Sudden Threat by A. J. Tata

Author:A. J. Tata [Tata, A. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Conspiracies, Fiction, War on Terrorism; 2001-2009, Paramilitary forces, Suspense, War & Military, Thrillers, Terrorism
ISBN: 9781935142089
Publisher: Variance Publishing LLC
Published: 2009-09-27T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 52

Pentagon, Washington, DC

SECRETARY STONE PULLED a rumpled pack of Camels from his top desk drawer and shook it until two cigarettes revealed their crushed filters. He had been smoking like a fiend since the beginning of the crisis. Grabbing one butt with his large, fleshy fingers, Stone stuffed the white stick in his mouth and lit it with a shaky hand.

Coughing smoke, he said, “It’s a different world, this post-Nine-eleven thing, you know?”

“Yes, I know,” Kaitachi responded, watching the smoke billow from Stone’s rotund face. “But we need your help. Not only with the Philippines, and the China situation, as you might suspect, but with Korea as well—”

“What the hell does Korea have to do with this?” Stone retorted, the cigarette jumping wildly in his mouth.

“The North is playing with nuclear weapons and, we believe, is trafficking nuclear materials. How would it look for North Korea to be passing nuclear weapons to our enemies? And with Islamic fundamentalism threatening our sea-lanes, we now feel threats on all of our borders, so to speak,” Kaitachi said.

Stone looked at the other man, Takishi. This should be good!

“Mister Secretary, on behalf of Prime Minister Mizuzawa, I must also convey our deep concerns over the situation in Korea. He believes, rightfully so, that both countries on the Korean peninsula pose a significant threat to Japan. And we both know that we can have no satisfaction that way,” Takishi said.

Diamond and Fox listened intently as Stone entertained the Japanese delegation. Fox’s years as an academic had prepared him for his vaunted position as the Deputy Secretary. That morning he sat quietly in Stone’s office, listening to a new Japanese argue about issues in the Pacific.

Diamond and Fox were beyond concerned. With the nagging issue in the Pacific, their theories and musings about Iraq might not come to fruition, their quest for eternal fame left unrealized.

“What are you talking about?” Stone responded. “We’re all part of the United Nations. We won’t let that happen anymore. Even with everything going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, we won’t let it happen, I’m telling you.” As Stone spoke, Kaitachi and Takishi looked at each other with reassuring eyes.

“One final protest over Korea—”

“Why the hell are you so concerned about Korea all of a sudden?” Stone demanded, his chin rattling around his neck and growing red where his shirt collar chafed. He looked at Diamond and Fox and shook his head. “Can you believe these guys?”

“It is not a new concern of ours, and we have reason to believe China may be orchestrating the events,” Takishi said. He crossed his long legs as he spoke and used his hands to animate his point.

“The Japanese people are beginning to feel increasingly threatened and confined. Almost surrounded, you might say. Without your help, we feel the region may grow unstable,” Takishi continued, doing nothing more than creating white noise. This scene was all being orchestrated by the dumb-as-a-fox Stone.

Stone lit another cigarette and thought for a moment, then said, “Look, we’ve got hostages to get out of the Philippines, then we’re off to Iraq.

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