King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer
Chapter 882 - 794: Changing Situation

Antar was once just a disabled observer...

But now, Antar is the commander of the Mosul Base!

She possesses the natural delicacy of a woman, as well as the unique insight and strategic vision of an observer, and she is familiar with the local environment and customs, able to coordinate the relationship between the Kurdish people and the mercenaries well.

Antar isn't formally trained, but she has managed Mosul Base impeccably and still has the energy to take care of the security zone deep within Syrian territory.

Joe Ga didn't notify Antar when he came to Iraq because she was really very busy.

Joe Ga didn't comment on last night's fighter jet movements either, simply because he felt he should trust Antar.

But now the situation seemed a bit off; a squadron of six Black Hawk helicopters headed north is already an 'invincible' force within Iraq.

The sudden arrival of two L-159s as escorts definitely indicated that something unexpected had happened.

Antar quickly answered Joe Ga's call; it was very noisy on her end, but facing the boss's question, Antar still responded in her usual clear tone: "Boss, we raided an ISIS stronghold in Syria last night, and it looks like we've killed some of their key members.

Starting at dawn today, ISIS suddenly launched a counter-attack...

The battle here in Mosul is intense; terror attacks have also occurred in Gaiyara, Tikrit, and around Baghdad.

Boss, ISIS has 'Stinger Missiles' and 'Needle Missiles'. Last night, two Su-25s and two Big Beak Birds were attacked while conducting low-altitude bombing in Syria; you have to be careful."

Upon hearing this, Joe Ga frowned and said, "How's the security zone?"

After a pause, Antar said: "The security part isn't an issue, but the road we had opened up into Syria has been cut off again, and we've lost a large shipment of goods.

Boss, something's not right. It seems like the Americans, the Syrian opposition, and the Kurds have given up on engaging ISIS's main force, which has freed up a big part of their manpower."

Joe Ga could probably guess what was going on, but talking about it was useless.

Knowing that it wasn't a large-scale battle, Joe Ga wasn't too worried...

The four bases in the north-south corridor are Basra, Baghdad, Gaiyara, Mosul.

Mosul is the main battleground, tying down most of ISIS's forces within Iraq.

ISIS would have to get past Gaiyara Base for any significant southward movement, and small armed groups bypassing it couldn't cause much damage within Iraq.

The arrival of two L-159s as escorts was not really due to terrorists wanting to attack the helicopter squadron, but rather a necessary precaution.

Having understood the situation, Joe Ga said sternly: "Owl, put pressure on CACI personnel; intelligence work is their job.

Have the two L-159s support Tikrit and Gaiyara. They don't need to fly in circles following me; even if someone took a shot at me with a 'Stinger', they wouldn't be able to help.

Tell Steven I'll be there soon..."

Antar, not at all loquacious, complied with Boss Joe's request and then said with a laugh: "Then you'd better hurry, Steven is a bit anxious."

Thinking of Steven, who always wanted to make a name for himself in the Middle East but always ran into bad luck, Joe Ga smiled to himself, saying, "Protect Steven. Once I arrive, he can be withdrawn back to Baghdad.

I have a feeling I'll be in the security zone and Mosul for a while; we won't need him there..."

After giving instructions, Joe Ga hung up the phone and then looked over to the two flanking L-159s which waggled their wings and quickly veered off. He then spoke to Dorian: "Don't dawdle. Notify everyone to prepare; we'll be in Mosul in two hours. It's not very peaceful there..."

As he spoke, Joe Ga glanced at Leech, who looked hesitant. He patted his head, pressed the communicator, and said: "Calling Anteater Squad, this is A1 Hu Lang...

We estimate to reach Mosul in two hours. Combat may break out at any moment, be prepared..."

No sooner had Joe Ga finished speaking than sounds of acknowledgment came from the other two helicopters...

Menon and Kuba, each leading a 10-person team, were aboard two Black Hawks.

Boss Joe's 'orders' got these two lads so excited that they began to energetically motivate everyone on the helicopters.

"Listen up, boss is reminding us. Everyone gear up; we have to show others that we're the best!"

"Powerful strike"

"Hoo~"

......

While Joe Ga's team was en route, Team B's Sanderson was leading his guys to retreat to the security zone.

Last night, they had infiltrated ISIS-controlled territory and coordinated an aerial strike with laser guidance, killing hundreds of ISIS terrorists, including several key figures.

At dawn, Sanderson received news that ISIS was wildly attacking the main roadways within Syria, even attacking a few Kurdish-controlled towns.

Staying in ISIS-controlled areas was now extremely dangerous; Sanderson needed to reach the security zone before they were discovered, or several Team B members might face danger.

At nine in the morning, advancing east along the Saybur River in northern Syria, Sanderson suddenly saw a plume of dust rising from the road in the distance...

"Shit, take cover; it's an ISIS convoy..."

Once everyone found cover along the riverbank, Sanderson pressed the communicator and called: "This is B1, calling Eagle's Nest. We've encountered an ISIS convoy on the road; what has happened up ahead?"

A few seconds later, Teresa's voice from Martyrs Camp came through the radio...

"Vanguard, the unmanned aerial vehicle has recorded ISIS attacking several Berber villages, killing all the men and abducting women and children.

The convoy you've encountered is transporting women and children...

Don't move; their target is the town of Haran to the north..."

Sanderson frowned upon hearing this and asked, "The Berbers? Why aren't they willing to retreat to the security zone?"

Teresa said with a bitter smile: "If there were any other way, who would want to give up their herd and land.

I don't know what's going on, but the Kurdish legions in the south have all become inactive, the area is now in complete chaos.

Many Kurdish villagers who initially refused to leave are now applying to us for relocation, but ISIS members are all around our outer perimeter...

'Vanguard', you guys need to come back quickly, we need help."

Sanderson could feel the rare weakness in Teresa's tone; the strange movements of the Kurdish Militia in the south left her feeling somewhat bewildered and a bit heartbroken...

If the militia couldn't even protect their own homelands, then what was their purpose?

For independence?

But they had to protect their own people first before they could even discuss such things!

Sanderson lay on the damp soil on the riverbank, using the cover of the grass to watch a convoy of four trucks and two pickups pass by on the road 40 meters away...

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, two figures jumped from a truck moving at about 50 km/h.

It was a girl and a little boy, both with their hands tied, who fell from the truck and hit their heads, bleeding.

But they dared not stop; they rolled and crawled into the grass on the riverbank, trying to rush into the river to find a sliver of hope for survival.

After the convoy moved a hundred meters or so forward, it stopped; the two pickups leading the way quickly turned around and charged into the grass, cutting off the boy and the girl...

The girl, who appeared to be only about eighteen or nineteen, realized she couldn't escape, so she turned around and threw herself in front of the terrorists, using her body to block their line of fire and pleading with the armed militants not to shoot...

A big-bearded man swung his arm and slapped the girl down, then signaled his companions not to shoot, and drew a pistol to aim...

"Bang"

A bullet hit the ground close to the boy's feet, scaring him into stumbling and falling as he ran.

Perhaps out of sheer fright, the boy tried to get up while rolling and crawling, but he fell flat on his face again...

The ISIS terrorists laughed heartily...

Big Beard grabbed the girl's chin, took a look, and seemingly thought that killing her would be a waste. He strode towards the boy, ready to execute this 'troublesome' little brat to discourage others on the truck from trying to escape.

B team's sniper 'Water Snake' peered through her scope at Big Beard; she was waiting for Sanderson's order, knowing that he wouldn't disappoint her...

Indeed...

"We move in..."

The boy peed his pants in fear of the menacing Big Beard. Sitting on the ground, he cried and scooted backwards, seeing Big Beard aim the gun at him, he cried out to the girl not far away: "Sister..."

"Bang"

The shot rang out, the boy closed his eyes, thinking he was going to die...

But after a few seconds without feeling any pain, he opened his eyes only to see that the fierce Big Beard had a hole in his head and stood rigid, slowly falling backwards...

Not knowing what had happened, the boy heard gunfire from behind him again...

The terrorists holding his sister fell to the ground one after another.

"Bang"

Another familiar gunshot rang out, hitting a terrorist who was trying to counterattack with a machine gun on the pickup in the chest.

Then the boy saw several tall figures walk past, spreading out in formation, advancing while attacking the militants around the two pickups.

They were impressive; the militants were unable to mount any effective resistance and were all taken down.

"Hemostat, take care of the kids; Tailor, come with me on the pickup, we can't let the people on the trucks escape."

After confirming that all the terrorists were down, a woman with a large scar on her face ran back, gripped the boy, and lifted him up...

"Run, you're safe now!"

As the boy was reuniting with his sister, the terrorists on the truck, probably realizing they were outmatched, fired a flare into the sky...

"Shit!"

Knowing they'd been exposed, Sanderson drove to the front, quickly took out a few ISIS drivers, then pressed the communicator and shouted loudly: "B1 calling Eagle's Nest, we need a safe route, we're exposed..."

Teresa on the other end of the communicator seemed to have been prepared for this; she spoke quickly: "The road is not safe, a group of terrorists are heading your direction.

Abandon the vehicles and head east for 5 kilometers, there's an abandoned Berber village there.

I've already called for drone support...

'Vanguard', don't hold out..."

Sanderson, now in the heat of action, couldn't discern the concern in Teresa's tone, he leaped down from the pickup and forcefully banged on the truck's compartment, yelling: "Get off, everyone off..."

While saying that, Sanderson called to 'Water Snake' who was standing up on the riverbank: "'Water Snake', 'Impact', set the bombs, 'Chainsaw' lead the team east into the meadow to set up a defensive line...

Hemostat, get them moving faster, there's cover five kilometers east..."

Machine gunner 'Tailor' looked at Sanderson shouting orders and said with a laugh: "Don't panic, we have time. We stay behind to take out their first wave of pursuit to buy time for those Berbers...

'Vanguard', isn't this what we signed up for, right?"

Sanderson, upon hearing this, glanced at 'Tailor' and said helplessly: "I just touched Teresa's ass the day before yesterday, I want to live to get into her bed...

But you're right, this is exactly what we soldiers are meant to do, haha..."