Terminal Connection (4 page)

“It’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“Not bad?”

“This is the worst case scenario. The site is new. I don’t think they did anything. Just cover those data streams and start making backups.”

“Okay, but I’ll page you if anything comes up.”

Steve nodded. “Anytime.” He looked around. Allison had wandered across the lobby.

“So, my friend, who’s the new assistant?” Ron asked.

Steve tore his gaze away from her. “Will you lay off?”

“Sorry, friend. When you see others suffer, you appreciate your friends and family more, especially those going through hard times.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know.”

“Ron, I’m not ready for anyone.”

“That’s my point. You’ll never be ready. You’ll always be desperate. You need a woman.”

Steve shook his head.

Ron cocked an eyebrow. “I’m serious, my friend.”

“I appreciate your concern. If I need a blind date, you’re the first person I’ll call.”

“You’re worried about Brooke aren’t you?”

“Of course. Her mother is dead.”

“Tamara was also your wife. Sometimes I think Brooke holds you back.”

“Ron, she’s my daughter.”

Ron looked over Steve’s shoulder and Steve turned to follow his gaze as Allison approached.

“Are you boys done?”

“He’s all yours,” Ron said, and then winked and walked off.

Steve pulled out the file from Austin. “Is this your work?”

She nodded.

“What’s in it?”

“Information about Camille,” Allison said.

“I’ll need a few hours to review it. We can get together this afternoon.”

“Can it wait?” Allison asked crossing her arms.

“It took less than a year for the first victim. I think the investigation can wait a couple of hours. I’ll need time to review what you sent me. Could we meet around four?”

“Four it is.” She pressed a button on her wrist. “Hwang News Agency.” A portal opened and she stepped through and disappeared.

Steve pressed the exit button on his wrist and left VR.

Ron watched as Steve disappeared from the Nexus lobby. He needed to find out why she was here.

P
itch black surrounded Allison. From the darkness her mother, Jamie Hwang, shouted, “Action!” A thousand miles ahead the Earth appeared, light radiating from its surface. A metal cylinder replaced Allison’s body, immobilizing her. Staring at the Earth, her perception shifted and she realized she was floating above the Earth as it slowly rotated below.

“It’s a Japanese KH-15B spy satellite,” the disembodied voice of her mother said.

Through the satellite’s camera Allison recognized the outline of Hainan Island, surrounded by the South China Sea. Through its metal hull, she felt the bone-chilling cold of space, or at least a token of it. Otherwise, the scene was soundless, scentless, though it had a slight metallic taste.

“Not sexy enough,” her mother said.

“You said this piece was finished. Ed needs it now,” Allison demanded.

“I’m just touching things up, dear. Computer, hold it!”

The scene froze. Allison scanned the collection of gauges and timers fixed in the lower left corner of her vision. Her mother used these to track and alter the scene.

“Phil, add some space music.”

A disembodied voice replied, “Which one do you want? I can …”

“You’re the expert,” Jamie snapped. “Pick something. Make it foreboding.”

The space around Allison filled with hundreds of deep rumbles. The individual sounds blended into a single source. Merged together, they felt ominous and deep. A gauge displayed a row of ten bars. The last two spiked up and down in cadence with the rumble.

“Phil, I don’t like these gauges. I need to see, hear, and taste what my audience does. Understand?”

The gauges disappeared from Allison’s view.

“Continue!” Jamie shouted.

The scene restarted and the satellite zoomed in. The South China Sea expanded below. Within seconds, twelve little dots appeared against the deep-blue ocean canvas. The dots expanded and transformed into a dozen Chinese destroyers, frigates, and support ships. They sailed south in a traditional defensive circle east of Hainan Island and just north of the Paracel Islands. The ship cluster was a battle group of the People’s Liberation Army. In its center was
Varyag
, the first Chinese aircraft carrier.

An airplane landed on its deck while another slipped beneath the black top and rolled off a flat elevator. The airplanes looked like toys compared to the carrier. The image lingered for a moment as the subliminal tones faded.

Jaime spoke, her voice superimposed over the scene. “China’s military flexed its muscles on Saturday in what analysts saw as another warning to Hainan Island and their failure to suppress the students’ protests at Haikou University. Recently, Hainan Island regained its distinction and joined Hong Kong and the other Chinese coastal cities as economic free zones. Since then, islanders have pushed for Hainan’s political autonomy.

“One week ago, students at the University started their public protest, calling for free elections and requesting that the economic autonomous regions on Hainan be expanded to encompass the entire island.

“Yesterday, on China’s State television, the Guangzhou Military Command in Southern China gave China’s unofficial response. The Chinese News Agency showed PLA’s Army, Navy, and Air Force units taking part in a combined military exercise off southeastern Hainan near the Paracel Island group. In addition, images of the PLA’s airbases, seaports, and Army bases all around Hainan Island showed the island’s military at high alert. A Chinese analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the exercises were obviously aimed at Hainan’s leadership. He went on to say that the Island’s economic freedom was not all that was at stake.

“Today, at the request of the President, the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Ed Davis, met with the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Shen Guofang, in person. The talk centered on the PLA’s military buildup in the region, which is in violation of the China War Treaty. In a Hwang News Service exclusive, we have both parties here to discuss the tenuous situation.”

The image of the battle group faded. Allison transitioned back into her body. She sat among an audience of thirty. At the front of the quaint room, Shen Guofang and Ed Davis faced one another across a small table. Etched into the virtual floor was a map of the South China Sea, and Chinese collectibles decorated the walls of the room.

“Good details,” her mother said.

Both men had dressed appropriately in conservative western dress—suit and tie. Both were well groomed, but Shen appeared overweight. Perhaps her mother could touch him up a bit.

Ed Davis’ trim six-and-a-half-foot frame made an impression even sitting down. His salt and pepper hair and groomed goatee completed a distinguished and aristocratic air.

Allison glanced at the time: 10:27 a.m. PST. That made it 1:27 a.m. in Hong Kong where the VR clip was recorded. She grimaced. The clip was almost three hours old. The story was growing stale and Ed was waiting. “How much longer will this take?”

“Shh,” whispered Jamie.

The interviewer spoke. “Good evening, Mr. Shen and Mr. Davis.”

Ed nodded.

Shen leaned forward and smiled. “I am greatly honored to be here today.”

Allison wrinkled her virtual nose as the scent of stale sweat wafted to her from Shen.

“Now that’s a little detail I can do without!” her mom said. “Freeze for a moment, people.”

The scene stopped and the gauges reappeared.

“Can’t you guys do anything about that stench?” Jamie asked.

Allison saw one of the gauges drop a couple of notches and the air became less thick.

“That’s good! Replay it!”

The journalist greeted Shen and Ed, and Shen responded.

He still stank. “Better, but—man he reeks! Do you have the scent for the Seattle guy?”

“Yes,” Pete said.

“Give me a whiff.”

“Who’s the Seattle guy, mom?” Allison asked.

“I don’t know. I forgot his name, but what a lover.”

Allison rolled her eyes.

“Ah, that will do it. Douse Shen,” Jaime said.

Instantly, the offensive odor was replaced by a cocktail of Old Spice deodorant, spiked with just a hint of Polo cologne.

“Okay people, resume!”

The scene resumed as Ed spoke: “Before we begin, I would like to offer a gift to my esteemed colleague.” Ed faced Shen. “May I present to you the finest in the United States’ consumer electronics—a Nexus Transporter.” The symbolic gesture showed, despite their differences, the two countries were economically linked and committed to free trade.

Shen bowed and accepted the gift. “Thank you. May I also offer you a gift?”

“Of course,” Ed said. He bowed.

Shen handed him a small jewel-covered box. Ed opened the box and extracted a Rolex watch.

Not a Chinese product
, Allison mused. Her boss did not seem to mind the deviation from the script. “Thank you,” Ed responded, placing the watch on his wrist.

Shen gave him a broad, exaggerated smile.

The moderator turned to the Chinese diplomat. “Mr. Shen, why is China once again violating the Chinese peace accord in the South China Sea?”

The lines forming Shen’s grin transformed to a wrinkled brow. “The Chinese are a peace-loving people. We have no quarrel with the United States. Why must you meddle yet again in our domestic affairs?”

“Excuse me? Yet again? Could you be referring to your unprovoked invasion of the Spratly Islands last year? I’m afraid that the Spratly Islands are not just another part of China.”

Shen shook his head. “Your country is young and has a short memory. We’ve claimed those islands for over two thousand years. Though we are a patient and peaceful people, China has waited over a century for common sense to prevail and for the return of the Spratly Islands.”

Ed leaned forward aggressively. “That attitude is exactly why the United States and its ASEAN partners cannot allow these military exercises. Your claim on those islands is tenuous at best. Every nation in the area has staked claims on one or more of them. Vietnam, for example, backs its claim on the fact that it has occupied some of the cays and reefs for over three hundred years.”

Ed looked into the camera. “Now, as for Hainan, the people want political freedom. You’ve already given them economic freedom. Why can’t you let them hold democratic elections?”

Shen shook his head in denial. “Mr. Davis, I respect your intentions; however, China is not the United States. We have our own beliefs and code of honor. China holds the answers for China; the United States does not.”

“But then again, we don’t torture and butcher our own people,” Ed said.

Shen shifted in his chair. “Mr. Davis, it’s easy to talk about freedom when people are fed, clothed, and sheltered. It’s a different matter when they’re not. Let me remind you that there are two experiments going on right now. Like us, the Russians too are moving away from communism; however, the Russians chose to implement political freedom before economic freedom, holding democratic elections first before economic reform. Here in China we’ve done the reverse.

“Now tell me, which experiment do you think is working? Would you have our people starve, ruled by criminal organizations, as in Russia, to satisfy your imperialistic hunger to make everyone like yourselves?

“Mr. Davis, let me reiterate to you—China has no ill will toward the United States. Why are you trying to control us? Our military is purely defensive in nature. We simply want a reunified China with reconciliation among her different nationalities. We want harmony and peace. That is all.”

“That is not all, Mr. Shen. You cannot ignore that just a year ago your country invaded the Spratly Islands without provocation. And as for the Russians, their problem is that they’ve never had private ownership of land. The Czars, and later the communists, held all the lands for the Russian people. The Russians have no courts, no laws, and no customs geared for a capitalistic society. China, on the other hand, has had these things for centuries. That is, until the communists mucked things up.”

Shen stood. “I’m most sorry, but I must go now. Thank you.” He smiled politely, turned, and left.

The moderator paused. “Thank…thank you Mr. Shen.” He turned to Ed.

“Hold it!” Jamie shouted.

The scene froze.

“Okay. Everything after Shen’s final response until the interviewer speaks is out. And link the two scenes together. Make it smooth, people! Now, play!”

The scene backed up a few seconds and resumed. Shen spoke midsentence.

“ … want harmony and peace. That is all.”

“Thank you, Mr. Shen,” the moderator said. He turned his focus to Ed. “Mr. Davis, you’re the Assistant Secretary of Defense and as such oversee Warscape. For the benefit of our viewers, can you tell us what Warscape is.”

“Certainly. Warscape is a system we use for military surveillance of the South China Sea. The combined forces of ASEAN, which includes the United States, use Warscape as their eyes and ears. We can pinpoint every Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine unit regardless of nationality. It has protected us from Chinese hostility since before the China War.”

“It sounds impressive.”

Ed nodded.

“How does it work?”

“There are two sets of systems—one for our allies and one for the non-allied forces. We track our allies, the ASEAN military, through GPS. Every structure, soldier, and piece of equipment manufactured for the ASEAN armed forces has been outfitted with a GPS sensor. These sensors use satellites to calculate their exact positions and report those positions to Warscape, which is updated instantly with this information. This way we can track everything under our command and know when equipment is destroyed or disabled.

“In order to track non-ASEAN forces we blanket the area with inexpensive sensors that detect, identify, and report back to Warscape any changes in their surrounding environment. In addition, manned and unmanned vehicles on land, in the air, and under the sea patrol this area. They detect anything out of the ordinary. If that’s not enough, we have several satellites in geo-synchronous orbit with cameras trained on the South China Sea.

“These Warscape perspectives give us a complete, real-time picture of the battlefield. Warscape has eliminated the fog of war.” Ed finished speaking and leaned back in his seat.

The interviewer smiled. “Very impressive! How expensive is Warscape?”

“Slightly over three hundred billion dollars.”

“Three hundred … did you say three hundred billion?”

“Yes.”

“How can the President justify such an expenditure when all other budgets are being drastically cut?”

“This region is of vital interest to the United States. More oil rests under the waters of the South China Sea than under the sands of Kuwait. Further, it is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Over eighty percent of Japan’s trade alone passes through this region.”

“So what response, if any, is the U.S. going to take to the Chinese actions on Hainan Island and the presence of its Navy in the South China Sea?”

“Our carrier battle group,
Abraham Lincoln
, will position itself north, close to the Paracel Islands and near the Chinese fleet. The Chinese will back off and return to port. They have no choice. The PLA has no answer to the combined power of a carrier battle group and Warscape.”

“If Warscape just monitors the region, how can it be so important?”

“Before a nation can go to war, it must first prepare to attack. It takes several days to set up lines of communication, mobilize forces, and stockpile logistics, such as ammo and fuel. Last year, just before the Chinese War started, Warscape detected China gearing up for battle. We stuck them before they were ready. Surveillance is everything.”

“But what if Warscape fails?”

“What is he doing?” Allison asked.

“Shh,” her mother whispered.

“It can’t fail,” Ed said. “How can millions of sensors, unmanned vehicles, and satellites fail all at once?”

“I hear your point; however, before World War II the French found themselves short on defense spending. They also placed their faith in a single system, a complex series of trenches and fortifications called the Maginot Line; yet, the Germans bypassed the line and France fell in three weeks. Aren’t you afraid of repeating history here by putting all your eggs into one basket?”

“The Chinese are geared for a land war, but any future war over the region will be won from the air. That requires aircraft carriers. The Chinese have no aircraft carriers.”