He took a deep breath.
It's January now, and the temperature in Northern Illigo is sowhat low.
The cold air rushed into his lungs, bringing a strange calm.
As the hour, minute, and second hands perfectly overlapped at "4:00", he spoke into the microphone with a steady and powerful voice, conducting this multi-participant symphony of death:
"Operation 'Furnace', comnce!"
Exactly four in the morning, west of Baghdad.
Rumble——!
The earth suddenly trembled! The M109 self-propelled howitzers and D-30 towed howitzer positions belonging to the 9th Armored Division of the Illigo Governnt Army spewed forth countless blazing tongues of fire!
Heavy artillery shells tore through the darkest silence before dawn, crashing like teor showers onto the 1515 ard positions on the outskirts of Ozham.
The continuous sound of explosions echoed through the air, with massive fireballs and dense smoke rising into the dark sky, illuminating half the heavens.
General Sayif's feigned artillery attack tily opened the prelude to Operation 'Furnace'!
Almost at the sa mont, on the attack axis south of Sulaimaniyah.
"'Musician' Battalion One, proceed according to plan to flank the left wing, cutting off all roads and paths north of Daguk City to prevent any reinforcents or breakthroughs!"
"'Musician' Battalion Two, cooperate with Abu You Brigade's first assault team, launching a frontal attack! Infantry fighting vehicles in front, infantry squads advancing with alternating cover!"
"'Liberation Forces' guerilla group, infiltrate using hills and dry riverbeds, focusing on striking enemy communication lines and logistical nodes!"
"Requesting 'Axe 1-1' (US Army air support call sign), coordinates Delta-Golf-2-7, enemy fortified fire position identified, requesting imdiate elimination!"
Song Heping's orders swiftly transmitted to various combat units through the tactical network.
Just as Song Heping's orders were issued, the Grim Reaper was already in position under the pitch-black sky ten thousand ters above Daguge.
"Furnace Command Center, this is 'Axe 1-1', we have arrived at the standby airspace, requesting confirmation of the mission area and engagent rules."
The voice of "Duke," the lead pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle, calmly ca through the encrypted channel, against the steady roar of jet engines in the background.
"Axe 1-1, this is Furnace Command Center, mission area confird as the preset defensive periter on the outskirts of Daguge City, grid coordinates have been sent to the data link. Repeat, restricted to outer positions. City interior is no-bomb zone unless explicit authorization is granted. Priority targets: designated heavy machine gun positions, mortar sites, command posts, and technical vehicles."
In the command center, a US liaison officer clearly repeated the instructions.
"Received, restricted to outskirts, no bombings inside city. Axe 1-1 confird. 'Warthog' team, you hear that?"
"Duke" called to the accompanying A-10C formation.
"Warthog 1-1 received, crystal clear. The dirty work outside is perfect for us."
The voice of "Nail," lead pilot of the A-10C, carried a rugged confidence.
His aircraft was more suited to hover at mid-to-low altitudes, using the terrifying GAU-8 cannon and various precision munitions to "ground scrape."
"This is 'Observer 7'."
A calm voice from the ground cut into the communications, it was from the forward observation team dispatched by Major Jas, "Target Alpha locked, coordinates Delta-Golf-2-7, confird as a heavy machine gun bunker, sandbag reinforced, with cover. Laser code 1776."
"Observer 7, Axe 1-1 received, laser code 1776. Comncing attack run."
"Duke" pushed the control stick, the F-15E gracefully rolled into a dive.
The weapons systems officer in the back seat quickly checked systems, "Lock stable, laser tracking normal. 'Little Bull' ready."
"Fire!"
An AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile left the rack, igniting, trailing a blazing white tail fla, shooting toward the target like a precise scalpel.
Seconds later, a huge fireball rose from the ground, mixed with smoke and debris.
The ticulously constructed bunker and the machine gunners inside were instantly obliterated.
"Target destroyed. Good job, Observer 7."
"Duke" pulled up the nose, searching for the next target.
anwhile, "Nail" piloted his A-10C Warthog, circling patiently like a butcher at a slightly lower altitude.
"Warthog 1-2, you left, I right, clear that trench line. Observer 8, light it up for us."
"Observer 8 understood, laser illumination… now!"
The laser beam from another forward observation team securely locked onto a winding infantry trench on the outskirts north of Daguge.
"Received! Taste this!"
"Nail" pressed the firing button, and the rocket pods under the wing of the A-10C spewed out dense fire tongues, with dozens of 70mm Hydra rockets swarming toward the target, enveloping the entire section of trenches in continuous explosions and splintering steel.
Subsequently, he adjusted the nose, and the fear-instilling GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm seven-barrel Gatling gun began its low-speed rotation, preheating with a teeth-chattering "drone", followed by——
Thud thud thud thud thud——!
The dull and highly destructive cannon fire echoed across the sky!
Each 30mm depleted uranium armor-piercing round was like a heavy hamr, hitting the ground hard. The area swept by the shells, sandbag fortifications were easily torn apart, makeshift shelters shattered, and the 1515 militants hiding behind them with their weapons were completely obliterated.
Even so who hid in deeper cover, those highly penetrating depleted uranium rounds could easily drill in, causing devastating damage in confined spaces.
Wherever the A-10 passed, only a desolate wasteland of debris and burning wreckage remained.
"Beautiful! Trench line silenced!"
The "Musician" Battalion Two rcenary commander on the ground couldn't help but exclaim softly in the communication channel as he observed the scene through binoculars.
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