Henry looked at the outline and saw how valuable Natesh must have been to the companies he worked for. He had integrated all of the project pieces in such a way that they came together perfectly in a terrible and efficient plot. One ship would be loaded and sent. It would have to leave one month earlier than the others. But its preparation would have to be kept secret. The US blackout would be executed just before the first ship left port. It would capture the Panama Canal and hold it while the rest of the fleet was formed. The psychological operations would then ensue. The Chinese people would be made to believe some story that would call them into action. A massive military buildup would begin in China and troops would begin ferrying across the Pacific in container ship after container ship.
The US, meanwhile, would be going through weeks without electricity, transportation, or communication. The nation would be thrown into a very scary month of chaos and uncertainty. Grocery stores would go barren. Gas stations would run dry. Small elite teams of Chinese special ops would be inserted into key areas to make sure that things stayed chaotic. Orchestrated events just prior to the blackout would mean that the US was blaming Iranians or Middle Eastern terrorists. The blackout would make the US populace thankful for any help they could get. When the Chinese rolled in posing as UN aid workers, handing out food and water, the Americans would be grateful. But as the lights were turned back on, the Chinese would be controlling communication. During the blackout, the Chinese special ops units would have taken out US leadership. A new puppet government would be installed. The military would be turned mostly into an unarmed rebuilding organization, cleaning up the rubble. There would be a tense few months as Chinese law was implemented and the Americans had to adjust to new rules and censorships. But the Chinese troops would continue to pour in. And so would their families. They would be there to stay.
One of the main objectives was to capture and hold the United States. The only way to do that, the team had agreed, was to get as much of the Chinese population over there as possible. It had to be a new way of life for everyone. The influx of Chinese children would give the new government an excuse to reshuffle the courses they were taking. Subjects had to be standardized across the nation. All children would learn both English and Mandarin. There would be years of social transformation.
Henry had heard rumors about these plans over the past few days. Seeing them now, however, scared him half to death. If this was all really going to be used…
He needed to talk to David.
CHAPTER 9
It only stands to reason that where there’s sacrifice, there’s someone collecting sacrificial offerings. Where there’s service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master.
Sweat poured off Lena’s forehead and onto the hard-packed dirt that surrounded Burke Lake in Northern Virginia. Her chest heaved as she caught her breath, recovering from the five-mile run. She wore a tank top and runner’s shorts that were one step up from a bathing suit. She turned as she heard the footsteps pounding pavement behind her.
“You were really kicking out there,” said Greg.
“Yeah. Had some extra energy that last mile. How long a head start did you give me?”
“Maybe thirty seconds. I may have lost count.” He smiled a cute, boyish grin. She felt that tug at her heartstrings that she was trying so hard to ignore. She must ignore those feelings today. Sacrifice was a virtue.
“I’m sure.” She smiled.
They sat down on the grass median next to their parked car and stretched. It was the only one left in the lot. The sun had set almost a half hour ago and dusk was quickly fading into night.
“Wow. Did you see the moon over there?” Greg pointed over toward the lake. Beyond the boathouse, just above the tree line, an enormous red moon began its ascent.
“Oh, I heard something about this on the radio. They call it a blood moon. There will be a lunar eclipse. The red is from all of the sunrises and sunsets that reflect off of it.”
Greg leaned over to her and kissed her cheek. “Sounds romantic.”
She turned to face him and they kissed a deeply. When they separated, they stared into each other’s eyes. His held a hunger in them. Hers held back a flow of tears.
“What’s wrong?” Greg asked.
“Nothing.” She looked away, back towards the moon… then down to the boathouse. She could see the reflection of the moon in the lake. “I have a… fun idea. I think you are going to like it.”
Greg raised his eyebrows, “Oh? This sounds exciting.”
“Follow me.” She raced up and began jogging down to where the rowboats were stacked up on the shore. She didn’t need to look. She knew he would be running behind her, his strong legs propelling him with ease. She would miss their runs together.
Lena arrived at the boats and took another look around. No one in sight.
“Come on, let’s go for a private row.” She winked.
Greg grinned and began sliding one of the bottom boats off its holder. The low-pitched echoes of wood sliding on metal sounded throughout the inlet, but no one heard. They were alone.
Together they slid the boat across the gravel shore and into the water. Greg grabbed two large wooden oars that looked like they had seen better days. They slid the metal rings into the locks and pushed off, bobbing and rocking as they began to float.
They both giggled as Greg almost lost his balance. Then he slid into the rower’s seat and took long, strong pulls.
Stroke.
He stopped one arm and pulled with only the other, turning them towards the center of the large lake. It was getting darker. The blood moon cast red light across the water and onto the faces of the two young lovers.
Stroke.
Lena sat in the front of the boat, gazing into that copper-red orb. The sounds of water bubbling by were relaxing.
But she wasn’t relaxed.
She was fighting a strange mix of emotions inside her. Sadness. Nervousness. And a third, stirring feeling that shouldn’t be there but strangely was… excitement.
Stroke.
They looked at each other as he rowed, a knowing gaze passing between them. She watched his body as he moved and felt his eyes on hers. He wanted her. Out here in the cool fall air where they were completely alone, surrounded by crimson moonlit water.
Stroke.
It took about ten minutes for the rowboat to reach a darker part of the lake, shadowed by tall pines. When he stopped rowing, they drifted, silent ripples following in their wake. Lena crept to his middle bench. He reached for her and they kissed. It started off slow. A few romantic pecks gradually became more intense. Then she straddled him and wrapped her legs around his waist. His hands were moving up and down her back. Her heart was beating faster. He started to reach a hand up the front of her shirt and she stopped him.
“Wait,” Lena whispered.
“What?”
“I thought I heard something.” They were near the other side of the lake, where the running path cut through the forest and followed the winding shoreline.
“What is it?” Greg asked. He leaned forward, looking in the same direction.