Sky Masters

by Dale Brown

  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 will fight your annexation,

  resist your attempt to overthrow them, and split themselves off from the

  rest of the Philippines altogether-"

  "Yes. Vice President Samar is proving to be difficult, " Teguina

  admitted. Jose Trujillo Samar, Second Vice President of the

  Philippines, was the governor of the state of Mindanao. "But once the

  city of Davao falls, Mindanao will be ours as well." Mikaso sat back in

  the chair behind his desk, trying to absorb everything Teguina was

  saying. This was insane. Teguina had taken the nuclear detonation and

  allowed the Philippines to be raped by it. His entire country-the

  nation he loved and served-was evaporating before his eyes. Even its

  very form of government. He had to stop this, had to buy himself some

  time. ... had to stop Teguina. But he needed time. Moments, if nothing

  else. "Daniel, " Mikaso said, "what about these Chinese troops here?

  How do they fit into your master plan?"

  "Glad you asked, Mikaso, " Teguina said smugly. He motioned to the

  officer in the helmet and blue bulletproofjacket. "This is Admiral Yin

  Po L'un, commander of the Spratly Island flotilla, the fleet that your

  traitorous s
oldiers bombed and strafed three nights ago. As a fellow

  Communist, he has agreed-with the full support of the People's Republic

  of China, communicated to us from Beijing by Ambassador Dong-to assist

  in establishing my new regime. In exchange I have granted the Chinese

  Navy complete ownership of illegitimate Philippine holdings in the

  Spratly Islands. I have also authorized them access to our ports on

  Palawan and, once the rebel military forces have been eliminated, the

  naval base at Zamboanga and the airfields at Cebu and Davao. They will

  also have access to the former American military bases at Subic Bay and

  Angeles..."

  "You're giving the Chinese four military bases?" Mikaso gasped

  incredulously. "You're insane, Teguina! The people will never allow

  it-the world will never allow such a domination!"

  "It is already being done, Mikaso, " Teguina said. "Not if I can help

  it, " Mikaso said, reaching into his desk drawer to pull out a pistol

  he'd kept there for years. But it was too late. Several Type 56

  automatic rifles, variants of the Soviet AK47 assault rifle, swung in

  his direction and someone fired. Mikaso jerked from the impact of the

  shot and slumped over the desk before finally collapsing on the floor.

  Teguina stood staring at the assassinated President, his mouth slightly

  agape. He had never meant to kill Mikaso, simply arrest him and have

  him confined. He continued to stare at the body and realized his

  breathing was labored. He felt a tap on the shoulder. "Comrade

  President.. ." Admiral Yin said, a slight smile on his face. Teguina

  had never heard those words before. The reality was dawning on him.

  Within a few seconds he had become the new President of the Republic of

  the Philippines-no, the President of the New Democratic Federation of

  Aguinaldo. He liked the sound of that-President of the Democratic

  Federation of Aguinaldo. It was a name that recalled the glory days,

  the days of fervent revolutionaries like Emilio Aguinaldo, a peasant

  farmer who rose to become the leader of a nation over two world

  superpowers, Spain and the United States. No matter that Aguinaldo was

  finally captured by General Funston, capitulated, and swore allegiance

  to America-it was his indomitable spirit that survived. It would become

  the rallying cry for a new nation. The Republic of Aguinaldo. The name

  sounded perfect. The body in a brown suit had been hastily covered with

  a tablecloth and was carried out by Chinese soldiers. "Wait!" Teguina

  shouted. "1 want the badge." He pointed to his lapel, then motioned to

  the body that had been taken away. A Chinese officer went out,

  returning a few seconds later with the Philippine Badge of Honor.

  Teguina's eyes registered dark stains spattered across the officer's

  fingers, but ignored them as he pinned the Badge of Honor to his own

  lapel. The doors to the President's office were closed by the Chinese

  troops, and Daniel Francisco Teguina set about the task of planning the

  important next steps to consolidating his power. THE WHITE HOUSE OVAL

  OFFICE WEDNESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 1994, 1035 HOURS LOCAL The President was

  at his desk, staring out of one of the bulletresistant polycarbonate

  windows looking into the Rose Garden, when the men were ushered in. He

  didn't even look up. His mind was on something more personal, more

  immediate than whatever brought the gentlemen in for this next

  appointment. Secretary of State Dennis Danahall and the President's

  Chief of Staff, Paul Cesare, were standing near the President's desk.

  The President's secretary ushered General Curtis into the Oval Office.

  Curtis had been summoned for a meeting with the NSC and the President.

  "Sir.. ." General Curtis said, letting the President know he was

  present after Taylor's secretary had shut the door behind him and

  disappeared back into the outer reception area. The President said

  nothing for a moment-nor did the others-and then, finally, he turned and

  took a deep breath. "Arturo Mikaso may be dead." Curtis felt his heart

  skip a beat. "What? Mikaso dead?" Danahall said, "It's unconfirmed,

  but we got a report a few minutes ago from British Intelligence, who had

  a Filipino clerk working in the palace at the time. The clerk says

  Mikaso was shot by a Chinese guard about an hour ago when the troops

  moved in. Some other Cabinet members and most of Mikaso's staff and

  guards were also shot."

  "Mikaso could still be alive." The President sighed. "But I doubt it."

  "What about the Chinese? Are they assisting in the coup?" asked Curtis.

  "The Chinese have occupied a military base on Palawanthey have in fact

  occupied the entire island-and have been given authorization by Teguina

  to occupy four more installations in the south, " Secretary of Defense

  Preston said. "There are Chinese infantry and armor units in the

  capital already, and they are augmenting rebel troops by the hundreds."

  Curtis looked at the President of the United States, understanding the

  terrible anguish within him. President Taylor and Mikaso had been

  friends despite the removal of U.S. troops from the Philippines, and

  Taylor had always pledged to protect Mikaso and his island country no

  matter what the political situation was. The news of his murder in his

  own house, by invading troops, must have been devastating to the

  President. "Mr. President, I'm very sorry. "I haven't even briefed the

  rest of the NSC or the Cabinet about it yet, " the President replied

  quietly. "Dammit, I should have been smarter. 1 should have realized

  Arturo was in danger from the beginning.. ." The President swiveled

  his chair and faced his advisers. "Well, what the hell do we do now?"

  "The Chinese have closed off the airport, " Danahall said. "It's too

  late to evacuate American citizens in Manila. We should demand that all

  American citizens that wish to leave be allowed to leave."

  "Yes, absolutely . . . see to it immediately, " the President said.

  His mind was moving quickly from item to item, all the while interrupted

  with the thought of his friend murdered in cold blood by a Chinese

  soldier. "What about the carriers? Are they in danger from the Chinese

  now?" General Curtis said, "1 believe the carriers can adequately

  protect themselves from any sea-based threats, including Chinese

  submarines. Their main threat would come from longrange, land-based

  strike aircraft or antiship missiles, and we need to determine the

  seriousness of that threat before sending any carrier task forces too

  close to occupied territory. The main thing is, we've got to get all

  the data we possibly can on the composition of the Chinese invaders. But

  if I may speak freely, sir-the most important question here is what you

  intend to do about the Chinese in the Philippines, " Curtis concluded.

  "I want the Chinese out, that's what, " the President replied testily.

  "I want the democratic government in Manila restored. We will open

  negotiations with Premier Cheung immediately, of course, but I want them

  out. Unconditionally."

  "But if they are invited by the Philippine government? Do we have any

  right to go in
with military force to try to remove them?" Secretary of

  Defense Preston asked. "If they pose no direct threat to free trade and

  free access to the South Pacific or Southeast Asia, why do we want them

  out of the Philippines?" "What do you mean... ? Of course we have the

  right to remove them from the Philippines, " President Taylor said.

  "They're a destabilizing force, a military and political threat to the

  democracies in the area. Aren't we in agreement on this?"

  "I don't think there is any question about that, " Danahall said. "A

  three-way balance of power-us, the Soviets, and the Chinese-offers the

  best stability. Reduce it to one nation and the Cold War heats up all

  over again." Curtis said, "But Secretary Preston's point is valid, sir.

  We might not have any legitimate right to try to bump the Chinese out

  unless we can prove that the invasion is not in our best interests or

  unless we are asked to intervene."

  "We have every right to make demands on the Chinese, " Cesare

  interjected. "They don't own the South China Sea. No nation can just

  move in and occupy another country."

  "Exactly, Paul, " the President said, "Mikaso was our friend and ally.

  I'm sure he didn't give his life to allow the Chinese to march into his

  capital and take over his country."

  "Curtis and Preston have a point, Mr. President, " Danahall said. "If

  the present government-even Teguinasays he invited China in to quell

  some sort of national uprising, that forces us into a defensive

  situation. We have to explain to the world why we want to send troops

  in."

  "We're always put in a position to defend our actions, " the President

  scoffed. "What else is new?"

  "That's often true, Mr. President, " Danahall said. "But we've got to

  try to work in concert with other countries-the more we try to go it

  alone, the more we're accused of bullying and imperialism. We should

  get some interested countries involved and get them to ask for our

  help."

  "Like who?" "ASEAN, for example, " Danahall replied. "Most or all of

  the ASEAN nations have had territorial arguments with ChinaASEAN was