General Chiang's Finest Hour (346 hits)
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Submitted by X54 (View user info) at 2008-04-14 23:47:37 EDT
General Chiang, commander of the United Nations' international peacekeeping force in California, gazed out his limousine window as he crossed the Golden Gate bridge. In just a few minutes, he would give a press conference from the scenic overlook at the north end of the bridge. His two highest ranking sub-unit commanders would join him there along with the newly elected president of the People's Republic of California. With San Francisco providing a backdrop across the bay, Chiang would announce the end of major combat operations against the defeated US military.
The General's chest swelled as he looked out on Angel Island, the old immigration station where in years past so many of his countrymen had arrived as virtual slaves. Who could have predicted victory would come so quickly against the mighty American armed forces? True, a dozen years of disastrous wars in the Middle East had bled America white. And with secessionist movements to suppress in California, New York and Minnesota, she was hardly the superpower she'd once been. But Chiang's campaign to liberate the newly seceded republic had been brilliant in its own right. It was rumored that he was to be awarded the title of First-Class Hero of the Chinese People on his next visit home to Beijing.
Chiang mentally reprimanded himself for his flash of pride. He could not allow any trace of emotion to detract from his announcement. There was still much to be done. Anti-secessionist factions were already mounting an insurgency in the central valley. In the south, Free Aztlan paramilitaries were infiltrating across the porous Mexican border. And remnants of the shattered American army were regrouping east of Lake Tahoe. It would be unwise to exhibit too much confidence too soon. Still, it was difficult not to feel that this was his Finest Hour.
He found General Kuybyshevo and President Feinstein waiting for him as he stepped from the limousine. General DeGaul, as usual, was late. A throng of news people snapped pictures and called questions from a distance, held at bay by the smart-looking MPs of Chiang's personal security detachment. Beyond them, a sea of grateful Californians cheered, waving their country's new flag alongside the flags of China, Russia and France. The UC Berkeley band played "California Triumph." Kuybyshevo smelled of vodka, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
General DeGaul arrived with a ridiculously large motorcade. Chiang's irritation waxed as DeGaul stepped from a limousine twice as long as his own and blew kisses to the screaming crowd. DeGaul wore a flamboyant French uniform instead of the camouflage fatigues Chiang had specified for the occasion. As DeGaul leaned down to give him an unseemly European hug, Chiang was reminded of an amusing English language cliché about smelling like a French whore.
Chiang felt Kuybyshevo's bemused gaze looking down on him. Both of his subordinates were taller than he by a full head. Ignoring Chiang's stony glare, DeGaul produced a bottle of Dom Perignon, popped it open with a gunshot-like pop and sprayed foam over the four of them. The cheering crowd pressed forward, pushing the outnumbered MPs back.
Chiang clenched his teeth. He would deal with DeGaul later. Now, he had little choice but to wait for the commotion to die down. He gazed out over the frenzied crowd to the peak of Mt. Tamalpais and tried to think pleasant thoughts. Soon his wife and teenaged son would join him in San Francisco for the summer, a rare privilege bestowed on him for his exemplary performance of duty. Just that morning, his wife had emailed him a picture of herself sitting on a stone bench holding a bouquet of flowers. Their son stood beside her looking taller than ever. Their son, who was studying Adobe, had superimposed this image onto a picture Chiang had taken of the Golden Gate bridge.
One of the MPs caught his attention. The man pulled back from the line and marched toward him in his heavy riot gear. DeGaul and Kuybyshevo passed the dripping champagne bottle back and forth overhead. Cold, sticky liquid ran down Chiang's neck. The MP halted two meters off and saluted.
Chiang returned the salute, searching for the man's rank in order to properly address him. But the man wore no rank. Chiang's eyes narrowed, his irritation turning to concern as he waited for the man to report. Chiang dropped his salute and started to back away, but just then DeGaul and Kuybyshevo put their arms around him and lifted him into the air.
"Put me down, you fools," he shouted, eyeing the suspicious looking MP. His words were lost as a trio of Chinese fighter planes thundered low overhead. DeGaul and Kuybyshevo hoisted him onto their shoulders. The crowd roared. With his free arm, Kuybyshevo roughly hugged President Feinstein. Looking disheveled and somewhat appalled, she glanced up at Chiang.
The MP smiled. Though he looked Chinese, his teeth were perfectly straight. Chiang's concern turned to panic. Could no one else see the man was an imposter? He struggled to free himself, but his commanders held him tightly by the legs. The crowd surged forward again, breaking through the MPs' line in one place.
"Loosen up, Comrade," cried DeGaul. "Can't you see we're heroes?"
The imposter raised his arms. A thin wire stretched from his closed left hand to his waist and disappeared under his uniform.
Chiang froze. In his mind's eye, he saw with startling clarity the Photoshopped picture of his wife and son with the Golden Gate bridge. He suddenly recognized the stone bench in the picture as being from the garden of his father-in-law's house. His wife and son were dressed lightly, too lightly for summer in San Francisco. He intended to point this out as a joke, but he had not yet had time to reply.
The imposter shouted, "God bless America!" and a scorching flash consumed General Chiang.
User Reviews
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2008-04-18 05:45:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2008-04-15 11:38:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by X54 (user info) at 2008-04-15 10:54:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2008-04-15 06:02:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
i agree with Betty. Flamboyant Frenchies, vodka swilling Ruskies and short Chinaman ...hmm whodathunkit
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You're right. This place is full of surprises.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2008-04-15 09:30:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Ltap (user info) at 2008-04-15 09:08:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
It could have been good but it was full of stereotypes.
Submitted by TheGoat (user info) at 2008-04-15 06:02:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
i agree with Betty. Flamboyant Frenchies, vodka swilling Ruskies and short Chinaman ...hmm whodathunkit
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2008-04-15 04:44:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It's A bit hackneyed and the liberal sprinkling of stereotypes made this read like lazy propaganda.
Well written though, as always.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2008-04-15 01:31:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Didn't read it. You like +2s though, so here you go.
Submitted by BeforeEmily (user info) at 2008-04-15 01:23:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by experima (user info) at 2008-04-15 01:00:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment