The dawn had yet to pierce the horizon to the east of Mosul, with the engines' low roar rising and falling, headlights slicing through the fog, casting long beams on the sandy ground.
Song Heping stood beside the command vehicle, watching his subordinates depart in batches.
This cooperation, ostensibly hired to provide support, was in fact a marriage of convenience, understood by both parties.
Major General Duke invited his company to join under the guise of "coordinating counter-terrorism," with a bounty of 250 million US Dollars, and contract terms so favorable they aroused suspicion.
After last night's USB incident, Song Heping smelled a conspiracy in the air.
Having mingled in Illiguo for many years, Song Heping knew all too well the style of the Americans.
Behind generous rewards often lay dirty work they were unwilling to soil their own hands with.
"Team A, check the communication equipment."
He pressed the earpiece, beginning to test communications.
