Operation: Special Warfare Episode 2 Recap
> Operation: Special Warfare Recap
S Group leaders discussed their plan to monopolize the global new energy market, which would be thwarted if experts at the Global Energy Conference collaborated on new energy technologies. They resolved to prevent the conference and intensify their search for Doctor James's research data to secure immense wealth. Meanwhile, an operative reported to their boss that they had hacked into James's partner's computer. While the primary data wasn't there, they discovered the partner was investigating James's bodyguard.
They theorized James might have backed up his data with the bodyguard and were instructed to relay this information to Wu Jie immediately. The "queen of the dark net," the female operative who had previously escaped capture, informed Wu Jie that she had located James's bodyguard by hacking his phone, noting that he frequently changed his address and name after the doctor's death.
Wu Jie ordered her to investigate the address and promised to provide assistance, cautioning her against repeating past mistakes. Under Qin Guan's command, the Blue Lightning recruits endured grueling night training. Exhausted, they heard murmurs about Qin Guan's military codename, "Thanos." Qin Guan then introduced a new challenge: escape the woods and reach him within three minutes, or face elimination.
During this exercise, Ning Meng was intentionally targeted as per Qin Guan's instructions, taking a blow to the head that rendered her unconscious. She later regained consciousness while being dragged away but fought back, eventually completing the task as the last person to reach the finish line, albeit injured. Despite their exhaustion, Qin Guan immediately ordered a five-kilometer night cross-country run.
Ning Meng, experiencing severe stomach pain, was told she could go back to the army if she couldn't handle it, but she refused. A teammate observed Ning Meng's physical symptoms—stomach cramps, sweating, frequent bathroom trips—as signs of psychological stress and suggested she talk to an instructor with a psychology background. Ning Meng dismissed the idea, stating her sole focus was to train hard and secure her place in Blue Lightning.
Qin Guan introduced another test, separating the recruits into two groups: the top fourteen would eat, while the rest would watch. As the top performers ate, Ning Meng secretly offered steamed buns to a hungry Li Sisi, but Qin Guan quickly intervened. He reprimanded her for misplaced sympathy, declaring it worthless on the battlefield. He then commanded the non-eating recruits to carry their fed counterparts for five laps. Li Sisi carried Ning Meng, who was in agony and vomited.
Li Sisi faltered and fell, contemplating giving up. Ning Meng, despite her pain and bleeding head wound, vehemently refused to let her. She urged Li Sisi to remember her initial purpose for joining Blue Lightning and asserted that they would crawl to the finish line if necessary, emphasizing her own hatred of being looked down upon. Inspired by Ning Meng’s resolve, Li Sisi rose and carried Ning Meng to the finish line, successfully passing the test.
Afterwards, Li Sisi expressed gratitude, believing she would have been eliminated without Ning Meng's encouragement. She then asked Ning Meng about her fierce determination to join Blue Lightning. Ning Meng replied that it was for "the most important person" in her life. This prompted a flashback to a terrorist incident two years prior. The incident involved the S Group targeting French physicist Doctor James and his advanced new energy technology.
Grass Wolf, identified as the international terrorist organization S Group's No. 4, was leading the operation. The military's objectives were to rescue Doctor James and prevent the terrorists from acquiring his data. Meanwhile, Ning Meng was on a bus home, talking to her mother. Her mother mentioned that Ning Lei, Ning Meng's brother, was supposed to pick her up, but she hadn't been able to reach him.
Ning Meng reassured her mother, who was on her way to sweep their father’s tomb. Suddenly, the bus lost signal, and terrorists hijacked it. They ordered all passengers to close the curtains and surrender their mobile phones, but Ning Meng managed to conceal hers. The bus was then driven to the building where the military operation was underway, and the driver was shot and killed when he attempted to escape.
Ning Lei, the squadron leader, attempted to negotiate with Grass Wolf, who revealed that Doctor James was already dead and they possessed the data. Grass Wolf demanded to leave with the bus. Ning Lei, noticing the bus was low on fuel, proposed an exchange: he would refuel the bus if Grass Wolf released the elderly and children. Grass Wolf insisted that Ning Lei's forces withdraw from the building first.
Ning Lei complied, ordering his men to evacuate the building while requesting air support for a roadblock to intercept the terrorists' escape route. He then reiterated his offer to refuel the bus in exchange for three hostages. Ning Meng was among the three hostages released. Seeing his sister, Ning Lei’s composure wavered. Ning Meng discreetly signaled to him, indicating she had a mobile phone, and Ning Lei subtly gestured for her to return to the bus.
Ning Meng then attempted to exchange herself for a little girl, but Grass Wolf refused, releasing only one other woman. After the signal shielding on the bus was finally cracked, the military detected Ning Meng's phone number. Ning Lei, recognizing it as his sister's, immediately messaged her for details about the situation inside the bus. Ning Meng responded, reporting eight armed gangsters and twelve hostages, including elderly individuals and children, and noting that the skylight was open.
She suggested that the hostages lie down, allowing the armed police to fire above the window line, and indicated she would signal by pulling down the curtains. Ning Lei swiftly deployed his team according to her plan. Inside the bus, Ning Meng discreetly instructed fellow passengers to get down, while an old man's request to use the bathroom was met with a terrorist's death threat.
As per the agreed signal, Ning Meng pulled down the bus curtains, and the armed police immediately opened fire, eliminating all the terrorists. Ning Meng rushed to a device, observing data transmission at 98%, and successfully cut it off, preventing the data from reaching S Group's number one figure, Wu Mei. A soldier then reported an activated electronic device, indicating a bomb on the bus. Ning Lei, realizing the danger, shouted for everyone to evacuate.
He rushed in, saving Ning Meng and shielding her with his body as the bomb detonated. Ning Meng survived, but Ning Lei died in her arms, his last words, "Brother is proud of you. We made meritorious service," echoing in her ears amidst the ringing from the explosion. Ning Meng explained to Li Sisi that this traumatic event and her mother losing her eyesight from shock were why she was so determined to stay in Blue Lightning.
Li Sisi apologized for touching on such a painful memory. The two recruits shared a moment of understanding and vowed to face all future challenges together. Immediately after, Qin Guan gathered the recruits again for new orders. They were each given a wrist monitor to enter their fingerprints, which would provide different coordinates. They had until 2 AM to reach their assigned coordinates and find their badges, or face elimination. Simultaneously, Wu Jie met with the female terrorist.
He disparaged the previous group he hired, calling their methods garbage, but praised her. He offered her more money if she followed him, giving her no choice. He then assigned her a mission: go to a specific location and kill everyone there, leaving no survivors.
