[War] China: "The Time"

[Chazenesq2b at aol.com]

"The Time"
President Xia Hong
People's Republic of China
===================================
 
(Executive Residence, Beijing)
 
The new, formal Executive Residence had been built near the ancient heart of 
the city, having ironically displaced a large shopping mall.  It's former 
parking lot was now a massive, oriental style lawn (that part of it which, 
ofcourse, wasn't being used as a parking lot for the fleets of cars on hand.)  that 
was finely and scrupuously manicured... being designed in addition to hide the 
considerable security forces always around the President.  All the 
incorporated security features, the utility components, the offices themselves (an office 
park in the next plot was where most of the Executive departmens and their 
staff worked), were seemingly hidden... covered by a lavish venir that was 
incredibly gorgeous to look at.
 
Xia was exhausted.  She'd gone through what was a mentally difficult 
interview with the State run Xinhua News Agency, focussing especially upon the 
rollercoaster style relationship with Russia.  She couldn't help but be a little 
sour, the normally patient and soft spoken President 'did' on occassion have her 
patience tried like everyone else... and in this case she couldn't help but end 
up with the thought that were she a male her interview would have gone a 
'lot' more smoothly.
 
She was grateful to be on the south balcony, overlooking the scholar's 
garden.  There was a nice, warm breeze tonight, one that was rare in February.  
Damned Russians... they were starting to give her a really ill feeling.  A little 
paranoia was healthy, even cute... but they were taking it to a whole new, and 
'dangerous', level.  And why?  That was 'the' question, more than others, 
that she wanted answered.  Rational actor theory hypothesized that states under 
control of rational people acted rationally... either President Nemerenko was a 
mad man in disguise, or years of Political Science education was wrong.  She 
sure as hell hoped it was the latter.
 
On a pad, pen in hand, she had begun writing out letters.  The first was a 
draft of what she'd intended on sending to Ivan the nuts at the Krazy Kremlin.  
Such was the ongoing joke among the staffers aware of Moscow's wild ride as of 
late.  It in no uncertain terms stated very clearly that China had no 
intentions to take Russian territory, and highlighted in no small detail exactly how 
cooperative they have been over the border issue.  It was, after all, a 
Chinese initiative... why would they ask for something and then ignore it?  Was she 
the 'only' one on Earth that saw that as utterly pointless and idiotic?
 
No sooner had she finished than a voice had called to her from inside.  "That 
is a face I remember all too well."
 
She turned to see her Minister of Security and Intelligence standing, Bing 
right behind him.  A broad smile crept over her lips.  "Marrim... only you could 
be so sneaky."
 
"Only you could be so oblivious to the outside world."  He chuckled in turn, 
both men walking out onto the balcony.  They found their seats rather quickly, 
an aide bringing in their prepared reports.  About a hundred pages worth of 
memos and research notes were placed on the table.  There was only one reason 
the two men would bring so many documents with them.  "Korea?"
 
Both nodded, Marrim continued speaking.  "Intelligence reports have been 
flooding in, with several of the competing generals wanting Chinese backing.  To 
say the situation is not good would be an understatement.  We estimate there is 
maybe two to three weeks worth of food left in the country, almost all of it 
under the control of these Generals.  We believe we'll be witnessing 
wide-spread deaths at the rate of up to two-hundred thousand per week if this is 
allowed to go on any longer.  Already the border security forces are being 
overwhelmed by North Koreans attempting to flee the fighting.  More over, in two 
hours..." he sighed, selecting one of the 10 page reports and handing it to Xia.  
"Xinhua will be revealing that the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang is being swarmed 
by people trying to get in.  Fighting is starting to creep into the city, and 
the Police structures are either being coopted into alliances or vacated 
entirely.  There is absolutely no law or order.  Minister Li is asking for 
military assistance in an evacuation of the Embassy... the requested assets are in 
that report and will be made available upon your signiture."
 
After a brief review, she signed off on the plan, handing it back.  "What are 
our options?"

 
"At this point..." Bing accepted the papers and passed them to the aide.  "We 
see no other option than a long-term peacekeeping operation.  Right now, 
whoever has the most force will win.  The North Koreans are too engrossed in 
fighting each other to present a challenge.  If we move in, we could have effective 
control of the nation inside of a month.  Whatever factions go against us 
won't have the power left to be an effective fighting force.  Operational plans 
are detailed here, here, and here."  Bing offered three more lengthy reports.  
"The initial wave will be 750,000 troops, supported by the PLN and PLAF.  We 
anticipate capturing most of their airfields and aircraft in tact, and sweeping 
the skies of whoever rises to the fight.  Special forces will strike 
instantaneously, capturing what they have in terms of a Navy and important 
infrastructure.  Airborne troops will be tasked with capturing the artillery positions 
along the South Korean border... most of which have already been removed for use 
in the internal fighting.  They'll provide a border defense along with Marine 
forces to insure fighting doesn't spread past the peninsula.  The largest 
force will then cross the Yalu, and move south, meeting up with this force and 
establishing order.  We will provide emergency relief to pay for vital 
government services and operations, and provide immediate humanitarian assistance.  The 
beligerent forces will be offered amnesty if they report for duty under 
Chinese officers with their units, otherwise we will be left with no choice but to 
destroy the hold outs."
 
Xia bit her lip.  Nobody 'wanted' war... and this would give them that if 
they were unlucky.  They would win it, hands down... but at what costs?  The fact 
that Wen's brother's unit would be sent also stung... and she couldn't risk 
telling him without compromising security.  Suddenly being President didn't 
seem nearly as appetizing... yes she had managed to get a lot of good things 
done, but between the Americans and their allies, the Russian micro-crisis, and 
this... exhausting was the only word you could use.
 
Still, it had to be done.
==========================================
 
Actions
 
1.  Initiate 'Operation Rescue'... purchased Blackhawk Helicopters, escorted 
by HIND gunships will leap to the Embassy in Pyongyang.  Pull out staff, and 
head back for China.
 
2.  Allow intelligence service to begin contacting the different North Korean 
factions.  See who's amenable to joining up and getting their jobs back, and 
who's bent on power.  
 
3.  Launch 'Operation Hoplite'... the Airborne and Amphibious landings on the 
North Korean side of the border, followed simultaneously by 'Operation 
Phalanx', the heavier forces arriving over the Yalu.
 
4.  Put the word out, Chinese are here to restore order and peace.  Wherever 
the Red Army marches, civilians and beligerents willing to work with them will 
receive amnesty, food, medicine, and humanitarian assistance.  Those who 
actively oppose the operation WILL be engaged.



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