Underlying Thoughts
A nightmare. That is how survivors are describing the scene in downtown Beijing on October 23rd. The entire nation is enraged by shocking stories and images of men, women, and even children choking on deadly fumes while fleeing for their lives. With the death toll at four hundred and steadily climbing as hospitals are overwhelmed with scores of injured citizens, this is the deadliest act of international terrorism in China's modern history.
The so-called Global Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the atrocity. They have promised more attacks if China does not meet their demands, including broadcasting their manifesto on this very channel, releasing known terrorist prisoners, and paying one hundred million dollars ransom. The GLA is known to have bases in lawless areas bordering China, including within Kazakhstan, Aldastan and Pakistan.
A strong international reaction has been united in support of China. Socialist allies around the world have vowed their aid in combating the terrorists, and Russia is already mobilizing their forces to take action. Even President Fielding of the United States has expressed outrage and stated that America and China now share a common enemy. The United States has been hunting the GLA ever since the 1993 attack in New York City, which killed over two thousand people.
China's own troops are on high alert and ready for action. In a conference today held in front of the Beijing Contaminated Zone, General Liang of the People's Liberation Army vowed to destroy the GLA forces responsible for the attack by any means necessary. In her inspiring words, sure to be echoed by all Chinese, 'they will pay for this.'
-Meiying Sun, BCTV State Television, Beijing.
October 27th, 1995 - Beijing, People's Republic of China - 0900 hours
The Monument to the People's Heroes was ten stories of glory and remembrance in granite and marble, looming over Tiananmen Square. Standing at its base, Captain Solomon examined the bas-reliefs carved into its sides depicting moments of revolutionary struggle from China's history. Whether during the Opium Wars, the Civil War, or the Japanese and Russian invasions, the heroic Chinese people were always shown rising together to destroy any enemy.
Solomon didn't need an intel brief to know why he was meeting the Chinese representative here. He wondered how long it had been since only one person stood in front of the monument in broad daylight. With Beijing under strict lockdown, the only people he could see nearby were armed and in uniform.
Four days after the attack, Solomon could still smell the bleach-stink of chlorine gas drifting in the air, even though State news claimed that the Beijing Contaminated Zone was shrinking every day, thanks to a massive cleanup effort. Incredibly, the analysts were saying that the destruction was a fraction of what would have been inflicted if the GLA's bomb trucks had been able to spread out and detonate all over the city. Solomon's stomach churned to think that the thousands of civilians gasping in hospitals across Beijing right now represented a best-case scenario.
An armoured staff car rolled up, gliding past the vehicle checkpoints and blockades ringing Tiananmen Square and every other vital site in Beijing right now. The officer who emerged looked like she had stepped straight from a PLA recruitment video, her green uniform sharp and her posture crisp. If Lieutenant Zhong Lin had lost any sleep over the past four days, she hid it well. As she approached, she was flanked by a tall, fit Anvil Battalion bodyguard, his hand never far from his sidearm as he eyed Solomon.
"Captain Solomon," she said, halting with her hands behind her back, her English carefully precise. "I am Lieutenant Lin Zhong. I am sorry that your visit to our country has taken such a tragic turn."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. There are no words for how sorry I am that the UN couldn't help stop this insane attack."
Solomon spoke a little more slowly out of consideration for her second language, and noting that she had used the Western style when giving her name. Faced with her immaculate presentation, he felt conscious of his own rumpled tan uniform, creased from long hours traveling and working since leaving New York.
She inclined her head slightly. "Words are indeed insufficient. Even so, General Liang has tasked me to convey China's appreciation for the intelligence you provided… even if it was too late. Dr. Thrax's name will help China and our Socialist comrades hunt down the cowards responsible for this unforgivable act."
Solomon suppressed a grimace. While the image of the GLA being smashed off the map by Chinese and Russian tanks had its charms, he had no illusions about the civilian toll that their firepower would inflict. Or about the wealth of territory and resources that the World Socialist Alliance could gain during an offensive against the GLA. The WSA was not known for surgical precision in their operations, or for passing up opportunities to expand their reach.
"The Security Council has called for restraint, and I've been directed to reinforce their message," he said. "Please convey to General Liang that while the whole world shares China's anger, any invasion of another country will be seen as a threat to global peace."
"I see. I will certainly make sure the UN's message reaches the appropriate destination."
The Lieutenant's polished smile didn't flicker, but Solomon suspected the 'appropriate destination' was the verbal equivalent of a garbage can. It was all a political formality anyway: no one at the UN seriously expected China to let a massacre in their capital go unanswered, and no one was going to take up arms in defence of the GLA after what they'd done. He tried again anyway.
"The GLA's strategy is to provoke their enemies into their territory, where they can wage guerilla warfare," he said. "They use foreign invasions and civilian casualties as propaganda. It boosts their fundraising and recruitment. Attacking Aldastan risks giving them exactly what they want."
Lieutenant Zhong's smile grew a little, showing more teeth.
"I assure you, Captain Solomon. The GLA will not want what we are about to give them."
She moved things along before he could press the issue further. Zhong's hands emerged from behind her back, extending a green file folder to Solomon.
"In gratitude for your assistance, we have granted your request. Black Lotus will join your fact-finding mission as a technical consultant. Additionally, you will find that she has been authorized to share classified information on General Kassad's activities."
It was more than Solomon had dared to hope for when he came to Beijing. He opened the folder, and was immediately confronted by a mass of dense black bars concealing information: Black Lotus' file had been heavily redacted by her masters. Real name, date of birth, family, past operations: all erased. All that was left behind was the agent: cyberwarfare, codebreaking, stealth expertise, martial arts, languages, fieldcraft. China's very best, and she answered to him now.
He closed the file. "Thank you. Please tell your superiors they won't regret this."
"Of course." Zhong folded her hands behind her back again. "China will always support international cooperation against the scourge of terrorism."
"Besides," she added as she turned to walk away, leaving Solomon gaping behind her. "Perhaps Black Lotus can help Echo Nine improve its cybersecurity. Respectfully, your black ops team could use the help, Captain."
"In a way, she was doing us a favour. The Chinese could have easily not told us they had hacked the UN. Instead, they alerted us to one of our weaknesses… and that suggests they want Echo Nine to succeed. Probably so we'll help hurt the GLA."
General Sheppard's voice was a little crackly over the secure satphone, and Solomon had to strain to hear him over the grumbling engine of the aging, rattling UN Humvee he was riding in.
"Maybe," Solomon said, gripping the phone tightly. "But it feels like we're too exposed. Echo Nine is supposed to be top secret, and China saw right through us."
As he spoke, he looked out the vehicle's rear window at a darkened city, mourning quietly under martial law. Beijing's streets were uncannily empty of its people as they rolled past outside the Humvee's window. The atmosphere reminded Solomon of how things had felt in the United States, just after the GLA brought down the Chrysler Building.
"That was always a risk," Sheppard replied. "This cat's too big to stay in the bag forever. The trick is to make Echo Nine so valuable to the world that keeping it secret is in everyone's interest. Nobody said it would be easy, Captain."
Solomon bit back a sigh. So far, black ops was a very different world from peacekeeping - and Echo Nine hadn't even been on any real missions yet. At least he knew he could depend on Lieutenant Toyama, currently at the wheel of the Humvee as it closed in on their airport.
"This is why I leave the politics to you, sir."
"Be glad you do," said Sheppard. "Between combat and answering to the media, I'll take getting shot at any day."
That got a slight chuckle from Solomon. Sheppard kept talking as the Humvee approached the People's Armed Police checkpoint guarding Nanyuan Airport.
"Trading Dr. Thrax's name to the Chinese got us Lotus and the intel on Kassad, but it also means we've painted a target," Sheppard said. "Thrax's last reported location was in the middle of Bishkek, surrounded by thousands of GLA militants… and nearly a million civilians. It's just a question of who hits him first: China or the USA."
"Lotus is supposed to meet us when we return to the Rorqual. We'll get airborne after she's been briefed," Solomon said. "Any orders after that, sir?"
"It's your ball to run with. Keep building up the team and notching wins where you can. It's too late to stop this war from starting, but we can use it as an opportunity to show the world that GDI can help stop terrorists. Bring me victories and recruits, and I'll get you what you need to take down Kassad."
"You've got a deal, sir."
"Keep up the good work, Captain. Sheppard out."
It took a few more minutes to clear the checkpoint. Despite whatever goodwill Solomon had won with the Chinese, everyone in Beijing was on high alert for foreign threats right now. Toyama had to answer several questions and endure a paper inspection and vehicle search before they were waved through to the runway where the Rorqual waited.
Solomon didn't begrudge the police their vigilance. The red Chinese flag above the airport was at half-mast, and every officer at the checkpoint was wearing a white flower pinned to their chest, symbolizing national mourning. With Jarmen Kell having somehow slipped away in the chaos after the attack, every guard in China had tripled their alertness to avoid further humiliation.
Like the majestic sea beasts it was named for, the Rorqual was big, beautiful, and vulnerable. The heavily modified four-engine Hercules cargo plane had been specially designed to support special operations, but it was still a transport aircraft, almost completely defenceless aside from its lethal passengers. Its huge wings spread across the runway like flippers, and its cargo hold bulged like a whale's belly. But there was a sleek edge to the plane as well, a gleam of sensors and antennae and cutting-edge avionics, a freshness to its golden tawny paint.
The UN may have been strapped for cash in other areas, but Sheppard's black budget had at least provided Echo Nine with the best transport they could hope for. Solomon already thought of the Rorqual as home.
Stepping out of the Humvee alongside Toyama, Solomon regarded his team's mobile headquarters. In front of them, the side hatch was already open and the stairs out to receive passengers. Solomon made a mental note to have Keller keep the plane buttoned up while they were parked on a foreign runway, in case they ever needed to make a fast getaway.
Toyama looked around, running a hand through her short, dark hair. "I don't see Black Lotus anywhere," she observed. "Maybe she's running late?"
"Or perhaps she wanted to impress you with her stealth training," Black Lotus said from directly behind them. She sounded faintly amused.
Toyama startled visibly. Solomon took some small pride in restraining the impulse as he turned around. Black Lotus matched the grainy, redacted photo in her file almost exactly: the black ponytail, long blue leather coat over fashionable civilian clothes, the ruggedized black laptop case in her gloved hand. The only difference were the dark rectangular sunglasses Lotus was wearing over her eyes.
"I'm here, Captain." She spoke before Solomon could, cutting him off and seizing the initiative while his mouth was open. "It seems you got what you came for after all. Shall we?"
"Good to meet you in person, Agent Lotus," he said, recovering his poise and summoning the Voice of God as he gestured toward the plane's stairs. "Please, come aboard. Welcome to the Rorqual."
"Are you thirsty? Hungry?" Toyama added as she trailed behind Lotus. "I'd be happy to fix you something before we take off."
"Thank you, but I've already eaten. Maybe later." Lotus didn't even turn her head to see Toyama.
"You already know me," Solomon said as he followed the two women up the stairs. "This is Lieutenant Toyama Suki, my aide and the team's medic. And this-" he indicated the man waiting for them at the top of the stairs, next to the plane's cockpit. "Is Grady Keller, our pilot. Formerly of the Royal Australian Air Force."
"G'day, ma'am. Don't pay me any mind, I'm just the bloke they contracted to drive this bus. You'll probably never even see me outside the cockpit."
Keller was in his mid thirties, with a compact build and a sandy beard, eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses, wearing a khaki flight vest over civilian clothes. A gold tooth gleamed when he smiled, and a polished black Beretta was holstered in his vest. Lotus nodded to him, and proceeded onto the Rorqual without another word.
Trailing behind her, Toyama made another try to connect. "Now that we're working together, would it be all right if we knew your name? Calling you 'Black Lotus' all the time feels a little strange."
Lotus halted and gave Toyama a look.
"Of course."
Then she reached into the inner pockets of her long dark coat, and turned to hand three passports to Toyama - one Chinese, one Vietnamese, and one Korean - fanned out like playing cards, as though Lotus was asking Toyama to pick one for a magic trick.
"You can use any of these names at your convenience. I personally like Wang Li. She's a salesperson from Shanghai. She likes dogs and worries she'll never meet the right man. She's also interested in medicine, so the two of you can have something to talk about."
Toyama took the passports automatically, held them in front of her, and sputtered for a moment. Solomon sighed, reached out, and handed them back to Lotus.
"Point taken," he said. "Agent Lotus it is. C'mon, we'll give you the tour."
Agent Lotus stayed mostly silent through Solomon's tour of the plane. The Rorqual was a big machine, with two decks above a sizable cargo hold. It had enough space to have its own little infirmary, briefing room and armory. Solomon even had his own private office, however cramped. Team members like Toyama and Lotus would have their own passenger seats during flights, complete with windows and tray tables, more like a civilian airliner than most military planes.
Solomon saw Black Lotus' nose wrinkling for a moment at the sight of the large, plush, decidedly non-military seats. She said nothing though, until they returned to the briefing room and she sat down to set up her laptop.
"You already know that the 'fact-finding mission' is just a cover," Solomon said, beginning the briefing. "Echo Nine is really a new kind of multinational special operations team, working in secret. Our mandate is to combat international terrorism and other threats to global peace, on behalf of the United Nations Global Defence Initiative."
He stood at the head of the table, while Toyama quietly slipped into the seat nearest him.
Lotus pursed her lips. "I'll admit I was surprised to learn of your real mission. Most of the world believes GDI is only a paper tiger. But we are its first teeth, correct?"
"That's basically it," Solomon admitted. "I don't need to tell you that the UN's old way of doing things wasn't working. We're the start of something new. Something big."
She tilted her head slightly, and he sensed that she was watching him carefully behind her dark glasses.
"I see. I assume you'll want to start by finally receiving the information you wanted on General Kassad?"
Solomon remembered how quickly Lotus had shut him down the last time he'd broached Kassad. He decided to show her just where his priorities really were.
"Kassad can wait. Right now I want to talk about Aldastan."
He took satisfaction in her raised eyebrow.
"Of course," she said. "You understand however, I can't share sensitive details about Chinese military operations."
"All right," he said. Even in a multinational unit, they all still had ties of loyalty to their own homes. "But we're all on the same team now, and we're going to be involved in whatever happens there. So let's not pretend that Aldastan isn't about to get hit."
"Got it." Lotus pursed her lips slightly, and hit a shortcut on her laptop. The electronic screen on the far wall of the briefing room lit up with a green map of the country in question.
"Aldastan, population estimated at nine million, previously the independent republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan before being merged after the civil wars. No functioning central government recognized by other countries. Widespread malnutrition, corruption and poverty. International aid suspended due to repeated attacks on aid workers and theft of supplies.
"The area has been a hotbed of terrorist fundraising and recruitment ever since the GLA's 'revolution' created the country four years ago. But, corrective action by Russia and China has always been blocked by the UN and the Allied Nations. After what the GLA has done, this status quo can't be tolerated any longer."
Solomon exchanged a look with Toyama. "Sounds like China might blame the international community for what's happened."
Lotus turned her head to stare at him through her dark glasses. "Not at all, Captain. I wouldn't want to start with your unit by laying blame for missed opportunities. We are, as you say, on the same team."
Solomon's seat suddenly felt uncomfortable, and he shifted in it. He knew Lotus was thinking it even if she wouldn't say it, and so was the Chinese leadership. If the Socialist bloc had been able to strike Aldastan sooner, or if the UN had shared the intel on Dr. Thrax openly, hundreds of Chinese citizens might still be alive. But how many people in Aldastan would be dead?
Lotus resumed speaking, satisfied with his reaction. "The USA has previously mounted operations into Aldastan, gathering intel and eliminating key GLA personnel. They've got an airbase nearby, leased from Turkmenistan. Perhaps they'll cooperate with China as we launch our own anti-terrorist operation."
She raised an eyebrow at Solomon. "I understand you are personally familiar with elements of the American Task Force, Captain."
There was that uncomfortable seat again.
"That's not important, Agent Lotus," he said firmly, projecting the Voice of God again.
"Sure." Solomon wondered if she was rolling her eyes behind her dark glasses. "But all this you could have heard on CNN. I'm more interested in what role our new unit will play in Aldastan."
Solomon folded his hands in front of him, looking pensive. "Right now, Echo Nine is just the three of us plus Keller in the cockpit. We need more muscle in the field. But if we can move fast enough, maybe we can swoop in on Thrax ourselves. We could end this whole war early if we play it right."
"A bold plan," Lotus observed. "But very sound. You'll have my support, Captain."
Toyama tilted her head. "Pardon me," she said. "But wouldn't your superiors mind if we involved ourselves in their operation?"
"The Tigress values victory above all else," said Lotus. "If we give her Thrax, we will be rewarded."
Something clicked in Solomon's mind.
"Exactly," he said. "Let's build up the team, then use this as a chance to really show everyone what we can do."
He looked at Black Lotus, trying to penetrate those thick glasses with his gaze.
"I've got full confidence in everyone at this table so far. And I'll always have your backs so long as you always give me your best."
Lotus looked away, her face rigid. Solomon didn't embarrass her by saying out loud what he'd figured out: that she was on Echo Nine not just as a reward to Solomon, but as punishment detail. She had taken the blame for failing to stop the attack on Beijing, and the Tigress had banished her to the humiliation of a tiny, obscure UN mission, locking her out of the battle to avenge China.
Just like me and Toyama after Sinai, he thought. We're all failures here.
Well. He'd just have to see what he could do about that.
Lotus surprised him by changing the subject. "Since you are asking questions on behalf of the UN, might I ask something on behalf of China?"
He blinked, then nodded.
"Before you came to Beijing, you reached out to Moscow," Lotus said. "Inquiring about Boris Volkov. You were rejected most strongly. Was he supposed to be your first recruit?"
"That was the plan," Solomon admitted, exchanging another look with Toyama. They hadn't expected the Russians to be overjoyed about their interest in their top covert agent, but the response from Moscow had been pure ice, and blunt questioning about the reason for their interest.
"Your timing was unfortunate," said Lotus. "Even suspicious, from Russia's standpoint. Didn't you know that Comrade Boris had gone missing in Europe at almost the same time?"
Solomon frowned deeply.
"What happened?"
"Unknown," Lotus said. "Our Russian allies have not shared details, beyond a mission gone bad. But they've warned us that the capitalists may be targeting our special operatives, with your group potentially involved as spies."
She paused, then gave a faint smile. "I suppose we'll know for certain if I die mysteriously in my sleep, Captain."
"I've got a feeling you're a very light sleeper, Agent Lotus," Solomon said dryly, even as his mind processed. He had started his search for recruits with Russia and China for a reason: not wanting Echo Nine to be a West-only club that only protected half the world. Boris' disappearance complicated things even further.
"That must be part of why things have gotten so bad with the Allies and the Socialists lately," said Toyama.
Lotus scoffed softly. "The Allies are in no position to interfere right now. Without the Americans backing them, I wouldn't worry about the Europeans."
"Everyone wants the US on their side," Solomon observed. "Including us. My country has got the best special ops troops in the world. We need their support on this team."
He stepped back from the table, signaling an end to the meeting.
"I'll go tell Keller to get us airborne. We're headed to Ashgabat Air Base to see about getting more recruits. Then we'll look at options for missions in Aldastan. Lotus, Toyama - dismissed. Come see me if you've got questions." He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Lotus? Take a look at improving our cybersecurity."
Later, as Black Lotus was settling into her seat for the long flight and the plane's wheels were rolling down the airport pavement, Solomon pulled Toyama aside and spoke to her quietly.
"Lieutenant," Solomon said softly. "Don't take her attitude personally. Black Lotus is a spy. She's not trained to be friendly unless she's using it as a weapon."
"Don't worry about my feelings, Captain," Toyama said. "If anything, I'm worried about hers."
Solomon looked at her quizzically.
"I caught a glimpse behind her sunglasses earlier when she was turning to hand me those passports," Toyama explained. "Her eyes were very red. I think she's been crying. Who could blame her? Losing hundreds of your people, and to be told it's all your fault… She's carrying a burden. I hope we can help her lift it."
"It wasn't her fault," Solomon said firmly, grateful for Toyama's insight. "I'll make sure she knows that before this is over."
There was a slight lurch as the plane's wheels left the tarmac. The Rorqual climbed smoothly and steadily, guided by Keller's experienced hands. Taking his seat, Captain Solomon watched the buildings and lights of Beijing grow smaller and smaller beneath them, shrouded in industrial smog. One of the last sights he saw was the ragged patch of greenish haze, still hanging over the Beijing Contaminated Zone. He closed the window and settled in for the flight to Turkmenistan.
A/N: The mention of Russia invading China being represented on the war memorial is part of Echo Nine's alternate history: Stalin's USSR attacked China during the Second Great War, based on a map shown in Red Alert 1's Soviet Campaign.
'Aldastan' is a fictional country that is the theatre for several missions in the Generals storyline. As in this story, it's the headquarters for the GLA forces attacking China.
The USA's estrangement from the international system is also inspired by the Generals manual, which mentions the USA resenting a lack of international support for counterterrorism missions. As previously established, the debate over whether to use military force against the GLA led to the US splitting from the Allied Nations, who have chosen to focus their resources on combating the WSA.
The Rorqual continues GDI's tradition of naming things after animals: in this case, baleen whales.
This was a talky political chapter, but the next installment will feature more action, as the war in Aldastan begins in earnest.