"Sir, I'm afraid it's not possible."
The operations deputy beside him looked troubled, "Black Hawk Canyon and the surrounding areas are now under the de facto control of Organization 1515. Activity is frequent. Deploying our Special Forces into the area involves extremely high risks, requires higher-level approval, and could easily trigger unpredictable skirmishes. The fastest and safest way is to contact our local partners."
Vincent swore under his breath; he knew the deputy was stating the truth.
The CIA's direct operational capabilities in the northwest are limited, relying heavily on local informants and partners, like the Kurd Armed.
"Then contact them quickly! Get those Kurd people to immediately send a reliable squad to Black Hawk Canyon with video equipment; I want to see the situation there as soon as possible!"
Orders were swiftly issued, but coordination, communication, and getting the Kurds to assemble and depart would take time.
By the time a Kurd reconnaissance team, composed of pickup trucks, cautiously reached the devastated Black Hawk Canyon, it was already ten in the morning.
The sunlight illuminated the massive craters blasted into the canyon, the charred rocks, twisted metal debris scattered everywhere, and torn canvas.
A few Kurd soldiers, guns in hand, cautiously searched the area, the cameras on their helmets transmitting live images via satellite link to the CIA's integrated command center hundreds of kilometers away.
Vincent stared intently at the divided live feeds on the big screen, his heart racing. The shaky images swept through the devastation.
There were shattered remnants of a camel...
Burned fragments of what appeared to be a camp tent...
The intentionally left, now deformed, wreckage of a satellite beacon...
And even a few burnt Bedouin robes scattered around...
But no bodies.
Not a single one.
Neither full human nor camel bodies were found anywhere.
Only some indistinguishable, sporadic pieces of tissue and bloodstains were scattered around the blast center's periphery, but these more resembled bait equipment rather than from any living body.
"Zoom in! Search every corner closely! See if there are any bodies! Or any significant bloodstains!"
Vincent shouted into the microphone, with a trace of tremor in his voice unbeknownst to himself.
The Kurd soldiers rummaged through the rubble more carefully.
The camera panned over the rock walls, showing some marks left by explosion shockwaves and white scratches from shrapnel.
Suddenly, one image froze at a relatively clean rock wall, where several intact-looking robes were scattered, alongside some compressed biscuit wrappers and a few empty mineral water bottles, arranged...
Somewhat deliberately, as if hastily abandoned, but not at the explosion center.
"There! Zoom in there!" Vincent suddenly stood up.
The image zoomed in. The style of those robes...
Very familiar.
The very ones provided to Keller Squad for disguise!
But the individuals meant to wear them were nowhere to be found.
A terrifying, chilling thought slithered into Vincent's mind like a poison snake.
A trap!
The airstrike only destroyed a pile of abandoned equipment and deliberately left bait!
Song Heping had already seen through Keller Squad!
He not only used the beacon to mislead the airstrike, but he also...
Captured the entire squad!
But why...
Why would he take such a huge risk to capture an entire well-trained covert squad?
Just as hostages?
For revenge?
That doesn't align with Song Heping's usual efficient, direct manner...
Vincent's mind raced, trying to grasp Song Heping's true intentions.
Capturing hostages seemed unnecessary and risky, while revenge appeared more emotional rather than the choice of a calm strategist.
He was momentarily bewildered, unable to connect Song Heping's actions with a clear purpose.
Just as Vincent was caught in confusion and anger, a slight, nearly imperceptible twitch appeared at the corner of Simon's mouth, who had been silently observing not far behind, and a cold, knowing glint flashed in his eyes.
He understood almost immediately.
In this command center, few understood Song Heping better than he did.
Song Heping's goal was never simply to escape or retaliate.
He wanted information!
The extensive intelligence network the CIA had cultivated for a long time in Northwest Illinois!
Keller Squad, as the direct operational personnel in the northwest, surely held critical information about parts of the network, whether contact methods, safe house locations, or some informant identities!