“Mr. President, a week would be critically a minimum. The longer lead time, the better job we can do of coordinating, stock piling, mobilizing, and so on. The downside is that the longer we wait, the greater the chance of a leak or somebody figuring out where we are going and when. God knows how good the Chinese intelligence network is. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a bug in this office.”
“Could you do it disjointed, a little piece at a time, sneak up on it so to speak, so no one could put it together, General Craig?”
“Possibly, Mr. President, but that entails some risk as well. The major risk is the same, that of loss of surprise. Once committed, we can’t back out. We have no missile defense, and if those missiles are launched and get through General Shelton’s fighters, God help us all. If the biological agents aren’t destroyed in the heat and blast of being shot down, they could easily spread over Central America and Mexico. Transmissible agents dispersed there would be here in one or two weeks under such an occurrence. That would give us a little time to prepare, but not much. Our preparations probably wouldn’t be successful anyway without shutting down our entire southern border to include all incoming shipping. It would be almost the same thing.”
“Carolyn, what about vaccines for these agents?”
“Mr. President, we have to have the agent first, to study its genetic makeup. We have to know where the parts of the organism are that invoke an immunological response that will be protective. These immunological parts of the molecular surface of the organism are called epitopes, and it requires experimentation to determine which are the appropriate ones. Then there is the problem of manufacturing on a grand scale, enough for everyone in the country. That doesn’t include distribution and inoculation of the citizenry. That alone could take weeks. Remember that we have been looking for a vaccine for AIDS for more than thirty years without success. Many of the vaccines we have today aren’t all that good either. 70% efficacy is considered a standard. With a highly pathogenic and virulent agent, we would still lose a lot of vaccinated folks with a vaccine that was only 70% efficacious. Therefore, if this operation goes down, we have to be one hundred percent sure those missiles are never launched.”
“Jim, is there any way we can be absolutely certain those missiles will never be launched?”
“Yes, sir, Mr. President. We can take them out with small tactical nuclear weapons in a complete surprise attack, launched from multiple sites. That is a 99% plus. Only thing is, the geologists wonder what kind of effect that would have on the geological faults in the area, and if there would be a shift in the tectonic plates as a result of that. That is why we didn’t use nukes to build another Panama Canal in another country when we surrendered the Canal to the Panamanians. It is still a valid concern. It could set off a chain of very severe earthquakes. One just might slide California into the Pacific Ocean. Still, if we used small enough nukes, we could probably get away with it, especially if they were tailored for an electromagnetic pulse that would screw up their guidance and control systems.”
“We won’t respond with nuclear weapons. That’s out. So, it becomes more critical as the Chinese armies close in on Iran and the Caspian Sea Basin. Jim, you and your folks review all your plans. Fill in any gaps, revise it, get started doing it, piece meal it; get the units started in training, practice, stockpiling, moving around, as routine training exercises. Nobody is to know the overall plan until the very last minute. We won’t wait to see what happens. We will be ready to move if and when the time comes. We’ll see how much time those Pakhtuns buy us, how well they practice badal, their code of revenge, on the Chinese.
“Either we go with this operation or surrender our place as the number one power on the world stage and let China dictate its policies to us, even in this hemisphere. We must weigh the risks and decide. If we launch this operation and fail, we could lose tens of millions of American citizens. Alternatively, if we fail to act, or this operation fails, then there will be no one left in the world to stand against them. Europe could never get its act together to do so. There isn’t time, even if they could work together for a change. Under those circumstances, the Mongols wouldn’t have to stop in the Middle East, Russia, and the Balkans or at the gates of Vienna like the Ottomans. All of the world will be open to them. They won’t have to invade in order to control. They could do it through intimidation, coercion, threat of nuclear or biological war, through control of the sea lanes of communication at critical passages such as the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, the Straits of Malacca, the Straits of Hormuz and world trade. They could dominate the remaining world sources of raw materials. Maybe the biblical description in the Book of Revelation in Chapters Nine and Sixteen might just come to pass, literally, after all. Does anyone see this final scenario any differently?”
Chan visited the Mexican restaurant where Miguel worked. Miguel motioned Chan to the back room with a nod of his head. Chan nodded affirmatively and followed Miguel to the rear room. “Where are your friends today, Señor Ito?” inquired Miguel.
“They are on vacation. I will be dining by myself for a while. I’ll have the big burrito today, with a cold beer, and a beef and bean taco as well, thank you, Miguel.”
Miguel nodded and departed. In ten minutes, he returned with Chan’s order and a frosted bottle of Michelob. After serving Chan, Miguel pulled a chair out and sat down, to the surprise of Chan. “I think we might have a little business to conduct, Señor Ito, if indeed that is your name. I know you are supposed to be a middle level clerk in COSCO, but we both know that is not the truth, don’t we, Mr. Ito?”
“What is it you want, Miguel?”
“You were behind, or had some part in those raids across the border that attacked those towns in Texas and Arizona. You had some role in that. Those trucks and vans that we supplied you with were seized in the raid. They are being traced to my people. We don’t like that. The FBI has many resources, and many tongues might wag.
It could take much to ensure that no one talks, Mr. Ito. Should I continue to call you that? I know you are not the Japanese citizen that you pretend to be. I know that you are a Chinese citizen, almost certainly a Chinese operative or spy. You must be someone special to be accompanied by two bodyguards most of the time. Something must have happened, or they would be with you now. My friends in the police department have identified one of your guards as an individual wanted for murder. That murder has ignited the enmity of some of the other forces in the area. Surely you do not wish to engage them in any altercations. It seems to me that now you have two forces to contend with: the FBI and the Russians. Which is worse?”
Chan continued eating and took a sip of his beer. “Again, what do you wish of me, Miguel?”
“My people are being questioned by the FBI. I think five hundred American dollars for each of them would ensure their silence. They will each claim that the vehicle was sold, but they did not complete the paperwork, or that they were afraid to go to the police to report it stolen, or that they loaned it to a relative who left the area with it, or some other such thing. There are over thirty people involved, none of which wish to go to jail. Wouldn’t you think fifteen thousand dollars is a modest price to purchase their silence?”
“Yes, Miguel, I do. I will speak to my superiors. I must be careful with my contacts. It will take several days to have an answer for you. Do not be impatient. I am sure that some reconciliation can be reached.”
Thank you, Señor Ito, I knew you would understand.” Miguel dismissed himself with a smile on his face. That night, as he left the restaurant, a 64-grain bullet from a silenced Ruger Mini-14 found its way into Miguel’s brain.
Chapter 33
“Secretary Talbott is here with a letter from the Chinese ambassador, Mr. President.”
“Fine, send her in, Peggy.” Marge Talbott came in with a drained look on her face, something between a frown and a scowl.
“Well, what did our yellow brethren bequeath upon us this time, Marge?”
“The Chinese ambassador Kuan Sheng delivered a nice little letter to us earlier this morning, Mr. President. I made several copies for my own office, but I have the original here for your eyes. It isn’t very nice.” She handed Jason Thornton a single sheet of paper with the Chinese government’s letterhead. It was signed by the Prime Minister of China.
Dear President Thornton:
For decades the renegade providence of Taiwan has acted as an independent political entity. This situation can no longer be tolerated. It is time that the Province of Taiwan became incorporated into the nation of the People’s Republic of China.
It is in the best interest of all concerned that this integration be accomplished in a peaceful and constructive manner. If it is necessary to bring Taiwan into the People’s Republic of China by the use of force, then that is the method that will be used. Let us hope that it is not so. In this regard, interference by outside forces will not be tolerated.
No doubt you would consider it a declaration of war if a foreign power from halfway around the world came to the aid of the state of California if it declared its independence and seceded from the United States. The People’s Republic of China regards Taiwan in the same light. We are certain that you and the people of the United States understand and will not interfere. We will defend Taiwan as a part of the People’s Republic of China.
As of this morning, we have informed those inhabiting the Island of Formosa that they are, indeed, part of one China and that we will integrate them in all respects into our nation in the immediate future. Letters similar to this one have been sent to the governments of Japan and Russia to inform them of our decision.
Respectfully,
Sung, Chiang
Prime Minister
People’s Republic of China
“Swell letter Sung writes,” stated Thornton sarcastically. He leaned forward to switch his intercom button. “Peggy, call a meeting of the National Security Council in one hour. Invite everybody. We have some late breaking news here.” He leaned back in his chair and looked at Marge Talbott. “What did he say with his body language, Marge? Was he happy, morose or the usual inscrutable Chinaman?”
Marge Talbott grinned at her boss. “He was the usual inscrutable Chinaman, Mr. President. I couldn’t tell how he personally felt about it. I suspect, however, he was dancing a jig inside.”
When the appropriate departmental secretaries and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived, Peggy Parsons passed around copies of the letter from Sung.
After reading it, all of them looked at the President and waited.
“Well, people, is this an objective of theirs, or is it a diversion from another objective? Opinions? Marge, as Secretary of State, you first.”
“Mr. President, I do believe it to be a diversion from a real objective of the Caspian Sea basin and perhaps the Middle East. They haven’t formed any more armies of which I am aware along their eastern seaboard. Such armies would be absolutely essential unless Taiwan agreed to unconditional surrender. I have had no such reply from the government of Taiwan when I queried them on receipt of this letter. I think Taiwan will fight, and China knows it. The Chinese won’t risk war on two fronts, in my opinion. Then, too, they know that Taiwan will hurt them. There could be some truth to the rumors that the Taiwanese have acquired a number of nuclear warheads that formerly belonged to the Soviet Union. At that short range, Taiwan couldn’t miss.”
“Ed?”
“I concur with Secretary Talbott, Mr. President, for the same reasons, and more. Caspian Sea oil and the Middle East are far more important targets. World energy consumption, demand for energy, is increasing close to 50% between now and the year 2050. No doubt about that. Both India and China were really consuming the energy until the war. The Chinese have to have greater amounts of raw materials, especially oil and natural gas. They are burning tremendous amounts of coal to generate electricity right now. Consequently, many of their eastern cities are so polluted that it is almost dark until mid-morning, or sometimes noon in a few of them. You would think a sandstorm blew in from the desert. It is not healthy to breathe the air in China.
“They can’t sustain their current employment without a greater abundance of raw materials, particularly energy, at lower rates than they are now paying. Another point is that all of their coastal cities are easily within the range and accuracy of missiles from Taiwan. We know Taiwan has secretly built intermediate range missiles with nuclear warhead capability. No doubt China knows this as well. I don’t know if the Chinese know that the previous administration gave small nuclear warheads to Taiwan or that they acquired some from the former Soviet Union. Although these missiles have never been tested by firing one, there is no reason to believe they won’t be highly functional and accurate. Neither have we observed any concentration of Chinese air forces along their coast. That would be essential for an invasion of Taiwan.”
