GWOT VII - Cultural Exhibition
Apr. 10th, 2021 09:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
drewkittyGWOT VII - Cultural Exhibition
Having briskly renewed our acquaintance, Major Rize excused herself to shower and change. I took one look at the cot, determined that it was beyond hope of repair, and piled the remnants in the corner out of the way.
I covered myself under my paranoia blankets and checked the Object for messages.
"Most critical you invite Chinese physicists to Los Angeles ASAP."
I secured the Object and went looking for our Cultural Attache.
###
ASAP meant As Soon As Possible.
"That's not how the Chinese roll."
"You know that, I know that and probably the Governor's Office knows that. So let's get it done anyway. I am not above bribery or threats."
"Both?"
"Good man."
I have been, and continue to be, dramatically handicapped by my inability to speak Mandarin, Cantonese or any other Chinese language or dialect. But I speak fluent genocidaire and that will have to do.
As the assistant Military Attache, it was completely proper for me to directly call my contacts in the People's Liberation Army - Naval Branch. But I needed a quid. A quid-pro-quo. If they cashed in favors putting physicists on planes, they would need something in return.
The problem with treason is that it's addictive. Like candy.
"We have a new naval submarine type. Would you be willing to entertain a port visit?"
Officially, California had zero submarines. Unofficially, everyone knew about our LIDES or 'pipe bomb' electric submarines with an unfortunate tendency to catch fire and kill everyone aboard.
I had had it drilled into me, and if necessary they would have used a literal power drill, that anything to do with naval undersea warfare was a great secret for which I didn't even rate the keyword.
I had also been informed that the penalty for leaking California naval secrets was death by drowning. If I hadn't liked my underwater helicopter crash simulation, I would like it even less with a steel grille lowered six inches below the water's surface.
I didn't expect to live to get back to California, so that was a spectacularly empty threat.
The real question was whether the Captain of the Fleet would permit me to retask one of his submarines slightly.
I mean, she was nearby, that was the point. And threatening the Americans was as important as informing the Chinese.
The physicists made the flight. And I composed a terse message over the Object.
###
"All hands, this is the duty Captain speaking. We have a change of mission. Tomorrow at noon we will surface the ship and, with host nation permission, make the first ever port call by a California naval warship.
"I don't have to emphasize to all of you what an honor and a privilege this is. We had contingency plans for this event. I understand that none of us have dress uniforms. We'll figure someting out.
"The security classifications of much of the vessel remain high. But we will have tours for Chinese VIPs and also for the Chinese public, some of whom will almost certainly be American agents.
"One other factor. Our original mission remains the priority. So we may have to clear the decks, seek open water and set Battle Stations Air and Space Warfare at any moment. If we radiate with civilians on our deck ... better that than having them killed by an inbound.
"China is not our friend. But if America fires more nuclear weapons at China, we will shoot them down. No matter what it takes, or what it costs. Our blood for theirs. Viva California!"
"Viva California!" the crew replied as one.
Having briskly renewed our acquaintance, Major Rize excused herself to shower and change. I took one look at the cot, determined that it was beyond hope of repair, and piled the remnants in the corner out of the way.
I covered myself under my paranoia blankets and checked the Object for messages.
"Most critical you invite Chinese physicists to Los Angeles ASAP."
I secured the Object and went looking for our Cultural Attache.
###
ASAP meant As Soon As Possible.
"That's not how the Chinese roll."
"You know that, I know that and probably the Governor's Office knows that. So let's get it done anyway. I am not above bribery or threats."
"Both?"
"Good man."
I have been, and continue to be, dramatically handicapped by my inability to speak Mandarin, Cantonese or any other Chinese language or dialect. But I speak fluent genocidaire and that will have to do.
As the assistant Military Attache, it was completely proper for me to directly call my contacts in the People's Liberation Army - Naval Branch. But I needed a quid. A quid-pro-quo. If they cashed in favors putting physicists on planes, they would need something in return.
The problem with treason is that it's addictive. Like candy.
"We have a new naval submarine type. Would you be willing to entertain a port visit?"
Officially, California had zero submarines. Unofficially, everyone knew about our LIDES or 'pipe bomb' electric submarines with an unfortunate tendency to catch fire and kill everyone aboard.
I had had it drilled into me, and if necessary they would have used a literal power drill, that anything to do with naval undersea warfare was a great secret for which I didn't even rate the keyword.
I had also been informed that the penalty for leaking California naval secrets was death by drowning. If I hadn't liked my underwater helicopter crash simulation, I would like it even less with a steel grille lowered six inches below the water's surface.
I didn't expect to live to get back to California, so that was a spectacularly empty threat.
The real question was whether the Captain of the Fleet would permit me to retask one of his submarines slightly.
I mean, she was nearby, that was the point. And threatening the Americans was as important as informing the Chinese.
The physicists made the flight. And I composed a terse message over the Object.
###
"All hands, this is the duty Captain speaking. We have a change of mission. Tomorrow at noon we will surface the ship and, with host nation permission, make the first ever port call by a California naval warship.
"I don't have to emphasize to all of you what an honor and a privilege this is. We had contingency plans for this event. I understand that none of us have dress uniforms. We'll figure someting out.
"The security classifications of much of the vessel remain high. But we will have tours for Chinese VIPs and also for the Chinese public, some of whom will almost certainly be American agents.
"One other factor. Our original mission remains the priority. So we may have to clear the decks, seek open water and set Battle Stations Air and Space Warfare at any moment. If we radiate with civilians on our deck ... better that than having them killed by an inbound.
"China is not our friend. But if America fires more nuclear weapons at China, we will shoot them down. No matter what it takes, or what it costs. Our blood for theirs. Viva California!"
"Viva California!" the crew replied as one.
