Winter Kill 2 - China Invades Australia

by Gene Skellig

  The pleasure he felt as he thought of himself in those terms was rudely interrupted when the Senior Colonel in charge of the External Intelligence Directorate watch-keepers piped up.

  “I think we’ve got a situation here, Command EA! We’re going to need the General in here for this,” said the Colonel responsible for monitoring the agents abroad, throughout OP PLAN XIAOLONG, “Little Dragon.”

  “Colonel Xu, go ahead and brief me. I’ll decide if what you have to say warrants interrupting the Snakehead,” Colonel Hua said, as if speaking to a subordinate. He had long ago begun to throw his weight around, talking down to superior officers as if it were he, not General Bing, who determined who would be the next example.

  Senior Colonel Xu thought about how Colonel Hua had more often than not been the one to pull the trigger, as in the case of the traitorous Dr. Sun Tingting. The learned Doctor was the climate scientist who had once been crucial to the planning behind General Bing’s vision of depopulating the earth in order to ensure China would have a liveable climate in which to enjoy ascendency over the rest of the world. But when the climate scientist had tried to warn the world of the coming nuclear winter and the severe climate change and associated mass extinction of the human race – the winter kill of the human race - he had been unceremoniously executed by a bullet from Colonel Hua to the back of his head. That, and more recent summary executions, had kept Xu and the other senior staff from pushing back against the repugnant Colonel Hua. It had been a mistake, many of them were coming to understand; each time they did not respond when Colonel Hua spoke out of his station, his personal power and megalomania only increased. You are a truly despicable little man, thought Dàxiào Colonel Xu. We’ll take care of you sooner or later, if the General does not tire of you first, he thought.

  Xu answered Hua’s arrogant response. “Whatever you say, Shàngxiào,” the Dàxiào Colonel sneered, drawing a harsh, but fearful look from the Shàngxiào Colonel Hua. Equivalent to an American Colonel, or OF-5, Hua was one full grade below the Dàxiào Colonel Xu, who was equivalent to an American Brigadier General, or OF-6.

  Ignoring his distaste, Xu briefed Hua. “The board is all clear except for two Little Dragons. That one in Richmond, British Columbia, continues to display high-risk behavior and is behaving as though he were fully autonomous. He’s been parading his Dragon Flies in and out of his hotel room as if he were a Drug Lord, and sooner or later he’s going to attract too much attention – if he has not already done so. You know how it is when a foolish man has a little power and lets it go to his head,” he said, and then looked meaningfully at Colonel Hua. “I recommend that we close him out and reassign his Dragonflies to another Little Dragon in the Vancouver region. I don’t suppose you want to authorize that on your own authority as the Commander’s EA, do you, Colonel?”

  “I’ll let you know in a minute,” said Colonel Hua, taken aback by the man’s open hostility. The insult was not lost on Hua, who saw the Brigadier as his most serious rival. Once we move into Phase Three, I’ll pin the responsibility for any major screw-ups from the Little Dragon operation on Xu, so it’ll be better to let him make his recommendation directly to the general – after I pre-empt it, by expressing my doubts as to how well Xu is managing his spies, Hua thought with satisfaction.

  “Move on to the other problem, Colonel Xu.”

  “Right. Well, we have a new problem, in Adelaide, South Australia. Seems we have lost contact with the Region Lead, Kuang. He had been an effective and stable Little Dragon, from all accounts. And up until now there hadn’t been any warning signs – no counter-intelligence, no conflict with civilians, and a steady stream of useful intelligence on the Australian air base at Edinburgh, near Adelaide. And now, suddenly, ‘poof’! He’s disappeared. We can’t even raise any of his Dragonflies, and the man we sent in to check on his hotel has not reported back.”

  “What’s this, we may have lost one in Adelaide?” interrupted the Shàngjiàng-grade Colonel-General Bing, equivalent to an American 4-Star, OF-9. Now, with the sudden death of his predecessor, Bing was China’s Supreme Military Commander. General Bing had arrived in the middle of Colonel Xu’s briefing.

  For a terrifying moment, Colonel Hua worried that the General may have heard some of their earlier exchange, but then he relaxed when the General walked past him and placed his hand on Hua’s shoulder in the customary way, before taking his seat in front of Hua’s workstation. Hua would have purred if he were a feline; he was so happy to have the General’s touch.

  “He must have run into some sort of trouble. And if you can’t raise his Dragonflies, then the problem must be local law enforcement, or perhaps even state or military counter-intelligence. Not good, Colonel Xu,” said General Bing, pleasing Colonel Hua to no end. “But there’s no real mission risk, right?. It’ll take days for them to figure it all out and work it through their chain of command, and we’ve only got, what, 36 hours?”

  “Yes, Shàngjiàng,” said Xu.

  “Speaking about those Australian Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, how about the Maritime Patrol base in New Zealand?” Bing asked, following up on a previous discussion of the surprisingly capable P3C Maritime Patrol Aircraft flown by the New Zealanders.

  Xu spoke with authority. “We now have a Dragonfly in place with 5 Squadron, the girlfriend of the pilot-lead, name of Major Brant, on their P3Cs. All four of 5 Squadron’s MPA are unserviceable, and there won’t be any patrol presence in that sector for the next 72 hours, so that operation has been a success. They won’t have to tip their hands early, interfering with the MPAs, because they can’t fly anyhow. So now they can focus all their energy on taking out the Takapuna Beach armory, and the police detachment. The base itself, at Whenuapai, will be taken by air-assault only, Sir, as you recall. You went with my recommendation that we not risk activating their Wing Defense Forces by having the Dragonflies attack the base prior to the arrival of Colonel Guo’s assault teams,” Colonel Xu reminded General Bing, and then swallowed uncomfortably in the ensuing silence.

  General Bing was not the slightest bit concerned with the rudeness of Xu’s comments. He was well beyond that, thinking about the tricky job Colonel Guo’s initial wave of assaulters would have dealing with the security forces bound to come across to the Devonport sector in response to the air-landing assault on the Whenuapai airbase.

  “How are we doing with getting a team in place to shut down Auckland Harbor Bridge? Colonel Guo is going to need that link shut down so he can clear out Devonport and the east sector before moving in on Auckland once his follow-on forces arrives at Base Whenuapai,” said General Bing, demonstrating his detailed knowledge of every aspect of OPERATION WINTER SNAKE, in this case, the Supporting Plan that would achieve the subjugation of New Zealand.

  “That continues to be a concern, General. We have not had much luck with the Chinese community in Auckland. They’re mostly second and third generation from Mainland Chinese immigrants, not the younger crowd from Hong Kong and Beijing. So they’re turning out to be very hard to corrupt.

  “Staging the follow-on forces through Fiji will be no problem,” Xu continued, “As we have two good teams at Nadi. So that’s how I recommend we mitigate any problems with the Auckland Harbor Bridge, if Little Dragon Guanglie can’t get enough Dragonflies ready in time. We’ll delay the capture of Auckland, if we have to, until Colonel Guo has enough of 38th Group Army’s follow-on forces in place. Meanwhile, he’ll have picked Devonport and Takapuna clean of military stores and suitable transportation; Guo will be ready to outfit the follow-on forces. No, Sir, New Zealand is not a big worry. I’m more worried about what’s going on in Adelaide. If the Australians generate good intelligence in time and raise their readiness – even if they don’t have the full picture – we could be facing a disaster in that sector.”

  “I agree, Colonel Xu. So I hope, for your sake, that your Little Dragon in the Barossa Valley has not screwed up too much,” General Bing said, ominously, before moving on. “Do w
e have any good news out of the Australian AOR?”

  “Certainly, but most of that could be summed up as ‘according to plan’,” Colonel Xu said with his customary efficiency. “However, there is one notable success you may find interesting. It seems that a police special agent investigating Chinese nationals at Macquarie University showed some interest in our Little Dragon in the south-central Sydney area, one of Major Zhang’s. You may recall him? He’s the one we call ‘Scarface’, on account of the deep scar on his face?”

  “Oh yes, I remember him. He seemed to be a very capable young man. What’s he done?”

  “Well, when he got word that one of his Little Dragons was in trouble he took quick and decisive action. He put together a team and they killed the cop and not only expunged all of his data, but he also planted some clever misinformation into the cop’s chain of command – and pinned the murder on academic cheats. So not only was the police attention diverted from our operations, but the police forces wasted valuable time and resources barking up the wrong tree.”

  “Well done. Make sure you keep an eye on this Major Zhang - Scarface – I want him to be given increased responsibilities, and if warranted, accelerated promotion,” Bing directed.

  “My thoughts exactly. We’ll put Zhang on deep-select for Zhōngxiào,” Xu said, fully intending to promote the ruthless and efficient Major Zhang to the equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel, or OF-4.

  General Bing paused, noticing one of his best friends, General Leung, had arrived. “Good, Leung, perfect timing. Colonel Xu has been briefing us on OP PLAN XIAOLONG. Let’s move on. Brief us on the status of Little Dragons preparations for the assaults on the real prize, the east coast of Australia. I am sure that General Leung would like to know what sort of reception his Colonel Ma will have,” commanded General Bing. He arched his back and felt his muscles stretch. He looked around the room with a satisfied, confident smile.

  In the fusion Centre at the American Controlled CIA installation at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs, an Australian intelligence analyst was discussing recent intel with his CIA counterparts. He had taken to bouncing everything off of them, openly sharing all intelligence, hoping to glean even a little of the ‘close hold’ American intel as it related to Australia. More often than not it was a one-way street, as the CIA still had not gotten over the last set of leaks out of the Australian defense community. The Yanks simply don’t trust us with information critical to our own national security, he thought. But there’s nothing for it. We have to give them everything and try to infer their take on it, at the very least.

  He had just received input from the Australian military’s J2, Intelligence Branch Officer, in Canberra. The Intel had been generated from police and military reports out of the Barossa Valley area, just outside of Adelaide.

  “This does not fit our assessment of the Chinese,” the ranking CIA analyst said. “So we shall assess it as spurious, probably an overzealous ranger in the outback down there.”

  “I don’t understand,” the Australian responded sharply, “How can you dismiss this as a mistake? Our boys down there are not idiots, you know. And this is coming in from a variety of well-respected professionals – both civilian and military. They know what the hell they are doing, and they have loads of electronic and paper documentation in hand.”

  The CIA analyst looked up from the paper he was reading. “I didn’t mean to insult you. We are guests in your country, after all, so I don’t mean to insult the host. But your boys have it all wrong. It does not fit China’s strategic aims. Case in point: the Chinese efforts to hack our military and commercial systems are part of an arms-length, paranoid habit of seeking to gain advantage without having to invest or develop for themselves. It’s right out of Sun Tzu, where if you can defeat your enemy without engaging in battle, then you have truly won, or something like that.”

  The American continued: “On the industrial side, they want technology which they simply can’t generate, and then they can manufacture massive quantities of it as knock-offs and flood the market with cheaper and only slightly inferior versions. This strategy has given them phenomenal growth rates and is a winning formula for them. They started this with toys, decades ago, and then they moved into more and more sophisticated consumer goods, plastics, and finally sophisticated electronic devices. And this applies to military technology as well. Take the original American-made M14 rifle for example. The Chinese knock-off, by China North Industries, “NORINCO”, sells here in Australia for about $500 dollars and is almost as good as the original American version, which sells for $2,500.”

  The Aussie was becoming annoyed by this bloodless know-it-all. “So what’s your point? Are you saying that this is an acceptable situation? Isn’t that what’s responsible for hollowing out the industrial base in the United States, the closing of factories, and the export of jobs?”

  “Yes. That is my point exactly. It is a losing situation for America, and a winning formula for China,” he said, with a smile.

  The Australian frowned for a moment, not understanding why the American would smile about being taken advantage of by China. “I don’t’ get it. What does that have to do with your assessment of the Intel from Adelaide, that clearly establishes that there is an active network of Chinese nationals, likely PLA, spying on military installations and personnel?”

  The American leaned forward in his chair and gave another one of his annoying, superior smiles. “OK. I’ll spell it out for you. They are already winning the war, and have been for years. They’ve got us by the balls, with our debt and our trade deficit. So why would they screw that up by such a hostile act? I mean really?” He started speaking faster and more loudly, buoyed by his own mental processes. “A network of HumInt assets? Armed agents, preparing for what, a tactical mission? China is about to attack your little air base? For what purpose? To start a war? To bring about an allied, anti-China trade war? Why would they do that when they could get whatever they want on the internet? And starting a war? No way. They don’t have an expeditionary air force now do they? Have you ever seen a Chinese C-17? THEY DON’T HAVE ANY!” he nearly shouted. “They’ve only got about 20 IL76Ms, but that’s it, in terms of strategic airlift. And to go to war with Australia they would need literally hundreds of heavy-lift, Antanov-A124 or some other C17-type aircraft.” He immediately shifted from shouting to a fast, flat monotone. “So as of right now, they could not fight an expeditionary war, therefore your Intel is wrong.”

  “But what about sea-lift? Couldn’t they come by sea?” asked the Australian officer.

  “Sure, but not in the numbers they would need. Maybe they could take New Zealand, if they could get there with a Brigade Group or stronger. But with the 7th Fleet in the Malacca Straits, and with all the satellites we have watching their military bases, we would know about their mobilization long before it could set sail. And as it is, they only have what, two carrier battle groups now? And very few of the specialty ships you would need for an amphibious invasion. And they don’t have any long-range bombers or air-to-air refueling aircraft, so their air power is no threat.”

  “What about missiles? Couldn’t they take out our forces, and your 7th fleet with missiles, or nukes?”

  “Sure, if they want to commit suicide. They have some ICBMs and something of a SLBM capability now, and some pretty good SSK diesel subs and a new class of SSBNs - Jin class, I think they’re called - but they are still no match for the US Navy. Besides, to fight a war here in Australia they would have such enormous supply lines, easily cut with our allies in the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and so on. Heck, all it would take is a small increase in our naval presence in the region and a few divisions of Marines on top of what we’ve got up in Darwin already, and Australia would be virtually impregnable to the Chinese. And even if they could make landfall, and establish a beachhead somewhere on your continent, there’s no doubt that your Army, Navy, Air Force and Militia would throw them back into the sea,” said the CIA analyst, confidently. H
e leaned back, pleased to be able to spout off after long hours of staring into computer monitors. At last, being able to show off his superior knowledge.

  The Australian was not impressed. He set his hands on his hips and leaned slightly forward toward the American. “Well, I’m not willing to dismiss this Priority Intelligence Report from my mates in South Australia so quickly. So I hope you won’t mind if I formally ask you CIA buggers to earn your keep for the years of operating your listening post on Australian territory, and put your gear to good use for our interest for a change,” the analyst said, his face turning purple and his blood vessels swelling at his barely suppressed rage. “I am formally asking you to generate us an IMMEDIATE update on the Chinese order of battle, the disposition of their forces at this time, and a complete Intelligence Assessment of the threat of an attack or any other hostile act by the Chinese upon any of the forces or territories of Australia,” he said, clearly intent on going as far up his national chain of command as he needed to, to get the CIA to provide the comprehensive analysis that only the CIA was capable of conducting. Americans! he thought to himself.

  The CIA analyst realized that the request was not just a trial balloon from a disgruntled Australian liaison officer. It was really coming from their military headquarters in Canberra, through the man’s liaison role to the CIA facility in Pine Gap. Therefore, it was Australia speaking.

  With big, blank eyes, the American glared at the Australian. “OK, buddy. You got it. I’ll throw out common sense and thirty years of expertise on all things Chinese, and go back to first principles,” said the analyst, with some annoyance. But then his face brightened up. “You know what, it wouldn’t hurt if I pressed a few buttons back in Langley on this, get them spun up a bit and see what they come up with,” he said, already applying his analytical talents to the problem. “I’ll run it up the pole for you! It’ll be fun, even if I already know that it’s a waste of time,” he said cheerfully, and then added: “It’ll take about 18 hours, what with it being the middle of the night back home. Meanwhile, I have to ask for a similar level of effort from you in exchange.”