Metal Gear Solid: The Marszdek Directive
by A-Fiasco
Beijing (AP)-During a televised press conference, Prime Minister Zhao Tsing announced that units of the People's Liberation Army Navy had seized and boarded an American warship allegedly operating within its territorial waters. The USS Marathon, an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, was escorted to Hainan Island and its crew was taken into custody. This incident has heightened tensions between the People's Republic of China and the United States. President Thomas Jefferson Davis has denounced China's actions, insisting that the USS Marathon and its crew were in international waters and actively participating with the Philippine Navy in a joint training exercise. He has called on Prime Minister Zhao for the immediate release of the frigate's crew and the return of the frigate to the U.S. Navy. The Prime Minister was unavailable for further interview.
President T.J. Davis sat in the Oval Office sipping coffee laced with Bailey's Irish Cream. He was watching a trio of 20" HDTV monitors all running variations of the same headline. The president adjusted his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his Brooks Brothers shirt. None of his advisors had been particularly helpful. The idiot Secretary of State and the equally incompetent Attorney General were about as useful as tits on a cow. Everyone was clamoring for negotiation but the president knew from past experience that Prime Minister Tsing was one crafty bastard. Why the captain of the USS Marathon didn't respond with the firepower at its disposal is a mystery. Probably didn't want to jeopardize his chances for promotion, the president thought to himself. He drummed his fingers on the rosewood desk until an idea came to him. The president picked up the handset of the Secure Telephone Unit-Model 6 and punched in an encrypted number. Seconds later, a computerized voice came on the line.
"Asymmetrical Warfare Group automated routing system. Voice and security clearance required."
"Eagle Actual. X-ray-Theta-Charlie 90210. Priority UMBRA."
"Thank You, Mr. President. Hold one."
President Davis silently ticked off the seconds while he waited for a live human to answer his call.
"Fox Actual. Good evening, Mr. President. Have you reviewed both Operations BLINDSIDE and SPLASHDOWN ?"
"Cut the bullshit, General. Can FOX THREE do the job or not?"
Major General Roy Campbell took a quick look at his mission board. The Freedom was scheduled to launch from White Sands, New Mexico in less than an hour. If everything went according to plan, the PRC was about to get its collective ass kicked by tomorrow morning. He smiled.
"Yes, Mr. President. FOX THREE is fully operational."
In orbit above the earth:
The People's Republic of China maintained a small fleet of spy satellites. Two of them, Mao 3 and Mao 8, were about to make a routine pass over the Pacific Ocean when a pair of tungsten javelins smashed into their main bodies. Both satellites were obliterated in a matter of seconds. Within the People's Liberation Army's ground stations, senior military officers shouted at their staffs to find out what in the seven hells was going on. Without Mao 3 and 8, the PLA was deaf, dumb, and blind for several hours.
Within the Ministry of National Defense/August 1st Bldg.:
Prime Minister Zhao Tsing screamed incessantly at his generals as their optical command and control systems shut down one after another. Technicians and intelligence analysts tripped over themselves to stop the virus raging throughout their networks. Frantically, they tried to erect new firewalls and reroute their operating systems but to no avail. Operation BLINDSIDE was now in full effect.
White Sands Missile Base, New Mexico:
"…5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Lift-off! Freedom is a go!"
Black Fox closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. The delta-shaped space plane streaked off into low-earth orbit. The pilots up front would let him know when it was time to deploy. As the Freedom twisted in another barrel roll as it escaped the Earth's gravity, he thought about General Roy Campbell's decision on allowing a second operative on this mission. The kid scored exceptionally well on all his evaluations but had little actual field experience. Ironically, the kid was assigned a code-name revered by many within the special operations community. He hoped that Acid Snake would live up to his namesake. Operation SPLASHDOWN had now commenced.