After receiving the order, the Howling Commandos quickly completed their assembly.
Then, under the gazes filled with expectation and worry from everyone, they boarded a large transport aircraft headed toward the German border.
This operation was extremely sudden, giving them no preparation time whatsoever.
So it was impossible to have reinforcements, nor could they expect help from the military. The only people they could rely on were themselves.
Watching the transport aircraft rise into the sky, Howard lowered his brows in thought and said: "I thought of a method that might be able to help Steve and the others."
"What method? Hurry and say it!"
The moment she heard there was a way to help Steve, Peggy became so emotional that she directly grabbed Howard by the collar.
"Cough cough... calm down first, Peggy, I can't breathe."
Howard's face turned red. The suddenly tightened necktie made it difficult for him to breathe.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean it."
Peggy's cheeks flushed red as she hurriedly released Howard, even helping him straighten his collar while awkwardly saying: "I'm just... too worried about Steve."
"I understand how you feel, but please calm down first."
Howard adjusted his messy collar, slowly calming himself before saying: "Do you still remember that 'ghost' that's been hunting HYDRA across the Siberian ice plains?"
They also knew some details about the ghost wandering Siberia.
Although they did not know exactly who that ghost was, what they could confirm was that the other party's only target was HYDRA. He had saved Steve and the Howling Commandos several times. Though only by coincidence, from a certain perspective, they could be considered另类 'allies.'
Peggy's eyes suddenly lit up: "You mean... we can tell that ghost about Red Skull's location?"
"That's right, that's exactly what I mean."
Howard slightly nodded and said: "Since both our targets are Red Skull and HYDRA, I imagine he wouldn't reject such an opportunity. What do you think?"
"You're right. He definitely won't let this opportunity pass."
The more Peggy thought about it, the more excited she became. If they could obtain that ghost's help, the chances of Steve and the others surviving would rise significantly.
"But the only problem right now is... we have no way to contact him."
Howard poured cold water over her enthusiasm: "No one can contact that ghost, so we'll need to think of another way."
"I've got an idea!"
Peggy tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at him: "We indeed can't contact him directly, but letting him know about this matter isn't difficult for us."
"Your meaning is..."
Howard vaguely understood her intention.
"Use the entire Allied broadcast system to repeatedly transmit this information."
Peggy displayed the demeanor of an elite female agent, her eyes sharp as she said: "Since Red Skull wants to set a trap, then we'll satisfy his wish!"
"But..."
Howard hesitated slightly: "If we do that, and Red Skull learns of our movements, won't he directly evacuate?"
"He won't!"
Peggy's gaze was firm as she decisively said: "The trap Red Skull set may not only be targeting Steve."
"You mean Red Skull also intends to eliminate the 'ghost' in one move?"
Howard's face was filled with shock.
"Although it's only a guess, my instincts tell me that the person Red Skull truly wants to target is actually that ghost."
Peggy's gaze dimmed slightly as she stared into the pitch-black night sky and softly said: "Otherwise, with Red Skull's level of caution, there's no way he wouldn't have thought of this possibility. That can only mean... he did it deliberately!"
"What a terrifying enemy."
Howard could not help letting out a sigh of admiration.
...
Southern Germany, Bavarian Alps.
A large transport aircraft cut through the clouds under the cover of night, its gigantic steel wings soaring through the roaring snowstorm.
Affected by the harsh high-altitude weather, the entire cabin shook violently. Personnel had no choice but to rely on fixed ropes to remain seated, and even so, several people still vomited.
Aside from Colonel Bucky Barnes, who had already been confirmed dead, nearly all members of the Howling Commandos participated in this operation.
This would be the last time...
Steve gripped his safety belt, repeatedly reminding himself in his heart.
As long as he finished fighting this final war, he could peacefully retire and spend the rest of his life with the woman he loved.
"We've arrived at the designated drop point. Please prepare for descent."
After the reminder from the cockpit, the transport aircraft's hatch slowly opened. Freezing winds violently rushed in, instantly refreshing everyone's spirits.
"Let's go, everyone. See you on the ground!"
Steve unfastened his safety belt, stood up, and swept his gaze around. Looking at everyone's determined expressions, he revealed a hearty smile: "Once we get back from this mission, drinks are on me."
"Wishing everyone success and a safe return."
Amid the pilot's blessing, eighteen people leapt from the hatch one after another, like drops of water falling into the ocean, vanishing into the night snowstorm.
Choosing an airborne drop in this kind of extreme weather was an enormous challenge.
Even specially trained paratroopers would struggle to perform a high-altitude parachute descent during a blizzard with near-zero visibility.
But this was the only option. The Bavarian Alps were heavily defended by German troops. With only a handful of people, there was no possibility of breaking through those defensive lines, so airborne insertion was the only choice.
Whether or not they survived the landing depended entirely on fate.
But the problem was that Red Skull was gambling with his life, so they could only match him with the same stake.
At this point, neither side had any room left to retreat.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
A figure smashed through tree branches and crashed into the snow.
Even with Steve's Super Soldier physique, the landing still left him badly battered.
If he had not happened to land on a tree that reduced the impact of his fall, he probably would have broken at least one leg.
After stumbling out of the snow, Steve shook his dizzy head and took several deep breaths to recover his stamina before beginning to contact his teammates.
During the descent, they had become separated because of the heavy snowstorm.
"Bzzzzzzzz..."
Only the buzzing of electrical static echoed through the communication channel, making Steve's expression grow even uglier.
There was a powerful signal-jamming field nearby, completely severing any possibility of contact. Without question, this was a trap.
Suddenly, a strong sense of unease surfaced in Steve's heart, as though something was watching him. A chill seeped down his spine as a tangible death omen enveloped him.
Boom——!
A massive explosion shook loose the snow from the forest.
A brilliantly blazing plasma cannon suddenly tore through the dark forest night, carrying an aura of death so terrifying it made one shiver.
Almost within one-thousandth of a second, Steve's combat instincts, honed through countless brushes with death, caused him to raise that indestructible Vibranium shield while curling his body tightly behind it in midair.
Rumble rumble rumble!!!
The dazzling plasma shell collided with the shield, erupting with a radiance as brilliant as daylight itself!
The following gigantic roar resounded through the night sky like a collapsing mountain. Snow within dozens of meters instantly melted, and even the ground itself transformed in the blink of an eye into scorching crystallized scorched earth.
Although the shield blocked the plasma explosion, the tremendous kinetic force released still blasted Steve flying away.
He carved a trench over a hundred meters long through the snow before crashing into the mountain cliffside, leaving behind a human-shaped imprint. Steve tilted his head back and spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as though every bone in his body had shattered.
Enduring the intense pain, Steve raised his shield into a battle stance, his gaze fixed toward the depths of the forest.
Four gigantic figures, each roughly two meters tall and resembling terrifying giants, slowly emerged with heavy footsteps.
Using the faint moonlight, Steve saw their appearance and immediately sucked in a cold breath, his heart nearly stopping.
That uniquely styled black power armor resembled giant metal cans, carrying the aesthetic of ancient European knights. The armor on the arms and legs was exceptionally thick, a HYDRA insignia embedded on the chest. The fully enclosed faceplate contained two glowing red eyes.
HYDRA-developed power armor, the kings of slaughter upon the battlefield.
Just ten such armored soldiers were enough to capture an important military stronghold.
"This really..... is giving me a lot of face."
A bitter smile appeared on Steve's face. For some reason, seeing this scene made him suddenly remember something an old paratrooper once said.
Paratroopers... are born to be surrounded.
Now it seemed the old paratrooper hadn't lied to him after all.
He really had been surrounded!