Dragon's Fury - Dragon's Breath Part 5

Leon could hardly believe it. He knew he'd shaken Alan and several of the others. Obviously he'd underestimated the willpower, and the reasoning ability, of his brother. It gave him a lot of pride to see it evidenced here, even if its display meant that he had been 'found out.'

"Well, I guess it had to come out sometime, bro. So here it is. Let's sit down on that bench over there and I'll tell you it all...but fo' right now, it's gotta be between us. You'll have to promise before I go on."

Alan knew a promise was important on the street. He knew his brother wouldn't ask him for one unless he needed it. He also had gone to a lot of trouble, to find out what was going on. The decision was simple.

"No problem, Leon. You shoulda trusted yo' little bro a long time ago, ya know. So, I promise. Go ahead and spill it."

For the next half hour, Leon explained to his little brother how he'd started thinking more and more about the things their momma had tried to tell them at home about a year-and-a-half ago. At the time, Leon was the man in the "Heat," but he was smart enough to see that too many of the "men" before him were either spending their time in the big house, or they were dead. He didn't want such a future for himself or his brother, and he sure didn't want to see his momma go through that. That had led him to trying to find out what more there was to life. He started spending more time thinking about making some kind of change than about how to sell dope to crackers, or how to keep their rivals off their turf. As time went on, all of those things a.s.sociated with the "Heat" had started to lose their importance. His change of focus had cost him his position in the "Heat," but it also ultimately led him to confide in his mother's brother, Jack, who worked as a janitor downtown.

"Jack told me to find some books about math, and English, and government and history, and to start reading them. We always kind of looked down on him, ya know? Figured he was some sort of black honkey or somethin'-workin' as a janitor for all those white people. But you know what? He's got some money and a house of his own...not some "project" rental. And there ain't no police chasin' him all the time. He also ain't fightin' every other week with his neighbors, an' watchin' his friends get cut."

Alan looked at his brother, he cared for him, but these words were so foreign to him that he was having a tough time accepting them.

"You know what, bro? It looks like Jerome and the others was right. You lost it, bro. You gettin' soft.

When you ever worried 'bout all this befo'? What's got into you? You sho' 'nough lost it, bro."

Leon loved his brother. The acceptance and scholars.h.i.+p to Boise State represented what he could do if he put his mind to it. And if he succeeded in breaking out of the trap that life "on the street" had represented, he would be more determined than ever to help his brother do the same. He grabbed his brother's arm with a fierceness that was born of determination. Alan was surprised. He had gotten to be almost as big as his older brother and thought he was in better shape. But the strength of that grip, and the determination in his brother's eyes, brought him up short. All he could do was listen.

"You listen and you listen good, Alan. I ain't lost nothin' but the ignorance I was in. I've been comin'

down here to pull myself out of this trap we livin' in. The politicians and all them rabble rousin' folks who always tell us we are owed somethin' been lyin' to us. Bro, they want us here. They want us havin' to count on their programs and handouts. They want us to treat them like some sort of king for takin' other folks' money and throwin' it at us. But, look around! You see things gettin' better? No, they ain't! And thy ain't because they ain't meant to! What those folks really want is us dependent on them."

"I've been readin' about history and how this country was formed, Alan. I've been readin' about how folks, from all over the world, wanted to come here...and still do. I got on the internet and got me an email account. I've been talkin' to folks from all over. One kid down in Texas I've come to know pretty well is white and his family works real hard on a farm. He's my age and thinks a lot the way I do. Guess what? They ain't rich, but they have things for themselves. He's goin' to Boise, Idaho this fall on a football scholars.h.i.+p. At first I thought it was just 'cause they was white. Then I learned it was 'cause they was willin' to work and learn. Well, I decided I'm willin' to do that too."

At this point, Alan interrupted him. "Yea, bro. But what you got from it all?Nothin' but a bunch of hours in a buildin' filled wit books. You know how it is, them white folks, even the poor ones, they can get ahead...not you, and not me. We got to take what we can."

Leon was frustrated. He knew his brother was just spouting the propaganda of politicians and bureaucrats who wanted nothing more than to keep folks like Alan dependent on their programs, to keep them mired in ignorance and poverty and fighting the "system." But, although Leon was frustrated, he wasn't about to give up on his brother.

"No! Alan, that's the trap. They want you to think it's owed to you. Or, better yet, vote them in and let them take it for you. But that ain't how it is, and you know it. You are only owed what you earn, Alan...anywhere in life, including the street. Anyone tells you different is a liar and trying to control you.

And you know what? The folks that founded this country? Yeah, they made some mistakes. But whatever mistakes they made, they knew what I'm talkin' to you about, an they didn't design it to work to keep folks like us down. Well, for me...no more. Look here."

As he said this, Leon took his High School Equivalency, and his acceptance to Boise State, out and showed them to his brother. Alan wasn't too good at reading, so Leon read it for him.

"You see, Alan, I did this for myself. Even learned how to talk real English, and learned Algebra and Geometry. There are some folks in that library who took a liking to me and helped me, and I want you to meet them."

"Guess what, Alan? They's white folks, and they treated me the way grandparents would treat one of their own. Now I got some learning, I'm going to college to get more, and I got some honest money. I'm leaving for Boise in six weeks. I'm taking momma with me, and I want you to come too."

Alan was floored. He was thinking on what his brother had said. He could see the fire in his eyes, and when he thought about it, he could see the truth of it.

"But, Leon, what would I be doin' there?"

Leon looked at his younger brother and knew he was willing, but also knew he was apprehensive. It wouldn't be easy, but he knew Alan could do it.

"Well, we'll start by getting you over to this library right now and helping you learn, then we'll continue over there in Boise. You may go to school Alan, but I promise, it'll because you want to, not because you have to."

With that, Leon put his arm around his brother's shoulder and they began walking back towards the library to start arranging for Alan's "ticket."

May 25, 2005, 23:05 local time Over the Yellow Sea "Well, here we go again," thought Colonel "Mac" Mendenhall, as he checked his mission parameters.

Everything looked good, "Except this time it'll be solo," Mac thought, "and we'll be screaming. Talk about the need for speed."

Mac was piloting the ultra-secret and ultra-high tech HR-7 aircraft for the NRO toward another over-flight of Red China, which had been ordered by the Air Force Chief of Operations and the Director of the NRO. He had been carried aloft by an SR-77 from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. After several refuelings, he had been released over the Yellow Sea. Following a few minutes of Mach 3 flight, he was ready for his 350-mile ingress and would be igniting his Pulse Detonation Wave Engines in 3...2...1...NOW!.

As the turbojet engines idled down and flamed out, the PDWE kicked in. The pulsating vibration was tangible in the c.o.c.kpit as the sharp, black triangular shape of the HR-7 rocketed to its maximum speed of Mach 7, and to its planned ingress alt.i.tude of 180,000 ft. for this mission.

At such speed, the leading edges of the aircraft would fail due to overheating, were it not for the liquid methane coolant circulating through the aircraft's ceramic leading edge. This same coolant was then injected into the PDW engines and ignited as fuel. Nevertheless, at such speed, the aircraft literally glowed from the heat of its pa.s.sage through what little "air" existed at that alt.i.tude. During daylight hours, contrails that resembled "doughnuts on a rope" could be seen behind the aircraft.

Mac monitored his defensive MFD, and tracked the status of his monitoring and surveillance packages, as he approached the turn that would take him between Luda and Chengshan Point and into the Gulf of Chijhli. From there, he would fly on a direct line to Tanjin, finally making a 180 degree turn which would have its nearest approach 20 miles from Tianma s.h.i.+pbuilding.

His defenses consisted of the inherent stealth of the HR7, its extremely high alt.i.tude and speed capability all complemented with a suite of electronic counter measures. There was literally no known weapon in that could challenge him. His most vulnerable moment would be when he slowed to Mach 3 during the turn, and reduced alt.i.tude to 150,000 ft. for the surveillance packages.

May 25, 2005, 23:21 local time KS-2+ AAW Battery, South of Tangshan Lieutenant Hu Ziyang cupped his hand over the phone and addressed his men, "We have an intermittent inbound contact, approaching and decelerating through Mach 5. We are instructed to take our feed from the princ.i.p.al array at the airfield near Tangshan. Ensure that our own guidance is locked out and enable the missiles for remote guidance and terminal thermal lock from their own seeker heads. Quickly now, move!"

Taking his hand off the phone while his men feverishly made adjustments, he listened for any other instructions from the controllers near Tangshan. Things were happening quickly. He had received the call no more than two minutes ago when the first indications of an intruder were relayed. Incredibly, the initial profile was at an alt.i.tude of close to 60,000 meters, and an approach speed of Mach 7! Since then, the contact had slowed, and dropped in alt.i.tude, but there could be no doubt whose aircraft this was.

The advanced capabilities of this KS-2+ anti-aircraft missile were cla.s.sified to the strictest top level clearance within Red China. The only two batteries deployed to date were this battery and another one across the bay near the mouth of the Huang Ho River. They were there for the official, "cla.s.sified"

purpose of protecting Beijing from air attack. But the real, top secret purpose was to protect the work that was going on at the Tanjin s.h.i.+pyards.

Using phased array radar, super computing, new software, advanced infrared and optical sensors and a second stage, the KS-2+ land-based anti-aircraft missile was the most advanced system the Red Chinese had. Many felt it rivaled the American Patriot Missile batteries. (In fact, much of the technology to create these missiles had either been purchased, pilfered, or handed over to the Red Chinese by American firms, American politicians and through "exchange" programs established during the mid to late 1990's).

As a result, the missile could be guided to the antic.i.p.ated area of the target's approach by a controlling facility, by the launching facility, or in a launch-and-forget mode once lock-on was obtained. In any of the ground guidance modes, once the missile got within range of its advanced infrared/optical seeker, it could lock onto the target and destroy it independently.

Lieutenant Hu reflected that, with a ceiling of 45,000 meters and a speed during 2ndstage acceleration of Mach 4, if this American bogey would just continue to slow down and reduce its alt.i.tude, there might just be a possibility for his KS-2+ missiles to make an intercept.

"Lieutenant, our weapons are slaved to Tangshan. We have a missile launch-now a second!"

May 25, 2005, same time Over the Gulf of Chijhli Mac had heard the audible alert tone in his headset; a tone that carried the ominous implication that several radar installations were attempting to acquire him. On his MFD, he noticed that the princ.i.p.al threats were near Tangshan, and across the bay near the mouth of the Huang Ho River. Both were painting him with their search radar, but there was no indication of any lock-on, so he felt relatively secure. At this point, Mac was seconds away from activating his surveillance package.

What Mac was not prepared for was the heightened alert tone that sounded in his headset a few seconds later, accompanied by the bright red "MISSILE LAUNCH WARNING" signal that suddenly lit up on his MFD.

"How in the h.e.l.l?" Mac wondered as his instruments tracked the two missiles that had just been launched from near Tangshan.

It was decision time. He had been briefed extensively about the importance of this mission. The missiles would be coming at him from the rear. Any significant speed increase on his part to outrun them would take him deep into Chinese airs.p.a.ce. This was something that his plan strictly forbade.

The two missiles appeared to be Chinese KS-2's-missiles whose ceiling was around 75,000 to 80,000 feet, and whose max speed was around Mach 3. Lower and slower than he planned on operating.

Mac keyed his satellite transceiver and quickly stated, "Red Dragon! Red Dragon! Charlie Mike! I say again, Charlie Mike!"

The message was encrypted by his communications systems and sent to a US military satellite in gyro-synchronous...o...b..t over the Philippine Sea.

May 24, 2005, same time Secure Video Conference Center, The Pentagon "Red Dragon! Red Dragon! Charlie Mike! Charlie Mike!"

Everyone heard the message clearly. Major Tim Lawrence said, "He's been fired on...but he's indicating that he is continuing the mission."

"Fired upon?" asked John Bowers, "How did they manage that?"

"Can't say. We'll just have to wait for further word, but he should be safe. We know of no capability they have that can reach him," replied Major Lawrence.

"Well, we also thought that there was no way they could even acquire him. Apparently, someone forgot to tell the Red Chinese."

May 25, 2005, seconds Later 70,000 ft over the Gulf of Chijhli As their first stages flamed out, the second stages of the KS-2+ missiles ignited and boosted them to their maximum speed of Mach 4, continuing to increase their alt.i.tude.

Then, as the missiles pa.s.sed through 120,000 feet, their seeker heads scanned the heavens for any optical or infrared source that they could lock on to. 30,000 feet above them, and ten miles in front, they found ample thermal energy from the PWDE and leading edges of "Mac's" HR-7 aircraft.

May 25, 2005, 23:25 local time Over the Gulf of Chijhli Mac was getting his share of shocks this evening. The first had come when he had been notified that he'd been fired upon. The next, and greater, shock had come when what he thought were standard KS-2 missiles that his systems were tracking pa.s.sed right through their supposed 75,000 foot ceiling.

That unsettling occurrence had happened only 15 seconds into his surveillance run.

But none of the shocks had been as great as the one that followed a few seconds later, when the audible pitch of the warning tone changed to the unmistakably incessant warning sound of a missile lock, and the message MISSILE LOCK began flas.h.i.+ng on his MFD.

Quickly now, Mac keyed his satellite communications and said.

"Combination! Combination...tip over!"

Mac broke off his carefully-scripted mission profile and began evasive maneuvers. First, he turned to minimize the angle of attack the missiles had on him and force them into a pure tail chase. This evasive maneuver also had the effect of tightening the turn he was already in and allowing him to come around for his egress quicker. He also began to increase his alt.i.tude.

As he did this, he was warned of two more missile launches from near the mouth of the Huang Ho River.

With four missiles in the air, Mac's "pucker factor" increased significantly along with his anxiety.

May 24, 2005, same time Secure Video Conference Center, The Pentagon Tim Lawrence spun around in his seat and looked in disbelief at John and Bill when he heard the second secure satellite transmission.

"Unbelievable! The missiles have locked on! He's taking evasive action!"

May 25, 2005, seconds later 140,000 ft over the Gulf of Chijhli Their second stages already spent, the KS-2+ missiles lost upward inertia and began to turn over at 140,000 ft. Their seeker heads maintained lock on the HR-7 until the missiles began falling towards the Gulf of Chijhli far below.

The HR-7, a mere ten thousand feet higher, and now only two miles in front of the missiles, came out of its turn and began to accelerate rapidly away from the threat of those first two missiles, while gaining alt.i.tude rapidly.

May 25, 2005, 23:27 local time KS-2+ AAW Battery, South of Tangshan Lieutenant Hu Ziyang hung up the phone and turned toward his men, the crew of the launch and control unit for his battery of KS-2+ missiles.

"We have served our motherland well this night, my friends. The advanced Yankee aircraft escaped our missiles, but we prevented it from entering our airs.p.a.ce, and caused it to break and run like a guilty dog with its tail between its legs! We have faced the best the Americans have and turned them away!"

The technicians raised their voices as one in a deafening cheer. Perhaps now the Americans would learn to not trifle with the People's Republic of China.

May 25, 2005, 23:30 180,000 feet over the Gulf of Chijhli Mac felt the sweat under his arms and on his forehead. That was far too close! And certainly not what he had expected.

Although the second set of missiles also missed, if he had not gained alt.i.tude and accelerated to his Mach 7 maximum speed, he could have been easily swimming in the Gulf of Chijhli right now-or he could have been dead.

Still, he had completed half of his surveillance without a problem. Even though the second half was degraded, he had survived. Now, he was bringing home data about the s.h.i.+pyards near Tanjin and a new Chinese missile system more advanced than anything they had imagined.

Instructing his systems to encrypt and send the electronic data from the night's activities, Mac once again keyed his voice transmission link.

"Mary Chambers wet feet."

May 24, 2005, same time Secure video conference center, The Pentagon "Okay, he's completed the mission and is now egressing!"

As Tim said this to Bill and John, there was an unmistakable note of relief in his voice, and on his face.

John Bowers, himself visibly relieved, leaned back in his chair and said, "That's for sure, Tim, thank G.o.d."

Then, after a moment's pause, during which they all contemplated the near-disaster the mission might have turned into, he continued: "Okay, as soon as you have the data, pour every effort into it. The new missile system is probably as important as what we were looking for in the s.h.i.+pyards."

"Thank goodness they don't have a naval version of this system or Mac would never have completed that flight in March. Tim, you'd better get this one out on the boards as soon as we a.n.a.lyze it and have some definitive information. The Wild Weasel and Prowler crews are going to have a new threat to plan for."

May 28, 2005, 17:30 local time Tianma s.h.i.+pbuilding Tianjin, China Lu Pham was very satisfied. Work was progressing better than he had expected. He had spoken with General Hunbaio just yesterday regarding their progress, and he knew that a favorable report had been pa.s.sed on to Chin Zhongbaio, the Chairman of COSCO and a member of the Chinese Communist Politburo. New weapons development, particularly the new LRASD weapons, was a huge priority for the entire People's Republic right now, and Lu Pham's team was performing beyond expectations.

After the conversations of yesterday, Lu had determined to come to the s.h.i.+pyards today to convey the thanks of their superiors to the individuals who were making the full production deployment possible, and to review the progress being made in the technical and logistical facets of the work.

He was currently in the company of the top-performing production crew chief, Sung Hsu. As they walked towards one of the six dry dock areas where s.h.i.+ps would ultimately be fitted with the modular changes, Lu turned and spoke to Sung.

"You have much to be proud of, Sung. The process improvement plans you have come up with for the placement and onboard maintenance of the LRASD stations are proving to be successful beyond our expectations. When the materiel pipeline for the modifications are ready, we will be able to stay well ahead of schedule with this portion of the refit. Both General Hunbaio and Chairman Chin send their regards and their appreciation."

Sung took the compliment in stride, although it still was incomprehensible to think that his name was being spoken of in such high circles.

"Thank you, Commodore Lu. It is humbling to have such influential men take note of our efforts. Truly, we are only doing our job."

Lu smiled knowingly. Although Sung was being very reserved, one only had to look in his eyes to know of the pride this bright foreman took in these accomplishments... "and he has every right," thought Lu.

"Sung, you honor your forefathers with your humility and dedication. Nonetheless, the ideas for the additional pivot points on the traversing unit, and the automated reloading mechanism you suggested, are going to make the ability to install, maintain, and reload these systems much easier and more efficient.

You have done your homeland and all her citizens a great service."

"And that's the clear truth," thought Lu Pham as they continued towards the dry docks. With his innovative production processes, Sung Hsu had reduced the time required for the refitting of each Amphibious a.s.sault and Tactical Attack s.h.i.+p by seven to ten days. As they approached the stairs that would lead them down into the first of the dry docks, Lu Pham continued.

"The size and scope of these facilities never ceases to amaze me, Sung. One of my chief concerns has always been our ability to "mask" the logistics of preparing, and then actually refitting, these s.h.i.+ps from the Americans. There is no doubt that they are becoming increasingly interested in our efforts. The activities of the other night clearly prove not only that they are determined to understand what we are doing, but that they now know where to look."

Sung Hsu reflected on those events. He had been preparing to leave for the evening when the night sky to his east had lit up with the launch of the two missiles. They had been some kilometers distant, but it had been easy to see those brilliant points of light as they quickly climbed higher and higher. Then, from the south and west, two more had followed, also climbing so very high. But there had been no explosions.

Well, thought Sung, what was one to expect? The state security issues had been explained to him. These were military conversions he was working on, and his own a.s.signment was to develop the methods and procedures for installing weapons, awesome new weapons, on these s.h.i.+ps for his nation. The Americans and other countries should just let them alone. But apparently they wouldn't.

As they continued their descent to the first of the dry docks, Sung Hsu continued.

"Comrade Lu, you can see here in the upper reaches of the dry dock the first of the new logistic delivery systems we are installing. These "channels," or tunnels, lead back several hundred meters to entry points at ground level where materiel can be offloaded from rail and truck."

"It is going to take time to build them all. But, when complete, all major components will be staged and delivered through them directly to the work area for both the Tactical Strike and Amphibious a.s.sault conversions. Cranes and conveyer systems will be constructed to transport the materiel from the delivery platforms at the termination of each channel to the s.h.i.+p itself. This will provide for both stealth and protection for the materials as the conversions are made."

Reviewing with pride the efforts of those working on the tunnels, along with the progress they had made to date, Lu Pham responded.

"And we have the workforce and the will to complete the effort in time for production in September.

Sung, again, in addition to the innovations regarding the systems themselves, this logistical consideration will help immensely. It is just too bad that there is no method for doing likewise for the Sea Control carrier decks," said Lu Pham as they continued their descent.

"Once we begin actually installing those decks, despite the large housings we intend to erect for their dry docks, our adversaries will know what we are doing. The components for the decks are simply too large."

Sung Hsu pondered this concern. It was not the first time he had done so, because the problem was apparent to everyone involved. He had an idea regarding it and decided now was a good time to share it.