by Dale Brown
a Chinese carrier battle group and a couple of Taiwanese war-
ships," Balboa went on. He fidgeted -nervously, which told
Finegold that he was concealing some other tidbit of infor-
mation, probably something about American military units in-
volved in the skirmish. "Both Taiwanese vessels were
destroyed. No word yet on the Chinese ships."
" And what about the American forces?" Finegold asked.
Balboa began to look like a fish out of water-he realized, as
if waking up from a bad dream, that he had said too much.
"What happened to the American subs?"
Finegold saw the hint of relief in Balboa's face-she had
guessed wrong. "All four subs shadowing the Chinese fleet
are safe," Balboa said.
7-
FATAL TER RAI N 183
"Thank God," she replied. Time to take a chance, roll the
dice, Barbara Finegold told herself She leaned toward Balboa,
turning him away from Joe Crane so it felt as if they were
talking alone and confidentially, and asked, "What about the
stealth bombers? Did they make it out? Hopefully they were
far enough away when the nukes went off."
Balboa looked into Finegold's eyes, searching to see
whether or not she knew or was just guessing. In response,
Finegold gave him her sternest, most confident expression, not
breaking lock with his eyes even for a moment. Balboa asked
himself the question, Does she know about the bombers? and
his tortured mind answered, Obviously so.
"They're safe," Balboa said. "They weren't involved in
the nuclear explosions-in fact, they probably shot down other
Chinese missiles and may have even intercepted the missile
that exploded over Quemoy, resulting in only a partial yield.
They're safely on their way back."
"Good ... that's'damned good news, Admiral," Finegold
said. Outside, she appeared relieved, but inside, her brain and
her guts were leaping. The President sent stealth bombers over
the Formosa Strait-bombers that could apparently fire anti-
missile weapons? In the face of harsh congressional investi-
gations that he might have illegally used stealth warplanes to
bomb Iran, the President actually dared to use them again, just
a few weeks later, in the middle of a China-Taiwan conflict?
It was absolutely amazing, incredible, unbelievable! And now
the "skirmish" was blowing up into possibly a full-scale nu-
clear war, one in which the United States was obviously going
to get involved-and the President's hands were in deep, deep,
deep shit, up to his armpits. The new President of the United
States was possibly illegally involved in precipitating a nuclear
war. "This information will go no farther than this room."
4 11 Wait a minute, wait a minute," Crane gasped, finally get-
ting up to speed with the others. "You're saying that ... ?"
"Let's drop it, Joe-we're not here to pump the admiral for
information," Barbara Finegold said, although she wanted
nothing more than to do just that. "This conversation didn't
take place. It did not take place. All we needed to know was
that the evacuation was precautionary, and that no American
forces have been mobilized."
"Yes, completely precautionary-definitely not a prelude to
war, and no American forces are on alert," Balboa verified.
184 DALE BROWN
"Our guys may have fired some wea ons in self-defense ...
"The bombers?"
Balboa nodded as he continued, but no attack orders
were ever issued by the President. None."
"We can support self-defense," Finegold said. "Even help-
ing to protect innocent lives and property, especially if we
knew the Chinese might use nuclear weapons. That action is
acceptable."
"That's all that was used," Balboa added, looking as if a
huge weight had been lifted froth his chest. As long as he
believed this conversation was off the record, Finegold
thought, he felt confident in saying just a little bit more. Of
course, she never said it was off the record, just that it never
took place-which, of course, it obviously did. She took one
more flyer: "You should be proud of your guys out there,
Admiral."
His relieved expression hardened into a dark scowl, and
Finegold was afraid she had said too much-or maybe she had
hit the nerve that had been jangling in Balboa's brain all this
time. He said fervently, as if pleading with her, "Don't look
at the Navy, Senator. Not our ballgame."
"Jesus," Finegold gasped with as much sympathetic horror
as she could summon. "You mean, the President shut your
boys out again in favor of some other secret no-name sandlot
pickup team?" '
"You got it," Balboa responded bitterly, now convinced
that the Senate Majority Leader really did know the entire
score. "You got it."
That was all he had to say-but Barbara Finegold's heart
was leaping in pure, abject joy. He had already said quite
enough-and it might be enough to bring down a president.
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, BEIJING,
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
"WHEN MEN HAVE MINDS SET
ON VICTORY, ALL THEY SEE IS THE
ENEMY. WHEN MEN HAVE MINDS
FILLED WITH FEAR, ALL THEY SEE
IS THEIR FEAR."
-from The Methods of the
Minister of War,
Fourth-century-B. Chinese
military textbook
WEDNESDAY, 4 JUNE 1997, 0809 HOURS LOCAL
(TUESDAY, 3 JUNE, 1909 HOURS ET)
"You have thirty seconds to explain," Chief of Staff General
Chin Po Zihong thundered, "why you ordered this insane,
monstrous attack. I have already ordered that you be dismissed
as my chief deputy. Your response will determine whether or
not you spend the rest of your life in prison for what you have
done-or if you are executed as a traitor!" The Minister of
National Defense, Chi Haotian, waited for the response as
well, hands on the armrests of his chair, watching Chin's dep-
uty-rather, ex-deputy-Admiral Sun Ji Guoming, with a sag-
ging, tired grimace.
" Our carrier and its escort ships were under attack by rebel
Nationalist naval forces, assisted by an unknown force launch-
ing anti-radar and anti-ship missiles, sir," Admiral Sun re-
sponded, his voice loud, steady, and assertive. "I suspected a
185
7-
186 DALE BROWN
stealth aircraft attack, based on the same type of reports during
the recent United States-Iran conflict, and I immediately or-
dered a full-scale counterattack."
-you ordered? You are just a deputy, Sun, not a com-
mander!" Chin thundered. "You have no authority to launch
a strike mission or countermand my orders!"
"I beg your understanding, Comrade General," Sun said,
with as much sincerity as he could muster, keeping his eyes
averted, "but there was no time. Our forces were being dec-
imated by the rebel warships and the American B-52 bomber.
If I had gone through proper channels, the American air
craft
would have wiped out our battle group."
"A B-52 bomber!" Minister of Defense Chi exclaimed. Chi
knew well the power of the American B-52s-he had been in
power during the abortive attack on the Philippines. "This is
incredible! Are you sure, Sun?"
"The Nationalists used an American stealth aircraft to sup-
port an illegal intercept on the high seas against our warships,
sir," Sun retorted. "'Me fighter pilots from the carrier Mao
confirmed the sighting before they were shot down-another
act of war. I used my judgment and ordered our battle group
to commence their attack against Quemoy from long range-"
"With nuclear weapons?" Chin retorted. "You ordered Yi
to launch a thermonuclear attack against the Nationalists?"
,,I ordered Admiral Yi to do everything in his power to
defend his battle group and carry out his attack orders," Sun
replied. "I did not order him to launch a nuclear attack-but
I support his decision to do so. His battle group is intact with
only minor losses, the rebels have been severely wounded, and
the world is paralyzed with fear. The mission was successful."
"You are absolutely insane Sun!" Chin said, unable to
believe what his subordinate was saying. "You actually think
this action was proper? Do you think nuclear weapons are just
another bullet to take from your belt and load into your pistol?
Did you stop to think for one second about the conse-
quences?"
"I have thought of little else, sirl" Sun responded. "Sun-
tzu says that if an incendiary attack can be launched from
outside without relying on inside assistance, it should be ini-
tiated."
"So now I suppose you think we should invade?"
"No, sir," Sun said. "We should desist."
-1
FATAL TER RAI N 187
"What? YOU approved a nuclear attack on Quemoy--don't
try to deny it, Sun, you gave the order without specifically
mentioning nuclear devices-then say we should not continue
the invasion?" Chin shook his head in stunned disbelief. "I
do not understand you, Sun! You orchestrated a nuclear attack
against the Nationalists, an attack that may well isolate China
for decades in the eyes of the world, and now you advise us
to abandon the mission? Why? Explain yourself!"
"Because we initiated an incendiary attack against the Na-
tionalist army on Quemoy, and they are quiet," Sun replied.
"Sun-tzu teaches us that if the enemy is quiet after such an
attack, wait and do not attack, for it means that the fires did
not substantially weaken them."
"Explain in words other than this ancient drivel, Admiral!"
"The blast was not directly over Quemoy, and it appears it
was not a full yield," Sun replied. "I think the rebel forces
on Quemoy are mostly still intact, protected in underground
command centers, garrisons, and marshaling areas. Besides,
our fleet was substantially damaged, morale among the naval
forces is low because of the ferocity of the stealth bomber
attacks, our ground forces are not ready, and the Americans
are on the alert. No, we cannot press the attack now. We have
no choice but to withdraw."
Chin shook his head, totally confused. Minister Chi asked,
"So what happens now, Admiral? We do not fight, we do not
attack. The Paramount Leader's directive is no more. What are
we left with, comrade?"
"Sir, we have proven that the United States committed an
act of war upon the People's Republic of China by firing anti-
ship missiles at our ships-this may be our most potent
weapon against the influence of the Americans in our region,"
Sun said. "We have shown that the Americans are terrorists,
that they will stop at nothing, break any law, to advance their
dgenda. This undeclared war, this illegal attack against our
battle group, combined with their illegal overflight of our air-
space without permission by an armed combat aircraft during
the Iranian conflict, deserves immediate world condemnation!
China has long been criticized, even ostracized, in the eyes of
the world for our perceived human rights record-tell me, sir,
how do you think the United States will be regarded in the
eyes of the world when they are proven to be the greatest
terrorist nation ever to exist in the history of the planet?"
188 DALE BROWN
To General Chin's surprise, Minister Chi was quiet-which
was in effect an endorsement of Sun's actions. The tide was
turning here, Chin thought-it might be best not to complain
too loudly. But Sun Ji Guorning had clearly overstepped his
authority and usurped the rank and office of the Chief of Staff
of the Liberation Army, and he had to be removed from office
as soon as possible. "You claim that a B-52 bomber shot down
three Su-33 fighters, the best combat aircraft in our air army?"
Chin asked derisively. "Impossible."
"That is the pilot's report, sir," Sun said excitedly. "The
third pilot radioed details of the attacks just before he began
his counterattack. The Sukhoi pilots are the best pilots in the
air army; I believe their statement. It is too implausible to be
anything but the truth."
"That is your criterion for judging the validity of this re-
port-that it is too unbelievable to be a false or inaccurate
report?" Chin exploded. "Have you gone insane, Sun?"
"Sir, Comrade Minister, we have seen intelligence reports
on this aircraft from Russian sources," Sun said. "It was sup-
posedly used in the conflict between Lithuania and Belarus.
Our own analysts claim that these modified planes may have
been used against us in our conflict in the Philippines-the
planes we assumed to be standard B-52G or-H bombers could
have been these planes-"
"Enough," Chin shouted. -You are too incompetent to
wear those stars, Sun. You are a disgrace to the uniform and
to your entire lineage."
"Wait, Comrade General," Minister of Defense Chi inter-
jected in a low, gravelly voice. "I wish to hear more." Then,
to Chin himself, he added, "And I wish to hear more from
you about what you intend to offer as a response to the Central
Military Commission."
"Very well, sir," Chin said. "Sun, you are dismissed-"
"I said, Sun shall stay!" Chi shouted.
Chin stood at attention and lowered his eyes as a sign of
respect and obedience, but he was obviously seething over the
fact that Chi Haotian was not giving him free rein in disci-
plining his subordinates. "Comrade Minister, there should be
no discussion here over the fate of this insolent pup," General
Chin said, keeping his voice respectful although he was fight-
ing mad. "Sir, we could very well be facing nuclear war with
the West because of this one unauthorized, ill-conceived, su-
FATAL T E R RAI N 189
icidal mission. It is only proper that Admiral Sun should not
just be stripped of his position and rank and removed from the
People's Liberation Army, but possibl
y imprisoned for life, for
what he has done-"
"You seem to prefer doing battle with your subordinates
rather than doing battle with the enemy, Comrade General,"
a voice said behind Chin. The chief of staff turned-and saw
President Jiang Zemin himself enter the minister of defense's
office, flanked by his bodyguards. General Chin shot to his
feet in surprise; Chi and Sun snapped to attention and bowed
respectfully. Chin Po Zihong was staring dumbfounded into
the Paramount Leader's eyes. "So. Do you now wish to do
battle with me, Comrade General?"
Chin quickly snapped out of his shock, realized what he
was doing, and bowed deeply, keeping his eyes averted. "For-
give me, Comrade President," the general said. "I ... I was
not informed that you would be attending this meeting."
"No one appears to be informing you of anything these
days, Comrade General," Jiang said with uncharacteristic sar-
casm. He took a seat at Chi's desk and sat stiffly, regarding
General Chin for several long moments. "The People's Lib-
eration Army has suffered one of its most embarrassing, one
of its most humiliating moments in it's history today, General
Chin Po Zihong. Wire services around the world are already
reporting it; the presidents of most of the world's industrial
nations have called me, demanding an explanation. Speak."
"Comrade President," Chin began, "my staff has just now
informed me that there is evidence that an American stealth
warplane was assisting the rebel craft, and that it was the
Americans who attacked one of our destroyers and then shot
down three of our fighter jets sent to monitor the-"
"Admiral Sun has already given me the details," Jiang said.
Chin could not help but shoot a deadly glare at Sun for going
over his head and reporting directly to the minister of defense
and the president. "And do not think," Jiang added, "that
Comrade Sun violated the chain of command-because I or-
dered him to take the initiative in case the Americans should
try to interfere with our plans to occupy Quemoy Dao."
"You ... you ordered him to act on his own, without my
