US Army temporary command center, codename: "Outpost."
Colonel Kote stood in front of the main screen, which displayed battlefield live feeds from different angles.
The drone's overhead view of the chaotic battle zone, the blurred images from the Apache pilot's helmet display, and the location details reported by "Poison Snake" 1-1.
"Unable to execute precise strikes, the risk of collateral damage is extremely high!"
The pilot's report pierced Kote's eardrums like a cold needle.
Just a few minutes ago, the early warning aircraft "Hawkeye" sent a more detailed analysis report: "A mobile cluster moving southeast, the number of heat sources has stabilized over 320, mainly light vehicles and some trucks. The vanguard is expected to reach the southeastern outskirts of Titrick within an hour. No large-scale heavy equipment identified. But the force size... far exceeds expectations."
Force size far exceeds expectations.
Enemies and allies completely mixed.
Kote felt his temples pounding, a rush of anger and anxiety surging to his head.
"SHIT!"
The curse echoed inside the command vehicle.
"Order them," Kote's voice squeezed through his teeth, "to strike the enemy's follow-up units and deep targets! Any enemy vehicles or personnel groups moving away from the chaotic area towards the city should be prioritized for attack! Artillery! Call for our artillery! Suppress any possible enemy artillery retaliation and follow-up reinforcements!"
"Yes, sir!"
The communications officer responded loudly, starting to relay the orders.
Kote knew this might be futile.
The enemy's "Flying Cavalry" tactics are about rushing in and engaging in close combat, followed quickly by reinforcements to further escalate the chaos, rendering air superiority and long-range artillery advantage ineffective.
But he had to do something.
At this moment, the intelligence analyst turned his head, looking even more grim:
"Sir, our aircraft detected multiple intermittent, brief heat signal bursts approximately 10 to 15 kilometers northeast and northwest of Titrick, accompanied by audio sensor-captured gunfire. Pattern analysis suggests they might be enemy mobile artillery, hitting and running."
"Artillery? They still have organized artillery?"
Major James was incredulous.
Kote's heart sank.
Ambush, pickup truck charge, mobile artillery harassment...
This isn't something scattered troops could pull off.
The enemy commander not only anticipated his attack but also prepared multi-layered countermeasures.
Wasn't it said that the forces in Titrick had been routed by Song Heping's defeat of the 1515 remnants?
Wasn't it claimed their commander Az had been captured by Song Heping's men?
How could they still be so organized?
How could they have so many troops and equipment?
They don't seem like a demoralized routed army at all!
Where did they come from?
What went wrong with the intelligence?!
He furrowed his brow and stared at the screen for a long time, until suddenly a place name jumped into his mind.
Ozham!
That's right!
It must be from Ozham direction!
Only there has enough 1515 forces!
At this moment, the Iliko Government Army's Ninth Armored Division in the Ozham direction is supposed to be launching a diversionary attack, which by plan should firmly engage the local 1515 forces, preventing them from sending reinforcements to Titrick.
Yet now Titrick suddenly sees so many enemies, far exceeding all intelligence estimates...
There is only one possibility—
The 1515 forces in the Ozham direction were not firmly engaged by the Ninth Division at all!
They likely left only a small force to delay the government army, while their main force quietly withdrew to reinforce Titrick!
If that's true, then either General Sai Fu is an incompetent fool, failing the diversion task; or he's deliberately holding back to preserve strength, attacking passively!
In Kote's view, either scenario is unforgivable, directly leading to his current predicament!
A cold flash appeared in Kote's eyes.
He needed to confirm immediately and apply pressure.
"Connect me to Ozham direction, Iliko Ninth Armored Division command post, find General Sai Fu himself!"
Kote ordered the communications officer, his tone indisputable.
He himself quickly walked to the dedicated secure communication terminal and put on the headset.
A few seconds later, the line connected, the background noise somewhat chaotic, faintly hearing sparse gunfire.