Book 3 'The Show Down' C 17-23

(C-17)

0648 hrs in the neighborhood

‘Sgt. Marcus Johnson’s two squads literally waited until they could see the whites of their eyes.

His 16 men then opened fire with their M1 Garand’s and BAR’s from the skirmish trenches and spider holes that were hidden among the tall grass of the yards and from inside the storm drains firing up into the enemy. The forty men in the first Jihadist platoon never knew we were there and not a one of them got off a shot. It was just like Nam, except we were the ones in hiding, and waiting to ambush.

The 30.06 ruled in that fight, because of it we were successful.’

Taken from Sgt. Maj. Sinclair and Sgt Maj. Morales after action report.

“The two motorcycle men Ricardo sent ahead, say we have at least twenty-five minuets before the Jihad troops unload and move to their rally points,” Oscar told the men present. “So we better get all of the women and children over to the homes next to the church. Send out the runners and tell all of the men to assemble here. Except for the eight young men on guard, they are to keep a look out and stay in their positions.”

Fifteen minuets later most of the 150 men with battle rifles are assembled in Oscars back yard, most of them are armed with M1’s, BAR’s or Thompson’s others arrive carrying their crew served weapons and M1 carbines and waiting for the last stragglers. Several men help themselves to one of the two large urns of coffee and fresh baked bread, and a few are at the sink topping off their canteens. The reserves, sixty men armed with sporting rifles and shotguns and a few of the M1 Carbines stand to one side, they will wait to be sent forward and use the weapons taken from the hands of their wounded and dead comrades or pick up weapons from the dead jihad’s.

As the last few front line men file in Oscar says, “The motorcycle riders said we could expect another thirty minuets from the time they arrive, and maybe even a little extra time as they will do their Morning Prayer and coffee. We aren’t going to count on the last two so we move out in five to our positions, I don’t want to take the chance and they do the unexpected and move past the first barriers.”

“Remember men once you’re in position change your radio batteries and check in with your squad leaders, your radios should be locked on to the two channels we programmed in. Everyone knows his job, we have trained hard for what lies ahead. When the rounds are really flying stay in your position and wait for orders or targets.”

“As you know some of our wives and the single women and the fourteen to sixteen year old boys with a few M1 Carbines and SK’s along with some of Ricardo’s men armed with their AK’s and RPD machineguns are protecting your families at the Church so don’t worry they are safe.

Ricardo’s men will stay out of this fight because their uniforms and weapons are the same as the Jihadist, and we don’t want any friendly fire accidents. No mater what, your to stay out of the houses men, they are going to be the primary targets for the tanks 105mm canons and the 25mm guns on the APC’s.”

“Can those WZ-523 push the cars in the barriers out of the way?”

“Yes, at the first line we let them through as planned but not through the second line, that’s when we set the cars on fire, if they try and push them out of the way their tires will catch on fire and burn. Our two sets of snipers should be able to kill several of the vehicle commanders when those shotgun shells start popping off in the burning vehicles that will cover their sniping. And by that time Ricardo will have four of his RPG men come up with us. Using them and the bazookas we can take out a lot of the wheeled infantry carriers as planned, that’s after they button up and take cover from the snipers. Then we should be able to destroy at least a dozen or more of their infantry vehicles before they can get the rest of them turned around and back past the first barrier.”

“And then when they send in their first two tanks we give them a hot foot,” Pepe said looking across at the two flamethrower teams, the six men nod their heads in agreement.

“More then just a hot foot, they have only the six tanks, they are the older WZ120’s a Chinese copy of the Soviet T55’s.” The first fire teamssquad leader said, “I expect they will waste four of them and a lot of infantry before they figure out we can do a hard number on them. Then if our luck holds they back off regroup and come at us a different way, as we skidaddle out of here.”

“You know after we pull out they are going to burn down the entire town,” Peter laments.

“Yes but we have to hurt them first so they won’t chase after us, and it helps our troops having one less battalion to fight.” Oscar didn’t want to add that this was the deal he had been forced to agree to with Major Z, to make sure his people had safe passage to our lines.

Out loud he asks the men, “Are you ready?”

Before any one can answer Pepe in a loud voice starts saying the US Marine Corps version of the 23^rd Psalm. Five of the men, fellow marines join in.

“The Lord is my Supreme Commandant;
There is nothing I shall requisition.
Fresh and green are the fields
Where he gives me rack time.
Near restful shores he leads me,
To boost my low morale.

He marches me along the right trail;
He is Semper Fidelis to his name.
If I should charge into storms of lead,
No death would I fear.
You are there with your map and compass;
With these you give my liberty.

You have prepared the chow hall for me
In the sight of my foes.
You anoint my head with high-and-tight;
My mug is overflowing.

Surely fair winds and following seas
Shall follow me all the days of my tour.
In the Lord’s own camp shall I stand easy
For ever and ever.”

Most of the men laugh as they say “Amen,” they have never heard this version of the Psalm before.

“Now we're ready to go gents, ‘Semper Fidelis’, that’s Latin and it means Ever Faithful, cause we all have to hang together to see this through, if not our families are dead, period,” as Pepe stated the obvious.

Holding his BAR above his head Don shouted, “Semper Fidelis.” As he started to shout the words again, his squad joined in holding their rifles above their heads too and shouted with him, “Semper Fidelis.”

Pepe then holds his rifle above his head as he says in his DI voice, “All together men.”

“Semper Fidelis,” they shout in unison and it sounds good to all of them.

“Now were ready,” Oscar chuckled as he turned to Larry and said, “Keep an ear to the radio and send up men as needed. Make sure to keep the two mortar crews moving from position to position after they shoot a couple of rounds. You and your 60 men are our only reserves; if things go bad keep the fifteen-man squad armed with the AK’s back for the last, them and your one crew with the M1919 machine-gun. If we can get some of the Ak’s off the dead Jihads to send back we will but I’m not exposing any of our men unless we know its clear.”

“Will do Sir,” Larry answered with a grin. He knew that Oscar and Pepe wither they liked the title or not deserved that distinction.

(C-18)

We’re surrounded,

Now we have the enemy right where we want them.

06300 hrs

The MoIN at Plymouth

This new mostly untested Militia Division was made of 25% veterans and 75% new volunteers with just under 6 months of training together. The first two Brigades were from Missouri and one each from Iowa and Nebraska, their Armor Brigade is a mixed unit with people from the several states.

The Battle scene; Plymouth CA. is a crossroads town that sits astride the north south 49 highway with the secondary road to Fiddle town that runs east and connects with 88 highway, and from just above the junction of 16 and 124 highways that run west and southwest into the central valley. The town is nestled in a small valley roughly two miles from east to west and just over a mile north to south.

High mountains and narrow valleys dominate, the main highway that runs north and south, which is bounded with swift flowing rivers and steep hills on the banks. A good location for ambushing superior forces and defending against attacks. Once the town and its support units and the two brigades of Artillery were captured the fate of the two Chinese divisional units the 20^th and 45^th to the south deployed around Jackson was sealed. And the first two brigades of the Chinese Division that were ambushed and destroyed while moving south from Placerville to recapture Plymouth never stood a chance. Their commanding general should have read some American history especially about the role that the militia played during the war of Independence, ambush, ambush and more ambush.

The Armor and mechanized Infantry Battalions of the 1^st and 2^nd Missouri brigades, along with an attached battalion of SP guns following on the heals of the 2^nd Kansas Division down highway 12 then turn back north-east on highway 88 and has made its way north after capturing the Pardee Dam (at the same time as the rest of the Corp moved west), and move into and occupy the small town of Buena Vista. Which is four miles south of Iona with its one occupying Chin Bde and over eight miles west of the two Chin infantry divisions in and around Jackson. With scouts and forward observers had already infiltrated over toward Jackson along 88 highway and the narrow valley it follows. Ready to call in aircraft or supporting artillery fire as needed to keep the bottled up Chinese out of the coming fight.

When American air superiority was established later that morning, it effectively closed that exit for those two-trapped divisions.

This composite brigade’s move helped play to the illusion that the Chin Command staff believed we were going to attack into southern Sacramento for a head to head battle, instead we give them smoke and mirrors, and forced them to come to us.

Action taken at Plymouth (north to south).

When Corp HQ sent the code word to attack the 1^st Missouri Brigade of the MoIN moved into their U shaped ambush position along Big Indian Creek with the top two ends located on the military crest of the high ground on either side of 49 highway where it crosses the Cosumnes river and the base of the U is located almost one mile south at the Enterprise junction where six hidden Javelin anti-tank teams set up. Two hundred meters to their south another two Javelin teams are in support of one company of infantry watching the highway coming from the south.

In the main ambush kill ground hundreds of Claymores that were carried in by the men are prepared, and soon after Plymouth was captured with its stores of munitions, hundreds of Chinese mines were sent up to them. All positioned in rows for command detonation with ten meters separating each line, most of these are placed on the west side of the highway heading north from Enterprise back to the river, setting up a mechanical ambush in depth, one that was to be used with devastating results.

Dozens of five-gallon cans of hastily made napalm are set in dug out positions on the hillside; most of them are placed at an 80-degree angle with a two-pound explosive charge at the base. Then several dozen anti-tank mines and another two hundred plus Chinese type 69 bounding antipersonnel mines are set in scattered hidden positions along the 4x4 track that runs south from the river 100 to 150 meters east of 49 highway in this very narrow valley. These preparations will cover any attempt of the Chinese to make a push down the creek line.

On the north side of the river and close to a mile away where the highway makes a left bend and drops down at least thirty feet, this position is hidden from the view of the ambush position south of the river, here another platoon gets busy and sets up 100 hidden claymores and dozens of command detonated Chinese heavy anti-tank mines that are sent forward to them after Plymouth is captured and twenty of the five gallon napalm mines on the west side of the highway to catch any force of Chinese that might debus and form up there.

To keep this working platoon from being surprised by a Chin road patrol one squad from the Bn. motorcycle platoon is deployed ten miles north and takes up an over watch position to give them a early alert.

A squad detachment from the aerial recon platoon also uses four of the smaller UAV’s and the highway heading both north and south are patrolled from the air, again for early warning.

2^nd Mo. Bde

When the Militia attacked on the southern route down on 12 and 26 highways, the reinforced Chinese artillery brigade at Plymouth had been called to their combat positions in case it was necessary to support their two divisions that were down around Jackson. As the crews were running to their guns they received a quick but deadly barrage from the Americans long range G6 Artillery killing some of the men wounding many others and destroying two guns. They quickly move the rest of their artillery to their secondary firing positions that are less prepared and wait.

After four and a half hours of stand by and waiting and under sporadic but very accurate sniper fire their commander allows his men to stand down to twenty-five percent watch, with the majority of the men heading off to a late breakfast, at 0645. Normal morning chow time has been at 0530 hours the last few weeks, but this stand to has upset their normal morning routine.

At 0630 the primary assault on Plymouth comes from the north and west off of Cemetery hill with two battalions of militia suddenly sweeping down into the town and seizing the center before the Chinese realize they are under attack.

Another battalion sweeps into the Fairgrounds from the hills to the west catching the majority of the Chin soldiers eating breakfast. The Chinese have learned from past mistakes and the mess halls have sandbags lining the walls of the tents and buildings, with a couple of despised and manned bunkers helping guard them, and they put up a short but stiff fight.

Using American shoulder fired AT weapons the militia quickly destroy the few occupied bunkers and as the majority of the Artillerymen had only one or two magazines for their weapons with them, they quickly run out of ammo.

With the very accurate fire of riflemen shooting at any Chin soldier who is shooting back at them this succeeds in pinning the Chinese down, it becomes a stalemate for a few minuets. This changes when the American 60mm mortar rounds start dropping through the roofs into the mess halls killing and wounding many soldiers, the ranking officers present decide they would rather be prisoners then dead and the four mess halls surrender one by one.

At the same time numerous fire teams of four Militiamen each have been attacking the scattered camouflaged artillery positions, most of the guns fall after several of the reduced crews are shot by riflemen hidden in the woods or brush near each gun, others are capturing with out any opposition because the two remaining men had gone over to another gun to talk with friends and have a morning tea.

The scattered fighting continues for close to ten minuets then it quickly dies down as the Chinese troops are forced to surrender. The few units that are in good defensive positions see the majority of their comrades laying down their weapons. After being fired on and seeing the Americans skirmishing line advancing toward them, along with quiet a few of their fellow soldiers are killed by the snipers, many of them surrender. And for the few pockets that won’t surrender; when a few mortars rounds fall among them killing a few and wounding several more the rest decide to surrender, dropping their weapons they stand up and raise their arms over there heads giving up.

With the artillery captured the American brigade continues moving east and crosses over 49 highway to clear the homes on that side of the highway. As these Chinese supply and support units come under very heavy fire they realize the situation is hopeless and after a half-hearted resistance they quickly surrender too.

One company of the Militia is detached and moves further to the west along the county highway over to near four corners to act as an early warning in case a threat comes from that direction.

3^rd Bde. Iowa Militia

Their mission is broken down into Battalion size objectives.

One battalion overruns the airstrip south of Plymouth with only a few well-aimed shots used to kill and wound some of the Chin guards that are outside of the southern bunkers. A few guards in a couple of the bunkers make a fight of it until one of the attacking squads uses several LAW’s to destroy the bunkers, then the other guards give up with out a fight. The few helicopters and small scout planes are not damaged and another ZT mobile anti-radar unit is captured complete, along with a mixed battery of short and long-range AA missiles units.

Members of the aerial recon platoon following the assault take charge of the Chin’s UAV ground control center. Where several of the Militia techs working quickly switch out some of the aerial units controlling chips and the regular infrared cameras to the better thermal high resolution ones they brought along with them. As other members quickly install new programs for the real time data link that they use. In less then fifteen minuets they have the first two ANS-206’s ready and mounted on their flat bed trucks, and they start the count down for the rocket assisted take off.

Second Battalion attacks the single Chin company southwest of the town stationed at the junction of 16 and 49 highways. Again the firefight is short as the Militia attacks them from the rear. After winning the battle they send A Co. west to a ridge running north off of Sugarloaf Mountain northern peak to watch that section of highway. With one of its platoons detailed with covering the 4x4 trails in between that lead to the south.

Another platoon from B Co. moves south along the ridge east of highway 49 and takes up a hide position above Drytown where they can observe movement in the small town, along 49 and the Snake Gulch road. This platoon has several attached squads of the local guerrilla forces who now assist with watching several of the other 4x4 trails that lead north.

Third Battalion bottles up the Chinese infantry battalion at River Pines and starts an intensive snipping and harassing mortar fire. All vehicle traffic crossing the south fork of the Cosumes River is destroyed just before crossing the bridge making an effective roadblock. Letting the local Chin commander know that the Militia can destroy the bridge at any time, and hoping to force him into abandon his now indefensible position.

Fourth Battalion clears Fiddletown of its occupying Infantry Company and a supply unit that was they’re bringing them their weekly rations. The Bn. Leaves A Co. for guarding the few prisoners and to help the locals. 1^st and 2^nd Platoon of A Co with their XO advances east and just before last light reaches 88 Highway and links up with elements of the 4^th Brigades Armor (Nebraska) which has been working all day clearing that highway. They inform the MP’s watching the Fiddletown Road that it is clear of any Chinese. In turn the Division G-4 informs them he will have forty-six trucks from the Div. Transport Bn. loaded with supplies to take them back the 18 road miles to their Co. HQ in an hour. The foot weary men radio their CO of the link up and they will return within two hours with the supply convoy. That will be good news for the rest of the Division in the morning as their eight days of food supplies they started with seven days ago is almost used up.

HQ, B, C and D Co. of the 4^th Bn using the captured Chin companies vehicles then pushed down to within a mile of Volcano in time to see the last of the two Chin platoons finish evacuating and attempting to set fire to several of the buildings. A few well place rounds from the 81mm mortars discourage their attempts and hasten their departure.

The Scout and Sniper platoons chase these Chinese platoons all the way down to within five miles of Jackson and secure the road waiting on the rest of the battalion to arrive.

4^th Bde Nebraska Militia

Has been advancing west on 88, coming over the mountains and have had several sharp fights with a Chin battalion that keeps falling back and giving up ground only under pressure. When the Chinese are flanked they quickly retreat several kilometers and set up another temporary position.

One of the Chinese infantry companies is cut off from retreating near Cooks Station and is wiped out by the advancing American tanks and mechanized infantry in a sharp and quick battle. With their right flank smashed the Chin battalion begins a headlong retreat offering only a very limited resistance to the swiftly advancing Nebraska Militia.

‘Award of the Medal of Honor to Jeremy Irons a son of the Winnebago Tribe from Nebraska and a member of C company, 1^st Armor Battalion, 4^th Brigade Nebraska Militia for action against the enemy at Cooks Station Ridge during Operation Wolverine. Corporal Irons the gunner on a tank that was damaged in the advance by an anti-tank weapon that killed the tank commander, the loader and the driver. Even though Cpl Irons was mortally wounded himself he continued to fire his coaxial machinegun into the enemies hidden positions. He used the last main gun round loaded to destroy the enemies last main and hidden anti-tank weapon that had placed a second shot into his tank setting it on fire. Ignoring the searing flames he continued firing his machinegun into the enemies hidden positions drawing more and more light anti-tank fire on to his tank. Thus letting the rest of his platoon know where the hidden weapons were and enabling the following tanks to destroy over a dozen positions. Even with nine hits to his tank he continued to fire the coax until the flames overcame him. His gallant and intrepid actions had diverted the whole of the ambushing enemy companies anti-tank fire on to his tank and saved the rest of his platoon from annihilation, and enabling them to eliminate all of the Chinese anti-tank weapon positions. Along with the majority of their machinegun positions, allowing the following Militia infantry to secure the enemies ambush position and destroy the rest of the Chinese company.’

A week later when Dan signs the documents forwarding this and the other recommendation for medals and awards to General Greene he adds a note. ‘With men like this even hell isn’t safe from the wrath of a righteous and angry nation. We will be victorious and our enemies humbled.’

(C-19)

0645 hrs, back at Muaskar al-Battar

“As you pass the neighborhood cleansing task force collect your other company and proceed to the bridge and then pick out a good defensive positions, when the rest of the brigade links up we will finish preparing the whole bridge with explosives.”

“Yes sir. What about some local close AA support, and what of the four ZTZ 99 main battle tanks, we have been training on them and they are just sitting in the mortar pool?”

“What would you consider necessary for AA protection, and those tanks were promised to my first battalion?”
“I would like the third platoon from the HongQi-7 battery, and the third platoon out of the TY-90 Yitian battery, we have worked with both platoons before and they know my people. And Sir the first battalion hasn’t trained any crewmembers on those new tanks yet. I have a platoon of twelve men who have worked hard for the last two weeks with the Chinese LT and his three Sergeants. When the rest of the 10^th Brigade leaves camp I would hate to think that we weren’t using all of the available firepower we have present. Those tanks are comparable to the Crusaders Abrams and if we are attacked they might be the difference in winning?”

“You have thought about this before now Major, haven’t you!”

“Sir, that is the job of a battalion commander, to think of a lot of ‘What If’s’, things that might happen and plan accordingly, if you tell me to take other units instead that is for you to command. I am just a humble servant of Allah, Insha Allah Sir, God Willing!”

The Colonel answers with a smile, “Yes Insha Allah, I will forward the orders to our Missile Battalion and the Chinese LT with the tanks, how soon before you can leave camp?”
“My battalion will be ready in fifteen minuets, we will be waiting on the two missile platoons and the four tanks.”

“You have trained your Battalion well Major Zinnia, the four ZTZ 99’s are already loaded on their carriers, they and the two missile platoons will be ready and waiting at the front gate 20 minuets after I give them the orders.”

“Thank you sir, I will place them in behind A Company, who will lead the way and be in front of my HQ Co. followed by Support and B Co. When we get to the bridge they will be deployed as necessary.”

With a wave of the Colonels hand he was dismissed, Maj. Zinnias saluted turned and then hurried away, he was thinking 20 minuets that will work out just fine, once B CO. is clear and almost two K’s outside the fence the camp blows sky high. This quickly ordered deployment would mask our escape and the route we take up to that very last bridge, and if our luck holds that will be easy to.

The latest Intel from the Chinese LT for the bridge on 160 east of Antioch was promising with just a single company of mixed infantry from the second Jihad Division with just a few attached AA missiles and heavy mortars guarding it. If they are like the rest of the desert fleas and jail birds he has worked with, they will come to his people while we are unloading, glad that we have arrived, which will be bad for them. Good for us, as we won’t have to go hunting them down.

When we get to those last two Infantry Companies of converted cons and Jihad officers they will welcome us with open arms, never expecting the death we will be dealing to them making good our escape. And after them then just one more leg platoon that guarded that last bridge up over Three mile Slough, and we are home free to make the short drive up to Rio Vista.

My plans may not be perfect, but they were practical and the only way out for my command. If the two old marines and their neighbors can hold out long enough we will help them, and they in turn can help us. If our luck holds out that is, luck is that something you have to make-work for you. Lately he hadn’t any luck to speak of, maybe things are changing in my favor, and at least he hoped so as he crossed his fingers wishing it so.

(C-20)

Operation Sitting Duck

Welcome too the Warfare of the future.

(Poke them in the eye)

“We must call on the ghost sprites of our Warrior ancestors

to help us in this new fight for freedom, and for our country.

It matters not, be they Red men, White men, Brown men or Black men,

Our nation needs them, our land needs them, and our peoples need them.

Our sons and daughters who fight for us all, need them.”

Short Wolf, father of Cody Wolf

as he addressed other elders of their tribe a month before Op Wolverine.

(The Militia learned long ago to avoid meeting the enemy head on, the one sided fight at Lexington Green being a good example. It’s far better to take shots at the enemy when your behind trees or rock walls, to stay behind cover shot and take off running and get ahead of them, reload and then wait for them to march into his kill ground once more. The British regulars marching back from Concord were the best European style fighters in 1776. They were no match for the Indian style tactics of hit and run used against them by the Militia.

That’s one of the tactics we used that helped us win the War of Independence,

and it continues today with us using different tactics to our advantage.)

JN

'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil:

For I'm at Eighty-thousand feet and climbing.'

From a sign posted above a door at, Kadena Airbase, Okinawa

The Fog OF War

0640 hrs

“Sir, sir wake up please,” the aide said with his not too gentle shaking of his shoulder, “The Americans are attacking. Our satellites, have just confirmed they have seized the Highway 12 Bridge over the shipping channel and have at least one division across on the north side right now. Before we could lock in our cameras and take photos the satellites heat sensors picked up a large number of American jets heading west from the vicinity of Bridgeport and Hawthorne. The Intel officer in charge directed the control team to concentrate on the aircraft, there must be close to one hundred of them. Our ground radars won’t pick them up until after they come up over the mountains.”

Marshall Gobi sitting up in bed is still trying to wake up and force his mind to think. American troops to his west and now a sky full of enemy aircraft as he asks, “What of the expected attack against our defensive forces and positions in southern Sacramento?”

General Ky Long who had accompained the aide answered, “The enemy captured the bridge below Elk Grove and drove out our scouts. The 171^st reports no activity in their area, the Americans also destroyed or captured the rest of the 27^th Division and have forced the 23^rd Division from their base in Stockton. I think we should be worried with their presence north of the shipping channel, where they have captured Travis Air Force Base and the towns around it.”

The Marshell still not thinking clearly asks, “Do we know where there aircraft are headed?”

“Yes their heading takes them to the southern parts of Sacramento. If their planes meet ours in the sky above or around Sacramento it could be followed up by a ground assault as you predicted and planned for Sir. But they have units behind…”

General Gobi clearing his head of the fog from sleeping half shouts in alarm, “Our aircraft, are they in the air?”

“General Huo said he would have 80% of them airborne before the battle starts. He is also scrambling all air craft to the west and south just in case we are not the primary target.”

“Our last report said that we would have over 400 jets available for the defense of Sacramento and San Francisco.”

“That’s correct Sir, we have 534 operational fighter aircraft with 300 divided into two groups, one here and another above San Francisco and the rest in reserve, we lost six this morning, as they attempted to fly out of Travis, from missile fire by the Americans, who attacked the base. In another few minuets we will have over head a CAP, made up of one hundred sixty planes, including a wing of the Xiaolong super-7’s sir.”

“And our two radar guidence and control planes?”

“One is in the air now, the other one will join it shortly.”

“Good now how serious is the American ground attack to our west?”

“It has me concerned, but we do not have enough Intelligence sir, as most of our land lines have been cut over a wide area and the radio jamming is unrelenting. Our units that have been in contact report fighting with at least a battalion size unit of mixed armor and infantry, they suspect it’s a cavalry unit. All of our smaller company size units have pulled back and rejoined their battalions or brigades.”

“And to the South of us?”

“As I said we do know that several of our Brigades with the 27th and at least one independent Battalion have been destroyed.”

Taking a deep breath Marshall Gobi was now wide awake as he said, “Then we counter with combat teams of Brigade size units ahead of their Divisions and we push the Americans back, except in the region where we want them to attack us. There we just send out several company size patrols to make them think there isn’t a larger unit there to oppose them with.”

“It will take several hours to redirect the units to move west and make contact sir.”

“And what is the 11^th Corp doing?”

“They have been alerted. I’m sure they have at least three Division ready to deploy and move toward the southeast.”

“We must speed up the 11^th Corp, send out an alert to have all of their divisions to make ready to deploy, also including the 28^th Corp with it’s two remaining jihad divisions of Emir Ayman in San Francisco, they want to fight and now is a chance for them to prove their worth.” Pausing for a second and getting a mental picture of his deployed units he then said, “there one Brigade at Lakeside Park, have them move up to Concord and reinforce the units guarding the 680 bridge as a precautionary measure, and until we have a better idea of what these Americans are up to. Now get out, I have to go to the toilet and put on a uniform, I will be out to the Ops center in five minuets.”

Old but never Out Classed

One hundred fifteen kilometers south west of Sacramento, flying at an elevation of 9,500 meters senior electronics office Captain Rong on the Shaanxi Y-8 early warning aircraft was relaxed, his eyes focused on the long range radar that was picking up the first of the American Fighters, climbing over the mountains to the east. When the KongJing-2000, the other AWACS now climbing up to join them reached our present altitude our task will be easy, and together we will vector in all of the necessary fighters to engage them.

Several major air battles had been fought up in Washington and down east of San Diego in the early part of the invasion, with our forces coming out even against the vaunted American pilots. With a lot of credit for those victories to be given to the command and control provided by aircraft such as the one he was in. And a big part of that credit was due to the all important job of jamming the American radars on the air to air missiles, and the necessary eletronic deception by some of the technicians setting around him. The American edge in electronics had been closed in the last few years and we were on a par with them.

That left the close in air battles up to individual pilot skills, and that is where the Americans had the advantage, but we were learning. Our three separate air wings had outnumbered the Americans forces on day one by close to 2 to 1. And we had learned from our mistakes, as I’m sure they had to, with each air battle. We still had the advantage in estimated numbers of aircraft with att least a 4 to 3 ratio, and with the help from our ground missile batteries we should hold our own.

Unfortunatuly we can not replace lost pilots and we only have a few spare aircraft for the ones that are shot down and where the pilot is able to parachute out unhurt, but the Americans even at full production can only build at the most 12 to 15 new fighters per month, and they would not have numbers on their side for another year. And that’s not counting out the aircraft they have to send overseas for their Armies fighting elsewhere. Once the new pilots training was figured in, it would be close to two years before they would make a difference. This coming air battle will not decide anything, it was still up to our ground units, or so he thought.

With a smirk showing as he chuckled he can’t help but think, the Americans have fallen so far in the last thirty years and we have risen so fast, one nation striding forward and the other one is on it’s way down. Such is the world, as it always has been, as it always will be.

Using one of the powerful beam radars he concentrates the electronic radar waves at 85% power on the approaching Americans trying to determine their exact numbers, but with the distance involved and their active electronic countermeasures he still picks up all of the ghost images they are projecting and his read out keeps changing from a low of 105 then jumps up to 145.

Over the intercom connection to the pilot he says, “Rong speaking, I expect at the most they have 85 aircraft in this wave and at the speed they are flying, either they are conserving fuel or these are older jets. I suspect the later as the radar cross section is large, not like the F-15’s or F16’s, or the larger F18’s.”

The pilot answers with a dry laugh, “What ever aircraft they are flying this will be just another wasted attempt on their part. I pity the American pilots, such a waste of skills and educated men.”

“Yes a very sad waste of skilled pilots,” his co-pilot adds.

As Rong watches the approaching jets he notices two faint ghost images at the far edge of his radar screen that is just over 600 kilometers east of his present location, is that a second wave of aircraft? No they are to small for jet planes, what ever it is they are moving very fast, and flying very high.

Working the power settings and frequencies he keeps adjusting the controls as the return changes from one ghost image to two objects then back again, the one or two objects are heading due west at over 3500 kilometers per hour and at an altitude of just under 26 kilometers. That’s interesting he mutters as he pushes the reset button for new data, his read out goes blank then it comes back with the same speed and altitude. With a frown he thinks this has to be some type of an electronic feed back within the system. No one has fighters that fly at Mach 4.3 or at that high of an altitude, not even the new American F 22’s or 35’s, and the objects are to slow for a missile?

Reaching up to the power setting controls he switches to the highest power and both objects disappear, lost in the back ground clutter of mositure suspended in the air that the radar is now picking up, when he goes back down to 85% they appear for a second then fade away. As he slowly adjusts the beam focus, they come back onto the screen and slowly fade back to the ghost or false echos he first saw. He then powers down to 50% and they are now completely gone, “this is interesting,” he said to himself as he continues his attempt to get a positive lock on.

Turning to the Tech Sergeant next to him watching his own screen he say’s, “Watch this,” as he then goes up and down in power settings with the two objects still approaching at mach 4.3 again appearing and disappearing.

The Sergeant offers advice, “Turn the beam away then back to them and see what happens.”

Doing this Capt. Rong again picks up two seperate ghost images, looking at the Tech Sergeants radar screen he asks, “Where is the KongJing?”

“He is three kilometers south of us over the southern edge of the bay.”

Using his plane to plane radio he calls his counterpart on the KJ 2000, “Major Tai this is Captain Rong. I have two ghost on my beam radar, they are at 85 degrees from true north, they are 420 kilometers out and approaching fast, do you see them? And either they are very small or they aren’t completely covered with radar absorbing material, as I’m seeing only something that is, say close to the size of a large goose?”

“Give me a second, what power setting are you seeing them best at?”

“85 percent.”

There is a short pause, and the Major says, “Yes I see them and they are small and moving at what? 3500 kph and flying at close to,” he lets out a chuckle, “26 kilometers in altitude.” His voice betrays his skeptism, “That’s impossible the Americans don’t have any aircraft that can do that. Now I’ve lost them, what ever they are they’re too slow and too small for a missile with any range, and they are to fast for a stealth fighter.” As he continues to adjust his own power controls up and down he says, “Now they are back on my screen, and close to 350 kilometers out, wait, it looks like they are both breaking up, I have four, now six objects heading this way. No make that eight, now ten, with two of them turning away. I don’t think we have an electronic ghost…”

Hearing the electronic alert tone from his computer he looks down at the screen which is now showing the cross section or radar side view of what the computer thought it saw, as the two small goose size objects that he first saw head on and the radar is now scanning them at 90 degrees as both are starting to turn away heading back east.. The computer now displays the name and skimatics of the aircraft it has interpretated from the radar returns

Rong is stunned at first and pushes the control to reset the computer again for a new read out, it comes back the same SR-71, Blackbirds. No wonder they could fly so fast, but the Americans retired them all to museums in 2000. Or so we were lead to believe? Looking at the radar screen he can barely see them now, as once more they are two very faint ghost images that are now heading east.

Major Tai watching for a few seconds the eight objects that are now coming toward them at an impossible speed of 11520 KPH, he knows both AWACS aircraft are in mortal danger, keying the intercom for his pilot, the crew and to the Y-8 he says, “Capt. Tu, we need a full power dive toward the ground now, we have an incoming missile threat. Capt. Rung and all crew members this is Major Tai, we had two planes that were approaching us from due east at a distance of 350 kilometers when my computer listed them as the SR-71 Blackbirds. Before they turned away they launched eight missiles that are coming toward us at over 11500 KPH. Even at full power we can not dive toward the earth fast enough to escape them but we are making the attempt. Both planes, we are to use all of our electronic, flare and chaff counter measures now. We have one minuet and a few seconds to jam or evade them.” Having pushed a red button next to his computer controls as he started talking, Major Tai sends a detailed compressed encrypted message to the ground base station. That coded message sends them all of the last fifteen minuets data from the radars and all of the new electronic recordings plus all of their conservations.

The computer will now continuously transmit all of their data in a live feed until it is manually turned off or we are destroyed. Those on the ground will know what happened and they can get word to the other two battle zones especially to their early warning planes, so that they won’t fall victim for the same trick.

A powerful laser beam shoots from the pod under the nose of each of the two early warning radar aircraft, it is directed at the eight hyper-sonic missiles. At the same time powerful radio and radar waves are emitted trying to scramble the missiles brains, while metallic chaff and flares are being dropped from the tail sections in an attempt to confuse the missiles with fake multiple targets in a cloud of counter measures.

Two of the missiles are hit by the two high energy light beams and both start to verr off course, their internal computers attempt to reboot but are unable to do so, and they self destruct.

The two AWACS crews continue working and watching the radar screens, the recharge time on the two lasers is forty-five seconds and they both shot again this time instantly destroying two more missiles. The two lumbering planes and their 20 plus crews on each aircraft know their won’t be time for another laser shot, there is no panic or shouting as they all know they are still to high to parachute to safety, as men and soldiers they are resigned to their fate.

Moments later both planes are blown from the sky within half a second of each other. The two large explosions are heard by the Chinese and some of the Jihad troops and the many US civilians in the southern bay area, they all lookup and watch as the two, now shredded large planes fall burning to the earth.

General Huo commander of the Chinese air units is informed within seconds of this disaster and knows that he has lost the most valuable part of their air defense system, his long range eyes with the airborne coordination for of all of his fighters. He gives orders to launch two of the remote controlled UAV the WuZhen-2000, they are their last long range radar detection vehicles.

As a skilled fighter pilot he is upset with himself that it has come down to this. That their lives might depend on a ground controlled multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle. And all of these craft are stationed down below SF, that won’t help us up here in Sacramento in the coming airbattle. He then sends a priority message warning Field Marshall Gobi, if the Americans win this air battle all of our ground units must stay under their counter radar blanket and within range of the multiple interlocking AA weapons systems or the attacking American fighters will destroy them.

(Footnote, in the 1960’s the YF-12 program was an attempt to convert the SR71 into a long-range fighter. In today’s world using a modified rotary missile launcher from a B-1 bomber the planes could be modified to carry scramjet missiles.)

(C-21)

With honor and spirit to the last,

CHARGE!

The air battle over Sacramento (poke-em in the other eye)!

‘Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.’

First verse

The Charge Of The Light Brigade

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

US Air Force Colonel Carl Stevenson pushed the button on the closed circuit intercom and addressed the rest of his 64 F4 Phantom pilots and the weapons crewmen. “Ladies and gentlemen I have a letter from Major General Marion, the commander of the Militia forces we are tasked with supporting today. It’s not a long letter but I’ll paraphrase, ‘Without out your support our mission would be in jeopardy, as our true intent would be discovered when the Chinese satellite comes overhead this morning. Make every shot count in your engagement with the Chinese Air Force; we are depending on you to make your old war birds as elusive of the enemy’s missiles as their name implies, Phantoms. My Command Sergeant Major told me your unit being only a few months old doesn’t have a patch yet, so he had one of our men draw up a special unit patch for you, I have included that drawing. It's up to you and what ever patch you want to have and of course if the Air Force command agrees with your choice.

My staff and I would be honored is you decided to call yourselves ‘Ghost Riders’. That does seem fitting to me since you will be supporting the ‘Prairie Ghost’. Good hunting, we are counting on you, he signs off with a thank you.”

“Now if you will look at your weather monitor you can see the suggested patch. And since our part of this mission is called, ‘Ghost Dance’ it does seem fitting. I like it, and we could add some minor changes, so think it over and we will talk about it later,” he pauses for a second as he checks his flight instruments then announces, “Heads up we have just over three minuets before we cross highway 49 and make our forty-five degree right turn. Our AWACs controller has just informed me that when we came up over the mountains the Chinese picked up our planes on their ground radars as expected. Even with both of their AWACS up they have completely missed the six F-22’s just to our north.”

“The Chins have their main CAP up, and it is holding above Sacramento, with more jets being scrambled to reinforce them from the fields around there. It’s the same with the CAP above San Fran and Oakland and more are being scrambled from Moffett Field, that’s down by San Jose and a smaller number out of the Castle Airport, but we don’t need to worry about them, as our mission will be completed before they can get into action.”

“Pilots I want you to stay focused on our task, to reduce the CAP above Sacramento, so make sure to keep our formations open and let your electronics warfare crewmember do his or her job. Before the time we are in weapons range they will have been fooled into thinking there are three times our actual number and they will have scrambled everything that can fly. When we let fly our first long-range missile salvo, and with the rest of our decoys, it will overload their counter electronics screen. That and some luck, we should get some pretty impressive hits in comparison to total number of weapons fired.”

“Second and third formations slow your airspeed and drop down to your planned altitude.” Watching the three formations separate on his radar he says, “Good, when the F-22’s have completed their mission they will use their AIM 120 missiles and give us a hand and hit the Chins in the rear. If things go right for them that will be 36 enemy fighters taken out, that will help even the odds against us, now are there any questions?”

“Sir, this is airman Mathews I know from our briefings that we are the decoys, but with our missile loads of almost a dozen shots each, some of us might be able to destroy at least five or more of the enemy, and if we do and the AWACS confirms it, that’s makes us an Ace right sir.” He had asked this question in a rush of one long breath as he normally did, afraid that someone would interrupt him.

With a laugh Col. Stevenson answered, “You need to slow down and take a breath son, but yes if a few of us are lucky we can be called an Ace. I’m hoping that each of us can get at least three kills on average and help even the odds for our follow up fighters. Now the latest news on the emergency airfields that we can use, the Militia has captured Travis and all of the smaller strips to the southeast are cleared for use. And just above Lodi they have a five mile stretch of the south bound side on I-5 that they are keeping clear of any traffic.”

Another few seconds passes and the Col speaks again, “I have just been informed that both of the Chinese AWACS over south of Oakland have been shoot down by the SR-71’s using the hyper-sonic 43A Scram-jets.”

“That would have been something to see,” Airman Mathews whispers to Airman Pettis, his electronics officer setting at the control station next to his.

“How so,” she asks?

“The 43A’s, they were originally designed as global reaching bunker busting bombs. They would have to get a direct hit on the aircraft to destroy them. Even then if they changed out the normal delay fuse on them to a contact one, at the speed they were flying the missile would still be well through the target before they blew up.”

“Well Mr. Know-it-all, you don’t have that answer, do you!”

“And you do? Give me a break!”

“Before I tested for this job in January I was in ordinance, so I should know. I graduated at the top of my class.”

“Ohh I’m impressed, OK then, what would they use for a fuse.”

“It’s really a simple and time tested design, I’ll bet they used an old VT proximity fuse. My grand father was on a 3-inch AA gun crew during Korea and that’s what they fired at the enemy jets. When the shell is close enough they blow up and take down the aircraft.”

“Sounds plausible, shush,” he said.

“OK all pilots we will bank 45 degrees to the right starting, in 3, 2, 1, now,” Gen. Stevenson announced. “Level out on the new heading of 345. Second and third wave throttle back a little more, that’s good.” There is a short pause as the larger formation pulls further ahead, behind their electronic screen hiding them from the Chinese radars. “First division, first wave, weapons officers arm all weapons acquire your targets when we are within range,” he pauses for a second then announces, “stand by to launch your two phoenix missiles.”

The pucker factor was extremely high in these young pilots and their weapons officers. No matter how many hours of practice and the countless drills they had learned and gone through, firing the first shot in your first battle is frigntening and exciting all at the same time. As the though runs through each of their minds, will my plane be shot down or will it survive?

(C-22)

Degüello (Slit throat)

0655 the end of Muaskar al-Battar

‘The fourth Angle poured his bowl on the sun,

and it was allowed to scorch men with fires;

men were scorched by the fierce heat,

and they cursed the name of God

who had power over these plagues,

and they did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16, 8&9.

“Whoa,” the others in the command vehicle exclaimed as they watched the expanding mushroom shaped, flame filled cloud rise above the camp, a cloud that spelled the doom of those caught within the blast area.

Even at three kilometers away and after a few seconds the Major could still fill the concussion on his face and hands, as he watched the two large mushroom clouds hanging above the camp, the fireballs from those two exploding propane tanks was impressive. That would be the mess hall and the showers facilities blowing first. Even though both were located on opposite sides of the camp, they would kill most of the people within five hundred meters instantly and any one within one thousand meters would be dead in less then twenty minuets from the tremendous overpressure. Then he felt the inferred heat on his face, he said to himself, ‘not sorry you son’s of bitches’, as he knew that the 1500 degrees temperatures would consume all of the cons and Jihadist soldiers still within the camp.

Now he could see and hear the secondary explosions going off from the hundred plus charges scattered among the few buildings and guard post that would have survived those two large explosions. With a laugh he tells the soldiers in the command vehicle with him, “I really doubt there are any survivors left in camp men, one whole Islamic brigade gone completely destroyed and General Ayman, you don’t know a thing.” Raising his left hand above his head Z gives the camp a one finger salute, thinking ‘this ones for you Col. Abujihaad, you Nazi pig and your just following orders shit excuses, that’s for killing my people. Hope you like the heat cause this is a cool breeze compared to hell.’

Tapping Lt. Garret his communication officer on the shoulder, who was sitting in the front seat he said, “Your people are going to have to act like the whole 10th brigade HQ now.”

“Yes sir we can do it, we have been listening and working for a month. I got all of the new codes yesterday, and with the whole division being deployed out of their camps today it will be a piece of cake.”

Major Zinnias wasn’t so sure, but then his Arabic wasn’t very good either. It was now up to his four best translators and radio operators, they had a lot riding on their shoulders for the next 16 hours, that’s all we needed almost a complete day. Now to help wipe out that last battalion of jihadist attacking those civilians and there two old Marines, after that we have to attack the one company guarding the bridge and then we all can make good our escape.

He tells the driver, “Move out, we have some more work to go and finish,” turning his head he looks to see that the rest of the convoy is starting to roll, following his lead.

(C-23)

‘The Ghost Dance’

‘We Dance to invoke the raging power of our dead ancestors...’

The Sioux dancers at Wounded Knee 1890

‘Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.’

Third verse, Charge of the Light Brigade

After the alert was sounded the Chinese scrambled one hundred sixty of their fighters in the Sacramento area and beginning climbing to altitude, forming into Squadrons then into Divisions. The majority of these Chinese jet fighters are their newest version of the Chengdu or J-10’s a Multriole Fighter and is considered the equal of the American F18E/F’s Super Hornets.

Hearing of the loss of their AWACs they know they will have to rely on the sixteen Su-30MK2’s with they’re sideways looking radars. Each of the MK2’s can help control the attack of ten other fighters, increasing their wing commanders ability to coordinate attacks and countermeasures.

For now the masking effects of the American decoys and electronic screen hinder their operation at long range, they will have to wait until the enemy is within forty kilometers, a very dangerous situation to be in. Knowing the range of the American AIM missiles to be at least 70 kilometers.

When their ground radar reports that at least forty American missiles have been launched at a distance of over 100 kilometers some of the pilots are puzzled wondering why the Americans would waste firing missiles at them while still out of range? When the radar crews report that these missiles have all streaked to a high altitude first and are now racing down toward them, the senior officers warns them that these are the older and very deadly AIM-54 Phoenix. The pilots brace themselves knowing that there is a one in four chance of their aircraft being blown out of the air, without ever having seen the enemy.

In less then a minuet the wait is over as the sky is full of exploding aircraft as the attacking missiles rocket in from 24000 meters and collide with the onrushing planes, the Americans score first again.

Then with out any warning six of the ground based high altitude and long-range JL3D-90A 3D Air surveillance radar stations turn off their units, making holes in the coordinated defensive net. Calling the six scattered units, the central control and command station receives no reply. Just as the commander decides to call the protective missile batteries to send runners over and to check on these radar stations, another six of his JL3D-90A 3D units switch off, and this development almost completely shuts down their whole long range radar defense system.

The senior officers in the control center look at each other, concern showing on their faces and before anyone can ask a question a loud explosion can be heard. As if they all possessed a collective conscience, they are thinking that would be the closest radar unit, which is a little over five kilometers away. It must be, and since there was no warning of a missile attack and with the entire net of the Anti-radar units still working, the General assumes it must be a coordinated ground attack by some American special warfare soldiers.

This isn’t good, even with the two-dozen JY-11’s short-range low-/medium-altitude 3D air surveillance radars, scattered through our operational area, to assist our Air Force fighters in close air support mission. We are blind beyond their maximum range out to 180 kilometers, and at even half of that that range they are very easily fooled by the Americans counter EM abilities.

Suddenly the commander is hit by an anxiety attack, he becomes afraid that they might be next in line for a ground attack, so he orders some of the junior technicians to get their weapons and to go and assist the few guards outside of the building. Then he picks up a secure phone and calls General Gobi’s HQ making a request for at least an infantry company to be deployed here, and another one for the secondary control center. Plus more guards for the last two remaining radar sites, that are still active. At the same time he request that two of the six long-range reserve radar units be activated; we have to know what the Enemy has in the air so we can defend ourselves.

With the long range radar system so badly degraded the Chinese fighters formations below San Francisco are ordered to stay out of the fight above Sacramento, and to be on alert for any following American jets.

The six American F-22’s having completed their ground attack mission of destroying two fire and control centers radars, each turn toward the air battle, their sensors searching for the high value targets, the enemy’s airborne command and control fighters.

The Chins Su-30’s radars are just able to penetrate the electronic defensive shield of the US F-4’s and the senior electronics officer report’s back to their commander, “The Americans have only forty planes attacking and they are in two divisions of twenty each, one flight on the east the other to the west and they are banking to bypass the ground AA guns and missile batteries hidden in the suburbs.”

The senior officer quickly organizes the remaining 125 fighters into two sections to chase after the running American cowards. His air units regroup and are closing fast and when they are just within maximum range the Chinese begin firing their missiles at the retreating Americans, scoring dozens of hits, and now destroying them in return. He reports to his base that we must be getting solid hard kills as there are no Americans parachutes seen ejecting from their destroyed fighters by his pilots.

The Su-30 electronics officers have ignored the few fleeting low-level ghost that appear and then disappear on their radar’s as just ground clutter. The American radar jamming and electronic counter measures are much better this time and the Chinese technicians are having a hard time penetrating the shield.

To late they realize they are in a trap. Many dozens of missiles have locked onto them and rise up from aircraft flying at tree top level aiming to destroy the Chinese last line of airborne control radars, several of the fighters protecting them are also destroyed. Most of the American missiles penetrate this defensive formation and are homing in on the Su-30’s and the rear guard formations of their defensive fighter cover, destroying dozens of planes.

Volley after volley of missiles keep coming up from this low level flight and more and more of the main group of airborne reserve fighters are being destroyed causing confusion.

To defend from this new threat the two attacking chase groups break off their pursuit after the few remaining mid-level fleeing Americans planes. The eight-four remaining Chin fighters that were undamaged return on order to form a ragged CAP over the 10th Army area.

The six F-22’s having successfully expended their long range missiles depart without having been detected, even though each of them still have their two-sidewinder missiles their orders are specific, to keep their distance. Beside they had greatly helped even the odds with 32 hits out of the 36 missiles fired.

The Chinese ground radar controllers tells their pilots that the few aircraft remaining in the two American formations that were fleeing have turned and are heading back to the fight and at least a dozen aircraft that had been at a lower elevation are rising and joining these attack formations on the east and west sides. This time the Americans fire off the last sixteen long-range phoenix missiles at the Khans few remaining Xiaolong super-7’s and the many Su-27 SK and J-10’s that had again formed into two sections to meet the American threats head on. Another 14 Chinese fighters are destroyed, and the four separate flights are still sixty kilometers apart but approaching fast.

At thirty kilometers both groups fire at the same time, the Americans their AIM 120’s and the Chinese their PL-12 active radar MRAAM’s (Mid-range anti-air missiles). Once again the sky is full of exploding jets and a few parachutes are seen opening, again these are from the Chinese pilots who are able to successfully ejected. Once again there are no reports of any American pilots ejecting from their destroyed planes, not one of their parachutes to be seen.

The two surviving Chinese squadron leaders report to HQ, “There are no American planes left flying and none of our pilots report having seen even a single parachute from their aircraft. We still have forty-six aircraft that have survived. It’s a great victory as we are still in control of the air over the central valley.”

Suddenly another ragged volley of missiles is fired followed by yet a second broken wave, there is a third group of American attackers out here, once more taking the Chinese by surprise. This latest attack again comes from planes flying at tree top level and this interrupts the Chin’s short-lived and premature victory, as over half of there remaining planes exploded with out any chance of taking evasive maneuvers.

The sole surviving Squadron Commander’s attack radar detects twelve more attackers as they continue firing volleys of Sparrows once again closing in on his formation from below.

Suddenly his radar screams a new warning in his ear as the Americans are launching the even deadlier sidewinders that home in on the jets exhaust making escape nearly impossible.

The courage of some of the Chinese pilots fail them, or they have orders he’s not privy to as the four surviving Xiaolong super-7’s all switch to after burners and scream to the north running away, heading back to their base.

At least the few surviving J-10’s fighters follow their one surviving squadron leader in another counter attack to sweep the sky clean of these last few Americans who won’t quiet.

Crossing paths at a combined speed of 2100 kilometers per hour and scanning his computers read-out he recognizes the enemy’s radar signature and radios back to base that these aren’t the

F-15’s or F-18s expected but the old and obsolete F-4 Phantoms. Crossing paths he orders the last of his planes to turn around to engage them in separate dogfights. As he’s banking hard to pursue the Americans, once more his threat radar alerts him that another flight of enemy planes has entered the fray from the east.

The warning buzz screaming in his helmet is louder and he knows that he can’t avoid the onrushing missile that has his name on it. With a last glance at his computers screen read-out he is relieved to see that his radar has detected the F-18 Hornets as the fighter now attacking them. Then his plane shudders from the missiles impact just as he pulls the ejector lever, he feels no shame in having been shot down by a fighter he considers his equal. And not by an obsolete plane that had fought against his father above Vietnam, in air battles over forty years ago, shooting him down back then in a battle much like this one, so long ago.

As his parachute opens with a sharp jerk and he starts his long slow float back to the earth he can’t stop his mind from thinking; that maybe those combat experienced infantry officers we talked with last month had been telling the truth about the ghost, the Americans spirits fighting them. And they have returned to do battle once more, just like these battle-hardened ghosts using the old Phantoms against us?

The infantry officers insisted the Americans weren’t using the old obsolete equipment out of desperation, as in WWII rifles, and Vietnam eerier tanks, airplanes and now jets; instead it was heroes recalled from the grave that were using them. Using weapons that they knew well and had wielded so effectively in past battles, ghosts that were called back to the land of the living, once more, fighting and defending their homeland.

Rubbish he and several of the other pilots had said then. Stop with the ghost stories we are not little children so easily frightened, the pilots had scoffed and laughed at the Infantry officers and their childish tales.

Now he wasn’t so sure, we have just destroyed at least fifty if not sixty F4 Phantoms that were courageously flown and they were charging us again and again, attacking our forces with out fear, and not retreating from the punishment we had dealt them.

Just like now, our modern aircraft were far superior and our forces had been three times there numbers, and still they pressed the attack home; not just once and running away but attacking us again and again with a skill and daring that took us by surprise, all the while giving better then they took.

We were taught to look for their parachuting pilots and report it immediately to our ground forces, so they could be captured. But no one reported seeing any of them ejecting, he knew that the Americans weren’t suicidal; they wouldn’t stay with their destroyed jets riding them into the ground.

A cold chill sweeps down his spine as he thinks, but ghost don’t need parachutes, they’re dead, they have nothing to fear about being maimed or dying again, in a crash. An even colder shudder runs through him again as he remembers that card the major had shown them of the American Indian holding the scalp in his one hand the bloody tomahawk in the other and when asked he translated the English words written, into potongha for him so they would all know what the Americans were thinking,

‘Who’s Next’?

He and the other pilots had laughed at the Americans lame and obvious attempt to frighten or even scare our soldiers.

He wasn’t laughing now because it was our Air Forces, our turn to find out the hard way, that we were next. It was our neck with the knife held to it this time, and we can do nothing to stop them, as we just watched them break our rice bowl.

And what of our Air Commander, or the Field Marshall they had nothing to worry about as both of them were sitting, or standing back in their operations centers watching this train wreck happen, it wasn’t their necks on the line this time. No it was my pilots who are fighting and dying, we were the one who were NEXT.

A different thought enters his mind now as he slowly floats toward the earth, maybe just maybe I was able to avenge my father by shooting down the spirit of the pilot who killed him. Again he shudders thinking, missiles and cannon fire won’t kill smoke, and that was what a spirit was Smoke. I have avenged nothing, we have won nothing, and I have lost a lot of my best pilots and most of our aircraft, shooting at smoke.

The Americans have control of the air above us now, and our time is short, very short, and all of the time that is left to us now is for finding a way to die.

That’s what happens to men when they fight against the dead, they die.

Damn the Khan and his plan of war to once again restore the Middle Kingdom, this part of the American adventure was almost over, and we have lost fighting against Phantoms.

‘Who’s next’ The thought flashed through his mind once again.

Still several hundred meters above the earth his anger and frustration at his loses causes him to shout, “Damn you Yankees, damn you all to hell,” but no one can hear him except for the wind, and the wind does not care as it will be here long after he is gone. Now he knows the truth of what will happen soon. After these battles are lost here in American, my country will be next, China will be next, that’s who!