Episode 84

3rd Battalion, 67th Armor

Two miles south, Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

“Let me get this straight. You want to change the entire invasion plan based on the word of some SF Captain?”

“Yeah. Basically.”

The marshaling yard was loud enough with running engines and the occasional shouted command that the conversation between Lucas and Hernandez was unlikely to be overheard.

“Jesus Luis, are you sure it’s even him? This could be a false flag operation.”

“I met him at Fort Irwin last year.”

“That’s convenient.”

“I think he ping’d me because he knew me.”

“If it’s even him.”

“If the DPRK has good enough intel that they know my drinking habits and who I drink with when; we are totally fucked.”

“OK, fair.”

Hernandez paced back and forth between his command track and the Bradley parked next to it. He was tempted to kick this upstairs but he knew they would just chew on it. This was his call to make. “It’s him. The real question is, will the codes work?”

“Did he seem to think so?”

“Yeah, he seemed pretty certain.”

“What does your gut say?”

“My gut says trust him.”

“Then we do it.”

“That’s a helluva gamble on my gut, bud.”

“You saved my ass in Kandahar. That was a gut call.”

“But it was just our platoon then. This is the biggest call I’ve ever made. I don’t know if I can just go on a hunch. Dammit!” Hernandez punched the side of the command vehicle in frustration and then immediately regretted it.

“Jesus, Luis. You’re gonna do yourself an injury.”

“Yeah. That fucking hurt.”

“So, what’s the play?”

“We go for it. Plan Charlie. Immediate execution. Get the other lead units on the horn.”

Unfortunately, armored brigades don’t simply halt and turn on a dime. Significant elements of the flanking brigades were already well into the DMZ. Unit loss rates were significantly higher than expected. Across the board, the earlier aerial bombardment and the artillery barrages had not been as successful in taking out DPRK units and minefields as had been projected. Some leading elements had already lost half of their tanks in the short time they had been engaged across the DMZ.

“Get them back! Pull those units due south!”

“Working on it sir.”

“Dammit, have them follow their own tracks back and then proceed east or west only once on the south side of the DMZ. They are walking into a meat grinder.”

“Leading elements are acknowledging.”

“Tom!! What the fuck is going on with the Cav?”

“They are across the DMZ. Resistance lighter than expected.”

“All units, advance on this sector. Follow Calvary elements only.”

“All units to advance this sector only.”

“Button this bitch up and get going.” Hernandez walked forward where he could see the driver. “Get us going, corporal!!”

Slowly, with the ponderous grace of an elephant, the armored units regrouped and advanced into North Korea.

“Find out where that SF Captain is! I want to talk to this son of a bitch!”

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