While Song Heping's team was struggling to survive in the sea of sand, the scene he predicted was playing out in a much more tragic manner just tens of kilometers behind.
Lieutenant Colonel Adams, the SBS Special Forces Commander, and the GNA armed elite pursuers he led had similarly plunged headfirst into the continuously escalating super sandstorm.
At first, they relied on their numerous vehicles and sophisticated equipment to attempt a forced pursuit.
But when the sand concentration reached a critical point, when fine sand completely clogged the air filters, and when the rampant wind swayed the almost ten-ton armored vehicles, disaster struck.
Reports of stalled engines spread like a plague through the radio channels, instantly drowning out the commander's orders.
"Alpha 1 stalled!"
"Bravo 2 stalled! Unable to restart!"
"Command vehicle! Command vehicle has lost power!"
...
