Lena said, “We’ll begin sharing out tonight after dinner. We want to know what you all think are the biggest weaknesses in our defense. When you look at 9/11 and at Pearl Harbor, our nation was not prepared. We did not see it coming because we had been conditioned to not look in the right places. Attacks like those are what we are here to prevent. We are here to think of all the different ways a foreign power might try to do serious harm to our nation. Some of you have extensive knowledge of things like nuclear power plants and the electrical grid. Some of you understand very different things like how the US populace might respond to propaganda or psychological operations.”
The classroom collectively raised their eyebrows at that one.
“Oh yes… that’s right. Bill, you asked what we would be doing in week three? I never finished answering. Well here it is: We won’t just be looking at a one-time kinetic attack. This isn’t a hit and run that we’re planning for. We’ll also be looking at ways that China might be able to invade us and successfully occupy our nation. That will be week three. What would they do? How would they go about it? Shock and awe? Win hearts and minds? We will conduct psychological operations planning. We don’t want our defense team that looks at our work to just build a big moat with nothing behind it. You must think of what China should do to control the castle once inside the walls. Only then will our defense planners be able to cover our castle grounds with spikes.”
There was commotion in the room.
“Many of you doubt our reasons for concern. You may believe that China could be planning an attack. But you are saying to yourself, everyone knows that the US is the mightiest country in the world with the greatest military in the world. I ask you to please hold those assumptions in check while we’re here. We have a duty to our country to suspend disbelief, to prepare for the worst, and to think outside the box of ways that China could overcome our advantages. Only then will we truly be able to see all of the possible vulnerabilities.”
There were nods of understanding in the audience. In David’s office life, most meetings involved tables of people with laptops open and cell phones out. He was struck by the level of undivided attention that Lena commanded when she spoke. Granted, there were no computers or phones in anyone’s possession. But it was more than that. Between her charisma and confidence, she controlled the eyes of everyone in the room. Aside from her speech, the only sound was the thrum of the air conditioning coming through the floor vents.
She said, “This threat requires urgent action and new ideas. We can’t use the same lessons learned in the sessions that were held a decade ago when trying to protect against another September 11th. For we are no longer trying to protect against terrorists, but against the country with the largest economy and military on the planet.”
The room became quiet. David could sense that reality was setting in for the others in the classroom.
“A few weeks ago we lost contact with one of our assets in Shanghai. Before that happened, he sent me a message that revealed two important things. The most important was what we have already discussed. China is planning to attack the United States. Very few in the Chinese leadership are aware of this plan. They are dedicated to keeping it secret. But rest assured, the decision makers that matter are very aware. The second big item that our Chinese asset revealed is the reason you all are here instead of a team from the Pentagon doing this in the Pentagon. We as a country have been infiltrated by the Chinese intelligence community. Badly. And they have been actively deepening this penetration. The Chinese have key people feeding them information inside just about every key government organization. Sleepers have been activated. New operatives have been inserted. They are making moves to get ready for a war.”
David heard rumbles from around the room.
“There is a bit of a cat-and-mouse game going on right now. There is just a small team assigned to this project. We are keeping this operation quiet, even from our own agencies, while we figure out whom we can trust. At the same time, we know that we have to plan our defense. While we know that the Chinese are planning the attack and we know some of their objectives, we don’t know exactly how they intend to do it. We know a little, but not nearly enough. That’s where you come in. This isn’t just a regular consulting project. We want you to be ruthless and calculating as you think of what they might do. We will provide you with what we have uncovered as their probable objectives. But before our man was killed… and yes, he was killed… ”
A few people gasped. Most stared at Lena in shock. She spoke with an unemotional detachment. They were hanging on every word.
“… we were unable to get any of their detailed plans. We have begun a very thorough mole-hunt in the government and military right now. We need to use the next few months to root out every Chinese spy that has infiltrated us. Only then can we be share this information with the people who will need to know. What we don’t want to do is tip our hand and bring on war without preparation. We are afraid that if we start disseminating this information and some of their spies find out, the Chinese might move up their timetable before we can prepare. Also, in that scenario they would then be attacking with their spies in place. That can’t happen.”
She looked around the room.
“I know this is shocking. I know it may seem unbelievable if you are just now hearing it. But I assure you it is very real. Our world may soon change drastically. We may be in a war like our generation has never known. So I ask that you each do your part to the best of your ability. Work hard. Make the best decisions you can. Help to prepare our country for the worst. Good luck. Now, let’s get to work.”
The group sat stunned. Slowly, people started to stand up and move down the stairs aisles of the room towards the back door where the administrative papers waited. The Air Force Major was there, helping everyone get their paperwork done. The crowd resumed speculation on what the future had in store with a renewed fervor.
David found himself waiting in line to sign his non-disclosure agreement and collect a security badge. That struck him as a bit silly. If this island really were in the middle of nowhere, wouldn’t Lena and whoever else was running this show already know exactly who was here? The badges seemed more for show than anything. But show for whom?
“Thank you for participating today Mr. Manning.”
David hadn’t seen Lena walk up behind him. Closer up, she was even more attractive. Her dark brown eyes stared intently into his.
“Of course. I’m glad to help.”
“I’m very interested to hear more about ARES. We’ll look forward to a full briefing from you later. I am fascinated to hear about its capabilities. And to know more about these men that have created the program.”
David was surprised she knew about it. But if that was why Tom sent him, it made sense that she would.
He said, “ARES. Yeah. Well I don’t know if you would even call them men. The three of them were in their early twenties. Boys, I’d say.”
She shook her head. She said, “Remarkable. But I guess many of our strongest tech companies were started by exuberant youths. It takes a fiery intellect to really change the world. Like young Natesh there.”