Invasion: Alaska

him awake and told him grim news. The Chairman was calling an emergency meeting of the Ruling Committee. The Americans had used a nuclear weapon on the pack ice. Hearing that, Jian had bolted out of bed.

Now he sipped hot tea, trying to focus his thoughts. Bai had already left for the Arctic Front to find General Nung. What if I had boarded that plane? Now I would be traveling onto a nuclear battlefield.

Jian shook his head. He would never willingly tour a battle-zone. One trained soldiers for such a task, hotheaded fools eager to become heroes.

Jian read the report for the fifth time. The Americans had launched a nuclear-tipped torpedo! They’d destroyed a forward supply depot, one meant to replenish stocks of advancing hovers and snowtanks.

His screen changed from its holding pattern. Instinctively, Jian sat up, sliding his tea out of view. He saw the members of the Ruling Committee: the Chairman was at the head of the table. On one side of him were the admiral and the Police Minister. On the other side sat Deng Fong and the Army Marshal.

I should be there. I am at a disadvantage speaking through a screen. I am like a ghost, haunting the meeting.

Jian knew that his features would be on the large computer-scroll at the other end of the table as the Chairman. Each of his gestures and features were being recorded. He’d have to remember that.

“The Americans have broken an unspoken accord between us,” the Chairman was saying.

“They have an affinity for using nuclear weapons on peoples of Asian descent,” the Police Minister said.

“Is that really true?” Deng asked.

“They once dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan,” the Police Minister said. “Now they are attacking us. Yes, it is true.”

“I don’t think you’re aware of all the facts,” Deng said. “You must understand that Japan was a uniquely dangerous opponent for the Americans. Militarily, no one has ever been able to strike such devastating blows against modern America as the Japanese. They attacked Pearl Harbor and drove the Americans out of the Philippines.”

“What is your point?” the Chairman asked.

“Sir,” Deng said, “I do not believe the nuclear attack was racially motivated as our illustrious Police Minister has implied. I think our invasion has frightened the Americans into using nuclear weapons.”

“The point is they’ve used them on Chinese soldiers,” Jian said.

No one in Beijing appeared to hear his words.

“I will not tolerate this use of nuclear weapons against us,” the Chairman said. He sat rigidly in his wheelchair, with pain creased across his features. “Do the Americans think Greater China is a secondary power? A power they can indiscriminately attack with nuclear weapons?”

“I have studied the attack,” Deng said. “I do not believe it was indiscriminate.”

“Explain that,” the Chairman said.

“They used a torpedo to explode pack-ice,” Deng said.

“That is completely immaterial,” the Chairman said.

“Respectfully, sir, why didn’t they attack our forces in the Kenai Peninsula with nuclear weapons? It would have proven much more effective there toward the defense of Alaska.”

“Your question reveals a lack of knowledge concerning the present battlefield,” Admiral Qiang said. “We have laser batteries and anti-missile rockets whose primary purpose is shooting down tactical and theater-level nuclear weapons. That is why the Americans haven’t attacked there. They cannot.”

“Have the Americans used nuclear-tipped torpedoes against our fleet?” Deng asked.

“It’s only a matter of time now before they will,” the Chairman said.

“But they haven’t,” Deng said.

“Make your point.”

Deng moved his water glass before answering. “Sir, I suggest we hesitate before retaliating with nuclear weapons.”

“I will not tolerate the use of such weapons against Chinese forces,” the Chairman said.

“It is unspeakable,” Jian said.

“Why use torpedoes?” Deng asked. “There must be a reason for that. Why haven’t they fired missiles at the cross-polar assault?”

“Excuse me, sir,” the Army Minister said. “But it would prove difficult for the Americans to hit our forces on the ice with long-range missiles. Our strategic pulse-lasers protect the higher altitudes over the pack ice. With space-mirrors, we could knock down such missiles before they reached our assembly areas.”

“I see,” Deng said. “Interesting.”

“The torpedo attack shows the Americans’ desperation,” Admiral Qiang said. “I suggest it means they have little in way of defense on the North Slope. Mr. Chairman, I suggest an immediate assault on the military bases there.”

“I appreciate your concern,” the octogenarian Army Minister said. “Yet I wonder if you desire the immediate assault in order to draw attention away from your naval brigades.”

“The ice itself is an enemy,” Qiang said. “This torpedo attack proves that. I cannot understand why you would want your polar formations on it any longer than necessary.”

“Do not worry about them,” the Chairman said, as he glanced at Jian. “The Chinese Army will soon launch its attack on the North Slope.”

“We will light a fire under General Nung,” Jian said.

“The Americans have already lit that fire under him,” Qiang said dryly.

“You seem to feel the Army is tardy in its assault,” the marshal told Qiang. “First, you must understand that crossing the pack-ice has proven harder than my planners had anticipated. It was and is a nightmare journey, with many unforeseen incidents and accidents. A few formations are almost ready for the final lunge as they gather the needed supplies. But there is a problem.”

“Yes?” Qiang asked.

“The most dangerous zone is the last four hundred kilometers,” the marshal said. “If ground units become stalled in that area, they become easy targets for the Americans. Therefore, operational theory calls for a swift and continuous advance across the last zone. In order to achieve that, forward supply depots are needed.”

“I find it interesting that the Americans chose to destroy a depot with their nuclear torpedo instead of directly destroying a military assembly area,” Qiang said.

“They likely don’t know the whereabouts of such an assembly area,” the marshal said.

“These military details are secondary,” the Chairman said, interrupting. “The point is: the Americans have used nuclear weapons against us. I refuse to let that go unpunished.”

“Are you suggesting we use nuclear weapons?” Deng asked.

“Yes,” the Chairman said.

Deng appeared uneasy. “May I ask where, sir?”

“Perhaps Fairbanks would do,” the Chairman said.

“They have strategic lasers protecting Fairbanks,” Qiang said.

“We must find a place to retaliate,” the Chairman said. “I demand it.”

“Maybe we already have such a place:” Deng said, “a non-place.”

“I do not care to hear any more of your clever suggestions tonight, Deng,” the Chairman said. “I want revenge. I want the Americans to feel my anger. It is intolerable that they think China will lie supine while they launch nuclear weapons upon us.”

Deng nodded. “You carry the soul of China in your heart, sir. You are outraged, and you feel this assault upon our honor because of your special connection with the people.”

“You guide us, sir,” Jian said, trying to keep his hand in the conversation.

“Yes,” Deng said. “You guide us. Yet I wonder if in this instance the Americans haven’t handed you a gift.”

“A gift by incinerating Chinese soldiers?” the Chairman asked dangerously.

“Never that,” Deng said.

Jian yearned to attack Deng verbally, but he feared the man’s cunning. He also feared Deng’s ideas.

“Very well,” the Chairman said. “Speak your mind. Let us hear what your cleverness can concoct from