F-16 and the Israeli Lavi fighters, it was designed specifically to extend
China’s reach from the mainland into the Spratly Island region. It combined
the powerful Russian jet engine used on the Flanker with an in-flight
refueling capability integral to the airframe. With an extended range and
both ground attack and air combat capabilities, its speed and maneuverability
made it a match for even the MiG-29.
The intelligence officers swore the F-10 was not yet operational. The
pilots just pointed to the JAST birds sitting on the deck as proof that it
could be.
Other than the routine patrols of the American E-2C’s and the Chinese
fighters, the South China Sea lapsed into an uneasy silence. The Vietnamese
were particularly silent, their MiG-23s and Flankers hugging the long
coastline and venturing out into international airspace only to conduct air
combat training with the Chinese fighters.
The battle group watched the simulated ACM off the coast, monitoring the
communications between the Chinese and the Vietnamese flights for shreds of
intelligence data. Linguists announced that the Vietnamese aircraft usually
played victim for Chinese attack sorties. The exact details were unclear,
since the two countries switched to encrypted circuits for most of their
tactical communications. When the first night ACM exercise launched tensions
on board Jefferson ratcheted a notch higher.
“How many now?” Tombstone asked.
“At least fifty Chinese Flankers in Vietnam, maybe more,” Lab Rat said.
“Maybe ten each in Brunei and Malaysia. Satellite imagery isn’t the complete
answer to all our questions–they’ve moved some of them into underground
bunkers.”
“As bad as the Koreans are,” Tombstone muttered, staring at the small
scale map projected up on the wall of the briefing room. “That entire area is
probably honeycombed with underground facilities.”
“Probably, sir. We have some intelligence reports that confirm that.”
“Well. Not entirely our problem, of course, but it’s going to be hell
for the next army that goes in there. Let’s hope it’s not us. How are they
reacting to our air ops?”
“As far as we can tell, it’s going according to plan. China is moving
aircraft into Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia, and continuing routine patrols in
the northern portion of the South China Sea. Aegis reports that all military
aircraft simply ignore any and all communications from them.”
“Just keeping an eye on us, then. No unexpected jamming, no incidents?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Or so we’re supposed to think.”
“And as they’re supposed to think, too,” Tombstone added softly.
0900 local (Zulu -8)
Operations Center
Hanoi, Vietnam
“No reaction?” Mein Low asked.
“None that we can identify,” his staff officer said.
Strange. He would have expected the Americans to increase their patrols
in the area, not decrease them. Still, it was consistent with their actions
in the United Nations. Ever since their defeat in Vietnam, the Americans had
been increasingly reluctant to try to assert their political will so far from
home. Of course, it was foolish of them ever to believe that they would have
any real voice in how things went in the South China Sea. It simply was none
of their concern.
“I think it’s time to consider the final events in this course of
action,” he said, studying the chart. “Politically, events seem to be moving
as we wish. Our South China Sea neighbors understand that their future lies
with us, not with the crazed Caucasian aggressors who are attacking unarmed
island camps. Thus far, we have been models of restraint, reacting only via
diplomatic channels and in the United Nations. And tactically, we have three
squadrons on the ground in Vietnam, as well as one squadron in Malaysia and
one in Brunei.”
“The first lesson,” his assistant said. “Attack your enemy’s alliances
and allies.”
“An excellent example here,” he replied. “And you see how we have used
the same events in two different ways. First, the Americans’ allies doubt
her. Second, the smaller countries draw closer to us, uneasy about the
possibility that the Americans will attack them. Yes, this was a beautifully
fashioned plan. I am pleased.”
“Now that we have created the proper climate, what next?”
The older man gently stroked the map, his fingers lingering on the area