reflector and on to a target,” Dr. Zheng said.
“And this is what the Americans have done?” Guang Xi asked.
“Yes,” Fong replied. “Here is the infra-red satellite image showing the heat generated in the new Alaska facility during the time immediately preceding the Sichuan earthquake.”
“Oh my,” Dr. Huang said, “this is a very large operation.”
“Yes, it is,” Fong replied. “The original project had only 180 phased array antennas. As you can see, the new facility is profoundly larger.”
“This is what burned me?” Guang Xi asked. “And destroyed my life?”
“Yes,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“Then I say we build a bigger one, and use it against America,” Guang Xi said.
“We can do that,” Fong replied, “with the consent of the Central Committee. But the real question is how do we punish America for what they have done without being blamed for doing so?”
“We could use the new technology to create a giant storm over America,” Guang Xi suggested.
“It took the Americans years of practice to understand exactly how the atmosphere reacted to each nuance of what they did to the Ionosphere and the electrojet,” Fong said. “We can’t go into this blindly.”
“Fong is right,” Dr. Zheng replied. “We are a long away from being able to create something on that scale with the weather. Planetary weather is a dynamic and constantly changing system. If you change one thing, something else is modified to restore balance. By creating a large storm in one place, we may cause a drought in another place as the planetary weather system rebalances itself.”
“So, we create a drought,” Guang Xi said. “We still accomplish our goal of punishing our enemy.”
“And if the drought happens here in China, and we starve our own people?” Dr. Huang replied. “Then what?”
Guang Xi exhaled strongly and looked down at the floor. “This isn’t so simple, is it?”
“Nor is it an easy thing to do,” Fong said.
“Could we create a moderately strong storm without risking a major backlash in the weather?” Guang Xi asked.
“Theoretically, yes,” Dr. Zheng admitted. “But the length of time we modify the ionosphere is also a significant factor in the rebalancing of the weather system.”
“So how long could we theoretically create a storm without a major backlash in the weather?” Dr. Huang asked.
“Five to seven days,” Fong replied. “That is what we have learned from monitoring what the Americans have been doing.”
“And how long does it take to create, say, a Category 5 storm?” Guang Xi asked.
“Again, from our monitoring of the Americans, 14 to 15 days.” Fong replied.
“So creating a large storm is out,” Dr. Huang replied.
“Not necessarily,” Fong answered. “It can still be used in conjunction with something else. We can get to a Category 3 storm in five to seven days if that is part of another plan.”
“So what else can we do?” Guang Xi asked.
“Can this new technology be used to trigger a volcanic eruption?” Dr. Huang asked.
“Theoretically, yes,” Dr. Zheng replied. “But again, we – ”
“I know, I know,” Guang Xi interjected. “We need more experience with the technology to use it at that level.”
“It seems our best option is to focus on what we know best,” Dr. Huang said.
“Earthquakes,” Guang Xi said softly. “But we don’t have the experience with the new technology to do that effectively, do we?”
“No,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“Right now, the only way we could trigger a large earthquake would be to plant explosives along a fault line and detonate them in a specific sequence,” Guang Xi said. “There’s nowhere in America we could do that and not be seen. We couldn’t do it.”
“There is a major fault line close to America where we wouldn’t be seen,” Dr. Huang said. “And with the right explosives and the right timing it would look entirely natural.”
“And the results would be deadly?” Fong
“And this is what the Americans have done?” Guang Xi asked.
“Yes,” Fong replied. “Here is the infra-red satellite image showing the heat generated in the new Alaska facility during the time immediately preceding the Sichuan earthquake.”
“Oh my,” Dr. Huang said, “this is a very large operation.”
“Yes, it is,” Fong replied. “The original project had only 180 phased array antennas. As you can see, the new facility is profoundly larger.”
“This is what burned me?” Guang Xi asked. “And destroyed my life?”
“Yes,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“Then I say we build a bigger one, and use it against America,” Guang Xi said.
“We can do that,” Fong replied, “with the consent of the Central Committee. But the real question is how do we punish America for what they have done without being blamed for doing so?”
“We could use the new technology to create a giant storm over America,” Guang Xi suggested.
“It took the Americans years of practice to understand exactly how the atmosphere reacted to each nuance of what they did to the Ionosphere and the electrojet,” Fong said. “We can’t go into this blindly.”
“Fong is right,” Dr. Zheng replied. “We are a long away from being able to create something on that scale with the weather. Planetary weather is a dynamic and constantly changing system. If you change one thing, something else is modified to restore balance. By creating a large storm in one place, we may cause a drought in another place as the planetary weather system rebalances itself.”
“So, we create a drought,” Guang Xi said. “We still accomplish our goal of punishing our enemy.”
“And if the drought happens here in China, and we starve our own people?” Dr. Huang replied. “Then what?”
Guang Xi exhaled strongly and looked down at the floor. “This isn’t so simple, is it?”
“Nor is it an easy thing to do,” Fong said.
“Could we create a moderately strong storm without risking a major backlash in the weather?” Guang Xi asked.
“Theoretically, yes,” Dr. Zheng admitted. “But the length of time we modify the ionosphere is also a significant factor in the rebalancing of the weather system.”
“So how long could we theoretically create a storm without a major backlash in the weather?” Dr. Huang asked.
“Five to seven days,” Fong replied. “That is what we have learned from monitoring what the Americans have been doing.”
“And how long does it take to create, say, a Category 5 storm?” Guang Xi asked.
“Again, from our monitoring of the Americans, 14 to 15 days.” Fong replied.
“So creating a large storm is out,” Dr. Huang replied.
“Not necessarily,” Fong answered. “It can still be used in conjunction with something else. We can get to a Category 3 storm in five to seven days if that is part of another plan.”
“So what else can we do?” Guang Xi asked.
“Can this new technology be used to trigger a volcanic eruption?” Dr. Huang asked.
“Theoretically, yes,” Dr. Zheng replied. “But again, we – ”
“I know, I know,” Guang Xi interjected. “We need more experience with the technology to use it at that level.”
“It seems our best option is to focus on what we know best,” Dr. Huang said.
“Earthquakes,” Guang Xi said softly. “But we don’t have the experience with the new technology to do that effectively, do we?”
“No,” Dr. Zheng replied.
“Right now, the only way we could trigger a large earthquake would be to plant explosives along a fault line and detonate them in a specific sequence,” Guang Xi said. “There’s nowhere in America we could do that and not be seen. We couldn’t do it.”
“There is a major fault line close to America where we wouldn’t be seen,” Dr. Huang said. “And with the right explosives and the right timing it would look entirely natural.”
“And the results would be deadly?” Fong
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