“What kind of assurances have you offered her?” General Brooks asked with noticeable skepticism.
“She wants to see her family again when this is all over.”
“That’s hardly something you or anyone else can promise. Even if you release her, the Chinese might send her to a labor camp on the assumption that she divulged state secrets.”
“There are other ways to return her once we’re done.”
“Maybe, but for now, these two gentlemen are going to have a word with her.”
“Fine by me, but if she doesn’t seem forthcoming, I don’t think resorting to torture will do any good. She’s already been waterboarded.”
Surprise and a touch of admiration from the general. “I was told you were on top of things here, John, and I’m glad to see the praise wasn’t an exaggeration. Where can we go to talk? Preferably somewhere that has maps of the surrounding area.”
“How about the boardroom in the mayor’s office?” John replied.
“Perfect,” General Brooks said, grinning for the first time since they’d met. “Because our first order of business will be to reactivate you into the armed forces. I’m also bumping your rank up from lieutenant to lieutenant colonel. You’re an authority figure here, John, and I wouldn’t want any brash young officer of mine to think otherwise.”
Chapter 38
A short time later, the two men were poring over maps spread out on the conference room table inside the town hall. John was now decked out in woodland army fatigues with a silver oak leaf denoting his new rank of lieutenant colonel and feeling decidedly uncomfortable.
Standing next to General Brooks were Captain Bishop and Colonel Higgs, the latter having recently made it into Oneida.
“I just want to make it clear that when this mess is over,” John said, “I’ll have my old rank reinstated and be removed from active duty.”
Brooks was surprised and somewhat confused by John’s request. “Most men wait years for this kind of opportunity.”
“They might, but I’m not most men,” John told him. “I’ll serve my country whenever she calls on me, but I’m not in it for the glory. I’m here for the people of Oneida and hopefully, one day, something resembling the life I used to have.”
“So be it,” General Brooks replied.
“Good. Now there are a handful of members of my own team I’d like to have present in this meeting,” John told the General. “But intelligence we’ve received from Huan, our Chinese POW, suggests the enemy might have a mole in town.”
“The enemy will be on our doorstep in a matter of hours,” General Brooks said. “There isn’t time to run any kind of investigation.”
“Yes, that’s what I was worried about.”
“Rest assured that during the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours all outgoing radio communication will be strictly monitored. So there is little concern about any of our plans being compromised. Bring in whoever you need.”
Moss, Vice Mayor Ray Gruber, Henry and Rodriguez had all been waiting patiently in the hallway. John opened the door and invited them in.
“There’s a lot to prepare,” General Brooks began after everyone was acquainted, “and very little time to do it. The enemy’s rapid advance means reaching the designated rallying point will not be possible without exposing our rear to assault from the enemy.” Brooks studied a handwritten list prepared by Colonel Higgs. “The hodgepodge of units which continue to trickle into Oneida represent all that’s left of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment as well as the 101st Airborne division.” Brooks turned to Colonel Higgs. “Any estimate on the fighting force we have available?”
Higgs cleared his throat. The colonel didn’t look at all the way John had pictured him during their many conversations over the radio. Silver-haired, with deep weathered features, he was a career soldier through and through. “General, we’ve been able to account for roughly three thousand out of seventeen thousand men from the 101st and fifteen hundred out of thirty-eight hundred from the 278th. Altogether we’re looking at four and a half to five thousand men.”
The 278th had been John’s old regiment and hearing about their extensive losses was especially difficult. “Oneida can add at least another thousand to that,” John told them.
General Brooks nodded, looking concerned. “That’s not a lot, given the Chinese are likely to hit us with at least ten brigades. What about equipment, Higgs? Tell me we have something to fight back with.”
Higgs didn’t look very confident. “Half a dozen M1A2 battle tanks, maybe twice that number of Bradleys. We’ve got a number of Humvees mounted with an assortment of M2 .50 cal machine guns, M240s, and MK19 40mm automatic grenade launchers. The good news is each of them came in towing M198 155mm Howitzers. On top of that we’ve got a number of surface-to-air Stinger missile launchers.”
“What about hand-held anti-armor?” John asked, recalling his concern over holding the various choke points.
“A bunch of AT-4s but no more than a few Javelins,” Col Higgs replied. “I’ll admit, more Javelins would have been better, but beggars can’t be choosers.”
General Brooks turned to John. “I see that you and your people have already begun setting up a defensive perimeter around Oneida.”
“That’s right,” John replied. “We were aiming for a defense in depth. Make the enemy pay for every inch. The town itself will represent our final stand.”
“I like it,” Brooks said, smiling for the second time today. “Given our meagre resources”—the general pointed to the four major roads into the city: Route 27 which covered the northern and southern approach, the 297 which covered the western approach and Route 456 in from the east—“reinforcing these key entry points with heavy machine guns and AT-4’s should slow them down. Blowing the western and southern bridges once the enemy has crossed is also an option.”
“The bridges have already been rigged with dynamite taken from the local coal mines,” John informed the general. “We’ve also planted IEDs a few hundred yards before and after the bridges to destroy the forward and rear elements of the enemy column, trapping them in a kill zone.”
Now it was Moss’ turn to beam at his handiwork. If he’d been born in Afghanistan, John’s head of security would have made a fine mujahedeen.
“If I may make a suggestion, General?” John requested.
Brooks set his hands on the table. “Go ahead.”
“If we move half of the artillery onto Owens Ridge, it’ll allow us to rain down shells on anything that comes within miles. Ideally we should establish target points at preset locations, designating them with names like TP1, TP2 and so on. That way forward observers can call in target points instead of long grid coordinates. It’ll save us time and if the enemy is listening in, they won’t know where the fire is directed.” John glanced down at the map. “I also suggest we hold the tanks and Bradleys back in town and use them as a quick reaction force.”
General Brooks agreed. “What about you, Higgs?” he asked. “What are your thoughts?”
“I think John’s right. We can’t expose the armor to attack from the air. Our best bet is to keep them well hidden within the city. If the enemy manages to move within range we can wear them down by shooting and scooting to predesignated fire points.”
“If they come at us,” General Brooks said with assurance, “it’ll be from the west along Route 297.”
John shook his head, uncertain how disagreeing openly with the general would go over. “I’m not sure about that.”
“Really?” Brooks replied.
“Well, the chances are the enemy will be stretched over a wide front. Oneida surely won’t be their prime objective, although they’ll want to secure the town because of the railroad running through it. Their main objective will be capturing Knoxville. I believe they’re more likely to move their armor along Interstate 40, sending a modest force north along Route 27.”