Mercenaries, I Will Be King Chapter 1622 1299: Kote's Gamble

The lights of the Bayji Refinery command center flickered on at precisely six o'clock in the evening, illuminating the analysis room with a stark whiteness akin to an operating room.

Song Heping stood motionless in front of three side-by-side main screens, arms crossed.

The latest battlefield situation map had been updated — the drones had regained clear reconnaissance capabilities for the first ti since the sandstorm.

But the image depicted not the steady advance of the Alliance Army, but a defense network riddled with holes.

"Look here."

Song Heping pointed to the center of the screen, tracing a winding zigzag line in the air with his finger, "Three days ago, the Alliance's front line was here, controlling the intersection of the city's northern Main Street. And now?"

Jiang Feng leaned closer to the screen, his face growing solemn: "They've retreated at least four hundred ters. And the support point here...gone."

It had been a three-story building originally serving as an observation post for a Thunder Defense machine gun team.

In the photo now, only a pile of collapsed concrete and twisted steel remained.

Scattered around were charred remnants of vehicles, from a high-altitude perspective, like black scars growing from the earth.

"And here, here."

Song Heping's finger moved quickly over the map.

The school district in the west of the city, which had been flying the Alliance's flag, now once again bore the black battle flag of the 1515 Ard.

In the industrial area to the south, an equipnt plant cleared by the Alliance at the cost of two lives was again covered with red markings — indicating frequent enemy activity.

The entire defensive line was like wood infested with termites, appearing intact on the surface but utterly compromised inside.

"The Thunder Defense casualty report is out."

The young analyst handed over a tablet, swiping his finger on the touch screen, "Sixty-three dead, forty-one severely injured. The 'Charlie' company suffered the heaviest losses, with two sergeant leaders killed and a platoon leader severely injured and in a coma."

Song Heping took the tablet, his eyes quickly scanning the cold data.

"For a rcenary Corps," Song Heping set down the tablet, his voice low, "they've only been fighting for two days, and these casualties are not small."

"What about the Kurd Ard?" he turned to another analyst.

"Currently, there are no accurate figures." The analyst pulled up several intelligence briefs, "But synthesizing information from other sources...casualties might range between one thousand two hundred to one thousand five hundred."

There was a sharp intake of breath in the room.

"What's more concerning,"

The analyst continued, "is that significant disarray has been observed in the Kurd's forces. So commanders can't find their platoon leaders, and battalion leaders can't contact company leaders. So soldiers refuse to return to forward positions, officers are blaming each other over communications, and there are even instances of people openly questioning the aning of continuing this battle."

Song Heping walked over to the window.

The sky was visibly darkening, distant sand dunes turned a dark purple, and a band of murky yellow light lay at the juncture of the sky and desert — the suspended dust after the sandstorm, like a piece of permanently sared glass, lying between heaven and earth.

"Kote is finished."

He suddenly remarked.

Jiang Feng turned his head: "Old squad leader, you an..."

"He can't afford to lose this war."

Song Heping turned around, back to the window, shrouded in backlit shadows, "From any perspective — the Pentagon's expectations, Thunder Defense's contract renewal, his own career, even his self-respect as a soldier — he can't afford to lose."

He stood by the tactical board, picking up a black marker.

The tip of the pen slid across the whiteboard, creating a harsh rasping sound.

Two red circles were drawn, each precisely positioned at specific locations on the map.

"The auto repair plant, the largest industrial complex in the northern city, with a three-story main workshop accompanying six maintenance bays, and an underground oil depot and warehouse."

Song Heping tapped the first circle with the tip of his pen, "Since the first day of the war, the mortars here haven't stopped. The Alliance has organized at least three eradication operations, all failed."

The pen tip moved to the second circle: "School complex, four-story main teaching building, two auxiliary buildings, intact periter wall, with a view covering the three main avenues approaching from the west. The snipers inside have already caused at least thirty Alliance casualties."

Jiang Feng stared at those two red circles, his brows furrowing tighter: "These two strongholds...are too conspicuous. It's like they're deliberately set as bait."

"That's right."

Song Heping put down the pen, both hands leaning on the edge of the tactical board, "Ahd isn't a fool. He's been operating in this city for nine months, familiar with every building, every alley, every sewer entrance. Why would he place two such important strongholds in such conspicuous spots?"

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room:

"Because he knows the Alliance will definitely attack these locations. He knows Kote needs a 'victory,' even if it's just a tactical victory, to prove to everyone that the 'Balance Beam' operation hasn't failed yet."

"So it's a trap?" Jiang Feng's voice carried a hint of chill.

"Not entirely."

Song Heping walked to the fridge, taking out a bottle of mineral water.

"A trap is too elentary. Ahd isn't trying to just gobble up one or two platoons; what he wants is..."

He took a sip of coffee, the bitter taste spreading across his tongue.

"He wants Kote to send in his last reserves. Thunder Defense's 'Alpha' company and 'Bravo' company — these are the only mobile, fully combat-ready units left in the Alliance. Once these two blades get stuck, or worse — are directly broken..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood.

The room fell silent, with only the low hum of the fan audible.