Chapter 1928 - 1418: Return to the Base (Part 3)

Song Heping slid the screen.

The photos are of excellent quality, evidently taken with high-resolution equipment, and some close-ups even used macro lenses:

First set: Burning armored vehicle wreckage.

Six light armored vehicles overturned or flipped over on the road in various twisted postures, the charred metal skeletons still smoking.

One close-up precisely aimed at the waterproof equipment sheet stuck inside the door of the third vehicle, with the handwritten serial number range "AW-3477-89B to AW-3477-91F" clearly visible.

This is exactly the batch of "Spring Blade" Model 300 loitering munitions that Walker refused to deliver to Song Heping in the past six weeks, citing "loss during transit due to attack" as the reason.

Second set: Scattered "Stinger" Block II missile systems.

Green fiberglass launch tubes lay haphazardly on the sandy ground, some already cracked, exposing the internal aiming units and battery coolant components.

In the close-up, the white letters on the tube body are clearly visible: NSN 1440-01-678-9045 / SERIAL ST-5561-22C / LOT FY-2021-03. Beside them are several pried open military transport containers, inside which unopened BCUs (Battery Coolant Units) and aiming handles are neatly arranged, each item bearing intact asset tags.

Third set: Bodies.

Or rather, what used to be human body parts.

Song Heping specifically instructed to photograph those wearing full US top-tier equipment but without any identification signs.

In the photo, a prone body wears a Crye Precision AVS tactical vest, carries an Eagle Industries MOLLE backpack, the helmet is equipped with a $60,000 GPNVG-18 panoramic night vision goggles, and holds an M4A1 carbine fitted with the latest SOPMOD kit.

But the tactical vest has no name tag, no blood type label, no unit insignia.

This is a typical "unofficial personnel" setup, possessing top-tier equipment without leaving traceable information.

"Perfect." Song Heping turned off the tablet and leaned back into the seat: "Professional, objective, irrefutable. When Walker sees these, his expression will be... remarkable."

The convoy passed through the second checkpoint.

This was already the outer perimeter of the core area of the base, with security levels rising geometrically.

Everyone had to get out of the car and pass individually through dual metal detector gates and millimeter wave body scanners.

Vehicles were to drive into a dedicated inspection shed for chassis scanning, X-ray examination, and comprehensive checks by explosive detection dogs.

Song Heping cooperatively completed all procedures.

Upon arriving at the main building, Major Swift was already waiting in the hall.

"Mr. Song."

Swift stepped forward, the handshake between them lasted half a second longer than usual.

"Major Swift." Song Heping replied: "I heard Major Walker is eager to see me?"

"He's waiting for you in the office." Swift stepped aside to lead the way, while saying privately in a volume only the two could hear: "He's been up all night; the drone footage has almost sent him over the edge. He's convinced you did it but has no evidence. Be careful, he might... act irrationally."

"He will." Song Heping said calmly: "But not today."

The two entered the elevator.

Taking the opportunity, Swift quickly said: "He contacted a sergeant from the logistics department alone this morning, someone... known for handling 'dirty work.'"

Song Heping nodded, showing no surprise: "Expected. Does his office have recording equipment now?"

"Regular lines must have recording, but I've arranged for someone to perform maintenance on the communication system at 09:00. There will be a ten-minute 'technical fault period,' during which recording equipment will temporarily go offline."

Swift checked his watch: "It's now 08:57. It takes two minutes to walk to his office. You have nine minutes of unmonitored conversation time."

Arriving at the elevator doors, before they opened, Swift lastly said: "Be careful."

"OK, rest assured." Song Heping said: "I know how to deal with this guy."