“But…”
“But you and I both know that it won’t be enough.”
General Schwartz cracked his knuckles. “David, I used to play football. If a one-hundred-pound guy is lined up against a two-hundred-pound gorilla, guess who’s gonna win?”
David thought about his crowning achievement while assigned to the Silversmith team, planning the Battle of Johnston Atoll. Looking back now, that plan seemed like a whole lot of luck. A confluence of events lining up for the perfect deception. What did the Americans have now? Lena Chou had escaped to China, and David wasn’t confident they would ever hear from her again. The Rojas hypersonic technology had gone to the Chinese. The Pacific had all but fallen. The only remaining bastion of American naval might was Hawaii. Thank God they had held Hawaii. But China was pouring men and military might into South America each day. If they breached Panama, it could get ugly.
David continued turning the problem over in his head. Finally, he said, “No. I don’t think our current plans will be enough. We need a new way to attack the problem.”
“Say more.”
David’s eyes scanned the ceiling rapidly as he thought, synapses firing. “Sir, I used to work for In-Q-Tel. It’s essentially the CIA’s private equity firm.”
“I’m familiar, David. Get to your point, please.”
David cleared his throat.
“Okay. At In-Q-Tel, I used to work on a lot of different projects. Explore new and upcoming military technology. Most of those projects didn’t pan out. But you needed to seed them with funding to do the exploratory work.”
“I’m familiar with the concept of R&D. It sounds like what you’re trying to say is that we need a Manhattan Project.”
“That, sir, but I was also thinking we need something closer to an Operation Bodyguard. Are you familiar?”
“The deception plan, correct?”
“Yes, sir. Operation Bodyguard was a collection of operations, each one meant to deceive Germany prior to the Allied invasion of Europe. I think we need to come up with multiple options for something similar, prior to a Chinese invasion of North America.”
“David, despite what Hollywood suggests, the Pentagon isn’t full of idiots. They are definitely working on deception plans…”
“I understand that, sir. But I worry about how realistic it is to keep something like this under wraps when operating on our homeland, at this scale. When Silversmith suggested plans for the Battle of Johnston Atoll, you were able to give us cover at the Pentagon. Now you’re at the Pentagon. And to give you an idea, we need to go through three layers of staff. It’s slow and inefficient. And the more eyeballs that see this stuff…”
“The more chance that the Chinese find out about it. I get it, David. So how should we proceed?”
“Silversmith should create a special project team to begin game planning ideas that the US military and intelligence organizations will need to execute. Some of these recommended actions would require massive investments of time, money, and resources. This will require political muscle in the DOD and White House. Somebody needs full authority to move mountains.”
“I can speak to the White House and CJCS. Rumor has it I’ll be getting a fifth star. POTUS is sending me to run SOUTHCOM.”
David said, “Congratulations, sir.”
General Schwartz nodded. “Okay, I’m sold. Gather your team and start working on your ideas. Assuming that CJCS and the White House approve, Silversmith should report only to me on this.”
20
Lena met her Russian contact in a street market one kilometer north of his embassy. They offered greetings and then walked in silence to a nearby gastropub. Once inside, Lena ordered them drinks as they sat in a poorly lit corner table.
“Kostya, you are moving up in the world. Ambassador? Last time I saw you working in an embassy, your title was quite ambiguous.”
“Last time you saw me in an embassy, you were an American citizen.”
“We are all deceptive creatures.”
The Russian grinned. “Yes. But I am getting older. I no longer play the young man’s game. Now I serve at the pleasure of the tsar.”
Lena shot him a knowing look. “Sure. If it suits you.”
He shrugged. “And you? Do you still serve your tsar loyally?”
Lena’s face grew serious. “I do.”
“And how much longer will he be in charge?”
“No one really knows.”
“Who will succeed him?”
“Ma. You must know this already.”
“We like to confirm our SVR reports. Your country has not made that public yet.”
“Jinshan doesn’t want to be a lame duck, as the Americans say.”
Kostya said, “I read another report about the transition. There is a competition for the number two spot, and it’s down to General Chen and Minister Dong. Is that true?”
Lena held up her hands. “Perhaps.”
Kostya said, “I think it is. Where will your loyalty lie, when that transition occurs?”
“Where do you think?”
“General Chen is your father. I would assume with him.”
Lena offered him a Mona Lisa smile.
Kostya said, “Okay. Enough of this. Time for a joke.”
“Ah, yes. Your legendary jokes.”
“Two rabbits are hopping along the Russian road during Stalin’s reign. The first rabbit says to the second, ‘Comrade, comrade, have you heard? They are castrating all the camels. We must hurry out of here at once!’”
Lena listened with amusement.
“The second rabbit looks at him like he is crazy and says, ‘Why are you so concerned? You are not a camel.’ The first rabbit replies, ‘You try proving that you are not a camel once they catch you.’”
Lena allowed herself a polite laugh. She liked him. He saw the truth in people and institutions. The Chinese knew he was a spy first and a diplomat second, and the Russians knew they knew it. The SVR and MSS both believed he was a loyal patriot to the Russian Federation.
But Lena knew what really made him tick. Kostya, like many Russians, was a cynic of the system he served. She could accomplish a lot with such men. When a transaction served both of their needs, he was a willing trade partner. Sometimes the deal was in the best interests of his country. Other times it was in the best interests of Kostya.
Kostya sipped his drink. “Lena, it is good to see you again. I hope your time away wasn’t too difficult.” He was eyeing the scars on the side of her face.
“My time in America was not pleasant. I am very glad to be back in my mother country.” The image of her child flashed through her mind.
Kostya said, “How may I be of service?”
“I have been asked to speak with you about a delicate matter. As you must be aware, our military is making excellent progress in Latin America. Soon we will be marching through Mexico and then on to the continental US.”
“The Russian Federation applauds your great military achievements.” His tone was dry.
Lena said, “My leadership considers the Russian-Chinese partnership to be its single most important strategic alliance.”
Kostya raised an eyebrow. “Until it’s not…”
Lena dipped her head. “My leadership acknowledges that there will come a time when our strength may be… intimidating.”
Kostya laughed. “I will certainly refrain from using that word when I write up my report to the Russian president.”