The optical sensor and infrared lens on the drone unreservedly project the dying city of Daguge onto the huge LCD screen in the command center.
In the image, buildings resemble ignited matchboxes, occasionally spewing orange fireballs and thick black smoke in all directions.
Muzzle flashes briefly twinkle in shattered windows and street corners, with bullets striking earthen or concrete walls, raising plus of gray-white dust.
The initial assault seed smooth.
Amid the precise "demolition" operations of US Army fighter jets, the fortifications outside the city were blown into pieces like children's toys.
Militias belonging to the "Liberation Forces" and Abu You Brigade, along with the two "Musician" rcenary camps acting as attack arrows, shouted as they poured into the dilapidated urban area of Daguge from three different directions.
However, they quickly encountered the resistance of the 1515 ard forces.
After observing for a while, Song Heping's brows furrowed tightly.
He keenly sensed that the attack line was becoming uneven.
He imdiately grabbed the radio communicator:
"Attention all assault units, this is a critical mont, you must advance at the fastest speed at all costs, do not stop! Do not hesitate! Push hard on them, don't let them find their footing! Repeat! Advance towards the city center at the fastest speed at all costs! Any unit hesitating will be subject to martial law!"
The command was firm, devoid of any emotion.
Such is war, it demands commanders view living beings as cold numbers, performing the most brutal calculations on an abacus.
At the mont, any trace of compassion would only result in exponentially more blood in the future.
The drone's aerial perspective showcased the hellish scenes within the city to everyone in the command center.
The cara zood in on a narrow street where a dozen "Liberation Forces" militias, holding AK-47s, attempted to quickly cross an intersection along the base of a wall.
Just as the leading few stepped out from cover, several windows in a three-story small building ahead spewed deadly fire simultaneously!
"Tat-tat-tat... tat-tat-tat..."
It was continuous bursts from PKM machine guns, mixed with the dense sweep of AK rifles. Bullets swept across the street like an invisible scythe.
The militias seed to be fiercely pushed by an invisible hand, bodies trembling violently, and instantly four or five fell.
So died silently instantly, while others fell in pools of blood, letting out haunting screams.
Blood quickly spread from underneath them, staining the gray-yellow soil with patches of eye-catching dark red.
Viewed through the drone's overlooking lens, people were as insignificant as ants.
The process of falling from gunshots shed all heroic portrayals, leaving only the abrupt and awkward termination of biological functions.
Their bodies lay amidst the rubble, twisted and soon resembling the scattered trash and broken furniture around them.
Song Heping felt his hair standing on end, a chill rising along his spine to the top of his head.
Directly witnessing such a slaughter devoid of beauty is the ultimate test of nerves.
But he couldn't look away.
He was the commander, and had to endure it all.
"Attention all units, if not possible, use explosives to blast through walls; increase advancent speed by any ans necessary! Armored cars and ard pickups must follow up, providing good firepower for the infantry, execute coordinated infantry-tank tactics like practiced! Show your full potential!"
"Rember, the longer it drags on, the greater the losses!"
He shouted commands through the microphone once again:
"Air formations pay attention to ground guidance signals, coordinate with ground guides for precise strikes!"
The command was like a whip lashing on a packhorse, indeed speeding up the offensive machinery.
Especially the two "Musician" rcenary camps from Africa, showcasing impressive professional skills.
Equipped with armored pickups fitted with M2HB heavy machine guns and MK19 automatic grenade launchers, Humr vehicles, and a few BTR-80 wheeled armored vehicles, they deployed in standard attack formations under the faint morning light, functioning like a precise war machine beginning to sh.
Infantry disembarked using skilled tactical maneuvers, forming teams of three, grouping into squads of five, advancing alternately using terrain and vehicle cover.
Heavy firepower from the vehicles began rhythmically roaring, suppressing any enemy daring to raise their heads.
A mortar unit rapidly set up a position, dropping high-explosive shells precisely on every building the 1515 ard forces might be hiding, based on coordinates reported by the forward observer.
In the sky, two A-10C Warthog attack aircraft entered the battlefield with their distinctive rumbling sound.
"Warthog 1-1 received, entering attack course, confirming laser guidance code."
The lead pilot's calm voice sounded in the communication channel.
The forward air controller of the "Musician" battalion had already locked the machine gun bunker built from sandbags and concrete using a laser designator.
"Sustained laser illumination, target marked."
"Received!"
An AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile detached from the Warthog's wing pylon, trailing a conspicuous white fla, plunging towards the target along an almost straight trajectory!
Seconds later, the missile hit precisely!
The violent explosion flung the entire bunker, along with the machine gunners inside, into the air, rubble and debris scattering wildly.
Imdiately, the A-10 began a dive, the terrifying GAU-8 30mm seven-barrel Gatling gun under the fuselage started spinning up and then unleashed a deep roar like tearing cloth!
"Boom-boom-boom-boom—boom-boom-boom-boom—"
The death whip of 30mm depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds relentlessly whipped through.
Whether it be sandbag fortifications, brick walls, or abandoned light vehicles, in the face of this destructive firepower, they were easily shredded, penetrated, and ignited as if made of paper.
However, inside Daguge City, the 1515 ard forces, although initially thrown into temporary chaos by the bombardnts and airstrikes, were seasoned daredevils forged through years of warfare, their ferocity and resilience far exceeding ordinary troops.
Under the hoarse urging of local commanders and slogans of religious fanaticism, these guys quickly utilized the complex terrain of the suburbs—broken hos, abandoned factories, crisscrossing ravines—to organize layer upon layer of resistance.
Snipers lurked in dark spots taking potshots, RPG rockets trailed gray-white flas flying out of unexpected windows, and mortar rounds, although sparse, landed accurately near the assault formations; there were even fearless "Martyrs," clutching explosive packs or vests full of grenades, suddenly charging from alleyways toward the "Liberation Forces" militias, taking with them a swathe of lives in the ensuing blast.
The battle was intense from the start, with every ter of progress on the streets and through the buildings asured again in blood.
The drone footage clearly showed that all the main forces of the 1515 Ard were systematically retreating into Daguge City.
They set up roadblocks using abandoned vehicles, furniture, and sandbags at the street entrances and deployed snipers and lookouts at the high points, even planting explosives in key buildings.
Clearly, they were determined to rely on the familiar urban environnt to drag the attackers into the bloodiest and most ti-consuming and manpower-draining street battle quagmire.
"Damn it!"
Beside him, Jiang Feng couldn't help but punch the console, letting out a muffled sound. "These militia just don't cut it!"
He was pinpointing the heart of the problem.
The screen showed several main attack directions.
The two battalions of "Musician" rcenaries, like two red-hot blades, were fiercely wedging into the city, relying on powerful firepower and superior tactics.
But the attack axes of the "Liberation Forces" and the Abu You Brigade on both sides lagged like ox carts stuck in a mire, making painstakingly slow progress.
These militias lacked heavy firepower, had poor tactical skills, and often appeared flustered at critical monts when faced with the fierce resistance of the 1515 Ard forces relying on buildings.
It's not surprising.
The brutality and madness of the 1515 Ard in Illiguo over the years made the locals tremble with fear. Even though these militias harbored deep-seated grudges against the extremists, when it truly ca to the crunch, they often lacked an ounce or two of courage, holding a subconscious fear of the extremists.
Cramd in the street corners, they blindly poured bullets toward suspicious directions, unable to effectively suppress and eliminate the enemy.
Once caught in an RPG or machine-gun crossfire, they easily fell into chaos, resulting in heavy casualties.
Their slow advancent speed caused two huge dents on the attack front, turning the originally shoulder-to-shoulder line into two isolated spearheads of rcenary battalions from the "Musician" defense.
This led to the two rcenary battalions advancing rapidly, unknowingly becoming isolated forces, receiving "special attention" from the 1515 Ard personnel.
"Command! This is 'Musician' Battalion One! We are under heavy crossfire from the buildings on both sides! I repeat, under heavy crossfire! The left side is the responsibility area of the 'Liberation Forces,' and the right side is the responsibility area of the Abu You Brigade. They failed to keep up, and our flanks are fully exposed!"
In the communication channel, the voice of the "Musician" Battalion One commander was rushed yet remained calm, but the intense gunfire and explosions in the background revealed the critical situation.
"We have personnel casualties! Request imdiate air support to suppress my unit's left and right flanks. Coordinates have been sent! Request bombing!"
Song Heping's heart sank suddenly.
The situation he feared the most had erged.
On the screen, the blue arrow representing "Musician" Battalion One had deeply penetrated into the red zone representing the enemy-occupied area, while on its left and right, there were large red areas and stagnant friendly green markers.
"Air squadron, proceed imdiately with the suppression mission according to the coordinates and guidance provided by Battalion One!" Song Heping unhesitatingly issued the order to the US Army's air squadron.
Soon, the Grim Reaper descended upon the sky again.
500-pound laser-guided bombs were dropped on the buildings flanking "Musician" Battalion One.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The series of massive explosions could be vividly heard even through the drone's microphone.
The target buildings collapsed and shattered amid soaring flas and dust, turning into rubble.
The bombing seed highly effective, instantly silencing the rampant machine gun firing points.
The soldiers of "Musician" Battalion One seized the opportunity to attempt advancing once more under the cover of armored vehicles.
However, just as their lead squad had barely crossed the demolished barricade by less than fifty ters—
Whoosh—
An RPG rocket shot out from a half-collapsed building.
"RPG!"
The infantry shouted in alarm.
The armored vehicle driver hurriedly put it into reverse...
But it was all too late...
Boom—
The rocket hit the front of the vehicle directly.
The explosion blew the hood skyward, engulfing the entire vehicle in flas.
Two rcenaries ablaze jumped from the vehicle, only to be riddled with a hail of bullets before they could crawl away...
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!"
"Bang! Bang!"
Even more intense, more lethal firepower suddenly poured out from their flanks and from several buildings further back!
A rcenary operating a machine gun took a headshot, toppling down without a sound. Another soldier attempting to roll behind cover was shot in the thigh by a bullet from an unknown direction, blood instantly dyeing the ground red.
"Command! 'Musician' Battalion One reporting again! Airstrike effectiveness is limited! I repeat, airstrike effectiveness is limited! Enemy firing points relocated or revived! We are under fiercer flanking attack! Unable to advance! Casualties are increasing!"
This ti, there was a hint of barely concealed anxiety in the commander's voice.
Song Heping stared at the screen intently, his pupils slightly contracting, his brain operating at an unprecedented speed, analyzing every fra, every detail.
Bombing...
Rubble...
Revived firing points...
Shooting from unexpectedly rear directions...
Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through his mind like lightning!
Underground tunnels!
User Comments
0 comments from readers