Gregory inhaled the last of his coffee in one gulp, adrenaline and caffine fusing in his system to finally heave him into wakefulness. All around the Command Room in Fort Shafter, the various branch heads and military commanders of the Hawaiian Government were arranged, with video monitors and cameras for newly-promoted Admirals Neumiller and Eliassen. Rachel stood in the back of the room, dressed in a simple dress stark contrast to her usual Queenly regalia.
Right, General Tompkins murmured, stepping up beside Gregory. Thats everyone, your majesty.
Thank you, General, Gregory nodded. Tompkins stepped back into the group with a bow. Gregory rolled his shoulders, then turned and paced up to the projector screen. Everyone went silent.
Good morning, everyone, Gregory called. I know its only technically morning, but its nearly noon in China and thats what matters right now. All the rumors youve undoubtedly heard are true China has invaded the Demon Realm, and fired a nuclear weapon against India.
There was a wave of gasps from the civilian administrators, and a single oh, hell or something to that effect from Admiral Neumiller, but most of the military officers merely settled into grim-faced determination.
As Im sure you know, Gregory began.
Your majesty! a voice shouted, immediately following the opening of a door. The young corporal who had just burst in hesitated at the sight of all the generals and admirals arrayed in front of him, then swallowed and continued. The Coruscantis have sent a fleet its arrived in Pearl Harbor by now and their commander is on his way up with his staff!
Good, Gregory murmured. I assume hes briefed?
Yes, sir, as far as I know, the corporal said. Tompkins nodded to the soldier, who fairly fled the room in terror.
Well let him arrive in his own time, Gregory announced. He turned back to the projector, which showed a map of India. Now, Ive initiated Protocol Hawaiian Sun, which, as you all know, was created to cover the contingency of a Xinjiangi assault against India. Its China these days, but the same situation theyve bypassed the Himilayas, and Ive received permission from the Indian government to send air forces into their territories and provide close support to their formations. He looked straight at the camera hooked to Eliassens computer. Second Fleet is being sent that way to provide support. First and Third will follow as soon as theyre ready.
Yes, sir, chorused Neumiller, Eliassen and Commodore Rebecka Gauntlett of Third Fleet.
There should be little need for the Army, however, Gregory added. Your main role, save the Spearfishers and potentially the Ku and Broken Mirrors divisions, will be to protect Japan from the risk of a Chinese invasion. Hopefully our allies will prevent them from even landing, but if they do we have to be ready.
Yes, sir, Tompkins nodded.
And what about Project Arizona and PHOENIX? Gregory asked. Rachel frowned she had never liked the idea of PHOENIX.
Sir, with the appropriate funding, I can complete stage one in six months, Tompkins announced. However, Stage Two will require a significant amount more, and likely take longer. Stages Three and Four are still a few years out.
Well make do, Gregory nodded. First priority is to break the enemy in the air and at sea. Only then can we consider sending any significant ground force which will likely be a majorly 501st and Coruscanti measure, since Hawaiis Royal Army, while its fighting spirit and morale is unmatched, has few soldiers.
Ever so, your majesty, Tompkins agreed without restraint. Id rather have our own men, for sure, one-on-one, but the 501st has good soldiers, and a good number of them. Same for Coruscant. Theyll do much better than us on land, while we hold the skies and the seas.
Good, Gregory said. That just leaves the Comintern on the diplomatic front.
I have reasonable assurances theyll stay out of the war, Duke Edward Falklands, senior diplomatic envoy of Hawaii, commented from a video link. Currently, he was in Stanley, but a plane was preparing to fly him to Honolulu.
Thats good, Gregory repeated. He shook himself. Now, on to the details of PHOENIX and Scarlet Fever.
-L