“It was a massive incursion. We have tanks, a few helos, lots of artillery and a world full of infantry coming across the border. General Richardson initiated the strategy by pulling her troops east and south and consolidating along a line from Ibonp'o to Goyang. General Monahan is holding the line from Goyang to Suweon,” said a briefer before the assembled senior officers.
“That’s a pretty big pocket for these guys to fill,” said General Ryan Bradley, the Army Chief of Staff. He had come to Korea to check on the troops. There were fifteen Army, Navy and Marine commanders from seven nations in the room.
“Yes it is, General,” said Richardson. “But this gives us the chance to draw what they have out and then nip it off like a polyp during a colonoscopy. Even if we fall back to the coasts, we have that twenty-five mile corridor we can operate in all the way up the coast. The North knows if they move in, the battleships will be there to take them out. The idea would be that we let them come up against a brick wall and then we go over that wall from Yangyang and drive straight across the peninsula to Seoul. Cut through fast and clean and then choke them off.”
“I agree. There are some good passes through the mountains we can use, and I have people getting me information on the new tunnels they are using to move people around. If you can get me some special operations troops, we might be able to sabotage their works before the move,” said General Yao, the leader of the South Korean Forces. “General Richardson and I have been talking about this and she is providing some Marine Recon forces. I could use some more help.”
“While holding my line, I plan on sending a couple of brigades up the coast to the outskirts of Inchon. If I could take the port, we could set up an end run that would knock their socks off,” Monahan said.
“And I will have all the battleships and cruisers off the coasts by this time tomorrow. I will coordinate some additional air sorties against what we can see,” said Thacke, sitting in the back of the room.
“Sounds like you people have been talking,” Bradley said with a chuckle. “The main problem I see is knocking out their supply lines. The damn North Koreans have tunneled their way all across the area from what I understand. Even their stockpiles are underground and right now I don’t know where they are. The good news is right about now the Allies are launching a spy satellite that’s going to sit right on top of Korea. By this time tomorrow we might have an idea where everything is coming from. General Yao, I will get you those units. Anything we can do to louse up their operations will help. What else can I do to help all of you?” he asked.
“Just be ready for anything, General,” Monahan said. “From what we’re hearing these guys are almost fanatical in their devotion to Kim. They’re killing everyone in their way and moving on. We’ve actually seen what appeared to be suicide squads being thrown against our troops. It may get a little messy.”
I’m not looking at this to be any kind of pushover,” said General Bradley, “And I’ll defend whatever you must do to achieve our objectives as long as it is within reason. I will say the same thing to the President. You won’t hear any squawking from Washington.”
Monahan stood. “Very well then, get everything lined up. I want this kicked off as soon as we see some slackening in the number of troops coming across. That will be our sign. Get your people and equipment in place and be ready. When this happens, I want these people to wish they had never even heard of South Korea,” he said. All the people stood up and began leaving the room. General Bradley stopped Richardson before she left.
“Claire, I’m glad to finally meet you. You’re one hell of a tactician and one damn fine field commander,” he said shaking her hand.
“Just an old grunt, General. Though I must say I am enjoying it.”
“Well, your plans and your leadership got us this far. Your people advanced farther and faster than any others. I’d say more, but you’re just a Marine,” he said.
Both laughed. “I didn’t do much, General. When you have good people, they do all the work for you.”
“Spoken like a true soldier. I just wish I could be here to see this done. You and your people are poised to make some history. When the word comes down to go, turn ‘em loose and kick ass. I like your thinking. We can pinch these guys off and leave the North with very little to defend themselves. Just make sure you don’t get overwhelmed.”
“We’ll be ready. If you decide to stay, you can come along with us.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he joked while shaking her hand again.
Chapter 19
The KH-13 reconnaissance satellite lifted off on time and entered Earth orbit just as planned. The large machine made its way over the pole and eventually moved toward Korea. The onboard systems maneuvered the Hubble sized satellite into its fixed orbit and seemingly locked it in place. Solar collectors opened and antennas extended. A small dish antenna pointed itself towards an island in the Aleutians chain.
Luckily the Aleutians had been spared during the EMP attack. The old military base had a large dish antenna and the receivers to pick up the satellite’s signals and relay the information via fiber optic line to Langley. Within ten minutes the satellite reported itself on station and began running the diagnostics to bring itself online.
The KH-13 was far more capable than the venerable KH-11 or KH-12 satellites. In particular, the infrared optics had the capability to make out the very subtle differences in temperature that might indicate an underground bunker or storage facility. Tunnels were a piece of cake. The first orders to the satellite were to aim its infrared sensors and its cameras toward the DMZ. One hour later, the military had answers to where the tunnels and exits were. Two hours later, several underground facilities were identified, not the least of which was a huge warm facility under the Kim Il-Sung Stadium in downtown Pyongyang.
Hammond couldn’t believe his eyes when a new funnel with all its gear was trucked onto the pier. It had already been primed and painted with the exception of the places that would be welded. It looked as if this was a piece to some giant toy model that was just waiting to be cemented into place from a kit. He looked over at the old stack, taken off the ship earlier. It was sitting on the pier beside the new one; mangled and torn. The blast had ripped the steel in several directions and it looked like some kind of cancerous growth. But Hammond had almost hated to see it leave the ship. It had been a part of her since she had been launched and to see it like that hurt inside.
Within minutes the crane was attached to the lifting points on the new funnel. It was lifted gently, moved over the ship, and positioned exactly over where the old one had been. After cutting the old stack away, the grinders had come in and ground the remaining steel down to bare metal so that the new welds would be solid. Positioning spacers had been welded on so that the new funnel would be directed into place easily. The old foreman was using hand signals as the funnel was positioned only fractions of inches from the stump of the old stack to make sure it was exactly where it should be. The funnel lowered until it met its counterpart on the ship. Only very small spacers remained. The welders immediately began to lay beads of welding around the stack to hold it in place. More welders were inside the structure doing the same to the baffles inside. In a few places where the baffles did not meet, the sledge hammers were pulled out and they were forced into position. Then the crane was disconnected and moved away.
The welders attacked the funnel with a purpose now, welding the two pieces together both inside and out, ensuring the welds were perfect. Once done with one section, the grinders came back in and ground the welds down to make them smooth on the outside. Then another crew began slapping red lead paint over the bare metal. A second layer would be added, then a coat of haze grey. The crews were in a hurry. By the next morning, the transmitter/receiver for the RPV would be installed under a fiberglass dome on the forward part of the funnel. When that was complete, the ship would be going back to war.