Neither he nor Scott had met either of the other men from the Indian sub-continent, whom the President introduced merely as “and these gentlemen are from India’s Research and Analysis Wing, and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.”
Between the long-time enemies, acting as diplomatic buffers, were two government ministers, George Ramirez, the Philippines Defence minister and his opposite number from Indonesia, Abdurrahman Suharko.
Hands were shaken and seats taken, but Scott was wondering what the hell was going on, two spooks and two soldiers from normally opposing sides, even if they were separated from direct contact with one another?
“Henry, Scott… allow me to bring you up to speed… as you can imagine, mainland China’s neighbours are somewhat concerned that their own national integrity, not to mention security are under threat from communist China. These gentlemen have come here today to assure me that they have not been sat on their hands over the last couple of weeks… the Philippines most certainly haven’t, as you know. With the definite exception of North Korea, all countries in Asia are solidly opposed to both the PRC and the new Soviet Union’s aims in this conflict… and they have formed an alliance, putting aside territorial and religious differences for the time being.
Not all the countries could be here… the PRC intelligence is very active and the sudden disappearance from each country of credible representatives would not have gone unnoticed.” The President gestured at a pile of official letters in front of him.
“These men speak for the countries of the region that are absent… Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Brunei.”
Henry and Scott nodded in acknowledgement to the government men, but both wondered what was coming.
It was almost 4am before the meeting ended; the representatives of the different governments went straight to the helipad, taking advantage of the lack of surveillance satellites overhead at that moment.
Scott was feeling a little frazzled, and more than a little puzzled as to why he had been present.
The President was watching him quietly, letting all that had transpired to settle before enquiring.
“Mr Tafler, what did you make of all of that?”
“Well sir, I rather got the impression that they had already settled on a plan, no matter what we said here.”
Pointing at the letters that still lay on the table, the President nodded his agreement.
“I knew that the moment they produced the letters, no national leader worth his salt is going to let a third party… a foreign third party at that, plan their war for them. I was getting rather worried that the PRC had succeeded in having them looking at one another with distrust. The Chinese are probably one of the most arrogant and xenophobic races on the planet… ever, they would never share power with another rim nation, they are after an empire. I am just relieved that they all knew that.”
“But they will sit on their hands… ” said General Shaw, “… with the exception of the Philippines, until the nukes are taken out. We cannot fight a war in two theatres Mr President, we have to fight a holding action on one front and decisively win on the other, in order to free up those forces to go on the offensive on the other side of the world.”
“That, as they say… is the rub, but at least we have India and Pakistan to act as a back-stop if our operation in China goes wrong, we also have full cooperation from their intelligence services. Plus of course there is the added distraction they are staging, it could wrong foot the little bastards for once, have them looking the wrong way.”
“Sir, with regard to the ICBMs, we believe we will have a workable plan for you by tonight.” Henry Shaw informed him.
The President raised an eye.
“Run it by me now General.”
All the rooms, which the President visited, were wired for sound by the Secret Service, in this way they could monitor their principal’s security without being present, at times when visitors as they had just had, were in conference with him. It is only human nature to be guarded or less than candid in sensitive matters if there is someone hovering about whom the subject matter does not directly concern. So it wasn’t a coincidence that Mike entered as soon as the President asked the chairman of the joint chiefs to go over the plan.
The President sighed as Mike’s large frame filled the doorway.
“I guess its past my bedtime, so it will have to wait until later Henry. Are you guys staying here awhile, it is just like the Ritz… the bits that the paying guests never see!”
“Yes sir, we will be here until we get the green light on a plan.”
“Okay, see you later.”
Henry and Scott made their way to the sleeping quarters, where they found that they were bunking in the same tiny room.
“Why do they always make such a big thing, about who gets the top bunk in the movies?” Scott asked.
“Usually they’ve got it wrong,” Henry Shaw answered. “On the bottom bunk you don’t get the light shining in your eyes, and it is easier to make up in the morning so you get to the mess hall quicker… what rank were you in the National Guard, Scott?”
Scott laughed.
“PFC, eventually.”
The General’s eyes twinkled. “I’ll tell the cooks to keep your eggs warm then,” and claimed the bottom bunk.
Lt Col Reed instinctively ducked lower into his ‘maggot’ when the torch was shone onto his face.
“It’s zero four thirty sir… I got you some tea.” Sgt Major Moore drawled.
Phil Reed bowed to the inevitable and unzipped the bag from the inside, letting in the cold damp night air.
The American warrant officer moved back, allowing the British CO to roll out of the warm comfort of the sleeping bag.
“I’m told this is ‘NATO style’,” he said, handing over the mug.
The CO grunted as he took a sip. “Ah… hot, strong, a ton of sugar and evaporated milk instead of that dreadful powder, thank you Sarn’t Major.”
1CG and the 82nd Airborne troops had arrived at their present position a little over a day and a half ago, digging in astride Autobahn 2 where it crossed the Elbe.
The river curved to the southeast before running south again, on their right flank, and on their left they had the Mitterland Kanal where it joined the river opposite the town of Hohenwarthe, on the east bank.
Lt Col Reed was not entirely happy with their position, true though that they had the Elbe to their front and right, the canal running east/west on their left, but a branch of the canal also ran behind them into Magdeburg.
The battalion and its attached units were effectively on an island surrounded by water and the bridge carrying the A2 over the canal to their rear was their only means of withdrawal. It was unlikely that the enemy would deliberately drop the bridge to the west, but accidents can happen.
The last NATO units withdrawing from positions around Berlin had passed through their position just before 9pm the previous day, US Army military police had been the very last to cross. Behind the MPs had been a horde of fleeing humanity, desperate to cross the river but the engineers orders were to blow it after the last MP vehicle reached the western bank.
Guardsmen and airborne troopers had tried to persuade the engineers to keep the bridge up until the enemy had appeared; to allow as many civilians to escape as possible, but the bridge had been blown as ordered.