“Ladies and gentlemen,” said the PM, “I’ll hand over to the intelligence community for an up-to-date briefing before we begin.”
A man stood and fastened the top button of his suit jacket smoothly with one hand; a practiced movement which was subconscious as much as it spoke of his upbringing in a polite, elitist society.
“As of yesterday, the North American continent is effectively cut off,” he began. “Twelve nuclear explosions have been detected and fallout has begun to disperse according to prevailing winds. Also, precision bombing strikes have neutralized the majority of the armed forces response and some internet footage has found its way out which shows that an advance invasion force has begun to seize control of infrastructure across the country. We have not yet received any communication from the American government, however satellite imagery.” He paused, glancing at another suited man who tapped at the keys of a laptop and brought up a picture to the large screen on the wall. “Shows that Washington D.C. has been destroyed.”
He stopped speaking and glanced back to the PM, who nodded for him to sit. Effortlessly unfastening the button of his jacket with finger and thumb again, he took his seat.
“Our allies are under attack,” the PM said, “and we do not yet know who is responsible. Can anyone answer that?”
Glances were exchanged and uniformed men shifted uncomfortably in their seats. The PM tried to retain some dignity and not snap at them for an answer, but luckily for them a young man cleared his throat.
“Yes?” she said, fixing him with her gaze.
“Hetherington, ma’am. MI6,” he said by way of introduction, before giving his explanation without further wasting anyone’s time. “Our satellites picked this up a few hours ago,” he said, hitting keys of his own computer and clicking through a series of low-resolution slides.
“Our intelligence sources indicate mass troop movement in both North Korea and China.”
Silence descended once more, and the PM steepled her fingers with her elbows on the polished mahogany table.
“Get me confirmation,” she said. “I need the UN on a conference call in an hour, and I want options to rescue citizens and discuss our ability to offer aid and counterstrikes.”
As one, the combined cabinet and advisors took a breath. They were preparing to go to war.
Sunday 7:03 a.m. Local Time, Beijing
Dressed in a fresh black suit again, the woman who wore no insignia or identification paced around the control room looking over shoulders at displays as she went. Her uncle, the president of the republic, had cautioned her that he didn’t want casualties. The reports she saw were not filling her with confidence that she would be able to report an inconsequential sum when she was next summoned to see him, and it seemed that all the meticulous planning had factored in every possibility bar one.
They had manipulated the rogue group of Americans into destabilizing the infrastructure and confusing any response to their initial attacks, and they had executed that first wave of devastation with close to a 100 percent success rate.
What they had failed to account for, what they should have realized was probably their biggest hurdle from the beginning, was one simple fact.
America would fight back.
About the Author
Devon C Ford is from the UK and lives in the Midlands. His career in public services started in his teens and has provided a wealth of experiences, both good and some very bad, which form the basis of the books ideas that cause regular insomnia.
You can find more about the author:
Facebook: @decvoncfordofficial
Twitter: @DevonFordAuthor
Website: www.devoncford.com
Set in the UK in the immediate aftermath of a mysterious illness which swept the country and left millions dead, the series follows the trials facing a reluctant hero, Dan, and the group that forms around him. They must battle the elements, find sufficient supplies and equipment to survive, and protect themselves against the most destructive force on the planet: other people.
Copyright
Copyright © Devon C Ford 2018
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission from the publisher.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No affiliation is implied or intended to any organisation or recognisable body mentioned within.
Published by Vulpine Press in the United Kingdom in 2018
Cover by Claire Wood
ISBN: 978-1-910780-89-3