[b][i]Mission Three - Assault on Jinghong Dam[/i][/b]

[b]The Ritz Hotel - 10/25/2022, 6:00 UTC+8[/b]

((Post originally written by [@QJT] but published by me with his permission.))

Soldiers and Arms Masters alike fetched their complimentary breakfast as they settled in for the briefing. Key elements were often gleaned from conversations around the room, so Adrián Abasolo struggled to keep a fragment of his senses fixated on the hotel's egress. He couldn't hear or see the door open; rather, the slight change in temperature from the chill outside breeze alerted him. He walked purposely to the entrance to encounter a short, squat individual wearing navy blues, in striking contrast to his own bright whites. Whether the tedium of office work earned him additional weight or muscles truly underlay his blazer, the rotund serviceman filled his suit nonetheless.

Abasolo extended a handshake. [color=aba000]"Lieutenant General. An honor and a pleasure."[/color]

[color=f26522]"Rear Admiral,"[/color] the man accepted. [color=f26522]"I don't recall a formal introduction. Your exploits in the South China Sea precede you."[/color]

[color=aba000]"Yes, well,"[/color] Adrián surveyed the area, [color=aba000]"Credit belongs with the grunts and officers at the spearhead. Plans never survive contact with the enemy, after all."[/color]

[color=f26522]"You do yourself a disservice,"[/color] the visitor reassured. [color=f26522]"Regardless, I hope for more active involvement in these joint operations. I'm ecstatic we finally meet in person."[/color]

[color=aba000]"Then seat yourself wherever you want; we'll commence..."[/color] he perused his cellphone, [color=aba000]"presently."[/color]

[color=f26522]"If it's acceptable, I'd prefer to stand. Exercise for the soul."[/color]

[color=aba000]"Permission unnecessary but granted."[/color]

Jasmine, punctual as ever, had summoned the crowd at the front of the gathering. "Alright, everyone, we'll be starting shortly. Take your seats and quiet down." In the din of conversation, she murmured to her superior as they exchanged places, "The presentation is prepared and awaits you, sir."

[color=aba000]"Much appreciated,"[/color] Adrián acknowledged. He scanned the enclosure for sentiment before commencing. [color=aba000]"Good morning. When we last fully assembled, I mandated productive relaxation. The undead incursion notwithstanding, I trust that you've had ample rest for the following mission. I've heard reports of fatigue and exertion, but none of injuries, which is the crucial concern. While not government property, your physical fitness is vitally important to the success of this endeavor. I'm grateful that you informed me during the engagement as opposed to afterward."[/color] His personal thoughts on the matter beyond that were best kept private.

[color=aba000]"Onto the main event."[/color] He grabbed a remote from a nearby desk and stepped aside for a newly activated projector. The first slide showed dual satellite images of the same site, comparing prewar to interwar activity. The latter boasted a host of new makeshift warehouses and a considerable buildup of ammunition. [color=aba000]"With several major setbacks, for some of which I must commend you, the People's Republic of China has come to terms with the fact that this conflict will not be as immediate and conclusive as they predicted. With international sanctions now realized, their stockpiles are beginning to falter, and they're preparing for the long haul. We've detected a dramatic restructuring of their supply chain towards firearms and similar components."[/color]

The next display was a brief video of the skyline of Shantou from the ocean at night. The evening lights shone through the smog, then flickered off across the entire metropolis. [color=aba000]" For anyone without experience in manufacturing, this takes an extreme toll on the energy grid. Already we notice signs of stress on critical nodes of infrastructure. High command believes that a small push will collapse their military-industrial capabilities for months. If you wish to not deal with waves of modern tanks on the battlefield, then I'm sure your interests align.

"That brings us to our current objective: the Jinghong Dam,"[/color] the admiral continued. A computer-generated 3D model of the structure in question is displayed on the screen. [color=aba000]"The PRC is collecting every volt they can acquire, from each corner of the map under their sovereign control. This facility provided - emphasis on the tense - hydroelectric power to the Thai people by siphoning off the Mekong River, to the protest of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Indochina sacrificed its fertile fields and risked drought for the benefits of electricity. With that bounty diverted to the Chinese mainland, The Kingdom of Thailand has authorized its destruction.

"To this end, I've invited Lt. Gen. Bayani Bautista of the Philippine Air Force to join us. General,"[/color] Abasolo nodded.

Bautista took the stage, pointing out various details. [color=f26522]"Yes, on reconnaissance missions, we've noticed that they've placed anti-aircraft artillery on the flanks of the construction, as well as at points along the canyon leading to it. To deter a strike, they've further established two facilities beneath it and downstream. They currently detain prisoners of war there. This does violate precepts of the Geneva Conventions,"[/color] he embarked on a tangent, [color=f26522]"but the PLA has proven dishonorable from the outset. This shouldn't surprise any of us at this point."[/color]

[color=aba000]"General, if you'd please..."[/color] The admiral gently steered his counterpart back into sync.

[color=f26522]"Certainly,"[/color] Bautista assured, tracing a route upon the projection.[color=f26522] "The plan we've spun is as follows. Embarking from Wan Hkung in Laos, you will travel upstream in disguised vessels to the base of Jinghong Dam, with full moonlight visibility. Be advised: you will be traveling past a civilian city, so don't attract unwanted attention. You will disable the AAA and other obstacles you find on the way, and we humbly request that you liberate those incarcerated in the valley."[/color]

[color=aba000]"Above the ethical implications,"[/color] Abasolo clarified, [color=aba000]"It would be a propaganda victory for our adversary to report that we killed our comrades to spite China, well, assuming that their media could still broadcast afterward. We believe but cannot confirm the presence of Arms Masters there so that we might swell our ranks."[/color]

Bautista concluded, [color=f26522]"At completion, you will hike up the ridge to a target roughly a kilometer away. We will scramble our fighters and retrieve you via helicopter. I will emphasize: that stealth is paramount in the initial moments. We cannot afford an alert to our position. We calculate that they can attain air superiority in one hour from the moment we are spotted, at which time our planes and copters will be rendered moot."[/color]

Adrián smiled. [color=aba000]"Questions from the gallery?"[/color]

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