Smiling from his wheelchair, the Chairman asked, “I do hope you are not making inquiries of me, Mr. President? I sit in a wheelchair, not a witness stand.”
“Perhaps I chose the wrong word.”
“You were a fearsome trail lawyer in your younger days. Old habits surely die hard. I can understand. But—”
“Please, Mr. Chairman, I misspoke a moment ago. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“No, no, Mr. President. There is no need to ask of this forgiveness. I simply asked for a clarification. You have given it to me. Thank you.”
Clark nodded, and he seemed relieved.
He is truly a simple, weak man, Jian thought. We should have invaded their country long ago.
“As I was saying or as I tried to say, Mr. Chairman. There is another incident that adds to my…my disquiet concerning the corpse found at the oilrig.”
“Oh?”
“Surely, you’ve watched it on the news. Two carriers in San Francisco Harbor were attacked today.”
“That is dreadful, Mr. President. I heard the supercarriers were not only attacked, but destroyed, obliterated.”
“Yes. Er, no,” said Clark. “They were hit. No one denies that. One was hit twice. Fortunately, American damage control teams prevented either from sinking. As surprising as it may seem, both carriers will soon return to the sea in active duty.”
The Chairman nodded slowly.
“He lies, sir,” Jian hissed. “Those carriers will never fight again.”
“Mr. Chairman,” Clark asked. “Did you say something?”
“I merely cleared my throat.” The Chairman nodded as if thinking. Then he smiled again.
Wise, Jian thought. The Americans are a nation of smiling fools. They will believe anyone who can smile well. He watched on a side computer-scroll the Chairman’s image as portrayed to the American.
“This is wonderful news about your carriers,” the Chairman was saying. “I congratulate your Navy personnel on fast work. Few would believe that any carrier could survive such devastating hits.”
“Our Navy damage control teams are the best in the world,” said Clark, “as I’m sure you know.”
“The American Navy is respected throughout the world, yes.”
“It is still more than capable of protecting its shores from any invasion.” Clark smiled in a seemingly false manner. “Our Navy can still hunt down those who harm the nation, in order to inflict punishing damage in retaliation.”
“That is excellent news, excellent,” the Chairman said. “Still, in hunting down these extremist dogs, I would think swift, hunter-killer CIA teams would serve you better than any carriers.”
“For hunting extremists, I suppose that’s true. Unfortunately, sir, I fear I must inform you that Chinese corpses were found in the trawler from which the San Francisco missile attack took place. Please let me finish, sir.”
The Chairman had been about to speak.
“Dragon Claw missiles were used against our carriers,” Clark said. “As you know, these are Chinese missiles.”
“I told you the Taiwanese extremists were ruthless,” the Chairman said. “Ever since they escaped our clutches, they have nefariously been selling small-arms weapons to drug lords and various separatists in order to acquire the funds for truly powerful weapons.”
“Dragon Claws are the latest and most deadly missiles in the Chinese arsenal,” Clark said. “I don’t see how any extremist could acquire them.”
The Chairman frowned. “Mr. President…are you suggesting that someone other than Taiwanese terrorists attacked your carriers?”
President Clark set down the pen and peered intently out of the screen. “Not only were Chinese weapons used to destroy—to hit our carriers—but you are at this time carrying out a giant naval exercise in the North Pacific, well west of the Kamchatka Peninsula. These naval maneuvers are taking place much too near Alaskan waters. Mr. Chairman, your naval exercise troubles many of my highest military people.”
“This exercise was planned months in advance.”
“Mr. Chairman, I would like to speak frankly with you if I may.”
“Please do.”
“First, let me say that is an honor to speak with a man such as you. You have brought together all the ‘lost’ provinces of China’s previous heydays. You have forged your country into a powerhouse. If one includes the satellite states of Central and East Siberia, you have welded together the largest country on Earth. In this day and age, that is an amazing feat. I speak to you therefore with utmost respect.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. I also respect you.”
“It pleases me to hear so. Sir, your giant naval exercise, combined with the boarding of T-66 multi-turreted Army tanks into several cargo ships, troubles my senior officers. Of course, I told them not to worry. They then told me that your—” Clark glanced at a paper. “Your ice-mobile formations in East Siberia, in Ambarchik Base, have received massive shipments of winterized aircraft and new air-mobile formations. My military men tell me these units are capable of crossing the polar ice.”
The Chairman nodded as he tugged at his lower lip. “I suspect this is faulty information you’re receiving.”
“You deny—you’re telling me this build-up at Ambarchik Base is not happening?” asked Clark.
“I will have to ask my Minister of the Army to find out the full details of what is going on,” the Chairman said. “If he is practicing a deceitful maneuver without my knowledge, he will face serious consequences. I assure you of this, Mr. President. It is far more likely that your satellites or human intelligence sources saw something quite inconsequential in nature.”
“Mr. Chairman,” said Clark, “if I could cut to the chase, I feel I must ask you this. What could possibly cause China to attack the United States?”
“I am unaware of anything,” said the Chairman, “other than protecting our national sovereignty.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. I know that recently our talks in Sydney were stalled due to the unfortunate timing of the assault against our Californian oilrig. Perhaps we could reopen negotiations between our two countries concerning a trade of oil for grain.”
Jian quit breathing. The sniveling President could ruin everything.
“Mr. Chairman?” asked Clark.
He’s bargaining for time, thought Jian, time to beef up his defenses.
“Your words intrigue me,” the Chairman said. “The trade would benefit both our nations. I wonder…. In the interest of trade and to show your good faith, could you immediately ship grain from San Diego?”
“I would need a clarification on what you mean by ‘immediately’,” said Clark.
“Today,” the Chairman said, as he stared at the President.
Clark glanced left to somewhere off-screen. The American President obviously listened to an advisor. Soon, a visibly shaken Clark turned back to the Chairman. “Yes, to show that we mean business, two ships will leave immediately for Hong Kong.”
“This is excellent news, Mr. President. I suspect you’ve heard something about a few rice ‘incidents’ in China’s interior.”
“Indeed I have,” said Clark. “It’s why I’m agreeing to this…ah, request.”
“News of the trade agreement will help us.”
Clark nodded.
“I will speak to my ministers about the renewing of trade talks,” the Chairman said. “I hope to finish this conversation with you tomorrow.”
“It would be my honor, sir. Ah, before we leave—” Clark hesitated, and he nodded, to himself, it seemed. “I would like to ask you for one small favor.”
“If it is in my power,” the Chairman said, “I will gladly give such a man of honor as you a favor.”
Clark looked earnestly out of the computer-scroll. He’d picked up the pen again and clutched it fiercely. “I would like to ask that you call off your naval exercise, immediately bringing the warships back to their Chinese homeports.”
“I see,”
the Chairman said. “Hmm. I’ve watched the news about the dastardly attack against your carriers. Fully one third of your naval power destroyed in an instant. That would set any nation on edge.”
“Our Navy is still very powerful,” Clark said. “And it was only a sixth of our carrier force that was, ah, incapacitated.”
“Are you including in your count the small helicopter carriers and your hovercraft tenders?”
Clark breathed deeply through his nose. “About your naval exercise….”
“Mr. President,” the Chairman said, staring straight into Clark’s eyes. “I’m afraid that as much as I’d like to give you the small favor you requested…I cannot simply order the exercise’s cessation. My naval ministers informed me earlier that it would complicate matters for our personnel to receive such an order now. We are in the final phases of a highly sensitive maneuver and dearly wish to make sure there are no unwarranted accidents.”
“But Mr. Chairman—”
“Please, ask your own military people and I’m sure they will tell you I’m right about this.”
Clark licked his lips as his eyes tightened. He looked like a harried man. “Sir, two of our carriers were destroyed today by Chinese nationals using Chinese weaponry. I need something to show my military chiefs, or they will recommend severe defense responses against your fleet.”
The Chairman became grave. “Mr. President, I am reluctant to speak these words to you. You are an honorable man of peace. This I know, and for this, I highly respect you. But I must—warn is too strong a word. It approaches the meaning of what I intend, however. Hmm, let me say it this way. I must ask that all American military vessels, planes and hardware stay well away from all Chinese naval ships for the duration of our exercise. During this time, many of our warships carry live weaponry. With all my heart, I wish to avoid any messy incidents that could pull you and me into unforgivable actions against each other.”
Clark had become pale. “You spoke of the need of grain to help abate your food riots—”
The Chairman laughed, interrupting Clark’s speech. “Riots present a false word-image of what really occurs.”
Clark seemed confused. “But on the internet I’ve seen Chinese people storming a police station. That seems like a highly-charged situation, if I may be so bold to say so.”
The Chairman shook his head. “That is what I tried to explain earlier. I am old, so perhaps I failed to impart the correct…hmm, idea. The staged internet riots are more Taiwanese extremist work. This time, instead of using weaponry, they use clever fabrication to make it seem as if there is disorder in China. But the situation is quite otherwise, I assure you.”
Clark closed his eyes as he massaged his forehead. When he opened his eyes, he said, “Since you have seen fit to warn me about approaching your warships too closely, I would like to return the favor and inform you of recent developments. I have sent three heavy tank battalions to Alaska and four light infantry battalions. I have also sent new squadrons of fighters, bombers and laser-defenders to the North Slope oilfields. What is more—” Clark grew pale as his eyes reddened. “Mr. Chairman, in the interests of my nation’s security, I must inform you that if any of your naval vessels head toward the American coast, particularly toward Alaska, we will regard that as a prelude to an impending amphibious attack.”
“These are hard words, Mr. President.”
“They give me no joy,” Clark said.
“I will—”
“I’m not finished,” Clark said. “I’m sorry to sound so abrupt, but I feel I must tell you that not all of our ICBMs are nuclear-tipped. My military chiefs tell me that some of our ballistic missiles are ship-killers. You might be interested to know that the use of Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles, ASBMs, against naval vessels was first a Chinese tactical solution to an enemy fleet with too many carriers near its coast. It was a good idea, one we will use if we must.”
“I’m not sure I heard you correctly. Are you threatening me with war?”
“Don’t you understand? I’m trying to stop a war that in the end no one will win.”
The Chairman nodded slowly. “Mr. President, you seem highly agitated. It pains me to say this, but your state of mind troubles me.”
“War is a terrible thing, Mr. Chairman. Yet I will not shrink from my responsibilities as the nation’s Commander-in-Chief.”
“Hmm, I can see that you dearly love your country. And your resolve…it might help my military people to know it so they can understand what they are risking with the continued exercise. Therefore, in the interest of peace between our two nations, I will attempt to order a cessation of our naval exercise. I must ask, however, that you keep your military people from hair-trigger responses. Let us send watch-teams to each other’s installations and sea platforms. That might help dampen the danger.”
Clark blinked several times before a grin stretched across his face. “I can agree to that.”
“Let us talk tomorrow,” the Chairman said.
The smile on the President’s face grew. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I knew I could talk to you. You are a man of honor and foresight.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. I return the compliment. Until tomorrow then.”
“Tomorrow,” Clark said, sitting back in his chair.
The red light on the camera shut off, and the screen showing President Clark blanked out.
Jian was aghast. Deng must have sent the American President secret communications. The trade talks would resume and it seemed that the war was over before it had started. This was a disaster.
The wheelchair turned around so a haggard Chairman regarded them. “Time has run out,” he said. “These non-nuclear ASBMs, how dangerous are they?”
“Very,” said Admiral Qingshan. “It is the correct response on their part.”
“Do you have enough laser-defense planes to stop them?” asked the Chairman.
“It all depends on how many they launch,” the admiral said. “But we will use more than just the laser-planes. Our destroyers and cruisers are armed with anti-missile systems. Still, it could be a risky—”
“Is there nothing we can do?” the Chairman asked.
“Yes,” said Qingshan. “We can take out their targeting satellites. That will make it much more difficult for the ASBMs to pinpoint our ships during the terminal phase of their flight.”
“I hereby order this satellite destruction,” the Chairman said. “Now what is all this about them moving divisions of troops to Alaska?”
“It is pure fantasy, sir,” Jian said. “The U.S. Army hasn’t moved yet. They’re just beginning to mobilize. But they haven’t moved a single troop unit. It will be at least two or three weeks before the American Army can get there, probably longer. So it is not an issue.”
“Sir,” said a frowning Deng. “I thought you just agreed to trade grain for oil. You told President Clark—”
The Chairman was shaking his head as it rested against the wheelchair’s back. “It is much too late for peace. Our interior people want food now. They are storming police stations and setting them alight. No. We must take their minds off their hunger. If nothing else, a good shooting war will glue them to their TVs and computers. Then, once we take Alaska and once the Americans realize their helplessness against us—” The Chairman smiled tiredly. “Knowledge of a supine America and the coming food tribute will keep the people quiet long enough until our stores brim with American bread and potatoes.”
“What about the American ASBMs?” Deng asked.
The Chairman regarded the Army Minister.
The old marshal sat forward, his sculptured face showing ‘eager readiness.’
“You will take out every American recon satellite that can scan into the Pacific Ocean,” the Chairman said. “Then we must use refueling tankers to keep our laser-armed planes near the invasion fleet. If any of the enemy ASBMs launch, we must have the swift capacity to destroy them.”
“What about tomorrow, sir?” Deng asked. “What w
ill you tell President Clark then?”
From his wheelchair and as he exposed his yellowed teeth, the Chairman said, “That, Energy Minister, will be my surprise. I believe my surprise might end the war before it begins, with Alaska as the newest province of our growing empire.”
-9-
Contact
MUKDEN, P.R.C.
Captain Han of the Chinese Space Service settled a virtual reality (VR) helmet over his head. He was in a pit and sat on a padded chair. He wore a flight suit, with attached lines snaking to routers and infrared sensors in the tubular-shaped wall around him. After fitting on the VR helmet, he thrust his hands into twitch gloves.
This was the latest in remote-control technology. Above and around him sat techs with monitors, watching his heart rate and other biological functions as others watched his weapons system. They were underground in a nuclear-blast protected heavy bunker.
Today, Captain Han would control one of three of China’s latest space-superiority missiles. His pit and assorted personnel were in one of the hexes of the Nexus Command Center.
“Are you ready, Captain?”
Han rechecked his systems. Everything worked. He nodded and managed to say, “Yes.”
“Pit Number Three, ready,” an unseen officer said.
Time ticked by. Finally, Han’s VR helmet hummed with life. Images appeared before him, clouds high in the sky. He used his twitch gloves and shifted the missile’s cameras. Trucks raced away from a launch pad.
“His heart rate is increasing,” a tech said.
“Relax, Captain. You’ll do fine.”
“Should we shut down his systems during liftoff?” a different tech asked.
“Negative. We need to test them.”
“Test on a day like this?”
“When else do you suggest? We’ve never actually used these systems before in battle.”
“What if something goes wrong?”
“Shhh. Do you want the Air Commodore to hear you?”
There was silence after that as the techs worked. Han waited in the pit as his stomach began to tighten. Through his helmet, he watched a bird fly across the sky.
Invasion: Alaska Page 20
