other states we need to capture to win this campaign?”
“I cannot, no.”
“Listen,” Tian said. “I’ve seen the directive. We’re supposed to capture the most important slice of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, half of Montana, South and North Dakota and Minnesota. That’s ten more states. So far, we’ve taken five, and winter is now upon us.”
“We almost have the slice of Colorado and almost have all of Kansas and Missouri,” Zhu said. “That means we only have to take seven more states.”
“Only,” Tian said. “There’s a nice word: only.”
“The Americans have lost every battle. We’re winning.”
“They didn’t lose California,” Tian said.
Zhu sat up with a puzzled look. “You are sounding defeatist, First Rank. We are White Tigers. We never admit defeat.”
“Don’t preach to me,” Tian said, angrily.
“We are White Tigers.”
“Tired White Tigers,” Tian said.
“Bold White Tigers,” Zhu said. “Our dash, our heroics will win us the war.”
Tian lay back and heaved a sigh. “You’re incurable, Soldier Rank. If our armies were filled with Zhu Pengs, China could conquer the world. Alas, we only have ordinary mortals filling the ranks.”
“Have I ever shirked my duties?” Zhu asked.
Tian turned his head and stared at him. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re the stupidest man in China.”
Zhu blinked rapidly. How had he failed the First Rank?
Tian smiled at him, reaching across and slapping him on the shoulder. “You have to learn how to take a joke. You’re too serious.”
“Yes, First Rank,” Zhu said.
“That wasn’t an order. It was a suggestion.”
Zhu nodded, too embarrassed to know what to say. It was a welcome relief when the second lieutenant of their Eagle Team platoon blew a whistle and shouted at them to gather around.
Zhu, Tian and the rest of the squad hurried to their feet. Each White Tiger donned his armor and shrugged on his jetpack.
Soon, they crowded around the second lieutenant and his aide. The angry-looking second lieutenant knelt on one knee and spread a computer scroll before them. It showed a relief map of the surrounding terrain.
“The Americans aren’t letting go of this high-rise apartment complex,” the second lieutenant said, tapping the scroll. “As long as they control it, they can observe our flame-throwing tanks and armored bulldozers moving up. HQ also believes they’re using it to spot for their heavy mortars.”
“They want the Eagle Teams to take the high-rise?” Tian asked in a sarcastic voice.
The second lieutenant looked up at him.
Zhu was surprised, because the officer peered at Tian with what appeared to be worry. He’d never heard of an officer being afraid of his First Rank before. The idea seemed ludicrous.
“Yes,” the second lieutenant said. “HQ wants our Eagle platoon to storm the top of the complex. We’re to secure a landing for helo-ferried troops.”
“A direct assault is costly in Eagle Team lives,” Tian said. “We learned that in Los Angeles.”
The second lieutenant blinked several times. “The general has given us orders,” he finally said. “This will be an all-arms coordinated assault.”
“We should fly high and then drop straight down on them,” Zhu said.
The second lieutenant and First Rank turned to stare at him.
“The battle-taxis—” Zhu said.
“We aren’t going to use helos to make the attack,” the second lieutenant said. “We’ll jetpack over to the complex.”
Tian grinned at the second lieutenant. “The Soldier Rank has a valid point. We don’t have battle-taxis, but we have Gunhawk support, I assume.”
“Yes,” the second lieutenant said.
“Then we hitch a ride with them,” Tian said. “They lift us high, three or four thousand meters. We jump out and drop onto the complex.”
“If the Gunhawks do that,” the second lieutenant said, “they’ll be out of position to support you during the initial landing.”
Tian stared at the second lieutenant. The officer had only joined them a day ago when the lieutenant had died. This officer was younger than Zhu and must have been fresh out of Officer Cadet School.
“If we fly at the prepared Americans this way,” Tian said, moving his hand toward the second lieutenant. “They will get a bead on us and shoot us down. This country is a nation of duck hunters. We know this from experience. If, however, we come at the Americans like this”—Tian lifted his hand and let it drop straight down. “Then it will be much harder for the Americans to shoot us.”
“We’re not supposed to make such long drops,” the second lieutenant said. “It is dangerous and troops can lose control of their jetpacks that way.”