Changing Lanes, Chapter 39

[MikeL]

Cliff James has released Chapter 39 of Changing Lanes.."Zeus Triumphant".

Edited June 2, 2009 by MikeL

[Drewbie]

 

Either Scar will kill Jansen and Keith and Eric. Or torture them...

 

good luck on getting rid of the scar.

 

[wildone]

Ugh, I have a horrible feeling of doom coming upon our friends .

 

If I recall right, CJ will put out a chapter like this right before a chapter that will shock the hell out of us . I'm going have to re read it later, as I'm sure it is full of clues that I missed on the first reading.

 

So it looks like Helen is broke and destitute . I'm beginning to wonder if General Bradson's job offer is still on the table when this is all over.

 

I guess if I pulled something good out of the chapter is that The Scar is getting drunk on Brandy before noon and hopefully his decision to not join the others might mean that if the volcano colapses he may go down with the nukes on the Western slope. Now that Yuri has the hotel shuttle van, I am curious how everyone else is going to get to the Eastern side of the island.

 

Thanks for the chapter CJ , it has given me a lot to think about.

 

Steve

[AFriendlyFace]

Either Scar will kill Jansen and Keith and Eric. Or torture them...

 

good luck on getting rid of the scar.

 

It was my understanding of the chapter that The Scar had not seen them, or rather not noticed them.

 

Now that Yuri has the hotel shuttle van, I am curious how everyone else is going to get to the Eastern side of the island.

Crammed into the Jetta on each other's laps?

 

Or maybe strap a few to the roof and stick Jane in the trunk

 

 

Very exciting chapter! In many ways it does seem like the "calm before the storm" yet it was definitely exciting and eventful in its own right!

 

 

I can't wait to read more

 

-Kevin

[C James]

Either Scar will kill Jansen and Keith and Eric. Or torture them...

 

good luck on getting rid of the scar.

 

I've heard that plastic surgery is good for getting rid of Scars...

 

Ugh, I have a horrible feeling of doom coming upon our friends .

 

If I recall right, CJ will put out a chapter like this right before a chapter that will shock the hell out of us . I'm going have to re read it later, as I'm sure it is full of clues that I missed on the first reading.

 

So it looks like Helen is broke and destitute . I'm beginning to wonder if General Bradson's job offer is still on the table when this is all over.

 

I guess if I pulled something good out of the chapter is that The Scar is getting drunk on Brandy before noon and hopefully his decision to not join the others might mean that if the volcano colapses he may go down with the nukes on the Western slope. Now that Yuri has the hotel shuttle van, I am curious how everyone else is going to get to the Eastern side of the island.

 

Thanks for the chapter CJ , it has given me a lot to think about.

 

Steve

 

So far, no one has caught a huge item in chapter 37.

 

Helen made General Bradson a promise of an interview, merely to avoid offending him unnecessarily. At this point, I can guess that the interview would be.. brief. LoL

 

It was my understanding of the chapter that The Scar had not seen them, or rather not noticed them.

 

Absolutely correct.

 

Crammed into the Jetta on each other's laps?

 

LOl.. that would be a very tight fit... That was a big van, much akin to the ones used for airport shuttles, seating close to 20 people. It would still have been a very tight fit; most of the wedding party (including guests) are still at the resort.

 

Very exciting chapter! In many ways it does seem like the "calm before the storm" yet it was definitely exciting and eventful in its own right!

 

Thanks Kevin!!

 

Okay, some reader e-mails have caused me to decide to explain some political aspects in the story. First, this story is set in the near future, just a few years (less than 5) as indicated by a few vague references (such as Mount Saint Helen's eruption being "over three decades ago". That eruption was on may 18th, 1980.

 

Changing Lanes was plotted out well before last fall's election. The sections in the chapter were written long before North Korea's memorial day unsuccessful nuclear weapons test. I wasn't playing off current events.

 

Also, I'd like to say that this chapter was written long before today. The fact that the General is slamming the US and the world for accepting Iran's nuclear program and the claim that it is "peaceful" in such strong terms has nothing to do with the fact that today, the current president in our world declared that "Iran has a right to a nuclear program", though specifying peaceful use, and thus echoing the Clinton and Bush administration's past similar pronouncements on North Korea.

 

I did not write the political aspects of this story to slam the current administration and response to North Korea, and I certainly did not write chapter 39 today to slam today's comments by the current president.

 

Is Changing Lanes political? Yes, in some ways. However, given its timeframe (near future, up to five years) the administration in the story was not intended to be the current one. Indeed, when this was plotted, the current one looked unlikely. The similarities, and there are many, between very recent events and some of the policies criticized in Changing Lanes are coincidental. I'll make no bones about it, I oppose the current administration, but Changing Lanes was not written for me to use as a soapbox, and as I've said, the plot was laid down long ago. I have strong opinions on nuclear proliferation (I consider it the single greatest threat for human extinction and thus take it seriously) and have often ranted regarding the bungling of this issue by this and prior administrations, but any matches between the current administration's actions and Changing Lanes are coincidental.

 

I've tried to keep the facts in the story accurate, to the best of my knowledge. The gasoline-import issue sounds like a nonsensical claim, but its true. So too are the nuclear sites listed, (including the earlier links to satalite maps of the Kerman site, where the rescue mission took place) the refineries, etc, etc.

 

If anyone wants to discuss the political aspects of the story, agree, disagree, or whatever, please feel free to do so in this thread or in this forum. At most, I might move the posts to a seperate thread if that discussion becomes very active. The only thing I ask (and due to GA rules that apply site wide, I must insist on) is that we keep it civil.

 

Okay, have at it.

[Drewbie]

Once though they come into the restort tha t's when the scar will see them.

 

 

It was my understanding of the chapter that The Scar had not seen them, or rather not noticed them.

 

 

Crammed into the Jetta on each other's laps?

 

Or maybe strap a few to the roof and stick Jane in the trunk

 

 

Very exciting chapter! In many ways it does seem like the "calm before the storm" yet it was definitely exciting and eventful in its own right!

 

 

I can't wait to read more

 

-Kevin

[Sir Galahad]

There all dropping like flies! Damn, I can't believe you killed Jim & his misses off! I wonder who's next? I have a feeling the goats killing spree isn't over yet, more casualties to come I feel.

 

Jeez, we should re-name you Slasher!

[MikeL]

Very exciting chapter! In many ways it does seem like the "calm before the storm" yet it was definitely exciting and eventful in its own right!

Thus far, no one has used the word "

cliffhanger

", not even our illustrious goat/author, who would normally be protesting the use of the word even before it had been used. The reason would seem to be obvious. There is definitely a storm brewing...nearly a perfect storm. Instinct and company find themselves facing a murderous enemy, a defensive, vindictive US State Department (who would want Hillary on their case?), and an unpredictable volcano...all with no apparent means of escape.

[TalonRider]

The question is, how long will the calm remain before all hell breaks loose?

[Phantom]

After the final harry potter book... my sister showed me a picture online (when I find it.. I'll post it)...

 

It was an avatar with JK Rowling laughing and the quote said "I kill people. LOLZ."

 

Maybe we should make one for the eeeeevil goat?

 

Eric

[wildone]

Thus far, no one has used the word "

cliffhanger

", not even our illustrious goat/author, who would normally be protesting the use of the word even before it had been used. The reason would seem to be obvious. There is definitely a storm brewing...nearly a perfect storm. Instinct and company find themselves facing a murderous enemy, a defensive, vindictive US State Department (who would want Hillary on their case?), and an unpredictable volcano...all with no apparent means of escape.

 

 

Just who are you referring to as an unpredictable volcano? Hillary or Cumbre Vieja?

 

 

 

Okay, I'll make a stab at the political content here.

 

Not being an American, but definitely knowing enough about US Politics from the multiple US TV and Cable stations we receive up here in the Great White North, I have to say that at no time, do I get a feeling that Changing Lanes is about the current US government, or any more than generalizations about the recent history of the US government.

 

Some points that I will make are about the US governments foreign affairs with the world. It is not far fetched that the General, Helen, and Felicia would hold the view that the US is the only ones that can safely take care of the nukes. Unfortunately, in our current free world, the US is the only superpower that could take care of a situation that has been outlined in the story.

 

I don't think the characters made any mistakes in choosing the US to give/sell the bombs to. I know that France, Britain, India, Pakistan, China and possibly Israel would want anything to do with it. I say that because they would rather let the Americans deal with any problems than to try to do it themselves.

 

As far as speaking to the US inaction to rogue states nuclear ambitions such as North Korea and Iran, I take a less conspiratorial stand and say, really, what can the US do. They do try to abide by what the UN deems is appropriate action toward these countries, but as long as their is a China standing beside them willing to undercut their decisions, it is a balancing act.

 

It would be foolhardy to assume the US can go into Iran and N.Korea and just shut them down. Without getting into a whole debate about Iraq, I hope the US has learned their lessons about invading without UN and world public opinion on their side.

 

Like any country with a large economy and population, there will always be a military industrial complex that dictates how certain decisions are made. Is it fair that General Bradson was asked to leave? Probably not, but he did take his own actions without higher approval in the government. It did work to the government's advantage, but he did break the chain of command. Then, once again, he did do it again with the raid into Iran. The interesting thing is that really we only have the opinion of General Bradson, Brian's dad, about if the military was planning on rescuing Brian or not.

 

Let's face it, The General was only trying to get his son out. The Scar piggybacking on him to get nuclear bombs was something that the General did not foresee and could only react after he learned of what was going on.

 

I have some other ideas, but my point is, I do not feel that CJ through the fictional work of LTMP and CLiff is trying to make a political statement about the US government. I believe he has used the government's actions in the past to create a framework of what most likely could happen if the fictional situation arose in real life.

 

There, did I make any sense at all?

 

Steve

[Bondwriter]

My feel of the General's mindset is that he's quite similar to tons of fiction military characters. They display the value of the military compared to these of mere civilians. See the "rescue" movies of the 80s (I haven't watched one in years), from Chuck Norris' to Iron Eagle. So a lonely man with a will can change history more than a bunch of corrupt and idle politicians (I sum up a bit.)

 

Whereas the rescue mission of his son could be justified, going off to changing one's nation's international policy by triggering nuclear explosions is clear-cut terrorism. "Oh, I just destroyed the towers so my government and the US' corrupt one would understand what good and morality were..." So, not only I disapprove of his actions, but I find it strategically mega stupid to blow it all off in the press conference without having any insurance on getting the money back or on seeing how the government reacts. If in the epilogue, we learn he'll spend a minimum of 20 years in jail, I wouldn't be surprised. Even if he goes on a super heroic action to defeat the other dimwit The Scar who gets drunk at a time when he should keep his head clear, I don't see how he can get away with his statement.

[MikeL]

Just who are you referring to as an unpredictable volcano? Hillary or Cumbre Vieja?

 

I have some other ideas, but my point is, I do not feel that CJ through the fictional work of LTMP and CLiff is trying to make a political statement about the US government. I believe he has used the government's actions in the past to create a framework of what most likely could happen if the fictional situation arose in real life.

My mention of Hillary was both parenthetical and gratuitous. I did not intend it to interject politics into the discussion nor question CJ's fictional politics. I know he has said the story is set approximately five years in the future. So, CJ is not referring to our current political leaders...at least not intentionally.

 

Since we are discussing politics, I would point out that five years is a short time. It is entirely possible that our current political leaders will still be on the watch five years from now and could then be facing a situation with Iran similar to that of which General Bradson speaks in this chapter. There will likely be no rock band or mercenary band, but there will likely be a nuclear-armed Iran. I predict that, if Obama can tame the current recession, he may well be President five years from now. I also predict that Hillary Clinton will not be Secretary of State five years from now regardless of Obama's success.

 

That said, I expect chapter 40 will see more action and less politics.

[Conner]

Everyone (in the story) needs to chill. Let's have a pool party!

 

Right now, I'd even enjoy a sex scene between the General and Felicia.

 

This story will end with Scar falling into the actice volcano and screaming, "I'm melting. I'm melting."

 

Sorry, CJ, it seems I'm distracted.

[C James]

There all dropping like flies! Damn, I can't believe you killed Jim & his misses off! I wonder who's next? I have a feeling the goats killing spree isn't over yet, more casualties to come I feel.

 

Jeez, we should re-name you Slasher!

 

Don't blame me.. Yuri gave the order.

 

Thus far, no one has used the word "

cliffhanger

", not even our illustrious goat/author, who would normally be protesting the use of the word even before it had been used. The reason would seem to be obvious. There is definitely a storm brewing...nearly a perfect storm. Instinct and company find themselves facing a murderous enemy, a defensive, vindictive US State Department (who would want Hillary on their case?), and an unpredictable volcano...all with no apparent means of escape.

 

If no one is saying there is a cliffhanger, that means this chapter gets an Amphibious Declaration of Cliffhanger-free, right?

 

The question is, how long will the calm remain before all hell breaks loose?

 

What makes you think all hell will break loose? Maybe they'll just go on with their vacation?

 

After the final harry potter book... my sister showed me a picture online (when I find it.. I'll post it)...

 

It was an avatar with JK Rowling laughing and the quote said "I kill people. LOLZ."

 

Maybe we should make one for the eeeeevil goat?

Eric

 

ACK... But.. I didn't do it! Yuri and the ambush force did! I haven't been near the island in over a month!

 

 

Just who are you referring to as an unpredictable volcano? Hillary or Cumbre Vieja?

 

Okay, I'll make a stab at the political content here.

 

Not being an American, but definitely knowing enough about US Politics from the multiple US TV and Cable stations we receive up here in the Great White North, I have to say that at no time, do I get a feeling that Changing Lanes is about the current US government, or any more than generalizations about the recent history of the US government.

 

Some points that I will make are about the US governments foreign affairs with the world. It is not far fetched that the General, Helen, and Felicia would hold the view that the US is the only ones that can safely take care of the nukes. Unfortunately, in our current free world, the US is the only superpower that could take care of a situation that has been outlined in the story.

 

I don't think the characters made any mistakes in choosing the US to give/sell the bombs to. I know that France, Britain, India, Pakistan, China and possibly Israel would want anything to do with it. I say that because they would rather let the Americans deal with any problems than to try to do it themselves.

 

As far as speaking to the US inaction to rogue states nuclear ambitions such as North Korea and Iran, I take a less conspiratorial stand and say, really, what can the US do. They do try to abide by what the UN deems is appropriate action toward these countries, but as long as their is a China standing beside them willing to undercut their decisions, it is a balancing act.

 

It would be foolhardy to assume the US can go into Iran and N.Korea and just shut them down. Without getting into a whole debate about Iraq, I hope the US has learned their lessons about invading without UN and world public opinion on their side.

 

Like any country with a large economy and population, there will always be a military industrial complex that dictates how certain decisions are made. Is it fair that General Bradson was asked to leave? Probably not, but he did take his own actions without higher approval in the government. It did work to the government's advantage, but he did break the chain of command. Then, once again, he did do it again with the raid into Iran. The interesting thing is that really we only have the opinion of General Bradson, Brian's dad, about if the military was planning on rescuing Brian or not.

 

Let's face it, The General was only trying to get his son out. The Scar piggybacking on him to get nuclear bombs was something that the General did not foresee and could only react after he learned of what was going on.

 

I have some other ideas, but my point is, I do not feel that CJ through the fictional work of LTMP and CLiff is trying to make a political statement about the US government. I believe he has used the government's actions in the past to create a framework of what most likely could happen if the fictional situation arose in real life.

 

There, did I make any sense at all?

 

Steve

 

Thanks Steve!!

You pegged it. The General's tirade is more against the US goiverment, past and present, than one particular administration.

 

Now, as an exercise in tactical thinking, what could have been done about North Korea? In the Clinton and early Bush years, plenty, and relatively easily. The "Agreed framework" deal under Clinton (and followed by Bush)was a crock. I said that then, as did many others. There was no means of verification which made the whole thing meaningless. The NK's signed on because we were in effect paying them to do so; we gave them reactors (not the one at Yongbon, though), food, and fuel oil. The NK's were laughing themselves silly at our stupidity, and rightfully so.

 

What could have been done? Definitely not an invasion, Iraq style. I'd oppose that for the same reason I opposed Iraq up until the day it started; it was not necessary and crippled our ability to act in other areas by tying down our military. Once it started, I became a supporter, because I recognize that war changes everything; pulling back after starting would be geopolitically catastrophic. (a fact neither party in the US seems to comprehend; they both flaunted it, from different angles).

 

Prior to about four years ago, North Korea's Yongbon reactor contained its fuel rods, the ones they processed for the material for their current bombs. It was a sitting duck. One stealth bomber on a cloudy night, a few custom-made laser or GPS guided bombs, (custom made so they would NOT be easily traceable as to country of origin) and viola, North Korea's nuclear program has suffered a very severe, and very deniable, setback.

 

Alternatively, they were warned not to attempt to reprocess the fuel rods into plutonium. Once they began moving them, and we knew where the processing plant was (we did), level the place with a cruise missile strike. No invasion, just hit the needed target.

 

That brings us to today. The key now is China. They need to cut off North Korea's oil and other support. China tends to act in its own self-interest, which gives us golden openings. China has two hot-button issues; US arms sales to Taiwan, and Japan as a nuclear power. One of China's nightmares is the US setting up military bases in Taiwan. Offer them a choice; they chut of North Korea, or the US begins unrestricted weapons sales to Taiwan and opens basing talks. As for Japan, let China know that if Japan decides to become a nuclear power, not only won't we oppose it, we'll cheer them on. Then let China find out that we're leaning on Japan to do just that, and tell China that we'll be every bit as tolerant of Japan's nuclear ambitions as China is of North Korea's. (and Japan has strong reasons; North Korea is their enemy and NK has been committing acts of war against Japan for decades). For a carrot, recognize their dominion over Tibet. (we de facto have anyway, but they'd like the diplomatic cover).

 

There are other options, all dependent upon intel data, but it will be far from easy. However, something has to be done. Time and time again we've drawn a line and North Korea has crossed it. Now, we've said their will be "consequences" if they sell nuclear weapons or technology to other nations or groups. No one, certainly not North Korea, takes that seriously. In fact, it's even more hollow than it sounds; the Syrian reactor that the Israelis thankfully annihilated a couple of years ago was almost certainly built with North Korean help. Also, the NK's were active in the AK Kahn nuclear ring. North Korea has always sold what it could, and its only exportable commodity is weapons. Now, they have the most valuable weapons of all. This cannot be allowed to continue. Just for a start, the Treasury department should immediately sanction any bank, anywhere (via cutting off their access to the US financial system), that does business with North Korea. Bush tried that, and it made the NK's howl, but he backed off.

 

As for Iran... They are following in North Korea's footsteps. Iran, though, is if anything even easier to deal with, if done correctly.

Obviously, an Iraq-style invasion and occupation is impossible. Iran has a larger population, and as we learned (it was incredibly obvious before the invasion, too, but they didn't listen) you need a large number of boots on the ground to occupy. We barely managed Iraq for that (Rest and retraining means you can't deploy, long term, more than about 1/3 of a military service, and even doing that puts it under great strain). Iran's larger area and population precludes that option, unless the US military doubles in size. It would also be bloody and take many years, like Iraq. So, given things as they are, even without America's commitment to Iraq, it's impossible. Its also unnecessary.

 

We don't know where all of Iran's nuclear facilities are. Nor do we need to. All we need to do is take out enough of them to de-rail the program. The Isreilis, with far less to work with, recently took out a huge chunk of Syria's nuclear program, much as they did Iraq's, at Osirak, 20 years ago. They also launched, in the latter case, a sabotage effort for the second Iraqi reactor, wrecking its core before it ever left France.

 

Diplomacy would be the ideal solution, but its prerequisite is international solidarity and a policy with teeth. Failing that, there are other ways. Air strikes would do, *IF* we don't wait too long. If we wait until their program reaches fruition, an air strike would only give a delay or a year or two, whereas today it would likely yield up to ten. Waiting, pussyfooting around, endless international jawing, etc, is how we ended up with a nuclear North Korea. A nuclear Iran would be even worse. They have threatened to wipe Israel off the map, and have been the leading international supporter of terror for decades, so certified by five consecutive US administrations (this is not a partisan issue). They not only fund Hezbollah, they founded it. That's far from their only terrorist arm.

 

Israel can do the job alone, but only if is has logistic support; Iran is too far away and the air routes are problematic. Israel has shown an admirable knack for securing logistical support from Arab states when needed (It's well to remember that Iran is not Arab, it's Persian, and there's also the Sunni-Shia difference, so a nuclear Iran is almost as feared in some Arab states as it is in Israel) If Israel can secure logistic help (refueling bases) It will likely act within the year (their current, largest ever, nationwide civil defense and military exercises are a huge clue IMHO). If we were smart, we'd help, covertly perhaps, but we wouldn't stand in their way.

 

What scares me is what if Isreil can't get the logistic support it needs? Then there's only one military option left to them; a nuclear strike on Iran's facilities. In my opinion, they'd do so (indeed, would be suicidal not to) of there was no other option to stop a nuclear Iran. The results would hellacious on many levels, but if survival is at stake, I think they'd do it.

 

To prevent that, or worse, a nuclear Iran, I feel that we should either help Israel (clandestinely perhaps) or do the job ourselves. The latter would be far less destabilizing to the region. Most of the sites could be hit with precision munitions, including the deep underground ones. Follow up strikes are a necessity; unlike in the movies, you have to do bomb damage assessments, then often a follow-up. Take out the reactors and the three centerfuge sites, and you've knocked them back a decade or more. Take out subsidiary project sites as well, of course, but the reactors and the centerfuge sites, plus any reprocessing plants (they are also persuing a plutonium production capability) and you've solved the problem.

 

Iran's reaction would be.. what? They already go out of their way to support terrorists. Send their army after US ground forces in Iraq? They would be insane; their army is large but poorly trained in the main, and also poorly equipped. They'd have to do approach marches on foot, across western Iran, and would be very, very vulnerable to air attack. Could they cause a lot of trouble? Heck yes, and they would, but far less than a nuclear Iran would.

 

The thing about Iran that people (especially US politicians) don't seem to get; its nuclear program is driven by internal, not external, political considerations. That's why the gasoline issue is their achilies heel.

 

OKay, I'm yapping far too much. Back to the story; you're right, I did basically concoct as fictional framework, but try to keep it reality based (real locations, installations, etc). Iran's nuclear program is a major concern of mine, so when I needed a source of nuclear weapons for the plot, it naturally, along with North Korea, came to mind. I did come close to setting the rescue mission in North Korea, but two things stopped me; it's too far from La Palma, and its nuclear program was further along, so I'd be dealing with possible major news events. There was also a technical issue; Iran's nuclear program is Uranium-based, while NK's main one (there may well be a secondary) is plutonium based. For the latter, you need an implosion core, and that cannot be triggered the way Wilhelm did in Iran.

 

I suppose, in a way, I was trying my hand at writing a "future history" regarding some aspects of the the geopolitical side. LoL

 

You're right about Helen, the General, and Felecia being in character in thinking that they should go to the US government. That, of course, does not mean that they were right. There are, of course, others that they could have turned to.

 

BTW, I think we had confirmation from Bill, very early on, that Washington intended to leave Brian and Private Johnson to die. I'd have to check though (even I can't remember, which is rather embarrassing as I wrote it!) Okay, I checked, and it's in chapters 2 and 3. In 2, General Bradson dug for info, and in three, Bill confirms the game Washington was playing.

 

My feel of the General's mindset is that he's quite similar to tons of fiction military characters. They display the value of the military compared to these of mere civilians. See the "rescue" movies of the 80s (I haven't watched one in years), from Chuck Norris' to Iron Eagle. So a lonely man with a will can change history more than a bunch of corrupt and idle politicians (I sum up a bit.)

 

I consider Iron Eagle to be one of the best comedies ever made. All the better because they didn't intend it to be one . The missile launch on the runway alone never fails to have me laughing out loud (for those that don't know, you can't do that). Its an utterly hilarious movie, outlandish in countless ways.

 

Well, speaking of private rescue missions, I don't consider them far-fetched. The best known example was Ross Perot's (who then owned EDS a data processing company, and later became a candidate for President) rescue of several of his employees from Iran.

Follets "on the wings of Eagles" is a great recount, though it does, by necessity, omit some of the larger violations of the law. Short version, Perot's team went in and got his people out of Iran, out of an Iranian jail in Teheran, to be exact, and then out of the country, overland. They succeeded, so therefor I don't see the idea of a private rescue missions to be far-fetched in and of themselves, though I'd sure agree that the holywood versions are. .

 

Also, this is a good place to mention; Authors usually don't share all their character's values. I don't share all of General Bradson's. I don't share all of Jerry's, either. (I'll bet you're going to argue that latter, huh? )

[C James]

Whereas the rescue mission of his son could be justified, going off to changing one's nation's international policy by triggering nuclear explosions is clear-cut terrorism. "Oh, I just destroyed the towers so my government and the US' corrupt one would understand what good and morality were..." So, not only I disapprove of his actions, but I find it strategically mega stupid to blow it all off in the press conference without having any insurance on getting the money back or on seeing how the government reacts. If in the epilogue, we learn he'll spend a minimum of 20 years in jail, I wouldn't be surprised. Even if he goes on a super heroic action to defeat the other dimwit The Scar who gets drunk at a time when he should keep his head clear, I don't see how he can get away with his statement.

 

Whoa! That one, I will argue.

 

The General did NOT trigger any nuclear explosions. Per the text, he only found out about the nuke in Iran seconds before it went off. There was, at that point, no possible way to stop it. Therefor, I would say it's unfair to paint him as "triggering nuclear explosions to change his government's policy". Refineries? yep, he did, with hand grenades and cargo planes. But not nukes. He simply didn't do it. Felecia did, acting on The Scar's orders.

 

Now... stupid to give the conference as he did? Arguable. I'd tend to say yes, at least to a degree. He should have at least confirmed that there was evidence of a nuclear detonation. I'd also say that going public, especially under the circumstances, might have been... unwise.

 

My mention of Hillary was both parenthetical and gratuitous. I did not intend it to interject politics into the discussion nor question CJ's fictional politics. I know he has said the story is set approximately five years in the future. So, CJ is not referring to our current political leaders...at least not intentionally.

 

Since we are discussing politics, I would point out that five years is a short time. It is entirely possible that our current political leaders will still be on the watch five years from now and could then be facing a situation with Iran similar to that of which General Bradson speaks in this chapter. There will likely be no rock band or mercenary band, but there will likely be a nuclear-armed Iran. I predict that, if Obama can tame the current recession, he may well be President five years from now. I also predict that Hillary Clinton will not be Secretary of State five years from now regardless of Obama's success.

 

That said, I expect chapter 40 will see more action and less politics.

 

A lot less politics. This chapter had to be as it is, though, to set the stage for what is to come.

 

You're right; I'm not intentionally referring to our current political overlords. The administration in the story is fictional, and its behavior was plotted out before the election (actually, early in the primaries).

 

The way I look at it is this; the story's world branched off from ours before the story time line began. The most recent "real world" event in either LTMP or CL, that I can recall, is a mention of 9/11, so the "branch off" could have occurred anytime after that.

 

If not... I'd suggest staying out of Toowoomba.

 

Everyone (in the story) needs to chill. Let's have a pool party!

 

Right now, I'd even enjoy a sex scene between the General and Felicia.

 

This story will end with Scar falling into the actice volcano and screaming, "I'm melting. I'm melting."

 

Sorry, CJ, it seems I'm distracted.

 

Conner, for you, I'll release the next two chapter titles. The next one is "Trapped", and the following one is "Passion in the Dark". The Echidna prevents me from mentioning why this is relevant... but I have a hunch you would approve.

[Bondwriter]

Whoa! That one, I will argue.

 

The General did NOT trigger any nuclear explosions. Per the text, he only found out about the nuke in Iran seconds before it went off. There was, at that point, no possible way to stop it. Therefor, I would say it's unfair to paint him as "triggering nuclear explosions to change his government's policy". Refineries? yep, he did, with hand grenades and cargo planes. But not nukes. He simply didn't do it. Felecia did, acting on The Scar's orders.

OK, you're right. I over interpreted. Still, I think his initiative was guaranteed to fail. And this is exactly the type of tactics terrorists believe in. Confessing to it is even dumber. or super naive.

I had well made a difference between an author and his characters, by the way. CJ is not disfigured, and he never intended to lay his hands on several nuclear bombs.

[C James]

OK, you're right. I over interpreted. Still, I think his initiative was guaranteed to fail. And this is exactly the type of tactics terrorists believe in. Confessing to it is even dumber. or super naive.

I had well made a difference between an author and his characters, by the way. CJ is not disfigured, and he never intended to lay his hands on several nuclear bombs.

 

The General's initiative was poorly planned; he got overconfident. He's a genius in the tactical world, and wrongly assumed he could play in the political one too. He couldn't. Part of the problem was timing; the volcano made the press conference look like a cheap PR stunt or worse. The no-show of the bomb, combined with the nuclear detonation in Iran not yet being proven, well, those didn't help.

 

The general didn't confess to the nuke. That's my fault; I covered his description of the mission as a summary, due to not wanting to repeat all that and bore the readers to tears. So, we don't see that part of his speech, and I do see how it could appear that he was admitting culpability for the nuclear blast. In fact, some of his statements are colored that way. That last part, BTW was intentional, for plot reasons.

 

True that I'm not disfigured. As for the trying to lay hands on nukes... no comment.

[Phantom]

True that I'm not disfigured. As for the trying to lay hands on nukes... no comment.

 

*sigh*

 

Why is it anytime nukes are involved the goat always seeks to use them?

[TalonRider]

He must like big bangs.

[Linxe Termoil]

nyeh...I knew I shouldn't have read this chapter today. Cause now I have to wait to see what happens next

 

What a disaster, and if my boy Jansen gets hurt in any way shape or form....I'll personally find a recipe for goat stew....

[Benji]

nyeh...I knew I shouldn't have read this chapter today. Cause now I have to wait to see what happens next

 

What a disaster, and if my boy Jansen gets hurt in any way shape or form....I'll personally find a recipe for goat stew....

 

..............There are plenty of goat recipes on almost all of CJ's stories!! Look up LTMP and backtrack to the damaged plane scene!!

[wildone]

I guess I wasn't too clear on what I meant about the 3 not really being able to go to any other nation than the US.

 

I heard a article written by a Canadian, for a Canadian paper about 20 years ago that summed up how any nation that stereotypes Americans is usually uninformed.

 

I don't want to stir a hornets nest, but essentially what it says is how the world seems to judge the US by their mistakes, but they are the first to call the Americans when they need help or aid. It eluded to how the US basically funded the entire rebuilding of Europe after WWII, how the Americans are usually the first to arrive when their is a massive natural disaster anywhere in the world, how they will go in and do the dirty work that most countries are not willing to do it, and they do it all without thanks.

 

I can be critical of the US and some of their decisions, but I am also thankful that they are willing to extend themselves into harms way to help and aid others that need aid, without thinking about their image or how anti American sediment will arise no matter what they do.

 

I meant that really, in this frictional story, would any country other than the US be willing to 'help' Helen, Bradson, and Felicia? I don't think so. The US is still the only major superpower (China is biting at their heels though), and the only one that would be willing to commit to helping considering the circumstances.

 

Hopefully that explains that comment a bit better .

 

BTW, you might want to say you are currently not disfigured, not sure how much disfiguring will come from your expected castration though

[MikeL]

I don't want to stir a hornets nest, but essentially what it says is how the world seems to judge the US by their mistakes, but they are the first to call the Americans when they need help or aid. It eluded to how the US basically funded the entire rebuilding of Europe after WWII, how the Americans are usually the first to arrive when their is a massive natural disaster anywhere in the world, how they will go in and do the dirty work that most countries are not willing to do it, and they do it all without thanks.

As an American, I am frequently perplexed by other countries' criticism of American support in times of need. I suspect many of them are looking at US Government support only and not considering contributions made by NGOs and the private sector. A Wikipedia article on response to the Christmas 2004 tsunami shows that the US Government supplied $950 million, while the US NGOs and general public contributed twice that amount. The same is true of a number of other countries. Other US corporations and religious groups provided direct, in-kind services that aren't included in the totals.

[Guest kayne13]

woah.. I wonder when the next chapter will be posted. I'm so excited.

I finished all of cj's novels for like 3 days..uhm.Sort of. Since changing lanes isn't done yet...

*thanks for the stories by the way.