like they mean to stop us.”
They’d driven through the city and to the entrance of the huge storage depots. Beyond the gate were giant white oil tanks that held millions of gallons of gas, diesel and kerosene.
Stan peered through his scope. There was a Bradley, three Humvees and several squads of soldiers positioned before the gate behind piled sandbags. A chain-link fence circled the giant storage facility.
“What do we do now?” Jose asked.
“Sergeant Jackson,” Stan said. “Do you mind going outside and talking to them?”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Your best lines of B.S.,” Stan said. “Con them into lowering their guns.”
“And if they don’t?” Jackson asked.
“Then surrender immediately.”
“What about you?” Jackson asked.
“I’ll wait until you’re well outside the tank,” Stan said.
Jackson stared at him, and finally, he nodded. “Good luck, Professor. I hope you’re right about this.”
They shook hands. Then Stan opened his hatch and Jackson climbed out.
“Give him a minute,” Stan said.
From outside, an officer shouted at Jackson, “Why is your tank here?”
“Are you two ready?” Stan asked.
Jose turned and looked up. “Just give me the word, Stan.”
“If you think this is right thing, Professor,” Hank said, “then I’m convinced.”
“They might hang us if I’m wrong,” Stan said.
“We’re brothers,” Jose said. “We trust you that you know what you’re doing.”
Stan reached up for the hatch as something caught in his throat. Then he steeled his nerves. He heard Jackson arguing with the officer-in-charge.
“Now!” Stan said, and he shut the hatch with a clang.
Hank revved the M1A2, and they lurched.
Stan peered through his scope. Soldiers ran to get out of the way. Then the Bradley rushed into view. With a mighty
“Load a HE round,” Stan said. “Then aim for the farthest storage unit.”
Jose went to work as the auto-loader shoved a round into the firing chamber.
Bullets began striking and bouncing off their tank. Then heavy .50 caliber rounds hit the Abrams. Those must be coming from the Humvees. They had zero effect as well.
“Fire,” Stan said.
The 120mm smoothbore shot a high explosive round into a giant storage unit. It hit, and a titanic explosion erupted, a fierce roar of sound. Seconds later, the shockwave rocked the tank.
As a fireball climbed into existence, Stan shouted, “Keep firing! We’re going to blow them all!”
Deep underground in White House Bunker Number Five, a weary Anna Chen closed her eyes. The fighting in Anchorage—everyone thought the battle had been lost with the annihilation of the storage depots three days ago. Now Alfredo Diaz had given her another memory chip. That hadn’t been a Chinese strike on the depots as the U.S. military had originally reported. Should she speak up concerning it?
A chair scraped back. Anna opened her eyes. General Alan stood up. For the first time in days, a smile threatened, a ghost of one. It was better than the general’s former worry lines and radiating gloom.
“Mr. President,” General Alan said, “it appears we must revise our estimates. As you know, the lead elements of our Fourth Army in the Yukon were airlifted near the city. They stiffened our beleaguered troops and held on. Now the Fourth Army is through the passes, racing for Anchorage. It is my belief they will arrive before the Chinese can muster another assault.” The general pursed his lips. “I’m not sure how to explain it, but intelligence has evidence that the Chinese supply lines have been stretched to the breaking point. Chinese troops are marching on foot to Anchorage instead of riding trucks or personnel carriers. There are even reconnaissance photos showing twenty or more soldiers per truck dragging the vehicles along the main road.”
“The enemy hasn’t given up the drive then?” the President asked.
“Their artillery tubes are firing a fraction of the number of shells as previously,” the general said. “There is little enemy traffic in and around the city, while the remaining T-66s are now acting as strongpoints, gigantic bunkers for the defense. The Chinese are definitely holding on to what they have…but I think the present assault has stalled.”
“Can the Fourth Army throw them out of Anchorage?” the President asked.
“It’s much too early to think about that, sir. In my opinion, we can think about bottling them in Anchorage and keeping them from spreading out. Once the Fifth Army arrives, then we can begin planning our own offensive, provided the Chinese don’t ship reinforcements from the mainland.”
“Our submarines must concentrate on Chinese troopships,” the President said.
“A few of our subs are already on station, sir. But as I’ve said, there haven’t been any reinforcing troopships yet.”
President Clark nodded thoughtfully.
“May I ask a question, sir?” Anna asked.
“Please,” the President said.
“General,” Anna said, “you spoke about the Chinese dragging supply trunks to the front.”
“We have evidence of that, yes.”
“Would you say then that they’ve run out of fuel?”
“That’s an imprecise term,” General Alan said, “but I understand your meaning. Given the evidence, it seems a logical but surprising conclusion.”
Anna gathered her resolve as she said, “It would seem then that the Chinese could have used Anchorage’s storage depots, if they had captured them.”
General Alan blinked at her. “I can’t believe Chinese strategy rested on the capture of enemy depots. The initial success of their invasion shows a high level of planning and executive ability. Resting an offensive on the capture of enemy supplies—I simply can’t believe that was their plan. This is modern war, not some ancient raiding expedition.”
“What is your point, Ms. Chen?” the President asked.
“Sir,” Anna said. “We have been told the Chinese destroyed the Anchorage depots. Yet I’ve heard reports about a National Guard tank captain. On his own initiative, he blew the oil depots, not the Chinese.”
“Where did you hear about this?” General Alan asked sharply.
“Is this true?” the President asked. “What would possess one of our own soldiers to do such a thing?”
“The captain believed the Chinese were low on fuel and that they needed more,” Anna said. “It’s why the T- 66s were headed for the depots.”
“That’s a supposition,” General Alan said.
Anna smiled. “The Chinese are dragging their supply trucks to the front, meaning the captain guessed correctly. I believe his action saved Anchorage.”
“Who are you talking about?” the President asked.
Anna stared at the general, so did everyone else in the chamber.
General Alan slowly shook his head. “A Captain Stan Higgins attacked our storage depots in Anchorage, sir. He injured a dozen Army soldiers doing it. As Ms. Chen has stated, he blew up the fuel tanks. What I’d like to know,” he said, turning toward Anna, “is how you learned of this.”
Anna faced the President. “Captain Higgins attempted to talk General Sims into destroying the storage units. Sims refused and now the captain and his crew are under arrest for treason. Yet by the evidence, the captain guessed right and likely saved Anchorage for us.”
“Is this true?” Clark asked General Alan. “Did a National Guard captain destroy the depots?”
The general hesitated before he said, “Yes, sir. It’s true.”
The President frowned. “The Chinese are dragging their trucks. What would have happened if they had captured our storage facilities intact?”
