Chapter 29: Bee Repellent Battle (Part 1) — A Rehearsal for Coordinated Combat

Li Yang's "Insect Legion" concept was like lighting a fire in their hearts.

Making everyone look at the real cockroaches crawling in the corner of the warehouse with a research-oriented gaze.

However, before they could take action against the bugs, a trickier "combat opportunity" presented itself.

This afternoon, Wang Guoqiang brought over a miserable-looking middle-aged neighbor.

"I don't know when such a big hornet's nest formed under the eaves of Old Zhang's house!"

Wang Guoqiang gestured, his expression grave.

"It's like a small millstone! His little grandson doesn't even dare to go out to play."

"Yesterday I asked someone to remove it, but the master took one look and said it was too dangerous, and wouldn't do it even for extra money!"

As soon as Feng Yan heard this, his eyes lit up.

Isn't this a ready-made, low-risk test opportunity for coordinated combat that can also build goodwill among the villagers?

He immediately put on the air of a "professional," patting his chest loudly:

"Don't worry, Uncle Zhang! Leave this to us! We specialize in researching this..."

"Uh... precision clearance technology for urban environmental biological hazards!"

Wang Hao grinned on the side, whispering to Chen Guang:

"Brother Feng's bluffing skills are improving; he can make removing a hornet's nest sound so high-end."

Chen Guang had already entered the state, pushing his glasses and starting to analyze:

"Hornets, scientific name Vespa, have a strong instinct to protect their nest."

"Their aggressiveness, flight speed, and toxicity need to be accurately assessed."

"We need to formulate a meticulous plan."

Action! The first multi-platform coordinated combat meeting of the "Iron Wolf Workshop."

Was urgently convened next to the ammunition boxes (used as a table) in Wang Hao's warehouse.

Feng Yan served as the commander-in-chief, holding a marker and scribbling on the whiteboard:

"Comrades, this is the first step toward our systematic combat!"

"Combat goal: Safely, quickly, and thoroughly clear the hornet's nest at Uncle Zhang's house! Participating units are as follows!"

"Li Yang!" Feng Yan called out, "Your 'Iron Wolf' will be the main tank... ah no, the main protection and operation platform!"

"Responsible for building a physical barrier in the front, protecting other units, and cleaning up the nest debris in the final stage!"

Li Yang nodded, already simulating the movement route of the exoskeleton and the barrier setup angle in the narrow courtyard in his mind.

"Wang Hao!"

"Here!" Wang Hao stood up with a "swish," full of excitement, as if he were going to execute a decapitation mission.

"Your task is fire support! But I'm not asking you to actually blow it up!"

"I'll give you one day to come up with some 'non-lethal,' 'high-dispersal' effect 'precision bee-repellent bombs'!"

"The requirement is that the commotion is loud, the smoke is sufficient, but don't set the house on fire!"

"Understood!" Wang Hao's eyes shone, "Guarantee to complete the mission!"

"I'm going to research 'enhanced smoke flashbangs' and 'super-sticky foam restraint bombs' right now!"

"Chen Guang!"

Chen Guang sat up straight immediately, as if called by a teacher.

"Your laser system, as a 'remote precision observation unit'! Do not fire high-energy lasers!"

"Just use low-power calibration and thermal imaging, responsible for long-distance locking of the hornet's nest core position,"

"And provide terminal trajectory correction references for Wang Hao's 'ammunition'! At the same time, monitor the movement of the swarm!"

"Received."

"I will adjust the equipment to safe observation mode and write a real-time data link sharing program."

Chen Guang answered while his fingers were already clattering on the laptop.

"Finally!" Feng Yan cast his gaze toward the robot dog that was walking itself in the corner, "'Xiao Bai'!"

Wang Hao hurriedly answered for his "dog": "Here!"

"Xiao Bai acts as a frontline scout! Use its low-profile advantage and sensors to approach and scout."

"Get the clearest real-time footage of the hornet's nest and assess the activity level of the swarm! Remember, it's scouting! Not asking you to go and gnaw on the hornet's nest!"

Wang Hao patted his chest: "Don't worry, Brother Feng! I'll load it with the latest 'Z'-shaped avoidance movement program!"

"Guaranteed to be slipperier than a loach!"

The combat plan was named "Autumn Wind Sweeps Fallen Leaves," which sounded quite imposing.

But as for the actual execution...

Two days later, Uncle Zhang's family had already taken refuge at a neighbor's house nearby, waiting for Feng Yan and the others to successfully clear it before returning.

At this moment, the atmosphere outside Uncle Zhang's courtyard was as tense as if they were about to attack Berlin.

Everything was ready!

Li Yang controlled the "Iron Wolf," holding a huge shield temporarily modified from an old door panel from the warehouse and transparent explosion-proof film.

Like a mobile fortress, it slowly advanced to the center of the courtyard, building the first line of defense.

The metal feet stepped on the bluestone slabs, making a steady "clank-clank" sound, which sounded reassuring.

"Iron Wolf in position. Visibility is good."

Li Yang's calm voice came through the communicator.

Chen Guang had set up his observation equipment on a small dirt slope dozens of meters away.

On the screen was the thermal imaging map of the hornet's nest, with a few red dots moving slowly on it.

"Target locked. Swarm activity is low, suspected core gathering point is located at the lower right of the nest."

"Xiao Bai, move out!" Wang Hao gave the order.

The robot dog "Xiao Bai" immediately darted out from its hiding place, its four legs moving fast.

It approached the huge gray-brown hornet's nest under the eaves stealthily.

The camera on its head constantly adjusted the focus.

Sending clear real-time footage back to the rear.

It went very smoothly at first.

"Xiao Bai" successfully reached the predetermined scouting position, and the picture was stable.

"Good! Hold it! Wang Hao, prepare..." Feng Yan had just given the instruction.

A sudden change occurred!

I don't know if the motor sound of "Xiao Bai" was too magnetic.

Or if its metal shell was too shiny in the sun.

A few worker bees patrolling outside seemed to have developed a strong interest in this uninvited guest.

They started circling it with a "buzz."

"Xiao Bai's" program immediately triggered the "avoidance action," starting to execute the "Z"-shaped movement set by Wang Hao.

This movement was not a big deal, but in the eyes of those worker bees.

This thing was simply provoking them!

The "buzzing" sound instantly became dense!

More worker bees were attracted and started gathering toward "Xiao Bai"!

"Warning! Encountered unidentified aircraft circling at close range! Executing Plan B avoidance!"

Wang Hao shouted at the remote control.

Only to see "Xiao Bai" start performing snake-like movements in the courtyard, charging left and right.

The speed was so fast it kicked up a cloud of dust.

And behind its butt, there was a "bee cloud" that was getting bigger and bigger!

"Damn! Old Wang! Your 'loach' program is overdone!"

"It looks just like it's dancing in front of the swarm!" Feng Yan roared at the communicator.

"Out of control! Too many, interfering with judgment!" Wang Hao was flustered, trying to take over manual control.

Just then, a particularly fierce worker bee, perhaps thinking the gap in the joints of this iron lump looked pleasing.

With a dive, it went straight into a moving joint on "Xiao Bai's" leg!

"Creak—"

One of "Xiao Bai's" hind legs instantly jammed, and its movement became deformed.

It stumbled and almost fell into the flower bed next to it.

The swarm gathered even tighter.

"Report damage!" Li Yang's voice remained stable.

But he controlled the "Iron Wolf" to move forward half a step, seemingly wanting to use the shield to block for "Xiao Bai."

"Foreign object intrusion in the right hind leg joint! Movement function impaired by 70%! Requesting support! Requesting support!"

Wang Hao was almost crying.

Chen Guang's voice came calmly: "Observed that the swarm is mainly attracted by the moving unit."

"Suggest 'Iron Wolf' maintain static defense."

"'Xiao Bai' try to slowly retreat behind the shield."

"Wang Hao, prepare your 'bee-repellent bomb'."

"Change target to the sky above 'Xiao Bai's' retreat path, create an isolation zone."

"Understood!" Wang Hao hurriedly grabbed a launcher next to him that looked more like a large water gun.

"Taste grandpa's 'spicy smoke bomb'!"

He aimed and fired a shot with a "whoosh."

The ammunition drew an arc in the air, then exploded with a "poof" not far above "Xiao Bai's" head.

Scattering a dense red smoke with a pungent chili powder smell.

The effect... was outstanding!

The swarm clearly hadn't experienced this kind of chemical attack and instantly fell into chaos.

The buzzing sound became louder, but the momentum of the pursuit clearly stalled.

"Xiao Bai" took the opportunity to drag a broken leg.

Limping, but not slowly, it slipped back behind the "Iron Wolf's" shield.

In the first round, the scout was almost scrapped, barely retreating with the help of the smoke bomb.

Feng Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking at the red smoke that hadn't dissipated in the courtyard.

And the hornet's nest that was still as steady as Mount Tai under the eaves.

He complained internally: 'This coordinated combat almost coordinated the scout unit out of existence in the first step!'

'This isn't "Autumn Wind Sweeps Fallen Leaves," it's "Mad Dog Out of the Cage"!'

The real hard battle, it seems, is still to come. ===== CHAPTER 30 =====