Working as a police officer in Mexico-Chapter 1699 - 767: Picking the Softest Persimmon

Griss City Command Headquarters.

Even here, you can hear the sound of gunfire outside.

Occasionally, there are flashes of light in the sky.

Admiral Horatio Herbert Kitchener stood in front of a giant sand table, hands clasped behind his back, with 60 military advisors from various branches gathered on either side of the sand table. No one spoke; only the occasional static from the radio disrupted the silence.

"The Italians have pulled back again."

The chief of staff handed over the latest reconnaissance report: "General, Bertolini's troops have withdrawn to their original defensive positions after encountering a counterattack and have reinforced their minefields and obstacles. Based on electronic reconnaissance, they are requesting more engineering equipment and defensive supplies."

Kitchener took the report, glanced at it, and squinted his eyes.

"What do you see?" he asked, lifting his head and scanning the advisors present.

A Major General with an armored background hesitated for a moment: "The enemy is cautious, avoiding direct confrontation with our forces, and adopting..."

"Cowardice." Kitchener interrupted him, tossing the report to the edge of the sand table, "It's not caution; it's cowardice."

He walked to the sand table, picked up the blue flag representing the Italian troops, and inserted it back into their original defensive positions: "The Komodo River Valley scared them. The clothes and leaflets we scattered just tore off their last layer of dignity. Bertolini's probing attack this morning wasn't a real attempt to fight; he was forced to make a show of it for the NATO commanders of other countries."

"But as soon as he encountered resistance, he immediately pulled back, retreating before suffering significant losses."

Kitchener's fingers tapped the edge of the sand table, "What does this signify?"

Colonel Fernando from the intelligence department spoke up: "It indicates that the Italian troops have lost their will to attack, the commander has lost control of the battlefield, and the troops' morale is low."

"Not just that."

Kitchener shook his head, "It shows they're now like an overripe rotten peach, outwardly organized but rotten inside. Fear is contagious, spreading from the commander to the officers and from the officers to the soldiers. The current Italian Brigade may not even have half the combat strength their papers suggest."

He turned and walked over to the large map of the Indiana War Zone, outlining the Italian defense area in red: "Meanwhile, the pressure from other directions is increasing. The British, French, and Germans are getting smarter; they're no longer taking risks and are starting to grind down our defenses with firepower bit by bit. If we continue this passive defense across the board, we'll be slowly worn to death."

"So we need a victory." Kitchener circled the Italian defense zone heavily with his red pen, "Choosing to wipe them out is the right decision!"

The operations chief frowned: "General, the Italians are hunkered down in defense with strong fortifications and dense minefields. A strong assault would be costly. Even if we take it, we could suffer heavy losses, providing opportunities for enemy troops from other directions."

"Who said anything about a strong assault?" Kitchener sneered, "I want them to come out on their own."

He gestured, and several staff members immediately spread out a detailed topographic map of the Italian defensive area.

"Look here," Kitchener's pointer tapped about fifteen kilometers behind the Italian defensive line, "The intersection of Highway 73 and the old mining railway, codenamed 'Crossroads,' is the primary logistics distribution point for the Italian Brigade. 70% of the ammunition, food, and fuel transported from the rear goes through here to the front-line positions."

"If it's cut off..." The armored Major General's eyes lit up.

"Not just cut off," Kitchener's pointer moved on the map, "I want to occupy it and establish a strong blocking position. Pin the main force of the Italian Brigade to their current defensive line."

He looked at the communications officer: "Record the combat orders."

The entire meeting room fell silent instantly, with only the scratching of pens on paper audible.

Kitchener spoke at a steady pace, "Deploy two company-sized Special Forces units from the Quick Reaction Brigade, equipped with anti-tank missiles, mortars, and enough explosives. The mission is to infiltrate the high ground on the north and south sides of 'Crossroads' under the cover of night tomorrow, occupy and hold."

"The entire strength of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, including three tank companies and one mechanized infantry battalion, will begin secret maneuvering at 2100 hours tomorrow. Avoid roads, follow this abandoned logging trail—" he traced a winding line on the map, "bypassing the Italian front-line outposts, and strike directly at 'Crossroads.' The operation must be completed by 0400 hours, linking up with the Special Forces units."

Kitchener circled the Crossroads area with his pointer, "After the armored forces arrive, immediately establish a circular defense. Engineers will lay minefields and anti-tank trenches overnight. Artillery observers will move forward to provide coordinates for the rear heavy artillery group."

He paused, looking around: "What will be the Italians' reaction at this point?"

Colonel Fernando considered: "They'll find their supply line cut. Initially, they'll likely think it's a Special Forces raid and try to drive us out with reserves. But when they discover we've committed structured armored forces..."

"They'll panic."

Kitchener continued, "With logistics cut, ammunition and food can't be moved up, and casualties can't be evacuated. Bertolini will have only two choices: sit and wait for death or go all out in an attempt to break through the supply line."

He walked to the sand table, pulling up all the blue flags representing the Italian troops and pushing them toward 'Crossroads': "I bet he'll choose the latter. Because he can't afford the disgrace of a second 'inaction'. The pressure from his father in Rome and the mockery within NATO will force him to take action."