Authors note: Despite extensive internet research it is not known or publicly disclosed (naturally) whether China has the same Permissive Action Links (PAL) for nuclear missile launch as the United States. Nor am I able to determine whether a dual key system such as the USA's launch protocol is in place. I am therefore assuming that for literary simplicity that the Chinese are able to launch with one key…and button.

3rd COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT

USMC 3rd MARINE DIVISION,

CAMP FOSTER,

OKINAWA, JAPAN

The Marine base was a flurry of activity as troop transports were prepped in preparation for the mission and trucks were being loaded with gear. Mac looked on as the pallets of equipment were loaded onto the USAF C-17s. Her Command Sergeant Major watched over the Gunnery Sergeants that were in charge of the Marine crews that were preparing the pallets for the Air Force aircrew that were in charge of loading the pallets onto the C-17 in a way that the airworthiness of the C-17 was not affected.

"How is the loading going?" Mac asked quietly as she perused the preparations.

"We have the six C-17s that will be dropping the troops onto the island loaded already. We have are prepping the howitzers and other equipment on three other C-17s that will be dropped when the island is secured." Sergeant Major Gregory Barnes said. Mac soon learned that SM Barnes was top when it came to organization and logistics. "Ready and mission capable, ma'am!"

"Thank you, Sergeant Major." Mac replied. She was doing her best to not dwell on the conversation that she and Harm had in the break room at Camp Courtney but it was affecting her in ways emotionally that she was not prepared to admit. The simple admission that Harm had stated that he was going to get married again had thrown a major grenade into her post-divorce ordered life.

BRIEFING ROOM

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 3rd MARINE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS

CAMP COURTNEY,

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP SMEDLEY D. BUTLER

OKINAWA, JAPAN

Animal looked over at his command briefing staff. "The Chinese High Command is not a centralized entity and answers only to the Chinese Communist Party. This means that either they are the ones pulling the strings or we are dealing with a renegade. I want you to write up a report on the political assessment of our adversary and give the JCS an idea of what is going on. I want our High Command to know exactly what is happening out here. Right now they're mushrooms because things are happening too fast to report 'as they happen'. Send the report on the secure fax. Encrypt it."

"Aye, sir." Harm replied as he, the JMSDF liaison and Bud exited Animal's temporary office at 3rd Marine Division. He knew he was going to have to make a telephone call to CNO. "Get me the CNO." He said after the other end of the line picked up.

"The CNO is in a briefing with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sir." The CNO's aide stated.

"Well, you can patch me through, this is CINCPACFLT, Priority!" Animal snapped.

CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS' OFFICE

NAVY PENTAGON

WASHINGTON, D.C

"Aye, sir." The aide knew not to prevaricate since the admiral's voice sounded highly pissed off. Placing the CINCPACFLT on hold, he patched the call through to the JCS meeting room.

"Sir, CINCPACFLT on the line, sir, he says its Priority."

JOINT CHIEFS MEETING ROOM

NAVY PENTAGON

WASHINGTON D.C.

The CNO picked up the line. "Admiral. What is happening over there?" Using an index finger to slap the speaker-phone button so that the rest of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could hear, he placed the telephone receiver back on its cradle.

"Sir, I'm patching a report through to you by secure fax." Animal's voice sounded highly pissed off and stressed. The long hours of the operation planning were evident to CNO. "the long and the short of it, is that the Central High Committee in the People's Republic doesn't know squat about the fact that they have a renegade political officer running around causing havoc."

"Are you saying that the Chinese High Command doesn't know anything about it?" The CNO, Admiral McClusky growled. "This guy is prepping ICBMs and the High Command doesn't know anything about it?" The CNOs face was one of disbelief as similar looks were passed around the table around the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The rest of the JCS stayed silent.

An aide stepped into the room holding a folder. "The report came in, sir."

Glancing at the title. 'THE GEOPOLITICAL ALIGNMENT OF CHINESE HIGH COMMAND' also included was the 'WHITE PAPER ON CHINESE FIRST STRIKE POTENTIAL'. Reading down the second paper quickly, ADM McClusky saw a highlighted phrase leap out at him. "not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances" however ADM Nakamura had also included examples of situations where China's actions or preparations went counter to that policy. "It is our opinion that China's ambiguity in it's NFU (no first use) policy points to a tactical/strategic uncertainty that we can under no circumstances allow to dictate our own response."

The third report was the tactical battle plan for the recapture of the Senkaku Islands. "Send a green light to 3rd Div." He said to the Commandant of Marine Corps who was sitting two seats down on his right. "We're going to green light that operation. The plan is tactically sound." McClusky knew that he was dealing with several political animals on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that's why he gave Animal a long leash in terms of dealing with the situation out in the Pacific. He needed someone with initiative but there were times when McClusky had to step up and take the hit to the chin. He wouldn't allow the Navy to be populated by political types whose only concern was to ticket-punch their way to the top of the food-chain. He looked over at the call alert – CAMP COURTNEY? "Where the hell are you, Animal?" the CNO asked. "You're not calling from Honolulu."

"I can't conduct operations from 4 time zones away." Animal sounded irritable. "I need to be close by to get a tactical read on the situation. Conducting an operation from the rear where tactical information can be six to ten hours old is strategic suicide. That's why I'm in Okinawa."

"Understood, Animal. Just make sure you get the job done!" McClusky said. "Holy shit!" he sighed rubbing his forehead. He was going to have a major headache soon. "I'm going to have to brief the President on this now. Good luck to you, Admiral."

"Thank you. I'll be in touch with you at the closure of the operation, sir." Animal replied. The click in the phone had indicated to the CNO that Animal had ended the call. That sat alright with the CNO as Animal had more important things such as the management of the Senkaku recapture operation to oversee. The political ticket-punchers looked annoyed while the tactical strategists on the JCS nodded affirmatively. The strategists knew that Animal had more important things to take care of.

The CNO glared at the political ticket-punchers on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Gentlemen…THAT is a tactician. And tactical initiative is what is going to win this war." He knew who the ticket punchers were and knew that next round, he was going to have to remove them from the Staff. The trick was figuring out how.

OVAL OFFICE

WHITE HOUSE

1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

WASHINGTON DC

Next year was an election year and the ratings on President George W. Bush's term in office were not favourable. Besides as a last-term president, each president could only serve two terms after the rule went into effect after Franklin Delano Roosevelt was able to serve four terms and would have probably been elected again if he hadn't suffered a major stroke and passed away three months into his fourth term. George W. was a pragmatic sort and thought that it would be nice for him and Laura to quietly subside into private life again. The constant barbs at his intelligence level and his ability to lead had eroded his desire for the office. He had more white hairs and lines in his forehead than he had when he had taken office almost eight years previous. Sitting in the seat behind the desk in the Oval Office was a stress that he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy after his experience with it.

The Presidential aide knocked on the door to the Oval Office. "Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps need to brief you."

"Thank you…send'em in." Pres. Bush replied with a tired gaze at the carpet emblazoned with the Presidential Seal on the Oval Office floor.

"Sir." The Marine General and Navy Admiral stepped into the office, and snapped to attention in front of their Commander in Chief.

"So what's going on out there?" the slight Texas twang of the President was audible as he looked up at the Chief of Naval Operations. "What's he doing out there? I'm seeing in the papers about Nakamura doing this, Nakamura doing that. Tell me what the real scoop is."

"Sir, we think it's a renegade that's going around causing havoc. The Chinese have no control over this Zhou character. The Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet has indicated that the Chinese have had a 'no first strike' policy and have rarely ever considered striking first with their nuclear weapons unless there is a distinct strategic threat to their sovereign soil. But what they consider as a threat is subject to confusion. What we might consider a mild threat is probably escalated to strike level on the perception of the Chinese. And that's where everything gets dicey." CNO stated as he levelled a grave look at his CIC who stared out the window as he pondered the CNO's verbal report.

…then replied sarcastically "Well, considering the fact that your admiral has bombed the Chinese airbase and blown up two of their strategic nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles, I think he's gone from strategic threat to major threat, wouldn't you say? Should I be watching for one MT warheads vaporizing everything from here to Seattle in the next forty-eight hours? I suppose I should be thankful for the fact that he's taken out two of I don't know how many long-range ICBMs that have the capacity to hit the United States." The CNO hadn't had an answer for that.

CNO cringed. The President had a point that the DF-31s had the capacity to hit anywhere in the continental United States with sizeable warheads. But Animal's tactics were sound. He had also notified the JCS that he was researching satellite photos to track down every DF-4, DF-31 and DF-31A mobile long range nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as set cruise missile targeting on DF-5 and DF-5A stationary nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile launch sites. You don't leave the enemy with a potent threat. If the Chinese started posturing, his tactics would be to take out the strategic missiles only leaving them with launchers that could reach regional targets. The only strategic missiles that they wouldn't be able to target would be the JL-2 submarine launched three-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles. Animal was so thorough that he wouldn't leave a stone unturned. And the thoroughness of the Admiral in the CINCPACFLT was what they needed in command in the Pacific.

Zhōngyāng Jūnshì

CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION

OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA

BEIJING CHINA

"Zhōu shì shīkòngle! Dìguó zhǔyì zài zhōngguó bèi cuīhuǐ zhīqián, tā bìxū tíngzhǐ! [Zhou is out of control! He must be stopped before China is destroyed by the imperialists!]" the general consensus of the Chinese Admirals and Generals that made up the Central Military Commission was terse. General Li had reported into the CMC when he had returned to Beijing. General Liu Jian Guo snarled loudly. "Zhōu bìng bù dàibiǎo zhōngguó. Tā zhǐshì tā zìjǐ de lìliàng! [Zhou does not represent China. He is only out for his own power!] General Liu was a long term Party member, but he was also a dedicated Peoples Liberation Army Air Force general dedicated to the well-being of the Motherland.

Li understood exactly what Liu was saying and what Liu said next confirmed his worst fears. "Li jiāngjūn, nǐ hé zhèng fùzé xiāochú zhōu. Nǐ huì zǔzhǐ tā zài měiguó huò rìběn fāshè dǎodàn, zhè jiāng shì nǐmen liǎng gè shuí jiāng huì zài háng xíng duì miànqián! [General Li, you and Cheng are responsible for eliminating Zhou. You will prevent him from launching missiles at the United States or at Japan or it will be you two who will be in front of the firing squad!]"

Sweat rolling down his forehead, Li nodded and said "Shì de, jiāngjūn tóngzhì [Yes, Comrade General]" It was official, he needed to eliminate this threat to China or he would be eliminated.

"Nín kěnéng huì líkāi! [You may leave!]" Admiral Zhang Zhao-Wei said dismissively. Admiral Zhang was the former commander of the East Sea Fleet and a loyal Party member inclined to side with Party apparatchik, however the antics of Zhou had him angered at the potential for destruction by the imperialists.

ZHŌNGGUÓ TÈZHǑNG BÙDUÌ DETACHMENT

DIAOYU DAI

DIAOYU ISLANDS

Captain Chi looked out at the waters surrounding the islands. His communications sergeant had sent out a light signal indicating whether or not they had seen any enemy ships. The other island detachments had sent reply light signals indicating their status.

The sergeant in charge came up to him and stated. "Méiyǒu dí chuán kànjiàn, shàngwèi tóngzhì. [No enemy ships sighted, Comrade Captain.]"

Captain Chi responded as he looked through some binoculars at the ships on the horizon "Nàxiē kàn qǐlái xiàng měiguó jūnjiàn. Dāngrán, tāmen bù dǎsuàn zàicì chángshì. [Those look like American ships. Surely, they are not going to try again.]" he looked wryly at his sergeant. "Wǒ xiǎng wǒmen huì xiàng tāmen fāsòng tāmen de wěiba zàicì bāozhuāng. [I guess we will have to send them with their tails packing again.] Wǒmen yǒu duōshǎo kōng duì kōng dǎodàn? Wǒ qídài bùjiǔ gōngjí. [How many air to air missiles do we have? I expect an attack shortly]"

"Wǒmen yǒu liù jiā, xiānshēng jiā sì zhuāhuò [We have six, sir plus four captured]"

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA

OKINAWA, JAPAN

The temporary office of CINCPACFLT and his staff at Camp Courtney on Okinawa was bustling with activity as the Boeing C-17s and Mitsubishi C-1s took off for Senkaku. It was a quick transfer from Camp Courtney to Futenma as Animal preferred to be around aircraft. The F/A-18Ds of VMFA(AW)-242 from 1st MAW (Marine Air Wing) from MCAS Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture were TDY'd to Futenma to fly strike to soften up the target area before dropping the SEALs and paratroops in. They had taken off about 15 minutes prior to the take-off of the Boeing C-17s. F/A-18Fs of the USS Ronald Reagan would fly air-cover for the C-17s and C-2s inbound and egress.

Animal looked out the window of his office. "Our first units are away. I also want HSC-22 to conduct anti-sub missions as well as P-3s from VP-9 to circle the area with antisub depth charges…they can refuel at Futenma. I want them to drop so many sonobuoys they can walk to that godforsaken island! Commander, I want to know where those goddamned Chinese subs are!"

"aye, aye, sir!" snapped out Bud as he hastily exited to do Animal's bidding. Bud was rapidly getting to know that Animal was snappish and demanding when he was stressed and granted, war was a stressful situation where anyone wouldn't be at their most sociable. But when nuclear weapons were involved, it was even more so. The whole world could go up in a nuclear conflagration if one didn't play their strategic cards right.

VMFA(AW)-242 Lead F/A-18D Hornet

BAT 01

"Bat 01 to Bat 02. I have the islands in sight." Over to the side, he could see a dirty explosion of water as one of the P-3 Orions tagged a Chinese attack sub 50 miles out of the island perimeter. Yet another one was seen as another P-3 tagged a second attack sub. "I see the encampment clearing." The lead Marine aviator eased the F/A-18D Hornet into a 20 degree angle nose-down. He was loaded with six Mk. 82 500lb iron bombs (these were high-explosive dumb bombs with no guidance other than the pilot who aimed them and released them on their impact trajectory) on hardpoints 8, 5 and 2. 8 and 2 were the outer hardpoints and 5 was the centerline. Because of the short hop, they didn't put a centerline fuel tank on hardpoint 5. 4 out of the six D Hornets were armed with six Mk. 82s each. The other two had loadouts of Mk. 20 Rockeye bombs. These were nasty little antipersonnel bombs that split into bomblets that would impact and explode causing severe trauma to any troops currently in the area. The Mk. 82s would clear trees and the Mk. 20s would clear personnel.

The lead F/A-18D dropped its ordnance in a massive explosion that engulfed the Chinese special forces camp throwing personnel all over the island. The other three each picked an island and focused on the eradication of the personnel there. Then the two remaining F/A-18Ds each pickled two Rockeyes on each island and seeing the multiple mini-explosions decimating the Chinese special forces into an unrecognizable pile of hacked meat, the F/A-18Ds exited the area. There would be no pyre for Captain Chi's memory other than the mass grave that the bodies of the Chinese would be thrown onto. There were still pockets of resistance but the majority of those would be wiped out by the SEALs, Marine Recon and paratroops of the US Marine Corps and JGSDF. The artillery pieces dropped by C-17, were set up around the island and they commenced firing on Nan Xiaodao. But the Chinese special forces that remained on there went to ground.

Zhōngyāng Jūnshì

CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION

OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA

BEIJING CHINA

General Liu Jian Guo shook his head "Diàoyúdǎo rénmín de tèzhǒng bùduì yǐ bèi dǎbài. Shìfǒu yǒu rènhé jìhuà, yǐ duóhuí dǎoyǔ? [The People's Special Forces have been defeated on Diaoyu. Are there any plans to retake the islands?]"

The PLA General shook his head. "Yèjiān, IL-76, wǒmen kěyǐ sòng shàng yī fèn xīnyì jiāgù. Rìběn rén hé měiguó rén yǐjīng cǎiqǔle diàoyúdǎo hé běi xiǎodǎo. Wǒmen réngrán yǒu dàyuē 50 míng shìbīng zài nán xiǎodǎo de yīgè xiǎo de zhǔ duìwu. Wǒmen jiāng jiāqiáng tāmen cóng nán dào bìmiǎn tíxǐng měiguó rén hé tāmen de rìběn zǒugǒu. [We can send a token reinforcement by Il-76 by night. The Japanese and Americans have taken the Diaoyudao and Bei Xiaodao. We still have a small primary contingent of about 50 soldiers on Nan Xiaodao. We will reinforce them from the south to avoid alerting the Americans and their Japanese lackeys.] Rán gàosu nán xiǎodǎo, ránhòu néng jiānchí dào. Bǎochí měiguó hé rìběn de máng! [Tell the contingent on Nan Xiaodao to hold out until then. Keep the Americans and the Japanese busy!]

The rest of the Central Military Commission nodded as they needed to retake the Diaoyu Islands in order to reinforce their rule. The public would only be appeased with a concerted effort. That unfortunately was the end result of Zhou's machinations. He was trying to usurp Hu Jin Tao's position as Party President, and he was popular despite his unattractive countenance. He was stirring the patriotic element thus creating negative influence amongst those who wished to negotiate a settlement. Zhou's way was violence: China for the Chinese and as far as Zhou was concerned, as many lands that he could bring under Chinese rule, the better. Like all tyrants, the political commissar didn't care how much blood he shed in the process, just so long as it wasn't his own. It would be up to the Central Military Commission to take over the situation and rescue the remainder of the special forces that were trapped on the island.

TEMPORARY CINCPACFLT OFFICE

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA

OKINAWA, JAPAN

OCTOBER 29, 2007

1600 HRS

"We've just received word that the troops have secured the island. The majority of the Chinese special forces have been wiped out by the F/A-18D attacks and our troops are conducting mop up operations on the main islands." Harm reported to the admiral.

Animal replied. "Alright. Put the logistical plan into effect. We need to resupply the troops so that they have enough food and ammunition for the long haul. If we are to keep the islands in our hands, we need to make sure that the troops can adequately defend their positions."

"Aye! sir." Harm replied as he set to work on the problem. Bud and VADM Kamitakahara were huddled around a table going over other plans regarding the taking over Minami-kojima from Chinese hands. What appeared to be a potential plan was taking over by assault craft. Right now, the problematic distance (very little) between Chinese Special Forces and Japanese and American paratroops, was causing a great amount of friction between the two forces. They were engaged in a grenade throwing contest between each island trying to eliminate the other side by attrition. Two hundred and fifty meters was all that separated the two islands. Snipers had taken up positions on either side. The combined Japanese/American paratroop force numbered 100 troops while the Chinese special forces had numbered about 75 troops.

"Any casualties from the Kita Kojima detachment?" Animal asked Bud and VADM Kamitakahara.

"Yes, sir." Bud said. "The Chinese special forces have caused about 25 casualties on our end from dropping RPG rounds into the center of the island. It seems as though they are ramping up for an attack. But from what we can tell, there's only about 50 of them left. It appears that they're trying a suicide attack."

COMMANDING OFFICER'S OFFICE

3rd COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT

USMC 3rd MARINE DIVISION,

CAMP FOSTER,

OKINAWA, JAPAN

"Colonel Mackenzie. 3rd Marine Division Detachment 2 is taking concentrated fire from Chinese special forces who have control of Minami Kojima." Sergeant Major Barnes informed the Colonel.

"Understood, Sergeant Major!" Colonel Mackenzie said. "I need Lieutenant Colonel Franks here. Our logistical situation is a nightmare. We have enough equipment, we just need the equipment to haul it out of here to get them to our troops. When are the trucks due back from Futenma?" Pallets had been going out of Camp Foster on what appeared to be a two hour interval. "The Chinese Special Forces on Minami Kojima, I have a hunch, are going to be reinforced tonight and they're going to make an attack on Kita Kojima first thing in the morning." ~that must have been her vision.~ "Warn the Kita Kojima Detachment that they need to step up the harassment. Make sure that they inflict casualties on the Chinese so that their forces are stripped to absolutely nothing!" Mac made a split-second command decision. "Tonight we're making a trip to Uotsuri Kojima. I want to talk to the Detachment Commander and make sure that the equipment gets to the people that we need to get the equipment to. And I want to assess the situation."

"Ma'am, are you sure that's wise, considering it's a hostile location and the island isn't secured yet?"

"We have 500 plus troops on the main island. There shouldn't be a problem. I should be protected." Mac said confidently; her voice steady though inside she didn't really feel that way. "We leave this afternoon.

SHANG XIANG TONG DAO QIAO AB

ZHANGZHOU,

NANJING MILITARY DISTRICT

FUJIAN PROVINCE,

CHINA

1930 HRS

The Central Military Commission had issued its orders. 6 Il-76s had been equipped with a full contingent of Chinese paratroops. Each aircraft had 120 paratroops in place. 4 troops carriers would drop over Uotsuri to overwhelm the main island and create a major diversion so that the troops on Nan Xiaodao would be able to make an assault to retake Bei Xiaodao, 2 would drop over Nan Xiaodao to reinforce the sadly attrition-depleted troops on that island to make ready for a major assault.

The aircraft would be airborne inside of three hours. And the mission by the Chinese to retake the Diaoyu Islands would be underway. It would reassert the dominance of China over the islands and enforce the sovereignty of China over the usage of those islands. The simple fact that the main island was also a target in this reinforcement of the Chinese special forces position was the insult that the Americans had made with their tying their fortunes with the Japanese. The Central Military Commission had no fight with the United States. All they wanted was the Diaoyu recognized as a Chinese possession rather than the Japanese who had no rights to the islands, seeing how close they were to Chinese territory.

UOTSURI JIMA DETACHMENT COMMAND TENT

COMBINED USMC/JGSDF

UOTSURI JIMA

JAPAN

"Colonel!" LCOL Bradley Fraser snapped to attention as Colonel Mackenzie walked into the command tent. The SH-53 had landed in a clearing on the beach and let off the colonel and her staff, then took off again back to Okinawa. "What can I do for you?"

"I want to see the logistics situation here on Uotsuri Jima and Kita Kojima." Mac stated quickly. I need to know the situation so that I can make adjustments on how much you're supplied, the intervals with which you're supplied and what comes in on each shipment.

I can let you look over our plans on how we intend to reinforce and retain this island and then we can figure out what can be supplied over to the contingent holding the other island." LCOL Fraser replied as he motioned her over to the planning table. LCOL Fraser was wondering why the logistics commander would be at the very front of the combat zone. It wasn't safe for her to be there, but who was he to mention that to a higher ranking officer. He figured that since she had the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, she'd know the risks involved with being at the front.

VF-41 BRIEFING ROOM

USS RONALD REAGAN, CVN-76

150 MILES NORTH EAST OF UOTSURI JIMA

"Skates" the voice of CO Bryant resounded in the VF-41 Briefing Room. "I need you and three others up on the Ready 15 alert. Intel sees activity at Mahuiling Air Base. Photos show fighters warming up. Looks like Chinese Flankers. I don't think its normal activity, there's too many of them warming up. I want the rest of the squadron on full alert. CAG has got the rest of the air wing on full alert."

"Aye, aye, sir." Skates replied as she ran for the locker-room corralling another crew while she was at it as well as her WSO." Looked a lot like the Hornets would get a hell of a workout especially if the Chinese were throwing as many of their Flankers out at them as they could.

2ND ARTILLERY CORPS,

XIANYOU, PUTIAN,

FUJIAN PROV.

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The Red Panda walked up to a missile commander, pointed his sidearm in his face and snarled. "Zài sān gè xiǎoshí nèi zhǔnbèi fāshè de DF -21A [Prepare a DF-21A for launch in three hours]; Yòng wu bai qiān dūn dàntóu mùbiāo dōngjīng [Target Tokyo with a five hundred kiloton warhead]. Fǒuzé, nǐ fàngqì nǐ de shēnghuó [Otherwise you forfeit your life]" The missile commander had no choice but to comply or risk a bullet to the forehead.

INSIDE BYD F3 SEDAN

ROAD LEADING TO XIANYOU

"Kuài diǎn! Rúguǒ xiǎo xióngmāo yǒu jīhuì fāshè dǎodàn, zhè kěnéng yìwèizhe hé zhànzhēng. [Hurry! If the Red Panda has a chance to launch a missile, it could mean nuclear war.]" Cheng urged as Li pushed down the accelerator pedal with his right foot hard. The car accelerated down the winding curve as they tried their best to stop a world tragedy from happening. If they didn't succeed…it wasn't going to be pretty. Li prayed that the engine wouldn't give out. The engine wasn't making the best noises. Cursing out the cheap Chinese manufacturing process and grinding the gears of the manual transmission as he was usually driven by a chauffer, unfamiliar with actually driving at high speeds, he pushed the car to its very limits. There were no lights on the road and the only illumination was the headlights as he negotiated the dirt road leading to a pontoon bridge. The only other way would take him 35 minutes past where he needed to be. He knew where the missile site that the Red Panda would go to. It was the only missile site in the area that had missiles with range enough to reach his intended target.

TEMPORARY CINCPACFLT OFFICE

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA

OKINAWA, JAPAN

OCTOBER 29, 2007

2000 HRS

"We just had a KH-12A overflight of areas of interest on the Chinese mainland." Bud said. "Increased activity at Shang Xiang Air Base and there is increase activity taking base at what we suspect is a missile site at Xianyou. I would suspect it to be a DF-21A with a 500kt warhead and it appears to be preparing for launch."

Animal snapped out. "I want the Ronald Reagan to launch an alpha strike on the missile site. I also want the other carrier in the region, the Lincoln, to fly CAP over the islands. I suspect an attack tonight."

"Yes, sir." Commander Roberts replied as he prepared to organize intel into a package that could be sent to the Ronald Reagan for them to be able to conduct combat ops over China that night.

FLAG PLOT

USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)

150 MILES NORTH EAST OF UOTSURI JIMA

RADM Wallace picked up the phone. "Yes, sir. Understood, sir. Alpha Strike on Xianyou…absolutely, sir. We'll prep and ready the aircraft to go within 3 hours. Yes, sir. I understand. It's absolutely urgent." After getting off the phone with CINCLANT, the flag plot was a hive of activity. Mission planning worked overtime to get the proper briefings. Ordnance had to get the proper loadout. Sleep was a word that wasn't on anyone's mind as the USS Ronald Reagan prepared for war.

Calling in the CAG and his XO as well as the various squadron XOs, the mission strike plan came together slowly.

Captain Kimberley Benton, CVW-3's commander looked absolutely exhausted but knew that this was going to be a last ditch effort. "Sir, we have the strike plan ready to go. Mission is a go at 2300 hrs"

OVER DIAOYU DAI

FROM 30,000 feet.

Il-76 Candid (Lead Plane)

2200 HRS

The jumpers were all supplied with air-bottles as the air at 30,000 feet was too thin to breath on their own and oxygen masks were worn, tightly sealed around their faces. Special forces jumps were done at this range, but never before had so many special forces soldiers jumped at the same time. The sky would be filled over 700 special forces paratroops.

The green light came on, the cabin depressurised and the jumpmaster yelled out, his voice amplified by the radio in his oxygen mask. "Qù... Qù... QÙ! [Go…Go…GO!]" The paratroopers launched themselves out the aircraft. Their opening would be at one thousand five hundred feet. And the entry would be silent, allowing them to be able to land on the top of the ridge line looking down upon the Japanese/USMC encampment.

A HALO jump from 30,000 involved about 2 minutes of freefall and the jumpers all watched their wrist altitude indicators. As the altitude approached 3000feet, the jumpers one by one started deploying their chutes…a number of the chutes landed in the trees. And the jumpers detached their chutes to drop softly into the forest quickly getting their Type 95 rifles in hand. Looking over the ridge-line the special forces commander said. "Wǒmen fādòng fúxiǎo gōngjí, zhídào nà shí, wǒmen yíng zài zhèlǐ, zhǔnbèi gōngjí. [We attack at dawn, until then we camp here and get ready for the attack.]" He waited for the casualty report from the jump. Sixteen jumpers had broken legs and a couple had broken arms." But outside of that, there were no fatal casualties.

Surprisingly, the parachutes of seven special forces dropping onto both Diaoyu Dao and Nan Xiaodao had failed to elicit any reaction from the xiao riben and meiguo guizi. The commander of the detachment looked over the ridge-line at the Marine encampment. This was going to be quite the attack in the morning.

Somewhere one of the special forces soldiers needing a smoke-break decided to step away from his contingent and light up a Chonghwa (a Chinese brand of cigarette).

TEMPORARY CINCPACFLT OFFICE

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA

OKINAWA, JAPAN

OCTOBER 29, 2007

2330 HRS

"Sir." Bud looked absolutely exhaust. "KH-12 report from Honolulu sir. Our men are situated on the beach-head before making their way up onto the ridgeline in the morning, am I correct? Sir?"

"That's supposed to be what's going on, Bud." Animal replied. "So what's the problem".

"Thermal scan from the recent KH-12 indicates hotspots at least numbering 250 bodies possibly more on top of the ridgeline."

"SHIT!" Animal said. "How much longer till we can put some F/A-18s from the Lincoln with Mk. 82s? I know the Ronny is committed to the Alpha Strike! Tell Wallace to get CAG from the Lincoln on the horn to let them know we need to strike on Minami Kojima. I think the Chinese are trying to retake the islands."

SENTRY POST ALPHA

UOTSURI JIMA

2335 HRS

"Gunny…" one of the lance corporals handed him a pair of binoculars. "See that pinpoint of light. Up there in the tree line on the ridge? It keeps going on and out…like a blinking orange light."

"Yes…now I see it."

"It's not one of ours, is it?" The LCPL asked.

"No, we were going to take the ridge in the morning. Colonel Fraser needs to know about this and fast! Shit, I think the Chinese have reinforced." Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Hathaway stated. "I don't like this at all. They may be attacking at daybreak."

The Lance Corporal and the Gunnery Sergeant took off at a run for the command tent. Bursting into the tent, the colonel looked up at the intruders with a rather irritated look. "Gunny Hathaway, what's the meaning…"

"Sir…no time…sir. Chinese have reinforced on the island. Lance Corporal Mahoney here saw some Chinee lighting up in the trees on the ridgeline. I don't know what the estimates of the numbers are, but there's a whole fucking lot of 'em, sir, I suspect."

"We didn't hear shit out of them…" Lieutenant Colonel Fraser objected. "How could they have reinforced without us hearing something."

"They HALO-Jumped." Said a female voice to the side. Both Gunny Hathaway and Lance Corporal Mahoney looked over to see a brunette colonel with eagles on her collars walking over to the table. "Only that kind of jump could have been that silent. And evidently nobody was out looking for any sort of reinforcement of enemy troops since we thought the island was secured. That's why no one out there heard any sort of parachute opening, did they? Colonel, I suggest that you put your men on high-alert. There could be an attack. And make it our preparations don't look like preparations. Get your men to arm themselves in their tent so as not to make the preps visible to the enemy."

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72)

100 MILES OFF UOTSURI JIMA

2345 HRS

Captain Lionel "Satchmo" Armstrong, CAG of CVW-9 grumbled as he received orders to send up six of his F/A-18Cs armed with Mk. 20 Rockeyes. The F/A-18Cs were going to litter the ground with bomblets that would explode sending shards of metal and splintered trees all through the Chinese lines. Ordering the F/A-18Cs armed, he figured he had about 2 hours to make the aircraft ready for battle. Mentioning the order to his miniboss he had the VFA-146 load up six of their aircraft for a 0300 strike at the Chinese encampment on Uotsuri Jima.

CHINESE SENTRY POST

DIAOYU DAI

2345 HRS

"Wǒ kàn dào měiguó zhàngpéng huódòng [I see activity in the American tents] Wǒ xiāngxìn tāmen zhīdào wǒmen zài zhèlǐ. [I believe they know we are here.]" the major of special forces said to the colonel in command.

"Wǒmen jiāng děngdào tiānliàng. Wǒ qídài kōngxí qián hǎijūn lù zhàn duìyuán huì qù xiǎng gōngjí wǒmen de shānjǐ shàng. Wǒmen de bùduì zhèngzài gōngjí zhīqián, tāmen bù gǎn jìnrù sēnlín. [We will wait till dawn. I expect an air attack before the Marines will think about making an assault on our ridgeline. They dare not go into the forest before our forces are attacked.]

The major acquiesced and retired to his own tent. The colonel, as far as he knew, knew what he was doing. The attack would go tomorrow at sunrise as planned and the xiao riben and the meiguo guizi would be vanquished. The islands would be China's possession.

TEMPORARY CINCPACFLT OFFICE

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA

OKINAWA, JAPAN

OCTOBER 30, 2007

0130 HRS

"How long is it taking for CO CVW-9 to make the F/A-18s ready?" Animal snarled. "We need them over the island at 0300 with the Rockeyes."

Harm shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." He knew that the CAG there was a decent sort, but he over-thought the situation. "Sir, did you need me to go…"

"No, Harm, I need you here." Animal replied before Harm could finish the sentence. "We need to know what's going on there and playing musical commanders there isn't going to solve the problem. We're at the mercy of the events of history here and there's nothing that we can do about it."

COMMANDING OFFICER'S OFFICE

JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S OFFICE – RLSO SAN DIEGO

NAS NORTH ISLAND

SAN DIEGO, CA

OCTOBER 29, 2007

0935 HRS

The staff officers were glued to the office TVs watching the news with footage off the carrier deck. "The tensions in the Pacific have reached the boiling point. Missions off the USS Abraham Lincoln have punctuated successive Chinese attacks on the Senkaku Islands. With Chinese forces reinforced and holding the high-ground, the Marines and JGSDF joint task force is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to recapturing Uotsuri Jima."

Captain Nakamura, Commanding Officer of RLSO San Diego looked over at the staff that was standing in the bullpen looking at the TVs. "Is there something interesting on?" she asked pointedly, knowing exactly what was on the TV. Most of the staff knew that her husband was the CINCPACFLT who was in charge of the US Forces in the Pacific. The staff also knew with that question, that they needed to get busy doing what they were being paid to do.

Liandra sighed as she returned to her office. She knew that Tosh was in a tight situation with the war in the Pacific heating up. The simple fact being that the CINCPAC command was vacant with the incumbent CINCPAC retired and not a single admiral to fill that slot until the matter of the war was settled. So in essence Animal was doing both positions for the same rate of pay. The only thing that Lia could do was concentrate on the cases that seemed to be endless and hope and pray that Animal was alright.

HARM & JEN'S TOWNHOUSE

MARINER'S COVE APARTMENTS

W. POINT LOMA BLVD.

SAN DIEGO, CA

"What else can we do?" Mattie said. "Flying to the Pacific Rim has been put on traveller's alert. We can't even go see if Dad's alright."

"Well, we know he's in Honolulu, right?" Jen said resolutely, "And you're right. We can't go and see if he's OK, even if we want to, which I desperately do. All we can do is hope that he's alright."

"We had another nuclear drill." Mattie opined. "Considering what goes on during these things, the whole school would be trapped if it came to a real one. Ten minutes to get from class to shelter is far too long when a missile can travel from Mainland China to the West Coast in slightly more than thirty minutes. We'd be incinerated walking to the shelters if the warning only gave us five minutes."

Jen sighed. "I know the missile drills seem to be futile, but hopefully, the radar warnings are accurate and give us enough time to seek shelter." She wished that this whole situation would go away, but unfortunately the march of time went on as well as the events that seemed to walk in lockstep with it. "By the way, don't you have class today?"

"Remember 1st period is a library period. Mondays are lucky because I don't have to get to school so fast." Mattie grinned at Jen.

"Well, you'd better high-tail it out of here or you'll be late for second period." Jen retorted, casually sipping a cup of coffee.

SENTRY POST ALPHA

UOTSURI JIMA

0330 HRS

"I hear aircraft engines." One of the Marines said.

Gunnery Sergeant Hathaway whispered to his Staff Sergeant Davey Moore "Get the men ready in their tents…we're going to go after them as soon as the F/A-18s start dropping Rockeyes! The minute the first explosion goes off, we charge up that hill!"

"Yes, Gunny!" SSGT Moore replied as he started to exit the tent knowing that he would have to go from tent to tent to give the command.

BYD F3 SEDAN

XIANYOU MISSILE LAUNCH SITE

0345 HRS

"Zhàn zài yīpáng, xiàshì! Wǒmen zhèngzài nǔlì, yǐ fángzhǐ shìjiè bèi xuānbù zhànzhēng! [Stand aside, Corporal! We are trying to prevent a world war from being declared!]" snapped Admiral Cheng.

"Wǒ bùnéng zhàn zài yīpáng shànzì! Hǎijūn shàng jiàng! [I cannot stand aside without authorization! Admiral!]" the corporal said holding his Type 95 rifle at port arms.

"Wǒ de dìngdān láizì zhōngyāng jūnshì wěiyuánhuì. NǏ RÀNG WǑ TŌNGGUÒ BA! [My orders come from Central Military Commission! YOU WILL LET ME THROUGH NOW!]" bellowed General Li. "FǑUZÉ NǏ HUÌ BÈI PÀNGUÓ ZUÌ CHǓSǏ! [Or YOU WILL BE EXECUTED FOR TREASON, RIGHT NOW!]"

The corporal, intimidated by a bellowing general holding his Type 92 handgun directly in the face of the corporal, moved aside to allow the two flag officers to enter the compound. "Dàn zhèngwěi zhōu… [But Commissar Zhou…]" the corporal asked.

The admiral whirled around to eyeball the corporal with a withering stare. "Zhōu zhèngwěi zǔguó hé qí rén shì pàntú! Zhè shì suǒyǒu nǐ xūyào zhīdào de! [Commissar Zhou is a traitor to the Motherland and to its people! That is all you need to know!]"

FLAG PLOT

USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)

150 MILES NORTH EAST OF UOTSURI JIMA

0345 HRS

Rear Admiral Wallace looked over at his staff aide and smiled as he watched the flight operations. The F/A-18s taking off on the Alpha Strike were launching first. He returned the salute from the flight deck of the CAG, Captain Kimberley "Kimber" Benton, on the ladder of her F/A-18F Super Hornet. The CAG, a former veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Bosnia, was a top-notch naval aviator who the RADM trusted to lead his air wing into battle and back again.

The aircraft would be flying a dangerous mission navigating a system of surface-to-air sites dotted along the landscape and the anti-aircraft defences around the missile base would be terrifying to anyone with half a brain cell.

Raising his head to the ceiling in a supplication. "Let them all come home." He whispered.

DIAMOND 302

OVER UOTSURI JIMA

0345 HRS

"Diamond Flight Lead to Diamond Flight. Set your Rockeyes on visual release." Commander Lance "Wildcat" Redding said to his flight of six F/A-18Cs. "We're going to make a single pass and drop." Receiving acknowledgement of the order, he committed to the final run-in. Setting his nose down in a 20 degree angle of attack, he aimed his nose towards the center of the island where the Chinese troops were supposed to be.

"Diamond Flight Lead to Mustang." He radioed. "We are feet wet still, committing to run-in on main island."

Mustang replied with a terse "Roger that, Diamond flight. You are go for weapons release. Note friendlies on the beach"

"Roger that, we're going to put the Rockeyes right down the centerline of the ridge."

UOTSURI JIMA DETACHMENT COMMAND TENT

COMBINED USMC/JGSDF JOINT FORCES

UOTSURI JIMA

JAPAN

"Lieutenant Colonel, hand me an M-16…" Colonel Mackenzie commanded. "I don't plan on cowering in a foxhole should the Chinese over-run this position."

"Ma'am. I don't know if I can get you off this island." Lieutenant Colonel Fraser said. "By all rights, you should be back at the Camp Foster, ma'am."

"Well, I guess I'm stuck here, aren't I?" Mac replied caustically. "Get me a couple of M67s and 15 clips of ammo and a brain bucket! And get me a flak jacket too."

"Yes, ma'am." LCOL Foster stated as he looked at her with newfound respect. She wasn't a rear-echelon type. She was one to lead from the front. "Get the required equipment for her!" he said to a captain who made haste to carry out his order and get the colonel exactly what she needed.

Just then the Marine detachment saw F/A-18Cs fly past dropping their whole load of Mk. 20s on the ridgeline, with the bomblets dispersing in puffs of dirty grey smoke through the treeline. Screaming and yelling ensued from the ridge-top as well as curses in what could be noted as Chinese. The Marines and JGSDF troops headed for the hilltops as they made their way up, firing sporadically.

BYD F3 SEDAN

XIANYOU MISSILE LAUNCH SITE

0400 HRS

With all seven ballistic missile trucks pointed vertically, the three separated to check each missile truck thoroughly. Li went to check the first one. The corporal the second and Cheng went to check the one at the very end of the clearing. They were bound to trap him one way or another. The Americans were bound to launch a carrier air wing strike at Xianyou Missile Launch Site and it wouldn't behoove Cheng and Li to be around when the bombs started dropping.

The Red Panda was hunched behind the launch desk controls of a launch vehicle as Admiral Cheng came into the launch trailer gun drawn. "Nǐ bù huì dédào wǒ. Dǎodàn bèi shèzhì wèi zìdòng qǐdòng hé tíng yòng dàimǎ chǎo, wǒ yǐjīng zhēnduì zài dōngjīng yǔ 500 kèlā. Dàntóu. Dàojìshí shèzhì wèi 20 fēnzhōng. [You will not get me. The missile is set for automatic launch and the deactivation code is scrambled, I have aimed at Tokyo with a 500kt. Warhead. The countdown is set for sixty minutes.]" he laughed unsettlingly, a crazed look in his eyes. "Rúguǒ nǐ shāle wǒ, nǐ yǒngyuǎn bù huì dédào de dàimǎ. [If you kill me you will never get the code.]"

"Nín jiāng chángshì duì zǔguó hé duì zhōngguó rénmín de fànzuì! [You will be tried for crimes against the motherland and against the Chinese people!] Admiral Cheng stated icily. "Nín jiāng hé wǒmen yīqǐ qù. Nín huì shōu dào nǐ de yītiān, zài fǎyuàn hé gōngzhèng de chéngfá huāfèi xǔduō zhōngguó shìbīng de shēngmìng. [You will come with us. You will receive your day in court and a just punishment for costing the lives of many Chinese soldiers.]

"Nǐmen zhèxiē shǎguā yǒngyuǎn yě xué bù huì. Wǒ shìtú zhěngjiù zhōngguó rén! [You fools will never learn. I was trying to save the Chinese people!]" The Red Panda stood up…a Type 92 handgun in his hand pointed directly at Admiral Cheng and fired twice.

Admiral Cheng felt a kick in the chest as he fell out the door of the missile launcher truck and fell heavily to the ground. Looking up he saw a clearing and the dark outlines of trees as the edges of his vision slowly went black.

UOTSURI JIMA DETACHMENT COMMAND TENT

COMBINED USMC/JGSDF JOINT FORCES

UOTSURI JIMA

JAPAN

The screaming and yelling went on for what seemed like an hour, automatic weapons fire punctuated explosions by thrown M67 grenades. Mac and Lieutenant Colonel Foster were behind large boulders waiting on the firing to slow down so that they too could make their way up the mountain.

A lance corporal approached them. "Sir. We have about a dozen casualties from the various firefights and we've inflicted about two hundred on them. We're establishing a new camp halfway up the ridgeline and we're forcing them with mortar fire down the opposing side of the ridge."

"Let's go!" Mac said as they made their way into the tree-lined forest.

Dense forest and a gradual climb up the ridge punctuated by sporadic semi-automatic weapons fire audible in the distance, the lieutenant colonel in front motioned them forward silently.

F/A-18F VFA-41 and VFA-14

ALPHA STRIKE ON XIANYOU MISSILE LAUNCH SITE

"Combat, Fast Eagle 100, we're feet dry. Ingress point west of Muyu Island." Kimber said as she guided the F/A-18F Super Hornet towards. "Fast Eagle Lead, Fast Eagle and Camelot flights on my six." Turning towards Nanping, the F/A-18Fs made their way in along with EA-6Bs jamming surface to air missile sites. Fooling the SAM sites was absolutely necessary going into an area like this because there was no friendlies in the area if they had to punch out. They couldn't afford to lose a single aircraft to enemy fire.

"Fast Eagle 102 on my wing". Kimber said as she motioned Skates in closer. "Fast Eagle 101" you guide them in closer, 102 and I will conduct CAP while you take out the missile site."

"Roger that." Bear said as he and the rest of the squadron peeled off while Kimber and Skates rocketed up to 20,000 feet to circle the action while keeping a sharp look out for enemy aircraft.

GENERAL LIU'S RESIDENCE

BEIJING CHINA

0430 HRS

"Dírén de fēijī zài xiàoyou! [Enemy aircraft over Xiaoyou!]" a staff officer stated as he rushed in holding a phone. The general was at his home

"Shì ma? Fēijī gōngjí xiàoyou! [Yes? Aircraft are attacking Xiaoyou!] Wǒ míngbáile. Ràng wǒ zhīqíng. Bù, tāmen zhèngzài zuò wǒmen de zhāo tóubiāo. Tāmen zhèngzài fúyòng de xiǎo xióngmāo. Tā shì bèi zhōngzhǐ. Ràng měiguó rén zhèyàng zuò. [I understand. Keep me informed. No, they are doing our bidding. They are taking out The Red Panda. He is to be terminated. Let the Americans do it.]" General Liu Jian Guo stated calmly. He put the phone down calmly. How convenient was this American air strike. He wouldn't have to lift a single finger.

XIANYOU MISSILE LAUNCH SITE

0445 HRS

Li ran like the wind towards the missile launch truck that Cheng had fallen out of. The Red Panda was most definitely in that one. Hefting his Type 92 handgun in his hand, he aimed and fired three rounds through the open door, hitting the Red Panda once in the chest, once in the forehead. The traitor slumped to the ground. Quickly looking at the launch counter, he knew that trying to decipher the code was an exercise in futility. Any longer and he would end up being a casualty of this war and he could not do that to his wife. Ling Pen did not deserve to end up with a husband dead because he tried to be a hero. Maybe the Americans could shoot it down. He could do nothing for Cheng, the admiral was dead with two gaping chest-wounds. He ran for his car just as an American F/A-18F came over the horizon like an avenging angel. He managed to reach his vehicle as another F/A-18F came over head. He had the engine started when the bombs started to fall as the American strike aircraft targeted everything in sight that they could potentially hit.

FAST EAGLE 100 & 102

20,000 FT OVER XIAOYOU

0455 HRS

"I see absolutely no AA." Skates said as they came over the Xiaoyou missile launch site at over Mach one. "That's strange." She pulled her aircraft around in a tight turn to keep an eye on the activity on the ground. They did an overhead sweep as the Zsu-23s tracked them but did not fire.

"Neither can I" radioed Kimber. "They're not firing." The remainder of the Alpha Strike came over dropping bombs…and creating a major mess. Smoke started emanating from one of the seven missile trucks that had their launch tube vertical. One of them was starting to launch their missile. The missile started lifting from the launch tube as several F/A-18s converged on the target. Unfortunately all it did was accelerate vertically into the air as the bombs destroyed the truck escaping the explosions.

"Oh, shit." Skates uttered. "Madre de dios! The missile launched!" The DF-21A rapidly accelerated and began its ballistic trajectory as the two F/A-18s raced to track its ascent. "I have a lock-on." She fired a AIM-120 at the DF-21A, but it was already out of range. There was no way that they could chase the missile down. Whatever city that missile was aimed for was doomed; there was nothing that they could do. "Oh…God…" she whispered. "Oh Dear God!"

TEMPORARY CINCPACFLT OFFICE

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA

OKINAWA, JAPAN

"Holy Shit!" Harm swore "They launched. They launched the bloody missile!"

"Quickly" Animal snapped. "Where is it targeted!" The coordinates and track triangulated, and the stupefying answer was found.

Bud whispered. "sir…the target…Tokyo. Targeted building is 5-1 Ichigayahonmura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Maritime Staff Office, sir. I'm sorry." He looked at VADM Kamitakahara who had turned pale.