Dawn of Conflict: An epic world battle begins... (The Global War Military Thriller Series Book 1) by Eric Helm & Kevin D. Randle

Author:Eric Helm & Kevin D. Randle [Helm, Eric & Randle, Kevin D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2026-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN

Reisman had forgotten about being sick as the fishing boat limped back to port. There were new bullet holes in the wood and one round had hit the engine. It had taken the mechanic a couple of hours to get it repaired so that they could make the run back to the Japanese coast. There was no talk of pretending to fish as they headed to the east; they just wanted to get back as quickly as possible.

As soon as they had tied up, Reisman raced down the gangplank. He was glad to be off it.

A moment later, MacKenzie walked down and joined him. “Well, you got to see the operation.”

“Didn’t work well,” said Reisman. “You didn’t make it to China.”

“No, not this run. But we’ve made it in a dozen times.”

“Was there a leak?” Now that they were away from the Japanese crew, Reisman could ask those questions.

“Leak? No. The Chinese patrol their territorial waters well. With radar and patrol planes, they probably spotted us moving toward them and headed out to intercept.”

“Still, we were quite a ways from the coast when they arrived. And they started shooting right away.”

MacKenzie stood facing the boat. He reached a hand up to shade his eyes. “Just one of those things. We lost — what, two, three hundred dollars’ worth of supplies and video tapes? And a little time. They lost their boat.”

“Uh-huh,” said Reisman. “It was fortunate that the Soviets arrived when they did. Interesting, too.”

“Coincidence,” said MacKenzie.

But Reisman wasn’t buying that. A Soviet plane would not have flashed out of the sun to save a Japanese fishing boat unless there was something else going on. And the fact that the Su-27 was available to save the boat was also significant.

“That was a Soviet aircraft, wasn’t it?”

“Soviet-made would be a better description.”

“Look,” said Reisman, “I’m not that familiar with the insignia of the Soviet air force, but I got a good look at the aircraft. Won’t take long to verify it.”

“Then do so. You’re not going to get me to verify something when I’m not sure that I can make such a claim.”

“Don’t dance with me, MacKenzie. I know what I saw. You’ve got Soviet-Japanese cooperation directed against the Chinese.”

“That’s quite a conclusion to draw from a minor incident which no one, not the Chinese, Japanese, or the Soviets, will confirm. Report it and you’re going to look like a dummy.”

“No,” said Reisman, “I report it and people are going to wonder just what in the hell is going on over here. They’re not going to think I’m crazy. You’ll end up with a dozen, two dozen reporters trying to find out what is going on.” He turned to walk off the dock.

MacKenzie grabbed his arm. “You can’t report this. It’s too important for you to report. I should have never allowed you on that boat, but I figured we’d sneak in just as we have in the past.”

“What in the hell is going on here?”

“Can we make a deal?”

“Depends.

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