Dragon's Fury - Dragon's Breath Part 22

"Good, let us then review the introduction and overview. I believe you will find the summary to be succinct and to the point. It provides projected time frames, triggering events and goals for initial operations that will hold our adversaries in place, and then outlines how we will draw our adversaries onto the fatal terrain I have spoken of. After reviewing and commenting on the summary, and modifying it where necessary, we can launch into the details of each specific area of the plan."

"It is my hope and goal that we can leave here tomorrow with both our economic plans that we have developed over the last two days, as well as the military options that we develop from these plans, in place."

"Shall we proceed then?"

December 9, 2005, 18:09 local time 800 KM Northwest of Krasnoyarck Siberia, The Russian Federation Dr. Gavanker was very proud of what his team had accomplished in the five months they had been in Siberia. By early August, the test bores had been sunk and they had brought back information beyond expectations. The field would in fact be bigger than the Baku field in the Crimea. He had been immediately informed by first the Indian government, and then the Russians, to expect to be provided with a significant increase in workers and materiel so that he could get initial production underway before winter.

By September the staff on his team had been tripled to almost two thousand workers. A regular "boom"

town was developing, and a spur from the main rail lines two hundred kilometers to the east had been built and opened before November. By that time the weather had begun to worsen, but Dr. Gavanker and his team had already sunk six production wells and had also completed pipelines to the railhead so that the initial crude could be transported for refinement. This would have to do until a pipeline could be completed directly to their location. That was scheduled for the end of January, but progress was being slowed due to the weather.

As the increase in workers and materiel and business to support them all mushroomed, the Russians also increased the security forces. Military engineers came in and took the roughed-out airfield and turned it into a dual-use commercial and military air base with the latest military radar and with significant equipment for operations in winter. As a result of his success in helping develop the resource, building the initial airfield and having an unblemished record in securing this resource jewel for mother Russia, Colonel Nosik was promoted to General. In addition to a significantly increased security force, including more men and equipment, some heavy armor, and a number of interceptor and support aircraft, Nosik was given responsibility for the maintaining the security of two other resource projects. One was a new Chinese Cobalt.i.te mine, and the other was a new Indian low-sulfur c.o.king coalmine. The largest operation was here in Gavank, where he established his headquarters.

Over the preceding months, as their fortunes mutually improved, and they a.s.sumed more and more responsibility, Dr. Gavanker and General Nosik formed a friendship of sorts. General Nosik held weekly staff meetings and invited Dr. Gavanker to a number of them, to report on the status of the various civilian projects going on at Gavank. In turn, when Dr. Gavanker held his staff meetings, he would reserve a portion of each meeting for the General, or his Chief of Staff, to discuss security issues. Generally, on Fridays, the two men met informally over dinner and discussed the week's events and their thoughts in general. That is what they were doing today.

"Andrei, who could have guessed that things would go so well? Or who would have thought that a crusty old war dog like you would tolerate a theorist and soft foreigner like me to be a part of your operations for so many months?"

The General had to nod. He would not have imagined it himself-and if someone had told him it would be so a year ago, he would have laughed in their face. Yet it had worked out exactly as Buhpendra described it. Well, almost exactly.

"Buhpendra, you know I would never describe you as a "theorist," my friend. You have shown us all, on countless occasions, your ability to apply those theories to the real world and make this project a success. It could not have been a success without your strong grounding in reality. As to soft: humph! No one who lives here in the wilds of Siberia as we have done these last months is deserving of the term "soft." I will admit to the crusty old war dog t.i.tle, though."

Dr. Gavanker also nodded at the General's reply. He had come to enjoy these Friday evening get-togethers. There was so much they could discuss, and hearing and weighing their separate views of world events, politics, ideologies and beliefs had provided many hours of reflection and appreciation over the last several months.

"So, now that forces are reducing, and after some time to reflect, what do you think of the way the Muslims handled the Americans, my friend? I thought it was somewhat surprising."

General Nosik had not been too surprised. He had faced Muslims who were eager to fight, and committed to their faith. Such fighters were fierce, dedicated and willing to take significant losses to achieve their goals.

"I was not overly surprised. All Arabs are not like the Iraqis of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Those poor wretches were forced to be there and had no commitment to their cause...a surrender waiting to happen.

"This Hasan Sayeed, though: he has a commitment, and is gathering a committed people around him.

Such a people, driven by their faith-and believe me, Buhpendra, such fighters are fierce-would be a very serious adversary. Many will gladly sacrifice their life simply to help attain their collective goals. The Americans, even with their technological advantage, will find it difficult to readily defeat such a people. I believe this is what they experienced in the brief exchange.

"But, I would not count the Americans out. It is true they are soft and have experienced many years where there was no appreciable challenge. It will probably take some fairly b.l.o.o.d.y noses to get their attention. But, like Yamamoto of j.a.pan remarked in World War II after he pulled off perhaps the greatest defeat of the Americans at Pearl Harbor, I would be careful of waking that giant from its slumber. Better to just let it sleep, if you can, while you tiptoe around it and steal all of its belongings! Ha!

Particularly with an old fighting bear like Weisskopf leading them. That's what I think."

Buhpendra was not a military man. He prided himself on being a strategic thinker and on being able to make clear, logical decisions. Those qualities had served him well throughout his career and they were serving him here in Siberia. Applying them to world affairs was not new to him. His work in the Energy Directorate for his country had required that he regularly factor in such strategy. But the military angle was new to him and he enjoyed discussing it and exploring it with the General.

"I agree about Weisskopf. His political enemies are using the current circ.u.mstances against him, but I would not count him out if things flare up again. He is a fighter and a fine leader and has the respect of his armed forces. Thank goodness things appear to have quieted down, even though the Americans' goal for an independent Kurdistan was not realized. Let's hope it remains that way."

December 11, 2005, 22:00 Marine Recruit Training Depot San Diego, California "Come on! Come on! Come on!Get off that bus, you maggots! What do you think this is? Where do you think you're going anyhow? To the matinee? Let's go!What are you waiting for ?"

"I am Drill Instructor Sergeant Matthews. Atall times, youwill address me as "Sir." If you have a request or a statement to make to me, youwill formulate it with the wordsDrill Instructor Sergeant Matthews, Sir!"

As Drill Instructor Sergeant Matthews continued, Billy and Leon stepped off the bus at the Marine Recruit Training base in San Diego. They had arrived on schedule at ten p.m., to be processed in.

"Article86 of the Uniform Code of Military Justiceprohibits absence without leave. Article 91 of the Uniform Code of Military Justiceprohibits disobedience to a lawful order. Article 93 of the Uniform Code of Military Justiceprohibits disrespect to a senior officer. These areabsolute, non-breakable laws youwill live by for the next 13 weeks...and throughout your military career."

Other armed services give their recruits a slight break during the in-processing phase of basic training.

But not the Marine Corps. Discipline starts the instant the recruits step off the bus. Leon and Billy had been informed by Sergeant Bennett how things were going to be. They were finding out that he had been absolutely correct. Marine Corps drill instructors must be addressed loudly as "Sir." They hadn't even gotten off the bus before being taught that first lesson.

As they entered the building, Drill Instructor Sergeant Matthews continued to instruct them in clear, loud tones about what it was they needed to do, and about many of the other regulations they would have to live by for the next 13 weeks of their basic training.

The other services do a quick in-processing and allow recruits to get some sleep for the remainder of the first night. But in the Marine Corps new recruits are up the entire first night and all of the next day. During this time, they complete paperwork, get their hair cut off...all of it...turn in every bit of civilian clothing and articles they own, are issued their initial uniforms and field gear, and receive personal hygiene items from the PX, the cost of which is deducted from their pay.

Leon and Billy would spend the next three to five days in Receiving. During that time, they might be tempted to believe they were already in boot camp with Drill Instructors yelling at them, drilling them, marching them, showing them how to wear their uniforms, showing them how to make their "rack"

presentable for inspection, feeding them, and more.-all "by the numbers."

While in Receiving, Leon and Billy would also be given their Initial Strength Test (IST). To pa.s.s (and avoid being a.s.signed to a Physical Conditioning Platoon), they would be required to do two pull-ups, thirty-five sit-ups in two minutes, and a one and one half mile run in thirteen and a half minutes or less.

Leon and Billy would have no problem with the IST.

As Leon and Billy would learn, after Receiving the fun really begins when they are transported to their squad bay and introduced to their Senior Drill Instructor and his two a.s.sistants. These three would be the constant instructors, prodders, transformers, mentors, examples, trainers, indoctrinators and daddies of the sixty to eighty recruits who made up Leon and Billy's platoon in Company B of the 1stBattalion at the San Diego Recruit Training Depot.

The hard core definition of the Marine Drill Instructor (DI) indicates that he is a short-tempered, impatient, deep-voiced, screaming, seemingly-psychotic, un-patronizing, but deeply-devoted and fully-dedicated Marine NCO who works his magic on new Marine recruits. That magic teaches them to "surrender body and spirit to harsh instruction so as to receive a soul." It instills into them the makings of disciplined Marines who will stand and fight for duty, honor, country and their comrades when every other inborn instinct tells them to run.

The DI is an individual whom the new recruits hate-but whom the new Marines revere. The DI magic would work especially well on Leon and Billy, as future events would indisputably reveal.

December 16, 2005, 16:30 Oval Office, The White House Washington, D.C.

The President had once again gathered his princ.i.p.al foreign relations team in the Oval Office. This team included the National Security Advisor, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Secretary of State, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Vice President. They had been discussing the continued issues a.s.sociated with the growing Coalition of Asian States and the influence it was having in Asia through the People's Republic of China and India, and its influence in the Middle East in the form of the Greater Islamic Republic.

"Summarizing, then, from diplomatic and relations standpoint: with the addition of Vietnam, North Korea, Cambodia, Mongolia, Laos, Nepal and Bangladesh, the CAS continues to grow as a world economic and ideological power. The Siberian resources are beginning to flow into China and India from the new oil fields, natural gas fields, gold mines and other mineral mines that are being rapidly brought into production. We estimate that there are one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred thousand Indian workers in Siberia now, and that there are in excess of two hundred thousand Chinese workers there.

Russia is benefiting from their own percentage of each find, as well as from their royalties on the portions delivered to India and Red China."

"Russia is also reaping rich profits and boosts to their economy by the arms sales going on to China, India and the GIR. Their arms and munitions plants, their armor factories, their naval yards and their aircraft factories are operating at levels in excess of the highest production rates during the cold war."

"Mr. President, all of this adds up to significant economic and political pressure on many of our allies.

j.a.pan, South Korea and much of Europe are much more dependent on Mid East oil than we are. For our allies in the Fareast, all of that oil flows through waters in which the CAS is showing a greater and greater presence. With their naval build up, the military installations they have established on so many critical islands and their tremendous influence on OPEC pricing and production, our friends are getting very nervous."

As the Vice President paused, Norm Weisskopf a.s.sessed the strategic situation in his own mind.

Someone on the other side was one heck of a chess player. As far as he was concerned, that someone had to be Jien Zemin. But where was he going with it? What was his end game? Better yet, how long before the confrontation?

Norm Weisskopf was absolutely sure the confrontation was coming. He couldn't see any way to avoid it if the United States wanted to maintain any high degree of influence in the Western pacific, or in the Mid East.

"John, let's put this in perspective. Please summarize what we're seeing in terms of intelligence and surveillance on the military side."

John Bowers had been playing point on this for the President for some time now. Although he had gotten over his discomfort in speaking to matters that he was sure Defense and the CIA felt were their own areas of influence, he was still somewhat ill at ease speaking for them. Nonetheless, he had learned to work well with the various teams those two organizations could provide and spent countless hours in briefings and planning sessions with them.

"Mr. President. The greatest immediate threat remains in the Middle East. The GIR has pulled back an entire Army group, but they are still largely intact in the vicinity of the former Iraq/Iran border. They have not dispersed nearly as much as would be expected if they were going to garrison all of the bases and facilities located throughout that area of the GIR for peacetime deployment. We feel they are still poised to threaten Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

"The forces in the former Iraq are deployed in strength along or near the Kuwait and Saudi border in the south, and the Turkish border in the north. They outnumber our forces considerably in both areas, particularly as a result of our force reductions since Desert Sentinel ended.

"Of significant note is the announcement of joint training exercises by Syria along the GIR border in Late January and early February. That is a situation we will have to watch."

At this point, General Stone, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs added, "Sir, if I might add a thing or two here. First, Incirlik Air Base is fully functional again. We have increased our normal contingent of F-15's by a factor of two there. In Saudi, our first operational wing of F-22 Raptors has been deployed and is adding significantly to our defensive capabilities for the Kingdom.

"One other thing, if I may. Our Israeli friends are very nervous about the GIR, as you can imagine. They have increased their force readiness across the board. They are also significantly increasing their forces along their borders, particularly on the Golan Heights."

As the General finished, John continued.

"One more item of concern in the Middle East: Our old friend, Quadafi, in Libya is mobilizing his forces and putting them in a state of readiness that we haven't seen since Reagan thumped him real hard in the 1980's. He is also a.s.sisting Chad with men and materiel in the final phases of their suppression of rebel forces there. There is a significant concern that he will soon announce his allegiance to Hasan Sayeed and his desire to become an official part of the GIR.

"As you are all aware, there are also approximately two hundred thousand Chinese in Chad. To begin with, they were involved in relief work, but lately we have word that many of them are working in arms factories, and are partic.i.p.ating in the training of new Chad recruits. This is another area that bears watching. Mike, do your people on the ground have anything newer than my meeting at Langley last week?"

The Director of the CIA had gotten a report the evening before. As a result of John Bowers' meeting and the discussion of this very issue, Mike had instructed the Deputy Director of Operations to contact the emba.s.sy there in Chad and their operatives. The results of that inquiry had come in late last night.

"As a matter of fact, John, I do. Late last night we received a situation report (SitRep) from our people in Chad. It is clear that the Chinese there are a.s.suming a more and more active role in armament manufacture, and in training and instruction of military forces. Many more Libyan advisors have also arrived in just the last week to ten days.

"Mr. President, given the numbers involved, and given the apparent militarization of the Chinese relief workers, I believe we should view these developments gravely. Particularly when you consider the close ties Sudan has with Libya and its recent positive behavior towards the GIR. Our friends in Egypt are concerned about an encirclement of fundamentalism that could threaten their interests."

The Secretary of State chimed in on this particular topic.

"Mr. President, we should immediately lodge a protest with the United Nations. Red China was operating under very specific guidelines in its appeal to provide a.s.sistance to Chad. That a.s.sistance is limited to humanitarian relief alone. If they are in any way involved with military a.s.sistance, we must lodge a protest and seek a vote condemning their actions and revoking the UN resolution that sent them there in the first place."

The President understood Secretary Reissinger's concern and the reason for his protest.

"Fred, I understand your frustration and your diplomatic ire. I agree we should make the protest. But I do not believe we will succeed in getting things turned around there. The UN was shown for the paper tiger that it is at best just preceding Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. I haven't seen anything to indicate that it is anything more that that since. We'll use it where we can, but we will never allow it to determine our own course of action. Red China will simply veto any Security Council initiative, and we have seen that there is little prospect for a vote in the general a.s.sembly.

"Just the same, I believe it is politically and diplomatically necessary to make the effort. Please have our amba.s.sador to the UN make the necessary arrangements and see who we can get to support it. Alan, please work with our allies and coordinate with Fred and the amba.s.sador. Now, John, please continue."

John Bowers wasted no time in doing so.

"OK. Finally, we have several issues in the Far East that are equally distressing, if not as immediate. This involves the Red Chinese and the CAS.

"Of immediate concern is the buildup of North Korean forces along the demilitarized zone for their winter exercises. This is always a tense time of the year, and we are paying particular attention to their movements this year as our commitments in the Middle East have us spread fairly thin.

"We believe that conditions in the North are still extremely desperate in terms of food, but Red China, as a result of its continued economic growth and as a result of North Korea joining the CAS, has announced a food relief program of large proportions. They are getting millions of metric tons of wheat from Russia, Brazil, Venezuela and Canada and shipping it to North Korea. Along with the wheat, thousands of Chinese relief workers and newer farming equipment are being "loaned" to the North to improve their farming techniques. The first of the materiel has already arrived there.

"Finally, turning to the continued buildup of the PLAN: They continue with the very rapid manufacture and deployment of their newest generation of destroyers and frigates. Also, as you all know, in addition to their two large aircraft carriers being built in the Shanghai area, we have discovered that the Chinese have also embarked on a very rapid development and build of these smaller sea control aircraft carriers.

The first of these, the Beijing, was launched in September and almost immediately took part in joint naval exercises with India. Since that time, they have launched two more and are building five others. We have utilized our best surveillance equipment coupled with Mike's HUMINT a.s.sets to discover the four shipyards where these conversions are taking place.

"Apparently, the Red Chinese purposely allowed us to find one of these facilities operating in the open some months ago in the hopes that our attention would be diverted. They were successful. In the meantime, they developed three other yards with completely enclosed dry dock s.p.a.ces for the clandestine manufacture of more vessels. The result is that they will have eight of these very capable aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific in the next four to six months, followed by two larger deck carriers by next summer. This will represent a significant shift in power and one we cannot ignore or take lightly."

The picture that was developing was not pretty economically, diplomatically or militarily. While there was always the chance that diplomatic and economic conditions in the world could shift, rise, fall and equivocate either to the nation's good or ill, there was no excuse for being in the military position they were now in. That is, no good excuse. Apathy, comfort, technological prowess and sheer arrogance all had grown to the point of extreme overconfidence. All of that had resulted in spending plans, building plans, force dispositions and strategies that reflected the same-and had done so for several years. The situation couldn't be turned around overnight.

That arrogant overconfidence had gotten the wind knocked out of it a few weeks ago in Kurdistan, the President thought. It reminded him of Desert Storm and his first weeks there, when he knew that if Saddam Hussein had chosen to come at Saudi, there was nothing that he could have done to stop it.

Back then the enemy, for reasons of his own, had chosen not to come. A few weeks ago, the enemy had come and had come in overwhelming numbers: twelve F-15's against four hundred enemy aircraft. What do you do when your missiles are expended and your guns are empty? Answer: you either run or die.

"Ok, let's talk about what we can do about this. I want diplomatic, economic and military options on the table by the end of this meeting. Let's go in the order I just outlined. Alan, first you, and then Fred, outline your thoughts on diplomatic efforts that might be employed to stabilize this situation."

December 17, 2005, 16:30 Sea Worthy Marina, along the Fox River On Highway 31, north of Batavia, Illinois Ahmed Haddad immigrated to America from Lebanon in the early 1990s. He came to attend school at Northwestern University in Chicago, majoring in medicine. His visa had indicated that he was a student of Dentistry. Indeed, he went on to earn a degree from Northwestern and opened a dental practice that served the burgeoning immigrant population in that city. Allah was kind, and his business flourished, making Ahmed a wealthy man and leading to his becoming a naturalized American citizen.

And, to all outside appearances, Ahmed Haddad became the model American citizen. He worked hard, owned a business, and was a leader in his local community. What none of his American friends knew about him was that his parents had been killed in an Israeli bombing raid just before he left his home country.

The Israeli government had called it an attack on a terrorist base, but there had been civilian casualties and Ahmed's parents were unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shortly after their deaths, Ahmed joined the Hezbolla.

Soon thereafter, through the Hezbolla leaders, Allah had decided in his infinite wisdom that Ahmed would come to America. There, he was to bide his time until he was in a position to strike at those who had paid for the bombs which had taken the lives of his parents and so many others. Until then, his instructions were to simply work hard, stay out of trouble, fit into the society and wait patiently for instructions. Last month, those instructions had finally come.

Ahmed Haddad smiled as he signed the paperwork that completed the purchase of his forty-two foot Sea King houseboat. As he was doing so, the salesman commented.

"Mr. Haddad, you and your family are really going to enjoy yourselves on this boat. It will make a wonderful Christmas present for the family."

"I am sure we will have many unforgettable experiences on her. She is indeed a beautiful boat." Ahmed said.

As he said this, he also thought, "Are all American so ignorant? A Christmas gift indeed. Can't this fool see that I am Arabic?" No matter, after the last few years and the general underlying distrust of anyone who had Arabic features, it would be best to not let any irritation whatsoever show.

The salesman continued.

"She is absolutely top of the line, Sir. We've outfitted her exactly as you requested. The GPS gear and the radios you ordered have been installed and checked out. The radar equipment has also been installed and tested, just as you asked, and her name has been painted on the rear of the boat."

Ahmed smiled to himself as he signed the check to complete the transaction. What the salesman didn't know was that Ahmed was just getting started customizing his new boat. Once the houseboat left the dealer, it would be transported to a large warehouse that Ahmed and several of his close friends owned on the outskirts of Chicago near Schaumburg. There, further and more extensive modifications would be made to the boat, none of which had ever been antic.i.p.ated by its designers. Just like the modifications that would be made to the other more than half a dozen cruisers and house boats that Ahmed was involved with having purchased.

"Thank you so much for your service to me." Ahmed said as he shook the salesman's hand and rose to leave. "A truck will arrive later this afternoon to transport the boat to my slip."

As he shook Haddad's hand, the salesman had one last question.

"You're very welcome, Mr. Haddad. You know, that's quite the name you have for her. We've never had a boat named the "Dhul Fiqar" before. Excuse me if I p.r.o.nounce it wrong. What does it mean anyway?"

Ahmed had arrived at the name for this particular boat long ago.

"No matter. It is not uncommon to misp.r.o.nounce it in English. It's p.r.o.nounced D'-hul Fi'car and it's an old Arabic expression of faith. Again, it has been a pleasure doing business with you."

Seeing the salesman nod, Ahmed turned and left. What he hadn't told the salesman was the complete meaning of the name. In Arabic, "Dhul Fiqar" translates into "The Prophet's Sword."

Chapter 8.

"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"-Yagyu Munenori