“We’re still operational, sir,” Cheshire added. “Tell ’em to send us back in. We’ve proven we can do the job. If a war is going to start, if Quemoy is in danger of being invaded, Taiwan will still need our help.”
Samson shook his head, silently marveling at this group’s apparent cold-bloodedness. Young stupid heroes, he decided. Flying into combat was all part of a day’s work for them. Hell, McLanahan was probably the most levelheaded one of the group, and he was ready to take another Megafortress back and twist the Chinese dragon’s tail once again. “Your comments are noted, guys. Do what you need to do on the ground to get your damaged plane ready to fly, but CINCPAC wants patrols halted until they get the word from CINCPAC or the Joint Chiefs.”
“Oh, goodie,” Elliott said sarcastically. “Hmmm. I wonder what they’ll say?”
“They’ll ask, Brad, ‘Who authorized the launch of those Wolverine missiles?’ ” Samson replied hotly. “They’ll ask, ‘How did Taiwan know our secure UHF synchronizer codes?’ They’ll ask, ‘Was it was really necessary to launch attacks on almost a dozen Chinese warships when it — would’ve been easier and safer for you to do as you were ordered to do, do a one-eighty, and get the hell out?’
“You guys did a really great job out there,” Samson concluded, with a definite weariness in his voice. “You proved that the heavy bomber, properly loaded with the right high-tech weaponry, can do a variety of missions over vast distances with speed, precision, and stealthiness. But you all know the old maxim: one ‘oh shit’ will erase a hundred ‘attaboys.’ Sorry to say it, but I think you’re going to see the truth in that old saying in just a few moments.”
It stayed silent until an electronic tone warned the participants that new conferees were linking into the system: NOW ENTERING THE CONFERENCE, DR. CHI-YANG SHIH, SECRETARY GENERAL, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, TAIPEI, REPUBLIC OF CHINA. NOW ENTERING THE CONFERENCE, ARTHUR CHASTAIN, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, WASHINGTON. CLASSIFICATION, TOP SECRET. ALL CONFEREES NOTE, VOICE AND DATA IS NOW TERMINATED; CHECK OPERATIONAL SECURITY, THEN ENTER YOUR SECURITY CODE TO CONTINUE. There was a slight pause as videoconference administrators double-checked security for their rooms and reentered their security codes; then the computer acknowledged, THANK YOU. FULL VIDEOCONFERENCE FEATURES ACTIVATED.
“General Samson, folks, Dr. Chi-yang Shih asked to join us for a few moments on this videoconference,” Secretary of Defense Chastain began. “Dr. Chi-yang, please go ahead.”
“Thank you, Secretary Chastain,” Chi-yang Shih said. Dr. Chi-yang was in his late fifties but looked considerably younger. He wore gold- rimmed round spectacles, making his round face appear even rounder, but his tailored suit gave him a definite air of authority. “General Elliott, Colonel McLanahan, Major Cheshire, it is indeed a pleasure to speak to all of you. On behalf of President Lee Teng-hui and my fellow citizens of the Republic of China, I wish to express my deepest heartfelt gratitude from my nation for your work, and our deepest sympathy for your loss of your fellow crew member. Your efforts resulted in saving hundreds of lives on Quemoy Tao. Because of you, the islands defenses are still viable. I promise you, the prayers of millions of my people, and especially the prayers of sixty thousand of your fellow soldiers on Quemoy Tao, will be with you and Lieutenant Vikram tonight and for all time.”
“Viable? How is that possible, sir?” McLanahan asked. “The explosion…?”
“Was at an altitude of approximately eight kilometers and at least fifteen kilometers south of the city of Shatou, thanks to you and your fellow airmen,” Chi-yang replied. “It appears that the missiles fired from your aircraft destroyed the Chinese M-ll missiles while in flight, resulting in a partial-yield nuclear explosion, around the order of five to six kilotons. Damage was limited to overpressure and did not include thermal or blast damage, and we feel radiation deaths and casualties will be minimal as well. Unfortunately, the crew of the Km Men was not as fortunate.”
“My God,” McLanahan muttered. All three airmen finally appeared to relax. They realized how very, very fortunate they and the people on Quemoy were.
“Communications have been disrupted in the area because of the blast, and there were some casualties, but there was only minor damage to the island’s defense systems,” Chi-yang went on. “In addition, our island garrisons are mostly underground, so our forces are safe. If the Communists attempt an invasion, they will still find a most formidable force opposing them.”
“With all due respect, sir, that carrier battle group is still dangerous,” Elliott said. “They sank two of your best warships, and they can still mount a deadly invasion force against Quemoy. ”
“Thanks to your brave efforts, it appears that the Communist fleet has stopped its northward progress and may even be withdrawing from the area,” Chi-yang replied. “It is true, Quemoy has been crippled, but the Communists will not test our resolve. It even appears that the carrier battle group is being recalled all the way to Hong Kong, and that the ground and rocket forces along the Formosa Strait have been stood down. A major catastrophe has been averted because of you, and I again wish to thank you most sincerely. ”
“Dr. Chi-yang, was the captain of the Km Men ordered to go out there and take on that carrier battle group all by itself?” McLanahan asked.
Chi-yang paused for a long moment, then sighed, lifted his shoulders, and responded, “Captain Sung’s orders were to make contact with the Communists’ battle group and warn them not to approach Quemoy Tao. We do not know why he opened fire on the battle group — and unfortunately, we may never know. He may have believed that the firepower provided by your aircraft could protect him. It matters little now, because we believe that it was the PLAN’s intention to attack with nuclear weapons in any case — in which case, Captain Sung and his crew will be hailed as national heroes for saving Quemoy Tao. As you will be.
“Before I terminate this conference, my friends, I must tell you,” Chi- yang went on, his voice choked by emotion now, “that my father was a deputy liaison to General Claire Lee Chennault and the American Volunteer Group, whom you call the Flying Tigers, during the Great War of Liberation with imperial Japan. He assisted many brave American Flying Tiger fighter pilots to survive and fight to keep the Burma Road open in our struggle against the Nipponese empire, before America entered the Great War of Liberation.
“I am struck by the similarities between that time, sixty years ago, and now. We Nationalists are no longer in control of the mainland, as before, but the aggressors are our own brothers, their minds tainted by the ugly stain of communism. But we and you, our American friends, are still comrades in arms now, just as we were then — even in secret, as it was then. General Samson, General Elliott, Colonel McLanahan, Major Cheshire, you and your fellow aviators are America’s new Flying Tigers, protecting the weak against the menace of imperialism and Communist dictatorship. I am proud to continue my father’s great mission. Thank you again, my young American friends. Call on me whenever you need assistance, and it shall be yours. I am your servant.” The connection from Taiwan terminated with the computerized voice announcing, NOW departing, DR. CHI-YANG SHIH, TAIPEI, REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
The videoconference screen was blank as Dr. Chi-yang departed; when security was restored in Washington, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral George Balboa was on the hookup from the Pentagon, along with Admiral Frederick Cowen, the chief of naval operations. “Very, very touching,” Balboa began acidly. “You did it again, Brad, you old son of a bitch. You screw up in the worst possible way, ignore orders, start firing missiles all over the damn sky, and you precipitate a damned nuclear attack, and somehow you have world leaders kissing your boots and comparing you to the Flying Tigers. Incredible.”