by Dale Brown
"The President specifically didn't want you for the Iran op-
eration," Samson said coldly, "because you have this knack
for stepping on toes, for sticking your face in where it doesn't
belong. Apparently, retirement hasn't mellowed you one bit.' 1
He paused, then shook his head. "The President asked only
for Jon and Patrick. Sorry, Brad-I'm not going to bring you
into the meeting. I'll mention to General Freeman that you're
on board-he can notify the President."
"Sheesh, you make it sound like Jon hired Saddarn Hussein
to fly for him," Elliott said sarcastically. "I'm not trying to
take over this operation, Earthmover. I advise the kid here on
how to design, build, and fly the Megafortress. That's all."
Samson ignored Elliott again and said to Masters and
McLanahan, "Jon, Patrick, he's your man, so you deal with
him. I'll back you all the way, but it's still my opinion that
Brad's presence in the White House or the Pentagon will only
hurt your chances of getting this operation approved."
"You still haven't told us what operation we're being con
sidered for, General," Jon Masters said. "What is it?"
"You'll be conducting a maritime reconnaissance operation
in the Formosa Straits," Samson replied. "I'll run it down."
"Shit, you don't mean we'll be working for Admiral 'Tight-
Ass' Allen at Pacific Command?" Elliott-intedected wearily.
"Man, I was glad to get out of the service ust so I didn't
FATAL T ER RAI N 75
have to listen to him bitch about the Philippines conflict. Now
we've got to listen to him again? And with Balboa on as
chairman of the Joint Chiefs, we'll spend half our time arguing
over who's got the bigger cruise missiles."
"You still get your orders from me," Samson said. "I re-
port directly to Philip Freeman at the White House, who will
report to the NCA."
I 'You just make sure Allen or Balboa don't try to snatch
this mission," Elliott said, admonishing Samson with that
cocksure grin again. "If they get control, they'll screw it up
for sure. We've got to have maximum autonomy out there,
and you know the squids aren't going to allow us to have it."
"I'll take your suggestion under advisement, Brad," Sam-
son said, his lips taut. Dammit, the guy was a real pain, but
he sure knew the score in Washington-Elliott had correctly
guessed who would probably be in the real chain of command
in this operation. "I signed for the Megafortresses when I took
them out of mothballs to let you characters play with them,
and I picked Eighth Air Force crews to fly them, so I think
I'll keep operational command. But if you're harboring any
thoughts about maybe making the EB-52 an operational
weapon system, play nice with the rest of the kids in the pool.
Follow me? Any problem with that, Brad? Is that enough full
disclosure for you?"
"No problem, Earthmover, none whatsoever," Elliott said.
"Actually, I'm happy to have you in the loop--even though
you are responsible for eliminating all the BUFFs from the
Air Force inventory. One of the greatest aerial attack platforms
ever devised, and you, of all people, allowed it to be retired
our watch."
"Let's not get into a discussion about who's responsible for
any good-or any bad-stuff happening in the Air Force or
the bomber world in recent history," Samson growled, trying
hard to control the sudden flush of anger rising up from his
chest. He knew his comment had hit Elliott, but the bastard
did not show it. Samson knew that Elliott knew that the down-
fall of HAWC had put air weapon research and development
back several years and may have even ensured the downfall
of the heavy bomber. So there was plenty of blame to go
around.
"The bottom line is, boys, you got your chance to show
what a modified B-52 bomber can do," Samson said. "Let
76 DALE BROWN
me deal with Washington-I want you to loudly kick some
ass out there, then bring yourselves home in one piece."
THE WHITE HOUSE OVAL OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, D.
FRIDAY, 30 MAY 1997, 1827 HOURS ET
"Mr. President, may I present Ambassador Kuo Han-min, the
new representative of the independent Republic of China,"
U. Secretary of State Jeffrey Hartman announced, as he was
ushered into the Oval Office. Already in the room with the
President of the United States, Kevin Martindale, were Vice
President Ellen Christine Whiting, National Security Advisor
Philip Freeman, Secretary of Defense Arthur Chastain, and
White House Chief of Staff Jerrod Hale. "Ambassador Kuo,
the President of the United States, Mr. Kevin Martindale."
The two shook hands, Ambassador Kuo bowing deeply,
then presenting his blue leather credentials folder directly to
the President. Kuo appeared a bit older than the President, with
thick dark hair, thick wire-rimmed glasses, and a thin frame.
"This is an honor for my country and for myself, Mr. Presi-
dent," he said.
"Good to see you again, Ambassador," the President said,
as he handed the folder to Hartman. The two had met'during
a Republican Party fund-raiser in Washington a year earlier;
Kuo Han-min had been a Taiwanese high-tech aerospace in-
dustry trade lobbyist at the time, whose organization had made
several very large contributions to the Party to help with Mar-
tindale's election campaign. The President steered Kuo around,
where several White House photographers recorded the his-
toric handshake-the arrival of the first Taiwanese ambassador
in Washington since the United States had broken diplomatic
ties with the exiled Nationalist Chinese government on For-
mosa in 1979 in favor of the Communist regime on the main-
land.
The President made introductions to his other advisors in
the room as the photographers departed, then offered him a
seat. "Unfortunately," the President began after everyone took
seats, "our first meeting here has to be a working one. We
FATAL T ER RAI N 77
feel your country is in serious danger, and we'd like to fill you
in as quickly as possible as to what we know, and discuss
what we should do about it. Jeffrey, you spoke with China's
foreign minister just a few moments ago. Bring us up to date."
Hartman stood behind one of the sofas surrounding the cof-
fee table and said, "Foreign Minister Qian of the PRC says
that the movement of ships along the Chinese coast is normal,
preplanned activity. As far as any threats towards Taiwan,
Qian says, in effect, 'Mind your own business.' Any activities
between the People's Republic and Chinese Taipei, as he con-
tinues to refer to the ROC, is a quote-unquote 'internal mat-
ter. ' "
"You told them to keep their hands off the ROC until we
can meet and talk about this?" the President asked. "We just
recognized the Republic of China's independence, for Christ's
sake! Attacking them now would be a slap in
the face towards
@ I
us.'
"In no uncertain terms, sir," Hartman replied. "I sent him
your letter, which he had received, and explained that the
United States would consider any military action against Tai-
wan as a seriously destabilizing and overtly hostile act, and
would respond with any means at our disposal, including mil-
itary means, to help bring stability back to the region. I plan
on meeting with Foreign Minister Qian in Beijing in three
days; hopefully I can get in to see President Jiang as well."
"Good," the President said. He stayed at his desk, quietly
contemplating something, then rose to his feet and started pac-
ing the floor. "Ambassador Kuo, any thoughts?"
"Sir, President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China be-
lieves as you do-that an invasion of Quemoy, the Pescadores,
Matsu, or even Formosa Tao is imminent," Ambassador Kuo
said. "He has ordered the mobilization of reserves and arming
the militia. He is standing firm-he is not withdrawing any
troops from Quemoy or Matsu. In fact, he is increasing them-
'he is flying in a thousand additional troops a day to both is-
lands, and is shipping in additional air defense units. He has
ordered the entire navy at sea to counter the Communist fleet's
movements."
"You're going to stand up to the Chinese army?" Secretary
of Defense Chastain asked incredulously. "Even if the PRC
doesn't invade, your army could suffer substantial losses."
"We have made the decision to fight and die to the very
78 DALE BROWN
last man, woman, and child to maintain our independence,"
Kuo said resolutely. "We must stand and fight, or die as a
country. We have chosen our way." He paused for a moment,
then looked the President square in the eyes and said, "Our
concern is not with the Communists, but with the United
States. You have declared your support for the Republic of
China, but we understand that -there is much to be done before
you may legally recognize my country."
"That's being taken care of, Mr. Ambassador," the Presi-
dent said. "The bill we sponsored repealing the 1979 Taiwan.
Relations Act comes up for a vote next week, and we expect
to be successful. Our support for the Republic of China is firm
and unwavering."
"Yet we understand that you risk much politically by such
action," Kuo said. "Your country's trade with the mainland
could be in jeopardy-if the Communists shut the United
States out, it will cost you at least thirty billion dollars a year.
But worse than a trade war is the prospect of military action,
of a large Pacific conflict."
"Ambassador, everyone wants trade with China, so they all
look the other way when China does something to one of its
neighbors," the President said angrily. "My father died fight-
ing the Chinese in North Korea when I was a kid-everyone
forgets that war and China's involvement. Everyone also for-
gets that we almost went to war-nuclear war-with Red
China in 1955 over their bombardment of Taiwan. I was a kid,
just getting over the death of my father in North Korea, when
mainland China started shelling Quemoy-Jesus, I thought
World War Three was going to start any day, that the Com-
munists were going to sweep across the planet just like we
saw that red stain sweep across the globe in the propaganda
films. Throughout the sixties, Red China was just as much a
threat as the Soviet Union-I remember China supporting
North Vietnam and China imprisoning American POWs. The
Soviet Union and China were both our hated enemies.
"The death of Stalin and Mao's break with the Soviets
changed our strategy," the President went on. "In the rush to
counterbalance the Soviet threat, we embraced the Chinese
Communist government and turned our backs on democratic,
capitalist governments like yours. No more. The United,States
is not going to wait patiently a hundred years for mainland
China to adopt a free-market society, and in the meantime sit
FATAL TER RAI N 79
idly by while they destroy the Republic of China, gobble up
oil fields in the South China Sea, refuse to enforce interna-
tional copyright laws, and threaten free trade with the rest of
Asia. America can't put off the decision any longer: we're
either for an independent, democratic Republic of China, or
we're for the hope that mainland China will keep Taiwan cap-
italist and free while they absorb you, like they're absorbing
Hong Kong."
"I thank you, Mr. President," Kuo said, bowing sincerely,
"for your words and for sharing your thoughts with me. But
I must still ask about the political realities of your decision; I
apologize if I am too forward..."
"Ask anything, Ambassador," the President urged.
"Thank you, sir. My government is aware of the opposition
party's inquiries as to your actions against the Islamic Republic
of Iran, about the rumors that you sent a stealth bomber over
China. Since that incident, you have withdrawn all of your
carrier battle groups from Chinese waters, despite the threat of
a Communist invasion of my country. Is there a threat of a
no-confidence vote in your congress or of any legal action that
might preclude you from helping in,the defense of my coun-
try?, I
"I appreciate your concern, Ambassador," the President re-
plied, "but I think I can handle the opposition party. Fortu-
nately, it takes a lot more than a no-confidence vote to get me
out of office. Now I've got a couple blunt questions for you,
Han-min."
"Of course, sir," Kuo responded. "Please."
"We are very concerned about the protests in your country
over the Senkaku Islands," Secretary of State Hartman said.
The Senkaku Islands were a series of small, uninhabited is-
lands in the East China Sea between Okinawa and Taiwan,
which were claimed by China, Japan, and Taiwan; Japan had
taken the islands from China in 1894 and had not relinquished
possession after World War 11, as it had with Formosa. Taiwan
claimed the Senkakus as part of its archipelago. Diplomatic
relations between the three countries had been strained for
years because of overlapping fishing and oil-drilling rights in
the area. "Japanese nationals have been attacked by protesters
in Taipei, and no arrests have been made. It will be difficult
to support the ROC if we get in the middle of a Japan-Taiwan
conflict."
80 DALE BROWN
Ambassador Kuo thought for a moment; then: "Many in
my country feel strongly that the Tiaoyutai, what Japan calls
the Senkaku Islands, be returned to us, that they are spoils of
war taken from us by imperial Japan."
"We understand the source of the disagreement, Ambassa-
dor, but a Japanese woman is dead and seven more are injured,
in the middle of a riot with over a thousand protesters and two
hundred police and army units, and no one saw anything? No
/> evidence? No suspects?" Vice President Whiting interjected
incredulously. "It looks like a huge cover-up, Mr. Ambassa-
dor. The Japanese government is hopping mad, and they want
us to set up an arms and technology embargo against your
country. We need definitive action immediately, or our Asian
coalition will be broken before it has a chance to solidify."
"What do you suggest, Madame Vice President?" Kuo
asked.
"We suggest your government ask for assistance from the
American Federal Bureau of Investigation," Whiting replied,
I Iand I also strongly suggest that you-and this is totally off
the record-round up some suspects and publicly arraign
them, and fast. Let's not be losing friends over some small,
uninhabited piles of rocks while you lose friendly neighbors
and your home island is in danger of being overrun."
Kuo lowered his eyes for a moment, then raised them and
nodded. "We feel that the Tiaoyutai is much more than a 'pile
of rocks,' Madame Vice President," Kuo said solemnly. "But
you are correct-I understand that our inability to solve the
murder appears as if we condone it. I shall recommend that
my government request immediate assistance from your gov-
ernment in the investigation, and I assure you that there will
be swift action."
"We also need a statement from you on exactly when your
country will discontinue nuclear weapons development and be-
gin dismantling your nuclear weapon stockpiles," Secretary of
Defense Chastain cut in.
Kuo swung toward Chastain, then to the President, with a
look of horror in his face. "Nuclear weapons?" he sputtered.
"Sir, the Republic of China possesses no nuclear weapons."
"Our intelligence information tells us otherwise, Ambas-
sador," National Security Advisor Philip Freeman said. "Ac-
cording to our data, over the past fifteen years you have been
involved in a nuclear weapons coproduction effort with the
FATAL TE R RAI N SI
Republic of South Africa, and our information suggests you
may have developed a warhead small enough to be used on a
gravity bomb or cruise missile."