's face darkened as their speed paced like a crocodile.
Based on her estimation, the sun should set by the time they arrived at the scenes to reinforce others. She called in a radio. "Commands, are you still observing us? Could you take a look ahead, what's happening in the front?"
"Received. We're also working on it."
Athena displayed the image in her spectacles as soon as she heard Tang Ziyi's words, without requiring her to ask for it again. Tang Ziyi muttered: "Thanks."
"No problems, Aunt." Tang Ziyi's eyes narrowed as she rubbed her chin in deep thought.
...
The atmosphere remained the same inside the police control room. Yang Qingyue exclaimed at her subordinates: "Who can tell me what's going on in front of their convoys? Search the reason for me, quick!"
Cai Ning asked someone: "Is the area they're in becoming congested usually in this period of time before."
"No, Ma'am. According to our traffic past record, it shouldn't be this congested. In fact, the time should be when the vehicles will flow smoothly."
Cai Ning nodded in understanding at the reply she received and looked at her friend. Because humans were in control of the CCTV, it took some time before they figured out the problem and uploaded it on the screen.
Everyone's eyes fumed in anger immediately. Two police cars parked diagonally in an alternate position to allow only one vehicle to move slowly between them and they were making a security checkpoint.
From the CCTV, they realized these officers also checked everything, letting the people inside the vehicle get out and use the dogs. It would be a matter of time before the traffic became congested and turned to a standstill.
Their observation concluded, there was no way except moving forward for the armored trucks. Moving backward and turning around for another route were impossible in this small available space.
Yang Qingyue inhaled deeply and asked: "Someone, inquire the district police what's going on and why the security checkpoint now?"
"On it, chief." Yang Qingyue cussed under her breath. If they had the power and time to make security checkpoints, why didn't they support her distressed team? Her forehead creased and she rubbed the stiff skin to soothe her mood.
Her mind arrived at a suspicion after clearing away the dark cloud. It shouldn't be, she muttered inwardly.
Sure enough, her subordinate reported: "Chief, they replied to us the security check obeys the protocol and they have got the intel, someone with weapons and drugs will be passing through. In addition, I've made a request to stop the checks and let our convoy pass but they denied my request, stating they couldn't and ask instead to report to their superior."
Seeing Yang Qingyue do nothing, her subordinates called again. "Chief, it's your call."
Yang Qingyue nodded and signaled away her subordinates. It was useless if she called too. She would hear a thousand reasons and excuses, unable to refute their arguments.
She was too young to compare with the old in terms of shifting blame and elongating the timeline. She understood what the district was doing. Her eyes scanned everyone in the room suspiciously.
Someone had properly leaked her only support's information and her opponent initiated a counter plan to checkmate the SWAT convoy.
Cai Ning grasped her shoulder and said. "Tell Bravo about the situation. They're waiting for you to report back the situation ahead."
Yang Qingyue muttered thanks with a nod and calmed herself. "Bravos, this is command. I've got bad news."
After hearing her explanation, a simple reply placated everyone: "Understood, Command. Don't worry, we'll handle the situation as we deem fit. You might have to handle the diplomacy with the district afterward though. Bravo Out."
Sheer strength of steel will and determination in the sonorous voice strengthened everyone's resolve and assured Yang Qingyue from worrying.
Although she had never met or talked with this strong woman, she must admit she found herself lacking. Just from the voice, it told everyone, they could solve the current predicaments.
...
Back inside the vehicle, Tang Ziyi bit her tongue and puffed her cheek, calculating her next move. She talked to Su Ruomei via radio.
"Bravo Two, you've heard what the Command says. Any idea?"
"Bravo One, Bravo Two copied everything. No idea at the moment. Sounds like you have one."
"That's an A-ffirm. Thinking about breaking laws. Ram these bastards and move. We're wasting our precious second, walking like a snail."
"Gotcha. Sounds good to me. Go on, I'll have your back."
Tang Ziyi rolled her eyes at Su Ruomei's remarks. It was easy for her to say without considering the consequences of the actions when she was leading them forward.
To be honest, Tang Ziyi had had enough of these political messes also thrown at their group. She didn't say or react to Yang Qingyue's trouble caused by the other side.
But to dare to slow and prevent her group from reaching her destination was simply courting death. Anyone who stumbled had never left her grips without bleeding till she was satisfied.
The same applied to the police unit that was blocking her path ahead. In fact, the excuse of searching and apprehending dangerous suspects, who possessed firearms and drugs, could be the truth.
But chances were only 10 percent of the probability could attribute this conclusion, given the variables she had. That 10 percent vanished after hearing a more clear Athena's report in her ears.
Her eyes turned frosty, causing the driver beside her to click her tongue, wishing luck for Tang Ziyi's enemies. Angering their instructor Tang would become the worst nightmare.