Chimera (52 page)

But if they could get in and strike their targets, that was all that would matter at this point. If they were lucky, some of them would make it back. If not, they would most likely be ejecting over areas of Bhutan already under control of the Highland Division…

The squadron-commander checked the map display in front of him and then scanned the sky around. Ten more minutes before he would order his flights to hit the deck and approach the Bhutanese border as low as possible. For now, fuel was to be conserved for combat.

A KJ-2000 AWACS to the north was providing him airborne radar coverage. His radar warning receiver squawked and started giving warnings. The Indian AEW radar had spotted them…

But we are still ten minutes out from our low-profile phase!

He double checked his maps. The Indian AEW bird was flying
far
towards the north and probably over
northern
Bhutan right then!

But why?     

It didn’t matter. Not then anyway. He switched on his radio and spoke to the rest of his squadron pilots:

“The Indians know we are here! They venture into our territory today! We will improvise. A low-level approach no longer matters for the air-to-air flight. Punch your tanks and accelerate to cover us! Engage their patrols and buy us time to break through to our targets. All others: watch for enemy fighters! Go!”

All nine J-8IIs dropped their external tanks in unison, punched afterburners and accelerated. The six ground-strike aircraft dived low while the three aerial escorts climbed to higher altitude and went active on missile tracking radars. The RWR inside his helmet was now continually screeching. His own AWACS told him that three Indian Su-30s were accelerating to meet his force north of the Bhutanese border.

They wish to fight us on our own soil today!

So be it!

He pulled his aircraft as low above the plains of Tibet as he dared. In front of him, the snowcapped peaks of the Greater Himalayas were approaching on the horizon…

Three streaks of white smoke appeared above those peaks and headed north, above his head. The Indians had engaged his air-to-air equipped flight above him. He saw six streaks of smoke heading south in retaliation from that flight. He risked turning his head momentarily above and saw two fireballs falling out of the sky.

Those bastards!

The three Indian Su-30s engaged their powerful electronic-warfare suites to spoof the incoming missiles at the same time as they dropped chaff and flares. They had dived low, pulled north of the peaks on the Bhutanese border and slashed back over Tibet. The Group-Captain leading the offensive fighter-sweep over the Tibet was having a pleasant day…

“King-Hammer to all Hammer elements: Engage! Engage! Don’t let any of these bastards get home for lunch today!”

He snapped his massive Sukhoi to its side and noticed several J-8IIs streaking below him at low altitude and heading south. They saw him at about the same time as he saw them. Hammer-Two and Hammer-Three were busy finishing off the last J-8II at high altitude. So he pulled the stick back and brought the aircraft into a very tight turn until he could see the yellow nozzle exhausts of his opponents in front of him. Two of those now dropped their heavy ordinance and lit afterburners to pull up and engage…

“So you two will go first!”

He pulled the control-stick. The first J-8II had just finished punching off its ordinance and had no energy advantage relative to King-Hammer’s Sukhoi. A quick burst of cannon fire chopped that Chinese fighter’s port wing from the fuselage in short order.

As that aircraft broke up in flight and tumbled out of the sky, the other J-8II was punching off flares and was already turning to get behind him. King-Hammer was busy with his first prey enough that he didn’t notice the threat on his tail until a line of tracers flashed by the cockpit, barely missing the aircraft.

“This guy knows his trade!” he noted and punched both afterburners while climbing into the sky, taking advantage of the large thrust-to-weight ratio of the Sukhoi against the J-8II in the vertical plane. Sure enough, he left his quarry behind, leading him on with lines of chaff and flares. But before he could think about re-engaging, a missile streaked from the side and slammed into his tormentor, blotting it out of the sky in a shower of debris. Hammer-Two streaked across the sky on both afterburners…

“Sorry boss! You took my kill, so I took yours!” King-Hammer heard over his radio. He responded back with a bemused grunt.

“Don’t get cocky, boy! Now: where are the rest of these buggers?”

ABOVE THE NORTHERN BHUTAN-TIBET BORDER

DAY 7 + 1430 HRS

As Hammer flight continued to wrest control of the air over southern Tibet from the PLAAF, another flock of Su-30s were out to do the same with the PLA air-defenses…

Six Su-30s were flying line abreast of each other and were devoid of all weaponry except a pair of R-73 missiles each. Their main focus today was not aerial dominance through air-combat but through the defeat of the Chinese air-defense environment. Each aircraft carried underneath the centerline pylon one air-launched Brahmos ALCM.

One after the other, the six fighters released their heavy cargo and rose higher due to reduced weight. As the six ALCMs fell clear, dropping a hundred feet below their parent aircraft, their boosters lit up with a smoky flame and propelled them beyond the launch aircraft for a few seconds before running out of thrust. Slight compressive clouds formed around the missile bodies as they crossed the sonic barrier. There was little to no humidity at these altitudes. Then a smokeless ramjet motor lit up and accelerated the missiles to three times the speeds of sound…

Their job done, the six fighters flipped on their sides, broke formation and dived back to the south.

The ALCMs broke into two groups in flight. One group deviated slightly to the east and the other to the west. The two groups separated quickly and moved away from visual range in short order.

Then there were more missiles in the skies around them.

Their intended targets had seen the incoming threats and engaged. As the S-300 battery near Shigatse airbase to the west and the other deployed near Lhasa launched missiles, the Brahmos ALCMs went into terminal maneuver mode. This ate up fuel at extraordinary rates and dramatically reduced the overall range of the missile. This was why Hammer flight had gone in over southern Tibet to sweep the skies for the launch aircraft.

It had been mere coincidence for the J-8II squadron that their mission had coincided with this Indian operation. They had paid the price for their bad luck, but they were not the only ones doing so that day…

The terminal maneuvering of the Brahmos missiles at such high speeds created claps of thunder heard all over the plains below as they ALCMs turned and weaved to throw off their interceptors.

Three missiles were knocked out by the S-300s in the minute worth of interception time. Two ALCMs from the Lhasa group and one from the Shigatse group were knocked out of the sky.

The two missiles from the Shigatse group hit their targets in quick succession. They exploded within the valley around the airfield and a few hundred feet above the dispersal areas of the S-300 battery. The resulting overpressure wave demolished everything within a two-hundred meter radius near both locations, killing the launch crews and the radar vehicles in split-seconds. 

To the east, the single surviving missile for the Lhasa battery also hit its desired target and took out the battery vehicles. In both locations, large, brown mushroom clouds of dust rose into the air and were easily visible on Indian satellites that passed overhead. A tasking order went out to the IAF Eastern Air Command to prepare anti-radiation strike packages for the surviving Chinese radars in southern Tibet. A large gaping hole had just been carved out of the Chinese air-defenses.    

THIMPU

BHUTAN

DAY 7 + 1600 HRS

“Delta-Flight inbound westerly.”

The intra-team comms squawked with Ravi’s voice as Pathanya walked down the stone steps behind the large palace. He was escorted by a group of Bhutanese officials a few steps behind him. Pathanya had an intimidating appearance with his six foot height and build. It didn’t help for them to see the rifle slung on his chest and the sunglasses he was wearing over the white and brown boonie hat. He had finally washed the war-paint off his face but his uniform was still stained with blood. To the locals he was something just short of a demon, symbolizing everything that was currently happening with their small mountainous kingdom. But he didn’t care. 

He walked up to another team member standing at the base of the steps. He was similarly dressed and equipped as Pathanya.

“Give me your optics,” Pathanya ordered silently.

The soldier handed Pathanya his binoculars without uttering a word and went back to scanning the peaks around for suspicious activity. Pathanya continued walking down to the north end of the concrete pad where Ravi was waiting with his binoculars to his eyes.

The first whipping noises of the helicopters were now reverberating in the valley. As Pathanya brought up his own binoculars to confirm the inbounds, Ravi lowered his and glanced at the officials.

“God. How much did you scare them?” he chuckled.

“Just enough,” Pathanya replied without looking away from his binoculars, “to get them to sign off on using this place as a jump-off point for the incoming reinforcements.”

Once he was satisfied that the inbounds were helicopters from Paru, he lowered his scopes. They were still thirty seconds out.

“Just remember that once the Colonel is on the ground, he is in command of Thimpu. And we act like it. So lose the informality. No more ‘boss’ shit? I am now ‘sir’ to all you bozos until we are back out in the bushes. Get it?” Pathanya ordered.

The inbound Mi-17 and one of the two Dhruv helicopters slowed to a hover, allowing the third Dhruv to flare for landing on to the pad.

“Yes
sir
, I got it,” Ravi retorted. Pathanya smiled.

“Good. Then pass the word along.”

Ravi walked away to check on the rest of the team. The Dhruv landed amidst a flurry of snow raised by its main rotors. The side-doors of the helicopter slid open and a small group of Paras in full combat gear jumped out, their weapons in their hands. As their Lieutenant began shouting orders, they began spreading out from the pad, joining Spear team members on the perimeter of the palace.

The last man in the helicopter stepped out wearing the red-beret of the Paras and two red-collar tabs of a Colonel. Pathanya ran over as the snow flurry intensified and the Dhruv leapt off the pad, clearing it for the next hovering helicopter in line. Pathanya shook hands with Colonel Misra as both men held on to their headgear until they sprinted off the pad and onto the stone steps leading into the palace.

“Let me guess. You are Pathanya. Spear team-leader?” Misra asked.

“Sir.”

Misra stopped at the head of the stairs and looked around Thimpu from there as the second Dhruv lifted off the pads and cleared the way for the Mi-17. Each helicopter rotated back to Paru airport to pick up the next load of soldiers. Pathanya saw the spreading mass of paratroopers and nodded in approval. 

Finally!
          

“Give me a layout of your unit positions here,” Misra ordered.

“Yes sir,” Pathanya said, looking away from the incoming soldiers and pointed to the north with his left arm. “I have a three-man O-P over there in the outskirts about three-quarter kilometer from here. They have been spotting for the friendly arty as we held off the assault on Thimpu. I have five men here providing security for this L-Z and I have about three dozen RBA soldiers that I have absorbed into my command. Their own commander fell during the shelling at Wang-Chu about six kilometers north from here, two days ago. So they fell back here. I have deployed them in dominant positions on the perimeter around this L-Z. The O-P team is ordered to fall back here in case the Chinese break through into the city.”

Misra nodded his approval. Pathanya had done well given the circumstances. He looked at the group of Bhutanese officials who had followed them up the stairs…

“Who the hell are these guys?”

Before Pathanya could speak, the senior Bhutanese official stepped forward and spoke in clear English:

“These
guys
, as you say put it, are the officials of the government whom we
hope
you are here to protect. We are here to offer the services of the Royal-Guards unit to the defense of our capital. They are our most loyal and well-trained soldiers.”

“We shall see.” Misra noted. “But just so we are clear. General Potgam is the overall commander for Joint-Force-Bhutan as per the treaty arrangements made by your King with New-Delhi yesterday. So I need you to go get your men organized and send their commanding officer to me. In the meantime I am taking control of these buildings as my staging area for the defense of this city. Is that clear?”

The Bhutanese official nodded and went back to his group. He explained to them what all needed to be done and the group soon walked away. Pathanya turned to Misra once they were again alone.

“Sir, I see that the 11
TH
Para is now deploying. What are my orders?”

Misra considered that for a few moments. Both men turned to see another Mi-17 approaching from Paru. This was the direct approach vector now that the first troops were on the ground. This flight was bringing in men and equipment for the battalion headquarters.

“Captain, get your men together and reinforce your O-P. Once my companies start assembling, I am going to move them out to seal all entrances to the city. 11
TH
Para is just the tip of the iceberg. More battalions and even some light-armor are inbound. Once that happens we will be taking the fight to the enemy. In the meantime, get your team ready. I want them rested and rearmed. We will be dropping you behind enemy lines soon enough. How do you like that idea, Captain?” Misra said with a smile.

“Sir, I think that’s the best idea I have heard all day.”

EAST OF DAULAT BEG OLDI

LADAKH

DAY 7 + 1900 HRS

“Say that
again!
Over!
” Kulkarni turned away from his optics and pressed his helmet earpiece closer to his ears. The utter chaos of combat was drowning out the incoming radio traffic…

“Rhino-One, this is steel-central!
Do you read
?” the radio screeched.

Kulkarni strained to understand what was coming through. In the background his gunner was shouting targets and requesting main-gun ammo from the loader, who was shouting back confirmations. The cordite smell and smoke inside the turret was nauseating. The shudder of the turret with each shot fired and the rattle of the co-axial machinegun fire just added to the cacophony.

“
Yes!
This
is
Rhino-One! I read you! Steel-central, we are in heavy contact with enemy dismounts at point-victory! Enemy infantry attempting flanking maneuvers from surrounding hills! We need back up!
Over!
”

“
Rhino-On…This…Central!
Can you
confirm!
” the radio screeched again just as the tank shuddered on recoil.

“
Negative!
Negative!
I do
not
copy! Say
again
steel-central!”

The radio screeched with static.

“God
damn
it!” Kulkarni lowered his mouthpiece in frustration and saw his loader staring at him in silence. Kulkarni realized had to keep his composure, if not for himself then for his men. He changed frequencies:

“Rhino-One to all elements! We
cannot
hold this ground. Enemy infantry is going to swarm and overrun us. We are falling back. I say again, initiate tactical retreat to the L-O-D on
my
authority!”

ABOVE POINT-VICTORY

LADAKH

DAY 7 + 1915 HRS

The Nishant UAV pushed forward by Sudarshan was now over the Arjun tanks of the 43
RD
Armored Regiment inside Chinese controlled territory. Sudarshan and his operations officers were standing inside the tents of the command post, watching the live feed while his signals personnel were attempting to make sense of the tactical situation and reestablish contact with Kulkarni. Sudarshan sighed as he saw the Arjun tanks being forced to make a fighting retreat to the south under heavy enemy infantry harassment using rocket-launchers and anti-tank guided-missiles…

The 43
RD
Armored had accomplished everything that he and Adesara had asked of them. They had broken into the enemy MSR after destroying the PLA tanks on their southern flank. That had cut the two depleted PLA infantry Divisions fighting the Indian 3
RD
Infantry Division for DBO, Saser and the Karakoram peaks.

For a while.

Now the PLA were attempting to take it back with infantry units using the cover of the surrounding hills. Once they moved around them, they could pick off the tanks with anti-tank weaponry fired into the vulnerable areas of the tanks.

Not acceptable
…

The two PLA Divisions stuck between 3
RD
Infantry Division forces to their east and the 43
RD
Armored tanks to their west were certainly feeling the pain. But the PLA sector commander was no fool. He was rushing additional units from the east and hitting Rhino force in order to squeeze them out from the MSR and break the encirclement of his two Divisions. And it appeared that he was succeeding.

The 4
TH
Mechanized Battalion was rushing north to link up with Kulkarni’s tanks, but it was not pushing fast enough. Faced with no other choice, Kulkarni had ordered a tactical retreat as the UAV imagery showed.

“Where the
hell
is 4
TH
Mechanized?” Sudarshan barked without turning away from the video feed. A Major lowered his radio headset:

“They are encountering severe resistance from enemy infantry south of the 43
RD
Armored lines! Its total chaos over there. Rhino is taking fire from all sides. The PLA is throwing everything they have at our tanks out there. Small arms, mortars, anti-tank rockets and guided missiles. You name it and they are using it. 4
TH
Mechanized is unable to break to Rhino and establish a base of fire. And the air-force is reporting more enemy light-armor rushing in from the north-east along the MSR from Qara-Tagh-La. They are attempting to interdict and buy us some time!”

“Good
god!
” Sudarshan said. “Can Rhino hold until 3
RD
Infantry forces can defeat the two encircled PLA Divisions?” The Major shook his head.

“Well then there is only one thing left to do,” Sudarshan said dryly and looked back at the Major. “Tell both the 43
RD
Armored and 4
TH
Mechanized to break off and pull back to the south. And then get me steel-teeth at Saser!”

Sudarshan turned away as the Major got to work on the radio. He looked at the EO feed and gritted his teeth as he saw small white heat blobs showing PLA soldiers scattered over the hills around the retreating Arjun tanks. Sudarshan clenched his hands into an iron fist…

We could not hold the MSR, but neither will you!

“Sir! Steel-teeth on the comms!” the Major shouted from his seat. Sudarshan walked over and grabbed the speaker from him:

“Steel-teeth, this is steel-central-actual! I want priority suppression fire on point-victory in five mikes. I have red ants all over the place and I need some
serious
pest-control. Steel-central out!”

EAST OF DAULAT BEG OLDI

LADAKH

DAY 7 + 1945 HRS

Kulkarni pushed open the top turret hatch as his tank rumbled back in tactical progression. His loader opened his hatch, grabbed his hatch mounted machinegun and opened fire on PLA soldiers taking cover around their destroyed trucks. Kulkarni took in a breath of the freezing cold air and looked on either side to see three other Arjun tanks to his left and three more to the right moving alongside. He had lost two tanks to the murderous fire from the Chinese infantry battalions swarming the hills around him.

Bullets were flying through the air and metallic clangs were ringing out as that ordinance bounced off the hulls.

The ground rumbled and he could see the afterburner flame of air-force Jaguars overhead, taking the fight to the enemy…

The radio chimed: “Rhino-One, this is steel-central!”

“Steel-central, this is Rhino-One reading you five-by-five!”

Finally!
Kulkarni didn’t add.  

“Rhino-One, we have you on infrared! Order all surviving Rhino elements to activate infrared strobes, right now! We
cannot
distinguish accurately enough for suppression fire! Over!”

Kulkarni immediately switched frequencies:

“Rhino-One to all elements: Switch infrared beacons active
now!
”

As all tanks went IR active, the overhead UAV electro-optical pod could make out the rough alignment of Kulkarni’s tanks as they retreated.

And the same went for the Chinese as well…

“
Incoming!
” Kulkarni’s loader shouted as he scrambled inside the turret and closed the hatch cover behind him.

Kulkarni did the same just moments before the interior of the vehicle shook violently. Chinese tube artillery shells slammed into the rocks a few meters in front of the retreating tanks, throwing mud and gravel all over the vehicles. With the kind of heavy armor that the Arjun tanks had, what the Chinese needed was a direct hit on the thinner top armor.

Not impossible, but just too damned unlikely. Nevertheless, it was enough to rattle the crews inside…

“Steel-central, we are being
hit
by enemy heavy tube arty! No casualties yet but let’s not push our luck on that! Suggest you do whatever you have planned A-S-A-P! We are lit up for enemy drones over here!”

Damn the Chinese aerial drones!

Sudarshan thought as he turned to his operations officers:

“Can somebody
please
figure out a way to take out those Chinese aerial drones hovering over our forces out there? What the
heck
is the air-force up to?” Sudarshan thundered to Narayana standing by the map table. The latter looked up from the maps and stared down the fuming Colonel: