Invasion: China (Invasion America) (Volume 5) (52 page)

He unleashed nuclear war, now he wants to use biological agents against the Americans
.

Shun Li
froze in deep thought. These past few years had been bad enough. What would the situation be like ten years from now? Would she be alive ten years from now if Hong ruled? That was the deepest question of all.

WASHINGTON, DC

1
2 August 2042

Strategic Conference, 10.32 A.M.

Participants
: Harold, Alan, McGraw, Levin, Caliato (Director of Industry), Danner (Air Marshal, Strategic Air Command).

HAROLD: The situation appears to be bleak.

ALAN: I’d call it desperate for us.

MCGRAW: I disagree. We’re close to capturing Shenyang—

ALAN: No! Wrong! Incorrect! Our soldiers can see the skyscrapers, but they will never enter the city. Can you imagine the bloodbath? The Chinese have armed the population. Going into Shenyang will destroy
our army body by bloody corpse.

MCGRAW: Then we’ll maneuver around Shenyang and
isolate it, starving the place to death.

ALAN: As we’ve starved Changchun?

MCGRAW: Have you even read the reports? The people in Changchun are eating rats and shoe leather, just as the Russians did during the siege of Leningrad during World War II.

ALAN: We’re murdering their people—

MCGRAW: As they murdered us. Payback is always hard, Chairman.

HAROLD: Gentlemen, please, this won’t get us anywhere.

ALAN: (To McGraw.) Do you realize how many soldiers it will tie down to guard Shenyang? We’re talking three hundred thousand, at least. In time, we’re going to have to take the cities.”

MCGRAW:
I understand your implications. Well, Genghis Khan defeated China, and he had far fewer soldiers than we do.

ALAN: Genghis Khan was also one of the greatest butchers
of history. Do you really want to be like him?

MCGRAW: I want the Chinese to rue the day they ever decided to attack my country. I’m from Texas, and I want to make sure such an invasion never happens again.
I’ll make sure by killing the bastards who started it.

LEVIN:
Maybe it’s time to talk peace. I’ve heard rumors that Premier Konev is considering a withdrawal from Manchuria and Mongolia.

HAROLD: How reliable are these rumors?

LEVIN: I’m looking into it, sir.

HAROLD: I’ve heard nothing of this.

LEVIN: As we know, Konev keeps his cards close to the vest.

HAROLD: That’s true.

ALAN: This is terrible news. What happens if Konev backs out? I’ll tell you. Our Expeditionary Force would be finished. We’d have to retreat with him. Then we’re back to square one, with the Chinese as embedded as ever in Mexico.

HAROLD:
This is bitter news, if true. I thought Konev had more heart than that.

LEVIN: He seeks Russia’s glory and his own. This conventional assault on China…it will ruin both
our countries. The latest Chinese offensive in Inner Mongolia has demoralized those around Konev. That much I know. His military chiefs might feel otherwise.

HAROLD: The Chinese proved tougher than I expected. I’ll admit that. Their best units—almost five million strong—are far away in Mexico. They were thin everywhere
else, and Konev made them pay for it in Kazakhstan and Siberia. These past months have given our combined arms amazing and seemingly decisive victories. Yet still Hong throws more and more soldiers into the fray against us.

MCGRAW: I still think he’s bluffing. Hard offensives now from the Russians and us will—

ALAN: I completely disagree with you, General.

MCGRAW: Maybe it’s time you grew a pair, Chairman.

HAROLD: Gentlemen, please. That gets us nowhere.

LEVIN: What do you suggest we do, Director?

HAROLD: It has been my dream for several years now to pay back Chairman Hong and China in the same coin they have used against America.

LEVIN:
Are you talking about a nuclear strike?

HAROLD: Precisely.

LEVIN: Do you mean a strategic attack then?

HAROLD: Not if there is another method available.

LEVIN: I doubt the Chinese are open to a cruise missile strike as they used against us.

HAROLD:
I’m thinking about
precision
nuclear strikes in order to show the Chinese leadership the futility of continuing the war. Either they agree to our terms, or we will flatten their country.

LEVIN: Is such a thing possible? I mean, the Chinese cannot attack us with ICBMs and we cannot attack them with our strategic arsenal. That’s why both side
s have built the expensive ABM sites.

HAROLD: Air Marshal Danner, do you care to comment on that?

DANNER: Theoretically, we can defeat their laser ABM systems. We have experimental hypervelocity missiles. Our tests show that at Mach 18—
LEVIN: We have hypervelocity missiles that can go that fast?

DANNER: A handful of them, yes we do. Our tests show that ABM lasers will not be able to strike the missile’s surface long enough to damage the object. The projectile simply moves too fast for the laser beams to track and touch the missile’s skin long enough to heat it.

LEVIN: This is interesting. (Coughs
discreetly.) I suppose I should admit that the CIA has studied China’s ABM defenses. We’ve heard of your hypervelocity missiles. Lasers won’t stop them, as you suggest, for the reason you stated. Powerful particle beam weapons will, however. China has been shooting down our THOR missiles with them for some time. Our studies show that these strategic PBW sites could destroy the hypervelocity missiles.

DANNER: That is conceivable
, certainly.

LEVIN: (To Director Harold
.) That ends your dream, I’m afraid. China remains shielded against strategic precision nuclear strikes.

HAROLD: That’s not quite true.

LEVIN: What am I missing?

HAROLD: Several things. First, we have the
ability to knock out some of the enemy’s strategic PBW stations.

LEVIN: Not with THOR missiles.

HAROLD: No. With our latest new weapons system.

LEVIN: What is the new system?

HAROLD: General McGraw.

MCGRAW:
I want to begin by saying that I’ve witnessed a nuclear attack’s devastation first hand. It’s terrible, a dirty business, and I hate it. So, even with the Chinese, with their people particularly, I only want to knock out a few cities or industrial centers. If they can see the light after that, we’ll let them surrender. If not—well, the blood will be on their heads.

LEVIN: This is all very mysterious. What new invention have you found to knock out the PB
W stations?

MCGRAW: The Director and I have been engaged in a top secret experiment.
You heard about it a year ago. Now they’re ready.

LEVIN:
They?

MCGRAW:
Yes, the orbital dropping Marines.

LEVIN:
Ah, yes, I remember you mentioning them. How do they help us here exactly?

MCGRAW:
We launch their Orion ships and drop the Marines at key PBW stations. Once the men successfully demolish them, we will have a window of opportunity to launch our hypervelocity nuclear missiles.

LEVIN:
We’d need the hypervelocity missiles in Manchuria, would we not?

MCGRAW:
They’re relatively short-ranged, that’s true. However, we have a number of launchers with our army group. Once the Marines strike, vital areas of China will be at our mercy.

HAROLD: At that point, we can dictate
our terms for peace to the Chinese. One of the main conditions will be no Pan-Asian Alliance soldiers in Mexico.

LEVIN: Hmm…I’m beginning to see
your idea. The THOR missiles gave us tremendous advantages last year. Orbital space is a new battleground. High technology combined with elite soldiers—your plan sounds insane, and yet, I can see how it could work.

HAROLD: It
must
work. I see no other way to drive the Chinese out of Mexico.

LEVIN: I just thought of a problem.

HAROLD: Yes?

LEVIN: The Chinese PB
W stations are able to knock out THOR missiles. Those missiles are little better than guided crowbars coming down like meteors. The kinetic force is their payload.

HAROLD: We’re all familiar with THOR missiles.

LEVIN: Don’t you see the problem? If the PBW stations can destroy these crowbars, these THOR missiles, surely, the particle beams can kill the Marines as they drop from orbit. I imagine the ABM lasers will be able to take them out, too.

MCGRAW:
You’re right, Doctor. Those boys are going to take losses getting down. I don’t think there’s any way around that. But I don’t see we have any choice. The hypervelocity missiles are our best chance of knocking China out of the war.

LEVIN: In other words, this is a huge gamble.
We only have a handful of these hypervelocity missiles.

MCGRAW:
The Chinese won’t know that. Still, if you have a better idea, I’d like to hear it. I dislike the idea of our Marines taking heavy causalities going down, but this is a war to the finish.

LEVIN: Do the
men know how dangerous this is going to be?

MCGRAW: They joined up with their eyes open. I can assure you of that. These men are the best of the best.

LEVIN: I hope you’re telling the truth.

MCGRAW: I’m not used to someone suggesting I’m a liar.

LEVIN: No, I’m sure you’re not. Let me ask you a different question, then. Has the government always told its troops the entire truth about a tough assignment?

HAROLD: You let us worry about that, Doctor.

LEVIN: I have no more questions.

HAROLD: Very well, that’s decided. Now, if you’ll look here…

WASHINGTON, DC

Anna noticed the changes as
she walked through the underground corridor of White House Bunker #5.

There were three checkpoints
now instead of the one upstairs before entering the elevator. The last barrier had several high-tech snoopers to see if anything had been secreted
within
the body.

Iranian suicide bombers had become more sophisticated, undergoing surgery so the explosive was hidden in a person’s gut.
Not that any of them were Iranian agents—that was the excuse, she supposed.

She wondered if Dr. Levin would be here today. Since the one contact
in Macy’s, she hadn’t seen or spoken to him. Another change was that the Marine guards had been replaced with Militia personnel, which she’d noticed months earlier already. The other difference was the
quantity
of security. Many Militia guards lining the corridors and even more stood inside the main chamber.

She blinked with astonishment. The chamber was
packed
with Militia and Army personnel. What event would bring so many people here?

Hmmm, she didn’t see Levin. Did that mean anything?
Had Director Harold uncovered the CIA’s plot? Was that why Harold had summoned her? Did the director toy with her? She didn’t know he had been the one to order her appearance. Her escorts wouldn’t say, but who else had that kind of authority?

Director Harold sat at the President’s former spot
at the circular conference table. His head swayed as he saw her. “What are you doing here?” he asked in a commanding voice.

That scratched her first theory, as fear gripped her at his tone.
It felt as if a strong wind whipped against her. She had to fight to keep from taking a step back, and she squinted as if a gale blew into her face. The director’s bearing had become much more powerful, forceful.

He’s
become
the dictator. He knows he’s in charge and he knows everyone else knows it. He has more confidence, more authority than he has ever exhibited before. He’ll never let David live. Levin was right about that.

As
the director spoke, people turned toward him. He pointed at her. “Guards, take her outside.”

“Wait a minute,” Tom McGraw said
, pushing to the front of the crowd. “She’s here at my request.”

Harold studied the general.
“Why would you do that?” he finally asked.

Anna felt the tension between them. McGraw didn’t kowtow to the director.
The general stood like the big man he was, with several watchdog majors flanking him.

Right
, Anna thought.
Those aren’t really majors. They’re part of McGraw’s security team. It looks like he’s finally getting smart
.

“She’s the expert on the Chinese,” McGraw said, “on Chairman Hong particularly.
I expect tonight is going to be the time we need all the intelligence on him we can get.”

Harold kept his eyes on her as McGraw spoke.
The director went into robot mode, showing nothing that went on in his analytical brain.

“Yes,” Harold said. “She can stay, as long as she doesn’t make a nuisance of herself.”

The door opened, and Dr. Levin walked in. Anna kept her eyebrows from lifting. She recognized the aide with Levin. It was Hicks, the Agency’s wet works specialist. Why would Levin bring Hicks to this kind of meeting? She wondered if anyone else knew who Hicks was. If they had, they’d never have let him in.

“Let’s get settled,” Harold said. “It’s almost time to begin.” He turned to Chairman Alan. “Is the THOR Command Center ready?”

Alan looked up from his monitor. “Yes, Director,” the thin, glasses-wearing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said.

“Is the Air Force in Manchuria ready to strike?”

“It is,” McGraw said.

“
Are the Navy submarines’ Tomahawks set to launch?” Harold asked Admiral O’Hara.

“I’ve put as many as I dared on station off China’s coast,” the admiral said. “
They’re not as numerous as we wanted. As you know, the Chinese have a highly effective coastal waters defensive system and it’s been difficult maneuvering our submarines into position there.”

“I don’t want to hear that tonight,” Harold said.

“I understand,” O’Hara said. “Although I think I should warn you that we might lose whatever submarine launches Tomahawks.”

“
With our inland attack scheme,” McGraw said, “we’re also going to lose most of our Manchurian-based planes and drones—at least those making the deep strikes.”

Harold nodded in an approximation of an easy manner.

It’s an act
, Anna realized.
He’s nervous, more frightened than I’ve ever seen him. Maybe he finally realizes what David went through all these years. The pressure can be debilitating
.

Harold cleared his throat, putting his hand in front of his mouth. He laid the hand on the table and began to speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, these past few years, the Chinese have shown us some tricks. I’m not above learning from anyone if it will help me win. We’re going for the kill tonight. This is victory or bust. We’re holding nothing back. Either we win, or we’re going to lose in China, which will be a massive setback for our country.”

“High stakes,” McGraw said
, with a scowl that put a deep vertical line between his eyebrows. “I don’t like it.”

“I know,” Harold said. “But we have no choice. I believe Dr. Levin’s reports.
Premier Konev has lost his nerve. He’s making moves as if he’s still America’s ally, but I’m sure he’s planning to sell us down the river. We have to strike tonight and win big enough to keep the Russians with us for a while. We have to keep the Premier greedy, thinking he can get a little more. That’s Konev’s weak point.”

I wonder what your weak
point is?
Anna asked herself.

“If our Marines
are successful,” McGraw said, “just how many enemy cities are you willing to atomize?”

The chamber fell silent as every eye fell on Director Harold. He gave them a wintery grin. “General, if I have to, I plan to destroy every city in China
to bring true peace to America.”

“We don’t have enough hypervelocity missiles
to level their country,” McGraw said. “The number is not even close.”

“So very true,” Harold said. “It is the reason I have given the
hypervelocity missile launchers new targets.”

McGraw bristled.
Anna wondered why. Maybe the missiles were under his jurisdiction normally. With those words, the tension built in here. America attacked tonight, but the country’s leaders jockeyed for supreme power among themselves. Alan seemed to have sided with Harold, while McGraw probably had Levin.

“The
hypervelocity missiles will demolish every Chinese ABM laser site they can reach,” Harold said. “I mean to yank China’s pants down around their ankles. If Hong refuses our deal, we’ll launch the ICBMs, and
China will no longer have anything to stop them
.”

“Genocide,” McGraw
whispered.

Harold shook his head. “
No. They’ll still have millions of people left. Tens of millions. This is payback, General, for what the Chinese did to us in Oklahoma. Hmmm, for even
thinking
to invade our country, I will obliterate them. Tonight, one way or another, we destroy China’s power.”

The silence stretched, almost becoming painful.

Harold turned to the communications people. “It’s time. Give the order.”

ORION
LAUNCH SITE, MONTANA

First Sergeant Paul Kavanagh of Second Squad, First Platoon of Third Company, First US Orbital Drop Marine Battalion lay on an acceleration couch. He wore his battlesuit. Romo lay on the couch to his left and Dan French to the one on his right.

This was it. They awaited countdown orders.

I never figured I’d become a space paratrooper.

He
still had his faceplate open. So did everyone else in the compartment, all twelve of them of Second Squad. Each Orion ship carried three hundred and thirty-three effectives, three companies of the most elite soldiers in the world. The vessels were honeycombed with compartments, built to survive the enemy’s defenses in order to bring as many Marines to battle as possible.

“Amigo,” Romo said.

“Yeah?” Paul asked.

“I hope this works.”

“You worried?”

“I am,” Romo
admitted.

“Why would you be worried? They’re only going to light nuclear bombs under our asses
.”

“Ah,” Romo said. “Yes, never mind.
I feel better now.”

“Crazy way to taxi into battle,” Paul said. “But it does have one advantage.”

“What is that?”

“It’s never been done before.”

“Oh,” Romo said. “Yes. That makes me feel even better than before. You are a genius.”

“Why don’t you ladies pipe down?” Dan French asked
from his couch. “This is no worse than exiting a submarine underwater in the freezing Arctic. I’ve done that a hundred times.”

“Si, you
are right,” Romo said. “And no worse than riding a helo across a nuclear wasteland—have you done that?”

“Pfft,” Dan said. “That ain’t nothing. If you want to brag—”

“I leave that to you media hounds—the SEALs,” Romo said.

“Who you calling
hounds
?” Dan asked.

“I do believe—”

A blaring klaxon cut Romo off. After it stopped, the silence seemed to ring in Paul’s ears.

“Seal up, Marines,” the captain said over the intercom. “We’re
launching in a few minutes.”

“Good luck, my friends,” Romo said. “I wish I were home in Mexico.”

“Or Tallahassee,” Dan French said.

For one of the first times in his life, Paul’s words dried up. A feeling of unease struck. Would he ever see his wife again?

He didn’t remember saying “Good luck,” but the faceplate slid closed. As a metal cocoon, he waited.

“One minute to liftoff,” the captain said
in his headphones.

Three Orion ships were about to lift from the United States of America. They
would reach Low Earth Orbit over China. The vessels would have to be going just the right speed at the correct orbital spin to launch them. Then—
“Thirty seconds to liftoff,” the captain said. “It’s going to be rough, gentlemen. But no worries, the greatest technicians in the world built this little thing. The Chinese figured we were down and out. Now they’re going to learn that you might be able to win a few battles against America, but in the end, we’re going to come a
-knocking and give you an old-fashioned ass-whupping.”

Paul couldn’t believe it, but he grinn
ed from ear to ear. The bombastic talk struck a chord in him. In the end, he believed exactly what the captain said.
If you come at me, you might get the first swing. But I’m going to finish it. These Orion ships are the beginning of the end, China. And I’m in on it
.

“Ten,” the captain said. “Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one…America, we have
liftoff.”

BANG!

A powerful nuclear explosion thrust up against the acceleration couch. It slammed with terrific force, threatening to crush Paul’s chest.

BANG!

BANG!

The m
ost powerful propulsion systems known to humanity lifted the massive Orion ship into the air. Weapons-grade U-235 was the fuel, nuclear bombs, baby. An immensely thick metal plate absorbed the blast, pushed higher and higher each time.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

It proved impossible to breathe during a blast. Paul had to do so during the between times. This was crazy. Tons of hardened ablative foam lay behind the metal plate. The foam’s single purpose was to cushion the shock for those riding ship into Low Earth Orbit.

BANG!

BANG!

Each nuclear
explosion poured x-rays, heat and neutrons onto the ground below. That’s why the three ships lifted off in this part of “empty” Montana. The nuclear bombs lifted thousands of tons of mass. That allowed each Orion ship to hold three hundred and thirty-three Marines in their armor with their weapons systems. It meant each vessel had missiles to fire down at the enemy, and several lifters to drop with the orbital-paratroopers. That meant, too, that a crew and damage control party rode along for the mission. No other propulsion system gave as much quick lift out of Earth’s gravity well as these.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Paul Kavanagh endured the hell-ride into the heavens. The blasts took the heavy craft up and up, and they propelled the Orion ship toward the People’s Republic of China on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.