Operation: Special Warfare Episode 13 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
The female soldiers of Blue Lightning, recognizing their unit's unconventional and challenging nature, encouraged each other not to give up on the 400 m steeplechase. They affirmed their ability to conquer it, rallying around the idea that with resolve, solutions always outweigh difficulties. As they pushed through the obstacle course under the scorching sun, wearing heavy sandbags, the male soldiers watched. Some male soldiers wondered if they were being too harsh and considered going easy on the women.
However, they decided against it, fearing Qin Guan's strict oversight. Qin Guan, observing the female soldiers' determined efforts, was pleased, remarking to Wen Jing that this was exactly the situation he wanted to see, even as Wen Jing expressed her concern over his demeanor. Qin Guan then received a phone call from the detachment leader, who inquired about the Blue Lightning unit.
Qin Guan reported that while the training intensity had significantly increased, the female soldiers were initially unprepared, experiencing issues ranging from a lack of confidence to overconfidence, and were still far from reaching the qualification standards. The detachment leader advised Qin Guan to be patient and employ suitable methods, reminding him that the entire Team was closely watching Blue Lightning as the Global Energy Conference approached, leaving them with limited time.
Qin Guan reaffirmed the necessity of high standards, stating that without becoming "refined into steel," they wouldn't be able to carry out Operation Lightning. The detachment leader supported Qin Guan's training plan, reiterating the importance of intense training to minimize casualties in actual combat. The detachment leader then shared critical intelligence: the police had seized a batch of GHR3, a highly sensitive new material secretly hoarded by the S Group terrorist organization.
This material, while suitable for advanced batteries, also possessed extreme destructive potential, capable of synthesizing super bombs. In a different location, Wu Jie, infuriated by the seizure, confronted his subordinate Nan Qi, who explained that the police had acted too swiftly, preventing the transfer of the GHR3. Wu Jie then executed the female lab director for her failure.
He proceeded to threaten a male Doctor at gunpoint, ordering him to create the new energy and super bomb, even without the GHR3, before the Global Energy Conference. Wu Jie declared that failure was not an option in his world and that the next threat would be with real bullets. The detachment leader emphasized to Qin Guan that national security experts identified S Group as a terrorist organization aiming to control the new energy market.
He stressed that the success of thwarting S Group's plans and completing Operation Lightning now depended on Qin Guan and Blue Lightning's performance. As the intensive training continued day and night, Li Sisi began to fall behind, overwhelmed by the demanding tasks. Ning Meng noticed Li Sisi's absence and organized a search.
Recalling Li Sisi’s fondness for food, Ning Meng checked the mess hall, where the cook reported that Li Sisi had cried and eaten all his cucumbers, feeling deeply distressed. Ning Meng found Li Sisi sobbing while devouring food, expressing her immense pressure and fear of being the last one and dragging the team down. Initially, Ning Meng, trying a tough-love approach, urged Li Sisi to stop eating and consider quitting, even offering to accompany her to Qin Guan's office.
She chastised Li Sisi for choosing to escape and deal with problems "like a weak person," asking what good it did to hide and cry. Li Sisi, deeply emotional, responded that she only feared dragging the others down. Seeing her distress, Ning Meng softened her tone. The rest of the female soldiers arrived, gathering around Li Sisi to offer comfort and encouragement.
They reminded her that no one is born strong and that they can all become stronger by working together. They emphasized that her concern for the team demonstrated responsibility, something they admired. They then put their hands together, vowing to face the 400 m steeplechase together the next day and moving forward with the motto: "the harder it is, the further we go!" The following day, after completing the 400 m steeplechase, the female soldiers were left with numerous injuries.
To everyone's surprise, Qin Guan personally brought a first-aid kit and began applying medicine to their wounds. Though in pain, the soldiers, including Ning Meng, endured without complaint, touched by this rare display of warmth from their captain. Ning Meng was particularly struck by this unexpected side of Qin Guan, pledging to persevere until the end to live up to his unspoken expectations.
Qin Guan, however, reminded them that their training was for their own growth, not for him, and that understanding their purpose for being there was more crucial than simply training hard. Despite their severe injuries, the female soldiers eagerly returned to training, celebrating each improvement in their performance. Meanwhile, the male soldiers, initially dismissive and sympathetic, continued to observe from the sidelines.
Some mused that the female soldiers’ efforts were futile due to their sandbags and weaker physical attributes, even discussing going easy on them, a suggestion Chen Haozhe quickly refuted as counterproductive. One male soldier recalled his previous clashes with Tong Mengyao during anti-hit training, vowing to prove he was "not to be trifled with." Qin Guan, noticing their idleness and comments, promptly ordered the male soldiers to join the rigorous training alongside the female soldiers.
The Blue Lightning members then gathered to discuss strategy for the upcoming male-female soldier confrontation assessment. Ning Meng, demonstrating her tactical acumen, outlined a plan to systematically defeat the male soldiers. She identified Chen Haozhe and "Iron Fist" as the strongest and proposed a decentralized tactic to lure them away individually. Tong Mengyao was assigned to engage Guo Xiaowei, the fastest runner, while Li Sisi was tasked with drawing "Iron Fist" as far away as possible.
Ning Meng, Dongdong, and Yang Shu would then jointly tackle Chen Haozhe, followed by a combined effort against "Iron Fist." Unaware of the female soldiers' detailed strategy, the male soldiers, except for Chen Haozhe who warned against underestimation, remained overconfident. They declared they would "overwhelm them with momentum," with one male soldier eagerly anticipating a personal victory over Tong Mengyao, and another confidently planning to defeat Zhuang Qian. During the assessment, the female soldiers executed their plan flawlessly.
Tong Mengyao successfully lured Guo Xiaowei away and defeated him, setting the stage for subsequent victories. Observing the display of tactical prowess, Wen Jing noted how quickly the female soldiers had improved and learned to use strategy, to which Qin Guan correctly attributed the mastermind as Ning Meng. The female soldiers ultimately emerged victorious, celebrating their hard-won success with shouts of joy.
Amidst the jubilation, Yang Shu made a somewhat cold and contentious remark, claiming that their victory was only possible because she had trained them. Although her words momentarily dampened the mood, the other female soldiers, familiar with her temperament, acknowledged her contribution and continued their celebration. Qin Guan led the Blue Lightning unit in a formal subject demonstration for the detachment leader and commissar.
Both male and female soldiers displayed their skills, proving that their intensive training had yielded significant results. The detachment leader expressed his satisfaction, particularly praising the eight female soldiers for overcoming physical and psychological barriers, surpassing their physical limits, and achieving excellent assessment scores on par with the male soldiers. He acknowledged Qin Guan's success in forging the female soldiers into a unit as capable as their male counterparts.
However, the detachment leader then shifted the conversation to a new, urgent mission. He revealed that the S Group terrorist organization remained relentless in its pursuit of GHR3, a dangerous material, with recent attempts to smuggle it into the country despite increased police surveillance. He emphasized that S Group's actions were clearly aimed at disrupting the upcoming Global Energy Conference, and it was imperative not to let them succeed.
The detachment leader declared that Blue Lightning, now a sharpened blade, was ready to be deployed. He then tasked Qin Guan with selecting an assault team leader, a crucial role. Qin Guan indicated he had several candidates and needed more time for observation and comprehensive evaluation. Among the male soldiers, Chen Haozhe was widely considered the obvious choice for the team leader position.
As the time for their departure from the "Furnace" training facility approached, the female soldiers reflected on their transformation. They recalled their initial struggles and how, despite the grueling experience, the place they once dreaded to stay in had now become one they were reluctant to leave, having forged deep bonds and grown immensely. Finally, Qin Guan gave the order for the entire Blue Lightning unit to run back to camp, marking the end of their arduous training period at the Furnace.
