Chimera

“There are going to be some casualties. The air-force is getting ready for a maximum level effort to take down as many of the missiles as they can as soon as the latter come cross the Himalayas. But some are bound to get through. The Chinese guidance systems are not accurate enough for precision strikes. We are attempting to get as many people away from what we think are the major targets but an overall city level warning will have to come from the government. And that, sir, is your decision to make…”

Chakri looked out of the windows yet again and collected his thoughts. The Chinese had launched an all-out attack on this country which, even if conventional, was massive. They had hundreds of thousands of fully acclimatized soldiers in Tibet as a result of the ongoing Tibetan revolts for the past half year. They had been planning this for quite some time.

But while their original plans for a decapitation strike against the Indian government had clearly failed, their overall strike effectiveness was also decreasing as every IAF surface-to-air missile battery came online all along the border. But it wasn’t enough. One hour of warning time was still one hour no matter what you do. Chakri knew his side would take losses…

And while the Chinese attacks had been premeditated and planned, this was not a repeat of 1962 by any means, even if it superficially looked that way.

“General, what are our options for striking back at the Chinese?”

“Sir, we have several batteries of Brahmos cruise-missiles in the northeast. I have ordered them active before I left Army Headquarters. Because of their speed and response times, they will be our first counter-response weapon. One of the major targets at this time will have to include the PLAAF airbases and radar stations in Tibet.”

“What about attacking their cruise-missile launchers?” Chakri asked.

“Most of their 821 Brigade launchers are already dispersing based on what Malhotra told me. They have no more reloads to fire at us unless they clear out the stocks they have kept aside for the Taiwan Theater. They don’t do that. Not when they think they are winning. Besides, those launchers are far too much to the north. As far as the smaller ranged launchers in southern Tibet are concerned, they are not worth the Brahmos missile we have with us. It’s not easy targeting small mobile launchers on the ground. The air-force is already planning strike missions on those launchers anyway. I say we go after their high value stationary targets first,” Yadav responded.

At his end, Chakri nodded in silence on hearing what Yadav had to say…

“Very well, Yadav. Do it! We have to start taking apart the Chinese ability to wage war in these first few hours. They won’t be expecting it that quick anyway. God only knows what the shape of our forces will be an hour from now when their missiles have done their work. The Chinese may have the initiative but we won’t make it easy for them!”

LEH AIRBASE

LADAKH

DAY 1 + 0055 HRS

“Let’s go people! Move! Move!”

Khurana shouted as he ran over in his flight-suit to the hardened aircraft shelter. Khurana and the rest of No. 28 Squadron detachment at Leh were the last to be scrambled from the airbase. The Fulcrum only had so much endurance once in the air. And with every single aircraft in the IAF inventory rushing for the safety of the skies, there weren’t enough IL-78 airborne tankers around to refuel everyone. Once the missiles broke through, it was anyone’s guess whether or not they would be able to land back here or not. They would need to stay up there long enough after the attack for the confusion to be sorted out before recovering to one airbase or another. But with the first missiles now entering range for his Fulcrums to attempt an intercept, they could not delay any more…

Khurana was already climbing into the cockpit by the time the two other Fulcrums taxied past his shelter towards the runway. He could see them in the distance as he settled into his cockpit and strapped himself in. Ground crewmen were running around checking the weapons hanging from the pylons. Khurana knew that these men he saw working around him would have to bear the attacks here while most of his pilots would be in the air.

“You take care of yourself down here, and keep your head down! You hear me?” he told the old, aged Warrant-Officer helping him strap into his seat.

“I heard you, sir. But do us a favor and knock out as many as you can up there. Give them hell!” he patted Khurana on the shoulder, closed the cockpit around him and then jumped off the stairs before removing them. He waved off a salute to Khurana which Khurana returned sharply just as the engines came alive inside the shelter.