by Adam Yoshida
"All hands, brace for impact," announced the captain over the radio.
Fifteen seconds after the captain spoke over the intercom, the ship began to gently bottom out, making contact with the soft surface below. The ship jerked as it struck the surface and several of the soldiers were knocked off their feet. Within a few more seconds the vessel game to a complete stop.
"Alright!" ordered the Colonel who had been placed in command of the operation, "let's do it!"
Within seconds, the ship's lifeboats were being lowered into the shallow water and men began to scramble off the sides and into them, all the time looking warily for the British forces onshore to open fire.
"We're still waiting for targets here," the Captain of the Coronado called out over the radio net.
"We'll give them to you if we've got them," called back the Task Group commander.
From his temporary headquarters onboard the Medgar Evers , the Colonel who commanded the Task Group looked around quizzically.
"Still nothing?" he asked.
"Not a shot, not a word," came back the call from one of the Platoon commanders who had taken the first men ashore.
"Keep me posted," signalled the Colonel.
Seconds after the Platoon leader terminated his radio transmission, he spotted something along the tree line a few hundred feet ahead.
"Don't fire!" screamed a shrouded voice, "we are unarmed!"
"Show yourselves!" replied the Second Lieutenant, raising his rifle to the ready.
A British Royal Marine officer stepped out into the field of vision of the US Army Platoon, his hands in the air.
"Welcome to the Falkland Islands, gentlemen," said the Marine Captain, "could you kindly single to your commander that we are at their disposal? And please inform them that they've ruined a perfectly good ship for nothing."
CHAPTER THREE
The Crossing
No. 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom
"Well," said the Foreign Secretary sanguinely, "I'm sure that they'll give them back to us when the war is over."
"If nothing else," agreed the First Sea Lord, "it was a truly fine bit of seamanship. I don't think that anyone would have expected the Americans do quite do the math and do something as bold as that. Brilliant. I wish I'd thought of it. Worthy of Nelson."
"Gentlemen," said Prime Minister Blunt, "If you'd kindly dissolve your mutual admiration society, that would be helpful. We have a major crisis on our hands now and all over those Goddamned islands again."
"We hardly have grounds for complaint," said the First Sea Lord, "seeing as we were using the islands as a base for attacks against the American fleet."
"Nevertheless," said the Prime Minister, "now we have a situation whose seriousness has escalated - and that is even without the public having knowledge of what really went on down in the South Atlantic."
"We've already managed to find ourselves at war with most of the United States and with China aligned against us, I would think that the situation was already about as serious as it could get," said the Foreign Secretary.
"Escalated from a public relations point of view," clarified the Prime Minister, "the opposition is beginning to speak up and ask questions again, even with so many of their leaders in prison and that is without even considering the fact that a major British garrison has, in essence, mutinied and joined the enemy."
"We could imprison some more of them," said the Home Secretary in a helpful tone.
"I wish we could haul all of them in," said the Prime Minister, "but I have a feeling that our civic institutions would not support such a move and, in any case, we have to face the reality that they reflect the real feeling in the country The British people mostly never wanted this war and turn against it even more harshly with each passing day."
"A victory would cheer them up," said the Defense Secretary.
"And what happens when - today or tomorrow or the day after that - the Americans put some fine-looking British officer in front of the cameras of the world and they explain how they refused to fight because we British and the Americans are brothers and so forth."
"Right," agreed the Foreign Secretary, "this has simply become, at this point, a question of determining which side is going to crack up first. If we can hold out through the American elections - and if they go our way - then we can negotiate a reasonable peace. If our side collapses militarily or politically before that point, then Rickover shall certainly win the election and we will lose. We all know this. What more can we do? We already acceded to the request of our representative in America and it cost us the Falkland Islands and a squadron of Typhoons."
"The First Sea Lord has a plan, and I think that you need to hear it," said the Prime Minister quietly.
"Thank you, Prime Minister," said Admiral Thomas Yorke, the First Sea Lord, "ever since our side became involved in this war, we have based many of our calculations upon the notion that the American Fifth Fleet could only realistically be fought in a littoral area where heavy land-based air support is available. However, based upon our latest intelligence reports, we no longer believe this to be the case."
The First Sea Lord pressed a button and a series of charts were projected up on the wall.
"Now, we all know that there are four American SuperCarriers with the Fifth Fleet: Ronald Reagan , John C. Stennis , Theodore Roosevelt , and Harry Truman . After the detachment of several vessels for the operation in the South Atlantic - designated as Task Force 47 - there are twenty-seven support vessels of various types accompanying this armada. In peacetime these four Carriers would, collectively, carry around two hundred and eighty combat aircraft."
"However, these are not ordinary times. The Fifth Fleet was forced to stop at Diego Garcia to resupply and, based upon both human and electronic intelligence that we have obtained there, we know a great deal about the readiness and current equipment of that fleet. We know, for example, that there are, in fact, fewer than two hundred operational aircraft onboard that fleet at the present time. We know that their ships are undermanned. They actually flew sailors from the Pacific Fleet into Diego Garcia and used them to augment crews there. Most of these ships are in poor material condition after so long at sea and in serious need of refitting and repairs."
"It's a mighty force nonetheless, but its as much an illusion of might as a reality."
"The clear American plan - for I worked with them for many years and know how they think - would be to dash in towards the coast and land their forces somewhere in the Carolinas. There are several naval facilities in the South that the U.S. Government now controls and those could be used to effect repairs on some of the ships in the worst possible condition. As well, by that point in time, most of the ships will be low on fuel and also need to re-provision."
"Our ships," continued the First Sea Lord, "are, in contrast, all freshly-repaired and well-maintained. Both of our Carriers are carrying wartime loads of fifty combat aircraft. As is the Charles de Gaulle and the Russian Admiral Kuznetsov . In fact, our best intelligence says that our naval aviation assets are carrying more total aircraft than the American fleet is at the moment. Admittedly some of these aircraft are of inferior types, but we enjoy something like parity. Likewise, we are at least equal in terms of our total number of escort ships, even if some of ours are of inferior types."
"You want us to fight the U.S. Navy in a pitched carrier versus carrier battle somewhere in the mid-Atlantic Ocean?" asked the Foreign Secretary incredulously.
"Gentlemen," said the Prime Minister, "I think that there's a lot of sense in what the Admiral has to say. But we're going to need to sell all of our partners on this if we can make it happen. So the first question must be whether we may sell you upon it."
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), Five Hundred Miles off the Coast of Brazil
"Well," said General MacKenzie as he reviewed the latest reports from the Falkland Islands, "that is mighty fine work indeed. This Admiral Collins is a first-rate fighter. Absolutely first ra
te. Bold, decisive. I approve and will recommend to the President that she and her officers are to be rewarded some singular honors."
"Thank you, General," said Admiral Layton, "I am sure that they will appreciate that."
"Have we considered..." said General King, formulating a thought, "...have we considered the implications of the fact that these British soldiers - mostly from smaller, more self-contained, and elite groups - mutinied at the time they did and what the wider implications of that might be?"
"I think that it's probably an aberration," said Layton, "after all, the British Army has fought us pretty tenaciously in the engagements that we've had in North America. The same is true of the RAF, for that matter."
"Perhaps that is correct, Admiral," said General MacKenzie, "but I am not so certain. I believe that the worm has turned and that we may expect others to defect to the holy cause of liberty that we have already served for so long."
"I wish that I could share your confidence, General," said Admiral Layton, "but before it comes to anything like that, we still have some very substantial work that must be done. Our latest intelligence indicates that the enemy fleet has turned to face us and may well even be headed in our direction."
"I have absolute and unblemished confidence in your abilities and those of your sailors," replied General MacKenzie.
Democratic Union, Temporary Office of the American Commissioner, Chicago, Illinois
The High Commissioner sat quietly and watched the latest reports from MSNBC stream across the television screen in front of him.
"...the British government has yet to confirm any of this," stated the reporter who was standing in front of a rainy No. 10 Downing Street, "but, from where we are standing it must be said that it does appear to be absolutely authentic. The U.S. Government in Colorado held a press conference this morning, in Florida, where it presented to the world Wing Commander David Hennessy of the Royal Air Force, who stated that he was, until twenty-four hours ago, stationed on the Falkland Islands. What the Secretary of Defense stated in that press conference was that there was a confrontation between elements of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet and British forces somewhere near the Falkland Islands. Apparently the the Democratic Union forces there had been strengthened in recent weeks and they launched air attacks against the U.S. forces. The U.S. Department of Defense was somewhat reticent about explaining what happened from there, except to say that there were only a handful of U.S. and British casualties and that, ultimately, the islands are now in the hands of the U.S. government in Colorado."
"How do we not have anything on this?" raged the High Commissioner as he temporarily muted the television set.
"We're trying to get through to London now," said Minister Ransom quietly as the High Commissioner turned the volume on the TV set back up.
"...our sources in the British Ministry of Defense to confirm that they have lost contact with their forces in that region and that there was an RAF officer of the name of David Hennessy who was recently relocated to that post, but they were unable to confirm any of the other details of the story as laid out by the U.S. government in Colorado today. However, I should add that there have been a number of posting on social networks over the last few hours coming out of the United Kingdom, where people who are acquainted personally with this officer do apparently confirm that he is the officer pictured in this particular video. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the statement that he has given is accurate or even, for that matter, was given voluntarily."
"Any luck?" asked the High Commissioner, turning towards his aides.
"No response from anyone who can say thing yet, sir. Apparently the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, and the Minister of Defense are all in meetings with instructions that they are not to be disturbed and everyone who is left around is standing firm and insisting that they aren't authorized to speak."
"Ok, said the reporter on the air, pressing his earpiece with his hand," we are getting some word that a statement is going to be released shortly... No, wait. The word is that the Prime Minister will be speaking in the next few moments."
As the reporter turned around, the front door of No. 10 Downing Street flew open and Prime Minister Henry Blunt walked out onto the street, doing up the top button of his jacket and steadying himself as he prepared to speak to the assembled reporters.
"I can confirm the reports that have been carried in the media and on social media today, that there has been a invasion of sovereign British territory by forces that claim to represent the government of the United States. We have lost contact with our forces in the Falkland Islands, but our last communication with them indicated that they were under attack. We have no reason to believe, given the nature of our last communications with them, that their ability to resist will be prolonged or significant. With that I will take any questions that you might have."
"Prime Minister!" shouted one reporter, "can you confirm the reports that the garrison on the Falklands mutinied and then placed themselves in the hands of the local American commanders?"
"We cannot confirm those reports, nor can we confirm the authenticity of the statement issued today in Miami by Wing Commander David Hennessy. He is indeed an officer of the Royal Air Force - one with a very fine service record. Indeed, we are taking quite seriously the reports that the statement that he gave today is not a voluntary one. It is worth recalling that those men who now control the government of the United States were the same men who were willing to remake torture in the course of the so-called war on terrorism. It would not surprise me if they had chosen to embrace those same methods here. We call upon the government of the United States to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the sovereign British territory that it has invaded and to begin the immediate repatriation of any British nationals that they now hold."
"Will the war be continued?" asked another reporter.
"The policy of this government and our European and American partners is that we will uphold the rights of the people of the Federation of North American States to self-determination, even in the face of a violent assault by the reactionary right-wing regime that now controls the United States. This is not changed. Indeed, the international lawlessness demonstrated by the government of the United States today is a reason why we ought to intensify our efforts, not a reason for us to either draw back or surrender."
"With that," continued the Prime Minister, "I must return to work."
Moments after the Prime Minister stepped back through the door, the High Commissioner's phone rang.
"I have Prime Minister Blunt on the line for you," said the voice on the other end.
"Put him through," said the High Commissioner, leaning back in his seat.
"Mr. High Commissioner," said the Prime Minister.
"Was any of that true?" asked the High Commissioner.
"Well," said the Prime Minister, "they certainly did take the Falklands. That was a surprise. And it's also true that we haven't yet heard from any channels that we trust that the forces there mutinied... Although, I would add that, upon the balance of probabilities, that does appear to be the case. Though, as I pointed out, given the history of the United States government with regard to the use of torture, we cannot assume that any statement of that nature was freely given and uncoerced."
"Fair enough," said the High Commissioner, "but I should add that if we cannot trust your own forces... Doesn't that give you pause with regard to events here?"
"Some," admitted the Prime Minister, "but we are too deep into it now. Even if I were to admit that this entire policy with a folly and to perform a u-turn, then not only myself, but my party, would be tossed out of office in anything even remotely resembling an election - and that's with a notable portion of the opposition in jail. I can't imagine what it would be like otherwise. I am afraid that, at this point, we must either win everything or lose everything. I see no middle ground."
"We have placed a lot of reliance upon you here," said the High Commissioner
with a neutral tone.
"I am aware of that and grateful for it. So is the French President. So is the German Chancellor. And, let us face it - when this is concluded those voices, along with yours, are the only ones that will matter in either Europe or Eastern North America."
"Well then," said the High Commissioner, "where does that leave us to go next?"
"I've just finished speaking with our military commanders and we think that we have a plan that will really knock them on their heels," answered the Prime Minister.
Phoenix, Arizona
Oscar Hogan had travelled openly. Though the polls showed Mitchell Randall trailing the Terrance Rickover by around ten points in Arizona, the Washington Senator had maintained that he was going to fight for the votes of every state and anyways, in as unstable a political environment as existed across the United States at the present time, ten points was hardly all that much of a deficit anyways so the presence of the Randall campaign's leader would hopefully not raise anyone's suspicions.
What he had in his briefcase, however, and who he was going to meet with was absolutely secret.
It was a little after 11AM when Governor Robert Schmidt, wearing both a Stetson and a bolo tie, rolled into the hotel suite.
Jesus Christ , thought the Harvard and Oxford-educated operative as he examined the ex-Sheriff, imagine that man in a position of real national power.
The Governor dropped onto the couch.
"Well, Oscar," he said, "you've said at least enough to get me to come out here. But you're going to have to spin a really fancy tale in order to convince me why I ought to abandon a good conservative President who is in the middle of fighting a war in order to get onboard with a RINO like your friend the Senator."
"The Senator," said Oscar, "was consistently one of the most conservative members of the Washington State Senate."
"That'd kind of like being the most Protestant member of the College of Cardinals, buddy. Doesn't impress me a bit."