Fatal Terrain

"Fatal Terrain" is a 1997 novel written by Dale Brown. Patrick McLanahan, the airforce ace returns after his secret bombing missions over Iran in Shadows of Steel.

Plot

The People's Republic of China has planned a massive invasion of the Taiwanese islands and the Formosa Strait, as the Taiwanese have claimed their country to be independent. The People's Liberation Army plans a full scale attack to retake the islands which it sees rightfully as the property of mainland China.

The American government, which has recognised Taiwan's independence is willing to back them up in case of an impeding attack. Kevin Martindale, the President of the United States sends the top secret EB-52 Megafortress with the crew - Patrick McLanahan, Bradley Elliott and Nancy Cheshire to monitor the situation over the international waters around the Taiwanese islands.

Meanwhile, the Chinese have sent their aircraft carrier "Mao Zedong" (formerly the Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag) along with their strongest destroyers to attack and regain the islands. Admiral Sun Ji Gouming, the fercious young admiral of the People's Liberation Army Navy plans to use nuclear weapons to force Taiwan to surrender.

The Chinese play a blame game and rouse the Taiwanese forces into attacking first. By this the world opinion turns against the Taiwan and America. In retaliation, the mount a massive nuclear strike on Taiwan decemating most of their defence.

Elliot and his crew evade their grounding orders and set off on a renegade mission to destroy the Chinese nuclear silos. During the raid, the Megafortress comes under heavy attack. Elliott forces Patrick, his wife Wendy and Nancy to eject and flies the dammaged bomber into the last silo, blowing it up.

Finally, the Chinese accept a cease fire after Admiral Sun Ji Gouming voulentarily surrenders to the Americans at Kadena Air Base in Japan, following his deal with the Chinese president not to reveal the Chinese plans of attack in exchange for a cease fire.

The Megafortress crew makes it back to the United States. The President announces that he has decided to reopen the HAWC as Elliott Airforce Base. He also appoints General Samson as its Chief Commander and requests McLanahan to act as the Director of Operations. McLanahan, reluctant on the offer looks ahead to his future life with Wendy becoming a father to their son Bradley McLanahan - named in honour of their beloved friend Bradley Elliott.

Main Charecters

Retd. Gen. Bradley Elliott - Killed in action by flying his plane into a nuclear missile silo

Maj. Patrick Mclanahan - Bombadier onboard the EB-52

Wendy Tork Mclanahan - Systems officer onboard the EB-52 and wife of Patrick Mclanahan

Nancy Cheshire - Co-pilot and navigator onboard the EB-52

Gen. Terill Samson - Chief of Megafortress operations during the war and later chief of HAWC