"Revenge! We must teach Victor a lesson," Georgia's face twitched with anger.
Mexicans hold a great "respect" for the dead; disturbing them is considered a desecration.
After Victor killed El Mencho, a few memorial actions for him took place in Jalisco. People held séances for him, and the police got beaten up when they showed up.
Local forces were so mad they sent in tanks and armored vehicles to 'reason' with them, and they finally "accepted" (coerced).
No one challenged him at that moment.
After all, anyone whose family experienced this would be intolerable.
Victor was too inhuman.
On May 16th, at 19:00 in the evening.
The Central South pseudo-government in Zacatecas State launched over 200 rockets at Duge State, hitting the southern city of Minskitar, killing 78 people on the spot, one of which struck a wedding venue.
Many people were affected, with over two hundred injured!
The wedding instantly turned into a funeral.
Naturally, the 1st Marine Division stationed there was pissed!
MD, you dare fight back?
The division immediately ordered the 1st, 3rd, and 73rd battalions, over 10,000 men, to advance through Zacatecas State.
But this state is a rare plateau, with an average altitude of 2300 meters; wars have always been extremely difficult here, especially as most of the First Marine Division were suffering from altitude sickness.
Added to that, the area is mountainous, with many surviving tribes such as the Chichimeca people, who even the formidable Aztecs failed to conquer. The Spaniards also got their asses handed to them here during the invasion.
While it's called a tribe, they live modern lives, and most of them grow "Mexican economic crops" for a living, with their tribal chiefs having significant power.
After Victor launched the "drug war", they bought a ton of weapons from drug traffickers and Arms dealers, practically becoming kings of the mountains. But their economy was weak since control over distribution channels remained in the hands of other drug traffickers.
But they could fight!
Always popping up unexpectedly; in West Madrid Mountains, there were many poisonous snakes and wild animals causing trouble for the troops.
The entire army couldn't even cross the ranges, yet had already suffered 21 non-combat casualties and around 300 poisonings rushed to rear hospitals.
Over ten thousand men felt cramped!
"Non-combat casualties surpassing a reinforced company, how can we keep fighting? If you ask me, we should just call in the 32nd Missile Brigade, and blast that valley, doesn't matter how deep their Capital hides; level it all!"
Vice Admiral Siegmut List fumed, unbuttoning the discipline button on his uniform; the weather was hot and stuffy, and the unfavorable situation made him feel constipated.
Bombard with missiles?
The staff looked at each other, thinking it was a good idea.
But there were about 120,000 people in the Capital...
All blasted to death!
"Heavy weapons can't be brought up, and it rains heavily at night. The mountains are too slippery; a third of non-combat casualties are from people falling to their deaths," Major General Chief of Staff Edward Fritz Bloomburg said, "Our troops have not trained for high-altitude and cold region combat."
"No tanks, armored vehicles, or artillery, so we can't win a war?!"
"When did we start being as squeamish as the Yanks."
"When our First Marine Division was founded, we were all Light Infantry, and we still chased drug traffickers away."
Vice Admiral Siegmut List frowned, eyeing the map. Though he swore, he knew that Zacatecas State was notoriously difficult to attack.
Its Capital nestled in a valley and even with full firepower coverage; it would be obstructed by barriers on both sides.
"Let's use armed helicopters, airlifting armored vehicles and soldiers directly into the Capital…" a staff officer suggested.
"How many do we send then? 200? 300? Or 500? Such small numbers, remember, those drug traffickers just handing out guns transform into armed militants; once they all surround us and our follow-up support hasn't arrived, can those we air-dropped withstand the militants' firepower?" As soon as he finished, someone else countered.
"I still believe in solid, steady fighting, and if that fails…" Major General Chief of Staff Edward Fritz Bloomburg grimaced, "just drop weapons of mass destruction and torch the Capital!"
"That shithole has been there for hundreds of years, it's about time to relocate."
"Just like Li Mei did in Tokyo!"
The command post fell silent instantly.
Everyone's gaze turned to Division Commander Siegmut List.
This tactical approach was the epitome of "heavy bombardment violent aesthetics," but one thing was sure; it would greatly harm civilians.
The commander's hand rested on the table, fingers tapping lightly, rhythmically producing a "thud thud thud." His brows alternately tightened and relaxed, and after a few minutes,
"Request air support from the headquarters!"
The Chief of Staff, still stern-faced, confirmed, "Yes!"
When Admiral Kennedy at the "Headquarters" in Tijuana received the "battle plan" from the First Marine Division,
All of them below were war criminals, not resting until they sent a General to prison, it seemed.
The document stated, "Requesting 60 bombers, carrying 500 tons of napalm barrels for an airdrop attack on Zacatecas Capital!"