Episode 112

Dusty 43, 15 Miles Southeast Woody Island, Angels 2

The MV-22B Osprey was less uncomfortable to ride in than a helicopter. That was pretty much the kindest thing that could be said of it. It was loud and the seats were uncomfortable. The tilt-rotor aircraft was also dangerous. The joke commonly repeated was that an Osprey was not an aircraft, it was simply a collection of parts flying in close formation. Several fatal accidents had given the aircraft a bad reputation in the press. However, the Marines who flew them loved them. They could fly over three hundred miles per hour and had a range of over eight hundred miles. These figures could not be touched by a conventional helicopter.

“Sir, we have the island in sight.”

“Transponder on. Squawk 4530.”

“Sir?”

“If this is a trap, they’re gonna kill us anyway. Might as well avoid getting shot by accident, son.”

“Aye aye, sir.”

Very soon, they could see the island from the open side door and the aircraft came into a hover. The runways looked pretty dicey so the decision had been made to land away from the damaged aircraft and runways. They set down on what looked like an athletic field, miraculously undamaged.

The squad of Marines who had accompanied the flight were about to get out, weapons ready, when the Admiral stopped them. “Stay with the aircraft.”

“Sir, my orders are..”

“I am countermanding them. Stay with the aircraft.”

The young Marine corporal looked like he was about to mutiny, right there on the spot. Marines were not accustomed to allowing flag officers, especially NAVY flag officers, to go into harm’s way unguarded. “Stand down son. This is either going to be a friendly chat or a shit show. Either way, you can’t help me.” The rebellious look on the corporal’s face remained until the Admiral gave him a hard look. “STAND DOWN.”

Marine corporals also know how to take orders, especially from flag officers. “Aye, aye.”

As Braverman and the Admiral exited the tilt-rotor, they looked around for a likely spot to wait. Surely, the Chinese had seen them coming. The Marine General had been correct, there wasn’t much left standing. “Looks like a good spot to wait over there, sir.”

The two men walked slowly to a slightly less damaged part of the base where a portico had somehow survived the bombing. It offered shade, and precious little else. They waited for something to happen.

Minutes later, they heard the distinctive sound of a helicopter. First one, and then two more appeared. Two gunships led the way followed by a utility helicopter. The gunships circled warily. Finally, the utility helicopter landed twenty yards away from where the two American officers were waiting.

A middle-aged Chinese man in the uniform of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) got out, followed by a second younger man. Braverman took a moment to be sure. “That’s Admiral Wang Ling.”

“Commander of the Southern Theater Command?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“This may go better than I had hoped.”

“Fingers crossed.”

As the Admiral and his aide began to walk towards the Americans, a half squad of Chinese marines exited the helicopter and began to take up defensive positions. Braverman stiffened in alarm.

“Oh, shit.”

Suddenly, the Chinese Admiral turned back towards the helicopter and shouted. Braverman could not understand what he said, but a sharp gesture gave all the meaning needed. The Chinese officer was not pleased. After a few moments, the Chinese Marines re-entered the helicopter.

The Admiral chuckled. “Nice to see that Marines are Marines everywhere.”

The two Chinese officers approached slowly, stopping ten feet away. They silently appraised their American counterparts.

The Admiral broke the stare down first. “Well, we asked for this meeting so I’ll go first. Thank you for meeting with us, Admiral.” He stuck out his hand.

For a moment, Braverman was afraid the Chinese Admiral would refuse to shake hands. Then, with a scowl, he stepped forward and returned the handshake. “I cannot say it pleases me to meet with the butcher of the South Sea.”

The Admiral looked genuinely astonished. “Is that what they call me?”

“Yes, not a term of endearment.”

The Admiral looked away for a moment, then changed the subject. “Your English is very good. sir.”

“It should be, I took a First in International Relations while I was at Oxford. I did not seek to become your enemy, this role was thrust upon me by your actions.” Likely, this was a big part of the reason why he had been selected. It was sad but true that the Chinese understood the west far better than the west understood China.

The Admiral smiled. “Ironically, warriors are never the ones who seek war. We know too well the costs. My apologies that I do not speak your language. My degree is in Russian.”

Now it was Admiral Wang’s turn to look away. “Yes, interesting people the Russians. Their language is so much richer than English.” Wang turned for a moment to survey the wreckage of the Chinese base all around them. “As to the costs of war, you speak the truth. I have lost too many men under my command.”

“As have I, sir. As have I.”

“What did you wish to speak about?”

The Admiral gestured to the ruined building to his left. “Isn’t it obvious? I want to end this. All of this destruction can end. We don’t want this war and I don’t think you do either.”

“We are instruments of the people. The people’s will is what is important, not what I want.”

“Yes, that’s true for me also.” Wang grunted in surprise or disagreement, Braverman wasn’t sure which. “Your people and mine want security and safety. We can give them that without killing each other.”

“Yes, withdraw from Chinese sovereign territory and we will allow you to do as you wish.”

“We will happily cede any territory granted you by the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea.”

Wang looked truly angry for the first time. “That is not what I meant, and you know it.”

“Yes, I am aware of what you meant. However, your ability to occupy the South China Sea is at a low ebb at the moment. Surely, you don’t expect us to go back to status quo ante?”

“What is your proposal?”

“Accept the UNCLOS territory definitions in the South China sea and withdraw your forces to within 24 nautical miles of your coastline. This is the same standard the United States uses for our territorial waters.”

“I assume you are ignoring Hawaii and Guam?” The Admiral nodded, point scored. “And what of Taiwan?”

“What about Taiwan?”

“We are currently engaged in a police action, settling discord within our rogue province. This action will continue. Internal disputes within China are none of your affair.”

Braverman had expected this. In the end, Taiwan was the prize that China had been seeking all along. The United States had officially adopted a “One China” policy in 1972 but regularly sided with the Republic of China as Taiwan was officially called. This was further cemented by the “Six Assurances” during the Reagan administration. However, most Americans sided with the ROC simply because they had a democratic government. The idea of “abandoning” Taiwan to their fate would not sit well with the average American.

“Do you really think you can finish the job there? You have a handful of troops trying to fight their way through mountainous terrain.” The Admiral knew that China was rapidly reinforcing by sea but decided not to show all his cards.

“As I said, it is not your concern.”

“And Korea?”

“My government believes that the Koreans are best suited to handle their own governance and that you should stop interfering there also.”

“If we leave Korea, you will remain out of there?”

“As I said, it is best left to the Koreans.”

This was a suspicious position for the Chinese to take. After all, the North Korean government had basically ceased to exist. If America pulled out, that left South Korea with the only functional military left on the peninsula. Braverman hadn’t expected this position. It was very favorable to the Americans. Perhaps they had tired of having a nuclear-armed maniac on their borders.

The rest of the discussion was similar. In the end, the two flag officers had to report back to their political masters. In truth, neither of them wanted the war to continue, but they each had their duty.

As the conversation wound down, the American Admiral reached out to shake Admiral Wang’s hand one more time. “It is my sincere hope that we can end this conflict with no further loss of life.”

Admiral Wang one again examined the proffered hand with clinical interest for a moment and then shook it. “I accept that you feel that way. I do as well. This war is not something a sane man would wish to continue.”

For the first time, the Chinese Admiral truly surprised the Americans as he stepped back and saluted. Braverman and the Admiral returned the salute almost by reflex.