the most high-tech flying machine this side of Star Trek.”
“Plus I’ve got a B-2 Black Knight bomber equipped the same way, except with even more surprises, ” Elliott said. “They’ve all been tearing up the Air Battle Force in exercises out at Jarrel’s SWC, and if we have to go out against the Chinese in the Philippines, I think you’ll want them out there.” Curtis smiled. “Do it, you old warhorse. You just made my day.” THE PRESIDENT S RESIDENCE, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES THURSDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 1994, 2212 HOURS LOCAL (28 SEPTEMBER, 0912 WASHINGTON TIME) Daniel Teguina was ushered into President Mikaso’s residence by a Philippine Presidential Guard, then left alone in front of the door to Mikaso’s office. Teguina straightened his tie and his shoulders, cleared his throat quietly, then knocked on the door. After receiving a curt “Come, ” he entered. Teguina paced before the small desk in the center of the room and stood impatiently as Mikaso continued to work on something. Everything in this room was small, understated, almost peasantlike-Mikaso kept this office spartan, with only a few native wall hangings, simple wood furnishings, and bookcases crammed with every type of book, written in several languages. It was here that Mikaso did his best work, as productive as a monk in solitude. Look at him, Teguina thought. An old man trying to act as if he is in control. Teguina wanted to laugh out loud at the absurdity of the scene. Since the nuclear explosion in the Palawan Strait there had been a panic throughout the islands. Here in Manila rioting had broken out, troops were in the streets trying to restore order, and the presidential palace had been besieged by protests from thousands of citizens and rebel troops- troops, he smiled inwardly, who were loyal to him. No, things were definitely not in control, no matter what this old man wanted to believe, and if Daniel Teguina had anything to do with it, they would continue to spin into chaos. “What is your report, Daniel?” Mikaso finally said. Teguina squinted at Mikaso, feeling anger flush into his temples. Mikaso was dressed in a brown suit, with a miniature Philippine Badge of Honor pinned to his lapel. Teguina knew that the sight of that badge on television made many Filipinos proud-it was the highest honor the military could pay to a civilian. Teguina had never even been considered for such an award. “I have nothing to report, ” he said lamely. “You have spent two days in Palawan, with almost no communication with my staff the entire time, ” Mikaso said. “Yet I see editorials and articles in the newspaper, condemning the United States and the military for releasing the nuclear weapon and praising the Republic of China’s navy for its relief efforts. I have been told nothing officially- communications are still disrupted in and out of Palawan. Do you have a report for me?”
“I was not aware that I was required to “I have learned that you have ordered New Armed Forces personnel in Puerto Princesa to surrender to the provincial police, and the airfields there and at Buenavista to be shut down, ” Mikaso interrupted. “I hear reports that say that Chinese patrol boats were seen in ports throughout Palawan, including Puerto Princesa, Buenavista, Teneguiban, and Araceli, and that Chinese vessels patrol the Cuyo West Pass and even the Mindoro Strait. I hear the screams in the streets outside, saying that you accuse me of being a traitor to our country. Are these reports true?”
“The Philippine Navy is severely crippled, sir, ” Teguina replied. “The Chinese patrol boats were graciously loaned to provincial police officers in an effort to restore order to the province-“
“Is the Army assisting the provincial police in restoring order?”
“No, Mr. President, ” Teguina sniffed. “According to my research and the reports I received, it was an American B43 bomb that exploded off the coast of Palawan; the experts I consulted said that the weapon was old and thankfully did not produce a full yield.” Teguina knew enough about nuclear bombs to know that it takes a smaller nuclear explosion to trigger the main explosion; this obscure factoid made the lie even easier. “The Chinese vessels were attacked without provocation by a Philippine Air Force F-4 fighter-bomber carrying this American nuclear weapon. The jet fighter crew, who was working for the American Central Intelligence Agency, de stroyed a Chinese ship, along with several Philippine ships, during the attack. “Because I am not sure as yet exactly who is responsible for the unprovoked attack on those Chinese vessels, 1 thought it best to turn all local police and military functions over to the provincial police and to curtail all military operations until an investigation is completed.”
“General di Silva is in command of the Palawan defense forces?” Mikaso asked. He registered surprise for a moment, then relaxed and studied Teguina. “I see, ” the aged President finally said. “So. Did you encounter resistance when you decided to occupy the Air Force base with provincial police officers and Chinese troops?” Teguina’s eyes widened in surprise when Mikaso mentioned using Chinese troops in his operation; then he realized his mistake in registering such a surprise. Mikaso had suspected all along-whether or not he got the information first hand or simply guessed, it was obvious he knew now. “The traitors put up a brief battle, but, as all cowards will, they turned and ran when confronted by legitimate forces, ” Teguina replied. “The Chinese troops supplied transportation to Puerto Princesa, that’s all, and they were forced to protect themselves as well as graciously protecting the provincial police units as well. We thanked God the rebels did not drop another nuclear bomb on us. “I have a simple question, Mr. Vice President, ” Mikaso said, a gleam of humor now shining in his eyes and a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Do you honestly expect the Philippine people to believe this fairy tale? That the Chinese were victims of Filipino aggression… the Chinese graciously offered the use of their warships . . . the Chinese only protected themselves when you overran Puerto Princesa? Do you honestly expect the world to believe that the Chinese suddenly became our staunch ally simply to fight off the evil, corrupt New Armed Force troops and install your own Communist puppet into power?”
“They will believe it, Mikaso, ” Teguina said slowly, “because . . . you will tell them.”
“Me? You expect me to betray my country, my homeland, just because of your threats and a Chinese rifle pointed at my head? Certainly you are joking, ” Mikaso scoffed. “This is the end of the American puppet regime in the Philippines, Mikaso “No, it is not. I know you, Daniel. I am not the tottering old fool, the white-haired, senile figurehead you always believed I was. I chose you to become my vice president because your flowery speeches and socialist ranting and raving has awakened the political fire in a lot of people that never cared much for national politics.”
“You would not have been elected if it were not for me!” Teguina snarled. “That’s right, Daniel, that’s right, ” Mikaso admitted. “And you will not succeed without me. I understand the importance of a coalition government, and I understand that there are factions in this country that desire change. I was willing to accept the opposition party in order to carry our nation forward into the future after the departure of the Americans. You can do the same. If you want change, Teguina, then have your National Democratic Front form its own coalition and defeat UNIDO. Have your party enact laws to give more funds to the people and less toward defense, if that’s what you propose. You are the Vice President. You carry considerable political power, more than your confused brain realizes. “But… if you enlist outsiders’ help to overthrow the legitimate government and close down the parliament, people all over the world will fear you, and your own people will condemn you. And if you continue to rob the treasury, install yourself in luxury in the presidential palace, and turn our nation into a battleground, you will eventually feel defeat. There is always someone around the corner with a bigger gun and a bigger army-” Teguina reached over, grabbed Mikaso by the lapels of his jacket, and said in a low, burning voice, “I don’t want your prostituted government anymore, old man.” He then pushed the President back into his seat and yelled, “Admiral! Enter!” Mikaso stared as a contingent of about fifty Chinese troops rushed into his office. Several Presidential Guard soldiers were led in, some carrying the dead bodies of other policemen or soldiers. Behind them all was a Chinese naval officer, about sixty years old, in white uniform slacks, dark helmet, a dark-blue jacket that appeared thick enough to be a bulletproof vest, and a sidearm. Beside the military officer, to Mikaso’s complete surprise, was the ambassador from the People’s Republic of China, Dong Sen Kim, who averted his eyes and would not look at Mikaso directly. Along with the Chinese troops came several of Mikaso’s Cabinet officials, most of whom were National Democratic Front members-but they also included Eduardo Friscino, the Minister of Interior. “This is the new governor of the People’s Republic of the Sulu Islands, Eduardo Friscino, ” Teguina said to Mikaso. “He has seen your frail attempts to restore American dictatorship to the Philippines and has agreed to join with me to form a better nation, separate but equal, different yet fused together for the good of all.” Mikaso stared in disbelief at Friscino. “EduardoEduardo looked like a whipped dog. Standing in front of all those armed soldiers, he already seemed on the verge of collapse; now, under Mikaso’s incredulous glare, he seemed to practically wilt into the floorboards, but said nothing. “Because of the political and cultural separation that exists between the southern islands and the northern island, ” Teguina continued, “I have decided to create a new state, a federation of provinces that will be independent yet closely allied to the north. Luzon and the Sibuyan islands will be known as the Democratic Federation of Aguinaldo. It will be under my control, protected by loyal military forces as well as New People’s Army groups formed into provincial militias. “Palawan, Mindanao, and the Sulu Archipelago will be known collectively as the People’s Federation of the Sulu Islands, ” Teguina went on. “Once joined officially, Aguinaldo and the Sulu Federation will once again become the Democratic Republic of Aguinaldo.”
“Daniel, you cannot do this, ” Mikaso said earnestly. “Samar and Mindanao will not join your revolution-they
