“True,” said Sheppard, “but in this case it’s well worth it. We can’t stand up as a nation of we let others push us around. We’ve seen what it did in some places.”
“Humph,” she grunted. “Just more killing and more pollution. What does it do for us?”
It got quiet. Sheppard leaned forward. “Nancy, it’s the price to pay for the death of 1.7 million Americans,” he said. “I know you have your causes. I know you care for them, but it all means nothing if we are not free to choose. Sometimes people forget that if people like the North Koreans took over you wouldn’t be free to advocate for your causes. They could care less about pollution, the forests, the whales, or anything else. They have shown us that time and again. Now they have shown us they don’t care for human life either. Well, I value human life above all else. Sure, I value nature and all that as well, but nothing comes before human life. So this time, I approve of what’s being done. If it takes all I have and everything we own to get the job done, I’m ready to do it. Because our lives and our way of living are well worth it,” he said. Sheppard sat back in his chair.
The woman looked down at her feet, obviously ashamed. She wasn’t a bad person, but she somehow missed that, after the EMP attack, people had changed.
The radio had returned to music, so Sheppard turned it off. “Well, I feel like walking to the café. Suddenly I feel like a burger and fries,” Sheppard said. “Care to join me Nancy?”
The lady smiled at him and nodded.
“Come on, let’s all go. We’ll have us a party,” Sheppard said. Several of the neighbors nodded and started walking along with him. Along the way, they were joined by others. It ended up being the biggest block party many could remember.
The People’s Army headquarters was becoming very active. Military leaders poured in trying to assess the damage and to figure out what was happening. Normal electricity in the city was cut, so the emergency generators were keeping the lights burning. Lu Chen burst into the war room yelling orders and in general being a nuisance. The military leadership was for the most part ignoring him.
The Air Force Commander was trying to explain things to him. “The attacks on the city came from the sea, Comrade Minister. Our radar systems gained contact only ten miles away. It was not enough time to react. Then when the radars were destroyed we could no longer determine what the targets were. I have received telephone communications stating attacks were on both coasts. We still do not know the extent of the damage.”
Lu Chen was livid. “And who carried out these attacks?” he demanded. “You and our illustrious intelligence system told us there was no country with the ability to hurt us! I should have you all marched out and shot as traitors to the state!”
The general blanched at the outburst. This man had that kind of power. He had to help the Minister understand. “That we do not know, Comrade Minister. I agree that our intelligence system gave us no warning of any impending attack. My own analysis indicates these were cruise missiles that were deployed against us. We know our Communist brothers in the People’s Republic of China did not do this. The only other nation with such capability in this part of the world is Japan or possibly Taiwan. We know Japan was rendered harmless in the same manner as the United States. Taiwan is 1,000 miles away and we do not believe she has such capabilities. Australia and New Zealand have such capabilities, but they are in the southern hemisphere. The only possible explanation is that the United States was able to retrieve a limited amount of cruise missiles from Europe or the Middle East and used them on us. Even then, we do not know how they were delivered. Their missiles have a 1,500 mile range. It is possible they launched them from Taiwan and Japan. If that is the case, there would be nothing we could do to prevent such an attack. As you recall, Comrade Minister, your office has been calling on updating those coastal defense radar systems for several years now to combat just such an attack,” he said.
Lu Chen leaned against the table on his hands. The General made sense. Everything he had said was true and logical, but that would not placate the political arm of the Party. He needed answers and someone to point a finger at. “Tell me what you know so far,” he growled at the men around the table.
Another general spoke up. “All but two of our coastal radar sites have reported damage. Those two are both in what was South Korea. We have six portable units that I have sent to key locations around the major facilities. They should be online some time tomorrow. The antiaircraft batteries were also hit with similar results. More units are already ordered out. Fortunately some of the batteries can be repaired,” he said, hoping that his quick actions would forestall the Minister’s wrath.
“Is that all?” the Minister demanded. If it was only radars and missiles things may be alright.
“Unfortunately it is not, Comrade Minister. All of our airfields have been attacked along with our naval installations. We have not been able to establish contact with most of them so I do not know how much damage. However, we did intercept a frantic call from the garrison in Inchon. It appears there are ships shelling all of the facilities. The commander reported the mines in the harbor exploded and the shelling has continued. He reports that he needs reinforcements against a possible invasion there.”
“Send them immediately! Have you forgotten that is the way they did it before? Do I have to make all the decisions?” Lu Chen shouted.
“It will mean further drawing down the troops within our borders, Comrade. We may have to leave some areas with little internal security,” another general said shyly.
“There is a war on! Our troops must respond to the threats to our nation. We can’t just let them walk in! Get at least … at least 20,000 troops in there immediately!” the Minister said.
“Yes, sir,” the general shouted. There was nothing else he could say.
The next morning began bright and sunny in Pusan. The sun cast a bright yellow glow across the waterfront. People began emerging from their homes and shelters and seeing what happened the night before. Many made their way down to the waterfront where they heard the gunfire. To their surprise, as they neared the harbor, many panes of glass in the buildings were shattered. Upon closer inspection, nothing had been broken into, the glass was simply broken.
Along the main thoroughfare, trucks were making their way from the piers through the city. They were all green with American Army markings and traveling rapidly along the road. In the distance, the sound of gunfire could be heard, but it didn’t seem as loud as it had been recently. Occasionally one of the American Humvees passed along the road. The occupants waved at the people as they drove past. After the past week of constant gunfire and shelling, the atmosphere seemed almost surreal.
The quiet was interrupted by the sound of music. People looked around at each other wondering where the music was coming from as it echoed through the buildings. It wasn’t Korean, but sounded like American rock music. Many began following the sound leading toward the harbor. Rounding some of the office buildings they found the source.
The waterfront was filled with people watching and listening. There, in the middle of the harbor was an American battleship. There was activity along her decks and on her bow, but the music was coming from a small group of men playing guitars and instruments on deck beside one of the big guns.