Battle Born

by Dale Brown

  "But you'll be a part of something extraordinary, exciting, almost mystical. We get to fly the hottest jets, test the hottest weapons. We're not on the cutting edge here-we're a generation or two beyond it already."

  Patrick meant to say it with great excitement, as he did to so many other newcomers to the base. But he knew what it was like in that corridor back in Dreamland, with the faces and memories of old friends staring back at him from many years and many adventures, and he couldn't do it. Working here, living here, making the commitment to be part of this place, it wasn't at all about excitement. It was about doing a terrible job against even more terrible odds-and winning with the fewest number of losses.

  Patrick, sitting alone back in the conference room at Adak Naval Air Station, thought about the stuff back on the wall at Dreamland with his somber "thousand-yard stare," as if his friends and partners, both living and dead, were waving to him from somewhere on the horizon-which they were. They were telling Patrick to let go of his feelings, share his fears with these people. The shadows of the dead had accepted these strangers-now Patrick had to do the same.

  He paused, mentally touched the photograph of Brad Elliott, and said in a quiet voice, "Maybe you'll save some lives; maybe you'll get to see your friends die horrible, slow, agonizing deaths. Maybe you'll save the world from going up in flames; maybe you'll be forced to do some illegal or immoral things, because the consequences of failure are too grave, and you'll hate the world you live in because you've ruined it. Maybe you'll make a little history; maybe you'll die alone, fighting a battle your country will deny ever happened. If you're lucky and your remains are recovered, you'll be buried in a desert cemetery that no one will ever visit, because officially it doesn't exist. Most times, you will just cease to exist."

  As they listened to the disembodied voice in their heads, Furness, Seaver, and Dewey looked at each other with a mixture of surprise and sadness. It was like staring into a dark cave and deciding whether or not to go inside. That simple door at the other end of the corridor seemed like the portal to another world. The three guardsmen looked at each other, silently querying themselves and each other. This time Rebecca was not going to make the decision for them.

  Finally, Rinc Seaver shrugged. "Well, jeez, General," he said, "when you put it that way, how can we refuse? I'm in."

  "Oh, hell-I'm in," Rebecca said. It made her feel good that Rinc Seaver committed first-she was afraid that revealing his weakness to her might have dulled his fighting edge. It was good to see him want to get back into action once again.

  "I'm in too," John Long said. He had quietly entered the Corridor, escorted by Hal Briggs, as they stood and thought about their futures. He glared at Seaver. "As long as I don't have to fly with that piece of shit."

  "Fine by me," Rinc shot back.

  "Don't argue in this place!" Patrick snapped, jumping to his feet in the conference room nearly three thousand miles away, eyes blazing and neck muscles taut. "Don't you dare even raise your fucking voices in that hallway, or I will come back and kick both your asses out into the desert myself. That place is as sacred as a church. The floor you stand on is hallowed ground. You will goddamn learn to respect that! Do you understand? Do you understand?"

  "Yes, sir," Long mumbled.

  "Yes, sir," Rinc said. "Sorry, sir."

  "You fly with whoever we tell you to fly with, both of you," Patrick said. "I think it's time you got your heads screwed on straight, both of you. Colonel Long, Seaver didn't cause the accident. He saved himself. He's a good stick. Let him do his job.

  "Seaver, you're busy chasing ghosts that don't deserve chasing. You've got to get your mind properly focused on your crew and your mission before we go flying. You think you have something to prove. You don't. You just need to do your job and back up your teammates. That's what's important. Stop worrying about what others think or feel. Your life will be miserable if you don't-and it won't just be because of us here at Dreamland. You copy me?" -*

  "Yes, sir," Long and Seaver replied quietly.

  "Captain Dewey? Are you in? You can go outside and think about it, give Tom or your folks a call if you'd like."

  "You know about Tom, do you, sir?" Annie asked the thin air, as if talking to an invisible friend.

  "Hey, he's a nice dude-for an urban cowboy wannabe," Hal Briggs chimed in.

  "Hell, Heels, we knew about him too-and we didn't need any spies or listening devices to find out," Rebecca said with a smile. "He looks real fine, but he doesn't have a brain cell in his poor peanut head. Stay with us. We'll have a good time as long as we stick together."

  "Then I'm in," Annie said.

  "Good," Patrick said. "Colonel Luger, escort the new Megafortress crews into hangar one, please." He visualized the photos, charts, and other memorabilia on the wall, gave the photo of Brad Elliott a light, warm touch with his fingertips, then gave his new air combat team a thumbs-up from three thousand miles away. "Go look at your new ride, Aces."

  CHAPTER SEVEN.

  MINISTRY OF DEFENSE HEADQUARTERS, SEOUL, UNITED REPUBLIC OF KOREA

  DAYS LATER

  Reports coming in from Chagang Do province, sir," General An Ki-sok, chief of staff of the

  United Republic of Korea armed forces, reported as he hung up the telephone. He was in the office of the minister of defense, retired general Kim Kun-mo. "Our infantry and artillery battalion at Pyorbai is under attack. At least two, possibly three battalions of light infantry and armor coming across the border. Kanggye is already surrounded and Chinese troops are in the city. We lost contact fifteen minutes ago-the Pyorbai barracks could already be overrun."

  "A Chinese invasion?" General Kim exclaimed. "So fast!"

  "Yes, sir," General An said. "Here is an update from reconnaissance planes, sir: at least two armored battalions and one infantry battalion against Kanggye itself; three, perhaps four more armored battalions and two infantry battalions moving south from J'an and Waichagoumen. Mostly light armor and infantry, moving very quickly, but they have substantial air defense, attack helicopters, and heavy armor backing them up."

  "Do you suppose the Chinese are assisting rebel Communists inside Korea?" Kim asked. "Perhaps this attack was timed to correspond with those two rebel missile launches that aborted themselves over Hwanghae province last night."

  "Very possible, sir," An replied. "Kim Jong-Il's rhetoric coming from Beijing is more bombastic than ever. He congratulates whoever launched those missiles, and he has promised help from the Chinese to anyone who takes up arms against us. If he was going to mount a counteroffensive with China's help, Chagang Do province would be the best place to start."

  "They're going after the weapons labs," Kim said as he picked up the telephone that connected directly with the Blue House, the presidential palace in Seoul. "If they capture the facilities intact, they'll capture a large number of special weapons warheads and prevent us from developing any more of our own."

  "We cannot let that happen, sir!" An retorted. "We fought too hard to lose it so quickly and so suddenly like this! We must act!"

  "President Kwon here," the president of United Korea answered a few moments later.

  Kim raised a hand to silence his chief of staff. "Mr. President, General Kim here. I'm at the Ministry of Defense. Chinese troops were reported invading Chagang Do province. It appears they've taken Kanggye."

  "What? Chinese troops? How many? Where?"

  "Apparently, two brigades entered Kanggye and took over the Army barracks at Pyorbai," Kim replied. "We've had no contact from the province within the last half hour." Kim read a report handed to him, swallowed hard, then said into the telephone, "Sir, photo and electronic reconnaissance planes report massive Chinese ground movement across the border. In addition to the estimated two brigades that took Kanggye, there are reports of two more full brigades crossing the frontier at Linjiang and Dandong, including aviation units. No reports from Seventh Battalion stationed at Pyorbai-obviously our units were overwhelmed by Chinese
forces." The Seventh was called a battalion, but in fact it was a hodgepodge of several partial infantry and light-armored North Korean companies, augmented with former South Korean men and equipment. Up until very recently, the men in this unit were mostly concerned with foraging for food-they were no match for any regular combat force even half their size, let alone two battalions of seasoned Chinese border troops.

  "Where are they concentrated?" President Kwon asked. "What could their objective be?" He paused for a moment, then added softly, "The nuclear research facilities? The weapons laboratories?"

  "That would be my guess, sir," Kim responded. "Sir, we need a way to stop those troops from taking Kanggye and the weapons labs. If Korean Communist rebels seize any special weapons and are able to use them against us, the loss of life could be staggering. But we cannot sacrifice those weapons labs. If we try an aerial or artillery bombardment, we could damage or destroy them-or the Chinese will do it for us." There was silence on the line for several long moments; then in a low, stern voice Kim said, "This is the time that we must use a weapon that can kill the enemy but not harm the buildings or equipment."

  "What are you talking about, Kim?"

  "A subatomic or chemical weapons attack against Chinese troops, sir," he said ominously. "Precisely what these weapons were designed for, exactly why North Korea had them in their inventory-to wipe us out without destroying our cities, our factories, -our military or civil infrastructure. We have no choice, sir. If we lose Chagang Do province and all of its military facilities to the Chinese and to the Communist rebels, we will eventually lose our cities to attack."

  "I am not convinced an attack like this is necessary, General."

  "I believe it is necessary now more than ever, sir," Kim said emphatically. "We were not sure if the Chinese had launched an attack against Seoul and Pusan--this time we're sure the Chinese have invaded. They've attacked our aircraft and overrun our army outposts, and they are apparently trying to capture our weapons research facilities. We cannot allow that! We need to keep those facilities intact. The only way to do it is to use special weapons.

  "The effects of both a chemical weapons and a neutron weapons attack will be confined to a very small area," Kim went on. "Vx nerve gas is potent but nonpersistent, meaning our forces can safely move in within days of the attack; the chemical disperses when exposed to wind or moisture, so danger to surrounding areas is minimal. The subatomic weapons create great destruction within a few hundred meters of ground zero, but virtually no destruction outside that radius. They kill within two miles of the blast and injure within four miles, while leaving our facilities intact. We can-"

  "/ do not believe we are even discussing this!" President Kwon shouted. "This is insanity! This is foolishness!"

  "Sir, the Chinese knew the risks when they staged this invasion," Kim said. "If we do not respond immediately with overwhelming force, we stand the risk of losing our weapons facilities, Chagang Do province entirely, and perhaps our entire nation to the Chinese. What will you do, sir?"

  President Kim hesitated. "Is there any word from our forces in Kanggye?" he asked. "Have they been captured? Killed? What is the extent of the Chinese incursion?"

  "There is still no word from Kanggye, sir," Kim said, "only reports of massive numbers of Chinese armored forces heading south from all across the frontier. The longer we wait, sir, the harder it will be to uproot those troops."

  Kim heard Kwon loudly swear to himself and pound on his desk as he tried to sort out the jumble of fears and emotions swirling inside. The attack on Pusan had forced him to agree to a massive bombardment of Chinese forces near Changbai-but this was different, completely different.

  "I ... I must consider this," Kwon said uneasily. "I must have more information. Call me as soon as you know more about the status of our forces near Kanggye and more precise numbers of Chinese troops in Chagang Do province." He hung up before Kim could say anything else.

  "Damned coward!" Kim swore as he slammed the receiver down. "We took such enormous risks in reuniting the peninsula, we have the power to hold it or punish any who try to take it from us-but now Kwon grows weary and afraid. What a time to grow chicken feathers." He got up from his desk and started to pace. "If Kwon allows the Chinese People's Liberation Army to gain a toehold in Chagang Do province," he said to General An, "with American military forces all but gone, it would only be a matter of time before they would control the entire peninsula."

  "Doesn't he realize how precarious a position we are in right now?" An asked rhetorically. "Those two aborted missile launches we saw last night, the unconfirmed report of a bomber over central Korea, a*id now fighters and armor south of the border-the Chinese are undoubtedly beginning an invasion campaign." He looked at Kim and said, "Sir, I think it would be worthwhile to pay a visit to the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs. Perhaps we can convince them how necessary it is to act right away."

  Kim stopped pacing and looked searchingly at General An. "Interesting," he said after a moment's careful pause. "And what if they agree with us, General? What if they feel as we do that a massive response is necessary?"

  "Then . . , then we should act, sir," An replied. His words were straightforward but noncommittal, but his eyes spoke much more strongly, more forcefully. "We should do whatever is necessary to protect the republic."

  "And what of President Kwon?"

  "The president is a true patriot, a true visionary, the embodiment of the spirit of the Korean people," An said. "I bear no malice toward the man who has engineered the revolution and led the long-awaited reunification. But if he does not have the stomach for battle, he should be willing to step aside and let the warriors decide the fate of United Korea for him."

  "I can see you are speaking from the heart, General," Kim said. "I share your thoughts completely. But what if he will not step aside?"

  "Then," An said plainly, as if stating an obvious fact, "it is our sworn responsibility to take command."

  THE WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE,

  WASHINGTON, D.C.

  SEVERAL HOURS LATER

  This invasion was completely unprovoked, unwarranted, and could touch off an all-out nuclear exchange!" the President of the United States thundered. In the Oval Office with him were Philip Freeman, Secretary of Defense Chastain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Balboa, and Vice President Whiting. He was speaking with the Chinese ambassador to the United States, Zhou Chang-li. "We're very fortunate that President Kwon of Korea didn't retaliate."

  "Indeed," Ambassador Zhou said. The diplomat, young for a senior member of the Chinese foreign ministry at age sixty-one, seemed bored and distracted. "It would have meant the end of United Korea once and for all, I think."

  "Is that supposed to be humorous, Mr. Ambassador?"

  "No, sir. I am just stating a fact," Zhou said evenly. "The illegal government of the Republic of Korea agreed to terms of withdrawal of foreign forces. One part of the agreement was that our personnel not be detained or searched. Korea broke their part of the bargain. Second, we agreed that neither side would initiate hostilities against the other. Korea broke that bargain ..."

  "Korea thought that China launched that attack against them," Philip Freeman said. "It was a tragic error, but only an error, not a deliberate act of aggression."

  "We respectfully disagree, General Freeman,* Zhou said. "Kwon lashed out at our troops merely as a show of force. He knew full well that those military units he attacked had no ballistic missiles-our ballistic missile forces are located far from the border, even the mobile ones. He shows little regard for human life. It was a despicable act, and he deserves to be punished for it."

  Martindale shook his head. "The old saying goes, Two wrongs don't make a right,' Mr. Ambassador," he said. "I'm talking about Kanggye, about Chagang Do province. Chinese troops have swarmed across the Korean border in several places by the thousands. They have occupied several parts of three provinces and have cut off highways and communications from th
ree major Korean cities. It appears as if China is breaking the reunification agreement and is intent on invading Korea-or destroying it. What's the justification for this?"

  "We are of course concerned about retaliation from South Korea," Zhou said plainly, as if the answer was obvious to everyone. "President Kwon and his advisers are plainly insane. He has launched an attack against peaceful Chinese ground troops, obviously using the unfortunate attack against his cities by some rebel soldiers as an excuse to lash out against our forces on his border. The entire world knows that his rocket attack was completely unwarranted. The rockets that hit his cities did not come from China. Yet he launched a rocket attack against my country that killed thousands of troops, most of whom were asleep in their beds. It was an incredible act of barbarism that Kwon must answer for! We are understandably concerned that he will next launch a missile attack against our civilian population."

  "So in retaliation, you've decided to occupy three entire Korean provinces?" Secretary of Defense Chastain said. "You have over thirty-five thousand troops in Chagang Do province alone, and more crossing the Yalu River by the hour. This looks like an invasion force, Mr. Ambassador. It's 1950 all over again. After what you've done in the Philippines and to Taiwan, sir, the world naturally is afraid China wants to take the entire peninsula. Is this true?"

  "It is a security force, nothing more," Ambassador Zhou said. "Quite frankly, sir, we fear the Koreans. We fear President Kwon. We think it is very possible that he could precipitate a thermonuclear war in northeast Asia."

  "That's nonsense," Chastain said. "Kwon says he wants peace. He wants Korea to be left alone, without outside intervention."

  "And he is willing to risk the lives of millions of innocent persons?" Zhou asked. "Mr. President, what would you do in our situation? Would you stand idly by and watch an unpredictable nuclear power spring to life overnight in your backyard? Or would you fight for peace at any cost? We chose to fight for peace."

  "By invading a sovereign country?"

  "It is well known that Chagang Do province was the seat of North Korea's chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons testing programs, and also where they conducted many of their rocket tests," Ambassador Zhou said. "The province has nine weapons facilities, several rocket testing facilities, four intercontinental-class launch facilities, and three nuclear reactors, all of which are capable of producing weapons-grade nuclear material. It has an extensive underground military laboratory, storage, staging, and security complex. This was too important a target to risk being left to a foreign power and obviously insane adversary such as Kwon Ki-chae.