[War] Diplomatic Cable

[Daniel Sanderson]

"Diplomatic Cable"
June 29 2014
Prime Minister Jack Decker
Canberra, Australia


Decker sat in his office, along with his Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers. The Army helicopter was a few minutes away, to fly him up to Sydney, but a disturbing new development had emerged.

US spy satellites made extensive use of facilities in Australia, especially Pine Gap in the Northern Territory. As a result, most information that came through there was shared. Added to that were intercepts from military communications in China.

The Chinese were pissed. Who wasn't? But they were planning retribution. According to the intercepts and the photos, artillery pieces were being moved into border positions, and their land-based cruise missile sites were at high alert. Fighters were armed, being fueled, and waiting on the tarmac. Added to that, Chinese Special Forces troops could be seen on their bases, with helicopters arriving faster then the satellites could count.

"Ok. Write this down." Decker said gently to Joanna.

TO: PRESIDENT XIA HONG, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
FRM: PRIME MINISTER JACK DECKER, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

MADAME PRESIDENT, FIRST OF ALL, I OFFER MY CONDOLENCES. THESE ATTACKS WERE UNWARRANTED, AND SURPRISING, AND ARE BEING FELT ACROSS THE WORLD. IN AUSTRALIA, THE USA, ENGLAND, CANADA AND CHINA, OUR PEOPLE LOOK TO US FOR HELP IN THIS TIME OF FEAR AND CONFUSION. WE ARE ALL, UNDERSTANDABLY, VERY EMOTIONAL, AND ANGRY, RIGHT NOW. WITHOUT SEEKING TO JUDGE, NONE OF US ARE THINKING STRAIGHT AT THIS TIME. ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE NEXT 72 HOURS, WHILE CRUCIAL, COULD ALSO HAVE AS RESOUNDING AFFECTS AS THE ATTACKS THEMSELVES HAVE HAD. AS A REGIONAL, AND GLOBAL, ALLY, I BEG OF YOU, PLEASE HOLD OFF ANY RETALIATORY MILITARY ACTIONS UNTIL INVESTIGATIONS ARE COMPLETED, OR BEFORE A UN RESOLUTION IS MADE. THIS WORLD, RIGHT NOW, TETERS DANGEROUSLY ON THE BRINK OF WAR, AND WHAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A FAIR COURSE OF ACTION COULD TIP THAT BALANCE. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE

YOUR FRIEND

PRIME MINISTER JACK DECKER


Jack listened as Joanna read it back. He guessed that the Chinese would be likely to screw up their noses at it, and go ahead anyway.

"Send that to a translator at DFAT, and then send it straight to Beijing." Jack said with a firm nod.

"You got it boss." Joanna said, and bustled out of the room. Pete King rubbed his eyes.

"God help us, Jack."

"God help the world, Pete." The Prime Minister said solemnly, as the beating of rotors filled the air.


--ACTIONS TAKEN--
1. A strong, but comforting, diplomatic cable to the PRC asking that they cool their jets and hold off any immediate action.
2. Australia attempts to play a larger part in foreign policy, by stepping up to talk to the Big Kids
3. PM prepares to go to Sydney


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