Invasion: China (Invasion America) (Volume 5) Page 5

  Hong had spoken like that before the disaster at Denver and later at Colorado Springs. The marshals had struck for that reason, winning over the others on the Ruling Committee. Everyone agreed the Army should run the war in a prudent manner. They had all feared that the Chairman’s boldness would lead to the invasion army’s annihilation. Given American disunity and the extent of its problems, the US military had fought much harder and better than anyone had predicted.

  Instead of verbalizing such things, Shun Li said, “The Americans are recovering faster than our analysts had foreseen.”

  “Exactly, exactly,” Hong said. He drummed his fingers on the desk. “Let me tell you a truth. The principal human emotion is envy and second is greed. The rest of the planet hates us for our strength. Such feelings have always been the case. Only terror and fear keep such base emotions in check. Any Chinese setback in America will cause the other nations to rejoice. Worse, they will begin to speak to one another and see if there is a way to pull us down to their level.”

  “Do you mean Russia, Leader?” she asked.

  “Russia, India, Japan—”

  “Japan is our ally,” she said.

  Behind his dark sunglasses, Hong stared at her as his lips thinned in anger, making the edges white.

  Shun Li recognized her mistake. “My surprise made me rude, Leader. Japan is part of the Pan-Asian Alliance. What you said…I beg you to forgive me for interrupting you.”

  “Of course, I grant it,” he said. “You are one of my most important friends. I must inform you, though, that the Japanese are bootlickers by nature until they find a chance to strike. Do not doubt that they bide their time to throw off what they consider as Chinese shackles. It is why I have put them near the bottom of my favored status list.”

  Shun Li nodded as if ingesting great knowledge. “I had wondered at the reason, Leader.”

  Despite the country’s wealth and industrial strength, China faced starvation, as did many other nations. Years of glaciation had taken its toll on world crop yields and reserves. China bought great amounts of foodstuffs on the open market, but it simply wasn’t enough to feed everyone. There were too many mouths. Hong had hit upon an idea—a favored status list for Chinese citizens and for Pan-Asian Alliance countries. Loyalists ate well. Malcontents received just enough to keep the body alive.

  Starving people were weak people, begging for just a little more to eat. Thus, the poorest and most worthless Chinese—the old, the lame, the sick—received fourth class ration cards. A gradation of cards—third, second and first class—rewarded Party loyalty and usefulness. This scheme effectively divided people into strict castes. All soldiers, sailors and airmen received top-level ration cards, as did government workers and the police. A similar system graded China’s closest allies. Hong liked the Koreans, particularly the former North Koreans. They knew how to obey orders and fight fanatically on the battlefield. The Vietnamese also received first class status. The Japanese were on the bottom. That seemed strange to Shun Li, as they made the best soldiers and workers.

  It appeared to her as if Hong carried old grudges against the Japanese. That was common to many Chinese people. Perhaps Hong believed this was the hour to repay Japan for the Rape of Shanghai and other World War II indignities.

  “Shun Li, I have brought you here to assess your worth to me,” Hong said.

  With all her heart, she tried to appear contrite and faithful.

  “The time nears where I will reassert my control of the Ruling Committee,” he said.

  “I am glad to hear that, Leader.”

  “I would like to believe you mean those words. It is a terrible thing, you know. We lie to each other all the time. You as a secret policewoman know this to be true of people.”

  “I deplore lies.”

  “As do I,” Hong said. “Yet…we have both used deceit to reach our exalted positions. I am afraid—” He smiled. It was a frightful thing. “I do not fear anything. That was a poor choice of words.”

  “I believe you must have spoken them for my benefit, Leader.”

  “How do you mean?” he asked.

  “I realize you do not fear. Your calm has given me strength on more than one occasion. Yet one as exalted as you must become annoyed at other people’s lack of understanding of your genius. You think and talk at a much higher level than the rest of us. I would imagine you use…hmm…‘common phrases’ so that simpler minds can understand you. Thus, you said ‘I fear’ not as to mean fright but to help me understand a higher concept that your mind easily comprehends.”

  Lines appeared in his forehead, and he leaned toward her.

  Was my logic too torturous for him to follow?

  Then a smile stretched his lips. “Yes. I take your meaning. That was well said and thought out. Hmm, in any case, I have stooped to deceit once more in order to bring about a proper order of affairs. I refer to my regaining rule of all military matters, particularly in North America.”

  “This is wonderful news. You are taking over the invasion army again, Leader?”

  “Not quite yet,” Hong said in a soft voice. “Marshal Chao Pin must play out his part first. He will suffer defeat in Oklahoma. Of this, I am certain. America has deployed mass again, as they used to in the twentieth century, and their THOR missiles and other technological marvels will trump Chao Pin’s feeble dispositions. Our merchant marine simply cannot ship enough materiel to the front lines fast enough to offset American expansion.”

  “This is terrible news.”

  “No. This is what we need.”

  “It is?” Shun Li asked.

  “Chao Pin and his lap dogs have poisoned the soldiers’ minds against me. Fighting men are like children, easily swayed by the wrong people. I have decided therefore to employ a ruse of deeper cunning than Sun Tzu could have penned in his ancient treatise, The Art of War.”

  “I am glad to hear this is so, Leader.”

  Chairman Hong straightened and slapped the desk. “Shun Li, I have made my decision. You will be my hand in this.”

  Relief flooded through her, and she said in a ringing voice, “I will do whatever you command.”

  “Attend to my words word closely, for this is critical. Despite his supposedly defensive brilliance, Chao Pin’s deployments will fail. The Americans have too many Behemoth tanks. My experts believe the Americans will create a massive hole in our lines and pour through, surrounding and devouring our armies in Oklahoma as they did in Colorado.”

  “Doesn’t Chao Pin see this danger?”

  “He seeks to bring more laser tanks and greater numbers of T-66s to America. But the enemy’s submarines sink too many transports. No. I will stake my reputation on this…although it will only be between you and me that I do this.”

  “Yes, Leader,” she said.

  “If I am wrong, you will never speak of word of this to anyone.”

  If he’s wrong, he’ll kill me. “May I ask a question, Leader?”

  “Please do.”

  “How does a Chinese defeat in Oklahoma help us? I mean, help you, Leader?”

  A shark’s smile spread across his face. “I have borrowed your cleverest people and this without your knowledge. It is how I know you are only a good policewoman and not a great one. They have smuggled short-range nuclear missiles into northern Mexico for my purposes. No one knows about these missiles but for you, me and the selected East Lightning border formations.”

  “Leader?” she whispered.

  “This is interesting,” Hong said. “I can smell the fear oozing onto your skin. Why do so many people wilt at the mention of nuclear weapons?”

  Because of radioactive fallout and end-of-the-world scenarios, Shun Li thought.

  “The Americans have used nuclear weapons before,” he said. “I refer to the Arctic shelf ice attack against us in 2032 and the Santa Cruz bombing in 2039 and finally in the Atlantic Ocean in 2040 when they destroyed the German amphibious fleet closing in on the New Jersey shore.”

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p; “We have used nuclear depth charges,” Shun Li pointed out.

  “As we should!” he said.

  “Yes, yes, I completely agree.”

  “No. You say that out of fear.”

  She hesitated before nodding. “You are always right, Leader. I do fear nuclear weapons. I am afraid I lack your strength of will.”

  He sighed. “That is why I must rule China. Only I have the resolve to take the steps needed. In terms of my breadth of vision, I am a giant. I see far over everyone else’s head. Believe me when I say that the Americans will storm through the breach in Oklahoma. At that critical point, I will unleash the nuclear warheads and obliterate their carefully gathered armor. I will seal the breach by inflicting a massive defeat against American arms.”

  “Won’t the Americans retaliate with nuclear weapons?”

  “Let them. We have the ability to absorb staggering losses. They do not. Thus, they will wilt before us.”

  Strength oozed from Shun Li so it felt as if her head became too heavy to hold up. This was terrible news. So far, neither side had used nuclear weapons on the land battlefields, although the Americans did destroy one of their own ports as the Chinese invaded there. The Chairman had already referred to it: Santa Cruz in northern California in the first days of the war. The attack nearly drove Hong mad with a desire for revenge. This latest idea—was it a delayed reaction to Santa Cruz? Each time someone used nuclear weapons, she feared it brought the world that much closer to the dreaded holocaust. Yet she couldn’t dwell on that now.

  Another thing bothered her about this. “There’s something I don’t understand. If we’re going to use nuclear missiles in Oklahoma, why don’t we strike first? Let us smash enemy concentrations and advance against them.”

  “You surprise me with such a simple question.”

  “Forgive me, but I am no military strategist, merely a simple policewoman. I’m thinking of our soldiers, Leader. Don’t we need as many of them as possible?”

  “My plan entails several facets. First, the Americans have tac-lasers just as we do. For our rockets to hit en masse, the enemy must move beyond their antimissile belts. My experts inform me that American commanders believe in exploitation drives deep into enemy territory. Once they break through, American armor will lunge ahead of their antimissile defenses. That is the moment we can annihilate them with nuclear warheads.”

  “Ah.”

  “Second, the nuclear attack used at my discretion and timing, will help to destroy Chao Pin’s credibility. With the American breakthrough, he will have failed China and the invasion army. I will save everyone from his blunder in such a way that everyone will understand my wisdom and his foolishness.”

  “Yes, that makes sense,” Shun Li forced herself to say.

  “Afterward, Chao Pin will die in order to pay for his insolence.”

  Shun Li almost frowned in disbelief. If Hong thought unleashing nuclear war in Oklahoma and Texas would turn the military against Chao Pin…

  “I see your doubts,” Hong said. “Firstly, I must admit that the marshal is wise to keep my guardsmen away from the Ruling Committee meetings. His officers flank my Lion Guardsmen man for man in Mao Square during the sessions. In other words, we have a standoff. During the meetings is the only time he’s truly vulnerable. Therefore, that is the place to strike. Secondly, you must realize that people act like sheep.”

  “Yes, Leader.”

  “They need someone to follow. Once I unleash the nuclear holocaust on the American military, you will perform your task for China. Shock in the meeting chamber will allow you the opportunity.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “You carry a service pistol with you at all times, do you not?”

  “I do,” she whispered.

  “Yes. The day the others on the Ruling Committee realize Chao Pin has failed China is the day you will draw your gun and shoot him down like a mad dog.”

  Disbelief caused Shun Li’s mouth to drop open.

  “China will call upon you,” Hong said. “You will act—”

  “If I shoot Marshal Chao Pin,” she said, “the Army will demand my death.”

  “Not so—for you will unleash East Lightning upon the traitors, killing everyone backing Chao Pin. Starting today, you will begin to choose special squads, your most trusted killers. I will provide you with a target list. You will use your best operatives to study their habits, deciding on the best locations to liquidate each. After you slay Chao Pin, you will help me purge the Army. Once my grip has become firm again over the military…then we will prosecute the war in such a way as to win.”

  “Yes, Leader,” Shun Li said, forcing wondering admiration into her voice. This could turn into a disaster.

  “Yes indeed,” Hong said. “But to achieve this masterpiece, we must work extraordinarily hard and with supreme cunning.”

  Shun Li gazed at Hong, barely managing to suppress a shudder. It was possible he was quite mad. Yet she also realized that he had a rare gift at intrigue and at striking from out of the blue. In this regard, his madness was strength. One thing bothered her, though. How could he be so sure that Chinese arms would shatter before the American onslaught? Did he plan some secret treachery to ensure such a thing?

  Yes, of course he does. She did shudder then. Hong would do anything for power. In that regard, the man lacked a soul. I dearly hope his plan does not bring about the end of the world.

  Then she sat forward, listening as the Chairman went into detail concerning his grand idea.

  COMMANDO TRAINING BASE, KANSAS

  Master Sergeant Paul Kavanagh wondered what he’d gotten himself into this time.

  He wore the latest American commando gear with a high-tech Chinese jetpack strapped to his back. It was a marriage of convenience, one his team had been practicing with for several months already.

  Paul stood in the open bay door of an ancient Chinook helicopter. The monster hovered in the stratosphere—at least he sure felt like it did. By craning his neck, Paul peered outside. The ground was far away in the hazy distance.

  He’d never been crazy about jumping out of anything. Heights made him woozy. He had to concentrate to focus his eyes.

  Take it easy. This isn’t any big deal.

  Within his enclosed helmet, Paul grinned tightly. Whenever he said something wasn’t a big deal that meant it was huge. Several weeks ago, he’d told the slick loan officer and part-time Militia member the same thing. The man must have lifted plenty of weights and likely injected himself with steroids. Mr. Templeton had muscles, ones he enjoyed flexing, his biceps and pectorals particularly. The more Paul explained the facts of life to the guy, the twitchier he’d become. Maybe the loan officer had thought of himself as Mr. America and wanted to oil up. In the end, the no-big-deal talk had turned into a fight, as Paul had known it would.

  I wonder if he’s out of the hospital yet. At least he can’t bother Cheri anymore.

  Paul looked out of the Chinook again, forcing himself to focus on the distant target. This was crazy. Why had he volunteered for this again?

  Even though he was a Recon Marine, he belonged to SOCOM, the special operations arm of the US military. Most of the war, he’d been behind enemy lines in a Long Range Surveillance Unit or LRSU. He was still going to go behind enemy lines, but this time as a shock commando to take out enemy headquarters.

  He knew himself well enough to know that he didn’t belong in a line company. He had a special ops mentality, liking to do things his way. Unfortunately, at his age, the long-distance conditioning had finally begun to wear him down. LRSU teams did a lot of fast trekking from one place to the other. These days, he was ready to ride into battle. Besides, by joining an experimental unit, he figured to save himself from fighting all the time. He was tired of killing, of seeing blood and guts and listening to young men scream. His boy Mikey would be their age soon. He didn’t like to think of some Chinese killer stalking his boy and doing to him what Paul did to the invaders.

>   “Jump in two minutes,” the colonel said over the battle-net.

  Paul’s throat tightened. They had jumped before, but not from this high up.

  The Chinese had developed a rugged jetpack, with enough fuel for several minutes of flight time. Instead of building their own jetpacks, US engineers had scoured various battlefields and stripped the dead Chinese of theirs. Afterward, the techs fidgeted with the packs, improving the machines. The straight Chinese model demanded precision execution from its soldier. The upgraded pack used computer-assisted, stabilized flight. You could make more mistakes with the American-modified pack and still survive. That was the theory anyway. In practice, jetpack flying took intense concentration no matter which model you used.

  One thing was clear. A flyer in the air made an easy target. After plenty of tests, US doctrine told the soldier to get down fast. Fight from the ground, not while hanging up there trying to do two things at once: flying and firing. The jetpack provided extra mobility, kind of like an armored personal carrier bringing soldiers to the battlefield, but without the armored protection of an APC.

  The battlesuit Paul wore was the second partner in the marriage. It had several parameters. One, the suit had various computers, giving the commando greater situational awareness, linkage with headquarters and his fellow soldiers. The computers also helped the wearer target his weapons better. Body armor was vital to the suit. Like the medieval plate a knight used to wear, Paul had a complete outer shell of Kevlar and other fiber-ceramic protection. With the suit’s filters, he could supposedly live through chemical, biological and nuclear warzones—for a few hours anyway. The helmet’s inner visor gave him a HUD, but the suit lacked any integral weapons systems. He had to carry those, the latest assault rifle, grenade launcher, air-dart tube and a satchel charge to open any enemy bunker.

  “Ten seconds,” the colonel said over the headphones.

  A tap on Paul’s shoulder caused him to turn. A commando in a full battlesuit stared at him. With a whirr, the faceplate lifted. His best friend Romo stared out at him.