Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or any of its characters, they all belong to Disney. Rated M for sexual themes.
Of Things to Come
Chapter 21
People's Republic of China – Beijing – Tiananmen Square – Sunday, June 4, 1989 1:30 am China local time.
The People's Liberation Army entered Tiananmen Square from all directions and then two things happen simultaneously. First, a silver wall rose from the ground, blocking the soldiers who instinctively fired on it. At the sound the people in the square threw themselves to the ground. Then night became day as lights from six now visible mile wide landing craft which were now empty switched on. Of course many people looked up and then looked away temporality blinded. Finding that they were unhurt the protesters slowly stood and slowly walked toward the silver wall. Then the soldiers fired again and of course they ducked, but rose a bit more quickly, realizing the silver wall had protected them. Then across the city and its suburbs every bullet, mortar, rocket, and tank shell exploded simultaneously. The People's Liberation Army at least in Beijing had simply ceased to exist as a fighting force.
General Chiang's army entered the city from all directions an hour later. The people watched as tanks flying the Nationalist Flag drove down the streets and stopped at every intersection. They'd been taught to hate that flag, but after what the People's Liberation Army had done the previous night the Nationalist were welcomed as liberators. Soon field hospitals were setup across the city and thousands of wounded were brought in. With access to 30th century medicine almost ninety-five percent of the victims were saved and would quickly recover within a few days. Along with the hospitals kitchens and mess halls were setup to feed anyone who came.
At dawn people began to collect the dead and clean up their city. The soldiers soon joined them and the people discovered that neither all them were Chinese nor even all human. About ten minutes later other ships landed carrying marines from the Zootopia III and after accessing the situation joined in to help. By noon with now millions of people helping they were making good progress. Any People's Liberation Army soldier who'd not joined the protesters and still found alive by the General Chiang's soldiers quickly whisked away while others found by the people weren't often so lucky. After lunch a portion of Chiang's army had to head north to stop several divisions of the People's Liberation Army on their way to retake the city and the marines joined them. About half returned that evening while the others stayed at the battle site to take care of prisoners and police the battlefield.
All that happened in Beijing that night and next day had been broadcast live to every television on the planet.
People's Republic of China – Beijing – Great Hall of the People – Sunday, June 4, 1989 1:30 am China local time
"Look sir!" his military attaché said. "The People's Liberation Army is now entering the square!"
Then the silver wall rose up and the soldier fired on it, but as far as they could tell none of the protesters were injured.
"What's happening?!" Deng Xiaoping yelled, stepping toward the television.
"I have no idea!" the other man said, unconsciously stepping away from his now angry Paramount Leader.
Then night became day and the great ships became visible and some people looked up. The protesters rose and walked toward the silver wall. Then the soldiers fired again and protesters dropped to the ground again, but quickly rose, moving closer to the wall. A few moments later Deng Xiaoping world was filled with explosions as every weapon in the room exploded. The Paramount Leader was thrown to the floor and felt his back peppered with pieces of hot metal. At that same instant the building itself shook so violently that he feared that it might collapse.
For a time he only lay there, fearing to move, and then someone lifted him, binding his hands behind him. He turned and looked at them, but they weren't human. They had the form of a person, but they were silvery metal something like he'd just seen in Tiananmen Square.
"Someone wishes to see you," it said and he was frog marched along with some others to a waiting ship hovering just above the roof. When the ship filled it lifted and moved toward one of the waiting landing craft and then was quickly replaced by another. He and his fellow prisoners' journey took only about a minute and then the ship settled onto the deck of a massive cargo bay. The other prisoners were taken to a much larger ship for a much longer journey, but the Paramount Leader was taken into the landing craft and soon stood before an ordinary pressure door. One of his guards tapped on it.
"Enter," a voice said from inside and the door slid aside.
The room contained only three people two of which weren't human, but Deng Xiaoping's jaw dropped, staring at the man.
"You're..."
"General Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China at your service," he said and smiled wolfishly.
Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics – Moscow – Kremlin – Sunday, June 3, 1989 8:30 pm
General Secretary Gorbachev and some of the members of the Politburo watched as the troops of the People's Liberation Army entered Tiananmen Square. He wanted to cover his eyes, knowing what was about to occur, but knew these other men would see this as sign of weakness and just looked on. Then after a silver barrier rose the soldiers ineffectively fired on the protesters. Then night became day and the massive ships over the city became visible. Then they fired again and a moment later every weapon exploded, killing almost every soldier who'd set foot in the square. Then the camera pulled back, showing multiple explosions across the city. He saw from the corner of his eye several of the military men flinch.
"Sir, our radar and satellites now show dozens of large ships like those landing across China," one the military officers said. "We didn't see them in orbit."
"Either they could deflect our radar or more likely invisible as those were," Gorbachev said, still watching the television.
"What should we do?" one of the Politburo asked.
"Nothing," Gorbachev said.
"But sir," his General Chief of staff said.
"So what do you think we should do?"
"Come to the aid of our socialist brothers!"
"So you're proposing we invade China?"
Gorbachev now understood exactly how Deng Xiaoping felt when he had that stupid General summarily executed.
"But..."
"And then have several hundred of those ships land here in the Soviet Union and all our weapons explode too!"
"You're afraid!"
"I'm a realist!" he said and frowned at the General. "I know as hopefully do most of the others in this room from what we just witnessed that we as the Chinese are simply outclassed."
Washington, D. C. – White House – Oval Office – Sunday, June 3, 1989 1:30 pm EDT
President Bush along with his cabinet watched with disbelief as the Chinese soldiers fired on the civilian crowd in Tiananmen Square and then were killed in mass as their personal weapons simply exploded as did any other lethal military equipment. Then the picture pulled back, showing similar explosions across the city. Soon people poured into the streets and began to celebrate when they'd discovered what had happened. The troops who'd defected to the protesters in the last few weeks wore white arm bands on their uniforms and where hailed as heroes by the people. They tried their best to get the people organized and begin finding any surviving People's Liberation Army soldiers, begin to collecting the dead, and getting the city functioning once again.
Then an hour later tanks flying the Nationalist Flag followed by infantry entered the city and the President and the others in the room held a collective breath, waiting to see how the people would react. Then the crowd broke out in cheers, instinctively knowing who'd saved them. Then the newly arrived armored soldiers set up hospitals and doctors treated the thousands of injured. For the rest of the day the video from China showed millions of hard working people restoring their city.
Republic of China, Taiwan, Taipei – Office of the President – Sunday, June 4, 1989 1:30 am
As President Lee Teng-hui watched the events in Beijing was saddened by the deaths of so many ordinary Chinese citizens at the hands of the People's Liberation Army before they'd actually gotten to Tiananmen Square. They still had people inside the communist government and others who reported to events to his government. When he watched the PLA completely defeated in Tiananmen Square he was ecstatic as were from all reports the people of Taiwan too. He and the other men watched the events during the night and at dawn there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," he said and his military aide entered and saluted.
"Sir, one of spaceships has appeared over Taipei and will apparently land here," the soldier said and the President look back at the TV for a moment. "It's one of the smaller ones we've seen shuttling between the ground and the larger ships."
"Then I think we must go and greet them."
Just as they'd set foot outside the ship touched down and soldiers approached, but kept a respectful distance. The President and his entourage soon joined the soldiers and waited. A minute later the boarding ramp slowly dropped and armored soldiers quickly exited and formed an honor guard. Then the General and his wife with several others – human and non-human – walked sedately toward the President of the Republic China. Then he held out his hand and the President took it.
"General Chiang and Soong Mei-ling!" he said and the General bowed.
"Good to meet you," he said and shook the other man's hand. "I think we have a great deal to talk about."
Sol Oort cloud – Zootopia III – Rabbit Garden – Judy's House – Sunday, June 3, 1989 1:30 pm EDT.
"It looks like someone got there ahead of us," Nick said, watching the video from China on his pad, and Judy growled, "but I guess they were a bit late too."
"Sweet cheese and crackers!"
"At least someone got there and put a stop to the..."
"Nick!" she exclaimed and he actually flinched. Seeing this she closed her eyes, counted to ten, and took a calming breath. "Nick, please go to the bridge and find out what the hell is going on. I'll be there after I feed the kits."
"Yes, Fluff," he said, smiled, and then he hugged her. "Old Nick'll find out and everything will be OK."
"Sorry," she said, returning the hug.
"No problem."
People's Republic of China – Xinjiang Province – Sunday, June 4, 1989 1:30 am China local time
The mile wide landing craft settled to the ground about fifty miles from Ürümqi, capital of the Chinese province, but only twenty miles from the largest military base and airport. Field Marshall Rommel felt the first of missiles launch which would destroy the airport and the jet fighters assigned there. Not that they were any concern, but they might as well play it safe, he thought. His pad confirmed the fact a moment later as well as the launch of thousands of drones and the first of a hundred fighters. Then the landing ramp touched the ground and he smiled.
"Panzer vor!" Rommel said and his voice was heard in over thousand tanks and APCs as the tanks poured down the landing ramps, spread out, and headed toward the cities and military bases in the province. They were soon followed by APCs, carrying the Africa Korps' infantry. The tanks and APCs weren't the same ones they used in North Africa, but the one's designed and built by Lax's people. Rommel smiled again as the heard second wave of missiles and then the jets flying overhead. "This is going to be a good day!"
When they reached the nearby military base it was a flaming ruin and the infantry was sent in to take prisoners while others treated the wounded in a hastily setup mobile hospital. Of course since it was dark they'd seen the glow of the fires on the horizon long a while before they'd arrived. Later his pad beeped and a video from one of the drones began to play showing Chinese tanks and infantry heading out of the city toward their position. This low light imaging system was excellent, he thought and wished he'd had it during the war on his Earth.
But now he wanted to see how well their new military equipment operated in actual combat and began issuing orders. When the enemy tanks were within fifteen miles twenty of his tanks opened fire and their first rounds landed about a tenth of mile ahead of the Chinese tanks. Then more of his tanks opened fire and their rounds landed even closer. The Germans kept firing, creeping closer each time and finally bringing the Chinese tanks to a halt. Then their infantry began to bunching up among them. The next rounds landed behind them and on either side. He let this go on for a minute and then he broadcast on the Chinese command channel.
"Surrender," he said in Mandarin. "You have two minutes."
Sporadically his tanks continued to fire, but not a heavily as before. After a minute he received his answer as one tank fired in their general direction, but its round ineffectively landed only a quarter of the way in their general direction. Then he heard an argument over their command channel and the same tank fired again. A moment later one of the other tank fired on the first one, setting it afire and then destroying it.
"We surrender!"
He knew it was going to be a good day.
Republic of China, Taiwan, Taipei – Office of the President – Sunday, June 4, 1989 7:30 pm local time
People around the world watched at the rapid changing events in China as the pictures moved from Beijing to other cities in eastern China during the day. Also, soldiers from Taiwan were brought in as were doctors, nurses, and even ordinary citizen who volunteered to help. As evening came the video changed to show a man sitting in an office behind an ornate desk that most people didn't recognize.
"I am Lee Teng-hui, President of the Republic of China," he said and his words were translated into whatever language was necessary around the world. "As of today the People's Republic of China has ceased to exist and a large part of it is under our control provided that's what the people want. The communists who cruelly ruled our country for the last fifty years are being arrested and will soon be tried for corruption, murder, and in some cases crimes against humanity. We will setup courts just as they did in Germany after the Second World War with judges from China and other countries who wish to participate to hear the cases against these people. Fortunately the communist had penchant for keeping excellent records."
He smiled and rose to sit on a couch beside another man who a great many people did recognize.
"This is General Chiang Kai-shek," the President said and the General gave a small bow. "His forces, ones from the Human Federation, and others from several non-human races within the Alliance and few outside it have today freed our county from fifty years of oppression. General."
He indicated the other man and the General smiled.
"In my China it's 1942 and the Second World War only ended less than a year ago. With help of the Alliance China was freed of the Japanese invaders and the Communists as was the rest of the world. For the first time in history of my world humanity is free of war and now even the threat of war. China, India, and rest of the countries in East Asia will soon be able to feed themselves and in time all its people will be educated. This is why I and my allies came here today to give your world the hope of freedom in the future, but as you and I know other people here will oppose this and may even try to reverse it." General Chiang leaned closer to the camera. "Today I came to warn them of the dire consequences if they try."
Then he sat back and smiled and then the broadcast returned to events in mainland China.
Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics – Moscow – Kremlin – Tuesday, June 5, 1989 9:32 am
General Secretary Gorbachev looked up from his work, hearing noise from his outer office. He rose and was halfway to the door when it burst open and same General he'd clashed with in the meeting two days earlier entered leading a dozen Spetsnaz soldiers.
"General what..." he began when the man pointed a pistol at him.
"Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, you're under arrest!" he said and smirked.
"On what charge?"
"For being a counterrevolutionary."
Then he was handcuffed, hustled into his private elevator, and put into an armored personnel carrier. The ride lasted for two hours and when they stopped he was led to a dacha in the woods. When they opened the door he found his wife and daughter waiting for him. Then the soldiers removed his handcuffs.
"You will remain in the house," the General said and then smiled. "You have run of it and there's food in the kitchen, but if any of you try to escape... well I'll just leave it up your imagination."
Mikhail hugged both his wife and daughter and the General left. Then the soldiers took up positions inside and outside the house. Outside one of the free form robots assigned to General Secretary Gorbachev detached itself from the underside of the APC and quietly dropped to the ground. Then it became invisible, having already reported its final location to the coordinating AI. By this time the landing craft was already dropping out of orbit and would arrive within the hour. The free form robot oozed under the house and quickly located the positions of all the humans therein.
The landing craft arrived very quietly about a mile away and the twenty invisible armored soldiers surrounded the house. The two free form robots they'd brought infiltrated the structure and made contact the first one. They signaled the soldiers when they were ready. Eight of them were each assigned a target and moments later the Spetsnaz lay twitching on the ground as the nonlethal ammunition's capacitors discharged 50,000 volts into them. Inside the house the free form robots oozed up through the cracks in the wooden floor and then covered the Gorbachev family.
Their guard reacted immediately and opened fire on the blob of silver. Then the doors crashed in and like their compatriots outside they received the same fate. The free form robots uncovered their protectees and they were soon helped to their feet.
"Thank you," Mikhail said, looking at the newcomers, and then hugged his family.
"You're welcome," the commander said with an accent.
"You're German!" Mikhail said.
"Most of us are," he said and smiled. "Captain Kurt Meyer, Africa Korps."
"You're from the other Earth," Mikhail stated, noting that the others were checking the Spetsnaz lying on the floor.
"Yes," he said, noticing where he was looking. "They're only unconscious."
"We need go before the rest of the Red Army shows up," another armored soldier said. "And I'm not German."
Mikhail heard a few chuckles from several open externals speakers and looked at armored person who'd spoken.
"Then where are you from?"
Lax stepped out of her armor.
"Not Earth."
Republic of China – Beijing – Office of the President – Wednesday, June 6, 1989 11:31 am China local time.
"Sir, Fleet Admiral Wilde's will be landing in a few minutes," his military aide said.
"Then I think we must go and greet her," President Lee Teng-hui said, remembering General Chiang's arrival a few day earlier.
By the time he stepped outside and reached the bottom of the stairs the Admiral had stepped off her ship. She approached and he gave a small bow.
"Admiral Wilde, welcome to Beijing," he said and offered his hand. She took it and smiled. "Thank you for sending your marines, soldiers, and medical personnel to help us. The communists killed and injured many people and you and the others saved many lives. Please come there are several people who wish to meet you."
"Thank you," she said and walked beside him into the Great Hall of the People.
She thought now with the new democratic government of the Republic of China it now was more aptly named. When she entered the President's office several people rose.
"General Secretary Gorbachev!"
"I no longer hold that title," he said and shrugged.
"Radio Moscow said you'd been removed from office for treason..."
"and some of my men rescued him."
"General Chiang."
"Good to see you again, Admiral Wilde.
"Shouldn't be working to rebuild your China?"
"But I am," he said and smiled. "Mr. Speer was getting bored in his retirement and he jumped at the chance to work in China. He's an excellent organizer and I must humbly say he's much better at it than I ever was. He should have China well on its way back within 18 months."
The Admiral turned back to the President.
"Do you need anything else?"
"We could always use more doctors and nurses and more engineers."
"Anything else?"
"Well we're doing fairly well rounding up the communists," he said and smile. "The people themselves are helping us, but there is still some fighting in western China."
"Rommel and his Africa Korps are doing quite well as are the other Germans, Ukrainians, and others who wish to rid the world of communists," General Chiang said and looked at Mr. Gorbachev. "Present company accepted of course."
"Maybe now I'll just have to be a reformed communist," he said and smiled.
"But aren't you already?" President Lee and smiled.
Gorbachev laughed.
"What do you think the Soviets are going to do when they find out Mr. Gorbachev is here?" the Admiral said.
"I think they already know," he said and turned his pad so she could see the broadcast being sent out of herself and others in the room.
People's Republic of China – Xinjiang/Tibet border – Wednesday, June 12, 1989 1:27 pm China local time
"So this is Tibet," Rommel said as they crossed the fenced border. "And its people have risen against the Chinese."
"The paratroopers and weapons we dropped across the country have helped a lot," his aide said. "Field Marshal Model has sent a message of congratulations for taking Xinjiang and I have written a message for you on his liberation of Qinghai Province." He transferred the message from his pad to the Field Marshall's. Rommel quickly read it, added a personal note, and then sent it. "And the People's Liberation Army had sent us a welcoming committee."
"How large a welcoming committee?"
"About 20,000 men, 73 tanks, and 52 pieces of artillery," the aide said and touched his pad, sending the disposition of the enemy force. Of course Rommel had surmised that Chinese would send several divisions to try and stop his army. "They'll be in range within twelve hours."
"I'll have my orders ready in two."
"Yes, sir," he said and looked Rommel in the eye. "May I ask the Field Marshall a question?"
One of Rommel's eye brows rose.
"Yes."
"You saw the video from the President's office."
"Yes," he said and smiled. "The Fleet Admiral didn't look happy and neither did Gorbachev."
"What do you think the Russians will do?"
He looked at his aide and grinned.
"They'll invade China."
Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics – Moscow – Kremlin – Thursday, June 22, 1989 9:32 am
The General had soon found that wanting to invade China and actually doing it were two very different things. Although the Soviet Union had over the last few years gradually built up from 20 to 50 Soviet divisions on the Chinese border a large portion of those divisions were second tier and the others were not up to full strength in men or materiel. Of course the best Soviet divisions were currently stationed in Eastern Europe facing the frontline NATO countries. Without disturbing those frontline soldiers he would need to transfer men from other parts of the Soviet Union to bring up all the divisions up to full strength and add a number of new ones along the Chinese border. These new ones of course wouldn't be the best, but sometimes you needed to sacrifice quality for quantity. Fighting in China would require quantity by all means.
Apparently the Nationalist and the aliens helping them had completed their conquest of China and now were simply sweeping up communist officials and People's Liberation Army units attempting to use guerrilla tactics against them. The new rulers of China seemed to have eyes and ears everywhere according to their sources inside the country and they were being used to great advantage. The communist soldiers seemed to be failing since they didn't have any support left with the people who were turning them in and sometime trying to fight them themselves. That usually resulted in dead civilians and a quick reaction force appearing seemingly out of nowhere and quickly overwhelming the People's Liberation Army soldiers. The Nationalists also had a great technical advantage with their body armor and heavier weapons. He'd seen video of their tanks taking hits and simply shrugging them off to keep moving.
Their airpower was amazing too. Their fighters and troop transports could drop directly from space and apparently could land anywhere on the planet seemingly within minutes. Their soldiers would deploy and be ready to fight as soon as their feet touched the ground. For a moment his mind flashed back what traitor Gorbachev had said about hundreds of those same mile wide troop transports landing all over the Soviet Union. It was like one of those bad western science fiction movies he secretly enjoyed, but of course this was real life. He smiled at the thought of what a nuclear weapon might do to one of those troop transports and then thought what kind of similar weapons the Nationalists and aliens might have. Then he also wondered why the Chinese hadn't used any of theirs.
No sense trying to fight the last war as the Americans said.
Republic of China – Beijing – Office of the President – Monday, August 7, 1989 12:27 am China local time.
President Lee was an excellent administrator and politician, General Chiang thought as they completed their meeting with the Dalai Lama. Tibet was never really a part of China on either Earth and the Tibetan people deserved their own country after forty-nine years of communist oppression. They would be the first country on this Earth to receive colonists from the Fleet Admiral's homeworld and China would be second. They'd begin talks with the other countries in Asia and almost all of them agreed to meet in Beijing in December.
Then there was North Korea. He read the history of East Asia here since the end of World War II and couldn't believe the some of the monumentally bad decisions made by the victors after that war. Of course not helping China with the communists was worst of them, but letting the Soviets enter the war against Japan was just stupid. What was President Roosevelt thinking, but he'd died by that time that had happened. Then his successor, Harry Truman, just let it happen! Instead of planning to invade Japan they should've invaded the parts of China controlled by Japan instead and easily defeated the second tier Japanese troops. They must have known that the best Japanese soldiers had returned to defend their country against an imminent American invasion.
Of course, the Soviets invaded Manchuria and Korea and then they turned everything over to the local communists. Without any help from the West and help from the Soviets the communists took over China, Northern Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia over the last fifty years. He understood why the Americans and their allies couldn't have gone to war with the Soviets directly after World War II and then later after both sides had nuclear weapons. Now with the Alliance and Human Federation's technology those weapons of mass destruction were of little matter. General Chiang and now probably everyone else knew with the madmen now in charge of the Soviet Union that they were planning to invade China in the near future. He planned and even secretly hoped they would do just that.
Neither he nor President Lee was going to let North Korea stab China in the back when that day came. That small problem would soon be taken care of very shortly.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea – Pyongyang – Monday, August 21, 1989 12:27 am Korean Standard Time.
President Kim Il-sung was worried about many things, but the Nationalist victory in China was most on his mind. President Lee had invited the heads of state of all the East Asian countries to meet in Beijing, but he refused to meet with imperialists, but now he was having second thoughts. He knew the Soviets intended to invade China and apparently it wasn't going to be a surprise to the Chinese either. They'd even ask him for his country to join them in their war of liberation and since the Soviets where his largest supporter and trading partner all he could do was to agree. The Korean People's Army was currently mobilizing and moving units toward the Chinese border.
Seeing how speedily the Nationalist and their allies had conquered all of China he was a bit worried about their success even with power of the Soviet Union and their allies behind them. Then he remembered a few months earlier how easily the aliens had cleaned out his reeducation camps in only a few hours without anyone being alerted. He couldn't even have the men in charge of the camps executed – the alien took them too! If they could do something like that what else could they do?
He finished his lunch and then walked back to his office with his bodyguards. He worked for a few hours and leaned back in chair. The 'Great Leader' soon fell asleep. Later he jerked awake and it seemed to him as if he'd only been asleep for a moment, but then noticed that was already dark outside. Then he stretched and only then saw the man sitting across the desk from him.
"Guards!" he cried and the man across from him only smiled.
"They won't come," the man said and saw recognition on President Kim's face.
"General Chiang!" he exclaimed, surreptitiously reaching for a pistol and quickly finding that it was missing.
The General gave him a small bow and smiled again.
"Kim Il-sung, we have a great deal to talk about and plenty of time to do it," he said and then indicated him.
His armored bodyguards came forward and helped ex-President Kim to his feet.
Republic of Korea – Seoul – Friday, August 25, 1989 10:21 am Korean Standard Time
His car stopped and General Chiang stepped out and got his first look at the Blue House, the official residence of the Republic of Korea's head of state, who was currently Roh Tae-woo. The South Korean President almost ran to him and for a moment General Chiang thought that other man was going to actually hug him. He had to smile at the thought.
"General Chiang!" he exclaimed and held out a hand. The General took it and shook. "It's an honor to meet you! Thank you! Thank you so much for uniting our country!"
"Kim Il-sung was planning on attacking China," he said, pointedly not mentioning the Soviets.
"And you did all in a day!"
"We have some very special technologies at our disposal."
"What kind?"
"Let's just say while the entire country slept all communists were simply taken away," the General said and winked. "There were a few places that were well sealed and for those we had to use other methods to let's say persuade them to surrender." President Roh chuckled. "I've been told that your soldiers have reached Pyongyang today and we've turned the city over to them." They turned and started toward the Blue House while their respective entourages followed while their bodyguards surrounded them all. "So we also have captured all the high communist officials and we can after their trials put them in the same place as ours."
President Roh stopped and looked at the General.
"For now you keep them because I think of I had them I'd order them all shot."
"I had the same inclination after the war in my China, but the Fleet Admiral appealed to reason and also had built a very special prison for them and others on the moon. And quite enjoy thinking of them working in the fields, having to grow their own food for the rest of their lives."
President Roh smiled.
"Maybe we can persuade her to build one here too."
"The one we have still has plenty of room and I hear that it's currently being expanded," the General said and smiled. "Rebuilding North... I mean the northern part of Korea will be a somewhat of a large undertaking. We will offer our help and I'd guess some other countries will too. I think the Fleet Admiral will also, but I haven't spoken to her yet."
"I shall," he said and the General handed him a pad.
"Good," he said and they continued walking. "In the near future we may need your support in several different ways." He tapped the armor of one his marine bodyguards. "Of course there will need to be some technology exchanges and maybe some of your midlevel and noncommissioned officers could come to China for 'special' training. Maybe even off world."
President Roh smiled.
Lunar Orbit – Sunday, August 27, 1989 7:37 am Eastern Standard Time
Probe 12784 had been waiting for two months for the survey on the derelict starship to begin. After the first week in the Sol system it had gotten permission to begin surveying stars within a hundred light years. It had just returned from Procyon and entered lunar orbit to collect newly built probes from one of the automated factories that it had established on lunar surface. Twenty-one minutes later its sensors detected a Ris ship leaving Earth orbit and setting course for Luna. The probe decided that it would wait until the other ship entered orbit before making contact and then began to store the first of its new probes. Thirty-two minutes later it detected a signal from the Ris ship.
"I'm Vajjar, Captain of the Ris' Pride," he said and indicated the person beside him, "and this is Catherine Clawhauser, Chief Executive of the Zootopian system. We're bringing scientists from the Alliance and Earth to begin the examination of the starship."
Finally, it thought. Not that it hadn't done some of it itself and had found some very interesting things.
"Acknowledged," it said. "I'm sending you the current the information on the derelict's orbit and the information I have gathered on the ship so far. Could I have the information on each scientist you have aboard and may I speak to them?"
"I'm sure they'd enjoy speaking to you," Catherine said and transmitted the information, "when you have time."
"I do now," it said and Vajjar swore he heard nearly every pad on his ship ping an incoming call."
"Well this ought to be interesting," Catherine said and chuckled.
When they matched orbit and then later docked with the derelict it was difficult to get the scientists to interrupt their conversations with the probe to begin their work. Eavesdropping Catherine could tell that some of the conversation had drifted away from the derelict to other planets that the probe had surveyed in the past. Eventually the ship's crew herded the scientists onto the ancient ship.
"I am Probe 12784," it said, meeting them on the main deck.
"You're a Fox!" a female scientist said.
Dawn, Catherine's daughter, smiled, wondering if the woman meant its species or was paying him a compliment. She chuckled and decided it was most likely the latter.
"I've taken this form to make it easier for us to relate," it said, stepping up to the woman. "I could change my shape to something different if you prefer."
"This is fine," she said, touching his arm and then feeling his fur. "You look a lot like Nick."
"I've met him, but this is the form of generic male Fox," it said and smiled. "Your specialty is metallurgy. Would you like me to show you around the ship?"
"Yes definitely!"
As the two left other versions of the Probe 12784 appeared – vixens for the male scientists and tods for the females.
"I wonder how much science is going to get done today," Dawn said, looking at her mother.
"None," the vixen said and sighed.
Dawn giggled.
Republic of China – Beijing – Office of the President – Friday, August 11, 1989 10:29 am China local time
"As you can see here," General Chiang said, pointing to map of the long Soviet-Sino border, "they're massing more soldiers and equipment in these five areas, but there are more forces here than anywhere else."
"To split eastern China from the west and then attack each separately," the Fleet Admiral said. "They also think western China more weakly defended, haven't no reconnaissance."
"Yes," he said and smiled, "and of course they're very wrong."
"So what do you intend to do?"
"Nothing," she said and looked back at them map. "We'll let them invade and they'll be seen as the aggressions and then we can do anything we want to defend China."
"What they're doing is stupid!" Judy said and struck the table with a fist.
"I agree, but they think their nuclear weapons will give them an edge."
"And they won't."
"And now they're also beginning to feel desperate," the General said and the Admiral raised an eyebrow, "and the weight of history is against them. And just us being here has changed things and not just in China. History here was progressing almost the same here as it had on 2976 Earth until you arrived."
"I assume you've heard of Boris Yeltsin," President Lee said and tapped his pad bringing pictures up huge crowd in Moscow rallying around the popular politician. "Every since Mr. Gorbachev was deposed and we rescued him Mr. Yeltsin has been causing problems for the Soviet government. It seems most of the Red Army soldiers who were sent to break up the rallies in Moscow have defected to him. Many Russians are now calling him the President of Russia."
"This probably is the beginning of the breakup of the Soviet Union like the history on 2976 Earth, but two years earlier," the Fleet Admiral said.
"And the end of communist too," General Chiang said and smiled. "Admiral, are you keeping an eye on Mr. Yeltsin?"
"Are you, General Chiang?"
"Definitely."
"General, we're going have to have a long talk about what you did here in China."
"Admiral, he saved China and lives of millions of Chinese citizens!" President Lee exclaimed.
"It's the way he did it."
"You did help too," the General said.
"But you could've asked me."
"Admiral, I didn't need your permission to save my countryman's lives!"
"Stop this!" President Lee shouted. "We need to defend China!"
"You're correct," General Chiang said and turned to Judy. "I'm sorry."
"My apologies too," she said and smiled, "but you could've come to me and asked for my help."
"I could've, but I wanted this to be done by my countrymen," he said and sighed. "You don't know what it's like to see your country occupied by foreigners for decades and then invaded by people who think they're better then you just because you're Chinese! Then watch millions of people die and fighting a war and having to constantly far back while receiving minimal aid for the rest of the world! Of course the damned Russians lavishly supplied the communists with weapons, killing hundreds of thousands of their own countrymen over the last thirty years just because they disagree with them!"
"You did have a bit of help here," Judy said quietly, "but I concede your point."
"What General Chiang said is true!" President Lee said and thumped the table. "And the Soviets will be made to pay a heavy price!"
"What do you have in mind?" she asked almost regretting the answer.
China/Afghan border – North Wakhjir Daban – Friday, August 12, 1989 1:37 pm China local time.
Field Marshall Rommel looked down where a small stream bubbled out of the ground. He was standing at the farthest point west of western China. Then he heard a greeting and looked up as the man, leading several others, stepped across the border.
"Erwin Rommel," the Afghani said and extended a hand.
"Ahmad Shah Massoud," the German said, took the proffered hand, and shook. Both men chuckled and then continued in English. "Come. We have lunch prepared." Then he spoke in a lowered voice. "No pork." The Afghani nodded once. "Have you had German food before?"
"No," he said and looked back at the figures in armor guarding the border.
"Some are my men and others are the Nationalist Chinese and Alliance Army and Marines."
"You know the Russians are preparing to invade China."
"I do," he said as he held back the test flap, "and that's one of the reasons you're here."
"One?" he said and stopped, looking at Rommel.
"We'll help you in Afghanistan and together we'll give the Soviets a poke where they least expect it."
Massoud smiled and then he and his men entered and looked wide-eyed at the soldiers – most without their armor. Some were human and others not and his men spoke excitedly in their language. He'd known what to expect mentally, having seen pictures, but to actually see them for himself was quite different. Erwin noticed the expression on the other man's face and smiled.
"The first non-human I met was a intelligent Gazelle from Zootopia," he said and smiled. "She was quite beautiful and she had the voice of an angel."
"She sang?"
"Here let me show you," he said and took out his pad.
Massoud watched as the Field Marshall searched for a moment, turned the pad, and then started the video. He knew immediately the words were in German, but not understanding them and after listening for a minute had to agree with Rommel in all respects.
"Very nice," he said as he and the others continued to listen.
"She's here," Rommel said.
"In China."
"Yes, but she'll actually be here today, representing the Fleet Admiral in our talks."
Then the food arrived and like all good soldiers in the field throughout history they dug in. They talked about their homes, interesting people they'd met, and of course like all soldiers told old war stories.
"Well that was interesting," Maria said after Massoud had finished his latest story. She had to smile at looks on the Afghan's faces seeing a talking Gazelle. "Maybe I should sing."
Erwin stood and chuckled.
"Well maybe you should," he said and she opened her mouth, "but a bit later."
She looked disappointed and hugged the Field Marshall. Then she looked at the Afghanis.
"General Massoud," she said, releasing Rommel. "General Maria Gazelle – Zootopia militia." She extended a hand and he took it. Then he shook and later turned it back and forth, examining it. "Three fingers." He looked into her brown eyes and she smiled. "Maybe I'll sing after the meeting."