"We know," Samuel continued, "the enemy is massing to attack these three passages, top, middle and bottom. I propose we gather all the air support we can borrow, attack aircraft and helicopters from the European theater for 24 hours, throw everything we have at the enemy lines, pound their air defenses, their detection equipment, temporarily knock it out, then in the second evening send our helicopters in to these three staging areas, drop our troops, kill and capture as many of the enemy as we can, use our heavy lift helicopters to carry out what armor and artillery we can capture, stay only one or two hours then withdraw. This will not halt the enemy's attack but it will certainly delay it and confuse it a few days. With luck we may capture some of his senior officers. Then when the enemy does attack, we will put up a stiff resistance, but slowly let him advance, precisely where he thinks he will advance. Then when he is well into our trap we will throw everything we have into the lines where he is not assaulting, breakthrough, join up, cut off his supplies, hold our ground against his reserves, come down on his rear as those forces already opposing him attack from all sides. With any luck we'll destroy better than half his army. After that he'll dig in, hold on here, concentrate his efforts to the south and the west.
The key to victory will be precision. Every element will have to know its job, will have to carry out its assignments precisely. But this action gives us the greatest chance of success."
Duad Sid studied the map for several moments than nodded. "What do you call such a plan," he remarked, "audacity itself? Yes, this is the kind of thing you are noted for. Generals Kosh, Khan, Muad! Gali, Sid, you are now under the warlock's command. He will direct you in how he wants our forces deployed. His orders are to be considered my orders.
We believe the enemy will be ready to strike in fifteen days. I want the first operation in twelve. Proceed, gentlemen!"
"Yes sir!" the younger officer snapped.
As Douad Sid moved off the other generals gathered around Samuel. "Well gentlemen!" Samuel began, "You'd better start telling me what we've got and where it is! We've got a lot of work to do!"
The next few days were a flurry of activity! Troops were rapidly moved around, new positions prepared. Thousands of arrangements made. But Sid's subcommanders knew their jobs, and everything was swiftly and surely brought into position. Every effort was made to keep the enemy from knowing what they were doing. Only a handful knew their true purpose.
Aircraft came in from everywhere. Other sectors left themselves vulnerable to give the defenders in India their one shot at victory.
On the appointed hour wave after wave of planes began to batter the enemy's positions. For 24 hours they ruled the air, the enemy, desperate to stop the onslaught coming against him. Samuel led his troops on the assault of the middle staging area. They came so quickly that they overwhelmed the few guards and were in the main camp gathering up sleepy and startled prisoners before they even realized what was going on.
As they were going to the camp horrid cries drew them to a large tent on its outskirts. As they approached they found naked bodies of women laid outside. As they burst into the tent they found dozens of officers gathered around three women who had been strung up on racks and were being tortured. Samuel quickly took the officers prisoner.
"Damn!" he cursed. "What is it? Is it my karma to find men doing this to women? What kind of animals are you?"
"This is a disciplinary action," one of the officers snapped. "These women attacked my men, when they were seeking entertainment. A commander in the field has the right to punish those who will not obey among the civilian population, to maintain order."
Samuel stared at the man who was speaking. "Good Lords!" he gasped, "You're Ching Lao, The Com's Supreme Military Commander!"
The officer straightened. "Your prisoner!" he spat, bowing with mock courtesy.
"Of all the incredible luck!" Samuel continued. "We've captured the best military commander they've got, and from the look of it have enough evidence to try and execute him. Don't worry, general, you won't have to suffer the indignity of being a prisoner long. You and everybody in this tent will lose their heads for this!"
"We shall see!" the general snapped.
"Get 'em out of here!" Samuel ordered. "Get them to the waiting copters. This will make the whole mission successful, even if we accomplish little else."
But they accomplished a lot more. The empty helicopters they had brought returned full of prisoners. They left burning camps and exploding munitions. They brought back armor and artillery that could be turned against its makers. In a few days the enemy's assault came. The inexperienced junior commanders walked right into Samuel's surprise!
After five days over half the Com's forces were killed or captured. Those that remained dug in. Their push west was finished. They would gain no more ground in that sector.
When things quieted down Ching Lao's trial began. Samuel was called to testify to what he had found when arriving at the tent. Women who had survived told how the soldiers had come to rape them and their daughters. And when they had fought back, they had been condemned by he general as members of the resistance.

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