Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1244 The Uninvited Guest

Arlington, Virginia, USA, Pentagon.

Sunlight streamed through the huge bulletproof glass windows, illuminating the expensive mahogany conference table inside until it shone like a mirror, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere in the room.

At this moment, around the oval conference table in this top-secret conference room equipped with the highest level of soundproofing and electromagnetic leakage prevention measures, sits a dozen or so figures who are capable of influencing the world's military landscape.

At the head of the table, Defense Secretary Austin had his hands crossed in front of him.

To his left is General Mark, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On the right and in order are several powerful generals from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Their expressions vary, some are solemn, some are thoughtful, and some have a hint of doubt.

On the left-hand side, connected to an LCD screen, was Colonel Kurt, who had just finished giving a situation report to the assembled military leaders.

In the center of the conference room, a huge, high-resolution screen displayed a satellite map clearly showing the terrain of the Hurmatu region in northern Iligor. Several glaring, almost blood-stained red "X" marks were firmly planted at key locations.

That was the result of comprehensive analysis of intelligence from multiple sources, identifying the suspected command nodes of the "Musician's" defense, the core troop assembly points, and several activity coordinates where Song Heping was most likely to appear.

"Gentlemen."

Secretary Austin finally spoke.

"Based on the latest and most comprehensive assessment report submitted by our intelligence analysis department and frontline command units..."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of every senior military officer present.

“Song Heping and the ‘Musician’ defense that he leads have undergone a fundamental and dangerous transformation.”

Then his tone became more forceful, each word like a hammer striking solid wood.

"He and the militia and mercenary groups he controls have evolved from a collaborator that we need to carefully monitor, and a potential destabilizing factor in the region, into a military presence in northwestern Iligo, and even a hostile entity that poses a direct threat to our national security interests in the Middle East!"

"The attack on our special forces unit caused heavy casualties, and members of the Iligo special forces were taken hostage. They were tortured to extract highly sensitive military information, including communication codes and operational plans..."

Secretary Austin's voice grew colder and colder.

“This series of actions has ruthlessly trampled on all our unwritten rules and crossed all inviolable red lines! This is no longer a friction, this is an act of war! We must take the most decisive measures to completely eliminate this threat!”

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Colonel Kurt on the screen.

"Kurt, you're in Bakdad. Your report just now was very detailed. Now, tell us your thoughts on the attack."

Before Austin could finish speaking, Colonel Kurt impatiently interjected:
"Minister! Generals!"

His voice sounded somewhat shrill due to his excitement.

“Song Heping is far more dangerous than we initially assessed! He has meticulously built an impenetrable independent kingdom in Hurmatu by utilizing the limited resources we provided for strategic reasons!”

He pointed his finger, almost poking the red marker on the screen: "Look at the armed forces he commands now! Look at his influence over the surrounding tribes! This has long exceeded the bounds and limits of what a private military company should be! We must realize that he has transformed from a blunt knife that might occasionally wound itself into a sword hanging over our throats! And..."

Kurt paused deliberately, then threw out a more provocative guess, though he himself knew it currently lacked conclusive evidence:
"...Moreover, according to some unconfirmed but reliable intelligence, Song Heping has very likely recently made contact with intelligence personnel from the Russian Military Intelligence Service (GRU) or the Persian 'Quds Force' through some covert channels! If we hesitate any longer, we will not be facing a PMC head in the future, but a regional warlord who is holding our northern throat! The consequences will be unimaginable!"

He took a deep breath and continued:

"Therefore, I strongly recommend that a special elimination operation be launched immediately! Utilize F-35s and 'Reaper' drone formations to carry out 'surgical' precision strikes on all identified high-value targets! Aim for a single, decisive blow to completely eradicate this scourge!"

A subdued murmur and whispering filled the meeting room.

In the gray area of ​​counterterrorism, it is not without precedent that a "collaborator" who is starting to get out of control can be "disappeared" or "accidentally killed" without anyone noticing.

“But we still have three Delta Force members and two ISOF members in his hands, and we have to consider the safety of these hostages.”

One of the generals expressed his concerns.

His concerns resonated with many.

Two more generals suggested that new special forces should be dispatched to parachute into the city during the bombing to retrieve the hostages.

But their opinions were rejected by others.

After all, Song Heping currently has more than 6,000 people in Hurmatu.

Moreover, two of the battalions are elite mercenaries trained at South American hunter schools, and many of them are veterans who have retired from special forces in South America, Africa, and even Eastern Europe.

For paratroopers to launch a successful hostage rescue operation is no easy task.

Just as everyone was expressing their opinions and unable to reach a consensus, Kurt asked to speak.

"General, please allow me to speak concisely."

"Colonel, what do you say?"

Austin waved for everyone to stop discussing and listen to what Kurt had to say.

"Quiet down, everyone. Let's see what the commander at the front has to say."

“Indeed.” Colonel Kurt’s gaze was resolute. “Song Heping is not easy to deal with. Sending a rescue team into the city to rescue him and ensuring their safe return is almost impossible. Besides… we don’t have the time…”

He paused, as if he was preparing something.

Everyone stared at Kurt on the screen, waiting for his next statement.

"Given the complex situation in northwestern Iligo and the circumstances in Hurmatu, I suggest disregarding the hostage issue and beheading Song Heping first. Even if something goes wrong with the hostages, this cost is acceptable. After all, there is no war without death, and this is a reasonable price to pay. Moreover, even if the hostages die, it will be easier to shift the blame onto Song Heping..."

These words were explosive enough that the meeting room became lively again.

"This plan is too risky!" "If it gets out that we're not rescuing our own soldiers, it will be a scandal..."

"But a risky rescue could cost even more lives. We can't just hesitate to act because a few Delta Force members are in their hands, can we?"

“Bombing might not necessarily kill Delta Force members. As long as the targeting is accurate, I think it’s worth a try. With Song Heping dead, I believe those mercenaries and militia will be like headless flies, and then we can take over the entire Northwest…”

A consensus was gradually reached.

Several generals from the operations department nodded slightly, clearly inclined to support this swift and decisive solution.

Just as this undercurrent leaning towards "decapitation" was gradually gathering and about to reach a consensus, Austin's cell phone on his desk vibrated.

He glanced at the number, frowned, but still picked it up and pressed the answer button.

Austin's brow furrowed even more as someone on the other end of the phone said something.

When they arrived, he only said one sentence: "Please let him in."

After hanging up the phone, Austin glanced at everyone and said loudly, "CIA Director Simon is here. He says he has urgent intelligence to report to us in person."

The other generals looked at each other in bewilderment.

Logically speaking, the CIA director would rarely make such a last-minute visit to the Pentagon without being invited.

What brought this intelligence chief here?

A question mark hung in everyone's mind.

Only Kurt on the screen seemed to have foreseen something, his expression turning even more grim.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

After a knock on the door and Austin's "Come in," the heavy door to the conference room was pushed open, and Simon appeared in the doorway.

He first smiled slightly at everyone and nodded slightly as a greeting, then walked straight into the conference room.

His hard leather shoes tapped on the polished marble floor, producing a steady and clear "tap, tap" sound that echoed in the deathly silent space, as if stepping on the heartbeat of everyone present.

He walked to the huge conference table, his sharp gaze sweeping over the bewildered faces of the high-ranking officials, finally settling on the key figure—Secretary of Defense Austin.

“Minister, generals,”

Simon was as polite as a guest visiting a neighbor's home.

"I apologize for interrupting your 'important decision' in such an uninvited manner."

He gently placed the heavy document bag and reinforced tablet computer in his hands on the gleaming mahogany conference table.

"but,"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone suddenly becoming sharp.

"Before I learn that you are about to sign an action plan, an order that could drag the entire situation in northwestern Iriego and even the broader international strategic balance into an abyss of no return, I believe it is necessary, and indeed imperative, for you to take a look at what I have brought."

"Simon."

Minister Austin reminded:
"You barged into the Pentagon and came to our highest-level meeting without even making an appointment. We expect you to bring something of real value, not alarmist stories to mislead our military operations. We hope you will provide a reasonable explanation for your behavior today."

"The explanation is right here, Mr. Minister."

Simon picked up the ruggedized tablet, his fingers swiping quickly and skillfully across the screen to unlock and operate it. Then he pulled out a dedicated data cable and, without hesitation, connected it to the main display screen in the conference room, which was capable of displaying top-secret information.

Instantly, the clear Hurmatu satellite map marked with a death "X" on the big screen was forcibly replaced and disappeared.

Instead, an audio file began to play.

The first sound coming from the speakers was a buzzing electrical noise and a low ambient echo, sounding like a secret recording in a closed room.

But soon, the conversation became exceptionally clear, each word like an icicle piercing the eardrums of everyone present:

A male voice, visibly terrified, exhausted, and even with a slight sob, (in English, with a heavy Iligo accent):
“…We…we are the third squad of the Iligor Special Operations Force (ISOF)…Our orders are to infiltrate the Z-7 area on the outskirts of Hurmatu and establish a secret forward observation post…”

A calm, emotionless voice (clearly an interrogator from "Musician" Defense) asks: "Clearly define your mission objectives."

[A terrified male voice (clearly breaking down, with a sob in its voice):]
"...The mission is...to precisely locate the mobile command vehicle of 'Musician' Defense Commander Song Heping, as well as his most frequently appearing locations...coordinates must be accurate to the meter...to provide real-time laser guidance and final damage assessment for...to prepare for potential subsequent precision strikes by 'Paveway' (referring to laser-guided bombs) or 'Hellfire' (referring to drone-launched missiles)..."

[The questioning voice (still calm): "Where did the order come from? Who gave you this order?"]

[A terrified male voice (his voice trembled so badly it was almost incoherent):]

"The order... the order is highly encrypted... it comes directly from Colonel Kot of Bakda... we... we are just soldiers carrying out orders..."

The audio abruptly stops here.

Time seemed to stand still inside the meeting room.

In an instant, absolute silence fell!

Even the low rumble of the air conditioning system seemed to disappear at that moment.

　Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)