The Devil's Playground

by Michael Reagan

sensitive," replied the PPS before continuing with a full briefing with regard to other Ashley business networks.

  "That is why the Americans are deserting us?" Okazaki said, seeing demons in every corner.

  "The Gulf States are seeking to find a new partner and have told the Americans to step back."

  "Do they think really think I will allow this to happen?" he raved not quite believing that Japan's key trading partners were seeking to replace him.

  "Get me Katamaya-San," he said knowing he needed a meeting with the Iron Triangle to shore up his support before he ordered the arrest of Hayashi, for the former Foreign Minister was respected and considered a wise head.

  The PPS immediately picked up the phone and dialed the number for the Yazuka Lord.

  The Prime Minister looked on while waiting to be connected.

  "What do you mean Yorijo-San is not available!" questioned the PPS.

  Already in a fury the Prime Minister snatched the phone from the man.

  "This the Prime Minister, contact me to Katamaya-San immediately," he demanded.

  The woman's voice at the other end didn't waver.

  "Shushou, I am afraid that Yorijo-San has left orders not to be disturbed while he meditates," she calmly said using Okazaki's formal title.

  "Meditates!"

  Insulted Okazaki threw the phone at his PPS.

  "Get me Seijo Tsunoda!" he ordered the terrified man, this time referring to loyal underboss of the Inagawa-Kai, a competitor to Katamaya's Yazuka gang and who always carried out his enforcement tasks and never meditated.

  Since the attack on Korea's defenses and it had to be said against his better judgment, Hong had not ordered a military response to the Japanese attack on their air force because he had been persuaded, or rather strong armed would be a better word for it, by the International Community that he not he should not do so because as far as the world was concerned Korea was responsible for attack and virtual complete destruction of Japan's energy infrastructure by its covert measures, despite his and his government's denials otherwise.

  Led by the Americans and the European Union, they had made it crystal clear to him that if he did respond then they would be left with no option but to impose harsh economic penalties, something Hong had been told by his Finance Minister would bankrupt Korea.

  Hong had never felt powerless in his life. The protests in the streets by sections of the anti-Japanese factions calling him weak only added to this sense of frustration.

  The update by his Vice President after a rather frosty greeting though had improved his mood greatly because O had confirmed the Chinese and Russians were prepared to stand with them side by side.

  "This is excellent news," answered Hong, his mind already preparing mentally to give the Korean Navy permission to sink Japanese shipping only to have his mood right back in the dumps when the words, "I have been working on a secret peace plan with the Chinese, Americans, and the Russians," knocked him completely off his warmongering perch.

  Angrily Hong responded, "You have no mandate to do so."

  The words that quickly followed out of the smooth tongue of O for the next thirty minutes when he asked him and he granted him permission to present his case had convinced him fully that in fact his Vice President truly did have his best interests at heart, not to mention the protection of Korea's position in the world.

  "It is a bold plan," announced Hong thoroughly impressed. "But it still relies on your friends being able to remove the 'Monkey' from office," he said, using the insulting nickname of Okazaki.

  O smiled at him.

  "That should be completed in the next twenty-four hours once the Iron Triangle key leadership meets."

  Hong nodded. He knew the power of the Triangle was absolute in Japan.

  "We still need to get something out of this other than our islands back," Hong stated looking for more political capital to pacify his people. "What about reparations? After all we have lost eighty percent of our air force."

  "And they have lost their infrastructure," replied O as a counterpoint.

  Hong and O debated the pros and cons of such a demand then agreed that reparations should be sought but would be worked out at the negotiation table. The most important objective at the moment was reaching a ceasefire.

  What his Vice President suggested next though was something that completely caught Hong by surprise.

  "The removal of American troops from our homeland will punish the Americans for not supporting us and going to the aid of Japan against China," O said without emotion. Hong in contrast blanched.

  "Parker will never agree to that, it's against the reunification treaty!"

  O though refused to back down to him and continued to make valid arguments stating factors that due to China's consistent rise, continued market growth and the fact that Korea was now more dependent on China's economy than that of Japan or even America. It made sense for Korea now to manage its security jointly with China through a strategic cooperative partnership.

  "The Korean public as a whole tends to favor the diplomatic strategy of managing both bilateral relationships harmoniously," stated O.

  "I know!" countered Hong angrily. "But it also believes that it's against the national interest to promote one relationship at the expense of the other."

  "Unfortunately we have reached a point where this is no longer possible," replied O. "The Americans have made this happen by their failure to find an ideal balance and their decision to commit themselves to the protection of Japanese Islands over that of the Korean Peninsula. Seeking to continue the security cooperation with the United States will lose you power. It is a historical relic that is treated it as a remnant of the Cold War system."

  Hong acknowledged the argument of his Vice President with a nod. He had always believed that the relationship was a "value alliance" based on shared political, economic, and cultural principles even he could bitterly see that was no longer the case.

  He pondered for a few moments. Then made a decision.

  "Let us call President Parker together," he said.

  48

  Tokyo

  The second Yuto Hayashi had agreed to become the "voice of reason," Igor knew the man would become a target. Despite his objections, he had agreed to going into hiding until word had been received by Katamaya that he had convinced the Iron Triangle to allow him an audience, which was why the former Foreign Minister and the Fixer were now installed in a safe house just outside Tokyo that was operated by the SVR and guarded by the Zaslon commander's team listening to yet another probe by the Englishman as to his background.

  Igor smiled but again didn't comment. Thomas and Mikhail had warned him that Rob was a diplomat with a special set of skills who stored everything away and forget nothing. Having spent the last couple of days with him he could see Thomas was right in that observation.

  Rob had all the skills that an interrogator from the Military Intelligence Directorate of Assad's Syria would have been proud of. He missed nothing and in relaxed manner talked about everything and nothing. Intelligent and perceptive while appearing charming would best sum him up. The fact that he had even picked up on the fact that Igor had once served in Jordan when he used a word that the ten thousand strong exiled Chechen Community used to say "you're welcome" that translated sounds like "mahs-sahr-naah" when Rob had thanked him for passing the soy sauce for his sushi was one such example.

  The buzzing of the CODEX phone interrupted Rob's latest attempt of probing. Seeing it was Thomas, Igor answered it.

  He carefully listened to what Thomas said then wrote down the address and told him that they would meet him at the location in three hour's time before clicking off.

  "Thomas-San?" asked Hayashi, whom Igor had decided he liked for his polite demeanor.

  Igor nodded.

  "The meeting is on. It will be hosted by a man called Seijo Tsunoda," he said.

  "TSUNODA," spat Hayashi uncharacteristically.

  "Is that
bad?" asked Rob.

  "He is a criminal that makes Katamaya look soft in comparison," replied Hayashi with disgust before going on to explain some of his rumored crimes. By the end of the descriptions Rob turned to Igor.

  "I don't suppose I can have one those," he said pointing to the Glock 22 pistol on the desk.

  "I take it you know how to use one?" asked Igor seriously.

  "I know how to point," Rob replied winking.

  Igor rolled his eyes.

  The house phone in his suite at the Grand Hyatt rang as he was getting out from the shower cubicle having just had a cold shower so the hotel could preserve electricity.

  He picked up. The receptionist told him that a Miss Nu and a gentleman were here to see him.

  "Send them up please," Thomas answered without hesitation, his mind fully alert and instantly questioning why Zhang was here in Tokyo.

  Moments later the doorbell to the suite rang. Mikhail opened it with his Glock 22 firmly pointed at the door while Thomas, now dressed in a white heavy dressing robe but still dripping wet so he could provide cover in an aggressive defensive position on the other side, did the same with his own pistol.

  "Hello Mikhail," said Zhang, her green eyes sparkling.

  "Now is that anyway to greet a friend," she teased, kissing him on the cheek. "Please allow me to introduce you to Yuzo Maeda, the Director-General of The Public Security Intelligence Agency of Japan."

  Yuzo Maeda was a pragmatic man when his old friend from the DEA, Sam Dawkins, contacted him and asked him to meet with Rob Ashley and listen to what he had to say. He had been