“Yes, we can,” Dr. Zheng replied. “The technology is based on a phased antenna array. What that means is that if we apply radio frequency energy to a system of antennas all at the same time, the projected energy goes straight up and spreads out as it travels. By sending the radio frequency to the antenna system in a tightly controlled sequence instead of all at once, we can control the direction of the energy. This sequence is referred to as phasing, so the antenna array becomes a phased antenna array, which is capable of generating a radio frequency energy beam in any direction. By using a large antenna array, like the Americans have, in addition to directing the energy beam, the phasing can start at the outside of the array and work its way to the center, which focuses the beam on a specific spot rather than allowing the beam to spread out as it would naturally.
“The process is actually two-fold. First it heats a section of the upper region of the ionosphere to form a concave reflector, then it creates fluctuations in the electrojet, and aims those fluctuations at the reflector, which in turn focuses that power at a specific place on the surface of the planet. The directed and focused energy is the weapon.”
“The electrojet?” Guang Xi asked.
“The electrojet is composed of particles streaming into both the north and south magnetic poles of the earth from outer space. This is the actual source of the power. Our current HAARP facility can form the reflector in the ionosphere, but we need something a thousand times stronger to direct the energy from the electrojet into the reflector and on to a target,” Dr. Zheng said.
“And this is what the Americans have done?” Guang Xi asked.
“Yes,” Fong replied. “Here is the infra-red satellite image showing the heat generated in the new Alaska facility during the time immediately preceding the Sichuan earthquake.”
“Oh my,” Dr. Huang said, “this is a very large operation.”
“Yes, it is,” Fong replied. “The original project had only 180 phased array antennas. As you can see, the new facility is profoundly larger.”
“This is what burned me?” Guang Xi asked. “And destroyed my life?”
“Yes,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“Then I say we build a bigger one, and use it against America,” Guang Xi said.
“We can do that,” Fong replied, “with the consent of the Central Committee. But the real question is how do we punish America for what they have done without being blamed for doing so?”
“We could use the new technology to create a giant storm over America,” Guang Xi suggested.
“It took the Americans years of practice to understand exactly how the atmosphere reacted to each nuance of what they did to the Ionosphere and the electrojet,” Fong said. “We can’t go into this blindly.”
“Fong is right,” Dr. Zheng replied. “We are a long away from being able to create something on that scale with the weather. Planetary weather is a dynamic and constantly changing system. If you change one thing, something else is modified to restore balance. By creating a large storm in one place, we may cause a drought in another place as the planetary weather system rebalances itself.”
“So, we create a drought,” Guang Xi said. “We still accomplish our goal of punishing our enemy.”
“And if the drought happens here in China, and we starve our own people?” Dr. Huang replied. “Then what?”
Guang Xi exhaled strongly and looked down at the floor. “This isn’t so simple, is it?”
“Nor is it an easy thing to do,” Fong said.
“Could we create a moderately strong storm without risking a major backlash in the weather?” Guang Xi asked.
“Theoretically, yes,” Dr. Zheng admitted. “But the length of time we modify the ionosphere is also a significant factor in the rebalancing of the weather system.”
“So how long could we theoretically create a storm without a major backlash in the weather?” Dr. Huang asked.
“Five to seven days,” Fong replied. “That is what we have learned from monitoring what the Americans have been doing.”
“And how long does it take to create, say, a Category 5 storm?” Guang Xi asked.
“Again, from our monitoring of the Americans, 14 to 15 days.” Fong replied.
“So creating a large storm is out,” Dr. Huang replied.
“Not necessarily,” Fong answered. “It can still be used in conjunction with something else. We can get to a Category 3 storm in five to seven days if that is part of another plan.”
“So what else can we do?” Guang Xi asked.
“Can this new technology be used to trigger a volcanic eruption?” Dr. Huang asked.
“Theoretically, yes,” Dr. Zheng replied. “But again, we — ”
“I know, I know,” Guang Xi interjected. “We need more experience with the technology to use it at that level.”
“It seems our best option is to focus on what we know best,” Dr. Huang said.
“Earthquakes,” Guang Xi said softly. “But we don’t have the experience with the new technology to do that effectively, do we?”
“No,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“Right now, the only way we could trigger a large earthquake would be to plant explosives along a fault line and detonate them in a specific sequence,” Guang Xi said. “There’s nowhere in America we could do that and not be seen. We couldn’t do it.”
“There is a major fault line close to America where we wouldn’t be seen,” Dr. Huang said. “And with the right explosives and the right timing it would look entirely natural.”
“And the results would be deadly?” Fong asked.
“Very much so,” Guang Xi replied picking up on where Dr. Huang was going with the discussion. “The Cascadia Subduction Zone is physically almost identical to the Sumatra-Andaman Subduction Zone. The same depth under the water, the same distance from land, but it’s only about two thirds the length.”
Fong yanked his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed. He moved away from the small group and spoke quietly for a few minutes and then hung up. “The Sumatra-Andaman earthquake and tsunami triggered something in my memory. I’m having some research done. We should have results here momentarily.
“The northwest coast of America isn’t heavily populated like Sumatra and Indonesia, and the coastal configuration is different. The effect of the tsunami wouldn’t be as significant.”
“But it would still — ”
Fong’s cell phone rang. He answered and listened. “That’s what I thought. Thank you.” He put his phone back in his pocket.
“There’s something else you need to know,” Fong said. “The United States Secretary of Defense personally visited Sumatra and several other places where the earthquake and tsunami damage was at its maximum.”
“Okay,” Dr. Huang replied. “So he personally visited the site of the disaster, so what?”
“It was the only disaster site he personally visited.” Fong replied. “Ever.”
“It was a weapon test,” Dr. Huang said suddenly. “That’s why he went to the site — to see the effectiveness of the weapon.”
“You can’t be serious,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“They killed 230,000 people for a weapon test?” Guang Xi said.
Dr. Huang was visibly shaken. “So many people. So much death and destruction. Isn’t there some other way of doing this?”
Fong reached out and put his hand on Dr. Huang’s shoulder. “I know the doubts you have. I’ve had them too. I keep wondering if there is another way.”
“Yes,” Dr. Huang replied. “A diplomatic way — an agreement not to use a weapon like this against our people.”
“Unfortunately, there is an agreement already in place,” Fong replied. “And the Americans violate that agreement with impunity. Each year the coast of China is pummeled by typhoons, some of which we now know have been created and controlled by this military facility in Alaska — a facility that is under the complete control of the United States Government. The question I keep coming back to is what will it take to stop these attacks against us and our people? If we don’t reply in this harsh method, what motivation will the American government and military have to stop what they are doing?”