“Hold on there!” the senior staffer cried, “we don’t know that for sure. You can’t…”
“What is your name again?” Donna asked with a hint of femininity, brushing back a renegade strand of curly red hair.
“Ken Maus…”
“Mr. Maus, none of us knows for sure anything about the situation. We’re not there, now are we? Even if we were on the ground, there is no possible way we would know everything — we would only know what we thought we saw at a particular place and time. I’m simply giving you what the CIA knows to be happening right now. You have a different analysis. May I continue?”
Lindley looked intently at Klein, “Yes, Ms. Klein, please…” Lindley looked at Maus disapprovingly.
Donna wanted to push herself away from the table and give a stand-up briefing, but the chairs were too confining to easily get up. She instead squared her shoulders and began to address Lindley with an occasional glance to the other three staffers, “We know China has launched an assault on Taiwan, probably using nuclear weapons. These weapons were exploded high in the atmosphere over Taiwan, most likely to minimize casualties on the ground and maximize the EMP effect. In fact, one of our nuclear early warning satellites was damaged by the explosion as were some commercial communications satellites. We also know from the last transmissions of the Belleau Wood Amphibious Ready Group that they were observing a probable Chinese air strike on Taiwan — an air strike involving several hundred aircraft at the least. The Belleau Wood was sailing with 2,200 Marines just outside of Taiwan’s territorial waters. The major news organizations have not yet caught on to the war,” Donna said nodding at the televisions, “Which probably means that the EMP knocked out Taiwan’s ability to communicate with the outside world. Lastly, we know that we sent an RC-135 electronic recon aircraft from Okinawa into the Taiwan Strait to establish contact with the Belleau Wood. It was intercepted by Chinese fighter aircraft over international waters.” Donna paused, “Does the President know about this?”
Lindley looked at Maus. Maus looked back.
“Well,” Lindley demanded, “Does the President know?”
“About what? Unconfirmed rumors? Hell, it’s not even on the news yet,” Maus protested. “Besides, he’s at a $10,000 a plate fund-raiser in Philadelphia right now.”
“Well, if it does get on the news and the President is caught flat-footed and unaware by a reporter I think he will have wished he was informed.” Lindley was agitated — he could lose his job over this if it got out of hand.
Donna wondered how to ask the key question that was troubling her. Like most things she did, she decided on the direct approach. “I was wondering. Our RC-135 turned back when it was challenged. Who ordered the aircraft to turn around?”
Maus looked at Donna and leaned over to whisper in Lindley’s ear.
Lindley gave a strained smile and said, “Ms. Klein, the CIA itself recently indicated that China’s military build-up opposite Taiwan was more likely for show than for substance. When Taiwan began warning us of a possible Chinese attack on Quemoy the President gave standing orders for the military not to interfere in the opening stages of any potential cross-Straits crisis. He didn’t want to limit his freedom of action. If China was simply saber rattling he didn’t think it prudent to react aggressively, especially since Sino-American relations are still on the mend since the embassy bombing. If China were to invade Quemoy as the Taiwanese fear, the President thought our remaining uncommitted would enhance our ability to mediate the conflict diplomatically.”
“What if China were to invade Taiwan itself?” Donna demanded.
Lindley was unshaken, “Well then, that would take a fair bit of time to accomplish, wouldn’t it? I don’t see how an early and modest American military response could do anything more than tip our hand to the Chinese that we intend to support Taiwan.”
Donna sadly shook her head once, “To the contrary, Mr. Lindley, I’m afraid our actions in ordering the RC-135 to return to base have just given China the green light they need to know that we won’t intervene on behalf of Taiwan.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“No, sir, that’s my considered analysis. My analysis is that China intends to conquer Taiwan. If they’re successful, my analysis is that American power in Asia will evaporate. If American power in Asia evaporates, my analysis is that China will dominate the world in the 21st Century…” One of the secure phones began ringing. “…My opinion is that the decision was flawed and we’ll pay dearly for it.”
General Taylor gave Donna a modestly approving sidelong glance then cleared his throat, “I agree with the CIA’s analysis of the situation. There is one more very important factor you need to tell the President: it is very likely that U.S. forces have already engaged the Chinese and may in fact be on Taiwan itself.”
Maus looked ill. Lindley was in an almost blank-stared denial. “What?” Lindley managed to mutter.
“It is highly likely the Belleau Wood and the three ships with her were attacked. Our forces have standing orders to defend themselves in such a situation. We may have already exchanged blows with China.”
“Oh my God…” Lindley blanched. A staffer handed the phone to Maus who quickly handed it to Lindley.
“Lindley here… What! You’re absolutely sure? Shit!” Lindley was hit hard by the news on the other end, “Okay, right. We’re already on it over here. We already have a team assembled… The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is here… We’ll tell the President immediately… This may all be a horrible coincidence but,” Lindley looked at Donna, “I think we better treat the incidents as connected.”
Just as Lindley was hanging up the phone he was transfixed by a report appearing on MSNBC. “That was the Pentagon,” he said quietly while looking at the television, “The Panama Canal has…” Lindley drifted off. The TV was muted but the dateline at the bottom of the screen said Panama. Lindley grabbed the remote and cranked the volume.
There were flames and smoke framed by darkness on the screen. The TV blared “…a large cargo ship exploded in the Panama Canal this evening. Many people, perhaps as many as 50, have been killed or injured in the blast that broke windows in Panama City a few miles away. Damage to the canal is said to be extensive. It is unknown at this time what caused the fatal explosion. Unnamed authorities said the ship was a Chinese freighter which reported engine trouble just before exploding…”
“Oh God,” Lindley moaned, “What do we do?”
The muted television tuned to CNN began to flash a breaking news banner from Tokyo. Lindley grabbed the other remote and clicked off the mute. Both TVs were now competing for attention in the small, now breathy room.
“…we now go live to our CNN correspondent in Tokyo with a breaking story. Lynn?” The news anchor nodded. The picture cut to a young reporter, “I’m standing here outside Tokyo’s Norita Airport where it has been announced that three international flights into Tokyo from points in south Asia are missing. In addition, authorities here report a curious lack of communications with Taiwan’s air traffic control system. One aviation safety official here told me that Taiwan’s entire air traffic control net went down a little over two hours ago. It’s not known at this time if the missing aircraft and the air traffic control system failure are linked. Unnamed U.S. military sources out of Okinawa also report that a flight of four U.S. Air Force cargo aircraft went missing some 300 miles west of Okinawa about two hours ago…”