“I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that, sir. My gut says that we aren’t in his crosshairs. The Chinese have a deep hatred for the Japanese and they’re pushing the entire region hard.”

Castilla nodded knowingly. If he’d been the prime minister of Japan instead of the president of the United States, it would be an issue that consumed him. The situation between China and Japan was starting to parallel that of the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War. Except that Japan had to trust the US to intervene on its behalf. A very precarious position to be in.

“Okay. But why escalate this, Keith? Why not demonstrate their capabilities publicly—put China in its place?”

“That would just maintain the status quo, sir. Takahashi is more ambitious than that. With his only real rival in Asia out of the way and a demonstration of his military superiority, he has the ability to take control of the entire region. Japan is a resource-poor island with a relatively small, aging population. He needs territory, people, and raw materials.”

“What’s his endgame?”

“Based on what I know about the man, I would say that his goal is to wipe out China and overtake the US as the world’s primary superpower.”

It was time for a drink. Castilla walked to his desk and pulled out a bottle. Morrison was a devout Mormon, so he didn’t offer, though the man looked like he could use it.

“Then it’s your opinion that he will attack.”

“Yes, sir.”

“How?”

“There’s no question in my mind that he’ll lead with the nanotech. I’d introduce it quietly and by the time the Chinese realize what’s happening, their military and civilian infrastructure will be in full collapse. Assuming they discover who’s behind it and they’re still capable of mounting a counterattack, it’ll be easily handled by Japan’s defenses.”

Castilla poured himself a glass of bourbon and leaned against his desk for support. It was hard to even comprehend. Hundreds of millions of people going into winter with no electricity or shelter, no food or transportation. Cities full of people fighting for whatever scraps they could find in the rubble. And a planet suddenly robbed of a massive economic power that manufactured an enormous amount of its goods and consumed trillions of dollars’ worth of products and services. In all likelihood the world would be plunged into a massive depression and the United States and Japan would spend the next fifty years battling for supremacy.

“We’re talking about the extermination of hundreds of millions of people, Keith. Of civilians. Women and children. How do we stop him?”

“Militarily?”

Castilla nodded.

“We can’t, sir. I’m sorry.”

“That’s not acceptable. America isn’t going to sit by while people are slaughtered. That’s not who we are as a country.”