the best fishing in the State. The highway went from Cooper Landing to Sterling, Soldotna, and then it moved almost straight south along the west Kenai coast, hitting Ninilchik, Anchor Point and ending in Homer.
“The Chinese have already taken Homer and Anchor Point,” Jones said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to mine Cook Inlet that far south. After landing in and around Homer, it has taken the Chinese a few days to shake out their formations and land enough supplies. We’ve used that time to rush men and material to Ninilchik. The Chinese are using artillery and drone-launched smart bombs on us there. It’s only a matter of time before they force us out of Ninilchik and continue their advance along the highway.” Jones pointed to the immediate west of Tustumena Lake. “General Sims wants a main line of defense here.”
“That seems risky,” said Stan. “With their hovertanks and landing craft, the Chinese can probably flank the position by landing on the coast north of the defense line.”
Captain Jones looked annoyed. “First, the bore tide in Cook Inlet gets much worse the farther north one goes. Second, even as we speak our Navy is slipping more mines into the inlet, extending the minefield’s range. That should keep the Chinese from taking their big ships north of the main defense line. If they try the hovertank, assault-boat tactic without heavy ship support, our aircraft should be able to hit them with missiles. Third and finally, I don’t remember asking your opinion, Captain.”
Stan glanced at Jones. They sat on metal fold-up chairs as they studied the laptop. “Begging your pardon, sir, but one of the strengths of a Western Army is the ability to share ideas and opinions.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you ever read any of Victor David Hanson’s military books?” asked Stan.
Captain Jones stared at Stan until finally he nodded. “You’re the one they call Professor, right?”
Stan shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“Well, let me tell you something,
“I
“I don’t need any of your history lessons, do you understand?”
“I’m sure you don’t need any lessons, sir. I’m just saying that a defensive line here near the west Kenai coast looks exposed. Why not pull back to the junction here near Soldotna?” Stan pointed at the screen. “Heck, it seems like we should pull back to Cooper Landing. Let’s use the terrain in our favor and force them to funnel their attack onto our guns.”
Captain Jones used his tongue to moisten his lips. “I’ll be sure to relay your concern to General Sims. In the meantime, I’m telling you where you’re taking your tanks.”
“You want us on the main line?” asked Stan.
“If you’re chicken,
Several of Stan’s National Guard buddies who talked in a clump beside the nearest tank heard that. Jose Garcia, who owned his own mechanic shop, was a heavy man of Mexican descent. He was only five-seven and had trouble moving in and out of the Abrams’ hatch, but he was the best gunner in the company.
“You’d better watch your mouth, Mr. Staff Captain, sir,” Jose said loud enough for Jones to hear.
Captain Jones seemingly chose to ignore that as he kept staring at Stan. The National Guardsmen in Alaska had fallen on hard times as far as discipline and decorum went.
“I’ll fight, sir,” Stan said. “It’s just that these are about the only tanks in Alaska I know of. I’d hate to lose them right at the get-go.”
“You listen to me, Captain: I’m not here to argue with you. You’re taking those Abrams and heading for the main line of defense. We don’t know everything the Chinese have, but we sure as fire know what we have, which is just about nothing modern. We’ve rushed half the 4th Airborne Brigade down there and several National Guard line companies. Some of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade is helping. With them are some summer soldiers with their rifles to fill in the gaps.”
Stan knew that the summer soldiers were the Militiamen. They had been a political offshoot of the secessionist troubles. The Debt Depression meant the Federal and state governments lacked the monies of the past. In other words, neither the Feds nor the states had the funds to raise more National Guard units or new Army or Reserve units. They kept disbanding military formations because of a lack of money. Then some bright Army officers had convinced the government to let ordinary Americans form Militia companies under various state government inspections and controls. The civilians paid for their own uniforms and weapons and received training from National Guard drill instructors. This gave the states more military muscle and at almost no extra cost. It also meant the local communities had armed forces able to patrol the streets. There had been abuses, cries of militarism and outrage. But it had also allowed certain survivalist and anti-government types to march and train under the state governments’s eyes. They were more paramilitary than military, a local force of shock police, but they did train as squads, platoons, and sometimes even as companies. The more rural and hunting states had better Militia than the primarily urban states. As befitted Alaska, it had a higher ratio of Militiamen to population, because the state had more hunters and fishermen per capita than any other state. It still left Alaska woefully short of military muscle and under-armed, but the Militia was there and now it was being used to help plug the advancing Chinese. One of Stan’ best friends, Pastor Bill Harris of the Rock Church, was a sergeant in the Militia.
Captain Jones took a deep breath before he kept speaking. “The President said he’s going to airlift us reinforcements, while the rest of the Alaskan National Guardsmen are forming up in Anchorage or using the train- line from Fairbanks to come here. Right now, however, your tanks are about the only thing heavy we’ll have to destroy anything cute the Chinese are landing. Our Strykers and even our Bradleys can only do so much in that regard.”
“Yes, sir,” said Stan. “I’m sorry for being so outspoken, sir. This is a desperate time and my mind keeps churning out ideas. You can bet that I’ll do my part when it comes to combat.”
“You’ve sucked off the Guard’s tit for years. Now it’s time to pay up.”
“I understand, sir. Can I ask one more question?”
The captain gave him a guarded looked. “As long as you leave out any historical references, go ahead.”
“How much air cover do we have?”
The captain heaved a sigh. “You’ve got that pegged right. We don’t have much. You load up now, race for Portage and then wait for nightfall. After that, you’re crawling with the haulers to Soldotna. We’ll give you infrared mufflers, about the only ones in the state. We know the Chinese have Commandos crawling everywhere. We’ve sent the best hunters we have after them, but….” The captain shook his head.
“Hunters, sir?” asked Stan. “Airborne hunters?”
“No: deer and bear hunters—Militiamen.” The captain snapped his laptop shut. “The Chinese have gained strategic and operational surprise. We’re doing crazy things to try to hang on until the airlift starts bringing us more soldiers. Now listen up, Professor, and don’t take this the wrong way. You use those tanks to kill Chinese vehicles, but don’t lose any of your M1A2s. That’s not an order to act cowardly—”
“You’d better watch your mouth!” Jose Garcia shouted. “That’s our captain, and he’s five times the soldier you are, baldy.”
“Jose, please,” Stan said. “We’re all under tremendous pressure. Let him do his job.”
Muttering, Jose turned away, causing several other National Guard tankers to turn with him.
“Hurt them, Captain,” said Jones. “But try to bring those tanks back.” He scowled, glanced at Jose and then turned back to Stan. “Right. Your men think you’re okay. That’s a good sign at least. I know I’ve given you contradictory statements, but we’re in a real fix. Good luck… Professor.”
Stan accepted the captain’s hand, and they shook firmly. Once he let go, Stan stood up, turned to his tankers and began to shout orders.
-11-
Invasion
