Chimera

“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 11TH 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. 11TH 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 43RD 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 43RD 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 3RD 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 3RD Infantry Division forces to their east and the 43RD 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 4TH 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 4TH Mechanized?” Sudarshan barked without turning away from the video feed. A Major lowered his radio headset: