Another War Chapter 10: Chinese Whispers

While Canada and America were engaged in traditional warfare, China was waging war of a different kind. Although less traditional, China comforted himself with the thought that economics was as old as war. China and India, together were plotting the destruction of the American economy.

They had initially intended to stay out of the business, but the war between America and the world was looking as if it would spill over to their side of the neutral divide.

America was never one to do anything by halves, and if he won, it was doubtful he would respect neutrality in the quest for world domination. So China made his decision and took a quick peek at the economy. The dependency plot had gone well, even if for another purpose, it could be used here. China carefully increased the price of his goods slowly, over the months, and began pulling them off the American market. It didn't hurt the Chinese economy to do this as they increased sales in Asia with every loss in America. Slowly but surely, America's hardware disappeared from stores. The American people found themselves with less and less of the products they had come to expect in the stores, and it was too late for America, with most of its capital invested in war, to begin production.

As the American economy faltered in the war, the Chinese were preparing to dive in as well. They had set up an alliance with the biggest thorn in their side—India. The major reason for the alliance was the navy. The Chinese had a mass produced navy with very little actual training or experience, whereas India, being a peninsula had a better trained navy and experience with naval manoeuvres. They were also willing to split the responsibilities and command evenly with the Chinese. China would provide the ships and soldiers, India the officers and sailors.

It was the first time these two nations, which had spent the last few hundred years glaring at each other across their respective borders, had combined forces. They had, albeit temporarily, put aside their animosity and agreed to cooperate. The world was trembling in its proverbial boots.

The combined troops were getting to know each other, getting trained and briefed. Soon they would be ready for battle.

The flow of information from America was a bit like a partially blocked pipe. It came in fits and starts, providing information in large, desperate squirts, then choking itself and falling temporarily silent.

The general consensus was that the outlook was grim. America either wanted to rule the world or destroy it. The world, quite obviously, had no intention of being ruled. Despite the destructive/suicidal ideation from America, it changed nothing for either India or China. In the short run, the existence and success of their people necessitated their involvement in the war. Self-preservation had taken over.

India and China sat facing one another, sipping tea.

"Did opium contact you?" China asked between sips. The cup in India's hand stilled halfway to her lips. She set it down.

"No, the Bastard did not. I'm acting of my own volition." She was frowning.

"So he wanted to keep you out of this. Wonder why?" China grinned, quickly covering it with a sip of tea.

"Probably because he's being a fool again." India flicked a stray hair out of her eyes, glaring all the while at the grinning Chinaman.

China nodded, England was a fool at the best of times, but somehow India still wanted to help him. "Why are you protecting him?" He asked her, unable to keep the honest confusion out of his voice.

She looked at him, eyes distant, "England… is an ass. He stole my recipes, made my people quarrel and threw fits like a child every time we refused him something."

"Then why?"

"The fool needs to be looked after. He's strong China, but not nearly strong enough to win on his own. Curse him, but I would hate it if he died. Who then would I quarrel with if not him? Who would I tease over cricket? Laugh and complain about history with? Pakistan is no fun, he's always sulking or trying to pick a fight with me. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are boring! They never want to just hang out or do anything. Then there's you. You're cool, but we don't share the History!"

"So life would be boring without him?" Concluded China, seeing India nod China sighed and nodded as well, "I suppose it would be."

"Why are you helping him?" asked India, raising a curious eyebrow.

"Hong Kong." Said China, turning a pale pink, "He threw a fit. Promised me that if I didn't help his 'daddy', I'd find fireworks in uncomfortable places for the rest of my life."

India snorted, "He's England's kid through and through." She said, recalling the evil grin on the kid's face and fireworks in her dressing room.

China groaned, "Where did I go wrong?"

India began to laugh, China joined in helplessly, and the two nations washed away hysteria and fear in wave after wave of debilitating laughter that brought both of them to the ground.

Eventually, a man poked his head through the door to both pass on a message and ensure the safety of his nation. He found her in the rather undignified state of 'Rolling on the Floor' as his ten-year-old son put it. He sighed.

"England is on Video Call, Ma'am."

His nation immediately sobered. She stood up quickly and said, "Right. I'm coming."

The man nodded and waited respectfully as his nation brushed her dress free of dust and whatever else it had picked up on the floor, and straightened her hair. A quick glance in the mirror and they were off down the corridor, leaving China behind.

"India." England was on Video Conference

"England." India nodded, "Are we going to be calling each other's names this whole call?"

England snorted, "Hardly, love. Not that you don't have a beautiful name."

"I'm not your 'love' delusional bastard, and you can stop praising your naming sense. What are we doing then?"

England smirked at her response, then faltered. "I…um…"

"Yes?"

"Imightneedyourhelp."

"Say that again England. Slowly. Elucidate. It is your language."

"Shut up." Said a red-faced England, but continued slowly none-the-less, "I might need your help."

India grinned, baring her teeth. "You need my help?" She repeated, "The great England does?"

"Yes." He muttered, "Please Help Me." The words sounded like they hurt coming out, but India paid no attention.

"This would have something to do with America's World Domination Plot?"

"Yes…wait how do you know about that?"

"I have my ways." She said mysteriously.

England grimaced and let it alone. "So?" He looked at her hopefully, "Will you help then?"

She sighed, "Yes, yes, China and I are preparing a joint force for attack. Is there anywhere specific you'd like us to aim?"

England smiled, face brightening, "You could attack the Southern bit of America, around California, we've got their troops focused in the north, along the Canadian border."

India nodded, "anything else we should be aware of?"

"Spain and Portugal are combining their already combined troops with Mexico's, and will probably join your attack. Anyway, it would be best to coordinate with them."

India nodded, "The climate would suit our troops better in the south, so we may do just that." At England's smile she added, "Let me call in China."

There was no objection to be made, so China was brought in to help with the planning.

"Hello, England." Said China as he entered and took his seat. "You look well."

"Thank you for your help China, and it is good to see you too." England said rather pleasantly in reply.

"My help is merely self interest." Returned China, "I do not wish to find fireworks exploding in my bed, toilet, wardrobe, and office."

"Hong Kong threatened you?" Asked England, trying his hardest to repress snickers.

"Yes."

"Oh dear." There were tears in England's eyes from well-stoppered laughter.

"Hmph."

"I'll talk to him." Promised England, but there was little doubt that the conversation would contain positive reinforcement for Hong Kong.

India was enjoying the exchange, it reminded her of a parent-teacher conference, China the teacher and England the parent. A quick glance at her clock, however, and she saw the need to move along. She cleared her throat and the two men looked at her in confusion before she nodded at the papers in front of England.

England blushed, "War council, right."

India nearly burst out laughing at the sad faces on both men, but they needed to get back to work, so after a few moments to compose themselves, the three returned their focus to attack.

They had decided early on to attack California, which was poised prettily on the border with Mexico and had very little in the way of Ocean defences. Their original plan had involved taking Hawaii before reaching mainland, but England assured them that Japan was happily taking care of that. So they focused on the weak points in California's defence, collecting as much data as they could from England and getting prepared to coordinate with Spain.

By the end of the conversation, it was decided that the attack should take place asap. They prepared timelines for troop deployment and distance with wind and ocean current charts. The conclusion was that the troops would be ready to deploy within the week, though actual deployment may take up to two weeks due to paperwork. The plans were set to begin within that period.

Deployment occurred a week and two days from the discussion. India, completely at ease with the bureaucracy, had somehow managed to expedite the process, making it possible for the restless troops to leave the tender mercies of their desks a whole week earlier than expected. The cheers that went out made it seem like they were going on vacation, not to war.

The men had trained together for this, and the general sense of anticipation in the air had only solidified the feelings of camaraderie between the troops.

India sat next to China for most of the Voyage, discussing tactics and other means to achieve victory; the ships had managed to catch a good tide and were slightly ahead of schedule. It was as if the oceans were helping them win. They were at the American coast two days early. Their immediate action was to contact the Spanish commander in Mexico to discuss putting their plans into action.

After the conversation, the two nations moved separately to prepare for the battle. China left to move the troops into place. India made a phone call. She called home to finish the sabotage of the American economy. Her phone call was the signal that was needed to start the breakdown of the American IT and service industry. Hackers in India and China were actively interfering in the information flow between American agencies, including the CIA, FBI and army. The average person was unable to access the news or the internet, and the call centres were all down. America was gripped by chaos.

Time would tell if this two-pronged attack would be successful or not, but for now all India knew that they had poked a dragon, starved and baited it. They were dancing within its jaws reach now, and all that was left was to see if they became dragon slayers or prey.

Back together, China watched as India paced. He leaned back in his seat, "India, stop pacing, it doesn't help."

"Shut up China," She growled, "This is how I deal with stress."

'England survived this for hundreds of years?' Thought China, 'I have to respect him for that.' Aloud, he said, "You need to conserve energy," She glared at him, "for the battle."

"We've put our nations on the line, China, I'm allowed to be nervous." China swallowed at the fire in her eyes, "but I suppose it isn't a fight if everything isn't on the line."

China shrugged, relived that she was no longer glaring at him, "All we can do now is our best, let what comes, come."

She smiled at him, "That is true, trust China to spout philosophy at a time like this though."

"Hey!"

"Whatever the future, I can't help but fear, though."

China slipped his arms around her shoulders, "All we have to do is win, and we'll be fine. If we lose, it'll have the same result as never having fought at all."

She shrugged off his arm, "If he wins, the world burns."

Ice had replaced fire in her eyes, the endless determination of an old nation, one that had felt oppression, and that oppression had only made stronger. She stopped pacing, and stood instead in the centre of the room. She took a deep breath. Finally, she turned to China, looked straight in his eyes, extended her arm and spoke.

"May our alliance hold, our blood sing as one, our enemies be crushed and our wealth multiply."

China gripped her forearm and responded, "May our friendship shock the world, our strength surpass the stars, our people breathe as one and our dissenters turn to dust."

They had sealed their alliance in the old ways, ways which had been mostly lost to the modern world. Apart from them, only the Italy brothers, and the British brothers were old enough to remember the old ways. Prussia might have been able to remember, as could Austria and Switzerland, but they would have been too young to remember all of it. China couldn't remember the last time anyone had sealed their alliance in this manner, and he was the oldest of them all.

The sealing of an alliance in this way, rather than the less binding method of their rulers' preference, forced mutual assistance and loyalty for as long as the alliance was mutually held. The binding left bi room for conspiracy or betrayal.

China blinked and regained his focus. This alliance just exemplified the importance of this war, and India's desperate need to survive. He took a deep breath and said, "Let's go, we have a war to win."

She nodded, running a finger through her ebony hair, "We should speak to England before we make our move. We should coordinate the attacks."

China smiled, "We should eat something first. That pacing must have built up an appetite."

She scowled playfully at China but nodded nonetheless saying, "Oh alright."

They walked down to the mess on the ship, chatting the whole way. Seeing them calm and reasonably pleasant raised the morale of all the soldiers. If their nations were not afraid, they had no reason to be either. The stress level of the ship had dropped considerably, and the men calmed before their war began. This was the slow pull before the shove.

India was finally clear-minded on what was necessary. China was chowing down on his noodle-soup, concentrating on ensuring his uniform stayed clean, but all India could think off was the fight up ahead. Finally she sighed and dug her heels in. This was the long haul. She picked up her spoon and began to shovel food into her mouth, she'd need the strength later. China glanced up at her, smiling, and she glared back.

The clock on the wall showed 17:00 hours, they had to prepare for their teleconference with England. The attack was to take place at 21:00 PST, but their conference with Spain was at 20:10. Before they spoke to Spain, they had to finish planning with England, and that conference was at 19:30.

Promptly at 19:00, both China and India plonked themselves in the Tele-conference room and waited for England. They talked as they waited, comparing England in this war to England at the height of his empire. From what they could see, the main difference was in emotion. The England at the height of his empire was a broken man. He felt little for anyone, his eyes were constantly cold, and he served his government unflinchingly. By the time the world wars had rolled around, he was going back to himself, recovering from his scars.

By the end of both wars, he was happy to let go of his empire if they wanted to leave. India couldn't help but think that those scars existed in part because of America, that England would never have focused on her if not for the revolution in America. Some part of her was glad of it. China mostly agreed with her, sometimes adding points she had missed. He mentioned how homesick Hong Kong got, and how he wished England was allowed to see the boy in person. His government had not permitted it.

Their conversation was interrupted by the video call. Prompt at 19:30, England was there.

"Hello." He said, voice betraying his exhaustion. At their raised eyebrows he added, "It's been a long day of fighting."

China nodded, "So shall we wrap this up quickly to let you sleep." There was sarcasm in his voice, but England ignored it.

"Are you prepared?" His voice broke on the last syllable showing that he really was beyond exhausted.

India decided it was a good time to butt in, before the two men decided to argue, "We sealed our alliance in the old ways, England."

England's tired eyes snapped open, and he looked between them as if trying to see something invisible. He hesitated, then. "I'd like to do so as well."

Surprised, India agreed. After a few moments' thought, so did China. England was the biggest player in this war, if he was willing to offer a binding alliance where he would be loyal and assist them as required, there was no loss possible.

Finally, after reviewing plans and matching watches, they parted ways at 20:00 exactly. They two nations (India and China) had 10 minutes to prepare for their conversation with Spain.

The pre-planning was simple enough and was done by 20:30. After that, everything was in motion for the final push. Every troop would begin to move at 21:00, a sudden push from the Canadians matched by an invasion of the south, America would be unable to counter. Their coordination would have to be perfect for this attack.

They all knew it too.

China and India stood side by side on the deck watching the men prepare for the upcoming fight. 20 minutes to go. They each slipped into their own quarters to dress. 18 minutes to go. They looked over the map of coves and inlets one last time, marking their points of entry and exit and running their fingers over the writing. The map had been the combined product of the Mexicans and India/China's local citizens before they had either left or been interred.

The final equipment checks were being done. 12 minutes now.

The men were wearing their new uniforms, combined forces, the colours were neither Indian nor Chinese, they were both and neither. The men were ready to leave now. Many would not return. India slipped her hand into China's tears running down both their faces as they felt what their people would define as patriotism. It wasn't though. For a nation, patriotism is no more than narcissism, what those two nations felt was love for their people, a love so strong that they would have given their lives a hundred times before letting any one of them die.

At 10 minutes to go, China and his men slipped off the ship into pre-prepared boats and moved towards the shore. India waved goodbye to the men from deck, dried her eyes and took command. Her fleet began to move.

By 20:55, China's boats were a good distance away from India's fleet, so they would not get caught up in a naval battle. By 20:59 India's fleet was visible from the beaches.

The Americans on shore spotted the large ships at 20:59 and assumed they were American. At 21:00, the Ships raised their flags as one and moved in to attack. Loosing their guns aimed at the Beach.

There was utter panic.