“Artad cares nothing for humans. His Shadow created the Black Death in the Middle Ages and almost wiped you off the face of the planet. Only I was able to stop it and save you as only I can save you from him now.”
There was a pause, then Aspasia’s Shadow continued. “And there is something else you must know. Something that Artad will not tell you. The reason why the Airlia came here to your planet so many years ago.”
There was absolute silence in the hall now as everyone unconsciously leaned forward to hear what was about to be said.
“They — we — came here to protect you,” Aspasia’s Shadow said. “You humans are like newborns when it comes to the larger reality of the universe. There are many species among the stars. And some of them hate any life-form not their own. In this galaxy, there is a life-form we call the Swarm. They are a race of parasites unlike anything you could imagine in your worst nightmares. They were, are, the Airlia’s Ancient Enemy.”
Aspasia’s Shadow grimaced as if remembering something particularly bothersome. “The Swarm have conquered many planets, destroyed many species, and long ago we came into contact with them. Even we don’t know where their home world is. Some have said they have no home anymore, but just expand outward, consuming intelligent life wherever they find it. There is no communicating with them or negotiating. They exist to destroy.” Aspasia’s Shadow pointed down. “They have been here, humans. On your planet. Scouts. I have protected you, destroyed their scout ship, and prevented them from communicating back to let their fleet know of your planet. If their fleet comes here, not even the Airlia can protect you.
“Their scouts can infiltrate any intelligent species, become part of them so that no one knows they are there. And when their fleet arrives, they destroy every living thing, consuming it so that their own forms can go on.
“Aspasia’s mission was to protect you and help you. And he did so for many years. Your people were in caves when he arrived. He built Atlantis, brought civilization to humanity. It was a golden time.
“But then Artad came along with others — all cowards and deserters from the war against the Swarm. They wanted to hide here, to cut us off from our home system. There was civil war and then there was a truce. But still Aspasia stayed nearby to help defend you and you thanked him by destroying him.
“I am taking his place. I will continue to help defend your planet but you must join with me. It is in both our best interests to work together.
“Fight me and die.
“Stand aside and eventually you will be mine anyway and I will remember your lack of commitment.
“Join me and reap the benefits and be protected.” The screen went dead.
The South Korean president’s hand shook as he took a sip of tea. The conference room was dark and slides appeared on the far wall, one after another, without a single comment from the American officer waiting close by.
General Carmody was the Eighth Army commander, the senior American officer in South Korea. The images he was showing President Pak had just been given to him by his G-2, intelligence officer. They were from a KH-14 Keyhole spy satellite that was on permanent station over the Korean peninsula. They showed something that hadn’t happened in almost fifty years: Chinese troops crossing the Yalu River into North Korea and heading south. Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and thousand upon thousands of infantry were on the move. All heading south. Then the locations of the photos changed. Pak recognized the DMZ. There was no mistaking the fact that North Korean forces were mobilizing.
Finally, the last shot was displayed and Carmody turned the lights back on. They were the only two people in the room. The general sat down across from Pak. “We estimate at least two corps of Chinese troops have already entered North Korea with another three corps to follow on. Over a half million men.”
“And the Seventh Fleet?” Pak asked. For decades South Korea had lain under the umbrella of protection provided by America’s military. While most of the world had forgotten that the Korean War had never officially ended, it was never far from the minds of the people who inhabited the southern half of the peninsula. “The Seventh is”—Carmody seemed to search for a nice way to put it, then he simply shrugged—“gone. We’re abandoning Hawaii. That tells you where things stand.”
Pak had already known that from his spy network. “So? What now, General? You have reduced your troop strength in my country to the point where your presence is merely a trip wire. Several thousand Americans whose death would be avenged. But there is no avenging force now.”
An aide entered the room and handed a piece of paper to the president before withdrawing. Pak read it. “The UN has been issued an ultimatum by Aspasia’s Shadow from Easter Island. Join him or fight him.”
“What will the UN do?” Carmody asked.
“A vote is scheduled.” Pak laughed bitterly. “In two days’ time. Much too late for us.”
“Aspasia’s Shadow can’t help us here,” Carmody said.
Pak crumpled the paper and tossed it in the wastebasket. “Evil is evil and I believe these aliens are evil, whatever face they present.” “There is one possible course of action,” Carmody said.
“And that is?”
“Tactical nuclear weapons. A preemptive strike into North Korea. Along the axes of advance.”
Pak stared at the general. “Your government would authorize that?” “I doubt it.”
“Then why do you bring it up?” Pak asked. Carmody had been Eighth Army commander for two years. He was unique in that he was half-Korean, his father an American soldier, his mother a Korean his father had married during a tour of duty in the country. Carmody had grown up in the United States, attended West Point, and served all over the world, before returning to his mother’s country to command his father’s forces there.
“My government…” Carmody paused, searching for words. “Let me put it to you plainly, Mister President. There is great concern among my fellow officers about the integrity of my government. About how much the aliens and their followers have compromised the chain of command. This vote — I don’t know how the United States will vote, but I agree with you that these aliens are evil. The Chinese have allied with Artad and I see nothing good coming out of that.”
He paused, then continued. “I do not think that South Korea is very high on anyone’s priority list in Washington right now.”
“Detonating nuclear weapons against another nuclear power would be on Washington’s priority list,” Pak said.
“That’s true,” Carmody acknowledged. “But, Mister President, I think—” He was interrupted by a loud buzz that caused both men to start.
“It is the line to the North Korean president that we established last year. It has never rung before.” Pak turned his chair and picked up a red phone, putting the receiver against his ear. Carmody got up and went to the far side of the room out of earshot and waited. When he heard Pak hang up he went back to his chair.
“The North Koreans are making an offer. They have allied with China, who have allied with Artad. We have the choice of joining them or dying. It seems our vote is here now.”
“Your decision?” Carmody asked.
“I gave him my answer. We will fight.”
With the shield turned off for the moment, the carriers Stennis and Washington adjusted course twenty degrees to the starboard so that their flight decks were facing directly into the wind. They were still a two-day sailing from Hawaii, over twelve hundred miles away, equaling a round trip of twenty-four hundred miles. Given that the range of the planes they were launching, F-14 Tomcats, even with external tanks, was only slightly over two thousand miles, the maneuver did not seem logical. And, the external tanks on the sixty planes gathering in formation and heading toward Hawaii did not contain fuel, which meant they had an effective range of only fifteen hundred miles.