Chapter 1087 - 1085: Request for Reinforcements
The explosion site was basically under control, Everson quickly gathered some details and rushed back to the CIA.
The CIA agents had already pulled up all the surveillance around the explosion site and were examining it carefully.
Upon close inspection of the surveillance, the agents noticed two men who seemed very suspicious. After enlarging and processing the footage, they immediately locked onto these two suspects.
From their appearance, the two suspects were typical Arabs from the Middle East.
When the agents informed Everson of this, his first reaction was that it was the work of opposition Al-Qaeda elements.
"Damn it, these bastards! There's no reconciling with them." Everson, unable to bear it any longer, cursed in front of his subordinates.
"Director, we've already located these two suspects, should we..."
One of his subordinates started to speak, but Everson interrupted him angrily, "There's no 'should we', arrest them immediately and make sure they talk before morning."
It's undeniable that the United States' intelligence network is extremely powerful. Less than an hour after the explosion, the two suspects were already apprehended.
The CIA's secret interrogation room.
One suspect, shackled hand and foot, was tied to a chair while two agents, holding high-voltage batons, took turns shocking him.
Ah...
Each time he was electrocuted, he let out a scream of agony.
"Are you going to talk or not, damn it?" One agent glared viciously, yelling at the suspect.
This guy seemed to be tough, despite enduring multiple electric shocks and passing out several times, he refused to speak.
"Damn it, I refuse to believe you won't talk." Another agent, getting impatient, swung an iron rod, landing a blow on the suspect's shin.
Crack...
The bone in his shin broke with a loud scream, and he passed out again.
"Damn, didn't expect this guy to be so tough," the agent who broke the suspect's bone said, somewhat impressed.
The agent holding the high-voltage baton said, "No matter how tight-lipped he is, he must talk. The director gave strict orders; if we don't get answers by morning, we'll both be packing our bags and out."
The agent with the iron rod threw it aside, fetched a bucket of icy water, and splashed it over the suspect's head.
Hmm...
The cold water revived the suspect, intense pain twisting his face.
The agent with the high-voltage baton glared at him, saying, "You'd better confess quickly to avoid more suffering."
Stuttering and with difficulty, the suspect said, "I, I don't know what you want me to say, I haven't done anything."
"Damn it, you're still being stubborn." The agent who had splashed the water cursed, walked to a nearby desk, grabbed a piece of paper, soaked it, and slapped it onto the suspect's face.
The soaked paper clung tightly to his face, and his breathing became rapid.
"Talk or not." The agent added another sheet of soaked paper on top of the first.
The suspect's face turned blue from breathing difficulty, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
This person was an important suspect, and they couldn't let him die before he talked. The two agents, seeing the time was about right, removed the paper from his face.
Gasping for air, the suspect suffered from the sensation of suffocation.
Before the suspect caught his breath, the agent with the high-voltage baton grabbed another piece of paper, soaked it, and slapped it on his face. Fear showed in the suspect's eyes as he screamed, "I'll talk, I'll talk."
The agents, hearing him finally speak, let out a long sigh of relief, exchanging gleeful glances.
Early the next morning, as soon as work started, Everson went to the President's office in the White House.
"Mr. President, we have received accurate intelligence. The two bombings on Lincoln Street and at the Iraqi Embassy in the US were orchestrated by Al-Qaeda leader Amu Han," Everson said excitedly to Omama as he entered the office.
Omama said, "This Amu Han is too arrogant, he's bringing about his own destruction. Everson, do we have any direct methods to eliminate them?"
Everson replied, "The day before yesterday, I sent Lin Chuan with a squad to destroy Al-Qaeda, but it wasn't successful. According to the intelligence provided by Lin Chuan, there are several hundred terrorists in Al-Qaeda, with a strong arsenal. I think it will be difficult to eliminate them just by sending a squad."
"Do you have any suggestions?" Omama looked at Everson and asked.
Everson said, "The best solution at the moment is to negotiate with the Iraqi government, asking them to dispatch troops for elimination."
Omama furrowed his brows and said, "If we ask them to send troops, they're bound to demand a lot of money. Is there any way to eliminate Al-Qaeda without spending money?"
Everson pondered for a moment and said, "Mr. President, it seems the only option is to dispatch our troops stationed in Iraq. However, would this provoke opposition from the Iraqi government? After all, it's against international sovereignty law."
"Let's go with this plan." Omama's eyes lit up and he said, "We won't pay them any mind. Their opposition is useless; we Americans wouldn't fear a small Iraq."
"Mr. President, I think it's best to let Lin Chuan oversee this action. After all, he's a genius, and he's already in Iraq. Such a person shouldn't be used lightly." Everson said.
Omama didn't hesitate and said, "Alright, follow your suggestion. Contact Shrek personally; temporarily transfer command of his troops to Lin Chuan."
"Alright, Mr. President, I'll call Shrek immediately." After saying this, Everson turned and left the president's office.
Thousands of miles away at the Iraq US military base.
Shrek received Everson's phone call and was so surprised he couldn't close his mouth. Lin Chuan had previously forcefully attacked their camp and killed several soldiers, yet now the tables had turned, and Lin Chuan had become his superior, personally commanding the troops he once attacked.
Meanwhile, Lin Chuan, in the capital of Iraq, Baghdad, also received a call from Everson. He was even more surprised, not expecting Everson to allow him to command the US military stationed in Iraq to launch an attack on Al-Qaeda.
The past events were vivid in his mind; Lin Chuan couldn't believe he could command the American troops he once attacked.
As a soldier, the greatest wish is to command troops in actual combat; of course, Lin Chuan was willing to undertake such an opportunity.
Upon receiving the notice, Lin Chuan led the members of the squad to the US camp stationed in Iraq.
Upon seeing Lin Chuan, Shrek's expression turned awkward, reluctantly saluting Lin Chuan and said, "Officer Lin Chuan, Colonel Shrek reporting to you."
Lin Chuan chuckled and said, "Colonel Shrek, please don't be so polite, let's discuss the important matters first."
Email stationed in Iraq, comprising roughly two battalions, around eight hundred soldiers, Lin Chuan discussed with Slyx and Shrek, deciding to split into three teams; one led by Slyx attacking Al-Qaeda from the front, one under Lin Chuan's command attacking from the rear, and one under Shrek's command serving as the reserve team, mainly tasked with encircling extremists to prevent their escape.
Commanding a force of over eight hundred feels great, Lin Chuan looked at the neatly arranged soldiers and loudly said, "Today, we're launching an attack on the enemy Al-Qaeda terrorists. Does anyone have the confidence to win this battle?"
The sentiment was as if he regarded these US soldiers as domestic troops, first holding a pre-battle rally.
The US soldiers opposite him heard Lin Chuan speak, but no one responded to him.
Darn it, they don't take me seriously, Lin Chuan felt annoyed and once again called out to the neatly arrayed US soldiers, "Please answer me, do you have confidence?"
"Yes," a scattered voice among the US soldiers responded.
"I want everyone to shout loudly, do you have confidence?" Lin Chuan glared authoritatively at the more than eight hundred US soldiers, shouting with vigor.
"Yes." This time, eight hundred people shouted in unison, their voices reverberating across half the sky, emanating a formidable aura.
Lin Chuan loudly continued, "Alright, now we'll arrange the tasks; first battalion first company follows Colonel Shrek to encircle the outer perimeter of Al-Qaeda, preventing their escape..."
After announcing the battle plan, Lin Chuan assigned the squad members, part to follow him, part to follow Slyx. He sat in the helicopter, overlooking as dozens of military vehicles grandly headed towards Al-Qaeda's main base.
After three hours of travel, the force of over eight hundred troops arrived approximately one kilometer away from Al-Qaeda. Lin Chuan was already waiting for them.
Americans in warfare, regardless of the opponent's strength, first is a frenzied bombardment.
The stationed US troops in Iraq had powerful short-range artillery, and Shrek strongly suggested Lin Chuan use artillery strikes first. Lin Chuan thought it over and agreed, thinking it would at least reduce unnecessary casualties.
With a command given, dozens of short-range artillery aimed at Al-Qaeda's main base.
Boom... Boom...
The power of the short-range artillery was immense, dozens of shells landed in Al-Qaeda's main base, instantly turning into a sea of fire.
Chaos erupted within Al-Qaeda's main base, Amu Han panicked and hastily ordered a counterattack.