Vincent Shaw rushed into the situation room in the Presidential Office Building in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei. Overhead, he could hear the sound of a number of AIDC Ching-Kuo Fighters flying Combat Air Patrol over the city.
Nodding, Shaw approved of the aircraft flying overhead. It had been his first order, besides placing the Air and Missile Defense Forces on alert, when the Minister of National Defense, Chen Chao-min, had called with the situation. As he entered the office building, a Clouded Leopard Armoured Vehicle arrived, and deployed Military Police around the entrance to the office building.
A number of staffers and low level military officers arrived around him, all jockeying for his attention as they tried to inform him of what was happening. The primary comment from all was that no launches had been detected. The Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed that as of yet, no terrorist group had claimed responsibility, but that a number of groups in the People’s Republic were suggesting that the “Taiwan Authority” had somehow pulled off the attack.
Including one of the surviving members of the National People’s Congress, Sun Tzu-Chai, who was the first in the line of succession of those who remained after the nuclear bomb had detonated.
Having been granted emergency powers, he ordered the artillery brigades along the coast opposite Taiwan to open fire into the sea to warn Taipei that the People’s Republic was not going to go lightly.
Vincent Shaw began to swear in three languages as he walked into the situation room.
“I want a rotating over watch above the Islands at all times. Make sure the Sky Bow Missile Batteries are armed and ready.”
Turning to his Minister of Foreign Affairs, he asked, “What is the rest of the world saying?”
Checking his notes, Minister Jun Qin responded, “The United States is currently disorganized. It seems that President Bush and his father, and their wives, where on scene.”
A collective gasp went up from the assembled ministers. The confirmation of their worst fears was something they where trying to wrap their heads around. The United States and Japan where the only real allies that Taiwan had, and President Bush had helped to tighten the relationship.
“Secretary of Defense Gibbs confirmed, adamantly, that the US was not responsible. Secretary of State Rice has been silent, and Vice-President Cheney is in the bunker.”
Flipping his pages, Qin frowned at the information on the page, “Russia has offered rather half-heartedly condolences. But it seems that Putin has his eyes elsewhere. Information indicates that Russia has now ‘Officially’ begun their invasion of Georgia.”
“I thought he was supposed to be at the ceremony,” the Minister of Information asked, flipping through her information for verification.
“Nope, seems that he came down with something yesterday and had to head home early,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs responded.
“Seems damn convenient to me…” the Minister of Defense growled.
Shaw was about to interject, when an aide entered and whispered into the Defense Minister’s ear. They conversed for a solid minute, with the Minister’s face running a gamut of emotions and expressions throughout the conversation.
“Mr. President, Tzu-Chai has been officially named President, and he has declared war.”
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