Post by Ozarks Tom on Jun 5, 2019 13:37:33 GMT -6
Started this one some time back, still working on it from time to time. I'll either finish it, or it will finish me.
The Blackout
The meeting – Just inside the border of N Korea the two leaders meet as agreed, one interpreter, no attending bodyguards.
Before Kim Jong-un can say anything, Chinese President Xi speaks, “First, I’d like to extend my condolences on the loss of your mistress, Miss Lee.”
Looking puzzled Kim says “I believe you’re mistaken, Ms Lee is well, I saw her just last night.”
“Yes, I know you saw her last night, but you’re the one who is mistaken this morning, it appears; that she died in her sleep after you left her.” Again, my condolences, but our security people assure me she’s passed.”
Slowly aware something isn’t right, he sputters “Your security people?”
“Yes, several of our security people have been protecting you and your friends since you came back to replace your father.”
For the first time realizing he’s not in control, Kim says nothing, but Xi continues “I don’t need to remind you of the devices we gave you to install in your satellites, we’ve decided it’s time for you to use them.”
“But… but we only installed them to strengthen our negotiating position with the Americans, once we’ve brought them to the table we had intentions of bringing them down.”
Smiling with confidence Xi presses on. “Yes, but we don’t have any such intention, we could trigger them at any time, but that would not be to our advantage. Which brings me to our very generous offer. We will insure not only your safety, but guarantee a very comfortable life for you and your friends in China, granting your every wish, and keeping your well-being our utmost concern. You’ll live like a king, with none of the worrisome details of State.”
Now feeling in complete control, Xi continues “The Americans must believe, at least outwardly, that North Korea alone has attacked them.” “The simple detonation of the devices wouldn’t be enough, which is why we require that you attack both South Korea and Japan also, making it plain that North Korea has acted alone.”
With all the calmness and resolve he can muster, Kim finally speaks, “but they will destroy North Korea, the country my family has ruled for over 70 years, we’d become a wasteland, I won’t do it.”
In a tone he would use talking to a disobedient child, Xi replies “Your country will become a wasteland in any event, at least by following our instructions you will survive what will happen with or without your assistance. There are men in your country who would be happy to do our bidding, if you too were to die in your sleep.”
Pyongyang
Kim Jong-un looks one more time in the mirror, satisfied that he’s the young image of his grandfather Kim Jung Sun, another man who destroyed an American army and was a God to his people. His impending betrayal of them is of little importance. He only has two appointments this morning, then to board a luxurious plane for his new home.
General Cheong Seong-chang is his first, a long time party member, proven to be loyal beyond any doubt. The General stands in front of Kim’s desk with a stoic and unemotional countenance. A pen in one hand, a small note pad in the other.
The meeting – Just inside the border of N Korea the two leaders meet as agreed, one interpreter, no attending bodyguards.
Before Kim Jong-un can say anything, Chinese President Xi speaks, “First, I’d like to extend my condolences on the loss of your mistress, Miss Lee.”
Looking puzzled Kim says “I believe you’re mistaken, Ms Lee is well, I saw her just last night.”
“Yes, I know you saw her last night, but you’re the one who is mistaken this morning, it appears; that she died in her sleep after you left her.” Again, my condolences, but our security people assure me she’s passed.”
Slowly aware something isn’t right, he sputters “Your security people?”
“Yes, several of our security people have been protecting you and your friends since you came back to replace your father.”
For the first time realizing he’s not in control, Kim says nothing, but Xi continues “I don’t need to remind you of the devices we gave you to install in your satellites, we’ve decided it’s time for you to use them.”
“But… but we only installed them to strengthen our negotiating position with the Americans, once we’ve brought them to the table we had intentions of bringing them down.”
Smiling with confidence Xi presses on. “Yes, but we don’t have any such intention, we could trigger them at any time, but that would not be to our advantage. Which brings me to our very generous offer. We will insure not only your safety, but guarantee a very comfortable life for you and your friends in China, granting your every wish, and keeping your well-being our utmost concern. You’ll live like a king, with none of the worrisome details of State.”
Now feeling in complete control, Xi continues “The Americans must believe, at least outwardly, that North Korea alone has attacked them.” “The simple detonation of the devices wouldn’t be enough, which is why we require that you attack both South Korea and Japan also, making it plain that North Korea has acted alone.”
With all the calmness and resolve he can muster, Kim finally speaks, “but they will destroy North Korea, the country my family has ruled for over 70 years, we’d become a wasteland, I won’t do it.”
In a tone he would use talking to a disobedient child, Xi replies “Your country will become a wasteland in any event, at least by following our instructions you will survive what will happen with or without your assistance. There are men in your country who would be happy to do our bidding, if you too were to die in your sleep.”
Pyongyang
Kim Jong-un looks one more time in the mirror, satisfied that he’s the young image of his grandfather Kim Jung Sun, another man who destroyed an American army and was a God to his people. His impending betrayal of them is of little importance. He only has two appointments this morning, then to board a luxurious plane for his new home.
General Cheong Seong-chang is his first, a long time party member, proven to be loyal beyond any doubt. The General stands in front of Kim’s desk with a stoic and unemotional countenance. A pen in one hand, a small note pad in the other.
“General Cheong, I have the most important task for you you’ve ever received, I’m sure you will complete it with great honor and distinction. At 9 pm this evening you are to supervise the detonation of one of our satellites over America, and at 9:20 pm you will detonate the second when it arrives over the United States”. After which, you will unleash our artillery and rockets against the imperialists and their lackeys of the South. Then, from your command bunker you will coordinate our ground attacks as long planned. While you are doing this our missile command will be assuring the destruction of any possible opposition. Do you understand your mission?”
“Yes Dear Leader, I have lived for this day.”
His second appointment, an hour later, is General Thae Yong-ho, junior to General Cheong in time served only. Equally stoic in expression, he too stands with note pad in hand ready to receive his orders. Kim explains “I’ve given General Cheong specific instructions to detonate our satellites over America a 9 pm and 9:20 pm as they pass over America. Then to unleash our artillery and rockets as long planned on the imperialists of the South. You are to precede him to the Central Command Bunker. When he arrives, if he hesitates or gives other orders, you are to kill him and give my command yourself, do you understand?”
“Yes Dear Leader, I have lived for this day”.
Upon leaving both Generals separately observe their immediate families standing under guard near the compound gate. The unspoken message is clear.
Finished with his official duties, Kim and half his bodyguard board the waiting plane, the other half of his bodyguard and household staff is already in China preparing for his arrival.
United States
30 miles above Ohio, on a cool clear Tuesday morning, at precisely 9 am a brief flash of light appeared, which nobody noticed. Nobody that is besides an Air Force sergeant in Florida monitoring satellite movement, and then only until his screen went black.
Although the device was low megaton, it was high in electro magnetic pulse. The effect was nearly instantaneous, traveling at the speed of light electrical current surged through main transmission lines, gathering strength as it traveled, and reaching transformers both remote and those central to the power grid. Upon reaching the transformers the surge was a thousand times more powerful than any transformer was built to withstand. Powerful explosions erupted in stations from Philadelphia to Denver, Toronto Canada to Monterey Mexico. Two thirds of the United States power grid went down in less than two seconds.
The consequences were predictable, but none the less tragic. Airplanes started falling from the sky, vehicle motors died, leaving drivers without power steering or power brakes, elevators stopped between floors, and train engines continued with no controls. Tens of thousands were dead or injured in minutes.
Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
Meanwhile, in North Korea, at exactly 9 pm 7,000 artillery pieces opened fire on Seoul, while another 2,000 are aimed at American and Republic of Korea forces near the DMZ. 10 nuclear tipped missiles start toward Japan, while another two nuclear missiles and 25 with high explosive start towards an American carrier group 85 miles off the S Korean coast.
United States
United States
At 8:20 am Colorado time there was another flash in the sky, this time half again the size of the first. Transformers burst throughout the West, with the same devastating effects. The power grid of the entire country was now effectively destroyed. Only those planes which were in a landing pattern when the first blast went off were spared, all other took their screaming passengers towards the ground.
Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
Although 70% of the N Korean artillery is silenced by pre-aimed artillery and rockets in an hour’s time, 110,000 N Korean troops surge across the DMZ, while 500,000 more troops and armor start moving south. The American and ROK forces are overrun in a matter of hours. Even though N Korean casualties are nearly 50%, their objective has been achieved.
Six N Korean mini-subs on suicide missions carrying nuclear devices silently surface and detonate near S Korean ports. While a submarine launces an EMP missile towards Hawaii.
The surface ships of the carrier group are completely destroyed, leaving only their submarine escorts. Tokyo and four other major cities are leveled, including two major ports harboring several American ships.
The surface ships of the carrier group are completely destroyed, leaving only their submarine escorts. Tokyo and four other major cities are leveled, including two major ports harboring several American ships.
Four hours after the second burst, Pyongyang is a fiery ruin, along with several major military installations. Command and control bunkers are intact, buried several hundred feet underground with proven zealots in command. Kim Jung-Un directs and encourages by radio, giving the false impression he’s still in country. The troops keep moving.
China
China
It’s midnight in China, but noon in Washington, and President Xi is a busy man. First, a call to President Trump by satellite assuring he knew nothing of N Korea’s plans, and offering any assistance China can give. Next, he orders the execution of Kim Jung-Un and his retinue three days hence. Their bodies to be dumped strategically near Pyongyang.
Sitting back in his recliner watching international news. He smiles as he watches reports of carnage all across the US, time is on his side, and he’s got lots of it.
United States
Sitting back in his recliner watching international news. He smiles as he watches reports of carnage all across the US, time is on his side, and he’s got lots of it.
United States
It’s started. The cities are total chaos, looting, robberies, murders didn’t wait for the sun to set. Within hours of the grid going down it was everyone for themselves. Stealing big screen TVs and computers may not make sense in the long run, but these people aren’t thinking long run. Liquor store and bodega owners try to protect their property with shotguns, only to be killed for their efforts.
Carnage on the highways is immense, and even there human nature’s evil side is on display. The dead are picked clean of money and jewelry, the nearly dead are given hardly better treatment. By midnight the mayhem is just picking up steam.
Suppressed panic would best describe the mood at the White House, President Trump has been in the situation room since shortly after the first detonation. At first, all that’s known for certain is it was the North Korean satellites sending the nation into darkness, and North Korea was attacking South Korea and Japan. President Trump dispensed with any formalities, telling the head of the Joint Chiefs “bring me the football, I’m gonna nuke the bastards”.
When the call from President Xi came through, Trump listened patiently as Xi pleaded innocent of any harmful intent, rolling his eyes at the suggestion of Chinese aid. When the call was ended Trump’s reaction was “I don’t trust that sonofabitch, let’s nuke him too. Army Joint Chief General Haggard reminded him the Chinese has shown no sign of offensive actions, and according to satellite images were amassing their forces at the North Korean border, clearly intending to put a stop to the insanity as President Xi had assured. Clearly frustrated, President Trump turned to the subject of infrastructure damage and how to undo it.
When the call from President Xi came through, Trump listened patiently as Xi pleaded innocent of any harmful intent, rolling his eyes at the suggestion of Chinese aid. When the call was ended Trump’s reaction was “I don’t trust that sonofabitch, let’s nuke him too. Army Joint Chief General Haggard reminded him the Chinese has shown no sign of offensive actions, and according to satellite images were amassing their forces at the North Korean border, clearly intending to put a stop to the insanity as President Xi had assured. Clearly frustrated, President Trump turned to the subject of infrastructure damage and how to undo it.
The assessment wasn’t heartening. Huge transformers like those at generating stations aren’t kept in reserve. It usually takes up to a year to build a new one, and the world’s biggest supplier is South Korea. The pumps running the cooling ponds at nuclear power plants run on backup diesel generators, but standardly only had a week’s supply on hand. Clearly they would have to commandeer all the diesel available and transport it by whatever means possible. Even then, they were only buying time against the inevitable meltdowns.
When he asked about casualties, he was advised the estimate of those killed that day was in the tens of thousands, but adding in those with extreme medical needs and conditions, and those struck down by the uncontrollable violence, within a month it most likely run into at least a million.
He didn’t want to hear more, with color rising in his face, frustration causing him to nearly shout at the top of his lungs “what in the hell have you guys been doing all these years? You knew this was possible, and you sat on your damn thumbs the whole time. We could have bought backup transformers, we could have hardened the grid, for God’s sake we could have shot down those damn satellites! The whole damn bunch of you and Congress should be shot for treason!”
14 Months Later
14 Months Later
The population of the US is down to 60 million. Disease, starvation, violence, radiation, and suicides have done the work of the Chinese. A large majority of the Army and Air Force have returned, while the remainder have stayed in their host countries. The Navy is still fairly intact, resupplying at friendly ports. Desertion has been a problem among those already stationed in the US and those brought back, even though the military has rations, the need to see after their families is a stronger pull than any enlistment oath. Of the roughly 500,000 military stateside, only 200,000 remain. It’s assumed most of the deserters are dead by now.
The world’s economy is a disaster, with the sudden removal of the United States, and the ensuing defaults in the derivatives market, major banks everywhere is insolvent. Only those countries in physical possession of their gold and silver still have any semblance of an economy through the minting of coins, there is no credit, all payments are due on delivery.
There is no economy left in the US, only barter and precious metals are used in trade. The government has owned up to the fact there was no gold at Ft Knox, and although the Federal Reserve initially refused to repatriate gold held in its vaults for other countries they finally had to relent under threat of war.
The Chinese have demanded payment for the Treasury Bonds they hold, but the government has only worthless script. Due to non-payment, the Chinese are now claiming ownership of all the land west of the Mississippi River.
Fort Bliss Texas, El Paso
Fort Bliss Texas, El Paso
Even though he understood the reverence and honorable intentions of his parents in naming him, Lieutenant General Louis Armstrong White never allowed even his closest friends to call him “Louie”. He was military through and through, graduating 3rd in his class from West Point, gaining rank as would be expected of an officer who excelled at every level of command.
But, sitting now in his office alone, for the first time he feels defeat coming his way. In less than an hour he will be in conference with his staff, and every option he could think of stunk. The only thing that stinks worse is the thought of ceding half his country to the Chinese.
Even combining the forces from Ft Hood, with all its mechanized units, along with artillery and Special Forces from far away as Ft Campbell, he could still only field less than two divisions. The Chinese had commandeered enough container ships, along with their standard navy, to start landing 6 mechanized divisions at Puerto de Guaymas, less than 500 miles south. He gave no thought to the many divisions landing in British Columbia, the Chinese battle plan could only succeed if both arms of the pincer movement made it through American defenses. It probably didn’t bother the Chinese that they’d lost nearly two divisions to American submarines, they’d made it.
When the intelligence briefing was over, General White leaned back in his chair and said “well, gentlemen, that’s our situation. If the Chinese are following the book of Sun Tzu, they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t certain of victory, how do we change their minds?
General Kinnard was the first, and least likely to speak up. Since losing his wife and children to a raiding militia in Pennsylvania he’d crawled into a bottle, only to come out when absolutely necessary. “Sir, the Chinese confidence comes from their numbers, but those numbers are only effective with leadership. Just like the Germans and Russians in world war two, without their leaders directing their every move they’re useless. I suggest we concentrate on their command structure.”
Weary of plans that required more resources than he had, General White cut him short, “and just how do we locate these leaders? Over half our satellites were lost in the EMP blasts, and now we know why the others have gone black, our air power is down to 54 jets and 40 bombers, but not knowing what or where to bomb they’re useless.”
Kinnard, suddenly realizing he was the center of attention, and the condition of his uniform and general appearance, wasn’t about to be intimidated by the aura of defeatism that permeated the room. He’d had some sober thoughts, and despite his disheveled looks, he had a plan that needed explaining.
Kinnard, suddenly realizing he was the center of attention, and the condition of his uniform and general appearance, wasn’t about to be intimidated by the aura of defeatism that permeated the room. He’d had some sober thoughts, and despite his disheveled looks, he had a plan that needed explaining.
“Sir, before the blackout there was an organization that ruled that part of Mexico, the Sinaloa cartel. Their market is gone, and probably most of their soldiers are dead, but as with any organization it’s the leaders who die last. I suggest we immediately send our best Special Ops team to Sinaloa, make contact with those men, and promise them anything they want for their cooperation. If they want gold, scrape every piece of gold we’ve got together, hell, pull fillings and caps if we have to, but get their help in getting the intelligence we need. After that, have them guide our Special Ops teams to ambush points, relay back locations to bomb, set sniper teams loose with the Sinaloans to take out every officer they see.” Realizing he’d been nearly shouting at the end of his speech, he added “Sir, I’d respectfully submit we should at least try.”