Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, three container trucks were speeding on the highway in Antalya, a port city in Turkey. These containers held three disassembled former Soviet-made AK-360 close-in anti-aircraft guns and their supporting ammunition.
Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Turkey, Ukraine, and Georgia had become leaders in the black arms market in Eastern Europe.
After the fall of the Soviet Union and the significant changes in Eastern Europe, almost all countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea had become black markets for arms trading, with Turkey, Ukraine, and Georgia being at the forefront of this trade.
Hundreds of millions of Soviet-made weapons and equipment were sold worldwide from these countries, and what made them stand out was not just the huge transaction volume but also the fact that almost all weapons and equipment were available for purchase, as long as one had the money. Except for strategic nuclear missiles and fifth-generation aircraft, buyers could get their hands on almost any weapon or equipment.
These countries even sold close-in defense guns produced in the former Soviet Union, and with enough money, one could even obtain the raw materials for nuclear weapons.
Turkey, in particular, was infamous for its nuclear black market, as most of the core fuel rods from dismantled Soviet nuclear submarines flowed into this market.
In this kind of black market, obtaining a dozen kilograms of enriched uranium with enough money wasn’t a challenging task, allowing buyers to return home with a potential bomb in their possession.
As a result, the purchase of three close-in defense guns was only considered an ordinary transaction in this kind of place.
Several arms dealers from Eastern Europe escorted the three container trucks to the port of Antalya, where a container ship was preparing to be fully loaded. Once the trucks arrived, they were quickly assigned to the pier where the container ship was docked.
Standing by the pier, three men had been waiting for the arrival of the trucks for quite some time. The two sides had already cleared the area in advance, so there were no bystanders to witness the exchange.
The silence was broken only by the sound of the containers being opened and the occasional grunt from the men inspecting them.
Finally, after confirming that everything was in order, the three men leaped out of the container and signaled to the waiting freighter. In response, a small loader made its way towards them and dropped a massive iron box that weighed 600 kilograms.
The escort immediately rushed forward and pried open the box, revealing it to be filled to the brim with gold bars.
A grin spread across his face as favonovel.com motioned to his accomplices, who quickly came over with their equipment to verify and weigh the precious metal. The whole transaction had been executed flawlessly and without a single word spoken.
The iron box glinted in the sunlight, holding within it a king’s ransom, 500 kilograms of pure gold. The bars had been melted down and cast into sleek, flat molds, devoid of any identifying marks or seals.
With a satisfied nod, the escort in charge of the precious cargo approached the trio of men waiting nearby.
“Everything is accounted for,” favonovel.com announced, a grin spreading across his face. “And I have good news, the price of gold has risen since we first discussed payment. I won’t be refunding the difference.”
One of the men chuckled, his eyes glittering with amusement. “No need for a refund, my friend. We’re happy to do business with you. If the price goes up, that’s just an added bonus. And if it goes down, we’ll make up the difference for you.”
The escort nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I have to say, I enjoy doing business with your company. It’s straightforward, efficient, and… Fun…”
A glint of menace flashed in one of the men’s eyes as favonovel.com spoke, his voice low and cold. “Just remember, if you so much as whisper the name of our company to anyone, you won’t be leaving here in one piece.”
The man before them seemed unfazed, a sly grin curling at the corners of his mouth. “No need to worry, my friends. Your secret is safe with me,” favonovel.com replied, chuckling to himself.
Then, as if an afterthought, favonovel.com added, “But I do have a proposition for you. I happen to have a stash of NATO weapons, if you’re interested. Just name your price.”
The group’s leader narrowed his eyes, suspicion etched on his face. “Where did you get these weapons from? And when did you start stockpiling them?”
The man let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, my friend, you’d be amazed at what’s available these days. I suggest you take a trip to Ukraine and see for yourself. NATO’s weapons are practically sold out, with more than half of the member states’ donations finding their way onto the black market. Whatever you need, I can get it for you.”
With a nod, the leader acknowledged the man’s offer. “We’ll keep that in mind. But for now, we need to prepare to leave.”
“Sounds good. We’ll be in touch if we need anything else,” the man said hurriedly, eager to end the conversation.
The gantry crane whirred into action, hoisting three large containers onto the waiting ship. The men watched as the containers were secured in place, nodding to one another in silent agreement.
Once they confirmed that everything was in order, they boarded the ship and settled in for the journey ahead.
With a low rumble, by the time the freighter set sail, it was under the cover of darkness, its true destination known only to the trio on board.
The ship’s route took it from Turkey to South Africa via the Suez Canal, but little did anyone know that three of the thousands of containers it carried would be disembarking halfway through the journey.
The distance between Antalya and Cyprus was a mere two hundred kilometers, and even the south coast of Cyprus was only three to four hundred kilometers away.
A group of sailors, disguised as soldiers from the Dragon Temple, had already begun processing the three containers. They worked quickly, opening each container and carefully inspecting the contents to ensure that there were no tracking or positioning devices inside.
Once they had confirmed that everything was in order, they installed their own tracking equipment and began reinforcing the weapons and ammunition stored within. Using an electric welding machine, they attached numerous fixing buckles to the inside of the container, then used thick slings capable of bearing dozens of tons to secure the weapons and ammunition in place.
Waterproof materials were used to seal any gaps in the container, and a number of equipment resembling oxygen cylinders were fixed around the bottom of the container. The sailors worked with precision and skill, their movements efficient and practiced.
As the freighter approached Cyprus, a fierce storm descended upon the sea. The waves grew higher and higher, obscuring visibility and making navigation treacherous.
Undeterred, the soldiers from the Dragon Temple prepared for the handover of weapons on the deck. With the help of GPS positioning, they hurled the three containers into the dark, churning waters at the predetermined coordinates.
Just as the containers were about to hit the surface of the sea, something extraordinary happened.
The oxygen cylinder-like equipment around them suddenly exploded, expanding rapidly to form massive airbags that held the containers aloft on the water’s surface.
One by one, the containers plunged into the sea, disappearing from view as the freighter continued on its course towards the Suez Canal without stopping. The three containers, now floating on the surface of the sea, were soon captured by a waiting light transport ship.
With a sudden surge of power, the light transport ship took off towards the port where the copper mine lay. It charged ahead like a stallion racing towards the finish line and arrived at the wharf just before daybreak.
The person in charge of the copper mine had greased every palm and pulled every string to ensure that no one would question the three containers that were unloaded from the ship. Swiftly, the containers were moved deep into the interior of the copper mine, where they would be safe from prying eyes.
***
Meanwhile, Wesley and Calum had already arrived at the scene, eager to see their plan unfold.
Calum was a technological whiz, skilled in communication, radar and infrared technology.
Wesley wasted no time in directing his team to acquire the best infrared night vision and thermal imaging equipment available. He knew that in order to execute their plan flawlessly, they would need top-of-the-line gear to ensure their success.
With the copper mine as their battleground, Wesley had three unassuming glass rooms built atop the three strategic high points. The newly acquired close-in anti-aircraft guns would be strategically placed in these rooms, allowing for maximum coverage of the mine’s open ground. The firepower network they would create would be unbeatable.
Once the close-in defense guns were in place, they would lock onto their targets and attack from all sides in a circular motion, forming a three-dimensional fire coverage area that would be impossible to evade. Anyone who dared to approach the copper mine would be met with a hail of gunfire, making escape impossible. Even a hair or a speck of DNA would be hard to leave behind after the close-in defense guns were through with them.
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