"I need the cooperation of the entire Mosul operation force."
Song Heping looked at the map on his laptop for a long ti before uttering a statent that shocked everyone.
This startled Mist.
Command over the entire Mosul operation force?
That ant the command of an entire US Army chanized infantry division plus a newly equipped local chanized brigade from Illiguo, as well as the Air Force, Special Forces, and other units involved in the operation.
The overall commander of the operation was Brigadier General Yue Ke.
Already a senior military officer of general rank.
For Song Heping to request full command authority ant he was putting himself in Brigadier General Yue Ke's position.
No matter how one looked at it, it was a very crazy idea.
"That's impossible!"
Mist imdiately vetoed the idea.
"Even if the coalition forces in Iraq agree, do you think the Pentagon will approve?"
The operation ultimately required the signature of the Pentagon, which ant securing approval from those old generals at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Song Heping felt that Mist made sense, so he said, "Maybe I can serve as an adviser. First, call Major Lonnie over to take a look at this result. If it's feasible, we'll talk further."
When Major Lonnie was called back to the base to see the plan, he was actually very dismissive.
What kind of tactical plan could the head of a rcenary group co up with?
If Song Heping could do it, should he, a West Point graduate, tear up his diploma?
However, after Major Lonnie saw the result of Song Heping's "cross-thod" calculation, he fell into deep thought.
He spent a full fifteen minutes ntally simulating various outcos, trying to refute the result.
But in the end, Lonnie found that no matter how he calculated, he could not co up with a more reliable result than Song Heping's.
In the end, he had to admit, "Seems a bit interesting."
Turning to Song Heping, he asked, "How do you plan to do it? This is just a result you calculated. Although I think it's sowhat possible, you haven't co up with a tactical plan."
Song Heping politely said, "I'd like to hear Major Lonnie's opinion."
Lonnie drew a circle on the map over the district and said, "Bomb it. Just use high-yield Ground Penetrating Bombs to blow those damn guys to smithereens in their underground bunkers."
Hearing his suggestion, Song Heping sneered inwardly.
Indeed, without the Air Force, the US wouldn't really know how to fight...
Having sat in the position of world's number one military power for too long, the first Gulf War gave them extrely high prestige and deterrent power worldwide.
From then on, no matter where they were drawn into war, their approach was one word—bomb!
If ground combat t resistance, it was also one word—bomb!
As if they were natural-born bombers.
"Ground Penetrating Bombs are not out of the question." Song Heping pointed to the Rashim District and asked, "Which model do you want to use?"
"The GBU-57!" said Major Lonnie. "One should solve the problem. Just to be safe, use two."
Song Heping sneered, "Your suggestion is the sa as Mist's. But have you thought about how many civilians would die if you dropped a GBU-57? Can you bear the responsibility for that?"
Lonnie went silent imdiately.
The GBU-57 was the largest Ground Penetrating Bomb in the US arsenal to date, nearly fourteen tons in weight. Even if it penetrated underground before exploding, it could still affect the surface, potentially leveling an entire district.
If Song Heping's calculated hiding spot was correct, using the GBU-57 would be the simplest and most brutal thod, with the minimal loss.
But in Song Heping's view, that was not the way to do it.
Even though he was a rcenary leader, he couldn't play saint, nor could he play a murderous maniac, right?
Engaging in such morally detrintal actions, one wouldn't be able to enter one's family shrine in the future, would they?
"Do you have any Ground Penetrating Bombs with a bit less power?" asked Song Heping.
"Yes."
Mist quickly responded, "The GBU-28 bunker buster bomb, which carries 306 kilograms of high explosives. It penetrates half as deep as the GBU-57, only managing to penetrate 30 ters of natural earth, while for concrete, it's just 6 ters deep."
Song Heping quickly said, "Let's use that one."
Over 300 kilograms of explosives were better than that monster weighing dozens of tons.
"However, if we use the GBU-28 and its power is reduced too much, we'll need precise guidance. Even if we use drones for reconnaissance, we probably can't be 100% accurate. Manual guidance will be necessary."
Song Heping looked at Mist, his eyes full of deep aning.
Mist instantly got the hint.
Pointing at himself, he said, "You an you want us to go?"
Song Heping said, "Isn't this what you Seals excel at?"
Mist was speechless.
Even as a Seal Team mber, Mist had no confidence at the mont.
After all, that was the impenetrable Mosul; just two nights earlier, Vincent had barely made it back alive from setting an ambush at Point E.
Rashim Street, situated right in the center of the city, was akin to entering the tiger's den. If they were discovered, the danger would be tenfold compared to the previous nightti operation.
"What? Afraid of dying?"
Song Heping said with a provocative tone, "Do you need to lead you?"
Mist said, "You can co with us, but there's no need to lead. My my command abilities aren't that bad."
Song Heping said, "Co on, are you really planning on bringing all your brothers into this? That's asking for death. If we're going, it should just be the two of us. Just two people, understand?"
Mist was taken aback, finding Song Heping's boldness staggering.
Just the two of them?
A two-person team?
For a forward operating team, it was an optimal configuration.
A typical forward team consisted of two people, usually a sniper team was fit for this role.
But just him and Song He?
If they were exposed...
"Not daring to?"
Song Heping continued to stare at the Seal team leader with a mocking expression.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Mist eventually couldn't let go of the Seal Team's sense of honor, "Just the two of us then."
Major Lonnie watched the two n converse from the side, feeling as if he were observing two madn in dialogue.
All nutcases...
"Are you really planning to go in with just two n for ground guidance?"
Song Heping said, "Of course, but we need a local informant. The CIA definitely has informants in Mosul, right? Major Lonnie, you could submit a request to your superiors, report our plan, and then ask for the CIA's cooperation."
Lonnie hesitated.
Song Heping then said, "Major, you won't be too bla if this fails, but if it succeeds, you will be the hero. You could probably get promoted to battalion commander imdiately."
Lonnie was thoroughly enticed by those words.
What he wanted most right now was to be confird in his position.
"Alright, I'll get in touch for you, arrange for your entry tomorrow. You guys head back and wait for the news. Once Brigadier General Yue Ke approves the mission, I'll inform you. If we don't use the Ground Penetrating Bomb, it's likely to be approved quickly."
Major Lonnie finally made up his mind.
Early the next morning.
Song Heping and Mist received the notice from Lonnie — the operation was approved.
When they arrived at the command post, Major Lonnie pulled out a number and handed it to Mist.
"This is the phone number and rendezvous point provided by the CIA's informants in the city. After you enter, contact them, and they will arrange accommodations for you, as well as guide you near Rashim Street and find that sewer entrance for you."
"Got it." Mist took the number and concealed it, "When do we leave?"
Major Lonnie said, "Anyti. I've already prepared the disguises for you, follow ."
Song Heping and Mist followed Lonnie out of the command post, through the camp, and finally arrived at an open space.
"You'll use that to get in. I had people buy it from the locals overnight yesterday."
Looking in the direction Lonnie pointed, they saw a donkey tied up in the corner of the open space, with a small cart behind it.
This was a common ans of transportation for the locals.
Major Lonnie didn't seem foolish.
The preparation was quite thorough.
"There are two sets of clothes on the small cart. Change into them and enter the city on your own. We can't afford to send people to escort you, lest you get tracked," Lonnie said.
"Alright, we'll handle it ourselves. After entering the city, we will maintain contact with you," Song Heping said. "By the way, one more thing, starting now, the drones must maintain surveillance over Rashim District to monitor any human activity nearby."
Lonnie replied, "Leave that to us. Be extra cautious. If you're discovered, they probably won't even leave a body behind."
Song Heping and Mist exchanged glances.
Both knew that Lonnie was not exaggerating.
Once discovered, if their identities were exposed, no one would be able to save them.
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