by Andrew Watts
The enlisted girl manning the rear of the ship now ran past them, headed inside the skin of the ship.
“That smoke trail was thick,” said Victoria.
Spike nodded for her to follow him inside. He probably thought she was losing her mind. “Boss…come on.”
Another missile launched from the same area of white smoke on the horizon.
Victoria said, “The missiles are headed away from us. That’s an ICBM, and it’s headed west.” Her mind began racing through ranges and distances. She swore softly under her breath. “I think we just launched nuclear missiles at China.”
7
Khingan Mountain HQ
China
Cheng Jinshan walked slowly down the corridor, heading towards the central planning center. The bunker network was a unique construction. One wall of the hallway was the actual bare rockface of the mountain. The other wall and the floor were concrete. Along the ceiling ran pipes and ventilation ducts, fiberoptic cables and power lines. Should there be a power outage, backup systems would provide the nearly one thousand inhabitants with electricity and ventilation for months. Food and water stores would last much longer.
The Chinese had built several of these mountain bunkers, each located approximately one hundred kilometers from one another within the Greater Khingan mountain range. Jinshan and his staff were well protected here, along with his senior-most military officers and Central Committee members. The mountain range was hundreds of miles from Beijing, and the bunkers were connected by a system of subterranean high-speed rail lines. This allowed them to frequently change location, reducing the risk of American attack.
As Jinshan entered the planning center, he scanned the room.
The multilevel space had a dozen manned stations towards the far end, which was on a lower elevation plane. Each person manning the stations monitored several computer screens and wore a headset with a boom mike. These men and women, Jinshan knew, were getting the raw data from multiple battlefronts. Sitting at the table in the elevated rear portion of the room, overlooking the computer terminals, were the senior-most military and intelligence leaders in all of China. These men were receiving the most crucial elements from the front section of the room and inserting their decision-making authority into active war plans when needed.
The process had been reviewed and refined by the late Natesh Chaudrey, a brilliant entrepreneur and operations manager, but one with a conscience and stomach far too weak for wartime leadership.
Jinshan had dispatched Lena Chou to eliminate Natesh. She had disposed of him earlier that day in Tokyo. Jinshan didn’t like risking Lena like that. Americans were still in Japan. But Natesh knew too much and was a counterespionage risk. Jinshan needed to get rid of him, and for Jinshan’s most important work, he only trusted Lena.
The lead team stood up from their seats as Jinshan entered. He nodded a greeting and they all saw. A PLA colonel standing to the side of the table clicked a handheld device and the large flat-screen directly in front of Jinshan changed to a digital map of the Pacific Theater.
“Chairman Jinshan, before we begin, our most important update is that we have just received indications of American ICBM launches from near their base at Cheyenne. Initial trajectory puts their target in China. Likely our northern missile fields. We also have received infrared indications of an ICBM launch one hundred miles north of Guam. There is no trajectory data on those missiles yet, as American antisatellite and cyberattacks have now degraded our capability.”
Jinshan nodded, his face calm. “I understand.”
To Jinshan’s immediate right sat General Chen, the man he had recently installed as the senior-most commander in all of China’s military, second only to Jinshan himself. General Chen was also the estranged father of Jinshan’s protégé, Lena Chou.
General Chen said, “We must fire our submarine-based nuclear weapons at their American targets as soon as possible. I also recommend using our land-based strategic nuclear weapons to hit American targets along the West Coast of the United States.”
Jinshan turned to meet the gaze of General Chen, a flicker of distaste in his eye. “We shall not respond with our nuclear weapons. That would be against our strategy.”
General Chen clenched his jaw but showed uncharacteristic restraint in his silence.
Jinshan then looked to the colonel and said, “Proceed with your report.”
The colonel’s eyes darted from the general to Jinshan, and then continued with his update. As Jinshan listened to the update, he studied the faces around the table. Most seemed only slightly less nervous than General Chen. Had they not been mentally prepared for this moment? Perhaps they had misjudged the United States, believing that the Americans didn’t have the fortitude to use their great atomic stockpile? General Chen at least had the excuse of being newly introduced to many of the war plans. The others had been privy to the plans for months.
Cheng Jinshan was not surprised by the Americans launching their nuclear missiles. He knew the American military, intelligence, and political decision makers. He had operated in the US and knew the people and procedures. He had set loose spies in the government that no one else in China had access to. Operatives who gave him the very best intelligence. No one save the American military would be ready for this moment, and the military would follow their doctrine.
He fully expected a limited nuclear strike on a very specific set of Chinese targets. Jinshan had made sure that the Americans received exactly the right recipe of intelligence to give those orders. His question was how the rest of the war was developing.
“What of the battle in the Pacific?”
Admiral Zhang, head of the PLA Navy, said, “Both American carriers in the Western Pacific have been sunk.”
Jinshan nodded. “This is very good news. Well done, Admiral.”
“While we are pleased at the progress our air attacks have made, I remain concerned with the American undersea threat. They have more than one dozen fast-attack submarines in the area, with our signals intelligence suggesting that more are on the way.”
Jinshan said, “This was expected.”
“Yes, sir. But because our war planning timetable was moved forward so much, the Jiaolong has not yet gotten underway. Without the Jiaolong technology, it will be very difficult for us to get our convoy through.”
“Especially considering Guam was not taken…which you said would be done by now,” said General Chen.
The admiral frowned at General Chen but held his tongue.
General Chen showed no such restraint. “Perhaps Admiral Song was not up to the challenge.”
The admiral frowned. “I do not believe it was a leadership failure. The island was fortified with an unexpected surface group. Their air defense wreaked havoc on our attack jets.”
One of the men monitoring the screens in the front of the room spoke into his headset, his voice transmitted overhead. “Update on the American ICBM status. Estimated time on target is fifteen minutes.”
General Chen sighed. “Do we have an update on the trajectories?”
“We will work on it, sir.”
Jinshan shook his head. “No. Just continue the brief, please.”
The colonel nodded and continued the update. Jinshan could hear General Chen’s sigh of frustration. He was worried about those incoming missiles. Everyone was, except for Jinshan.
Jinshan listened to the brief. The initial Chinese attacks on Hawaii and Guam were both failures. Still, those were high-risk, high-reward attempts, and Jinshan hadn’t expected both of them to succeed. But he was pleased to hear enough had gone well over the past few hours that China had the advantage.
After a few minutes, General Chen rose from his seat and began pacing the room. He walked over to one of the men at the computer monitors and asked him for an update on the missiles.
Jinshan turned to Admiral Zhang. “What is your recommended course of action, now that Guam remains in the hands of the Americans?”
“Ch
airman, you are familiar with our previous plan, which used the Jiaolong to guard our convoy across the Pacific. But we don’t yet know how well she will perform in combat operations.”
“The testing looked very promising.”
“Indeed, sir. Still, I worry about the Americans launching air attacks from Guam. With your permission, I would like us to consolidate our Southern Fleet with the Jiaolong. Japan has signaled that they will surrender. Korea is quickly becoming irrelevant militarily. But I do not believe we can support operations in the Western Pacific without destroying America’s air power on Guam.”
Jinshan raised an eyebrow. “Agreed. Proceed as requested.”
One of the Central Committee members said, “What of South Korea?”
General Chen said, “The American response to North Korea’s initial attack was swift, but our participation in the attack was unexpected. As a result, we have severely crippled the American air defense and air attack capability based in South Korea. Now, chemical weapons are providing the North Korean troops an advantage. Artillery and missiles strikes are bombarding the south with nerve agent. The North Korean leader is asking for our assistance. He claims the Americans have hit his missile silos with nuclear weapons.”
A few of the men around the table exchanged glances at that. Not everyone here knew it was a Chinese false flag operation that was responsible for sending submarine-launched nuclear missiles at North Korean targets. But the ones who weren’t in on the plans could sense something was afoot, and their political instincts kept them quiet.
Jinshan cleared his throat. “Do not send our ground forces there, General. Continue to provide assistance by air, if it serves China.”
“Yes, sir.”
An analyst came running up to the elevated platform where the lead team was seated. He headed to the colonel who was leading the brief, whispering something to him. The color drained from the colonel’s face.
General Chen stood feet away, one hand in a balled fist, rubbing the palm of his other. “Well?”
The colonel nodded, and the young analyst said, “We have just received trajectory updates. Sir, we are tracking ten launches from the American land-based missile fields. Our first estimates appear correct. We are confident those missiles are targeting our northern missile sites, near our Russian border.”
General Chen stood menacingly over the young man. “The other missiles—what of those?”
“Sir, we are less confident about the target of the missile launches that originated from the southern Pacific Ocean. We believe there were four ICBMs—each from a submarine. They could be targeting Beijing military targets. Or Beijing itself. Or…”
“Or what?” General Chen fumed.
“Or the Khingan mountain bunkers, General,” Jinshan finished the thought. His voice was calm. Fearless.
The table fell quiet, save General Chen, who was looking at the analyst. “When will they hit?”
“Between five and ten minutes, sir.”
General Chen cast a panicked glance back at Jinshan, which he ignored.
Jinshan was now the leader of the largest nation in the world, with the largest military in the world. But even he was powerless now. The only thing to do now was wait until these missiles hit their targets.
Jinshan waved the colonel on. “You may continue with your update, Colonel.”
General Chen looked as if Jinshan were ignoring a charging tiger, his eyes wide.
The colonel began speaking again. His voice shaky. He went over the cyber and EMP attacks on the United States. He touched on some of the special operations missions inside the US, and the failed mission to strike Hawaii.
Finally General Chen interrupted, “Chairman Jinshan,” he began, “I must urge you to respond to America’s aggression with our nuclear weapons. We cannot wait any longer. If their missiles are inbound as reported, we have only moments left to order the strike.”
Jinshan cocked his head. “Why, General?”
“Excuse me, sir?”
“Why would you have me do it?”
A bead of sweat had formed on the general’s forehead. He turned to the map. There was now a series of circles over the northern strategic missile locations, as well as the Beijing military region, which included the network of mountain bunkers they were in.
The general shook his head, speechless.
Jinshan said, “If this were a full-capability nuclear strike, there would have been many more missiles fired. Therefore, we may assume that only a limited strike was ordered. This was my expectation. No, General, this was my hope.”
“Hope? Sir?”
Jinshan forced himself to be patient. This was the penalty for installing a puppet. Jinshan didn’t want to worry about a second coup. While he could have picked a more capable man for General Chen’s billet, Jinshan valued the predictability of the ambitious dullard over any strategic thinking that alternate selections might have provided.
With the recent political upheaval and changing of the guard in military leadership, Jinshan worried about the loyalty of his leadership team. Every odd glance from a flag officer was suspect. Every time he turned his back, he worried about knives coming out. Already he had removed several high-ranking officers from their posts at the mere whisper of them questioning his legitimacy.
Jinshan’s expression remained impassive as he stared at his nervous general. Chen owed everything to Jinshan. The only reason he had made it past colonel was because he had agreed to Jinshan’s offer for his daughter decades earlier. That had been a wise investment for both of them. Jinshan had obtained his greatest operative, the ultra-talented sleeper agent, Lena Chou. In return, General Chen had been able to resurrect his lifeless career, even now reaping the rewards as he obtained the highest military post in all of China. The trade for his daughter had long since been repaid, of course. But Jinshan preferred to live with the devils he knew. It would not do to have a thoughtful military man in that position. Someone who might second-guess Jinshan’s decisions. Let the thinkers come later, when the war was won.
Jinshan didn’t have much longer anyway. He just needed to get through this year. Two at the most. He looked down at the liver spots on his hands. His skin was yellow from jaundice. The cancer treatment was slowing his inevitable end, but nothing could stop it.
He sighed. The others knew his health was failing. Jinshan needed to project enough strength to ward off ambitious would-be replacements. Or inspire enough fear that they wouldn’t dare whisper the thought that must be in their heads.
Even General Chen wasn’t really loyal to him. He was just a less-thoughtful attack dog. Chen recognized that his master held meat in one hand and a club in the other. The moment Jinshan was unable to provide either of those was the moment Chen would betray him too. General Chen served his purpose for now. But seeing his reaction to the pressure of war caused Jinshan to question whether his predictability was worth the complete lack of value added in moments like these.
“General, please take your seat.”
The general’s face was practically twitching with fear. The man’s eyes were on the electronic display that was updating missile trajectories. Now only minutes until the first of the missiles hit their Chinese targets along the Russian border. Jinshan’s prewar brief gave estimates that ninety-eight percent of China’s ICBM capability would be destroyed.
Chen looked to the colonel. “How long would it take us to launch—”
“Enough.” Jinshan cut him off with a slightly elevated tone that was rare for him.
All eyes were on Jinshan now.
“Gentlemen, the American response is a limited strike. Their doctrine prescribes that any nuclear response be proportional, and that the targets be of appropriate type. Therefore, we have assumed that they would strike at our ICBM assets in the north. After that limited strike is complete, we can continue to fight the war with conventional assets.”
General Chen leaned forward on his hands, his frame over the long conference table. �
��We can only respond if we survive their limited nuclear attack.”
Behind Chen’s eyes were waves of fear and uncertainty. Jinshan knew that until you saw someone perform under true pressure, you didn’t really know how they would react. He had now seen enough of Chen to second-guess his appointment. If General Chen was unable to control his emotions and operate under pressure, Jinshan couldn’t trust him in a position of this much power. Chen’s weakness and need for control would eventually become a problem. Jinshan stored the thought in him mind for later.
General Chen continued, “And the submarine-launched weapons may be headed here, towards the—”
The Ministry of State Security representative at the table said, “Our intelligence suggests the Americans do not have our exact whereabouts. We believe that the Americans know there are bunkers in these mountains, but they don’t know we have developed them as a wartime headquarters. And even if they do find out, our procedures have made it almost impossible for them to know which of the six bunkers we currently reside in.”
“But there is at least a chance that they could hit us—”
Jinshan raised his voice, his face flushing. “And if that happens, General, someone will take over for us. It is not worth wasting time discussing the possibility of our own demise.”
The table went quiet.
General Chen’s eyes fell to his lap. Jinshan swallowed his disgust and then said, “In all likelihood, we will survive the next few hours and come out political winners. The Russians will issue their condemnation on the world stage, along with an ultimatum. Our strategy dictates that America be made to look villainous. In order to do that, we must keep our war efforts conventional.”
One of the Central Committee members said, “But we have used EMP weapons. We have fired nuclear weapons into North Korea…”
Jinshan noticed a few of the other men around the table cast disapproving glances at the politician for his argument. Perhaps even their looks were for Jinshan’s benefit, to communicate to their leader that they remained unwavering. So many games.
