Americans.
“Be calm for a moment and let me think,” Bien ordered. “There are
matters that must be decided, and anger will not help us.”
“You would see them ashore in our country again? Burning, raping,
destroying in the name of their democracy?”
“Come now. They have hardly landed on our shores. There is not even an
amphibious vessel with the ships. No marines, no army.”
“Guns and aircraft alone can do enough damage,” Ngyugen muttered darkly.
“So can foolish talk!” Bien snapped. “Think for a minute! Do you really
believe that the Americans have destroyed both of those islands?”
Ngyugen shot him an uncertain look that gradually solidified into
outrage. For a general to talk so to him–it was unacceptable. But to have
said those words, Bien undoubtedly possessed some key bit of information that
he believed exempted him from the respect due to the older man. Still, the
facts were obvious. “Of course. Their aircraft were above both locations as
the explosions took place. What other purpose could there be for the ships
being in our waters? And Colonel Mein Low assures me that the Chinese
intelligence and satellite reports-”
“-say exactly what the army wants them to,” Bien finished.
“Are you implying that I have been misled?” Ngyugen’s face darkened as
he considered the possibility. If it were so, then Bien indeed did have
knowledge that would prove exceedingly useful. Perhaps it would be better to
overlook the earlier disrespect, at least until Ngyugen could determine what
secrets the general held.
“I imply nothing. Ambassador, you must remember that you are a prime
target for Chinese manipulation and deceit. They understand how important you
are to your country, and have chosen to try out their scheme first on you,”
Bien said soothingly. “Luckily, I can tell from your comments that their plan
will not succeed.”
Ngyugen recognized the attempt to placate him and allowed himself to be
calmed. Bien might think him a fool, but Ngyugen was a critical part of
Bien’s source of power, and the military commander knew better than to
alienate his political connections. At least not until Bien could replace
Ngyugen with someone more useful. Ngyugen watched Bien smile ingratiatingly
at him.
“They do know of my army career,” Ngyugen said meaningfully, as the
possibility that Bien might be right began to make sense.
“Of course they do. How could anyone overlook your two years of military
service? Undoubtedly why they chose you as the key test of how believable
their story is,” Bien said calmly. “Their foolishness is our gain. Very few
members of the delegation could have hidden their insights so well. I am
pleased that you chose me as the test of your facade. You must remember, I
know you far better than most, yet I was deceived by your reaction for almost
five minutes.” Bien forced a chuckle. “I almost believed that you believed
their story. My apologies.”
“Accepted,” said Ngyugen, since nothing else in Bien’s entire
conversation made sense to him.
“So you see the truth to this, of course. It is not the Americans who
are behind this, if for no other reason than because the Chinese claim that
they are. There are other facts, certainly. The fact that the Americans
rarely intervene anywhere anymore without a United Nations resolution to
validate their meddling. That they were here for a month before the bombings
began, and have followed a routine pattern of operations and deployments for
the South China Sea.” Bien shook his head. “Clearly the Chinese will have a
difficult time convincing anyone of their deception, much less the more astute
political observers such as yourself.”
“We must expose this sham to the world!” Ngyugen declared.
“Perhaps–in time,” Bien said musingly. “But I think there are other
ways that it can be used to our advantage at this time.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“That regardless of which country is behind the destruction–or even if
it is a renegade group of terrorists acting alone–the Americans are taking
entirely too much for granted in our area of the world. Withholding
normalization of relations with our country, dictating trade terms to our
neighbors–no, it would be extremely useful to all of us if the Americans
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