“Telephone Sir. On the scrambled line from Bangkok. The Ambassador herself.”
Songkitti cursed and picked up his extension. What did she want now? To order him to lead a bayonet charge himself. Not that he wouldn't welcome the chance. “Songkitti, Your Excellency.”
“Just out of curiosity. General, what did you just call me?” The contralto voice on the telephone was friendly and slightly amused. Which meant nothing at all of course.
“Errr, Your Excellency?”
“Never mind. Just be assured, I know how you feel. Been there myself. What's the situation on the ground?”
“End Game, Your Excellency, The Japanese are pulling back, re-crossing the river to avoid being encircled. They're doing so slowly and fighting every inch of the way but they are pulling back. We should be on the river by nightfall. Lead elements of the Ninth have recaptured Laum Mwuak Airfield and rescued the surviving air force personnel who were trying to get out through the jungle. What worries me is the Japanese follow-up. They've got three times the force they committed yesterday already on scene and if that lot hits us, we can't stop them.”
“You don't have to worry about that General. It won't happen. That's why I'm calling. At 2000 tonight our time, the Governments of Australia, India and Thailand will be announcing a new mutual defense pact by which an attack on any one of the three members will be considered an attack on them all. That's why you had to advance today and feed the reinforcements in piecemeal. This wouldn't have been possible if you and your men hadn't driven the Japanese back today.”
“But, your Excellency, India has, what, 27 divisions? Australia two or three? Even all three of us cannot match the Japanese in sheer numbers. Even, if we could, it would take weeks to get those troops here. We'd still have to fight this Japanese force on our own and we're shot, we can't match them.”
“And the Japanese cannot match the American bombers. For weeks now, the Americans have shown that nobody can stop their bombers. As part of their open skies policy, they've overflown Japan many times and the Japanese can do nothing to stop them. In fact, the Japanese have even less in the way of defense than Germany did. The Americans have also made it very clear they will not tolerate any more major wars of aggression. The Japanese attack yesterday was a border incident, one beneath their attention. A major war involving all three of us will not be acceptable to them and they will act to end it. I know that, don't ask how, but I do. There will be no follow-up attack General, and if by chance there is, there will no longer be a Japan to threaten us.”
“Thank the Lord, Your Excellency.”
“No, thank the B-36. Good evening General.'' The phone cut off abruptly.
His aide came in, a long box in his hands and a bemused expression on his face. “General?”
“Her Excellency assures us there will be no follow-up Japanese attack. We've won this one, Kam, by the skin of our teeth but we've won it. Once the troops settle down for the night, keep them on full alert just in case. The next regiment of 11th to arrive,”
“The 411th sir?”
“That's the one. They'll do a sweep tomorrow, clean out our rear areas of any by-passed holdouts. That's all. We stay on our side of the river. Once the river line is held, pull the Second Cavalry out of the line. The Ninth as well provided things settle down. They're been mauled, they need to regroup and absorb replacements. What's in the box?”
“A Company Commander from the 29th sent it up Sir. By courier no less and for your personal attention. I don't know....... My God, it’s beautiful.”
Songkitti had opened the box. Inside was a Japanese katana complete with scabbard. There was a note attached to it and he read it with rising eyebrows while his aide admired the sword. “According to the good Captain, this sword was captured from its original owner, in personal combat, by our fragrant and delightful Lieutenant Sirisoon who placed in his hands for safe keeping. He most respectfully asks that we hold it in trust, awaiting her return to reclaim it.
“This is the real thing Sir. 18th Century certainly, possibly 17th. Not a cheap imitation. Must have been a family heirloom once. I'll put it up on the wall of the Officer's Mess.”
“No Karri, you won't. We'll put this into safe keeping as the Captain requests. When Sirisoon gets back, we'll return it to her and ask her if we can have it for display in the mess with a memorial that explains who captured it and how.”
“Suppose she says no?”
“She won't. She wants more than anything else for us to accept her as a soldier. This way she gets a very obvious public symbol of acceptance and we get her sword legally. Everybody's happy. Now, get the orders out.”
Text of a Press Statement Issued By the Foreign Offices of Australia, India and Thailand
“Developments in the international situation as it affects the countries of the Par East have shown that the existing framework of relations is no longer functional and cannot be repaired to a status that best serves the interests of all the peoples of the region. This is well-illustrated by the current unrest in Indonesia and the southern Philippines and by the events of the last few days in Indo China. The Governments of Australia, India and Thailand therefore announce the formation of a new super-national identity to be known as The Triple Alliance.
“Under the terms of this agreement, the three principle members agree to a pact of mutual defense under which any attack by any party on any member of the Alliance shall be considered as an attack upon all three. Each member of the Triple Alliance has committed itself to the full support, with all its resources, of any of the other members that have come under attack. This is not an offensive alliance; it has as its purpose, purely the reduction of tension and maintenance of international peace.
“The members of the Triple Alliance also commit themselves to developing the economic stability and well-being of the region for the benefit of all its citizens. To this end, they have elected to adopt the sovereign as their common internal trading currency in the hope that this will promote both stability and investment.”
Statement released by the State Department, Washington, D.C.
“The United States of America applauds the initiative taken by Australia, India and Thailand to form a regional structure that will both prevent international disturbances and enhance the prospects for peace, security and prosperity in the region. The United States looks forward to the opportunity for peaceful trade and diplomatic relations with all the countries in the region.
“In this spirit the United States would like to offer its services as an honest broker to resolve the present conflict in accordance with the strict provisions of international law. The unfortunate events that have taken place along the Mekong River during the last few days are a sad reminder of how relatively minor problems can escalate out of all proportion and lead to the most dire of consequences. All good-willed peoples of the world wish for peace and mutual understanding and we hope that this event can be resolved in appreciation of this spirit. We propose an immediate cease-fire and a return to pre-hostilities positions on both sides as a preliminary to an inclusive conference that will address all the outstanding issues raised by the conflict.”
Office of President Zhukov, Field Kremlin, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
“Gospodin President, this announcement has just been received.” Marshal Cherniakhovskii was carrying a sheaf of papers. Zhukov looked up at his deputy, his eyes bleary with tiredness even though it was only mid-morning. Too little sleep, too much work, too many problems. He couldn't understand why people wanted this job and wondered just how many of the world's leaders privately and secretly regretted the climb to the top. Some hadn't, some had positively relished the position but he was prepared to bet they were a minority. Zhukov knew that the load of being Russia's President was killing him. Only, he couldn't give it up, not until he had a successor who could take Russia the way it needed to go. He had a strong feeling Cherniakhovskii was that man.