"Brown, Dale - Fatal Terrain" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brown Dale)

the missiles are operational again. Why do you continue to
brief outdated infon-nation?"
"I ... because, Comrade Admiral, the plan calls for Long-
tian to attack and destroy those two Nationalist bases," Ai
said. "It is all in the plan, sir. . . . "
"Yes, I know, but the plan is wrong," Sun said. This caused
a gasp from Ai and from most of the officers attending the

briefing-and an absolutely explosive grimace from Qian. "it
is wrong because ... Damn you, Colonel, you can see it is
wrong. Change it. We could be called upon at any moment to
execute this attack plan, and I want to be sure it is perfect."
"It is not wise to change the war plans," General Qian said.
"Yes, yes, some missiles are not in place right now, but they
will be soon. If we are ordered to execute our war plans, we
can move additional forces eastward to cover those two Na-
'tionalist air bases. Does that alleviate your concern, Comrade
Admiral?"
"Comrade General, the purpose of this planning committee
is to continually modify the existing war plans to reflect cur-
rent circumstances and conditions," Sun Ji Guorning said.
"This is done so we do not have to wait until the moment we
execute the war order to learn that we do not have the forces
in place to accomplish the mission. When you were notified
that Longtian was flooded and missiles were being relocated,




22 DALE BROWN
you should have immediately moved additional forces to cover
those targets."
"You mean, fly hundreds of aircraft and thousands of troops
all over China just for a few days until some mud is swept
away?" General Qian asked. "Do you realize how much that
would cost? And what of other war plans for which those
aircraft and personnel are committed? That means coordinating
with dozens of other headquarters all over China."
"But, sir, that is the purpose of this planning group-to
respond immediately to changes that might affect this war
plan," Sun argued. "If it becomes necessary to move men and
equipment to a new location, then so be it. We should--
"We should look at the solution in a different way, a way
that will not be as complicated or as costly," Qian interjected,
obviously impatient to get this briefing over with. "Perhaps in
the future we can brief possible replacement units that could
be utilized to fill in, in situations such as have occurred in
Longtian. We do not actually move any forces, but we earmark
them for possible action in case the war plan is activated. How
does that sound to you, Comrade Sun?"