by Dale Brown
“I think it is fairly obvious, Mr. President, that he intends to use this episode to fortify his position in the Philippines and fill the void created by our departure, ” Preston replied. “He’s created a substantial resupply line from China to the Philippines that we might find impossible to break, and he’s found a way to get the government to offer him basing facilities and local support. We may never be able to shake him loose if he manages to consolidate all his gains.”
“So we have no military options?”
“We have many military options, sir, ” Preston replied, “but it’ll mean a serious escalation of our military commitment. Cheung has both the military power and at least the appearance of legitimacy-that’s an unbeatable combination no matter how you look at it. If we want to counteract the advantage he has, we have to risk stepping up to the brink of a superpower war. “We’ll wait to hear what the ASEAN has to say, ” the President said finally. “If they vote to condemn the Chinese, world opinion will start to turn away from them-we can add our evidence of the Chinese firing that nuclear missile if we can get someone to confirm that Sky Masters data. Cheung won’t have any choice but to back down then.” To the Defense Secretary the President asked, “But in case they won’t back down, Thomas, what can we do then?”
“Mr. President, this may be more of a political decision to make with Dennis Danahall and the Congressional leadership, but I see the Chinese as a serious military threat to our national interests in the region, ” Preston replied. “If they take the Philippines, they can militarily and economically threaten every other Pacific Rim nation. We’ll have no choice but to build up our own military forces in the region to counterbalance them. We must act.”
“So what do we do?” the President asked. “Are you considering sending in the Marines or this Air Battle Force thing?” Preston considered the question for a moment, then replied. “Yes, sir-in limited numbers and in total secrecy. General Curtis mentioned the equipment installed on Brad Elliott’s experimental planes-that may be a good place to start. Sending the entire Air Battle Force would be difficult to keep secret, but sending three or four aircraft would be a simple matter. I recommend approving the STRATFOR’s plan to deploy the PACER SKYequipped combat aircraft as soon as possible.” The President’s eyes glanced over to his brother-in-law, Benson, who was enthusiastically nodding his agreement; Secretary of State Danahall looked grim and undecided, but eventually gave a slight nod. “Approved, Thomas, ” the President said. “Keep it quiet. 1 want those planes kept under wrap until I decide to tell the world they’re there.” He paused, rubbing his eyes wearily, then added, “And I hope to hell we get some good news from Ambassador O’Day in Singapore.” ASEAN HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE HALL, SINGAPORE FRIDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 1994, 0821 HOURS LOCAL (29 SEPTEMBER, 2121 WASHINGTON TIME) The emergency meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations began shortly after the first of five daily prayers for its Moslem members; the crier’s call to prayer was played over the building’s public-address system, and a shining silver and crystal chandelier on the right-hand wall of the conference center indicated the direction of Mecca. Deborah O’Day, the United Nations ambassador from the United States, had been reminded to stay in the ladies’ room until prayers were overwomen, even foreign nonbelieving women, were not encouraged to be nearby during prayers. O’Day was familiar with most aspects of Moslem life; she was especially versed on its feudalistic treatment of women. In many ways ASEAN, where four of the seven member nations were predominantly Islamic, was little more than an exclusive all-male country club, their play interrupted occasionally by short periods of more or less serious work and debate. Women performed the usual secretarial duties and little more-except, of course, for the courtesans who could be seen wandering the halls of the adjacent hotel where most of the delegates and foreign ministers stayed. It was important for these delegates to not look upon her as a woman, but a representative of the United States government. She even went as far as wearing a very male-cut outfit, with a double-breasted jacket, a long ankle-length skirt that resembled a Muslim robe, and had even cut her hair very short for this meeting. Anything to blend in was fair game. The meeting got under way with the last series of short speeches concerning the Chinese presence in the Philippines, and one by one the delegates voiced their opposition to China sending so many troops and so many warships to those islands. As expected, the delegation from the Philippines urged restraint, patience, and understanding through these troubled times. O’Day had not met the new ambassador from the Philippines, knew nothing about him, and had not been granted an appointment with him. The ASEAN executive council had immediately credentialed him, however, so he had full authority to vote and debate during the meeting: “The Philippines are in the process of enacting the first meaningful, productive change in our nation’s history, ” the Philippine ambassador said. “Our nation has been dominated by foreigners almost since our inception . O’Day cocked an eyebrow. She got the drift-the ambassador was obviously somebody’s parrot. Well, she sure as hell wasn’t buying it. “Mr. Ambassador, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Where is President Mikaso? Has he been assassinated? Taken captive?”
“Silence, Ambassador O’Day, ” the chairman of the executive council, the ambassador from Indonesia, said. “You are not permitted to speak in this forum.. She ignored him. “I would like proof that it was an American weapon that detonatedoff your shores, as you claim. This council has been given substantial evidence that it was a Chinese warhead-“
“Lies, ” Ambassador Perez spat. “I demand that this woman be removed from our presence and that her government apologize for her insulting behavior . “Sit up and take it like a man, Ambassador, ” O’Day said evenly. “After all, I’m only a woman. That was too much for the ASEAN delegates; even the Brunei Crown Prince, who could not keep his lascivious eyes off her and had nodded approval when she first spoke up, shook his head. “Ambassador O’Day, you have been granted observer status only, ” the chairman said. “You are not permitted to speak. You will not be warned again. Ambassador Perez, continue with your statement.” “Thank you. My country has been bled by the former regime’s failed economic policies and by American imperialism. The Chinese were victims of rebel aggression as well. When they offered humanitarian aid after the nuclear attack-a gesture that was not made by any other nation until days later, including many nations represented here-we also requested assistance in quelling the well-armed and bloodthirsty rebels . “You ought to write techno-thrillers, Mr. Perez, ” the Crown Prince from Brunei said with a laugh. “They are very popular in my country. Unfortunately, your lies are not.” Perez pressed on. “I urge my fellow delegates to vote to disapprove sanctions against my country and to follow continued relief and police efforts by the Chinese government. My people beg for your help and understanding. Thank you.” He turned and gave O’Day a murderous glare, then stared straight ahead, waiting for the Council’s decision. “The resolution before the council would approve full economic sanctions against the Republic of China and the Philippines, ” the chairman summarized, “and would restrict all trade and commerce with China, and would authorize the Association to implement all policies and invoke all measures to urge China to withdraw its military forces from all members’ territorial or disputed waters. We vote by open-voice ballot. Five votes are required to pass the resolution. If all discussion is concluded, please record your vote.” One by one, they voted. Indonesia. Malaysia. Singapore. The Kingdom of Brunei. All in favor of the resolution. The Philippines voted against it. As did Thailand, who along with Vietnam-the last two ASEAN countries to vote-had waived any closing arguments to the resolution. That had O’Day worried. She had tried to talk to each ambassador before the meeting, but had no luck. Both were critical countries; both had borders with China, and their huge neighbor was always a major presence in any political and military situation. But both were members of ASEAN to counter China’s influence, and so far it was working. They finally had the political clout
to stand up to their powerful neighbor. “The kingdom of Thailand, ” its ambassador said, “is convinced that such a resolution, made in the heat of passion and without extensive study and debate, would be counterproductive. As much as Thailand seeks an end to violence and fear, we cannot support such a resolution without further study. Thailand abstains.” O’Day couldn’t believe it. Of all countries, Thailand stood to lose the most if China were allowed to exert a greater influence in the region; she had never expected them to abstain. That left Vietnam as the deciding vote. They would have to vote yes, O’Day thought. After all, Vietnam and China were all but enemies. True, Vietnam was the only Communist country in ASEAN, and true, Vietnam and China had once been uneasy allies, but. “Republic of Vietnam.”
“Vietnam abstains.” Deborah O’Day shot to her feet in absolute shock. “What!” she shouted. “You’re abstaining? Why?” The chairman was pounding his gavel over the sudden flurry of excited voices. “Ambassador O’Day, your outbursts will not be tolerated! You are ordered to leave. I will have order in this chamber… “I want an explanation!” O’Day shouted. Security guards were quickly rushing to her side. “Don’t you understand? You’re handing over the keys to your cities to the Chinese if you don’t stop them now!” O’Day was still shouting as she was unceremoniously pulled to her feet and half-dragged, half-escorted to the rear of the conference room and outside. Her aide was deposited beside her a few moments later. “I don’t believe this, ” O’Day told her aide as they made their way to the entrance. What the hell is going on? Vietnam should certainly be opposed to Chinese aggression. … Something is very odd…”
“We’ve got to notify Washington about this immediately, ” her aide said as they made their way to the limousine. “We’ll have to brief the President… The Marine Corps driver from the embassy staff, in full dress blues-spotless white gloves, white belt with .45-caliber sidearm, spit-shined boots, and round hat with the brim pulled down so low it almost obscured his racing-style sunglassesquickly stepped around from the driver’s side to the curbside rear door, opened it, and stood at attention as O’Day and her aide entered the car. “How’s the traffic on Bukit Timah Road, Corporal?” she asked her driver distractedly. He grunted a perfunctory, Poor, ma’am, ” in reply and quickly closed the door. “Go ahead and take the central avenue to Government House, then, ” O’Day’s aide said as the driver re-entered the limousine. “Call ahead and ask Communications to get a line open for us.” The driver pulled out into the traffic and, with usual Marine flair and urgency, roared down the wide central city avenue toward Singapore’s Embassy Row. “China’s just been given the green light to occupy the Philippines and make a grab for the rest of the Pacific, ” O’Day’s aide said. “The President won’t have any choice but to respond militarily.”
“But he won’t like it, ” O’Day said. “He wants the endorsement of some Pacific Rim government or organization before he commits troops, and he just lost the most important one. God, is he going to be pissed.”
“This will be one phone call I don’t envy you, ” her aide said. He turned to the Marine Corps driver. “Corporal, you didn’t call the embassy communications office like the ambassador asked. Now please do it.” His order was answered with a clunk! as the locks on all the doors engaged. O’Day immediately scanned all the windows, looking for pursuing cars or any sign of a threat; there were none. Her aide immediately reached down below the seat to the hidden compartment where a Uzi submachine gun was stored. “Corporal, why’d you lock the doors?” O’Day asked. “What’s going on?” “The Uzi’s gone, ” her aide said. He fingered the door unlock buttons and power window switches-none were operable. “What the hell is going on?” He reached for the cellular phone in the backseat, but the “Ready” lights were all out-the phone too was dead. A .45-caliber Colt semiautomatic pistol appeared in the hand of the driver; he showed it to O’Day and her aide but then immediately lowered it, out of view. “Please sit still and do not try anything foolish, ” the driver said. “You will not be harmed unless you try to resist.” It was not until O’Day looked at the man through the rearview mirror that she realized he was wearing sunglasses-their Marine driver had not been wearing them before because of the early hour and overcast skies. “Where’s our driver?”
“Safely asleep in the trunk, Ambassador O’Day, ” the man replied. “He put up quite a struggle before we could subdue him. He will awaken in a few minutes.” The driver eased off the main avenue toward a hotel parking lot where the car could be partially obscured, but not appear too conspicuously isolated. He parked the car and immediately began removing the uniform. “What are you going to do with us?”
“Nothing, ” the driver said. Underneath the blue uniform, he wore a T-shirt with palm trees on it, khaki shorts, and white tennis socks; he replaced the spit-shined shoes with tennis shoes. He looked like a tourist from any number of Asian or European countries. Gripping the .45 in his right hand, he glanced nervously at his watch, leaned through the dividing window between the compartments, and said, “I know your embassy tracks all its vehicles by microtransmitter, so I will not stay any longer. I have a message from Second Vice President General Samar. “Samar!” O’Day exclaimed. “Is he still alive? Is he in hiding…?” Samar had disappeared the day Mikaso had been killed. It had been assumed Samar was dead, too. “Silence, ” the man said; then, realizing he might have sounded too demanding, added, “Please.” Then, “General Samar requests help from your government to relieve Davao on the island of Mindanao. He is resisting the Chinese invaders but cannot hold on for much longer-Puerto Princesa and Zamboanga have fallen, and Cotabato and Davao will be next… “If Samar wants help, ” O’Day told the man, “he had better stop playing hide-and-seek and take control of the government. The non-Communist citizens will follow him, but everyone thinks he’s dead…”
“He may be dead if you do not help, ” the agent said. “We need more than just…”
“Silence. I have stayed too long already. Listen carefully. General Samar says that the Ranger carrier battle group will be attacked by Chinese air forces from Zamboanga if they attempt to enter the Celebes Sea.”
“What? How in hell do you know that ?” “General Samar is on Mindanao, organizing his people and his resistance forces. He is carefully monitoring the Chinese military’s movements and communications, and he concludes that on the first of October-Revolution Day-Admiral Yin Po L’un’s forces will attack any foreign military forces that attempt to pass near Mindanao.”
“But that’s crazy, ” O’Day’s aide said. “The Chinese wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack an American carrier. . “I will not debate you. The General has risked his life to bring this information to you-in exchange, he officially requests military and humanitarian aid from the United States. Please help. Contact him at this number immediately. Do not alert your embassy by radio or telephone; there are spies everywhere.” The man reached down and hit the button to unlock the trunk. “Your guard will awaken in ten to fifteen minutes; he will release you then. Do not attempt to follow r” Please help my people.” The man raised the dividing glass screen, stepped out of the car, and ran as fast as he could away from the hotel; they saw him throw the gun into a ditch before he ran out of sight. minutes; he will release you then. Do not attempt to follow me. Please help my people.” The man raised the dividing glass screen, stepped out of the car, and ran as fast as he could away from the hotel; they saw him throw the gun into a ditch before he ran out of sight. ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GUAM 30 SEPTEMBER 1994, 2331 HOURS LOCAL (29 SEPTEMBER, 0931 WASHINGTON TIME) hey had kept the landing lights off until seconds before Ttouc~~own. The only lights on around the entire base were the runway-end identifier lights and blue taxiway lightsall “ball park” lights on the parking ramps, exterior lights, and streetlights near the runway were out. Looking from the cockpit, the entire northern part of the island of Guam appeared as dark and as deserted as the thousands of miles of ocean they had just crossed. The aircraft, as black a
s the tropical night sky from which it descended, used the runway closest to the parking area and did not touch down until nearly halfway down the two-milelong runway at Andersen Air Force Base so it would spend as little time as possible exposed to view while taxiing. At the end of the runway, it taxied rapidly across the wide north ramp to a row of large hangars and pulled straight into the first one. The hangar doors were closed behind it seconds later as the engines were shut down. Security patrols began an immediate sweep of the area, using dogs and lightintensifying night-vision equipment to search for intruders. The interior of the huge hangar brightly illuminated the M1 ii sleek, bat-shaped outline of the B-2 Black Knight stealth bomber. Maintenance crews checked the aircraft and immediately began opening inspection and access panels. A few moments later the belly hatch swung open and three men climbed down the access ladder. As Major Henry Cobb, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick McLanahan, and Brigadier General John Ormack emerged from the huge black bomber, General Elliott, General Stone, Jon Masters, and Colonel Fusco were there to greet them. “Good to see you guys, Elliott said, shaking each of their hands and handing each of them a beer. “We’re damned glad to be here, ” Cobb exclaimed. “My butt is wondering if my legs have been cut off.” All three aviators looked completely exhausted and thoroughly rumpled, but their smiles were genuine as Elliott made introductions all around. The formalities of every military flight still had to be accomplished, so Elliott and the others waited patiently as Cobb and McLanahan completed their postflight walkaround inspection of the bomber and sat down with several aircraft-maintenance technicians to explain the few glitches found during flight. Afterward they were taken to a conference room at the command post, where sandwiches, more beer, and several other members of Stone’s staff were waiting to greet them. “I must say, this is a pretty impressive showing, ” Rat Stone said after the three crew members were settled down. “Deploying a B-2 from South Dakota to Guam with only three hours’ notice, then flying nonstop all the way. So what’s it like to spend nearly seventeen hours straight in a stealth bomber?”