'Sir Eric Hoahao, thank you for coming. Please take a seat.” The NSA rose from behind his desk and shook Sir Eric's hand. Then he turned to the Ambassador, his voice notably softer. “Hi, Snake, it’s been a long time. How are you?”
“Good Morning Seer, it has indeed been too long. One day you must come to Bangkok again. You would be surprised by how the city has changed. Few of our old favorites are left now.”
“You two know each other?” Somehow, Sir Eric was perturbed by the discovery; it was like discovering a trusted guard-dog was friends with the local contract assassin.
“Certainly Sir Eric, Snake and I have been friends for years. From long before The Big One. May I offer you a cup of coffee? It would have to be black I'm afraid, milk goes sour almost immediately in this building. I have some Johnny Walker Blue Label for you, Snake. Now tell me what brings you both to our fair city?”
“I would prefer a small glass of that excellent whisky if I may sir. For some months now, the senior leadership of the Triple Alliance has been increasingly concerned by the spread of lawlessness and insurgency in some of our territories. The problem is most serious in Burma, Northern Thailand, and the Northern Provinces of India. However, we also have a lesser level of difficulty in the Philippines and Indonesia. You will notice the pattern of course. There are some strange aspects to this situation, some of the insurgent movements appear to be highly trained in a tactical sense, others are not. The Ambassador will be able to give you more professional assessments of that side of things. Returning to the political background.....”
For the next hour. Sir Eric outlined the developing situation in the Far East and the activities facing the Triple Alliance. He'd had a long briefing document prepared that covered the same ground, when The Seer picked it up, it seemed to Sir Eric that the paper yellowed and aged. Probably just his imagination, he thought. The Seer had a habit of looking straight at the person speaking, one that made concentration slightly difficult. By the time he got to the end he was feeling uneasy and uncertain, what seemed to be hard certainties once now appeared less convincing.
“So we intend to move at least one division of Australian troops by sea to Burma in about three months time for peacekeeping duties.”
“Thank you Sir Eric. Now, can you tell me why that should be of interest to the Government of the United States? The Sea is an open highway, free for the use of all. As long as you do not threaten others using that highway we have little interest in what you move where. As far as I am aware, Burma remains an Indian protectorate and how the Triple Alliance deploys its forces is an internal matter for you alone. If you chose to move them by sea, then that is your decision. The United States of America puts great importance on the freedom of the seas, indeed our navy is deployed to guarantee just that. America is a trading country and maintaining free access for all to the trade routes is a vital national interest of ours.
“On another matter, we have received intelligence from our Russian allies that may directly concern you. It may also explain some of the military problems that Snake has described. As you are doubtless aware, for almost a week now, the Russians have been crushing German defenses North of the Don River and East of the Volga. In doing so they have taken a number of prisoners, many of whom have come from Middle Eastern and other Islamic countries.
“Upon, ahhh, vigorous interrogation they have revealed that they are only the latest groups of what has been a continuous stream of such people through the ranks of German forces in the area. In effect, it appears that, for some years at least, the German forces in occupied Russia have been acting as a training school for a variety of the elements whose activities concern you. This may well explain the tactical skills that you refer to in your briefing.
“The Russians have also captured significant amounts of Japanese-produced war materials, much of it quite recent origin. It therefore appears that there are strong linkages between the Islamic terrorism that you face in the Triple Alliance and the German forces in Occupied Russia. It also appears there are links between Japan, China and those forces. How everything fits together is something we would wish to determine. However, I would also point out that insurgencies are your internal affair also; the United States only involves itself in situations where its vital national interests and those of its close allies are directly affected.
“I have a small request though. As you know, the Philippines was once a US trust territory and, although it is now an independent country, we still feel great affection for the people. We would like to send some aircraft on a goodwill visit to Luzon, I believe the Navy would like to send a PB5Y unit, VPB-33, to Clark Field on such a visit.”
“VPB-33?” The Ambassador's eyes opened wide “That patrol group has 72 aircraft on strength, that's a lot of aircraft for a goodwill visit.”
“What can I say Snake? We have a lot of goodwill to show the Philippines. We'd also like to send a small detachment to U-Thapao for a visit. About a dozen B-60s and a few RB-58Cs. I do hope that such a visit would be acceptable to your country?”
“Certainly Seer, we would be happy to extend some true hospitality to your pilots and their crews.”
“Good, that's settled then. I'm sure the movement orders will be in place when the units are ready. Sir Eric, I think it would be advisable if the current commander of SAC, General Dedmon, was to visit India. We fly bombers worldwide and we always like to have access to divert fields in case of technical problems. Perhaps we could arrange an agreement with India for such facilities. Snake, you going straight back to Bangkok?”
“No, I have been asked to stay on here for a while; there are some problems my Government wishes me to resolve. Perhaps we can have dinner one evening? Tomorrow?” The Ambassador nodded. The Seer pressed a button on his desk set “Lilith, honey, book me a table for two for tomorrow night, find somewhere that has really good cheesecake. Charge it to Uncle Sam.”
A few minutes later, Sir Eric and the Ambassador were on their way out. “Well, Sir Eric that went very well indeed.”
“How so ma'am? I was under the impression that apart from some pleasantries and a gesture of friendship, the Americans promised nothing.”
“Sir Eric, you must listen to what people say. Freedom of the seas was defined as a vital American interest and our right to move troops by sea were described as an example of that interest. The Seer told us that America would not get involved unless its vital interests were involved - which says that they would get involved if they were. So if anybody interferes with our troop movement, the Americans will intervene — and they are moving one of their maritime attack bomber groups to allow them the option of doing so. Furthermore, they have moved nuclear-capable bombers to act as a deterrent against an invasion of our territory. Although I do not think they have nuclear strikes in mind yet. They are sending B-60s rather than B-52s.”
“I'm sorry Ma'am, my Oxford Degree was in the classics. I know they are both big bombers but the significance you allude to escapes me.”
“The B-52 is a much more modern aircraft than the B-60, it is much faster, flies higher and has much better electronic warfare capability. The B-60 is a dated design, it is just a jet version of the old B-36, but it has one great advantage, it was designed in the days when the mark of a bomber was its ability to carry very large loads. The B-60 carries more than three times the bombload of a B-52.
“The Americans call using their strategic bombers to support ground troops an ARC - Army Reinforcement Capability — operation. When those bombers drop atomic bombs on ground forces it is called ARC-Heavy. When they drop conventional bombs, it is called ARC-Light. I think The Seer has just offered us an ARC-Light capability in case of a Japanese invasion. And a strategic reconnaissance detachment to find out what is going on and open the way for the B-60s. Yes, Sir Eric, it was a most satisfactory meeting.”