The Navy admiral said, “Sir, their Jiaolong-class battleships and two carrier groups are headed north along the western side of South America. We anticipate they will be supporting PLA ground forces as they move north through Panama.”
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff asked, “Do they have amphibious capability?”
A few of the senior officers glanced at each other. “We don’t think so, sir,” one of them answered.
David could see faces around the table contort in disappointment. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “I prefer not to hear what you think. Tell me what you know.”
General Schwartz, still standing for the brief, said, “Sir, our ISR capability is struggling to meet all of the requirements. We’ve had to make tradeoffs. We don’t have a good look at the PLA Navy’s approaching fleet.”
The president waved him on. “Keep going.”
General Schwartz clicked a button and the presentation screen zoomed in on Panama. “The 25th Infantry Division with its Stryker brigades has been deployed to Panama. There they will defend and, if necessary, withdraw north up the Pan-American Highway corridor.” He clicked to the next slide. “The 101st Airborne, 10th Mountain, elements of 2nd Infantry Division, and remaining Stryker brigades are now deploying to Costa Rica. This movement had been ongoing since the Chinese began landing in South America and should be fully complete by early next week. If this belt gets overrun, the light infantry units may need to be evacuated by helicopter or sea.”
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff turned to the Pacific Fleet Admiral. “That’s you, Bob. We need those sea lanes and airspace clear. Understand?”
“Yes, sir, absolutely.”
The president turned to General Schwartz. “What happens if they get to Mexico City?”
“Sir, if the Chinese get that far north, we’ll have 1st Armored Division, 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 4th Infantry Division, and 1st Cavalry Division move to defend Mexico City. The 82nd Airborne and 1st Marine Division are in reserve, and CONUS based. Elements from the 7th Special Forces Group and 75th Ranger Regiment will go to ground in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama City, and Guatemala. If the ground war moves north into Mexico, we envision small-unit ambushes and raids along the Pan-American Highway to disrupt enemy logistics, and strategic reconnaissance within Panama to inform future contingency planning.”
The National Security Advisor said, “I assume most of this will fall under Southern Command? Where does Northern Command come into play?”
General Schwartz said, “US Southern Command will be responsible for the first two defensive belts, Panama and Costa Rica. We’ve pushed them additional rotary-wing lift assets, artillery counter-battery radars, and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance and surveillance. US Northern Command owns the Mexico City defense. We’re massing rotary-wing attack assets and logistics commensurate to an extended defense or large-scale maneuver operations.”
“If the Chinese make it that far, where will they most likely maneuver?”
“Sir, the Pan-American Highway is really the only high-speed maneuver corridor in much of Central America.”
“Any rail they can use for supply chain and logistics?”
“Negative, sir. Central America’s rail is a mess of small, disconnected lines. The Pan-American Highway can be interdicted by artillery or air assets by either side. We’ve allocated our air defense artillery, artillery counter-battery radars, and Javelin antitank missile systems accordingly.”
“Status of the Panama Canal?”
“All transits have ceased. The locks have been rigged with explosives and are set to detonate if it looks like the Chinese could take that territory.”
The president said, “I would like to emphasize that destroying the Panama Canal is to be done only as a last resort.”
“On-scene commanders have been briefed, sir.”
The president crossed his arms, gazing down at the floor like he was calculating something in his head. Then he looked up and said, “When will it begin?”
General Schwartz said, “Sir, our SIGINT reports indicate that China is preparing another mass satellite launch. It’s possible that they will begin their expected northward thrust prior to that happening. But if they do, they’ll be flying blind, and attacking without their major advantages: GPS guidance and satellite datalink. So, we suspect that we’ll get a warning— albeit a very short one.”
“When, General?”
“I’d say within the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours, sir.”
The president looked at the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Anything to add?”
“We need to hold the line in Central America.”
The president said, “Godspeed.” With that, he stood, and the conference room stood with him. Then he and his aide departed.
One of the officers said, “Dismissed.” David watched the tired-looking officers shuffling out of the room.
General Schwartz nodded for David to approach. “Come with me, please, Mr. Manning.”
The general began walking down the Camp David hallway, two armed guards following close behind. This particular building was large, reminding David of a major conference center. Dozens of meeting spaces and conference rooms, all set up for this. The president reviewing war strategy with his key advisors.
Many of the conference rooms had been transformed into command and communications centers. Everywhere he looked, David could see uniformed men and women motoring along through fatigue and stress. Many of these Pentagon planners had been on the front lines themselves over the past year. Now their job was to plan out each detail of the war and give the troops in combat the best chance they could. Their brothers in arms depended on this work. Sleep, food, and any ounce of personal comfort could all wait, if it meant adding one iota of efficiency to the plan.
They walked into General Schwartz’s makeshift private office, which wasn’t much more than a closet with a desk and window. The general’s bodyguards took their posts outside his door, standing at parade rest. General Schwartz waved David into a seat, then said, “What did you think?”
“Sir, the plan is well thought out. I don’t pretend to have your knowledge when it comes to…”
“Say what’s on your mind, David.”
David hesitated, then said, “The numbers are not in our favor. The estimates I’ve seen put the number of Chinese troops currently in South America at just under eight-hundred thousand. Significant air and sea warfighting assets have all been deployed there. They are forming and improving supply lines as we speak, with scary efficiency.”
“So you think we’ll be overrun.”
“In Panama? Yes. Beyond that, I don’t know. But again, sir, I defer to you on this.”
General Schwartz nodded. “Sure.” He looked over to his bookcase. “This is the office where they stick us military flag officers whenever we get invited up to Camp David. They stock it with books for ambiance. At least they get the books right. You read any of these?”
David glanced at the titles and authors. Stephen E. Ambrose. James D. Hornfischer. David McCullough.
“Yes, sir, I think I’ve read most of those. My father was a big fan of Hornfischer. The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. The Fleet at Flood Tide.”
General Schwartz said, “You’re a student of military history, and you know how to strategize. My guess is you picked up a few things from your father. You have an unparalleled knowledge of the latest military technological capabilities. And you’re smart enough to go to the experts when you don’t know something. Say what’s on your mind.”
David said, “Sir, it’s our overall situation that concerns me. We got sucker-punched on the first day of the war. Our allies have a gun to their head, and they can’t help us. And our nuclear deterrents are useless, unless we want to end the world. We’ve ramped up production and recruiting. Many of our consumer factories have been transformed into military manufacturing facilities. We’ve drafted millions into service, and by all estimates, our warfighting capability is the best it’s been since 1945.”