Prologue
Red Star Rising
Tienanmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China
May 1st, 2011It was early in the morning, dawn was just beginning to break over the bustling capital of the People's Republic of China. In Tienanmen Square, preparations were well underway for the May Day military parade, and hundreds of Chinese had already gathered, happily proclaiming their national pride, waving flags and chanting. Some were singing songs like "We Workers are Powerful" and "March of the Volunteers", and others were just chattering, to friends and to others, excitedly waiting to catch the first glimpse of the promised military advances. Inside the Great Hall of the People, the Chairwoman of the Chinese Communist Party and Premier of the People's Republic of China, Wu Mae, was checking over her make-up and hair, wanting to look her best for her first parade review.
Mae's office was small but elegant. A small square window faced out over the rooftop onto the crowds covering Tienanmen Square, letting in a beam of sun from the dawn. The office had a white-wash on the walls, simple wooden flooring, and a simple desk with a very nice computer atop it. The chair behind the desk was old-fashioned, the only ornamentation being a bright crimson cushion. On the wall hung a simple mirror, into which Wu Mae was gazing, applying make-up.
She smeared some base on her more visible wrinkles, sighing to see how old she had gotten. She had the manner of a librarian, stern and quiet, and she looked like one as well. She wore a classic Maoist get-up, grey button-up jacket with four equal pockets, stiff ankle-length grey skirt, and a grey cap proudly displaying a red star. From beneath her cap protruded a tight bun of white hair which she groomed over with a small comb, attempting to subdue errant strands.
"Comrade Chairwoman?" someone inquired from outside the door, knocking lightly on the door.
"Yes?" Mae inquired in return, touching up her hair.
The door opened noiselessly on well-oiled hinges, and in walked a very young (and very pretty) secretary.
"Comrade Chairwoman, I was asked to inform you that we're ready whenever you are." the secretary said.
"Thank you dear. I'll be along in just a moment."
"You are welcome, Comrade Chairwoman."
The secretary withdrew, the brisk clacking of her heels echoing in the corridor. Mae touched up her hair once more, then sighed loudly and proceeded down the corridor, where President Hu Yaobang was waiting along with a number of other dignitaries such as members of the National People's Congress, Generals from the Central Military Committee, and Provincial Party Chiefs.
"Good morning, comrades," she said to the assembled dignitaries.
"Morning, morning..." they said in a dissonant chorus of voices. They all progressed together out to the lobby of the Great Hall of the People, where reporters were waiting, snapping photos and shouting out questions.
Wu Mae waved while hurrying her step, never having had much patience for reporters. The other dignitaries followed her like ducklings follow their mother, in a straggled line, out the door and into the sunshine of the Beijing morning. Their exit onto Tienanmen Square was greeted with an announcement over the loudspeakers.
"Please rise for the Internationale, sung by the People's Liberation Army Choir." Then, the opening strains of the Internationale blasted over the square, which by this point was packed with people. The people joined in, soon drowning out the choir with their voices. It was the sort of moment that Wu Mae milked for all it was worth. She pumped her fist in a socialist salute the moment the chorus began, and all of the assembled 400,000 people on the square responded in turn.
After the Internationale had finished, Wu Mae stepped up to the microphone.
"Comrades! My comrades, people of China! Today, we celebrate that most quintessential of Communist Holidays, May Day! Today, we celebrate the working man, the peasant, the clerk, all those who labour proudly and with vigour! And we celebrate it with a statement of strength! A statement that proves to the world, that we, the People's Republic of China, have the capability to stand up and face any other power with confidence, the capability to provide for our people's well-being, and indeed, the well-being of all people! For too long, China has been timid about exporting our system, too concerned with the spectre of Uncle Sam across the Pacific. Well, no more! The military that will parade before you today, I can truthfully say, is now more advanced then the forces of the United States! Our glorious People's Liberation Army, so long enjoying the advantage of size, now enjoys the advantage of technological superiority!" Her speech was punctuated by loud cheers and rounds of applause from her captive audience. "But why let me tell you why our army is so wonderful? Why not see it with your very own eyes? I present to you, comrades, the People's Liberation Army!" The applause was deafening. The opening strains of March of the Volunteers blared from the speakers as the first tanks rolled down Chang'An Avenue, and Wu Mae smiled.