“My intelligence sources suggest the Chinese would be open to organizing an attack with us,” said Nikolai.
The President took a puff on his cigar before responding. “Nikolai, continue to work that angle. I would like to see if the Chinese would be open to coordinating their operation with us. I also want you to look into how we can help the IR in further destabilizing Europe and North America. The more fires we can start before the big one, the better.”
“I serve Russia,” was Nikolai’s response.
LTG Nikita Sergun, the Director of the GRU, was not sure why Nikolai had not brought up the information about the East African coffee company that his sources had discovered, so he decided to speak up. “There is one other major item I would like to bring up, Mr. President. As you know, in the past several years the GRU has been expanding the number of agents we have abroad. Recently, one of my agents discovered something of great value in East Africa,” Sergun said as he looked at Nikolai to see if he would interject. When he did not, Sergun continued.
“Our operatives in East Africa made an alarming discovery. His sources tell him that a freighter arrived from the IR last week. His source works at the shipyard as a dockworker. He said one of the containers being offloaded was heavily guarded; it had a biometric lock on the door, and it required a special truck because it was too heavy for a regular truck.”
“The dock worker said he believed the shipping container was lead shielded. When it scraped against another container, it left a mark on the container that appeared to be lead,” said General Sergun while displaying several photos on the holograph.
“I had our agent look into this a little further, and he discovered that the container had been delivered to The Tanzania Coffee Company and was placed into a new warehouse on the property. This coffee company also went from having minimal security to suddenly having several dozen armed guards and biometric locks on the doors to its new warehouse.”
“So, what are you saying General Sergun…that the IR shipped a few nuclear bombs or something to this apparent front company?” asked Nikolai with a surprised look on his face.
“Mr. President — Nikolai — that is exactly what I am saying. I have directed our agent there to do whatever he can to infiltrate this company and we are looking at every angle of this,” General Sergun said.
Nikolai thought for a moment about what General Sergun had just brought up. His agents knew the IR had moved two nuclear devices out of the country; they just did not know the location. “Mr. President, if the IR uses these devices against the Americans and the Chinese and we coordinate this right, we could knock the Americans completely out of the war before it really has a chance to get started,” said Nikolai with a bit of excitement in his voice.
“How do you mean, Nikolai?” asked the President.
“If we can convince the IR to use the nuclear devices against key US logistical nodes instead of symbolic targets, they could cripple the Americans’ ability to move men and material to Europe or the Middle East.”
“That is a big if — these Muslims do not always use logic when they fight a war,” Minister Puchkov said.
“Nuclear weapons are dangerous to play with, as we saw with India and Pakistan. They nuked the living daylights out of each other and it’s lowered global temperatures by five degrees. Plus, if the Americans get nuked, you can be assured that President Stein will obliterate whoever attacked them,” the President said with a bit of concern. “The goal is to conquer Europe, not destroy ourselves in the process.”
“That’s the trick, Mr. President; the IR would do it for us. If anyone would be attacked with nuclear weapons, it would be the IR,” explained Nikolai.
“Continue to monitor the situation, and let’s play this one by ear Nikolai.”
In the following months, a series of secret meetings between Russia, the Islamic Republic and China took place as they discussed a strategy for defeating America once and for all. They all had their own reasons for plotting an attack against the US, but for all of these parties the end would justify the means.
Saving the Mounties
The last nine months had been terrifying for the people of Canada. The country’s Muslim population had risen to over 20 % following the Global Depression. With the creation of the Islamic Republic and the return to a Caliph, the Muslim minority in Canada wanted to be a part of this historic event. When that did not happen, they grumbled (loudly), and the more radical groups started to cause some civil unrest and even started to bomb government buildings and target the police and government workers. Once Canada joined the American Grain Consortium and cut off all sales of food products to the IR, the extremist groups erupted.
Muslims all across the country denounced the Canadian government as anti-Muslim and began to hold massive rallies and protests. Through careful manipulation of the situation by the IR, these rallies and protests quickly turned more and more violent, with both sides taking casualties. The IR Public Relations (PR) machine began to mass produce extremely effective propaganda showing Muslim children starving because of the actions of the Canadian government. They also showed graphic images, telling stories of “peaceful” protestors who were shot or killed by Canadian police.
What resulted was a near constant conflict (both violent and non-violent) between the various Muslim communities in Canada and the authorities. In April, a series of bombings targeted police stations and killed 154 police officers. Those in law enforcement were starting to be openly attacked and assassinated, causing further casualties. It was during these trying times that the Canadian government reached out to the US and asked for assistance.
“General Branson, the President will be ready to speak with you in a few minutes. He’s still speaking with Prime Minister Peck,” said Monty.
“Not a problem. I suppose they are talking about the most recent rioting in Montreal…their police forces were overrun by those Muslim radicals,” said Branson.
“I heard about that this morning; they burned down a police station and killed several police officers, didn’t they?” asked Monty.
“Yes, law and order was just restored to the city about four hours ago, after 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment arrived and suppressed the uprising.”
“The problem in Canada only seems to grow; their government seems to be paralyzed by this revolt of their Islamic population. They’ve been hit the hardest in the economic recession with — what — close to 30 % unemployment?” queried Monty.
“Something like that. I’m a military man, so what I am most concerned with are threats to our country and what I can do to stop them,” replied Branson, the ever-present soldier that he was.
The President’s Secretary walked back in the room, and with a welcoming smile said, “Gentleman, the President is ready to see you now.”
“Mr. President, always good to see you,” said Branson as he shook the President’s hand.
“Likewise General. I assume you are here to talk to me about the recent uprising in Canada.”