Attack Force

The five-man team is deployed by submarine in Klepper canoes to reach the island behind enemy lines. They must maintain silence as they slide ashore and stash their kayaks before moving inland. The mission is framed by stealth, speed, and the fear of being detected.

After landing, the team moves inland under cover of darkness. They stash their kayaks and press deeper into the island, aiming to reach the crash site with minimal noise. The tension among the men is palpable as they close in on their objective.

Ted 'Kingo' King is struck by fire from an unseen machine gun post, forcing the team to react. The four remaining men eliminate the Japanese defenders and carry their wounded comrade to relative safety. The operation shows the brutal immediacy of combat and the costs of the mission.

With King at risk of capture, Costello makes the grim choice to shoot him rather than let the prisoner fall into enemy hands. The act reveals the brutal moral calculus that governs the mission and foreshadows the losses to come. The remaining men struggle to maintain cohesion as the situation tightens.

As the team presses onward, they encounter a local rice farmer whose knowledge of the land could guide them. The encounter carries risk, and the farmer is killed to protect the secrecy of the operation. The event underscores the war's reach into civilian life and the costs of secrecy.

The team discovers Lin, a local resistance leader, along with his daughter Chien Hua and siblings. Lin provides crucial local insight into the island’s dynamics and its hidden loyalties. The alliance with Lin’s circle colors the mission, turning a rescue into a broader resistance effort.

As the group advances, Japanese troops attack a Buddhist temple and the team splits as chaos erupts. Interpreter Jan Veitch ends up back at Lin’s house, while Chien Hua protects him from the returning soldiers. The violence kills several team members and tests loyalties.

Costello sustains a severe arm wound and, under machine-gun fire, throws a grenade to cover the retreat. The effort buys time but costs him his life. The surviving team members press on, their resolve tempered by the loss.

With the plane now in sight, Kelly and the team consider alternate routes and the best way to reach the two survivors. They learn that the survivors are being moved to Lin’s home, complicating but also offering an opportunity for leverage. The plan shifts from straightforward rescue to strategic interception.

The team pivots to intercept the convoy and gather more information, shifting from a simple rescue to a broader intelligence operation. The local resistance’s role becomes more central as loyalties blur and risk increases. The operation becomes as much about information as about people.

Back in the capital, Veitch is guided to the survivors, among them a Japanese government defector named Imoguchi. His presence could alter the war’s timeline, giving the team a potential turning point if he is rescued. Kelly contemplates risky alliances with locals to ensure his release.

Kelly’s resolve is tested as he must convince both his men and the local resistance that Imoguchi’s secret warrants the ongoing fight. The plan now hinges on a fragile alliance that may determine the mission’s fate. The tension between secrecy, courage, and loyalty reaches a fever pitch.

As pieces align, the crew faces a final reckoning over loyalty, sacrifice, and the war’s harsh realities. The choices they make could alter the broader war effort and the fate of the two survivors. The narrative threads of secrecy and resistance converge toward a costly, hopeful outcome.