unexplained circumstances, a few radar ghosts–hell, we’re letting the fog of
war do all the Chinese’s work for them, inventing explanations and causes.”
“I personally think it’s possible that the Chinese have developed their
own version of the Tomahawk,” Lab Rat continued. “Except, perhaps, in one
instance.”
“Which one?” Batman asked.
“The attack on Mischief Reef. That was too short notice. Building a
Tomahawk package takes time.”
“Could have done it with something like a Harpoon and fly-to points,” Kos
said reflectively.
“Of course. But now we’re back to a mobile platform. Except for the
submarine, no evidence that a platform that could carry something like a
Harpoon was even around.”
“Okay, so what do you think it was?” Batman asked, exasperated.
“If I can, Captain, I’d like to hold that thought for just one more
moment. I think you’ll see why shortly,” Lab Rat said boldly.
Tombstone waved at Lab Rat to continue with the briefing.
“Finally, the last attack on the Mischief Reef base camp,” Lab Rat
continued. “Again, executed just as our aircraft were overhead. No
indications of anything inbound, no surface platforms in the area, and a
massive detonation. One survivor, who reports that he’d seen our aircraft
executing a fly-over. Surely he wasn’t the only one to see it. Picture the
sequence, gentlemen. An aircraft flies over, ten seconds later the camp
explodes.” Lab Rat fell silent and watched their faces.
“Oh, my god,” Tombstone said softly. “They did it them selves, didn’t
they?”
Lab Rat nodded. “I think so.”
“The Chinese blew up their own bases to make us look bad?” Batman asked.
“What’s so radical about that–I thought that’s just what we’ve been
discussing.”
“It’s more than that, Batman,” Tombstone said, his voice taking on a grim
note. “More than just intentionally attacking your own people. Think about
the timing. There was nothing in the area and no sign of a submarine-launched
weapon. I think La-the commander has the right idea.”
“Deception is the key to all Asian warfare planning,” Lab Rat said.
“It’s fundamental to the way they make war, and they plan for it in ways that
we can’t even begin to imagine. There’s only one way for that base camp to
have been destroyed so quickly. It was command-destructed. Somewhere
ashore–or maybe on the sub, I don’t know for sure–someone has a transmitter
that can send a signal to each Spratly Island. Somewhere in the foundation
for the larger camps is a self-destruct package. It’s not under the on-scene
commander’s control–he may not even know it’s there. But when the mainland
gets word from the base camp that American fighters are overhead, there’s a
way to make it look like we’re the cause of the destruction.”
“Assuming that’s how they’re doing it, how do we use the information?”
Tombstone asked, looking at the intelligence officer with new respect. He
would make it a point, he thought, to make sure that the man got a better call
sign. Whatever the reason for earning the name Lab Rat, he’d just outgrown
it.
“That part’s a little tricky,” Lab Rat admitted. “The first option is
trying to expose what China’s done. Unfortunately, we’re lacking a little
technicality called proof.”
“Sure would be nice, though. At least the other nations would start
listening to some sense instead of blindly following China’s lead,” CAG said.
“Not necessarily,” Lab Rat disagreed. “The concept of losing face is of
enormous importance here. The other nations probably already know that
China’s behind this. They may not know the details, but they’ll suspect
something. If we simply call China’s bluff, we put them in a difficult
position. Remember, after we leave the South China Sea, they’re still going
to have to deal with the giant to their north. And an unhappy, embarrassed
China is going to be a more difficult neighbor. Second, we’ll lose face with
the smaller nations–not for having been tricked initially, but for not
arriving at a solution that turns the situation to our advantage and allows
China to save some degree of face.”
“Who the hell cares whether China’s embarrassed!” Batman exploded.
“We have to,” Tombstone said grimly. “Different answers to problems at
this level, Batman. Things were a lot simpler when it was simply a matter of