The Kidd Incident

Pacific Command HQ

Joint Base Hickam Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

“It’s started.”

“Where?”

“In the south. Kaohsiung City.”

The Admiral began to pace in his office. “I don’t like leaving the Taiwanese to hang out to dry, but I don’t see as we have any choice.”

“We could put the 101st in there.”

“We talked about that. There is just too much that can go wrong. No, we stick with Long Snap as planned. I don’t like it, but the plan is solid.”

“That means that the 101st needs the go for their part of Long Snap.”

“Yes, push it up the food chain. Let’s get them moving.”

101st Airborne Division

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

The C-5 and C-17 aircraft filling the ramp at Campbell Army Airfield stretched across the massive ramp area and spilled over into taxiways and any other paved surface that the ground crews could find. The 101st was one of two US Army divisions which were configured to allow air transport of the entire division. That didn’t mean it was easy. The 101st had almost 30,000 personnel in it all together. Moving that many soldiers plus their supplies and equipment is a major endeavor.

“I am not sure I understand the goal of this mission, sir.” Command Sergeant Major Juarez was the most senior enlisted in the 101st and as such interacted directly with the commanding general regularly. It was part of his job to make sure that the concerns of the troops were expressed to the officers in command of the division.

“I hear you Juarez. This is about making an impression. Command wants China looking at us instead of Korea.”

“Yes, sir I understand that. What I don’t understand is how we intend to invade a country of a billion and a half people with a single division. Sir.”

General Greene turned from his inspection of the embarkation to look at the Command Sergeant Major. “We’re not going to invade China. We’re going to make it look like we COULD invade if we wanted to.”

“Isn’t that the same thing, sir?”

“Not really Juarez. One is about appearances. The other is about killing people. Frankly, I’m happy to put on a show if it means less people get dead.”

“Amen to that, sir.”

“Then let’s get to it, shall we?”

“Yes sir!”

The men and women of the 101st continued to file aboard the countless aircraft parked on the ramps of Campbell Army Airfield. Troops on the C-17’s, equipment on the C-5s. The first group of C-17’s with advanced teams had left hours ago and the process would continue non-stop for the next two days as the entire division was airlifted out of the United States.

21st Airlift Squadron

Fort Campbell Army Air Field

Captain James completed his walk-around inspection of the C-17. In addition to commanding the 21st, he was also a pilot and had to perform all the duties of an aircraft commander in addition to the duties of a squadron commander. In order to do both, he leaned heavily on his co-pilot, Lieutenant Clark, who was fairly junior, but extremely capable.

“We ready to fly Jen?”

“Yes, sir. Larry has the troops onboard. Locked and loaded.”

“We have the tanker schedule sorted out?”

“Yep. We tank over California, again by Hawaii and then again over the Pacific. Should be a fun flight.”

“Think of all the tanker dudes. They’ll be passing gas and then back to base five or six times each. Pain in the ass and they don’t get to go anywhere fun.”

“You have a strange idea of fun, sir.”

“What, you don’t like the jungle?”

“Oh, I don’t mind the jungle, it’s flying into a combat zone that doesn’t thrill me.”

“Just wait until this thing gets hot. We’ll be flying into way more fun than this. Hell, this time we’re going to be landing at an actual airport. They probably got a bar and everything.”

“If you say so, sir.”

James and Clark walked up the rear ramp of the C-17, past the soldiers seated in the cargo area where the loadmaster was getting ready for departure.

“Next stop, Vietnam!! If your final destination is not Vietnam, you are on the wrong fucking plane! I am not a stewardess, I am a loadmaster. I don’t serve drinks and I don’t care if you have a nice flight. Sit your ass down and strap in!”

ODA 1211, A Co, 2nd Btn, 1st Special Forces Group

“I DO NOT GIVE A FUCK WHO THEY ARE! I WANT THEM THE FUCK OUT OF MY COUNTRY!”

Park, the CIA operative, was taking the abuse with relative calm. Peters and Smith had withdrawn a few steps once it was clear that the pudgy general wasn’t a real threat to anyone.

Smith leaned over and whispered to Peters, “He speaks English well, doesn’t he?”

Peters chuckled. “From the way he talks, I would have guessed you taught him.”

“Nah, too many F-bombs. You gotta get creative with that shit.”

Peters decided that the conversation wasn’t going to go anywhere. Stepping up to Park’s side once again, he addressed the General in Korean, “General, with all due respect, this gets us nowhere. You have something we want and we have something you want. We should proceed to business. Don’t you think?”

The general blinked a few times. Clearly not expecting a white US Army officer to speak his language. “Captain… It is Captain, yes?” When Peters nodded, he continued. “While initiative is supposedly a virtue of the US Army, I can assure you that we do not encourage such in Choson. No, it is very dangerous.”

“With respect, you expected to get something from us, yes?” The general nodded. “And so you shall receive it. However, you must do something for us. Surely this is not unexpected.”

“No, certainly not. But having you here is madness. You will be found out. The entire army will come to kill you.” The pudgy general was becoming agitated again.

“There is no need for that. If you help us, we will remain here until AFTER you are gone.”

“Yes? You bargain with me? Do you know who I am? Lesser men do not bargain with me! I say what we will do.”

“Sir, what do you suggest? You clearly cannot go on your way now that you know we are here. We would prefer not to proceed without your help, but we have our orders. One way or another, we will carry them out.”

“I am a man of my word. I have the documents agreed to. It is you who have broken our agreement. No, we must have a new agreement. Payment must be made. Yes, reparations for your lack of faith.”

Peters absently rubbed his wrist and eased his watch around to a more comfortable position. “I don’t carry cash into combat zones, sir.” That was a lie. He had once carried almost a million dollars to bribe a Taliban warlord. But that was another time.

“It is the spirit of the agreement, not the amount. I am not a mercenary. I am a man of honor.” The little man paused. “I see you are a man of fine tastes. Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Twenty four jewel.”

Peters glanced down at the Rolex on his wrist. Most special operators wore them. They were rugged, reliable, and they just looked cool as hell. “This, sir, is precious to me. It was my father’s.”

“Then I will accept it in lieu of one million US dollars.”

“You drive a hard bargain, sir.” With a sigh, he slipped the watch off his wrist and gave it to the gloating general.

After Park had packed the now happy General and his family off to another building on the farm, Peters and Smith were able to examine the intelligence that the CIA had manage to procure.

“This is a goldmine. Look at the contingency plans here.”

“It’s almost too good. There must be at least ten of them. We can’t plan for all of them.”

“Yes, but look here. Pak is on the list of authorized commanders. He can execute these contingencies.”

“Yeah, so?”

Smith grinned. “So, we tell our little buddy which one to fire. We know they will do that one so we know how to counter.”

“Ah, man. That’s gonna cost us.”

“Was the Rolex real?”

“Hell yeah. Paid for it outta my own pocket last year in Geneva. No way the general signs for a new one.”

“What are you going to offer him?”

“Dunno.”

Much later, Peters asked Park to bring the General back to the barn. Park had managed to get a few shots of Soju into him and the earlier tension had evaporated.

“So, Captain, you see now? You see I am a man of my word?”

“Yes, General. Thank you very much. However, I have a new request.”

“A new request?”

“Yes. But first, let me tell you about a small estate that I know about in Boca Raton. You will love Florida, I guarantee it.”