That is a totally different animal. Your talking of a geological formation, not of some 20 to 80 tons of reactive core material (uranium).
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A Shift in Priorities - Sequel
- Thread starter rast
- Start date
That is a totally different animal. Your talking of a geological formation, not of some 20 to 80 tons of reactive core material (uranium).
I forgot to add: The Japanese nuked almost half a dozen nuclear reactors and beyond a "We hope Nippon stays upwind", they wash their hands of it. Quite callous, great quake aftermath or no.
How far along is research ITTL into nuclear byproducts, such as radiation and its effect on the flora and fauna? Lots of two-headed children in the future, I think.
And I fear we have nor reached the low point of the whole mess.
Where are the Fornoy brothers when one needs them?
How far along is research ITTL into nuclear byproducts, such as radiation and its effect on the flora and fauna? Lots of two-headed children in the future, I think.
And I fear we have nor reached the low point of the whole mess.
Where are the Fornoy brothers when one needs them?
and considering japan lies downwind of the prevailing winds (thanks to the Coriolis forces, those are west to east), they are in for a lot of illuminating karma
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Dust
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Dust
That was back when the proportion of U-235 in natural uranium was greater (so it could be effectively moderated by light water) in a massive natural uranium deposit, where the reaction being moderated by water kept it controlled and relatively cool.
This is in molten remains of a reactor with a very small fraction of the fissile material. Criticality will end within a week, just from the core spreading itself so thin that it will lose it's neutron economy. If criticality was to somehow endure, it could be ended by bombing it (with conventional bombs) to spread it apart.
However, this will not end their woes. Even after criticality has ended, they now have large amounts of fission products in open air. How long were the reactors operational? That determines the total amount of fission products released. How were they moderated? If moderated by graphite, the cores will burn and rapidly lift a lot of products into the atmosphere, if moderated by water or gas, they will mostly slowly seep out crap for a very long time.
For some perverse reason - and because this is fiction - my sympathy is extremely limited...^^
Sooner or later, one will have to plug things up with concrete...
one thing to remember, these are not nuclear powerplants, these are reactorfarms with the sole intention of harvesting steropium 239 (plutonium).
thus they are all breeder reactors, the fuel layout is different to a powerplant.
the big difference will be the dangerous products produced, these military reactors will dump quite a lot of plutonium in the air.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breeder_reactor
edit: and not to forget, the population around the sea of japan will taking in a lot of radioactivity from this through their fish intake, first the GQDD, now this, the radioactive pollution of the east china sea & sea of japan will be considerable.
same for the Okhotske More/ sea of Okhotsk
which considering korea is a warzone/ rebellion zone, might take a while.
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It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.
(Albert von Einstein)
Carl Goerdeler sighed inwardly. Oh dear, he had known that these two would show up sooner or later; it had been neigh unavoidable. They were too high–profile to be sent away, although he could see no benefit in receiving them. It was going to be a waste of time, even if the two men themselves were quite congenial. And the flipping media were dogging them, of course... This whole mess was grist for the peaceniks' mill good and proper, vindicating their obnoxious clamour post hoc.
"Okay. Let them in." he told the attendant – and rose to meet Two Times Albert at the office door. – Albert von Einstein and Albert Schweitzer were all smiles and curtseys when they stepped in. Goerdeler coaxed them to the cluster of armchairs near the fireplace. A valet offered coffee, tea, hot chocolate and biscuits.
"Let me guess why you're here... – You want a moratorium of all nuclear tests worldwide?"
"That would indeed be very nice to have," answered von Einstein "but we should be satisfied if you just managed to stage an international conference on the subject."
"Now, nobody can undo what has happened recently. And – as you well know – my government has already cancelled the German fusion bomb programme. Everything else is – pure cloud–cuckoo–land in my opinion. We have no transnational authority to enforce anything..."
"I think it's not a matter of force," Schweitzer chipped in "but rather of voluntary limitation. We – we as humanity – have scattered enough radioactivity into the atmosphere to contaminate us and the following generations. There must be an end to this madness."
"But the damage has already been done, as you concede yourself. No international conference can protect us from utter lunacy or the frenzy of war."
"This is true." admitted von Einstein "However, that's not the point. Radioactive contamination must be stopped. I suppose you have been briefed on the effects of radiation on living tissue. Do you want your great–grandchildren to suffer from leukaemia, cancer and malignant degeneration?"
"Of course not. But – I repeat – the damage has been done already. – And the level of contamination will decrease, I've been told. There are some really nasty and persistent components, true, but most of the stuff will decompose fairly quickly."
"Yeah, there will be a certain abatement – but only if nobody adds new stuff to the cocktail. That's the point, Herr Reichskanzler, levels must be allowed to go down again. And for this purpose we need – humanity needs – a moratorium. – Don't you think that right now, after the Great Qing Doomsday Device and events in Korea, the moment has arrived to propose a moratorium. And don't you think that Germany – the undisputed leader in science and technology, who already has stopped her fusion bomb programme, and has nothing to do with the recent disasters – is in an ideal position to issue this proposal?"
(Albert von Einstein)
Carl Goerdeler sighed inwardly. Oh dear, he had known that these two would show up sooner or later; it had been neigh unavoidable. They were too high–profile to be sent away, although he could see no benefit in receiving them. It was going to be a waste of time, even if the two men themselves were quite congenial. And the flipping media were dogging them, of course... This whole mess was grist for the peaceniks' mill good and proper, vindicating their obnoxious clamour post hoc.
"Okay. Let them in." he told the attendant – and rose to meet Two Times Albert at the office door. – Albert von Einstein and Albert Schweitzer were all smiles and curtseys when they stepped in. Goerdeler coaxed them to the cluster of armchairs near the fireplace. A valet offered coffee, tea, hot chocolate and biscuits.
"Let me guess why you're here... – You want a moratorium of all nuclear tests worldwide?"
"That would indeed be very nice to have," answered von Einstein "but we should be satisfied if you just managed to stage an international conference on the subject."
"Now, nobody can undo what has happened recently. And – as you well know – my government has already cancelled the German fusion bomb programme. Everything else is – pure cloud–cuckoo–land in my opinion. We have no transnational authority to enforce anything..."
"I think it's not a matter of force," Schweitzer chipped in "but rather of voluntary limitation. We – we as humanity – have scattered enough radioactivity into the atmosphere to contaminate us and the following generations. There must be an end to this madness."
"But the damage has already been done, as you concede yourself. No international conference can protect us from utter lunacy or the frenzy of war."
"This is true." admitted von Einstein "However, that's not the point. Radioactive contamination must be stopped. I suppose you have been briefed on the effects of radiation on living tissue. Do you want your great–grandchildren to suffer from leukaemia, cancer and malignant degeneration?"
"Of course not. But – I repeat – the damage has been done already. – And the level of contamination will decrease, I've been told. There are some really nasty and persistent components, true, but most of the stuff will decompose fairly quickly."
"Yeah, there will be a certain abatement – but only if nobody adds new stuff to the cocktail. That's the point, Herr Reichskanzler, levels must be allowed to go down again. And for this purpose we need – humanity needs – a moratorium. – Don't you think that right now, after the Great Qing Doomsday Device and events in Korea, the moment has arrived to propose a moratorium. And don't you think that Germany – the undisputed leader in science and technology, who already has stopped her fusion bomb programme, and has nothing to do with the recent disasters – is in an ideal position to issue this proposal?"
add to that when a person smokes (and if they have the same amount as otl, that means 80%+ of the male population smokes) and lungcancer becomes almost certain. smoking is one of those synergistic vectors.
Hope not ever to see Heaven. I have come to lead you to the other shore; into eternal darkness; into fire and into ice.
(Dante Alighieri)
Professor Arakatsu Bunsaku did not dare to raise his eyes. He was gazing at the feet of the fat Korean warlord, while the man was sputtering with fury. He was down on his knees, rudely held in place by two goons. Kim Chŏl–ju was standing in front of him, raging adrift. – The fellow could be trusted to be homicidal even under normal circumstances; right now, he was akin to a snow leopard whom someone had snatched the quarry right from under his nose.
Arakatsu had been working at the Naju reactor farm, when the Korean outlaws had struck. He had tried to pass for an ordinary engineer, but the Paek–tu had singled him out promptly. Kim Chŏl–ju, their fugleman, had wanted Arakatsu to work for him. He could become chief scientist of the Korean nuclear programme – or drift down the Yeongsan as a corpse... But before the professor could even take the fatal decision, the IJAF had hit.
With grim satisfaction, Arakatsu had watched the heavy bombers close in and drop their bombs. At last, someone in Tokyo had reacted correctly. One couldn't leave the nuclear installations in the hands of those Korean renegades. – The ensuing chaos had shifted away attention from Arakatsu, yet his guards hadn't allowed him to slip off.
To his surprise, the professor had learnt that the Paek–tu had also been able to seize the reprocessing plant on Palgeumdo and the weapons storage site on Jindo. One had deliberately chosen islands for these installations, because the IJN could provide considerable additional protection for them. – But then, the small craft used for this task were also ideal for supporting earthquake relief at home, while the IJN's proud capital ships were unusuable for either mission...
Anyway, the IJAF had also taken care of those sites – and the Paek–tu were now standing there with nothing to show but wreckage. That was why the fat warlord was ranting and raving at him. But there was nothing he could do. There was nothing anybody could do...
The goons were shaking him. Was he expected to say something? Kim Chŏl–ju had stopped his tirade. Had there been a question? – Arakatsu gulped. A hard object was hitting his renal pelvis.
"How can we stop that?" repeated the warlord.
"You can't." answered the professor "This is beyond human control..."
"I'll have you killed, if you don't cooperate!"
"Then do me, because there nothing I can do."
"But you're the master mind behind these sites. You know everything about them."
"The sites are broken. They were highly sophisticated installations, very delicate and complex. The bombs have terminally destroyed this delicate and complex structures."
The fat warlord sneered at him.
"I was involved in the construction of these sites. What has been broken can be repaired. I have workers and I have construction material."
"This will take years. – And you can't fix the core meltdown..."
"The what?"
"The core meltdown. Naju Mittsu has suffered a core meltdown."
Kim Chŏl–ju looked quizzically. Arakatsu sighed.
"The core material has become very hot and has amalgamated into a sweltering mass that is now flowing into the foundation. It may even penetrate the foundation – and spill into the subsoil. It will cool down over time, but will be extremely radioactive for a very long period. Nobody can fix this..."
"That's one reactor. And there's another one of that kind at Geumgang–Ri. – That leaves ten to be repaired. Get going! Or I'll have you tortured and quartered."
(Dante Alighieri)
Professor Arakatsu Bunsaku did not dare to raise his eyes. He was gazing at the feet of the fat Korean warlord, while the man was sputtering with fury. He was down on his knees, rudely held in place by two goons. Kim Chŏl–ju was standing in front of him, raging adrift. – The fellow could be trusted to be homicidal even under normal circumstances; right now, he was akin to a snow leopard whom someone had snatched the quarry right from under his nose.
Arakatsu had been working at the Naju reactor farm, when the Korean outlaws had struck. He had tried to pass for an ordinary engineer, but the Paek–tu had singled him out promptly. Kim Chŏl–ju, their fugleman, had wanted Arakatsu to work for him. He could become chief scientist of the Korean nuclear programme – or drift down the Yeongsan as a corpse... But before the professor could even take the fatal decision, the IJAF had hit.
With grim satisfaction, Arakatsu had watched the heavy bombers close in and drop their bombs. At last, someone in Tokyo had reacted correctly. One couldn't leave the nuclear installations in the hands of those Korean renegades. – The ensuing chaos had shifted away attention from Arakatsu, yet his guards hadn't allowed him to slip off.
To his surprise, the professor had learnt that the Paek–tu had also been able to seize the reprocessing plant on Palgeumdo and the weapons storage site on Jindo. One had deliberately chosen islands for these installations, because the IJN could provide considerable additional protection for them. – But then, the small craft used for this task were also ideal for supporting earthquake relief at home, while the IJN's proud capital ships were unusuable for either mission...
Anyway, the IJAF had also taken care of those sites – and the Paek–tu were now standing there with nothing to show but wreckage. That was why the fat warlord was ranting and raving at him. But there was nothing he could do. There was nothing anybody could do...
The goons were shaking him. Was he expected to say something? Kim Chŏl–ju had stopped his tirade. Had there been a question? – Arakatsu gulped. A hard object was hitting his renal pelvis.
"How can we stop that?" repeated the warlord.
"You can't." answered the professor "This is beyond human control..."
"I'll have you killed, if you don't cooperate!"
"Then do me, because there nothing I can do."
"But you're the master mind behind these sites. You know everything about them."
"The sites are broken. They were highly sophisticated installations, very delicate and complex. The bombs have terminally destroyed this delicate and complex structures."
The fat warlord sneered at him.
"I was involved in the construction of these sites. What has been broken can be repaired. I have workers and I have construction material."
"This will take years. – And you can't fix the core meltdown..."
"The what?"
"The core meltdown. Naju Mittsu has suffered a core meltdown."
Kim Chŏl–ju looked quizzically. Arakatsu sighed.
"The core material has become very hot and has amalgamated into a sweltering mass that is now flowing into the foundation. It may even penetrate the foundation – and spill into the subsoil. It will cool down over time, but will be extremely radioactive for a very long period. Nobody can fix this..."
"That's one reactor. And there's another one of that kind at Geumgang–Ri. – That leaves ten to be repaired. Get going! Or I'll have you tortured and quartered."
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I felt myself on the edge of the world; peering over the rim into a fathomless chaos of eternal night.
(H.P. Lovecraft)
Meshcherskiy was alive; against all odds, he had survived planetfall. He was in hospital in Krasnoyarsk now, where he was receiving one blood transfusion after another – and was being fed on antibiotics. The witch doctors thought that the space station wasn't contaminated with radioactive crap – or Meshcherskiy should be stone–dead. He must have been exposed to a singular high intensity radiation event – most probably the Little Sun or an effect created by it. For a wonder, they were fairly optimistic the lad was going to survive, at least medium–term.
Meshcherskiy's films, photographs and notes, however, were shaking the world. Hearing about the mother of all clouds – and seeing it, definitely were two different things. The GQDD hadn't stirred up more stuff than any major volcano eruption, but it had done so in a very short timeframe – and it had transported the material up to the highest strata of the atmosphere. The Russian government had imposed no restrictions on the distribution of the documents, and NASA was quick to sell them to the news agencies.
These features – and the gloomy speculations that another nuclear disaster might just be evolving in Korea – turned the tide. Suddenly, nuclear power and nuclear weapons were considered evil in public opinion worldwide, except perhaps in Red Albion, where the good citizens were officially spared such disturbing news – and had no legal opportunity to relish external sources. Those, who always had known about the sinister aspect of nuclear science, were getting the upper hand. And, lo and behold, the German peaceniks came out vindicated.
Whether Imperial Chancellor Goerdeler really was influenced by Two Times Albert's visit, or rather was bending to the whims of the Prussian large landowners, is still hotly debated by historians till today. Howsoever, Goerderler's proposal to stage an international conference on the limitation of nuclear weapons tests was like trying to kick in open doors. Yes, every government bent on not being voted to limbo at the next national ballot was in agreement. Thus, the city of Hamburg was now preparing for the big event scheduled for early June 1951 (to end in such way that every very important personage was able to attend Kiel Week).
(H.P. Lovecraft)
Meshcherskiy was alive; against all odds, he had survived planetfall. He was in hospital in Krasnoyarsk now, where he was receiving one blood transfusion after another – and was being fed on antibiotics. The witch doctors thought that the space station wasn't contaminated with radioactive crap – or Meshcherskiy should be stone–dead. He must have been exposed to a singular high intensity radiation event – most probably the Little Sun or an effect created by it. For a wonder, they were fairly optimistic the lad was going to survive, at least medium–term.
Meshcherskiy's films, photographs and notes, however, were shaking the world. Hearing about the mother of all clouds – and seeing it, definitely were two different things. The GQDD hadn't stirred up more stuff than any major volcano eruption, but it had done so in a very short timeframe – and it had transported the material up to the highest strata of the atmosphere. The Russian government had imposed no restrictions on the distribution of the documents, and NASA was quick to sell them to the news agencies.
These features – and the gloomy speculations that another nuclear disaster might just be evolving in Korea – turned the tide. Suddenly, nuclear power and nuclear weapons were considered evil in public opinion worldwide, except perhaps in Red Albion, where the good citizens were officially spared such disturbing news – and had no legal opportunity to relish external sources. Those, who always had known about the sinister aspect of nuclear science, were getting the upper hand. And, lo and behold, the German peaceniks came out vindicated.
Whether Imperial Chancellor Goerdeler really was influenced by Two Times Albert's visit, or rather was bending to the whims of the Prussian large landowners, is still hotly debated by historians till today. Howsoever, Goerderler's proposal to stage an international conference on the limitation of nuclear weapons tests was like trying to kick in open doors. Yes, every government bent on not being voted to limbo at the next national ballot was in agreement. Thus, the city of Hamburg was now preparing for the big event scheduled for early June 1951 (to end in such way that every very important personage was able to attend Kiel Week).
Ugh, thank god! Something is happening!
But this will be a tough conference. The absent of one or two superpowers will make this whole process very difficult.
We have a dozen of great powers and none of them can really be "forced" to stop this.
So lets hope common sense will prevail.
But this will be a tough conference. The absent of one or two superpowers will make this whole process very difficult.
We have a dozen of great powers and none of them can really be "forced" to stop this.
So lets hope common sense will prevail.
IAMA
Here is my idea on enforcement:
Those countries that refuse to have their nuclear installations inspected by international monitors (The International Atomic Monitoring Agency) suffer a full trade/finance embargo and the leading government figures/scientists will be arrested if they leave their home country.
Here is my idea on enforcement:
Those countries that refuse to have their nuclear installations inspected by international monitors (The International Atomic Monitoring Agency) suffer a full trade/finance embargo and the leading government figures/scientists will be arrested if they leave their home country.
England laughs in the face of any sanctions. They are an autarky (as long as they have Canada) and none of their leaders need to leave the red paradise
And the Koreans are really screwed. They have their independence but Japan has made sure it's a poisoned chalice. Any attempt to restart nuclear production will be bombed again and again until the whole peninsula is an irradiated mess.
And the Koreans are really screwed. They have their independence but Japan has made sure it's a poisoned chalice. Any attempt to restart nuclear production will be bombed again and again until the whole peninsula is an irradiated mess.
You said it yourself: Red Albion needs Canada and this is something which the USA can take away. Not through war. But through covert operations and a public uprising.England laughs in the face of any sanctions. They are an autarky (as long as they have Canada) and none of their leaders need to leave the red paradise
And the Koreans are really screwed. They have their independence but Japan has made sure it's a poisoned chalice. Any attempt to restart nuclear production will be bombed again and again until the whole peninsula is an irradiated mess.
We live in a dangerous era. Man controls nature before he has learnt to control himself.
(Albert Schweitzer)
Coos had been impenitently sulking because of Doris' merry screwing with Judge Eddy; thus, when Coba De Ridder had offered her a modest sum for leaving, she had left. Of course, the act of grace proclaimed by Kaiser Wilhelm IV for all non–violent cases pending from the Rocket Riots had been a major incentive for her decision. She was no longer wanted by the police – and thus free to return home.
Yeah, the tide had truly turned. The DFU was back, diligently piloted by Walter Ulbricht, the hardworking party secretary. And this time, everything was different: the silent majority had come round. Violence was off the cards, when the good and dignified citizens were filling streets and places. As an ancient peacenik, Doris could hardly believe what she was witnessing. All of Germany seemed to be marching for an immediate test stop and nuclear disarmament.
Only Hanne, her sister, hadn't changed – mentally. Physically, she had changed a lot, had become lithe and lissom. But her inner self remained hardcore communist – and inimical towards the bourgeoisie, even when they were rallying for peace and disarmament. But at least she took her sister in, until Doris could find a dwelling of her own. Egon, her lover – a völkisch goon, Doris learnt to her utter consternation – was still in prison. The amnesty didn't apply to the violent cases.
Joseph Grzeskiewicz, the nominal resident of the basement hovel, didn't mind the moving in of another natty girl. Joseph was a nice old fellow. He loved to pat Doris' bum, but was innocuous apart from that. – Hanne was Joseph's assistant. The two of them were the caretakers of the local market hall. Thus, they had to get up before dawn and usually came home early in the afternoon. Doris, the slugabed, enjoyed the long tranquil mornings – and ordinarily started out for her activities when Joseph and Hanne went to bed.
Reclaiming a position in the DFU was done deal; they were happy to get back a seasoned activist. She always had been working level – and worker bees were very welcome now that the party was having its great comeback. The local contestant for a seat in the Prussian state diet, a certain Dietrich Keuning, hired Doris as a member of his staff – even without wanting to screw her first...
Finding a suitable dwelling place took her a fortnight. Evidently, flat sharing had gone out of fashion in the direct aftermath of the Rocket Riots. Eventually, a colleague, Emma Paulink, took her in as lodger. Emma was a lesbian, but one of the inhibited shy kind. Doris relished the game, it made cohabitation creepy–crawly.
The mass rallies were culminating in a nationwide day of protest on March 23rd, 1951, Good Friday. It was a cold day, and the weathermen kept saying there would be no spring this year, and no summer... The government, having cancelled the German fusion programme and scheduled an international conference, was washing their hands of it – and was joining the marchers, well, at least some of them were...
In Berlin, the Kaiser was addressing the protesters from the balcony of the city palace – and receiving applause, and even notorious conservative reactionaries were seen marching and picketing. The nation was in accordance: the nuclear madness had to stop.
(Albert Schweitzer)
Coos had been impenitently sulking because of Doris' merry screwing with Judge Eddy; thus, when Coba De Ridder had offered her a modest sum for leaving, she had left. Of course, the act of grace proclaimed by Kaiser Wilhelm IV for all non–violent cases pending from the Rocket Riots had been a major incentive for her decision. She was no longer wanted by the police – and thus free to return home.
Yeah, the tide had truly turned. The DFU was back, diligently piloted by Walter Ulbricht, the hardworking party secretary. And this time, everything was different: the silent majority had come round. Violence was off the cards, when the good and dignified citizens were filling streets and places. As an ancient peacenik, Doris could hardly believe what she was witnessing. All of Germany seemed to be marching for an immediate test stop and nuclear disarmament.
Only Hanne, her sister, hadn't changed – mentally. Physically, she had changed a lot, had become lithe and lissom. But her inner self remained hardcore communist – and inimical towards the bourgeoisie, even when they were rallying for peace and disarmament. But at least she took her sister in, until Doris could find a dwelling of her own. Egon, her lover – a völkisch goon, Doris learnt to her utter consternation – was still in prison. The amnesty didn't apply to the violent cases.
Joseph Grzeskiewicz, the nominal resident of the basement hovel, didn't mind the moving in of another natty girl. Joseph was a nice old fellow. He loved to pat Doris' bum, but was innocuous apart from that. – Hanne was Joseph's assistant. The two of them were the caretakers of the local market hall. Thus, they had to get up before dawn and usually came home early in the afternoon. Doris, the slugabed, enjoyed the long tranquil mornings – and ordinarily started out for her activities when Joseph and Hanne went to bed.
Reclaiming a position in the DFU was done deal; they were happy to get back a seasoned activist. She always had been working level – and worker bees were very welcome now that the party was having its great comeback. The local contestant for a seat in the Prussian state diet, a certain Dietrich Keuning, hired Doris as a member of his staff – even without wanting to screw her first...
Finding a suitable dwelling place took her a fortnight. Evidently, flat sharing had gone out of fashion in the direct aftermath of the Rocket Riots. Eventually, a colleague, Emma Paulink, took her in as lodger. Emma was a lesbian, but one of the inhibited shy kind. Doris relished the game, it made cohabitation creepy–crawly.
The mass rallies were culminating in a nationwide day of protest on March 23rd, 1951, Good Friday. It was a cold day, and the weathermen kept saying there would be no spring this year, and no summer... The government, having cancelled the German fusion programme and scheduled an international conference, was washing their hands of it – and was joining the marchers, well, at least some of them were...
In Berlin, the Kaiser was addressing the protesters from the balcony of the city palace – and receiving applause, and even notorious conservative reactionaries were seen marching and picketing. The nation was in accordance: the nuclear madness had to stop.
One alien is a curiosity, two are an invasion.
(Chinese wisdom)
The greater Guǎngzhōu – or Gwong Zau, as the locals used to call it – region was the major functioning industrial hub remaining in China. Originally the province of German companies in the years of Max Bauer's sojourn, the area had attracted substantial US and Japanese investments once Chiang Zhongzheng had unified the country. After Manchuria, Běijīng and Shànghǎi had been utterly razed during the Far East War, Guǎngzhōu – only superficially damaged by Russian bombing raids – had rallied even more foreign money, now mainly flowing in from the US.
The lowlands alongside the Pearl River – the Zhū Jiāng, or Zyu Gong in the local tongue – therefore were accommodating a sizeable number of US nationals – and it was hardly astounding that the administration in Washington should try to save these people from harm in the rapidly developing civil war. – But not everybody was going to appreciate these efforts...
Dang Gangjun was glassing the littoral below. It was misty – and he could only guess what actually was going on down there. Aliens! Foreigners! Raiders! These scavengers had heard of China's misery – and they were coming to take away the few worthwhile remains. He felt rage soar up. The barbarians were once again trying to take advantage of China's weakness – like they always had done. But China wasn't defenceless yet...
Dang's outfit was the dominant force between Dongguan and Shenzhen Bay. His base camps were located in the Dalingshan Mountains. He had not made the mistake to dilute his units by trying to occupy urban terrain. He would move in, take what he needed – and move out again. Therefore, his brigade was superior in strength and firepower to all other armed bands in the vicinity. He had field guns and mortars – and ammunition for them.
The aliens had invaded Hong Kong five days ago. Now, they were moving up the Zyu Gong in a convoy of smaller craft. Engaging them on the river didn't promise success. One better waited until they landed. They wouldn't proceed to Gwong Zau in one move, but rather establish a base outside the city – if they were as clever as Dang... Dajisha Island or Miaoshawei would be good places...
Still angry, Dang was issuing orders. His brigade couldn't march as fast as the aliens were steaming up the Zyu Gong, but that didn't matter. They were strangers hereabouts – and would lose time as soon as they came ashore. – He was going to teach them a lesson. Looting China didn't come cheap...
(Chinese wisdom)
The greater Guǎngzhōu – or Gwong Zau, as the locals used to call it – region was the major functioning industrial hub remaining in China. Originally the province of German companies in the years of Max Bauer's sojourn, the area had attracted substantial US and Japanese investments once Chiang Zhongzheng had unified the country. After Manchuria, Běijīng and Shànghǎi had been utterly razed during the Far East War, Guǎngzhōu – only superficially damaged by Russian bombing raids – had rallied even more foreign money, now mainly flowing in from the US.
The lowlands alongside the Pearl River – the Zhū Jiāng, or Zyu Gong in the local tongue – therefore were accommodating a sizeable number of US nationals – and it was hardly astounding that the administration in Washington should try to save these people from harm in the rapidly developing civil war. – But not everybody was going to appreciate these efforts...
Dang Gangjun was glassing the littoral below. It was misty – and he could only guess what actually was going on down there. Aliens! Foreigners! Raiders! These scavengers had heard of China's misery – and they were coming to take away the few worthwhile remains. He felt rage soar up. The barbarians were once again trying to take advantage of China's weakness – like they always had done. But China wasn't defenceless yet...
Dang's outfit was the dominant force between Dongguan and Shenzhen Bay. His base camps were located in the Dalingshan Mountains. He had not made the mistake to dilute his units by trying to occupy urban terrain. He would move in, take what he needed – and move out again. Therefore, his brigade was superior in strength and firepower to all other armed bands in the vicinity. He had field guns and mortars – and ammunition for them.
The aliens had invaded Hong Kong five days ago. Now, they were moving up the Zyu Gong in a convoy of smaller craft. Engaging them on the river didn't promise success. One better waited until they landed. They wouldn't proceed to Gwong Zau in one move, but rather establish a base outside the city – if they were as clever as Dang... Dajisha Island or Miaoshawei would be good places...
Still angry, Dang was issuing orders. His brigade couldn't march as fast as the aliens were steaming up the Zyu Gong, but that didn't matter. They were strangers hereabouts – and would lose time as soon as they came ashore. – He was going to teach them a lesson. Looting China didn't come cheap...
Accidentally making a miniature sun, the government collapsing, the emperor killed, and now this.
Truly the Chinese are living in interesting times.
Truly the Chinese are living in interesting times.