Dragon Fire

Military Headquarters, Western Hills, China

‘We have successfully taken Pei-kan,’ said Leung. ‘Heavy shelling has been going for twenty minutes from Kinmen. We are exchanging fire. Taiwanese aircraft have attacked our base at Shantou, but our air defences are holding up well. The new Sector Operations Centres are taking individual control of their areas of defence through the integrated national defence system. Each sector is bringing in its own over the horizon and missile early-warning data and is directing our planes in the air. It is working far better than we expected.’

‘Prime Minister Wada of Japan is on the line,’ said an assistant to President Tao, who seemed hesitant before finally saying he would not take the call. It was the fifth time the Japanese Prime Minister had tried to talk directly to the Chinese president.

‘Detection of Indian missiles being prepared for launch.’

All eyes looked up at the real-time screen, blurred but showing the distinctive shape from a satellite photograph of an Indian missile out of cover on a mobile launcher.

‘The Agni,’ said Leung. ‘Where is it?’

‘Eastern air command, Shillong.’ The coordinates were given. ‘From Tezu. Target range: Lanzhou, Xian, Chengdu, Chonqing, Wuhan, Guangzhou.’

‘Take it out,’ said Leung, without consulting President Tao, who nodded, knowing that power was slipping away and events were overtaking him. Leung dictated the order: ‘Xining. Second Artillery. Unit 80306. Datong, Delingha and Da Qaidam launch bases. Range approximately 1,600 kilometres. Use the DF-21, low 200 kilometre trajectory to counter anti-missile defence system.’