Crossword Genius

Returned fire and told headquarters about it? (8,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reported back

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'headquarters about it?' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'returned fire and told' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'returned' could be 'back' (I've seen this before) and 'back' is located in the answer.
'told' could be 'reported' (reporting is a kind of telling) and 'reported' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

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I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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