Fenix by Vivek Ahuja Page B

themselves!”
                  “The point is,” Wencang said as he grabbed the file and leaned back as he opened its contents, “that like all animals, our friends in Rawalpindi did what they felt they had to do to preserve themselves during our war with India. They helped where they could, but drew the line very clearly when they saw that the war was not going according to our estimates.”
                  “So how do you explain their current behavior?” Chen asked as he crossed his arms. “Surely this strike against Mumbai is not going to be taken lightly by New-Delhi? Hussein is quite mad if he thinks otherwise!”
                  “From his perspective, he is quite sane, Chen. He is using the opportunity given to him by a weakened Indian military and economy, a weakened Indian government that has let go of key individuals that helped secure their survival in their war with us and a Prime Minister in New-Delhi who is more inclined for peace even when presented with conflicting evidence regarding Pakistani intentions.” Wencang read through the items in the file and closed the file, putting it back on the table.
    He then looked at Chen and continued: “General Hussein and his right-hand man, General Haider, have made their bets on the outcome to this plan. In that respect we can play along as well. If the net result is the further weakening of our enemies in a bloody war, should we get in the way?”
                  “Agreed!” Chen said.
                  “There is nothing at all for us to lose in any of this. My friend, I trust you to take care of this with the utmost discretion, of course.”
                  “Understood.” Chen nodded.
                  “Very well then,” Wencang said as he glanced at the file on the desk. After a few seconds of silent consideration, he scowled: “Consider all of these requests from Rawalpindi approved! Your command will receive its orders from this office before the end of this day. Time to throttle up the pressure around the Indian necks. Make it happen!”  
     
     
    NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT
    BEIJING, CHINA
     “The government announced today that a large scale military exercise by the People’s Liberation Army will be initiated in the Tibetan Autonomous Region to validate warfighting doctrine enacted by General Wencang last year. The doctrine was created after the military action taken against the imperialistic ambitions of our Indian neighbors three years ago.
                  The spokesperson of the Central Military Commission, air-force General Chen confirmed that the exercise was intended to test refinements made to the fighting abilities of the armed forces and would include a new air-ground concept for mountainous terrain. The exercise will see the deployment of our comrades in the 81 ST Airborne Army as well as air-defense troops and other aerial forces over the plateau of Tibet.
                  General Chen confirmed that the timing of the exercise was not intended to coincide with the recent happenings on the Indian subcontinent and were not designed to be hostile to other nations. However, he confirmed disappointment within the politburo with New-Delhi’s aggressive warlike postures against Pakistan. General Chen noted that New-Delhi was correct to pursue the perpetrators of the nuclear violence in Mumbai but were wrong to think that nations in the region will stand by and watch a blatant attack on a smaller sovereign nation like Pakistan. He hoped that New-Delhi will see the light and conform to diplomatic channels to pursue the criminals behind the Mumbai attack…”
     
     
    T he peace and calm over Lhasa was drowned by muffled jet engine noises during the afternoon as the first Chinese transport aircraft began approaching the city at high altitude from the northwest. As the civilians ran into