Finally, Song Heping's gaze returned to the conference table, first skimming over Colonel Kote, then settling on Major Jas, whose face showed constant indignation.
"The most critical border blockade and air fire support are entrusted to our brothers in the US Army."
Song Heping used his stylus to draw a heavy blue arc along the long border between Illiguo and Siria.
"Here, at the Siria border, we need to establish an impregnable 'firewall.'
His pen tip moved to the southern part of Illiguo, marking a vast desert in a sandy yellow shade, drawing a huge circle.
"Here, the southern desert is our designated 'air hunting zone.'
He looked at Major Jas, his gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable pressure:
"These two areas require the US Army to provide absolute, round-the-clock air supremacy, along with tily, fierce, and precise aerial strikes. Major Jas—"
He intentionally emphasized this title.
"Your Special Forces team needs to advance to critical border passes and high points at the desert's edge, establishing observation posts to provide real-ti, precise target indication and damage assessnt for the air forces. Your eyes will determine whether air fire can achieve maximum effectiveness and whether the 1515 ard elents trying to slip through can be thoroughly buried in the desert."
Major Jas could feel each word from Song Heping was a deliberate reminder of his past failure in the Siria Desert, as if mocking his current situation of wanting desperately to kill the other yet having to obey him.
He did not look at Song Heping but directly turned his gaze to Colonel Kote, with conspicuous discontent, saying:
"Colonel! My squad has already been deployed to the predetermined positions according to the plan. We will complete our tasks. Ensuring the tiliness and accuracy of air support is the responsibility of the Air Force Wing and the Theater Command Center!"
He emphasized "our tasks," deliberately excluding Song Heping, making it clear that he was only accountable to the internal US command chain, not to the "outsider" Song Heping.
Colonel Kote's face flashed with a faint, barely noticeable embarrassnt and anger, but he quickly concealed it.
He gently coughed, smoothing things over: "Major Jas, collaboration is a two-way street. Mr. Song, rest assured, the theater headquarters has approved a detailed air support plan; the Air Force and Navy aviation units will fully cooperate. The fire calling channels and identification signals will remain clear."
Song Heping neither confird nor denied Jas's attitude and Colonel Kote smoothing things over, only saying lightly: "I hope so."
Then he no longer entangled in the subject.
He knew well that at this level of cooperation, forcing surface obedience ant nothing; ultimately, it had to rely on actual performance on the battlefield and binding interests to push forward.
The eting then moved into a more tedious yet crucial stage of technical coordination.
The division of communication frequencies, daily change rules for friend-or-foe identification signals, priority permissions and procedures for fire calls in ergencies, clarification of engagent rules between different units, particularly avoiding accidental targets by US and Russian airpower, evacuation routes for wounded soldiers and the connection of dical support, the setting and security of logistical supply points...
Every detail pertained to the smoothness of the operation and the lives of thousands of soldiers.
Song Heping remained at the map, or writing down key information on the whiteboard, clearly articulating each link, responding to questions, especially from US and Russia sides, regarding technical details and additional requests.
His thinking was ticulous, his understanding of the battlefield environnt and logistical operations deeply ingrained, displaying a level of professionalism and vision far exceeding that of a common rcenary leader.
Major Jas mostly remained silent, only speaking when it ca to specifics about his team's operational routes, evacuation points, and coordination frequencies with the Air Force, always using the most concise, professional terminology to make requests or confirm information, avoiding any direct eye or verbal contact with Song Heping throughout.
Yet his tightly drawn lips and the occasional unconscious movent of his hand around the grip of his pistol betrayed his deep unrest inside.
The eting lasted nearly three hours.
When all the main details were essentially settled, Colonel Kote announced the eting's conclusion, and everyone got up.
Major Jas was almost the first to stand up, not giving Song Heping a glance, striding straight for the door as if he couldn't bear to stay even one second longer.
The few Special Forces officers he brought followed right behind, like a suppressive storm blowing out.
Song Heping then leisurely tidied up the materials before him, then stood, nodded politely to Colonel Kote and General Sai Fu, and after gesturing towards the still-connected screens of Avanti and Niezov, left unhurriedly with "Hunter."
Stepping out of the command center building, the scorching sunlight and Baghdad's unique mixed scent wrapped him once more.
He slightly squinted his eyes, looking at those low, dilapidated buildings outside the "Green Zone" walls, and the blurred horizon further in the distance where the earth and sky t.
Eight years of endurance, struggle, and bloody combat pushed him to this position, where he could personally leverage regional circumstances.
Returning to Baghdad, maneuvering with forr foes in this city full of mories and scars, was only the first step on a higher stage.
The upcoming "Furnace" operation would be the true test.
He not only had to face the brutal and cunning "1515" ard forces, commanding a tough multi-line coordinated battle in complex urban and desert terrains, but also had to constantly guard against potential backstabbing from "allies," especially from soone like Major Jas, who placed personal vendettas above the mission.
War, never changes.
And human hearts, are even more unpredictable than the battlefield.
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