The classroom collectively raised their eyebrows at that one.

“Oh yes...that’s right. Bill, you asked what we would be doing in week three? I never finished answering. Well here it is: We won’t just be looking at a one-time kinetic attack. This isn’t a hit and run that we’re planning for. We’ll also be looking at ways that China might be able to invade us and successfully occupy our nation. That will be week three. What would they do? How would they go about it? Shock and awe? Win hearts and minds? We will conduct psychological operations planning. We don’t want our defense team that looks at our work to just build a big moat with nothing behind it. You must think of what China should do to control the castle once inside the walls. Only then will our defense planners be able to cover our castle grounds with spikes.”

There was commotion in the room.

“Many of you doubt our reasons for concern. You may believe that China could be planning an attack. But you are saying to yourself, everyone knows that the US is the mightiest country in the world with the greatest military in the world. I ask you to please hold those assumptions in check while we’re here. We have a duty to our country to suspend disbelief, to prepare for the worst, and to think outside the box of ways that China could overcome our advantages. Only then will we truly be able to see all of the possible vulnerabilities.”

There were nods of understanding in the audience. In David’s office life, most meetings involved tables of people with laptops open and cell phones out. He was struck by the level of undivided attention that Lena commanded when she spoke. Granted, there were no computers or phones in anyone’s possession. But it was more than that. Between her charisma and confidence, she controlled the eyes of everyone in the room. Aside from her speech, the only sound was the thrum of the air conditioning coming through the floor vents.

She said, “This threat requires urgent action and new ideas. We can’t use the same lessons learned in the sessions that were held a decade ago when trying to protect against another September 11th. For we are no longer trying to protect against terrorists, but against the country with the largest economy and military on the planet.”

The room became quiet. David could sense that reality was setting in for the others in the classroom.

“A few weeks ago we lost contact with one of our assets in Shanghai. Before that happened, he sent me a message that revealed two important things. The most important was what we have already discussed. China is planning to attack the United States. Very few in the Chinese leadership are aware of this plan. They are dedicated to keeping it secret. But rest assured, the decision makers that matter are very aware. The second big item that our Chinese asset revealed is the reason you all are here instead of a team from the Pentagon doing this in the Pentagon. We as a country have been infiltrated by the Chinese intelligence community. Badly. And they have been actively deepening this penetration. The Chinese have key people feeding them information inside just about every key government organization. Sleepers have been activated. New operatives have been inserted. They are making moves to get ready for a war.”