Chapter 1866 - 1398: Fury of the Leadership (Part 2)

He looked up, his tone serious:

"We certainly have 100% confidence in destroying them, but it requires time for electronic suppression and coordinated attack. For instance, using the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft requires first disabling their radar, then the F/A-18 or F-35 can safely enter for bombing. Initial assessment is that it will take 30 minutes of aerial combat time to eliminate all threat targets, which doesn't include target confirmation and damage assessment."

"In other words..." Walter summarized: "From the time we issue the order to when effective aerial support reaches Lemont, it will take at least 90 minutes. This is the most optimistic estimate."

"Yes." Miller nodded: "If the Turkey side delays, or if we encounter bad weather, it will take even longer. Also..."

He hesitated for a moment, then continued: "If the enemy attacks before our planes arrive, when the air support arrives, it might only be able to carry out retaliatory strikes rather than rescue."

Hillary interjected: "Then let Lemont hold on for 90 minutes! More than a hundred Delta Force soldiers, all are elite selected from the entire military, can't they even hold on for 90 minutes? Was their training at Fort Benning and Fort Bragg just a picnic?"

Lemont took a deep breath.

He felt the shirt under his combat uniform already soaked with cold sweat, the sensation of it sticking to his back was nauseating.

"Madam." He tried to persuade: "The enemy has a complete artillery battalion, equipped with 152mm howitzers, all Soviet-made originals. These guns have a maximum range of 24.7 kilometers, and a rapid six-round burst can cover an area equivalent to two football fields."

He pulled up the base structure map, marking key points with a laser pointer.

"More importantly, the base is a temporarily repurposed abandoned factory area, most buildings are light industrial plants built in the 1970s. The structural strength can only resist light weapons and mortars, 152mm high-explosive shells can easily penetrate roofs and walls, and the damage effect of explosions indoors is three to five times that of open-air."

The laser dot moved on the map.

"The command center is here, the barracks are here, the hangar is here. The first round of effective fire, if the enemy uses airburst fuses, we will lose at least 30% of our living forces and 50% of command control capability. After the second round, organized resistance will collapse. And according to drone surveillance, the enemy artillery has completed data settings, I previously saw their shells stacked beside the gun positions, they can fire the first round of salvos within three minutes."

Hillary's face twisted momentarily on the screen.

It was a very minute expression change, her mouth pulling down, nostrils slightly flaring, but it quickly returned to calm.

Too quickly, unnaturally quickly.

"Then let them fire!" She almost shouted: "Once they fire, we have reason to conduct full retaliation! Erase the Tenth Division from the Iraq army's order of battle! Send Samir and all his officers to military court! Put that mercenary leader on the global wanted list, reward ten million, no, twenty million US dollars!"

Her body leaned forward, hands resting on the table, this posture made her appear more imposing in the camera.

"Walter, I'll handle the political consequences! My team knows how to manipulate the media. A story about 'a mad former contractor attacking a US military base,' a story of 'heroic Delta Force soldiers fighting bloody battles,' a story of 'the United States government decisively retaliating for the protection of its citizens,' my team can write them, and make every American believe it!"

Walter rubbed his temples, he was under immense pressure.

"Madam, it's not just a matter of media manipulation. If things really develop to that point, we have to face: How will the Iraq government react? Will Russia and East University take the opportunity to interfere? Our entire strategic layout in the Middle East—"

"Now we must show strength!"

Hillary coldly interrupted him.

"If we compromise on this issue, every warlord, every terrorist, every third-rate country's general worldwide will feel they can extort the United States tomorrow! All our operations in Afghanistan, in Siria, in Africa will face challenges! This is not about the life and death of over a hundred soldiers; it's about the fundamental issue of America's global deterrence!"

She turned toward off-screen, speaking with someone outside the camera, her voice clear and authoritative:

"Get me the Iraq Prime Minister! Also the Defense Minister! And that Kurd Masood! I want to speak with them personally. Tell them if they don't immediately order Samir to withdraw troops, the United States will reconsider all military aid, all economic support, all political endorsements! Including support for a Kurdistan Autonomous Region independence referendum!"

She turned back, staring at Lemont's split screen.

"Lemont, hold your ground. 90 minutes. That's the order."

The video conference temporarily halted, the screen transitioning to a "Signal Interruption - Reconnecting Securely" prompt.

Lemont looked at the spinning loading icon, feeling a dizzying sense of absurdity.

Ryan handed him a cup of coffee.

Cheap instant coffee, boiling hot, sickeningly sweet.

Lemont took it without drinking, just feeling the warmth from the paper cup.

"She's gambling..." Ryan said quietly, eyes fixed on the now black screen: "Gambling Song Heping doesn't dare really fire. Gambling that those evidence can be controlled. Gambling sacrificing us over a hundred people can exchange for greater political capital."