action; maybe a stray missile or two. But we need them! You owe us three billion dollars, Uri, for ten years of grain! We either want the help, or we want the money one or the other. And don't tell me your God damned troops aren't mercenaries! You've been selling them to the highest bidder for peace keeping operations for the last five years. Don't worry about China. China's not going to do anything. So, what is it, Uri? The money or the troops and bases?"
The Russian nervously tapped his side with his fingers. "I'll have to call my President!" he finally managed.
The President picked up the receiver of the red phone on his desk and pressed the button in the middle then held the receiver out to the Ambassador. The Ambassador took it.
"Sir!" The Ambassador began, "The American President says we must give him the troops he wants, ten of our destroyers, and, the use of our bases, or we will have to pay our grain bill in full!"
After a few moments the Ambassador covered the receiver. "Will we get this year's grain," he asked, "if we say no?"
"No," The President answered. "And don't count on The Australians. Their crop is going to be short. They'll barely have enough to fulfill their own needs, and, their contracts with the Japanese. We're the only surplus you'll have."
The Ambassador spoke into the telephone. "He says no. Yes sir, I understand sir. Thank you, sir." He handed the phone back to The President. "We're going to have some trouble with the commanding General in that sector. He's sympathetic to the North Koreans. Been our contact with them for years. As soon as we deal with the matter you can start bringing in your supplies. This is why we were not cooperative, Mr. President. We were hoping to avoid a confrontation. Our destroyers will NOT be put in the safest sectors. They will take their turn at rotation in the danger zones, just like your ships do. And Mr. President, you need more than eight! Our intelligence confirms that many of your ships should be scrapped, you're patching them together with bailing wire. They'll come apart under stress."
"I'm hoping to get some French ships," The President answered, "and keep those ships on limited duty in Japan. I thought we didn't spy on each other any more!"
The Ambassador grinned. "I had better go, sir, before I reveal even more things."
"Is this trouble that you're having in the South," The President asked, "why you haven't told us about your two missing submarines?"
The Ambassador did not answer, but nodded. The President waved him from the office. "Now, we wait!" he remarked to himself. He did not have to wait long. That afternoon there was a flurry of Ambassadors to his office, even one he hadn't been expecting. He had everything he wanted. The Japenese Ambassador had come in asking why they had not been asked to help.
"I know of the bitterness that still lingers," The President answered, "between you and The Korean People because of what happened during World War 2. I thought it best merely to use your facilities and not ask for any troops."
"If not troops," the Ambassador put in, "divers, dock workers, wearhousemen. Everyone that we could give you in these capacities would be another man you could put in the field. I have a division of such personnel, all who speak English ready to depart when you give the word. We would be very disappointed if they were not used."
"The word is given," The President answered, "and, my nation's thanks."
The President was pleased. It was now a matter of building things up, getting ready, but The North Koreans knew, they knew and they'd be ready. But their combined forces just had to be a little bit more ready....they HAD to be!

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