USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)
170 Miles Southeast Woody Island, South China Sea
The video conference between the Admiral, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Adviser was not going well.
“Sir, with respect, you have my recommendation. Take the deal.” The Admiral was beginning to show his anger which was never good for an Admiral, even worse when talking to his boss.
The National Security Adviser was in a foul mood. “I cannot believe what I am hearing! You are just going to write off Taiwan!! How the fuck can you say that? This will end any chance at reelection.”
The SecDef was caught in the middle. Although a political appointee, he had retired an Air Force General. A graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado, he had an entire professional lifetime of experience that told him to support his subordinate. He was relatively new to the insider politics of the White House. “Bill, we need to consider the strategic consequences here. We just missed a nuclear escalation by the skin of our teeth. Next time it could be real.”
The target of the NSA’s ire shifted to the Secretary. “Jesus! Know you are Air Force, but have some balls! We are winning this thing!”
The SecDef’s face became very still. He didn’t appreciate being told how to run the Department of Defense by someone who had never worn a uniform. “Sir, I serve the President of the United States, not you. You will speak to me and to my people with a civil tongue or you will not speak at all. Is that clear?”
Clearly taken aback, the NSA was about to unload on the Secretary when another voice cut into the conference. “Please hold for the President.”
Oh fuck, thought everyone on the call. It was almost humorous to see grown men looking like children with their hands caught in a cookie jar.
The screen split to show the President (most likely in the White House situation room) wearing a collared shirt but no tie. It was the middle of the night in Washington DC. “Gentlemen, I have read the Admiral’s report on the meeting with the Chinese. What is your recommendation?”
The SecDef spoke first. “Sir, recommend that we take the deal. It stabilizes the situation and allows us to meet our strategic objective of containment in the region.”
The National Security Advisor was obviously about to interject when the President cut him off.
“At what cost? We just leave the Taiwanese hung out to dry? Not acceptable.”
“Sir, it’s a matter of strategic priority. Do we risk an all out conflict with China in order to protect one island?”
The President was clearly taken aback. “All out conflict? What the hell do you call this?”
The Admiral was the first to answer this one. “A limited conflict sir. The Chinese have held back at every turn and we have also. We have refrained from bombing their cities and factories and they have refrained from using nuclear weapons. This restraint may not continue indefinitely.” A pregnant pause was all the emotion he allowed himself. “Sir.”
The president shook his head. “Options. I want options. Tell me what we CAN do, not what we CAN’T do.”
There is only one thing to say when the President gives a direct order. “Yes sir, we will get back to you.”