Whoosh Whoosh.
A gentle breeze stirred the emerald green lake, creating ripples, while the bright sun overhead added to the shimmering effect.
Setting up a parasol by the lake, lying on a deck chair, sipping an ice-cold Sprite or Coke, and admiring the scenery composed of vast lakes and mountains would definitely be one of life's greatest pleasures.
"Hurry! Hurry!"
"Too slow! Too slow! My old hen can run faster than you! If you can't get back to base in ten minutes, you'll run another fifteen kilometers this afternoon, understand?!"
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
However, a group of soldiers dressed in desert camouflage combat pants and black short sleeved shirts gradually appeared from left to right in this mountain and lake scenery.
And after an officer shouted the order, all the soldiers noticeably increased their running speed and headed to the right, that is, to the southeast.
It looks like these soldiers are about to finish their morning run training.
Looking in the direction the soldiers were facing, one could vaguely see a military base complete with walls, sentry posts, and an airport terminal.
In addition, the distinctive red 'A' symbol embroidered on the left chest of the soldier's short sleeved shirts indicates that they belong to Atlas, a multinational corporation involved in multiple fields.
Based on the scorching climate, the alkaline lake resembling an inland ocean, and the ubiquitous desert landscape, it can be determined that the military base is located in Kenya, not far from the western shore of Lake Turkana.
Shift your gaze from the soldiers who haven't finished their morning run to the sky hundreds of meters above, and then look down over the base.
The military base covers an area of approximately fifty hectares and has two 1,800 meter long and 80 meter wide running tracks.
Scattered around the airport are buildings ranging from large structures like hangars, bunkers, radar stations, weapons depots, anti-aircraft missile sites, and armored vehicle storage areas, to smaller ones like canteens, supermarkets, game arcades, movie theaters, and dormitories no more than three stories high.
Most of the hangars were empty, but there was an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet purchased at a favor price, an AC-130 gunship, two A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, and several transport planes.
However, the helipad was filled with helicopters of various models....
After all, helicopters like the UH-1 Huey and A/MH-6 Little Bird are much cheaper than fighter jets and attack aircraft.
Clearly, this military base belonging to Atlas is comparable in size to a formal overseas base of the U.S. military.
In fact, numerous contracts and agreements signed between Atlas and senior U.S. military officials indicate that in times of emergency, the U.S. military can carry out missions or conduct evacuations through Atlas's military bases located at the borders of Kenya, Bolivia, Syria, and Iraq.
In contrast, Atlas mercenaries can also travel to and evacuate to US military outposts and bases in these three areas.
In the Middle East alone, Atlas has cooperated with the U.S. military more than 600 times and has a close relationship with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Atlas's ability to build military bases overseas and even possess military air rights is inseparable from the tacit approval of the US military.
Of course, Atlas will also provide substantial benefits to the local area, the simplest being direct financial investment, or assistance in improving local infrastructure and promoting economic development.
The main personnel at the Kenya base include soldiers who have just finished their morning jog training by the lake, namely the 3rd Infantry Company of the ARS (ALTAS Response Service), one-third of the 5th Armored Company and the 6th Aviation Company, plus ground crew, logistics. technical, engineering, and armed security personnel with regular contracts, totaling more than 4,000 people.
It is worth mentioning that the ARS, with its six companies, is not only the core unit of Atlas's contracted business, but also the main defense force of the three military bases.
The elite First Company, known as the Hunters, has just over a hundred members and is only responsible for carrying out battles involving the company's core interests. The Second, Third, and Fourth Infantry Companies, on the other hand, account for 60% of the total number of ARS personnel, approximately 2,200.
Furthermore, the personnel who carried out the contracted missions and cooperated directly with the U.S. military were also responsible for the work of three infantry companies.
There are many factors at play in Atlas's decision to build military bases overseas.
The superficial reason is that Atlas needs to ensure the safety of its oil fields and mines overseas and prevent its personnel from being harassed by insurgents or terrorists.
As Wong stated in the interview, the abundance of natural resources in the area is what attracted Atlas to invest and develop there.
But the real core idea is that after Sui Yang, the founder of Atlas, learned that there were Voughts in this world, as well as people from other worlds, and even potential threats, he began to prepare for war before his assets exceeded 100 billion.
Otherwise, Sui Yang wouldn't have spent so much cash on maintaining the company's military expenditures, all in the hope that the space gate could open so he could leverage the differences between different worlds to compensate for each other's weaknesses and resolve the Vought Corporation and all threats.
However, once Sui Yang learns that his transmigration is closely related to God-emperor, the founder's goals may be a little bigger. Regardless, Atlas needs to have the right to conduct legitimate and compliant military operations overseas to facilitate a series of subsequent tasks.
At the indoor training facility located on the west side of the Kenya base.
"Rookie!, this is the second time. Control your movements, your recklessness will get you killed if this was a real battlefield!"
The stern rebuke echoed throughout the training hall.
This area features numerous weightlifting machines, as well as hanging sandbags and soft, shock absorbing flooring, creating a space for training close combat and martial arts.
Dozens of trainees, all dressed in desert camouflage pants and black short sleeved shirts, stood at the edge of the area, observing the instructors demonstrating combat in the center of the area, as well as the blonde trainees being used as demonstration teaching materials.
The instructor reprimanded the blond student because he tried to use a flying armbar to achieve a decisive victory, but the instructor easily countered it by using the student's momentum to deflect the attack.
Judging from his muscular physique and his habit of wearing berets, this instructor is none other than Jack Krauser, a former U.S. Army lieutenant.
As for the true identities of these trainees, they were prospective investigators who had studied with Krausa for nearly half a year.
at this time.
The two people in the center of the area were positioned separately.
Krauser turned around first, his face full of anger, and shouted at the blond student not far away, "Leon! how many times do I have to drill this into you? This isn't some movie. Once you're compromised and stripped of your gear, you survive by any means necessary. No flashy techniques—only what kills the enemy."
At this point, Krauser finished his fighting stance, looked around at all the trainees present, and raised his voice again to give them his instructions.
"Don't forget your identities as investigators. You're tasked with helping the company infiltrate and penetrate unknown areas, and in the future, you'll be deployed to other universes! You must be fast, accurate, and ruthless! Don't forget that again, do you hear me?!"
"Understood, sir!"