Chimera

As of right now, there was not even an armored squadron of tanks left alive in Ladakh, let alone the regiments required to support the push to take something the size of Aksai Chin from the Chinese.

Idiots!

Here we are: a thin thread away from losing the entire DBO sector and there they are thinking of offensive pushes into the Aksai Chin…

Sudarshan thought as he saw yet another supply truck being pushed out of a slushy quagmire by the soldiers. Vehicular traffic routes between Saser and the frontlines to the east were now little more than slushy dirt tracks.

As he watched, one of the armored-recovery-vehicle of the 10TH Mechanized pulled past in a rumble, pulling behind it a badly damaged but relatively intact BMP-II. The tracks had blown off as a result of some explosion and the hatches were opened wide, the blood stains clearly marking the route taken by the injured crewmembers…

He could watch no further.

He walked back into his CP to see the grim faces of his staff members around him. His operations officer walked over:

“10TH Mechanized is bogged down, taken losses and unable to advance. Our attack helicopters destroyed several T-99s and ZBDs in that sector but otherwise the frontlines remain unchanged. The Chinese seem to be pulling units off their reinforcement convoys and diverting them south towards the 10TH Mechanized. 4TH Mechanized has encountered lesser resistance to the southeast and has breached into the enemy rear areas!”

Sudarshan nodded and walked over to the map board. He looked at it a few seconds before facing his operations officer:

“10TH Mechanized is not going to be able to hold the Chinese main supply route to this sector from the Aksai Chin even if they could somehow take it from the Chinese. The Chinese are clearly receiving their reinforcements along that MSR. We could pull 4TH Mechanized back and use them to plug more forces in, but that will mean we scrub our attack mission for that unit into the Aksai Chin region. Else we pull back 10TH Mechanized to their earlier starting lines and put them on defensive positions and guarding the left flanks and let 4TH Mechanized do their mission. But how long will that single Battalion push last?” he asked.

Sudarshan shook his head: “Get me Brigadier Adesara at brigade headquarters!”

“Sir!”

A few seconds later Sudarshan took the speaker from the Major.

“What’s the latest?” Adesara’s voice came on the radio.

“Could be better. My boys confirm the arrival of red heavy armor along their main MSR. We are taking considerable casualties. I don’t think we can push through to the objective!”

“Can you sustain momentum? Keep the pressure on the Chinese?”

“Negative with current resources. Suggest scrubbing attack and diverting resources to hold defensive positions pending arrival of reinforcements,” Sudarshan said into the speaker as he ran his hand over his forehead, deep in focus.

“Roger,” Adesara replied, his voice laced with concern. “Deploy artillery cover and disengage your force. No point in achieving a pyrrhic victory. Not right now. However, keep the 4TH Mechanized in the attack into the Aksai Chin. Divisional orders!”

“Uh… Roger that! Out,” Sudarshan replied, not quite sure what the Divisional commander wanted with keeping the 4TH Mechanized on the offensive by itself.

Sudarshan handed over the radio speaker back to the Major.

“Division wants us to continue the 4TH Mechanized offensive. Problem is, if 10TH Mechanized gets overrun by Chinese tanks, 4TH Mechanized is going to get cut off deep inside the Aksai Chin!”

“But that’s a worst case scenario. The 10TH can hold whatever the Chinese throw at them,” the Major offered. Sudarshan grunted.

We will find out soon enough!

KASHGAR AIRBASE

SINKIANG AUTONOMOUS REGION

CHINA

DAY 5 + 1330 HRS

“So my friend, what will you have to drink? Close the door,” Chen motioned his left hand towards the array of whiskey and rum bottles on a small table in the corner of the office.

Feng closed the door behind him and walked over to the table and inspected the bottles. He did not wish to drink so early in the day, if at all, but he did not wish to offend the sensibilities of a three-star general, either. While his back was to Chen, looking over the years on the stacked bottles, he brought himself to smile a bit.

What can you say about the state of the war where generals and senior officers talk about whiskey rather than logistics?

A burst of laughter from Chen caused Feng to turn around.

“What’s so funny?” Feng asked.

“Just that you are so predictable, Feng! So very predictable!”

The laugh continued some more, and Feng brought himself to smile, remove his coat and hang it on a stand before gently tossing his cap on the sofa. He took his seat opposite Chen.