CHAPTER 5

Sangjin Province, China.

A man dressed in red clothing is standing in the middle of a room. He seems to be a man of importance, tall , educated and civil. His hands are clasped behind his back and his mind appears to be somewhere else.

"Sir." A voice came from behind. The man looks back and saw another dressed in military uniform. This one is older than he is and is a bit bald. The man walked inside the room, he has a hat that is firmly clasped between his arm. He has a badge of a general.

"What do you have for me general?"

"Good news." says the general. "I've received reports that more and more troops are coming over to join us. Some have already joined our troops on the way here."

The man slowly smiles. "Our troops are still loyal to mother china. That is good news indeed."

The general replied. "They are loyal to you Mr. President. They know who to follow. However it is still too early to celebrate. General Teng still has a lot of supporters. They still control 60% of China's armed forces. That includes the airforce, army, navy---"

"And mother china's nuclear weapons." the President added then paused for a while.

"General." the President continues. "What are our chances of overpowering Teng if we strike now?"

"We can fight the good fight sir. But I can't guarantee victory at this time." says the general. "Teng has all the advantage. We need more time. More troops."

"Time is something we don't have general." the President replied then he showed the general a pocket device. "Look at the display and you will understand."

"Is this verified?" asks the general. The President nodded.

"That information came directly from the defense center."

The general smiles. "Well, it's good to know they haven't found out about the brother-one bug that is sending us vital information by the hour. This may be the only tactical advantage we have against Teng."

The President looks surprised. "I'm no longer thinking about Teng general. Have you seen the data? Our asian neighbors are being attacked! If I understand the data correctly, Korea is already gone. Japan is under siege and the smaller nations are not faring well at all."

"And it's just a matter of time before China is invaded." the general said. He paused for a while before uttering a single word.

"UCAT."

The President nodded. "The UCAT."

"They must also be the reason why we are having communication failures." says the general. "Then again, Japan tried the same thing on us twenty years ago."

"You don't think Japan has anything to do with this General?" says the President.

The General sighed. "Twenty years ago, war almost broke out between Japan and Mother China. If you ask me Mr. President, I wouldn't trust those Japs with my life. They can be dishonorable as they can be like any enemy. Remember World War II?"

"That is a very long time General." says the President. "It is not wise to bring back what belonged in the past."

"Nor is it wise to ignore the events of the past Mr. President." says the General. "To tell you frankly I distrust the Japanese. There were reports that the japs have secretly allied themselves to the UCAT cause. I wouldn't be surprised if they turn the tables on their allies any moment now."

"Those reports were unconfirmed General." says the President.

"And yet more reports like this have surfaced." counters the General. "I know it is difficult in your position to differentiate your allies from your enemies. But looking at our present situation, we need to be wise in choosing our allies. If not, it can be our undoing."

"I'm aware of our problems General Mei." the President said. "And right now, my concern is to take back Mother China from General Teng as soon as possible. How we do that is your problem."

"Understood Mr. President." General Mei said. "Brother one is sending us pictures of the Presidential Palace in Beijing. We know where Teng's troops have been deployed, the time the guards are changed and if possible other sets of information including Teng's specific location in the palace."

"Good." the President said. "Compile every bit of information we could get from brother one. I fear that this advantage may be short lived so we have to act quickly. If I'm correct, we are also the only nation in the world aside from the WNL that still has a working satellite in space."


SPACE. A small satellite with a logo of China's flag is floating above China. Suddenly, the satellite's thrusters kicked in propelling it away. From the horizon, a lone satellite appears. A574.

Back on the ground, inside the remote UCAT Headquarters where its own defense center is also located. Technicians are trying to pin down the satellite.

"It keeps moving away! Damn that satellite!" the technician fumes then punched a few instructions to the keyboard.

"We can't get a decent shot of that thing." says the supervisor. "Can we determine its identity by analyzing the data stream?"

The technician shakes his head. "No can do sir. The satellite is sending streams of heavily encrypted code. It would take the fastest computer we have, 30 years of continous crunching unless we have the primer."

The supervisor sighed. "Has this information gone through channels already?"

The technician shakes his head again. "No sir not yet, we haven't drafted a report about this."

The supervisor leaned forward and whispered to his ear. "Make sure it stays that way. But for the meantime, try your darndest to kill that satellite. Our asses are on the line here if the Fleet Commander discovered we let one puny satellite got away."


BEIJING. China's Presidential Palace. A group of generals are arguing inside the Palace's biggest conference room.

"If you had better grip on your planes General, then my tanks would still be rolling in battle!" a furious General is accusing another. The General being accused slapped his hand on the table.

"Your tanks fired blaster missiles at my planes General! I lost thirty-four planes because of your incompetence!"

"Incompetence!" the general fumed. "It is you who are incompetent you miserable old---"

A sound was heard at the entrance door. A man walked-in dressed in a military uniform. His face is harsh and he has a mustache and a round body. But he walks confidently, almost majestic as the other Generals ceased their bickerings out of respect for this man. The man stared at each one of them.

"Well don't stop on my account." says the man in a calm but strong voice. "I heard you shouting all the way from the hallway. You seemed to me like wild beasts battling for territory, but now it seems the beasts have turned back into what they really are."

The man paused for a while then slammed his hand on the table and pointed his finger at them. "SHEEPS!" Then he pointed his finger to another. "GOATS!", then another. "AND PIGS!"

The Generals did not say a word. The man looks at them with fierce eyes. "Is this, what's become of mighty China?"

"General Teng." a voice came from one of the Generals. General Teng fixed his eyes on this man. "I don't quite agree with your opinion."

General Teng's fierce eyes glared on the General who is known as General Hu. Clasping both his hands in the back and spoke in a commanding voice. "Explain yourself!"

"We have supported you General." Hu said. "We betrayed the trust of mother china to follow your lead. The people around you believed in you General. But this is war. A war that cannot be won easily since the President still has his followers. Your ramblings and malicious accusations are not contributing anything to the war effort."

"And what, pray tell does the Generals need from me to ensure our victory?" Teng asked.

General Hu responds. "Leadership."

General Teng smiled then without warning points a gun at Hu's head then fired! Hu was hit on the forehead and he fell down on the floor dead. Blood gushes out of the wound and the floor where his body lays became covered with his own blood.

"There's your leadership!" General Teng shouts, his gun is still smoking when he points it to his Generals who backed off with fear.

General Teng shouts in a loud voice. "I WANT THE HEAD OF PRESIDENT QING BROUGHT TO ME! I WANT HIS SUPPORTERS KILLED! I WANT THEIR WEAPONS DESTROYED! I WANT THE WHOLE OF CHINA UNIFIED UNDER ONE COMMAND! MY COMMAND! DO... I... MAKE MYSELF... CLEAR!!"

The Generals are silent with fear. Teng holsters his weapon and looked around. It is clear who is the boos in this room. Teng huffs then walked out of the room with his escorts. But before he steps out of the door he gave one final order.

"I also want to find out who has been tipping Qing about troop movements. We have a traitor among us, AND I WANT THAT TRAITOR EXPOSED AND TAKEN CARED OF!"

The Generals bowed their heads and Teng finally walked out of the room. The Generals look at each other then to Hu's body. One General whose name was Li kneeled down at Hu and retrieved a button from his uniform. He secretly gripped the button where it sends a signal that secretly activates a miniature chip inside one of the buttons of his own uniform. The button becomes online with China's main computers. He stood up and silently walked out of the room.

General Li goes down to the Command Center and clasped the shoulder of a technician manning the controls. The technician looks up and Li casually remarks, "Empire is a go."

The technician returned his gaze to the monitor screen then whispered silently. "Good luck General."


THREE HOURS have passed and the Asian coalition reached Japan. From a distance, large plumes of smoke are visible and the waters are littered with debris. X24s flew by the carriers for a quick look. A couple of AF300A jets doing reconnaissance spotted them and changed their direction to intercept.

"Gamma five four nine. We have been spotted. Engage." the team leader reports. He kicked in the engines and the jets screamed across the sky reaching Mach 2 in 20 seconds. The UCAT jets did the same reaching Mach speed in much less time. The UCAT jets screamed past the X24s sending the jets rolling and out of control.

"Damn!" the team leader screamed while trying to regain control of his jet. The inboard computer calculates the right configuration to get the plane out of the loop. Once stable, the X24's targetted the AF300A jets now circling back for another run. The team leader chooses from a list of weapons displayed in HUD which is automatically received by his squadron.

"Lock and load." the team leader orders his team. The AF300A's screaming towards them.

"Fire!" the team leader commands and the X24's shoots silvery globes each one as small as a hand. Unknown to the AF300A pilots, the globes form an invisible net and with the UCAT jets flying at supersonic speed, the mainboard computer was unable to detect and analyze the globes until it's too late. The globes exploded simultaneously executing a massive sonic wave that hits the UCAT planes, damaging the plane's body and hurtling it out of control. The sonic wave also hits two X24 jets, but was able to regain control. From the distance, the carriers detected missile and torpedo launches.

"Red Alert! All hands!" the captain of the PWS-MALVAR declared.

The air filled with a defeaning roar as ten more Philippine X24 Screamers joined the battle of Japan along with the other warships PWS-Aquino, PWS-Marcos, PWS-Ramos and PWS-Arroyo.

"What the hell are those?" says the captain of the UCAT warship War Machine. "Are those navy ships?"

SSHHOOOOMMMM!!! An X24 flew close to the deck of the War Machine at Mach 6.3. The resulting force of air pushed the A103 Fighter jets over the side of the carrier and dropping to the ocean below and damaging the tower of the War Machine. X31 Bombers shot from the carriers and began bombing the UCAT warships below.

WUD! WUD! WUD! WUD! WUD!

Plasma clusters ejected from the X31 bombers exploded on the UCAT carriers while the X24s battled the AF211s in the air.

"Activate plasma repeaters." says the pilot in the X24, an AF211 is firing from behind. The wing of the X24 opened to revealed a launcher.

"Target and lock." says the pilot. The launcher locked its target to the AF211.

"Fire!"

BADABADABADABOOOOMM!! Plasma bullets ripped the wing of the AF211 sending it spinning violently in the air before exploding. Another AF211 joined the fight head on and started firing air to air missiles. The X24 released radar disruptors to disrupt the missiles targeting systems. The missiles spin violently in the air. However one of the missiles got close and exploded near the X24's wing.

BOOOMM!! The X24's wing was shattered and it started to fall.

"Mayday! Mayday!" the pilot shouts then with one pull, he ejected from the fighter plane. Two X24's passed by him and shoots an air to air cluster at the AF211, obliterating it in the process. Meanwhile, Japanese bombers are now on the offensive striking and sinking UCAT warships. A pair of Malaysian and Indonesian warships also arrived that boosted the strength of the AA. Before the day ends, three UCAT warships surrendered. But some were able to get away.



TRUDD JUST ARRIVED at the UCAT Command Center from his meeting with Barter. His boots echoes through the halls as he proceeds to the main center. Trudd literally kicked the door open. His face, having that menacing look glanced at the large monitor.

A beep is suddenly heard from the control panel. It's a communication dispatch. Someone is trying to reach him. Trudd angrily clicks the button and spoke in a harsh voice.

"You must have rice cakes for your brain or you really don't know how to follow protocol." says Trudd.

"I am not amused Commander." says the voice from the speaker. "I am still waiting for the weapons you promised, three months ago. The weapons you told me would make my invasion complete. We have an agreement commander."

Trudd angrily snaps back at the monitor. "First of all, don't call me commander. This line may be secure but you are still broadcasting. There are decrypters working to intercept this message. How many times do I have to tell you that!"

"My patience wore thin... commander." the voice replied. "I don't want to think that you are backing out of our agreement... As far as I'm concerned I have done everything what you tasked me to do. Now I task you... commander, to deliver what you promised me or, you will find yourself in a well of trouble. I am not your lackey and I can be a dangerous... very dangerous opponent."

"We... are having a bit of a problem right now... general." Trudd answers while trying to compose himself. "The agreement stays. You will have your weapons as I am not the kind of person who backs out of a deal."

The voice chuckled then answers, "That is not what I heard... commander. Word has it... that you are a distrustful person. Word has it that in the past you did not 'honor' an agreement that resulted in a violent and gruesome situation. I allied myself to you thinking that knowing who I am, what I am, you will not dare to repeat such dishonor."

"Then... general." Trudd answers. "Also knowing who I am, what I am, you know that I can also become a very dangerous opponent. In fact more dangerous now than ever before. I will not stand for empty threats and I will not be bullied by you... General."

"My threats, empty?" the voice said. "We will see commander. You already know what you have to do. I advice you to do it, fast. Or you will found out if my threats are truly as empty as you believe it is."

The call was disconnected. Trudd slams his fist on the table.

"Pig." Trudd silently exclaimed then sits back to ponder his situation. The large screen downstairs are monitoring the battle of Japan and the UCAT forces are being pushed back slowly. An officer, a female is standing on his side.

"Our forces are being pushed back---" she said but Trudd interrupts her in mid-sentence.

"I can see that Lieutenant, don't you think I couldn't see that?" Trudd angrily responds.

"I think you should know sir, that the leaders of the WORLD NATIONS LEAGUE are now debating if it's in their best interest to continue this war." the lieutenant reports.

"What?" Trudd is surprised. "I was just with a meeting with Barter eight hours ago."

"It seemed that they convened right after your meeting sir." says the lieutenant.

Trudd's brow darkened. "Barter. He wants to end the war and make me look bad."

A beep is heard and the lieutenant pulled out a communicator.

"Sir, our forces are asking for your orders. They are currently 70 miles from Japan and they are asking for further instructions" the lieutenant said. Trudd remained silent, tapping his fingers on the table. Then he stands up and looked over the large monitor screen.

"Execute Plan-719." Trudd declared.

The lieutenant appears surprised. "Sir, don't you think it's too early for that?"

Trudd looks her in the eye menacingly. "Execute Plan-719."

"Yes sir." the lieutenant bowed then went down to her station. She activates a series of codes that was checked and rechecked by station supervisors until a message is sent to Trudd's workstation asking to supply the first of two passwords that will execute PLAN-719.

Trudd typed the first password: DOMINANCE


AT SEA, where the UCAT ships have retreated, a computer warning is displayed on the screen.

"Captain something's wrong!" an officer said. The captain immediately went to look. The monitor screen displays a large red box with the words: SECURITY OVERRIDE LEVEL A

"What the fuck is going on?" says the captain. "Are these happening to the rest of the ships?"

"No way to know captain." says the officer. "Communication is also being jammed."


BACK AT THE UCAT HEADQUARTERS. Trudd received another message confirming completion of PLAN-719.

Trudd encodes the last password: ANNIHILATION

A siren screams three times to confirm the plan is being put into action. The large monitor screen changes display and an icon is displayed on top of every UCAT ship and UCAT facilities all over the world. Trudd smiles as the icon confirms his control over these ships.

"Your targets sir?" the lieutenant asks.

"London." Trudd said.


WORLD NATIONS LEAGUE, LONDON. President Barter is addressing the leaders of the nations under the WNL, unaware of a sinister plot that is developing right now.

AT SEA where hundreds of UCAT ships have retreated, a missile port opened from one of the carriers and launched an intercontinental-ballistic missile. The crew surprised at what just happened and totally unaware that their carriers are being controlled from the UCAT headquarters.

BACK at the UCAT H.Q. Trudd smiled as he tracks the missile on its way to London where the leaders of the WNL are convening.

"Control is power." Trudd says silently. "And power is control."


IN LONDON, advanced monitoring facilities have tracked the missile as it is about to enter British airspace. President Barter and the rest of the leaders are surprised when security forces barged in on the meeting declaring a nuclear attack on its way and rushed in to secure the leaders. Outside, the sound of sirens emanate throughout the city while the people rushed to get out of London and find a place to hide. Suddenly the large metallic object is seen falling out of the sky right on top of the WNL Headquarters.

A white blinding light emanates from the sky. Then a powerful wave of destruction swept throughout London, destroying buildings and obliterating the WNL Headquarters. WNL leaders deep underground felt the shockwave of the blast as large blocks of concrete began to fall and cave in on them. Barter was hit, breaking his back while seven more leaders are crushed to death. With his dying breath Barter spoke of only one word. A word that he spoke with anger and hatred.

"TRUDD!"


BACK AT THE UCAT H.Q. Trudd punches another target. His lieutenant's face expressed fear when she saw from her workstation the target Trudd has selected.

Smiling, Trudd declares. "It's game-over, you miserable, incompetent fool!"

Another ICBM preps for launching, this time from a UCAT submarine near Japan.

"Let's see what the Chinese will do when they thought it came from Japan." says Trudd as he punched a red button. Deep in the Japanese harbor. The UCAT submarine launched a single ICBM.

Trudd tracks the missile as it gains altitude. He punches a series of codes in the console sending information to the satellite A574. In space the satellite, repositions itself and points its homing dish to China.

"I'm only giving you a few moment." says Trudd. '"Just a few precious moments for you to see who is attacking you."

In China, the defense center's large monitor screen began to receive information.

"Hey we are online again!" says one chinese.

"We must've regained control of our satellites!" says another, then he saw the blinking light coming from Japan and moving towards China.

"What is that?" he asks then he began to realize what it is.

"A nuclear launch!" he screamed.

"Where is it headed!" screamed another. The chinese maneuvers the keyboard for information. After a few seconds he screamed.

"Beijing!"


GENERAL TENG is busily reviewing troop movements when his communicator beeps. He looked first who's calling then clicks the communicator to answer it. But before he can answer, the voice from the other line beats him to it.

"Remember how I told you that I can become a very dangerous opponent?" says the voice from the communicator.

"Trudd?" General Teng exclaimed.

The signal from the communicator was cut off. Then Teng heard multiple sirens filling the streets of Beijing. Teng saw the dawning fear from the eyes of his men then with his body shaking in fits of anger, he screams on his communicator!

"WE HAD A DEAL! WE HAD A DEAL! YOU DISHONORABLE F---"

Then a flash! Energy ten times hotter than the sun filled the whole city, burning, destroying and obliterating everything in its path. Shockwaves swept through the city toppling even the strongest buildings. Millions of people died on the spot including General Teng and his army that was caught up in the explosion.


IN SANGJIN, President Qing and his army was shocked when they intercept the signal from satellite A574. General Mei confirmed the attack.

"Beijing is in ruins Mr. President."

President Qing fell back to his chair. The shock and realization of what just transpired has robbed him with most of his energy. Slowly he faces the general.

"How did it come to this?"

The general answered him. "It was an attack Mr. President. The missile came from Japan."

"Japan?" President Qing exclaimed.

"There is more sir." General Mei said. "The signal we intercepted includes instructions to the Japanese Navy and the ASIAN ALLIANCE to proceed to China. The order is to INVADE CHINA at all costs."

General Mei's communicator suddenly beeps. Mei answered the call. "General Mei here. What? Are you sure? Well that is good news soldier. Well done."

"What is it?" asks President Qing.

General Mei has a wide smile on his face. "Mother China Mr. President. We have control of the armed forces, army, navy and air force. Our troops are now waiting for your command."

"All of them?" asks President Qing.

"All of them sir." says General Mei. "With Teng gone, you control the whole of China once more. Control of various defense centers all over China has been restored under your command."

"So if we strike back?" asks President Qing.

General Mei moved closer and spoke in a cold manner. "We can strike back with everything we have Mr. President. Everything. Our enemies will pay dearly now that we have gained back control of our ICBMS. We will burn their cities ten times as they've burn ours. Just give me the order sir and it will be done."


BACK at the UCAT Command Center. The large monitor screen displays IMPACT. Trudd smiles then smokes a cigar. The A574 satellite is no longer providing information to China. There isn't any reason now. The information he manufactured and embedded in the signal will convince the Chinese that the ASIAN ALLIANCE is bent on invading it. The Chinese will blame the attack on Japan and its counterattack will result in the implosion of the ASIAN ALLIANCE. The UCAT campaign in asia will be successful as planned.

Trudd laughs. He couldn't have planned it any better.

TO BE CONTINUED