"Over fifty of the tanks we lost in the battle I just described were due to an MLRS battery the Americans employed. I am happy to inform you that we were able to completely destroy this battery.

We kept a full squadron of SU-25's in reserve for just this purpose, escorted by a squadron of SU-33's.

Since our counter battery fire has been ineffective against the highly mobile MLRS, once we had determined the location of the MLRS attack by radar, we immediately dispatched the SU-25's. Our aircraft caught the MLRS battery in transit away from the positions they had fired from and destroyed them. Our SU-33's engaged several American and Saudi aircraft, but only three of the SU-25's were lost. This is another tactic that should be pa.s.sed along and used against the American technology.

"Still, once we are able to engage the American armor directly, we require the numeric advantage. This brings me to my major point before speaking to the American buildup. I would plead with my respected superiors: our logistics linesmust remain open and the 4thand 7thArmy groups must quickly move up to reinforce and strengthen the 1stand 2ndgroups respectively. The Americans are employing their B1-B's and their cruise missiles to great effect in hampering our supply lines. I plead with you to either find a way to prevent this, or send enough support to ensure that the requisite amount of men, equipment and munitions reach our staging areas."

And so the meeting went. Hasan Sayeed was very satisfied with Jabal's performance. He had chosen correctly when he named Jabal theater commander over the objections of his Defense Minister and leading military commanders. To their credit, they were now exploiting Jabal's understanding of how the Americans would employ their forces and react.

Nonetheless, the American and NATO buildup was progressing at a faster than expected rate. At the current rate, it would allow them to field enough of their technology to blunt the GIR advance in the next eight to ten weeks. Hasan could not go into the details in this meeting, but he was expecting that rate to dramatically diminish in the next three to four weeks. He would take Jabal aside after the meeting, sometime later this evening while they were at dinner, and quietly let him know what to expect from "Breath of Fire" so he could have contingency plans prepared accordingly.

February 20, 2006, 18:55 local time GIR forward position East of Cicekdag, Turkey Sergeant Abduhl Selim watched the highway below, running through the valley. His position on the hill overlooking the main highway to Ankara was the furthest position forward in the GIR line, and from his point of view, clearly the most exposed. But that was nothing new to the Sergeant.

GIR forces had broken through the Turkish and British lines at Kayseri on the 17th, just as reports of advancing German armor and Canadian reinforcements were being received. As a result of the breakthrough, they had caught the German and Canadian forces in transit and forced them to retreat. The last three days had brought them to this position. Reconnaissance flights and patrols indicated that the German armor and Canadian infantry had withdrawn and heavily reinforced the U.S. 82ndAirborne Division which was already dug in at the next line of defense just three kilometers up the road, around the hills off to the west.

Abduhl had been promoted to the senior NCO for his platoon three weeks ago after the former NCO had been killed. In fact, Abduhl and two other men were the only surviving members of the original squad that he had entered Iraq with in September. So here he was, a crack shot eighteen-year-old who had become battle hardened in the s.p.a.ce of six months.

"Okay, okay! I want each of you men dug in along this line on each side of the ridge towards the east here, five-meter separation. We may be up here all night. In fact, we probably will be up here all night and nothing is coming up that valley or over that ridge without us knowing about it and reporting back to the company. Let's go, be quick about it!"

Turning to several sets of two man teams that had just arrived at his position, Abduhl began issuing them orders too.

"Set up those anti-tank positions on each side of the ridge, near the military crest in positions fifteen meters back form the forward end of the line, and those anti-aircraft teams in the middle on each side of the ridge.

"Any aircraft or armor they send scouting are going to pay a heavy price. Dig in deep, once they find we're here they will barrage us quickly."

In fact, the men didn't know it yet, but the young sergeant was going to have them dig a secondary position two hundred meters to their rear as soon as they had completed this one. He figured he had just enough time to get those second positions prepared, and then get his men into their forward position with their night vision headsets on before it got too dark.

His two AT-4 Spigot anti-tank missile teams would be fine for engaging scout or recon APC's or IFV's, but they would be of questionable use against frontal armor of the American and German main battle tanks (MBT's). To date, he had fought against the older variety if Turkish MBT's, the M-60's. Since the Spigot had a tough time penetrating frontal armor, he knew that against the newer tanks his missiles would even be more questionable. In that event, he would alert his command of their presence and attempt to wait and let them begin to get past him, allowing their side and rear armor to be targeted, before engaging them.

The SA-14 Gremlin missiles his two, two-man teams carried were effective against helicopters or low flying attack aircraft. They were the Russian built equivalent of the American "Stinger" missile. Perhaps not as capable, but capable enough. Abduhl knew that when his teams launched them, the targeted aircraft immediately attempted to evade and egress...but he also knew that his entire position would then be targeted in return.

As Abduhl sent out the first of his reconnaissance patrols that would cover the surrounding area to their front and flanks through the night, he thought about the coming ground confrontation with the Americans.

The American 82ndAirborne, he thought. He had heard his former NCO's, talk a lot about the American 101stand 82ndAirborne Divisions, hoping they would have a chance to fight them. Even though they wanted a chance to confront them, Abduhl knew they had a very healthy respect for them.

Abduhl had seen what American air power could do. Most of those NCO's he was remembering were now dead because of it, the rest due to what resistance had been offered by the Turks. He knew that the American ground forces were going to be just as effective as their air forces had been and he was going to just have to do his best to prepare for that.

"Perhaps we will find out tonight. It'll be getting dark within the hour; and everyone has told me that the Americans like the night."

February 20, 2006, same time 82ndAirborne Scout East of Cicekdag, Turkey Sixteen hundred and seventy-five yards to the north and east of Sergeant Selim, along the next ridgeline over and running tangential to the front, Master Sergeant Michael O'Malley was watching the GIR forward position through his 10X dual purpose monocular-range finder. The Sergeant and his three-man security/communications team was a forward observer for the very 82ndAirborne Division that Selim was worrying about.

"Okay, these guys are real smart. It looks like they are preparing a secondary fall back position. They have anti-tank, anti-air and some forward observation in an oversized platoon. They're sending out a patrol right now, you got them Johannsen? "

Private Johannsen was one of two soldiers providing security for O'Malley. He was quick to respond to his sergeant.

"I got 'em, six guys, heading north along this side of the ridge. I'll keep an eye on them and let you know if they start our way."

O'Malley responded.

"Great Private, you make sure you do. Corporal, pa.s.s these two coordinates that I'm about to give you back to battalion. Go ahead and get them on the horn. This'll take just a couple of seconds."

The Master Sergeant checked his optics and then compared it to the representation that he called up on the ruggedized tablet computer he carried. He used a stylus to scroll to the correct position on the 3-D digital map of the surrounding area that was loaded into the computer. As he did, the coordinates he desired appeared on the display.

He had an option to upload the information via wireless communication directly to a JOINT STAR aircraft if one was available and had been programmed into the system, or he could store the coordinates locally and then use standard radio communication to call them into his battalion headquarters. Since total air superiority had not been achieved, and the loss of one of the very expensive JOINT STAR aircraft late last year over eastern Turkey was still fresh in everyone's mind, no JOINT STAR aircraft would be risked this close to the front. That left the radio.

"OK, here's the first coordinate. Let's see if we can't arrange a little surprise for these folks around 0430 when the counterattack kicks off. That is, if they stay put that long"

February 24, 2006, 16:50 Simplot Corporate Offices Boise, ID Geneva glanced at the clock. Ten minutes until five on a Friday afternoon. She was probably going to have to work a few minutes late in order to finish up the word processing that was needed for Monday morning. She might even come in on Sat.u.r.day if necessary.

Geneva had gotten the job several months ago. She had taken a local cla.s.s on computers and then on word processing and surprised herself and Alan too when she had literally excelled at it. The school had a placement program and Simplot had taken her on as a temp in their word processing pool. After three months as a temp, they had brought her on full time and she really enjoyed the work.

The one caveat had been she needed a week's vacation in March to drive down to San Diego. Simplot had very strict rules about vacation and sick leave and when one could qualify for it. However, in Geneva's case, when they had heard what the vacation was for...her supervisor had talked with management and they had arranged for her to take the time as a paid leave, not impacting future vacation she might accrue.

Simplot had a reputation as a very strict, no-nonsense company that was somewhat of a corporate piranha. It showed in their earnings, even in the hard times. Simplot was also avery patriotic company. Few people knew that the company had tragically lost a number of civilian employees in World War II when the j.a.panese invaded and took over Wake Island. Several Simplot employees had been captured along with the Marines defending the Island and they had been, almost to the man, ex ecuted by the j.a.panese. So when it came to a Marine Boot Camp graduation, Simplot was not only understanding, they were extremely accommodating.

"Let's see," Geneva thought for a moment, "February 20th, this will mark the end of his eleventh week, only two more weeks to go! I'll bet that boy is cutting quite the figure after all that training!"

As she thought about him and continued her work, she saw the other employees leaving as the five o'clock hour came and pa.s.sed.

"RINNNNGGG!".

"Oh! I wonder who that could be this late on a Friday afternoon?" Geneva thought as she picked up her extension and answered it.

"Simplot, this is Geneva Campbell in Word Processing."

On the other end of the phone the familiar voice of Alan spoke up.

"Hi mom, what's happenin' girl?"

Geneva had to smile, Alan was always checking up on his mom. Sometimes it made her wonder just who the parent was.

"Alan, what's going on? You better have a good reason for calling, 'cause you know you're not supposed to call work. This is a company line."

Alan loved his mom. He knew she took her work and her work ethic seriously, and he was sure it was rubbing off on him just as it had on Leon.

"Mom, that's why I waited until after five. I knew you'd be slavin' away doin' the "perfect" job and all, and I just wanted to see when you thought you'd be home. I'm going to fixyou dinner tonight."

Geneva smiled. That Alan, he sure was a sweet talker; and it was genuine. It was hard for anyone to remain out of sorts with Alan.

"Okay, okay. I figure I'll be leaving in the next fifteen minutes or so. That should get me home between five-thirty and six."

Alan paused for a moment on the phone, then he set the hook.

"Well, okay. I just wanted you to know that Leon called. He said he'd call back at five-thirty. He wants to finalize the schedule and plans for our trip down to his graduation in two weeks."

Geneva took back everything she'd just thought. That rascal Alan!

"Alan, I swear boy you are going to drive me crazy. Why didn't you just tell me that to begin with? No, I know, I know, you just wanted to lead me long. I'll be home at five-thirty; you make sure Leon waits for me-and you stop playin' with my emotions so!"

Alan laughed out loud, not in a bad way, but in the good natured, loving way that always disarmed his mom, even if she was put out with him.

"Okay Mom, but I'll have that dinner ready when you get here."

February 28th, 2006, 22:30 local time 2ndInfantry Division Headquarters Camp Red Cloud, Uijongbu, South Korea The 2ndInfantry Division was the United States princ.i.p.al ground combat unit within the US Forces Korea (USFK). Over 20,000 soldiers were continuously standing in the breach between the free world and totalitarianism. Along with their South Korean allies and comrades in arms, who numbered a half million in the active armed forces, they faced off against a standing army of over twice their size, with ready reserves that could turn the ratio to eight to one in a matter of days.

Particularly on the occasions, like now, when North Korea conducted ma.s.sive military exercises along the DMZ, the alert levels were high and the tension was palpable.

In the intelligence section, Colonel Martinez, who was in charge, was pacing the floor. He was a constant, almost twenty-four hour per day presence around the intelligence offices while the North Korean exercises were going on. He literally slept and ate here. He felt he had good cause. He wanted to be available personally to make the decisions necessary if the North ever decided to "come." He didn't want any confusion or indecision in those critical first few moments that an attack was either discovered, or launched.

Just as he was walking past the a.n.a.lyst section, a young Lt. noticed him and waved him over.

"Holy cow, Colonel, take a look at this."

The protocol may not have been the best, but the Colonel focused on results. This young man may look the "nerd" to a lot of the "gung-ho" soldiers-and in fact he was a nerd-but he was a committed to his job. He was also as good at a.n.a.lyzing photographic and SIGINT data and tying the two together as anyone the Colonel had ever known.

"Okay, Lt. Finley, what's got you so excited you forgot to say 'Sir'?"

The Lt. blushed in embarra.s.sment as he answered.

"Oh! Sorry, Sir! I have correlated our latest reconnaissance photos from an over flight along the DMZ two hours ago with the latest NRO data. In fact, the folks back in NRO in northern Virginia were so anxious that they ftp'd me their data just a few minutes ago. I've got both sets of data and the graphics up on the screen right now. Please Sir, take a look while I brief you on it, though I believe the graphics tell the story pretty straight forwardly."

As Martinez studied the screen, the hair on the back of his neck literally stood up. There it was, laid out for them. The reconnaissance photos showed several suspected forward deployment positions for North Korean artillery occupied with stacks of munitions being piled up next to them. You could actually see the workers stacking the sh.e.l.ls. In several images, the positions revealed North Korean 127mm mobile rocket launchers, again with stacks of reloads piled near the launchers.

In addition, the National Reconnaissance Office satellite photos showed a steady stream of supplies moving towards the front from depots in the rear. Those satellite photos confirmed that a lot more ammo, troops, equipment and heavy armor were moving towards the DMZ. If more ordinance was moving up in those numbers, then...

"Okay, great job Lt. Captain, get CINCCFC on the line immediately,I mean right now!"

He didn't know how long he had. Let's see...two hours. Looking at those photos it could go anytime now. Which would mean-my G.o.d, their Special Forces: the sappers!

"Lt. Finley, you get the Base Commander on the linenow ! I want to speak with the commander of the Security Forces here on the base as well. Then line up the same at Camp Humphreys, Camp Henry, Husan Air Base and Osan Air Base."

February 28th, 2006, same time Forward Observation Post (FOP) West of Chorwon, Along the DMZ, Korea There was a lot of activity out there tonight. You could hear the Korean voices drifting across the DMZ along with a lot of equipment moving. But, no one had ventured out into the forbidden area between the two nations, so the small contingent of American soldiers who were on duty here tonight kept their eyes and ears open, but did not display overt concern.

Except for Private Teasedale. He was out at the observation post right now along with the Corporal while the other six men of their squad rested back in the FOP bunker or monitored the listening, infrared or electronic devices that were also watching their section of the DMZ. Three, who were not on watch duty at the time, played games, read books or slept, waiting their watch.

But, Private Teasedale was new to Korea, having been "in country" for only six weeks now. As a part of his "in processing" he had heard several lectures, read some operations manuals and listened to the required audio tapes. One tape he could not get out of his mind was the excellent report that the Commanding General of all USFK had given to the United States Congress a few years earlier. It had been so succinct, so well delivered, that the 2ndDivision had made it a standard part of their "in processing" for new arrivals. The one phrase from that tape that had been riveted into Private Teasedale's mind that day had been this: "The North Korean Army would be able to sustain a rate of artillery fire of five hundred thousand sh.e.l.ls per hour for prolonged periods."

As he sat there this evening, watching the DMZ with his night vision scope, hearing all of the Korean talk, movement and equipment across the zone, that statement kept coming back to his mind again and again.

"...a rate of artillery fire of 500,000 sh.e.l.ls per hour."

Now, from across the way, the private heard several whistles being blown. Sounded like dozens of them, no, scores, maybe hundreds. He turned to the corporal, who had also perked up and was listening.

"Corporal, do you hear that? What does it mean? Why are they blowing those...."

As he asked this question, from down the tunnel in the bunker he heard the land-line begin to ring.

"Rinnnggg, Rinnnggg, Rinnnggg"

And then the entire sky, from horizon to horizon along, the DMZ in front of him lit up brightly. But it was a flash that did not die. It kept being repeated time and again, giving the appearance of a huge, bright strobe light, just below the horizon and stretching for miles in either direction. In addition, thousands of streaks of light reached rapidly across the sky in what must have appeared to be the grandest and mightiest fireworks display of all time; except that these streaks and that whistling sound, were all coming towards the young private.

Then the 127mm rockets and the 122mm, 152mm and 180mm high explosive (HE) rounds began to land and nothing else mattered.

March 1, 2006, 05:30 local time Politburo Beijing, China "Kim Jong-II's forces are moving forward faster than expected Mr. President. Since the initiation of hostilities last evening, the entire DMZ has been over run and the attack is proceeding ahead of schedule.

"Democratic People's Republic forces are advancing along a broad front and are entering Pyokche and Uijongbu on the outskirts of Seoul. The civilian population is in complete pandemonium and the chaos is hampering ROK and US forces. This morning's missile strikes in Seoul have included strikes on their financial and governmental centers that have hit several of the high rise buildings. Subsequently, many of these buildings have collapsed into piles of rubble adding to the chaos.

"This missile and artillery barrage is being coupled with ma.s.sive air strikes in advance of the three p.r.o.nged a.s.sault on Seoul. One leg of that a.s.sault is a thrust at Inchon along the coast, which is. .h.i.tting the outskirts of Seoul to the west. This is the army group now entering Pyokche. A second thrust is coming from the north through Uijongbu. The third thrust is splitting off several divisions from the attack down the middle of the country through Ch'unch'on, approaching Seoul from the north and east.

"Along the coast DPRK forces have advanced as far as YangYang. Right now, the penetration, except for small pockets of resistance, is along a line running from YangYang, eastward to Ch'ung'on, over to Uijongbu and then to the eastern coast at Pyokche. We expect DPRK forces to enter Seoul this afternoon, either tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest. Given the current rate of advance, I would be surprised if it wasn't today.

"We can attribute much of this success to the DPRK Special Forces who were extremely successful in sabotaging many ROK and US aircraft before they could take off, which were followed up by ma.s.sive ballistic missile strikes on all airports and airfields. Those strikes are continuing to this moment.

Unfortunately, those same forces were not successful in eliminating the U.S. 2ndInfantry Division leaders.h.i.+p at Camp Red Cloud, although they did penetrate the perimeter briefly where they attacked a number of housing units. This added significantly to the confusion."

Jien Zenim sat back in his custom-made Natuzzi chair and considered the developing world situation.

The GIR was continuing to advance in the Middle East, albeit their rate of advance was slowing. The Americans and NATO had been pouring men and equipment into that region for many weeks now and would be in a position to start seriously challenging GIR forces within a few short weeks. Now, they would have this to deal with.

He tried to picture the "situation room" in the White House. Surely they were concerned, perhaps even panicking, worrying about China's response.

"Li, make sure that we open up a direct line call to President Weisskopf. I want to...try and calm the situation...offer to mediate. And make sure word of that is pa.s.sed onto David Krenshaw at WNN."

Jien doubted that the conversation with Weisskopf would even take place, although the American State Department (and probably their Defense Department too) would be urging the President to avoid any confrontation with China at this point, given the over all world situation.

Jien was well aware of that situation. He and his comrades had been manipulating it towards this for years. After all, the cold war was over, America was the world's only superpower and that had warranted those deep cuts. It just made such perfect sense, particularly when China was catching the capitalism fever and wanted to "open" its markets, particularly when so many American politicians were so easily bought off with money or vice.

No, Jien knew exactly what situation America's military was in, and what situation his own was in. The irony of it was, that America had funded both for their own cut backs and China's build-up with their own money!

Now, the Americans were in a situation where a single major theater engagement was a stretch for them; and now they were facing three major theater engagements in Turkey, Saudi/Egypt and now Korea.

Soon, the beleaguered Americans would be facing a fourth theater scale confrontation, and Jien had ensured that the fourth one, his own, would be the largest and costliest from the outset. China's role in "Breath of Fire" would be, "the straw that broke the camel's back," as the Americans would say. Or as Sun Tsu taught: the application of overwhelming force when your enemy was distracted in another direction.

In the mean time, Jien would cause as much political and moral damage as he could by continuing to manipulate the American public through their press up until the very 11thhour. The more dissension, the more discord, the more confusion and loss of confidence he could instill in them, the better.

February 28, 2006, 13:17 Situation Room, White House Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.

"This is an unmitigated disaster! Akin to what happened in the Philippines after Pearl Harbor.

"You are telling me we are down to 50% operational strength for the 7thAir Force over there-in just one day? How in the h.e.l.l did that happen, Jeremy? And we're down to 65% in terms of combat effectiveness for the 2ndInfantry Division.

"Gentlemen, we were supposed to be on heightened security alert and measures at all bases! The North was conducting exercises that emulated this very attack!"

Jeremy Stone understood his President's frustration. Jeremy was frustrated too, and knowing that the President himself had been one the most successful military general's in the last half century, he could just imagine the old general wanting to come out in him. But, while being frustrated, he could also understand why the disaster in Korea was occurring.

"Mr. President, I have to be honest with you. It may not help at the moment, in fact the only thing that will help those boys over there at the moment is their grit and determination and that of our allies, the South Koreans-and us getting them some relief as quickly as possible. They are going to have to conduct a fighting withdrawal while forces to the south establish a strong defense line. It'll mean abandoning Seoul and Inchon. If we wait though, our forces there are going to be surrounded and we'll be looking at a surrender of those forces in a matter of weeks, if not days.

"But, in terms of the current disaster, Mr. President, we were just too thin. When our enemy can lob ballistic missiles and rockets at us by the thousands per hour, Sir, there just are not enough Patriot, Improved Hawk or any other defensive missiles to get them all; and we've been watching them build up like this for years, while we staffed down and tried to "talk." No disrespect meant, Secretary Reissinger, but we should have backed up all of that talk with a credible force.