A few minutes later, Song Heping connected to the encrypted line at the Baghdad US Command Center from the command post.
"Colonel Kote,"
Song Heping's voice was deliberately infused with a mixture of "gravity," "confusion," and even a bit of "shock."
"I just received a report here that is...both shocking and perplexing. One of my patrol units ran into a group of unidentified armed personnel in that godforsaken place west of Hulmatu."
On the other end of the phone, Kote's breathing became noticeably heavy, silent for a few seconds, followed by a voice as cold as ice shards: "Song, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Well, there was an exchange of fire."
Song Heping sighed "helplessly," "The situation was urgent, my men acted in self-defense, and had no choice but to open fire. The result...wasn't pretty; the other side suffered some casualties. Additionally...we captured a few alive."
