Lena looked at Chase. “General Chen is my biological father.”
Chase raised his chin. “Oh.”
Lena turned away, lost in thought. “This attack has General Chen’s fingerprints all over it. Unpredictable. Painful for the US, but not particularly strategic or completely effective. My father is better at backroom dealing than military tactics. I suspect that this attack was on General Chen’s orders, and without Jinshan’s knowledge.”
Chase said, “Why would he do that?”
“General Chen is driven only by personal gain. He will understand the political shift that will take place after Jinshan’s death. General Chen will take risks to impress the young princeling Ma.” Lena paused, then said, “Jinshan is an intellectual. His moves are strategic. He will avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction. And he will want to do the least harm possible on the American populace while still achieving his goals. If this young politician Ma is his chosen successor, he will likely have a similar temperament.”
Chase said, “Jinshan started World War Three. That doesn’t sound like someone who’s concerned with reducing casualties.”
Lena gave Chase an icy stare. “Things could always be worse. Jinshan sees every action he has taken as necessary toward achieving his end goal.”
“And what is that?”
“Jinshan wants a new global government, led by China. He will do everything he can to avoid an oppressive military occupation. He wants a peaceful American surrender. He will not approve of any destructive attacks on the American populace. If his plans come to be, the Americans will one day welcome the end of the war, whatever concessions they must make. Think of Germany and Japan after the war. American military bases in each country. Both countries prohibited from having standing military forces. Jinshan wants a similar outcome, only with Chinese forces in the US. Eventually, the country will be transformed into his desired image.”
Chase said, “I don’t see Americans welcoming surrender, ever. Those EMPs blacked out half the country. Hundreds of thousands are dead, and we’re very lucky it wasn’t more. How is that not harming the American populace?”
Lena said, “He could have used nuclear weapons on cities. And his disinformation campaigns likely have many in your country questioning American leadership. Eventually, the popular sentiment may shift. Would it really be so bad to have a benevolent Chinese leader, if food was back on the table?”
Chase’s face was red.
Susan said, “Lena, how do you think Ma will be affected by who’s behind him?”
Lena smiled. “This is the right question to ask. If I was to guess, Jinshan has chosen Ma because he has the qualities of an idealistic leader. He will make utilitarian decisions, and not be susceptible to bribery or corruption. But his honor and innocence are also his weaknesses. Minister Dong and General Chen are too strong. I suspect Ma will become the puppet, and either Secretary Dong or General Chen will become the puppet master.”
“Our analysts say Dong has the inside track.”
Lena nodded. “This is good. If Dong becomes Ma’s number two in command, they will likely seek to follow Jinshan’s plan for ending the war. China will continue to move to a position of power and create a siege. They will capture as much territory surrounding America as possible. Eventually, America will voluntarily surrender.”
Chase said, “What about General Chen? What if he is chosen as vice president and becomes Ma’s main advisor?”
Lena said, “That would be a much more volatile scenario.”
12
General Chen sat down at the dinner table across from Minister of State Security Dong. Neither man spoke.
There were four place settings, one for each of the most powerful men in China. The door opened and Chairman Jinshan, the Chinese president, hobbled into the room, his bodyguards taking up station nearby. His apprentice, Secretary Ma, walked behind him. General Chen still couldn’t believe Jinshan had chosen this young politician to be his successor. It was such an unworthy choice.
General Chen studied Jinshan and his apprentice as they approached. Cancer would take the old man soon. He looked more pitiful each day. Ma, on the other hand, looked sprightly, carrying himself with dignity and grace. The innocent eyes of a lamb before the slaughter.
Jinshan’s chemotherapy was failing. General Chen knew that this was the reason for China’s recent waking from hibernation. The attack on South America came after a year of slumber, a cold war that made American-Soviet hostility look mild by comparison.
Jinshan wanted to see his ambitious quest accomplished before he passed on. How long did he have? Another month? Two, at most?
Politicians had been sharpening their knives for the past year now, waiting for the power struggle that would follow Jinshan’s demise. Even with his successor named, things were uncertain. Ma was but a young man. Naïve to the ways of the world. If a leader of sufficient power and influence stepped in as his vice president, Ma would become but a figurehead. There would be so much opportunity…
General Chen and Minister Dong rose from their seats as the group approached the table, bowing politely and offering warm greetings to Jinshan. Neither man’s smile reached his eyes as they greeted Ma.
After they sat, the conversation began with normal courtesies, but that didn’t last long. Minister Dong didn’t like to waste time.
“Your attack was clumsy,” he said, looking at General Chen.
“I solved a problem,” General Chen replied.
“Without consulting anyone else?”
“Chairman Jinshan has provided leeway for my battlefield commanders to make quick decisions, should it become necessary.”
Minister Dong said, “Ah, so your subordinates launched the attack on the Florida base? Not you? My operatives were engaged in important intelligence gathering. Preparatory actions that will be crucial to the war effort. You’ve ruined several operations with this haste.”
General Chen said, “Your spies were being captured and interrogated at that American prison camp. We discovered their location during the most recent mass satellite launch. I had to move fast to clean up your mess. Would you have continued to allow the Americans to deceive us?”
Dong looked exasperated. “Yes. That’s how the game is played.”
General Chen laughed, tapping Ma on the shoulder. “You see, Secretary Ma, all intelligence officers know this trick. They like to pretend that their failures are actually calculated traps for the enemy. It relinquishes them of all blame.”
Ma looked mildly amused. “I see.”
Chairman Jinshan said, “General Chen, you are not without past mistakes.”
Minister Dong nodded. “Quite true. Secretary Ma, surely you remember when the general’s haste cost us two carriers in a failed attack on Hawaii?”
General Chen bowed his head, glancing at Secretary Ma. “Under my leadership, Chinese military transport ships are landing in South America at this very moment.”
Dong grunted. “My organization was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the South American occupation. You can’t possibly be taking credit for it.”
General Chen said, “And regarding our setback in the Pacific, it would not have happened without our Minister of State Security having been so careless, speaking our plans within earshot of your secretary’s mobile phone?”
“You know that’s not the way it transpired.”
Secretary Ma looked confused. “Your mobile phone, Minister Dong?”
General Chen grinned, delighted for the opportunity to twist the knife. “Ah, yes. Secretary Ma, you were not yet privy to that information. You see, American agents had hacked into the mobile phone of Minister Dong’s secretary, turning it into an electronic eavesdropping device. By the time our military cyber operations team finally uncovered the penetration, the damage was done.”