When Soviet operatives fire on a Hive ship over the Gulf of Tonkin, Bach claims that US naval vessels were their target and starts the country's involvement in the Vietnam War. After air strikes down a Hive ship, Bach kidnaps Loengard for a reconnaissance mission. Yet, when military officials express reservations about having Majestic's Juliet Stuart co-ordinating with Russians also tracking the Hive, Bach joins Loengard for the trip himself. Teamed with Vietnamese guide Tay Ma, Loengard comes across a crazed American soldier as he finds a Gray's severed head. And when John finds that the crash site has been visited by the Viet Cong, Bach orders him to destroy it while requesting an air strike that could kill them all.