The Project 01 - White Jade

the table. " It is time to claim our proper place. We have everything we need to bring them to their knees. Your policies have diluted the true measure of our greatness. "
    Chairman Zhang studied his fingernails, looked at Yang. " You seek to change those policies? "
    " They are changed. As of right now. "
    The door burst open . S oldiers of the elite Special Forces took up station along the walls and around the table where the men were sitting. Each was armed with the latest assault rifle, the QB-97. Resistance to such a force was futile. Some of the Standing Committee looked nervously at the soldiers surrounding them. Zhang appeared unconcerned.
    Yang spoke again. " The missiles at Luoyang are under my control, as are our submarines at Sanya. All of our long range missiles are mine. In the future, if anyone tries to make things difficult for us, we will not hesitate to show them our strength. "
    The President of China turned to the others in the room. " General Liu. You command the region including the submarine base on Hainan . What do you say to this? "
    " I am afraid General Yang has miscalculated. By now the base at Sanya will be completely surrounded on land. At sea, units have been ordered in force to the area to prevent any unauthorized, ah, adventures, on the part of our submarines. We have also established air surveillance. "
    " That is a lie, " said Yang. " I spoke with Admiral Zhang before I entered this room. He assured me the submarines are under my command. "
    " Oh, that ' s right, you couldn ' t know. I regret to inform you that just after you spoke with him, Admiral Zhang had an unfortunate accident, " said General Liu. " So sad. He slipped and fell overboard during an inspection and drowned. A state funeral and public services will be planned in Beijing for our revered naval leader. "
    " I have Luoyang . "
    " Ah, I am so sorry, General, " said General Hong. " Luoyang is surrounded. General Lu continues to hold the base. However, you may find communication with him difficult. Should he indicate readiness to launch, countermeasures will be taken. If necessary, the missiles will be destroyed. "
    " You can ' t do that! That is our main deterrent to the Americans. "
    " You are a fool, Yang, " said the President. " The Americans can annihilate us if they choose. That is why we have taken only a defensive nuclear posture over all these years. "
    Yang looked at the stone faced men sitting with him at the table and knew he was close to losing control. First Wu had failed him. His dream of a new dawn for China ' s nuclear missile forces had been buried under the rubble of those ruins. Wu ' s death was only just reward for his failure. Now his plan for ruling China stood in jeopardy. But General Lu still controlled the missiles. Yang ' s tanks were rumbling through the streets. And the elite forces were here with him in this room.
    " You ' re the fool, Zhang. My tanks are in position outside. The people will follow me. Major! " He addressed the commander of the soldiers surrounding the table. " Seize these men. Take them outside. If they cause trouble, shoot them. "
    It was when the major drew his pistol and pointed it at him instead of Zhang that Yang knew he had lost. Behind the Minister of Railways, two soldiers moved forward and roughly grasped his arms, lifting him from his chair. He started to protest. One look at Zhang silenced him.
    " It is you who goes outside, Yang, and that traitor as well. "
    All pretense of mild unconcern vanished as Zhang stood. He ripped the rank boards with their three stars and wreaths from Yang ' s shoulders and threw them against the wall. Zhang ' s face was flushed with anger. He turned to the major.
    " Take them to the military prison. Place them in isolation. If Yang struggles, render him unconscious but do not kill him. Post a 24 hour watch. We have use for him. "
    " Yes, Chairman! " The major saluted, gestured with his pistol at Yang.
    " The tanks, " Yang said.
    " The tanks are under my command. Take him. "
    They watched the men being led away. The door closed behind them.
    President Zhang addressed the others.
    " If the Americans believe we are to blame for these attacks, we face a serious threat of war. Raise our defensive posture, but be careful not to indicate aggressive intentions. This idiot has brought us to the edge of disaster . W e must find a way to avoid it. "
    General Zhou left the room.
    " We should call their President. " It was the vice-chairman of the