(C-11)
I made you a promise.
(And I try to keep my promises)
Into the Valley;
I'm coming for you,
and Hell is a Coming too.
Never make a promise that you won’t keep,
Your word should be as good as your signature.
More words of wisdom my father taught me,
About being a man.
JN
"And I looked,
and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death,
and Hell followed with him."
- Revelations 6:8
NORTHERN SPEAR HEAD
1st Texas Division
The Militia units make their assault with the Armor Brigade of the 1st Texas leading the way. Quickly smashing the remnants of the Chinese 27th Division 1st Brigade that was holding both sides of 12 highway at Goodman’s Corner, the Texans advance westward. With two of the battalions of Armor use the Southern Pacific railway line and within half an hour after the attack started, they seize the town of Clements from light opposition. When the armor brigade reaches the road junction of 12 and 88 highways one battalion moves north toward the bridge over the Mokelumne River and captures it from the Chinese platoon guarding there. One infantry battalion then crosses over and takes up a defensive position on the north side with two of the light tank platoons attached in support of them. This combined unit is facing toward the northeast in case the Chinese 171st Division advances and attempts to cut off the militia blitzkrieg.
Fifteen minuets later the lead elements of the main Armor advance race into Lockeford, again surprising the Chinese units there. After winning a short but sharp firefight the division splits into three spearheads, with 1st brigade racing north-by-north west toward Galt to secure the bridge over the Cosummes River below Elk Grove.
One of the attached MP Companies from Corp along with an Air Defense Company sets up a secure zone north of Lockeford in the flats below the river as the engineers get busy setting up an emergency runway for aircraft and helicopters. The decision not to use the landing strip on the south west side of town was simple, the Chinese will have their long range Missile Force already zeroed in on it to destroy any air units we land there.
2nd Brigade Heads due west into Lodi and quickly defeats the Chinese battalion left there-by-the 27th Division. The Texas 2nd then continues west to highway 5 and turning north to support the 1st brigades left flank.
The Armor Brigade less detachments goes into temporary battalion Lagers on the north, east and south sides of Lodi ready to move out as a mobile reserve force if needed. The two Battalions on the south side straddle 99 highway from the central California traction line on the east over to the Southern Pacific rail line on the west just in case a threat develops from Stockton.
3rd Brigade moves South West below Lodi in a line cutting the lower Sacramento road below Henderson Village and along the north side of Pixley Slough crossing the Western Pacific railway line, crossing Thornton road and over to just west of 5 highway where Bear creek and Pixley slough meet.
Their defensive move into position on the north west side of Stockton convinces the General Commanding the Chinese 23rd Division his unit is the main objective of the militia attack and he pulls his Artillery and reserve units out of the city and sets up a new defensive lines south of French Camp Slough waiting for the attack.
The 2 Kansas Division are hard on the heals of the Texans and their movement will be discussed later.
Opportunity Knocks
In Stockton a controlled panic situation develops when the order is given to pull out and relocate to the south of the city. The 1078th Transportation and Supply Battalion attached from the 28th Corp to the Chin 23rd Division is located in the northern part of the city and they are over looked when the withdrawal orders are given. Their gate guards are mildly confused when they see several convoys of the 23rd driving past heading south and they attempt to wake the Lieutenant and the Sergeant who are the Duty Officer and NCO of the day and ask for guidance. Their attempts fail as they are both passed out along with the rest of the Officers and senior NCOs after a night of heavy drinking celebrating their commander’s birthday.
The Junior NCO in charge Cpl. Wenwei of the guard detail having heard the distant artillery barrage and watching the departing convoys assumes that the 23rd is just conducting a drill. Since their battalion hasn’t been alerted and he has no orders to follow, so he does nothing, as he tells his men, “We are lucky men, we could have been in the infantry having to march all day, dig trenches to sleep in at night and eat cold canned rations. And then the commander decides he wants to change camp, he orders them to move at night like now, and then we would have even less sleep. Yes we are lucky to have beds with clean sheets to sleep in, hot food three times a day and a pot of tea or coffee that is never empty. Yes we can thank our lucky stars.” The five men of the guard detail laugh as the Corporal then orders the two men on the roving patrol detail to make another circuit of the fence that surrounds the trans-shipping terminal they have been occupying for the last few months.
From a little over 100 meters off to the northeast hidden in a grove of trees the Chinese guards haven’t a clue that they are under surveillance by two of D’s SF men who are using star light scopes. With them are 9 members of the Stockton resistance, the two SF soldiers are just one section of an A team that slipped into town days ago to help train the resistance group. The other 14 members of the SF teams are with three other groups of the Stockton resistance scattered about the city watching various units of the 23rd pull out and head south.
The SF Staff Sgt in charge of this team alerts his Captain in charge of the A team, to let him know that for some reason the Supply unit hasn’t gone on alert and they aren’t making any preps to move.”
The Captain orders two of the closer teams to converge as silently and swiftly as possible on the supply depot, to make a plan to seize it before first light. He orders the other teams to do the same, D’s orders were specific, to attack only worthwhile targets, and a T&S battalion filled that bill nicely. Especial since all the other potential targets had packed up and de-assed the area.
SOUTHERN SPEAR HEAD
1st Louisianan Division
Quickly following the rolling barrage using the captured Chinese 122mm rocket batteries and the 155mm guns from the raid on Truckee, their 1st brigade and the Armor brigade roll over the shattered remains of the 2nd brigade from the Chinese 27th division just east of Linden that had been blocking 26 highway. Just under two hours later and after quickly deploying into an east-west column formation stretching from Linden in the east to Alpine road in the west, the two brigades do a ninety-degree left face and turn south rolling into the exposed flank of the north south line of the Chinese 2nd Brigade of their 23rd Divisions. In one hour they quickly destroy or capture the entire brigade. When they ended this attack they start forming a defensive line a few hundred meters short and behind the Mormon slough to the south stretching over too the Southern Pacific Rail Road line coming out of the north side of Stockton.
At the same time the 2nd and 3rd brigades of the Cajuns move forward quickly and surround the HQ of the 27th Division along with two infantry battalions from their third brigade and all the rest of their Division support units at Davis School and the surrounding homes. The Americans again use an overwhelming heavy barrage of 155 artillery rounds to suppress any prepared defensive positions of the Chinese thus forcing them to surrender after a short but hot firefight.
Then the Cajuns 2nd brigade continues moving west and links up with the 1st Texas 3rd Brigade after first light and moves into their positions just north of Stockton allowing the Texans to move back north and rejoin their division above Galt. The 3rd brigade is busy helping the MP’s secure all of the prisoners, once that job is finished they take over the positions from the 1st Texas armor and allow them to rejoin their Division. The Cajun Armor Brigade moves into battalion size laagers below Lodi, as they will be their Divisions reserve unit.
Later that morning elements of Cajuns Aviation battalion land at Jenny Lind and Milton, no Chinese forces had occupied these towns and the Militia units are swamped with request from the many thousands of refugees that have fled there, asking for food and medical assistance. Some supplies along with two small medical detachments are flown in, and the Division sends six supply trucks with food and a Kitchen detail to help prepare the rations. Corp is notified that these people are in desperate need of assistance as a lot of them are near death from their forced starvation. A problem that all of the Militia units will be forced to deal with over the next few days as they liberate numerous small towns and the surrounding countryside, attempting to save Americans that had been taxed heavily by the Jihad and Chinese armies of food, gold and jewelry. Especially of food as the Jihad army likes to use starvation as a preferred weapon in their forced conversion or death philosophy.
1st California Division
Following on the heels of the 1st Louisianan Division is the 1st Californian Division and they move to just west of 5 highway and disperse between Stockton and north to 12 highway where one battalion of the first brigade moves into Lodi as security and to help evacuate the residents, the 3rd Brigades five battalions load into boats they brought along and sweep the Islands bordering the San Joaquin Middle River, helping the many refuges in hiding there. After the first Kansas Division has moved across the highway-12 bridge over the Mokelumne River the 1st Battalion 1st Brigade of the California Militia along with half of the Divisions AA battalion move into defensive positions around it.
After the 1st and 2nd Kansas division move over the bridge units of the 1st Californian Divisions1st Brigade infantry units moving west on roads parallel to 12-highway to occupy the rest of Brannan Island. When one on these companies advances on the small town of Isleton by attempting to cross the bridge on the western side they come under heavy fire from a Chinese company stationed there. They are forced back until the rest of their battalion can come up, develop a quick attack plan and assault the enemies hastily dug in positions. It’s a costly battle with the Chinese suffering 85 dead, and another 30 wounded out of the 140-man company.
The California battalion has a devil may care attitude, and are hell bent on seeking revenge, as they charge head long into the attack, they quickly suffer 169 KIA and another 167 men wounded from attacking across the flat ground on the east side and in the close fighting among the homes. General Dix after hearing of the loses, issues orders that where possible to surround these small pockets of enemy troops that are left behind and then neutralize them with artillery and tank cannon fire. He sends a courier with a scathing message to the Divisions General, with one for the Brigade commander and another letter to that battalions CO.
‘No more head on attacks period, your men’s lives are not to be wasted like this, use tactics not overwhelming numbers. The Chinese have more men then we do, don’t waste ours.’
1st and 2nd Kansas Divisions
The bulk of these two division followed right on the heels of the 1st Texas units. When they turned to the north the Kansas units lead by the 1st Division moved west linking up with D’s people and head on across Rio Vista bridge and continue moving north west to 80 highway. The Chinese were taken completely by surprise by the direction of the attack; having expected the Americans to attack north into the suburbs of Sacramento, especially after their having pulled back the 171st Division into Sacramento to bait them.
A special unit of Anti-air interdiction equipment provided by General Green followed the 1st K Div. To Rio Vista where they set up some of their units on the east bank and other units in the hills on the west side above the town to protect the bridge from the expected enemy air and missile attack. Several are strange box looking devices mounted on powered tripods that are radar directed, the others are large trailer mounted units that have long cylinders sticking out, and they give off vapor from some type of internal cooling system.
With the bridge secured by D’s people one of the leg brigades of the 1st K Division had already been air lifted by helicopter across the Channel after the Texans turned north on five highway. This helo movement is a precaution and to secure against a possible Chinese counterattack that might be coming from above Rio Vista. This Brigade dugs in and waited for their Division to link up with them. Even with all units moving as fast as possible the last armor units were still unloading from the Dragon Wagons after dawn and begin moving out in company size combat teams to their dispersed unit positions. They are detected by the Chinese satellite and soon a couple of the Chinese Stealth planes are sent to spy on them.
(C-12)
Orders are Orders
"Even if you choose not to decide,
You still have made a choice."
From ‘Tom Sawyer’ By Mark Twain
0207 hours.
“Colonel we have to wake the Army commander, the Americans are attacking the 27th Division right now.”
“I’m sorry but he left explicit instructions, General Chen. If the Americans attack as we hoped the Division Commanders and the Corp Commanders are to follow the plan. When the 171st pulled out of the line two days ago, Field Marshall Gobi stayed at his command post for over 46 hours expecting this attack. He has been asleep for just three hours and on the doctor’s orders, which he signed, he is not to be disturbed for another six hours. He is not a young man and does not recovery as fast as he once did. Are the Americans attacking on any other fronts?”
“My Artillery units down at Plymouth were shelled for a few minuets and as far I know they haven’t attacked anyone else, it’s just against the 27th Division both of their front two brigades, but that..”
“Then this might just be a probing attack, I don’t mean to be rude sir, but until we have more information I will follow the Army Commanders orders. You can call the Army Assistant Commander he is up at the 31st Corp TAC center…”
“I tried to call them but they say he is out right now and they don’t expect him back for another few hours. That is why I called for General Gobi, and I insist that you wake him now.”
“I’m sorry sir, I can’t do that, not until the time I was ordered to do so, or unless the Americans do the unexpected.”
“The unexpected, the unexpected,” General Chen repeated as his anger boiled over, “Well you can expect this American Commander will do the unexpected. He hasn’t attacked as expected, he waited several days. He smells a trap and he will do as he wants, if we wait for him to come to us when we want him to, hell will freeze first.”
“Sir outburst like that help no one, if your command is under attack then do what is necessary to win the battle. The 27th Division belongs to the 28th Corp inform that commander of what you think the Americans are doing. My orders are not to waken Gen. Gobi and I will follow my orders, now…”, the phone was violently hung up on the other end by Gen Chen. The Colonel who was actually a glorified valet shook his head as he said to no one in particular as he was hanging up his phone, “Manners are not one of your stronger points sir, and you need to work on them.”
General Chen was deeply upset from the lack of support from 10th Army since last fall, and he was also irritated from lack of sleep and he didn’t care who knew it. Now all of the direct land lines to the 28th Corps were not working, more then likely cut by American Special Forces teams or the local resistance or at least he hoped so, and their radios were all but useless as almost all of the frequencies were being actively jammed by us or the Americans.
Then to add more insult, the Tenth Army operations center wouldn’t release any raw information to him on what was happening in another Corps area, they said they would inform him as soon as they have an idea of what was happening.
So here he was left in the dark and without the latest battlefield Intel to hash over and prepare, and for now he could do nothing but wait, and listen to the distant thunder of the American artillery falling upon the 27th Division..
Our long-range ground radar units showed a few jets or planes down that way and our counter battery radars can see the top end of the ballistic arc of the enemy’s artillery fire as his computers laid out an automatically programmed solution for return fire. Then the data was forwarded by a secure link to his two divisions artillery brigades down by Plymouth and they plotted a firing solution for a possible counter fire mission, even with them deployed so far forward it was impossible for them to offer assistance, as the American Artillery out ranged his own units, it even out-ranged the majority of his short range missile batteries. Again our pre-war intelligence failed us on the Americans weapons and their capabilities.
As for my guns supposedly hidden and undetected at Plymouth from the Americans, well a few of their well-placed salvos dispelled that myth. And the rounds that were fired at us were very accurate hitting among our positions killing a few of his people and destroying two guns, then for some reason they had ceased firing? Maybe it was a warning? If that was what they wanted then he was OK with not having to fire in support of another Corp. and right now his people were busy shifting there guns to their secondary positions.
He would follow orders and if directly attacked his units were to defend there position and then he could counter attack locally to secure his lines, but beyond that he had to follow the plan, to let the Americans charge into the trap. But why should they? They hadn’t been predictable before, his old nemesis this Militia commander danced to his own music, and mesmerized us with his footwork. General Gobi had cursed him as an amateur playing at war, if he was that then he was very gifted, and one that had made very few mistakes.
Shaking his head slowly side-to-side he cursed his commander, but he would follow his orders, his guns were to remain silent and hidden unless called on. And once again we would do the waiting on the Americans, to attack into Sacramento or against us, and when the order was given then we can counter attack their exposed flank and cut off and trap their lead Divisions, then we would start taking our revenge and destroying them.
A good plan if the Americans would just do what we want them to do, so far they haven’t and no one except for the Army Commander expected them to. If we aren’t more flexible and fast on the move then we are the ones being defeated, destroyed. I know because half of my command that I landed with last year is either dead, wounded, missing in action, or prisoners of war.
Courtesy without respect from this American Militia, curse them and all amateurs, war should be left to the professionals. Men who had a traceable pattern and logical ways of thinking, who were acceptable risk takers, not like these rash daredevils who are pushing us back.
Telling his Ranking Intelligence officer present, “No news Colonel and the Commander is not to be disturbed.”
“Yes sir,” he answered, there was nothing else he could say that would help.
“I’m going to try and sleep again, make a summary of any information that comes in so I can read it later, and unless it directly affects any of our units, don’t wake me until 0600 hours, but use your discretion.” He knows tomorrow will be busy and deadly, he must be rested and ready with his mind sharp and focused not dulled, fatigued and easily irritated as he is now.
(C-13)
By the Dark of the Moon,
In the neighborhood, 0200 hrs
'When General Washington arrived at Boston,
he found a large body of well armed Militia. They had been training and were prepared.
But he knew they couldn't stand up in line against the British regulars,
he did know that they were at their best behind field works or in the woods.
Using this knowledge he waited for night and had them dig in on Dorchester heights.
When the British woke up the next morning they saw the American Cannons over looking the harbor, and knew that their supply fleet was in danger. General Howe sent word to Washington, if he was was allowed to retire from Boston he would not torch the city, or harm the people.
And thus the British were forced to retreat with out another disastrous fight like at Breeds hill.
An eight-inch deep skirmish trench
can be the difference between a flesh wound, or death.
Kansas Militia, Soldiers Hand Book.
“What? Killing them to stop them from killing us is wrong? By your thinking that’s a one-way ticket to extinction,” Larry exclaimed in disbelief.
“Yes that may be what happens, but in using force to stop them, you’re just the same as they are.”
“Let me see, being dead but right is the moral high ground, and alive but wrong is bad? Peter you don’t have any children or grandchildren I do, and I want to see them alive and living in a free country. If I have to kill some crazy people who are trying to deprive them of that God given right, well I can live with that. Killing them or my dying for a just cause and leaving my children a chance at freedom is better then living under their tyrannical rule.”
Peter with a smirk said, “You might be able to live with that fact, but should your children and grandchildren suffer that guilt you passed on to them. That killing is OK, if we stop now before we kill our brothers maybe we can slow the cycle of violence and one day see it banished from the earth forever.”
“If your dead, you won't see any tomorrow, and you sure won't have any kids either. I’m not making fun of you but that’s wooly headed thinking if I every heard any. They are coming to murder us, all of us, that’s wrong. Self-defense is justified, our ambush plans are justified, and we are not going after them hunting them down, they are coming after us. We are just meeting them on a ground of our choosing before they get to our homes, to protect our children and the older adults who are defenseless. The bible says that a man has the duty and the right to defend what is his.”
“I knew you would get around to religion sooner or later, that’s what ‘s wrong with the world; everyone saying their God is bigger and badder then the other man’s God, you morons need to wake up. This phony God crap that both sides believe in is just part of the ego problem, thinking this way we as a species will never evolve.”
“Hey I said Killing is wrong, but self-defense isn’t, if I have to kill them by the thousands to stop them and make them leave me in peace so be it. Your alive and free today because your dad fought and killed Japanese soldiers years ago, I just want the same chance of freedom you have enjoyed for my children.”
“As I said, your killing them, so that makes you no better then they are.”
“Maybe so, but if they hadn’t forced the issue I wouldn’t have to kill them, AS I said they want to rob us and our country of our freedom, to me that’s worth fighting and dying for if necessary. You know if the want-to-be dictators among us had been in charge all along we wouldn’t be having this argument. Your freedom to talk and your type of dissent wouldn’t be acceptable, and your life style wouldn’t be allowed. Now if your not going to help me dig this defensive trench Pete, shut up and leave I have work to do.”
“That’s it then,” he said in a huff throwing down his shovel. “Follow your two Marine buddies to hell if you want, I’m going to go and get a good nights sleep, I’ve got better things to do then get myself dirty like this.”
Larry couldn’t help himself as he asked, “Peter how in hell did you survive the surgery or were you born that way?”
“What?” Peter said turning to look back to the two workingmen a puzzled look on his face, “What are you talking about?”
“How can a man survive having his backbone removed? Or were you born with out one?”
“Fuck you,” Peter half shouted as he stormed off.
Larry chuckled as he watched his foolish neighbor walk away, shacking his head and wondering how can an educated man like the professor be such a dump-ass. Then turning back to Don he said, “I find it hard to believe that you didn’t say a thing, I know how you feel about the man.”
With a smile Don continued digging and tossed the last shovel full of dirt into the garden cart, to haul away and hide the spoil. As he got out of the trench he turned and said, “You know what I think, that he’s a coward, a no good backstabbing, lazy, coward. He thinks he’s too good to help defend his own skin. Same as all of the draft dodgers who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War, cowards that were too self-absorbed and spoiled beyond words to admit the truth even to themselves. Weeks ago I realized he’s not worth the effort to argue with, Winston Churchill had his type pegged years ago.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s just a fanatic, a bore and a liberal, ‘He won’t change his mind, and he damn well won’t change the subject.’ Hell with all the death going on all around if he had half a mind he’d wake up. We better watch him and pass the word on, he’s not to be trusted. He’s a real moral coward that will do anything to save his own skin, even including turning us in.”
Larry didn’t answer as both men heard what sounded like distance thunder that kept on and on. Don said, “That’s artillery fire, some one is getting pounded and hard, I’ll go empty the cart and come right back, we have to finish this last trench as soon as we can. We might not have two days, the Jihadist could be here at dawn!”
0355 hrs Chinese 1078th Transportation and Supply Battalion
Sixty men of the newly formed Stockton resistance along with an A team of SF are in position as they wait for two of their men to take out the two roving sentries with silenced .45’s. Once this is accomplished another six man team having crept through the drainage ditch to within five meters of the gate. With out a sound they rush the two gate guards and subdue them while another SF team member opens the door to the security shack at the front gate, also using a silenced .45 he places two shots into Cpl. Wenwei’s chest before he can sound the alert to wake the rest of the sleeping Battalion.
The dead guards Type 95 rifles and magazines are then given to five of the resistance men who only had bolt-action rifles, and all of the men and the SF hurry to their next assignment to kill or capture the rest of the T&S battalions sleeping men before they wake up or can put up any type of organized resistance.
Six men toss in five grenades each through the open widows of the two office buildings, after they explode causing confusion and casualties among the rudely awakened Chinese soldiers several teams of Americans rush inside and shoot any soldiers offering any resistance and herd the rest of them out side.
The grenades tossed into the Officer and senior NCO quarters wake up only a few of the less soused men there. And the two teams assigned to capture them have to kick others awake and with some they are forced to drag them out side as they didn’t respond to the explosion of the grenades or the none to gentle kicks trying to wake them.
From beginning to end this assault takes less then five minuets. After his men have consolidated and checked all of the trucks and buildings for any stragglers the SF Captain then informs the 1st Cajun Division HQ that the supply dump and it’s battalion area is secure and makes a request for assistance to either destroy what is here or for one of their Militia units to help secure and hold what they have captured. He doesn’t need to add that the Stockton resistance men haven’t had enough training to hold this position if pressed hard by a trained Chin infantry Company.
He is told to hold in place assistance will be on the way.
Looking through the warehouse full of stores he comes across at least a couple dozen truck loads worth of Chin grenades. Cases of belted LG 1s for the 35mm grenade launchers, and type 86 and 82-2 hand grenades and over a thousand cases of the Type 79 rocket hand grenade and of course the old standard of the Chin army, the type 77-1 stick hand grenade.
In the main building are pallets stacked four high, in the various stacks are full cases of mortar rounds, with even more pallets of small arms ammunition. And hundreds of cases full of rifles, machine-guns and other assorted military equipment. Talk about capturing a jackpot! Opening one case to see what’s inside he’s surprised to find six of the QLT89, also known as the Type 89* in PLA designation terms it’s a compact, 50mm “mini mortar”. Thinking out loud he says, “If they have the weapon system here I’ll bet the ammunition is also in here somewhere? This stuff will come in handy.”
He orders the Stockton NCO to get four of the empty trucks from the yard and back them up to the dock, “Get your two men that know how to operate the fork lifts and we will go through and cherry pick several thousand weapons and the ammo for them, we’ll load the stuff up and take it back to your area. This way those other 600 plus men that showed up last night with out weapons can be armed.”
Opening one of the shipping boxes he can see four of the type 03 rifles and at least thirty or forty magazines in stacked rows at one end. Good these are the AK type weapon system that uses the 5.8 round and this is an easy system to teach new men how to use.
Walking down the next aisle he opens another shipping case, and finds two brand new QBB95 belt feed machineguns their spare barrels and accessories. Pausing for a few seconds as he looks around, as his smirk says it all, D or Eli will figure out a plan on how to use this stuff very well.
*Launcher caliber: 50mm
Weight, launcher (empty): 4.10kg
Weight, grenade: 700g
Barrel length: 600mm
Barrel life: 6,000 fires
Muzzle velocity: 100m/s
Effective range: 200~800m
Weight, launcher (empty): 4.10kg
Weight, grenade: 700g
Barrel length: 600mm
Barrel life: 6,000 fires
Muzzle velocity: 100m/s
Effective range: 200~800m
(C-14)
0400 hrs 25th Corp HQ
“Colonel,” Sergeant Ju Le stood at his side with a cup of tea wakening him from his fitful slumber in the office chair. “I’m sorry to wake you but the situation in the 28th Corp AO seems to be spreading more, it is now into our Tenth Army area especially up near the 31st Corp.”
Taking the offered cup of hot tea and a sip to clear his throat the Intel officer asked, “Thank you for the tea, bring me up to speed please?”
“Since you have been dozing for over an hour we have followed the Americans progress by monitoring the 10th Army radio net, and all of the Corps nets, that is the parts that come through the jamming and from some reports that come over the command report land lines. None of the 27th Division or any of its sub units reported in at the top of the hour at 0300 or at 0400 as per SOP. The 23rd Division down at Stockton has relocated most of their units to the south of that city, they have just reported losing a whole brigade on the north side of the city and they pulled out and have lost most of their logistic stores.”
“Elements of the 20th Division have reported contact and then losing control of a major bridge below Elk Grove.”
With a smile the Colonel said, “Maybe the Field Marshall is correct and the Americans will fall for his trap? You mentioned the 31st Corp continue.”
“They have lost contact with the units guarding the Bridge over the Sacramento River, and those up at Fairfield.”
“Missing one or two report times is becoming normal, we lose landlines at least three times a week from damaged caused to the poles by the guerrillas.”
“That is true sir, but their HQ also received reports that the Americans were attacking Travis Air Base at 0350.”
Looking at the map on the wall the Colonel quickly calculated the distance from Lodi to Travis at a little over 60 kilometers, that could be anything more then likely just a raid, a diversionary attack to make us rush units where they are not needed. It shouldn’t be anything to worry about as he surmised that the attack was likely the work of the partisans, same with cutting their communication lines, again just harassment by some local guerrillas, not to worry, they couldn’t do much damage. He replied with, “Did they report beating off the attack or were their defenses compromised?”
“The lines went dead before they said sir.”
“The 31st Corp is sending a helicopter to investigate,” he asked?
“One would expect so sir, but we are not privy to all of their inner unit communications sir.”
“Thank you for waking me and for the tea, the information given about the bridge below Elk Grove does indicate the direction of the American advance, when they stick their neck out far enough we in the 25th Corp will be ready to help spring the trap. We can expect a call from 10th Army soon. Now what about our other units?”
“They haven’t reported anything out of the ordinary. Not since the 35th and the 43rd Divisions both reported being fired on at 0247 hours by long range rockets and they went to full alert, and are still waiting. There has been no follow up artillery fire and no ground assault, and nothing to report except some sniper fire, the causality rate has climbed since they went on full alert.”
“And they still at one hundred percent alert?”
“Yes sir.”
Shacking his head in disgust he said, “That stupid fool. General Wu…never mind you didn’t hear me say that. He can’t see it but it’s obvious why the American Snipers are firing on them, they have a target rich area, their thermal scopes are alive with easy shots, there only hard part is to pick out which one to shoot. Did the two divisions send in a list of the causalities and what they were doing?”
“Yes sir, seventeen killed and one hundred and five men wounded and two cannons destroyed from the artillery attack. Since then they have another twenty-nine killed and fourteen others wounded from the sniper fire, and not one of the wounded is expected to live through the day.” Picking up the list Sgt. Le offered it to the Colonel and said, “It’s mostly vehicle commanders, a few radio men, and the Corporals or Sergeants adjusting the sights on the artillery pieces. The 35th lost one of their brigade CO’s when he was looking through a night scope on the front line.”
“That is very heavy sniper fire,” he said again looking at the map. This was looking better, the Americans were hitting hard at where we expected them too, maybe they were going to fall for the deception and attack into Sacramento.
Changing mental tracks he said out loud with out thinking, “The fools can’t they see that this is not just harassing sniper fire, sorry that is not to be repeated either. Send a message saying that it is advisable for them to go back to a twenty-five percent alert, to reduce the targets offered to the Americans. Add my call sign so they know it comes directly from the Commander.”
With a frown Sgt Le replied, “I suggested that earlier and they ignored me, I will do so again.”
“Then use General Chen’s call sign, I will sign the duty log book, that I gave the order in his name. If he decides later that I exceeded my authority so be it. Did the General fall asleep after the first alert?”
“Yes sir, but he is tossing and turning, I don’t know if he is getting any rest though.”
“That’s is something we all will be short of, just make sure you keep the tea coming, that will help. Or at least I hope it will help?”
Only later in the morning does the Chinese 10th Army find out that the bridge over the shipping channel has been captured and that there were at least two American divisions between them and the next two Corps’. The one down around the bay, and the other below Stockton. All of them were taken completely by surprise by the direction of the American attack, instead of the expected attack north into the suburbs of Sacramento. After all they had pulled back the 171st division from the area south and east of Elk Grove, enticing the Americans to attack that way. Some how the Americans suspected the baited trap or maybe they had other plans?
The one thing they knew for sure about the Militia commander; he was a risk taker, as not one of their Corp commanders or even a senior Staff Officer in their Army had even considered of an attack against the bridge at Rio Vista. For any War College trained General it would be considered suicide for him and his men; to separate his units with a wide river and to plan on relaying on only that one bridge to keep them supplied, this was unheard of. To them such a move bordered on insanity, but they could deal with the unexpected and would move later to destroy the exposed divisions.
General Gobi later at his morning briefing said in disgust, “He is an amateur, and so far luck has been on his side until now. I will show this Militia General how a professional soldier deals with such stupidity, ready the 31st Corp once we have his lines fixed we will attack and destroy his two exposed units. Have the 23rd Division attack north from Stockton to cut the American supply lines. This will be better then our original plan, now we show them who is the better General and who has the better Army.”
(C-15)
Muaskar al-Battar 0435 hrs (Camp of the swords)
“Gary make sure your people understand, my Company will be on the left flank near that church parking lot. They are not to fire that way for any reason, OK.”
“We understand Ricardo, if you would tell me more of what’s planned, my people can assist and even…”
“I can’t tell you more Gary I don’t know exactly what to expect, I have already told you more then I should have.”
“I know what you mean, trust is a hard thing to build around here. Hey, you still got that soldiers Bible with you?”
With a little hesitation Ricardo says, “Yes. Why?” As his hand goes to his cargo pocket on his battle dress shirt.
“Let me see it for a second I’ll give it right back. I promise you, I’m not going to tear it up I just want to hold it for a little bit please.”
Ricardo unbuttons his pocket and takes the small Bible out and hands over the small zip locked bag with a little hesitation.
Gary takes the packet as he bows his head and say’s, “Jesus our Shepard, our Savior watch over us and help us today. We may be the black sheep in the flock, ones who have strayed far from the true path of righteousness and do not deserve your protection. But we do love thee O-Jesus, and know that by believing in you is the only way to heaven.” Then he recites from memory,
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:”
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:”
Ricardo stunned for a second at what he hears Gary saying, quickly joins in.
“He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.
“He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Amen.”
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Amen.”
After the two men are finished, Ricardo doesn’t know what to say and waits.
Gary hands the Bible back as he says, “Thank you amigo. Out side of Major Zinnia and a few of his HQ company men, and of course my men here in Charlie Company, you’re the first person to know that my forced conversion didn’t stick for my men or me either. Now if you go and tell the hard-core Jihad shits, they will come and kill me out of hand, calling me an apostasy.”
“You can trust me, I won’t tell them a thing. I’m not fighting for ‘plata o plomo.’ I’m doing this because I’m an American.”
“Plata o plomo,” Gary said with a smile, “I haven’t heard that term in a while, ‘silver or lead’.
“That’s what some of the units of Aztlan are fighting for, but not me or my men anymore. A man I know told me that we Americans come in all colors and from all races, which is something that wasn’t really taught to us at school. Now I’m finding that out as each day goes by, that we are part of the same familia, sorry that’s family. That we are all uno Familia, uno gente, one people.”
Gary smiles, he likes that uno Familia. “I’ve come to that same conclusion in the last two or three months too Ricardo and again thanks for loaning me your bible, as I said I don’t know what your plan is but trust has to start somewhere, that’s why I told you our secret. Here,” he handed over three small radios “these are ham radios and they’re set to frequencies that no one else in the Brigade has, your to give one to your XO and the other one to your Top; they have at the most a five K range in the city and maybe over 20 K’s in open ground. You can use them if it becomes necessary to talk to me and remember to stay off the Brigade net. All of my unit leaders have one to, same with the guys in Bravo, Support Company and Maj. Z’s HQ.”
“Thanks this is a good idea, what call signs do we use?”
“Use only first or last names, no rank and nothing fancy ,oh don’t use Major Z’s last name or Z he said to call him Harvey.”
“Harvey is that his first name?”
“Don’t know? But that’s what he said to use when calling him. You know that distant thunder we heard after 0230 hours this morning? That wasn’t thunder; the Major said that was the sound of the US Army attacking. And that’s why General Ayman called us out at 0330 today, two days earlier then this operation originally had been planned for. The Colonel expects this mission you are detailed for will be the last one for a while. And the son-of-a-bitch, he can’t resist that addiction of having his people kill a few more civilians, a few more of our people. Our Familia.”
Ricardo senses the cons sincerity about us all being one family as he says, “Gary thanks for the trust in me.” Taking a deep breath and a chance he then said, “The people that are scheduled for rounding up. They know that the third battalion is coming for them. They are well armed and plan on giving them one hell of a beating with a little help from my people. After that I’m going to help them escape. I don’t know the full details of what’s planned, if I knew more of what was going to happen I would tell you, honest man. But these Osama hombres are going to be surprised this time, and most of them will be dead before it’s all over. Maj. Z knows more as I’ve informed him and he’s been out to talk to the two Sgt. Majors once.” Ricardo just hoped his confession hadn’t blown any of the plans; he mentally kicked himself and then stopped as quickly when Gary said.
“That’s OK Ricardo, Maj. Z isn’t telling all of us what he knows or plans either. That's his way, to keep the Operations Security compartmentalized and with us company commanders knowing only those details specific to our command. We have become friends in the last few months and I just had to let you know that your six is covered. Now if we can work together we can make sure that the 3rd Battalion all end up dead, I mean one hundred percent dead with no survivors, only then will we have been successful. One other thing I know we will have those four ZTZ-99’s coming out with us later, that’s the new tanks that arrived a few days ago. Oh by the way almost forget to let you know; Maj. Z said it’s good to see you and your men looking and acting like soldiers.”
Ricardo didn’t need to say anything the satisfied smile on his face said it all, but he did add, “It’s good that two marines can take a bunch of slackers like us and make a difference.”
Looking at his watch Gary said, “Better get back to your command you have to head out at 0530, that’s in ten minuets, it’s going to take the rest of us almost an hour to get to our stuff ready to follow on.”
Both men shook hands knowing a trust was growing. Not the anger, skepticism and outright hatred the Islamic commander wanted and had worked so hard on, trying to get the Americans and the soldiers under their command at each others throats.. Both men had just come to realize that what ever their pity differences as Bloods and Crips might have been before, it didn’t matter now because they were Americans first and that’s what counted.
(C-16)
In any battle there are always Casualties
‘God made you a man,
Live up to his expectations.
Don’t wimp out like a liberal,
Who doesn’t believe in God, or being a man,
A man is strong, brave, patriotic, and willing to risk his life if necessary.’
JN
‘Heroes are people who place themselves at risk for the benefit of others.’
Lt. Col. Oliver North
‘These are the times that try men’s souls,’
Thomas Paine
‘People playing professional sports, Hollywood types, and politicians, they are not hero’s,
A lot of them are just celebrities, a bunch of want-a-bees.
The Police, Firefighters, Border Guards, people in the Military, they are the real hero’s.
Honor them because they place their lives on the line every day,
so you won’t have to.’
7.62 PK
0515 hrs Militia Corp forward Tactical HQ
The lump in the middle of the throat wasn’t easy to choke down and it came with that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, which was turning into an agitated bottomless void. The over whelming angst has to be keep under control, he can't afford to let it win.
So he closes his eyes for a few seconds to help control his racing mind and to force out any speculation on his part. MIA means just that nothing more, missing in action not KIA. I might be clutching at straws but I have to hold on to hope. To help regain his composure Dan took a deep breath and then blew it out in a long breath through his mouth. Then inhaled the same way filling his lungs as he listened, as Eli bares his sole to him trying to explain the why, as if it was because he had made a bad command decision.
“No one asked me if I wanted to be a Captain Sir, D just gave me the rank and said do the job. At least you asked me to take command of the Militia Division scouts and then the Corp Recon Battalion, you gave me the rank needed to do the job. I really didn’t want those jobs but I took them out of friendship, to show respect for you and D. And because I took that command your son is out there, somewhere, maybe captured, or worse dead. And it’s my fault because I’m the one who gave the orders!”
“Eli, don’t blame yourself, being in command means making decisions. Sometimes,” Dan paused for a second as he took a breath then said, “hell, a lot of times these decisions don’t work out how we wished. I never asked to be a Colonel; my friends elected me because they trusted in me. And now I have the same trust in you, besides I didn’t give you the rank you hold, you earned it.”
“No matter what happens to each of us or what the outcome from this war will be, thought I hope it’s good for us, good for America. I know that we are all trying to do the right thing, to do what we have to do and make it right. As far as rank goes, I never asked for this command to be made a General, that came from a friend who said I could do the job and selected me to lead. When the Governors of several States stepped in and requested that I be promoted to Corp commander, again no one asked me what I wanted. They said I was the man on the spot who was doing the job, and they didn’t want to switch horses in mid-stream. Maybe politics had something to do with it, I don’t know, but I was told to do the job and the Lord knows how I’ve tried to do it right. To be honest I never gave you a thing Eli, as I said you took a job and did it, you earned your position and the rank to do the job.”
“Sir I allowed him to volunteer and be in…”
“No one allowed him, Neil earned that spot Eli, he worked hard to be there, and he wanted to be there, he volunteered.” Dan’s voice shuddered for a second, then regaining control he continued, “Beside it was my idea for the boat plan we used to take care of the bridges demolition charges, then it was I who give the orders to go ahead, and now how many men die, on both sides of this conflict? Both of us know that giving the orders, and knowing that men will die, is just as hard as carrying them out. As we both know Neil volunteered to work in your command; he asked to be up at the sharp end. His first Company commander agreed, he was more then capable, he had the abilities, and he was the type of man you needed.”
“But he’s your son, I should have refused to accept him.”
“How would you have done that? He scored the highest on your combat marksman qualification, came in third out of three hundred men in the three day distance run, and he’s the second best tracker from the recon platoons? He has been involved in two battles and I don’t know how many skirmishes so he’s seasoned and tested, he has picked up some language skills in Chinese, and speaks Spanish very well, he’s smart, he was a straight A student at school.”
In spite of the present situation Dan had a slight smile showing; he was remembering the day when Neil as a freshman in high school was selected as a Spanish National Honors student. “I’m not meaning to brag but he was one of the best men qualified for the job and what you asked of him he did. Besides neither your or I could order him to set in a safe spot when we have to order other men’s sons to go and fight, we both know that wouldn’t have been right. We are all in danger in every battle and we all must face that fact, come what may.”
“I still blame myself…”
“Don’t. Your command carried out the task as I ordered, and because those men succeeded we captured the bridge intact. With your men assisting D’s, they all did their assigned jobs; we have now cut off at least one third of the Northern Chinese Army and right now have them almost completely bottled up in Sacramento. The only way out for them is to abandon their heavy equipment and destroy the supply dumps and to pull out over the back roads. If not and they just sit and wait on us that’s even better as they are totally ineffective where they are. If they attack us and try to break out, then General Greene and his northern 16th Corp Divisions attack their rear and northern flanks, while we hit them in the face with a baseball bat. You did your job Eli; the job I asked of you and the war here is now closer to its end, so there is no blame on your part. I knew the risks and so did Neil, he volunteered and I’m damn proud that he was good enough to make your selection, and to be one of the first men up the rope,” Dan turned his head to hide the tears forming in his eyes.
Eli tried to swallow the lump that was forming in his throat to as he said; “I lost one of my best friends sons in a raid on a Terr camp back in Zambia in 1979, just a few months before the war ended. I never forgave myself for that, now if I lose Neil that is two crosses I have to carry.”
Dan turning back to look into Eli’s eyes as he placed a hand on his friends shoulder to silence him as he answered, “You’re my friend Eli, that won’t ever change. Evelyn and I both always say, ‘The Lord will only give you the load he knows you can carry, as he carries the rest.’ What ever has happened, it’s not your fault, it’s War, and bad things happen in War. Right now Neil is listed as MIA not KIA, he might even be a POW, so until we know more we keep praying. OK?”
“OK sir, but I still feel bad, and that’s why I had to tell you face to face, I couldn’t let someone else do that for me, not Lyle or Cody even.”
“Thank you for that Eli, if that’s all then get back to your command and see that they stay spread out along the surrounding waterways as planned. The Chinese may try and use the same tactics we used and slip a team in to blow up the main bridge or land a large force and hold it while they mount a large scale counterattack. That bridge is our only supply line for two of our Divisions for now and it’s the key to us holding on to Vacaville and Fairfield.”
Eli saluted as he said, “I’ll see to it sir,” after Dan returned the salute he turned and walked out of the tent and headed back to his vehicle thinking, Damn I made things worse for Dan. I should have stayed with my people and kept up the search, damn my pride in having to tell him first hand.
“Colonel Maritz, sir” Eli heard his name and turned to see CSM Wolf striding after him as he said, “Good to see you Sergeant Major.”
Cody salutes and with out a greeting says, “Sir I wish to tell you something, and I need to be blunt.”
Eli a bit shocked at the CSM abrupt manner says, “Speak your mind Cody you don’t have to ask, that’s what friends are for.”
“Yes sir, as a young NCO years ago in the regular army I was taught that self pity and doubt has ruined more good men then all of the booze or bad women ever have. You’re one of the best men, and one of the best soldiers I have ever had the opportunity to work with. With that said, sir in the future if you have self-doubts, see me or the XO or D but don’t leave your burden at Dan’s feet. He has more on his plate then any two men can chew. I understand why you had to tell him face to face about Neil, but as for the rest,” Cody pauses for a second then finished with, “I’ll just say it wasn’t necessary Sir.”
Eli didn’t get mad at his friends words, he reflected for a second then stood up straight, feeling as if a great burden had been lifted off of his shoulders, by being reminded of a truth his uncle had told him years ago, ‘At all times be a man.’
“Thank you Cody I needed that cold shower, it won’t happen again.”
Cody felt relieved and it showed in his eyes as he then asked, “And now I need a favor sir.”
Eli smiled in return as he replied, “You’ve earned a dozen, ask away.”
Cody then said, “I’ll cover for you if necessary, but go and do what your best at, the tracking and following spoor. If he's alive and washed up on a shore you'll find him, there isn’t anyone better.” He then salutes again and turns and walks away.
Eli knew just what he meant, and knows what he has to do, a small tracking party will be all that’s needed. He had already spread his people out in their forward recon positions; his executive officer could manage any pinch that might arise. As he got back into his vehicle he told his driver, “Recon HQ,” on the way back he works out his mental plan. I’ll take Sgt. Chirau and six other men and Cpl. Wolf plus a medic; and the t man boat crew. We will do a personnel recon by boat down stream, checking the banks, hoping that maybe Neil still had his life jacket on when he was blown into the river. Hoping that he had been just knocked unconscious by the blast, not killed?
Eli wasn’t a very religious man but he prayed, ‘Oh Jesus please I know I haven’t been a good or faithful servant, I’ve had to do things that by all rights may condemn me to hell. I am truly sorry for those transgressions and I do believe that you died for my sins; as for my faults I ask your forgiveness. But more then that O-Lord I ask that Neil is safe and sound, that with your guidance my people or I will find him, so that we are able to bring him back safely to his father, Amen.’
Dan stood silent for a few seconds as he made the mental effort to push to the back of his mind the news from Eli, no matter how much it hurt, he had a job to do, a lot of men’s lives counted on him doing it too. He then said a silent pray as he asked, ‘Our savior Jesus if my son is still alive keep him from harm as you do for all those I command, in all things your will be done, Amen.’
He didn’t have the time to spare for worry right now, so he asked the J-2, “Any word from the Texas 1st Division since they consolidated there whole division and moved above Galt? And is the Armor Brigade of the 2nd Kansas division moving again?”
Pointing to the wall map and indicating positions the Colonel says, “Yes sir at Lodi the Chinese had at the most a mixed battalion as their main garrison unit and they surrendered after putting up a short but spirited fight. We had one hundred and eleven Militia casualties, forty-nine of them KIA, the Chinese had two hundred sixty casualties, with one hundred forty-one KIA, and another 450 taken as POW’s.”
“I’m sorry I have to use a map sir, we have set up the LCD screens, but we won’t have a Dark Star over head until after Sitting Duck is successful sir.”
“If Sitting Duck is successful you mean? Go ahead with your report; I can keep track, it’s easy for me to visualize in my head our units deployment.”
“Yes sir, general Le Grand of the Texas 1st Division says he is going to need help just to watch the ground he has to hold especially the farmlands and the few back roads between Five highway over to the deep water shipping channel. His units seized the bridge over the Cosummes River from a company size Chinese unit and he has established a patrol/skirmish line in an arc from just above Comanche Reservoir across to Five. Most of his units are in position just south of that line and they are preparing defensive positions in depth. When D’s people reported the bridges weren’t rigged with explosives last week, and seeing that today’s action confirms that his Intel was correct. The Chinese did want us to continuing attacking north, right into the suburbs and their planned and waiting ambush.”
Dan noting units and their map positions ordered, “OK, from the reserves take the first Brigade from the 2nd California Division attach them to the 1st Texan. Tell Le Grand I want them to be positioned above 220 highway from just east of Vorden to west past Oxford with two companies anchored on the deep-water channel. They are to have one battery of the captured Chinese self-propelled type 83’s the 152mm guns attached, I want all six guns dug in, with two of them right on the channel banks. That way if the Chinese decide to send a ship loaded with explosives down to take out the bridge at Rio Vista, we can blow them right out of the water while it’s still over 10 k’s away. That would be real easy using the direct fire sights of the 152’s.”
Dan explained his reasoning, “John by having those guns right on the channel and using direct fire they will avoid the counter battery radars of the Chinese, they won’t be able to pick up the guns position and lay down a counter barrage.”
“I understand sir and that’s all six guns and their crews?”
“That’s correct, make sure they have their supply vehicles with them and to include at least sixty of the laser guided munitions rounds. All of the FO’s are to have the new IR designators with them, as this will give them first shot hits on any approaching tanks if it’s necessary to use them. Also make sure and tell the Cal brigade commander to have some TOW’s and twin fifties on the banks covering the Sacramento River in case they try to slip a small ship or some fast boats down it. Also tell him to have his engineer platoon string two cables across the water floating on a wood boom to snag any small boats or rafts.”
“Yes sir.”
“Make sure General Le Grand knows that the Cal brigade is to be used just for watching the ground between the shipping channel to Five, they only have the two medium tank companies of M60A3’s in their Armor Battalion. I don’t think the Chinese will send a strong armor force down 84, E9 or 160 as they all bottleneck above 12 highway.”
“Even though we have them cornered, only they know what their next move will be, no matter what our intelligence thinks they will do next. The Chinese will be unpredictable and could lash out in any direction before we can entice them out to play.”
“Will do sir,” and he turned to a Major and gave him some orders. Then turning back to Dan John continued, “The Kansas 2nd Division has all four Brigades across at Rio Vista their 1st and 2nd armored brigade linked up with the 3rd Brigade just after Travis was captured.”
“Their 4th Bdes. motorcycle scouts and Dune buggies are on the move heading west checking out all of the ground south of Travis and west of Rio Vista looking for any Chin units that might be in hiding, after they link up with the 1st brigade 1st Kan they will then head back to their unit. The Divisions 2nd armor brigade was the last unit across, they have most of there heavy units just to the north of the Airport at Rio Vista and are busy off loading the last of their dragon wagons as we speak, the whole unit will be ready within the hour.”
“Are the heavy trucks heading back?”
“Yes sir, as they become free they are busy loading up with civilians, that’s the refugees we are finding and moving them out of harms way, then the trucks will be heading back in company size units to the stores areas just west of highway 49. They off load the civilians, then they load up the next load of containers and make a quick return. The J-4 reported that the first ones have made two supply runs and are headed back with a third load of civilians.”
“Good, keep them busy hauling the civilians out and the supplies in, having Major Sikes up front and coordinating was a good idea John thanks for suggesting it. Now if we can just get the 40,000 tons across by 0800 as scheduled I’ll be happy. I’m still concerned that the Chins will use their air assists to attack our front units before Sitting Duck is in the air, or they’ll push up that infantry brigade near Tracy along with that light armor brigade from Modesto, to help their 23rd division below Stockton. The 1st Louisianan and 1st Californian divisions know what they have to do in case that happens.” Dan paused a frown formed for a few seconds on his face, he was trying to think, placing himself in the opposing commanders shoes and figure out what would he do. Thinking out loud he said, “If not from there and they figure out our objective, then an assault southwest down 80 before we are ready for them as they’ll try to reopen their main supply line to the bay. Now what about the Kansas first Division, are they deployed as planned?”
“Yes sir, I’ll start at the northwest end and work east then south. An engineer squad working with the 1st Division HQ motorcycle platoon is just below Wooden Valley School where they are in position to watch the back door from Napa Valley.
Pointing to another location on the map he continued, “D said there are some small detachment of local guerrillas with one of his A teams and they have been working this area for over a week, they reported that highway 128 that leads up to Monticello Dam then on to Winters is clear of any Chin armor or infantry units. The Dam is visited daily by a patrol from Winters, usually around noon.”
“The Infantry battalion from the California 2nd Div. is attached to the 2nd Kansas Brigade, they are here in a blocking positions along the high ground where Pleasant road meets with Putah Creek, with elements of one company forward here, near bench mark 175. And two squads of their motorcycle platoon just west of Winters on this high hill where they can watch Highway 128 to the north and Pleasant Valley road to their south.”
“The 2nd Brigade has all five of their battalions located here in the English hills, their 1st Bn. is up in the vicinity of McCune creek across Pleasant Creek and then down over Dry Arroyo, and then over to Peaceful Creek road.”
“The 2nd Bn. Covers the ground from below Peaceful Creek road following English Hills road south across to where Longmire Road joins into Gibson Canyon Road. They have a full company of tanks dug in supporting positions. They have positioned one Inf. company forward with a platoon of tanks here covering the road junction, that will stop any small scouting units but if pressed by a large force they will blow the road and fall back to the main Bn. area.”
“3rd Battalion has a company here on the north and west side of canyon road just above where the creek comes out of the pass. With another company on a line stretching southeast of them here on the south side of Canyon Road. That road has been prepared with charges to blow craters in it if needed.”
“The rest of 3rd Bn is south by south east along a line with another company forward of hill 337 covering this spur, and the tract that follows the power line, and another company on the next hill south. Bn HQ and the reserve company are on the west of this small valley here, the recon platoon is well forward of the hills east of browns valley road and benchmark 159.
“The 4th Battalion has a company positioned here on hill 288 and another on 303 covering the tract that comes up into the hills, they have another company just to the east of hill 474, another on 261 and one on 256, the HQ and one company from the 2nd Cal division attached in reserve just to the south of hill 474.”
“All of the infantry battalions can see for several miles from their hill positions if the Chinese send any armor units across English Creek or across the low hills in front of them they will be easy targets for their TOW’s and Javelins, and as you can see from the map the hills are very steep, just right for defense against a combined Infantry and Armor attack.”
“The Armor Battalion plus the three attached mechanized companies from the 2nd Cal hold positions in a line from here, that just north of BM 134 to south of highway 80 then along the hill line down to the Vacaville/Elmira Cemetery. They placed the interlocking tank barriers across the highway in two lines, quickly dug their fake defensive positions and camouflaged them, then they pulled all of their troops back five hundred meters from the highway and again dug in with good over head cover, their .50 sharpshooters and the main guns on the tanks are covering the barrier. The Armor Bn. has placed a reserve force of one tank and one mechanized infantry company one mile to the west in the reentrant above BM 165, located here.”
“The other reserves are the 2nd Bn. of the California 2nd Division, held in position just north west of Drakes peak on the east side of Pleasants Valley road. Most of the men are on the west side of the ridge and they have cleared and placed over head cover on their access lanes, they can more forward to support the other Battalions quickly. That’s if they are needed, the supply train and mortar fire support for the brigade is here just south of the reserve Bn. in scattered hides”
“And all of these units are digging in and adding good overhead cover, if time permits they will do the same to their secondary positions.”
“The 3rd Bde. of the 1st K has taken up a fan formation of three Battalion forward and two in reserve just six miles north east from Travis Air force Base. They have their battalion scouts pushed well forward with several elements east of Dixon with the brigade’s scouts up front north and east of them. Two Squads of their motorcycle platoon scouting ahead moved toward Davis, and made it up to the south east end of the town near the El Macero golf courses before they were fired at. That’s here on the Map,” as he pointed out Davis. “They pulled back south and continued to move east until they reached the levee, about here. Right now one squad is in a hide almost a mile south of 80 and the Yolo Causeway, and the other squad is further to the south, about a mile north of the railway bridge located here. Both squads are where they can watch for any tank traffic crossing the bridges and give us an early warning if any threat develops.”
“The 1st Kansas Armor brigade is well dispersed south of Fairfield with three of their battalions two miles north northeast of Travis and behind 3rd Bde. Where they can move up and quickly help either the 2nd or the 3rd Brigade if needed. The other two battalions minus one company of tanks are on the west side of Fairfield.”
“Opps sorry sir, I forgot to mention that elements of the 2nd Brigade had a sharp firefight with the Chinese ground Air Force defense units when they assaulted Travis at 0345 hours. They shot down six jets taking off and a search is on for any pilots that ejected safely. Once the base was secured there were no operational aircraft or pilots, but we did seize two-dozen aircraft that were being repaired with a lot of their maintenance people and tons of repair parts, and most of their fuel and weapons stores. Only a few trucks were left on base; it looks like they weren’t completely taken by surprise after we captured the bridge intact at Rio Vista, as part of their personal had left before we moved up to the base. Militia causalities were 6 dead and 19 wounded, the Chinese causalities were 263, with 139 KIA and 124 wounded, with another 245 captured. Their security force shot up the first two scout cars and the following APC’s as we probed the perimeter wire. They didn’t stop firing and surrender only after our tank fire and mortars had destroyed fifteen of their bunkers.”
“We think the Chinese Air defense battalion must of departed right before the last operational aircraft attempted to flew out, the aircraft ground crew people we captured said they were heading west toward Vallejo. And they were in a hurry because they left behind all of their spare Ammo reserves so they only have their basic combat loads with them and maybe one reload at the most in their supply vehicles.”
“The 1st Engineer battalion right now has two companies sweeping the base looking for any booby traps or left behind remote command bombs, they have two companies of MP’s to assist with security. The runways have been checked out and we can use them in an emergency if we need too. Colonel Withers is sending forward a small crash and firefighting unit just in case, but we won’t occupy the base as planned.”
Dan shakes his head in agreement, and indicates for the Colonel to continue.
“As ordered the 1st Bde. is here west of Fairfield were 880 splits off of 80 and they are sending a recon team north toward Napa and a recon in force south west toward Vallejo and Benicia trying to locate the Chinese, as per your orders they will not enter the cities. Their Armor battalion is in hiding just a little west and south of Cordelia. The first battalion swept down highway 21 and stopped along the road above Benicia Arsenal. Except for a few Chinese AA positions around the bridge on 680 they haven’t seen any enemy activity.
2nd and 3rd Bns. Are in the Sulphur Springs Mountains stretching north by northwest across highway 80. The 4th Bn straddles 12 and they have units down at the junction of 12 and 29. The few civilians our men have encountered say the Chinese units in Napa and Vallejo are reserve troops with very poor training, and very little defensive discipline. So besides a few sandbagged roadblocks and the local guard posts, with the same around their mortars, they haven’t dug in at all. And they say they haven’t seen any charges set on the bridges, just a guard post that won’t allow any American civilians across. One civilian said he was fishing below the bridge yesterday and he confirmed that there weren’t any charges set to blow the bridge. He said he was a former Seabee and he would know demolition charges if he saw them.”
Dan pointed to the ground in front of the first Kansas and just west of highway 505, the Colonel looks at his notes and says, “Bucks Calvary Regiment with the attached engineer battalion from the Kansas 2nd Division have been working in there for over an hour now, they just about have the first line completed, by 0930 they will have both lines dug in wired and ready. Sgt. Ski and his people and the fifty snipers are already on site setting up their mobile equipment and laying in all of the remote controlled mines, both HE and Napalm. Buck reported in thirty minuets ago and he said the second line will be set up a little further west then we originally planned as the ground really favors them.”
“How far west,” Dan asked?
“In some places almost 100 meters in others a little more. All of the other .50 snipers and rattlesnakes are in their high ground positions and digging in with stout overhead cover, their second and third fall back positions will be completed by noon.”
“Any hint of Chinese scouting units? I mean any ground probes besides the few helicopters that we keep shooting down.”
“Just the opposite sir, Buck sent a platoon up north to recon the town of Winters, when one of his dismounted recon teams was fired on at 0400 hours by the Chinese with no men hit, they pulled back to observe. Thirty minuets later at least a company of motorized infantry in ten trucks pulled out of the town and were seen heading east toward El Rio Vista, where another of our recon squads was observing. Once there the Chinese collected another five truck loads of men, probably at least another two platoons of infantry then they headed east toward Davis.”
“Our squad at Winters when reinforced by the rest of their platoon, entered the town just after first light, so far they haven’t reported any more contacts, the locals say all of the Chinese have pulled out. We have sent several trucks to evacuate all of the civilians; hopefully we can get them out before the Chinese counterattack. That’s if they fall for our ruse of course.”
“Good, hope our luck holds now what about the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska Division?”
The Colonel chuckled as he said; “The MoIN Division as you know had finished moving into their hide position around Plymouth and the other towns yesterday morning. As we expected it took them the whole five days to walk in but they are behind the Chinese 35th and the 43rd divisions down at Jackson. They finished their recons and final preparations by last light yesterday.”
“On order they will sweep in and capture their objectives and block the highways. Their Intel report said that there is at least a brigade of Artillery in the town; it must be from one of the two Divisions below them at Jackson. As planned this attack will trap those two Divisions between them and the Oklahoma Brigade’s position just south of the Mokelumne River. Those two divisions are out on a limb and won’t be able to help anyone; they will have a hard time just extracting themselves. The MoIN can easily close highway 49 at the Cosumnes River, with just a battalion and hold back a whole division from moving south and west out of Placerville. If they are attacked just one brigade can swamp any attack from the Chinese before they figure out they are the one’s caught in a jam. The MoIN commander, General Busby has asked for us to change our plans just a bit, instead of trying to air lift a battery of artillery in, he’s asked if they will bring in at least two C130’s full of his cannon cockers and we will once again use the Chinese guns he hopes to capture against their own people.”
Dan smiling said, “Good thinking, does Col. Withers people agree?”
“Yes the C130 pilots have been briefed, they flew in twenty minuets ago to pick up the Artillery people, they can be airborne after we have the air secured and they will land approximately ten minuets after that, and of course being given the OK by the troops on the ground.”
Dan still looking at the map knows the original plan by heart, but he is still worried as his 1st Kansas people are spread thin. The plan can change or evolve even if things turn out for the best. Or for the worst, if the Chinese were to attack from the East and the West at the same time we will be hard pressed to keep from being over run. That’s why James had to hurry and get the 2nd K unloaded fast and be ready to assist either way, the two infantry Brigades along with their two Armor Brigades would be able to handle just about any thing the Chinese could throw at them. If we control the air? If things work out even half-ass with our air support we will be able to end this mess here pretty soon. The good Lord willing that is.
Looking at his watch and turning to his Aide-de-Camp he ordered, “Please call Colonel Withers, tell him to keep to schedule, to launch operation Sitting Duck in thirty minuets. All aircraft must be airborne just before the Satellite comes into range. And give the order for the MoIN to take Plymouth now, they must eliminate any of the long range AA missiles positioned there before they can shot down any of the F4’s.”
Then turning back to John who says, “Do you think that the Chinese will figure out we are over extended before the F4's airborne? And begin moving to attack us?
“If they do there wouldn’t be enough time for them to do any thing about it. I doubt they will have any large number of troops moving west in two hours. Sitting Duck will move, it will take just over fifteen minuets to get everything airborne and headed west, then say another fifteen minuets more before all of the jets are up over above Bridgeport assembling in their formations and heading west. Their satellite is not due overhead for,” looking at his watch again he says, “close to 35 minuets? I know they will see that we hold the bridge and maybe get some close ups of our troops but not the full deployment, and just maybe before they’re can figure it out their infrared sensors in the satellite will pick up the jets exhaust and distract them, we hope.
The Chinese do have one of there Stealth planes up and we can shoot it down when given the go ahead. And for some reason they only have one UAV up, which is surprising.”
Dan couldn't help himself as he said, “As far as the satellite goes our troops know the schedule and most of them should be under thermal cover before then, I don’t want to give the Chinese time to figure out what we are up to on this pass. Let them surmise all they want, even if they start moving troops west to get ready to attack the first or second K division, they won’t be able to make a coordinated plan, write the operations orders then get it out to their Division’s and then marshal their strength for close to 20 or 24 hours. At the most a single division of Chinese might be in a position to attack our men up north of the river, if they are lucky they might have some extra support units attached, but if our luck holds we should have a full day to prepare. But I still want everything completed by noon, that way we are ready if they come at us any sooner.”
“And with no air support to help them, that will even the odds a bit sir.”
“That’s why I’m hoping Mike’s Sitting Duck plan works, and it draws out their Air units from the hidden bases. After that it won’t matter cause we will have air parity at the least and maybe even superiority over the front lines especially after we hit their runways all over the bay area, stopping or slowing down any close in air sorties for them. I know it’s an ambitious plan but when we gain local air superiority as planned then the A-10’s can roam free, just like they did at the end of Desert Storm. And when you add in all of Mikes converted crop dusters,” Dan said shaking his head knowingly, “I pity those poor Chinese bastards on the ground when that happens.”
“Me two sir, especially when their people finally move out from under their ground air defense umbrella, and attack us,” John added.
Dan reflects on all that has happened in only nine short months. Just nine months, it seemed closer to two years as he thought, I guess I was born to be one of those hard men when necessity calls. To be counted on as all men should be, ones who are willing to stand up and fight the wars that keep others from harm. But damn you to hell, you wanking liberals and all the others who won’t leave freemen alone, to let us live in peace as we wish. And I do mean damn you to hell for forcing me to go down this path once more you conniving cowards.
Back east the Elites still haven’t figured out that talk is cheap especially when they haven’t the courage or the stomach to stand up to the bullies of the world and say enough already. And after all of their talk and wasting time we still have war, the enemy never respects talk, especially against those who use it with out the will to back it up, they know you all to well you worthless spineless appeasers; you’re just a no-good bunch of lowlife oxygen thieves.
Your running and hiding won’t work either and the worthless UN you believed in for so long won’t save you now, only people of courage can do that, so stop stabbing us in the back. The solution is very simple and easily understood, it has to be we win they lose. Or do you want it the other way around? I pity your children and grandchildren if that happens.
Talk didn’t stop Hitler or Tojo during the 1930’s and talking again didn’t stop N. Korea or Iran either from building the bomb, so wake up or history will repeat itself once more and you will be ranked right along side the likes of Neville Chamberlain.
(‘You were given the choice between war and dishonor, you chose dishonor and you will still have war’ Winston Churchill’s remarks after PM Chamberlain returned from signing the Munich pact with Hitler.
And that is what you peace at any price, quivering spineless gutless wonders will have, Dishonor and shame and their will still be war. Where better men then you have to face an enemy that would kill all of us just because you lacked a back bone to stand up for freedom when fighting wasn’t necessary, just a firm resolve.
If you send me to talk to the tyrants, I’ll be wearing a Colt .45 in a shoulder holster for all to see, and have a big Bowie Knife in a sheath on my belt, with chain mail gloves on my hands. Before we talk the knife comes out and I stick it up right in the table to get their attention, they we talk. Honest men have nothing to fear from these dramatics’ and we can all have a good laugh at my expense, because there is honor among men. It’s the tyrants and the fanatics who need to heed my visible warning; not to push good people who are willing to defend their loved ones, and their country when it becomes necessary. A warning that will be backed up by any force necessary to preserve that freedom, at any cost.
If they still feel Froggy then let them jump, but they mustn’t cry or whine when they get there justified lumps and they lose everything. After all they started this mess and we are now cleaning out this human garbage leaving the world safer for our children. J.N)
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