Checkpoint 4.

Sanders returned with a cloud of gloom and pent-up anger.

Inside the checkpoint, the mercenaries were using their portable equipment and limited materials to improve their situation as much as possible.

Some people managed to create a makeshift rest area in the empty room using sleeping bags and moisture-proof mats, while others were setting up simple warning devices at key positions on the perimeter wall.

But the cold desert wind at night, like countless icy little knives, poured in through the uncovered windows and holes, taking away the body's precious warmth and making it hard to sleep.

These issues can be overcome, after all, we have sleeping bags, but the more pressing problem is drinking water.

The individual water bags and small amount of bottled water they carried were a drop in the bucket for more than thirty adult men who needed to perform high-intensity guard duties and whose water consumption was extremely fast in the dry environment.

"Boss, how did the talks go?"

Mans stepped forward, asking with concern.

He could guess from the repressed anger on Sanders' face that the outcome wasn't great.

"Fuck! That damn, cunning yellow-skinned monkey! He's just playing us!"

Sanders couldn't hold it anymore, punching the exposed concrete wall beside him hard, dust, and debris falling down, "He's making us wait for three days! A whole three days!"

"Three days?! Damn it! What are we supposed to do? The brothers' water won't last until noon tomorrow!"

"We can't pin our hopes on him!"

Sanders forced himself to calm down.

"We can't sit here and wait for death, take a few people immediately, drive two pickups, load all the containers that can hold water, including those big blue barrels we brought! Head out right away, go to Hulmatu City overnight to fetch water! There's definitely water in the city, if not, then buy from stores! Think of a way to procure, buy as much as you can, fill all the barrels for me! Remember, go and return quickly, be mindful of safety along the way! I suspect that Song Heping won't just play us with this trick."

"Understood, boss!"

Mans immediately took the order and quickly turned to leave.

Outside the room, he quickly gathered five experienced team members.

"Let's go, follow me to the city to fetch water!"

Soon, two pickups loaded with several large blue plastic water barrels turned on their glaring headlights and drove out of the desolate, dilapidated checkpoint, speeding towards Hulmatu Town along the bumpy dirt road.

After arranging the water-fetching task, Sanders didn't dare delay for even a moment. He immediately walked into the room with temporarily set up communication equipment and contacted Colonel Kote in Baghdad, the capital of Illiguo, through an encrypted satellite communication channel.

"Colonel, we're having trouble here."

Sanders tried to keep his tone steady, reporting everything that happened after arriving at Checkpoint 4, from the Kurdish militia's "clean exit" to Song Heping's seamless evasion, to Colonel Kote in detail.

On the other end of the line, Kote listened quietly, not interrupting.

It wasn't until Sanders finished speaking that a low and angry voice came from the receiver:

"That damn, self-righteous Song! He's blatantly provoking us! He's using these sleazy tactics to tell us that in the Northwest Region, he's the boss!"

But, to Sanders' surprise, Kote's tone soon changed, carrying an almost excited implication:

"However, Sanders, from a strategic perspective, you've done excellently! At least, without much bloodshed, we've successfully nailed our 'Nail' at that crucial strategic point! I originally anticipated the worst-case scenario where Song Heping would fiercely oppose, even risking a local conflict to prevent our entry, but unexpectedly, he 'cooperatively' 'yielded' it? This indeed is beyond my expectations!"

"What does this mean? It means he still has some apprehension about us! The position of Checkpoint 4 is too crucial, controlling it is equivalent to holding the throat of the southeast direction of Hulmatu, not only effectively monitoring the movements of the 1515 Armed between Mosul and Tikrit, but also directly threatening and monitoring Hulmatu Town like a dagger against its back! This is our first step, and the most solid step, in realizing our strategic concept of gradually infiltrating and ultimately controlling the entire region!"

Kote's voice rose slightly with excitement, and in his mind, a grand blueprint was rapidly forming, using Checkpoint 4 as a fulcrum, gradually radiating control outward:

"You must hold on! Leave the logistics to me. I will immediately coordinate relevant departments to prioritize and deliver the necessary supplies to you as quickly as possible by airdrop! The first batch of supplies must reach you by the latest tomorrow evening! As for Song Heping... hmph, let him be smug for a few more days. Once we have firmly established ourselves there, constructing a complete defense and surveillance system, I will gradually deploy more experienced personnel and heavy equipment to you. We will weave an invisible net around Hulmatu with Checkpoint 4 at its center! When the time comes, I would like to see what tricks this Song can still play!"

"Understood, Colonel! We will definitely hold on here and turn it into a forward base!"

Kote's assurance was like a shot in the arm, slightly easing the anxiety in Sanders' heart.

As long as there is stable supply from the rear, the difficulties ahead can always be overcome.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com