Dancing with the Dragon

Chapter 35

The flying command post was on the first leg of a round-robin course when the five-minute warning arrived.

President Macklin was on a conference hookup with General Bancroft at NORAD and General Chalmers at the Pentagon. Everyone at the top of the chain of command, both civilian and military, was in agreement. United States forces would counterattack with overwhelming nuclear force if NORAD detected and authenticated a missile launch from China.

Gathered around a long conference table, the president and his men watched the minutes tick away as General Bancroft gave them updates and silently prayed.

With one minute to go, the president rose from his chair. "Well, gentlemen, this is the time when we have to believe in—"

The secretary of state's phone rang, shattering the silence. Brett Shannon snatched it off the cradle, listened intently, and looked at Macklin. "Liu Fan-ding has had a stroke."

"Who's in charge?" the president asked. "What are their intentions — has the deadline been called off?"

Shannon repeated the questions to the caller while the last few seconds to deadline were ticking away.

"Say again," Shannon said in frustration. "Has the deadline been canceled — where do we stand on the deadline?"

"Mr. President," General Chalmers said, "we're about out of time."

Macklin tightly gripped the handset. "Hold on, Les — let's sort through this new information."

"What?" Shannon asked. "Slow down and speak clearly." He listened to the fast-talking spokesman and asked him to repeat his statement.

"What do we have?" the president asked. "I have to make a decision."

Shannon's tense features suddenly relaxed and a smile spread across his ashen face. "The crisis is over — it's over!"

Macklin looked at Shannon. "Give me the details — I need confirmation and details."

The passengers in the cabin were erupting in wild celebration. Backslapping and bear hugs were the order of the day.

Shannon listened for a few more seconds. "That's the Party line — the stroke story is smoke and spin. Our sources closest to Liu have confirmed that he was physically removed from power and is currently under house arrest. The new leadership — a triumvirate of senior Communist Party leaders — have issued a request for a summit with President Macklin at his earliest convenience."

The president sighed and then gave Chalmers and General Bancroft the order to stand down. "Cigars for everyone."

"Mr. President," Hartwell said, "this would be a good time to call the new leadership in Beijing — a very good time."