Chapter 279: Battle for Talent
by xennovel“The super virus has completely spread throughout the Tokyo metropolitan area. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have constructed a plastic-steel wall to fully enclose the city district.
At strategic points, they have set up numerous heavy machine guns—firing upon any civilians trying to breach the wall.
Thousands of people die daily under machine gun fire, a grisly spectacle.
Nevertheless, under such stringent measures, cities outside the Tokyo metropolitan area have not seen confirmed cases of the super pneumonia.
This is the latest report from CMM’s reporter in Japan.”
Hilary paused the TV broadcast and looked at Radack.
Radack turned to Caesar, “Has the virus truly not spread beyond Tokyo?”
Caesar shook his head, “According to the message from our informants, cases have already emerged in Shizuoka and Mito.
Yet now, facing a potential land subsidence, the entire country of Japan is under martial law. In effect, it’s isolated, and the exact situation is unclear.”
Radack shifted his attention toward Curtis, “General Curtis, how is the evacuation of our troops in Japan progressing?”
Curtis replied, “We’ve dispatched a substantial number of transport planes to various bases in Japan. Army personnel and large equipment are being urgently loaded.
Some are relocating to bases in South Korea, others to Guam. It should take about another seven days to complete the evacuation.”
Hilary interjected, “The first batch of evacuation for our expatriates and diplomatic personnel in Japan is complete. However, I’m concerned about the possibility that embassy staff who evacuated from Tokyo might carry the virus.”
Radack immediately responded, “I spoke to the Japanese Prime Minister by phone. According to him, this virus virtually has no incubation period. Infection leads to immediate onset and death occurs within about 10 hours.
We can observe our people in batches before boarding. They will be allowed to board only after observation.”
Secretary of State Holmes then asked, “Mr. President, have you promised to take in Japanese refugees?”
Radack nodded, “Yes, I have, but with conditions.”
With a mischievous smile creeping across his face, he looked around at his most important staff members and posed the question, “Can any of you guess what condition I might propose?”
Holmes pondered then suggested, “Perhaps they must undergo quarantine and observation before they can enter the country?”
“No,” Radack replied with a smile, shaking his head.
Hilary said, “Mr. President, we really can’t guess, please don’t test us.”
Caesar added, “Indeed, Mr. President, your strategic capacity is beyond us. We’d rather hear your guidance.”
Radack, enjoying the flattery, then said, “Do you know why our country, the United States, came out of World War II as the global hegemon?”
Curtis promptly answered, “It’s obviously due to our military might.”
Radack slightly shook his head. “No, where does that military strength come from? What makes it strong?”
Caesar replied, “Technology, I suppose.”
“Exactly,” Radack clapped his hands, “The United States has always led the world by occupying the technological high ground.
We were defeated by Dream Technology – it was technology where we lost. They surpassed us, the leading nation.
It’s paramount we regain the lead. Our ‘beggar thy neighbor’ policy aims to sustain our technological edge, thus bolstering our tech advancement.
What drives technological development? Talent, especially top talent.
In the last two decades, Japan has produced numerous Nobel laureates—a wealth of top scientific talent. We must entice them to come to the United States.
Once the Japanese archipelago sinks, Japan won’t exist. Then, these talents will serve the United States without hesitation.”
Applause broke out as several members of staff sincerely admired Radack’s plan and couldn’t resist clapping in admiration.
“Caesar, arrange to undertake this task promptly. Secure the Nobel laureates and assist Holmes in recruiting these talents to our nation.”
“Understood.”
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After a violent tremor, Koichiro Sasaki frowned deeply and sighed vehemently.
Keiko Sasaki, his wife and assistant, asked, “Should we leave now, professor? The earthquakes are too frequent, we can’t continue our research.”
Keiko was originally Koichiro’s student, later admiring her teacher, and eventually they married.
Even after their marriage, Keiko still habitually called her husband ‘professor’.
“Yes, it seems Professor Hiroji Iwata’s predictions are likely correct. I never anticipated our Japanese Archipelago would conclude this way.”
Initially, the Japanese government intended to evacuate top scientists like Koichiro Sasaki, but he delayed it citing critical stages of his experiments.
After a relentless week, with major earthquakes every day and endless aftershocks, he finally made up his mind.
“I’ll call the government to send for us.”
As Keiko prepared to phone, the doorbell rang.
She hurried to answer it.
At the door stood a young man in a handsome uniform, clearly someone from government service.
“Mrs. Sasaki, good day. I’m assigned by the special operations group to evacuate Professor Koichiro Sasaki and yourself. Time is of the essence, please take only essentials.”
He showed an identification that seemed quite official.
Thinking that the government was conducting special operations under the pressing circumstances, Keiko immediately nodded, “Please wait while I inform the professor.”
After hearing his wife’s story, Koichiro Sasaki said, “It seems the government can’t wait. Let’s not delay; our belongings are already packed, right?”
“Yes, all ready.”
“Then let’s go.” He closed his laptop, stowed it in a bag, and handed it to Keiko. He walked out of the study downstairs, where he found the charming young man and asked, “Just you?”
The young man replied, “Do you need help carrying things? No problem, some colleagues are outside, I’ll call them in.”
“Thank you.”
Shortly, several men in the same uniform swiftly moved Keiko’s luggage. The young man accompanied the couple into an RV, which was part of a convoy that quickly departed.
About half an hour later, another vehicle arrived in front of Koichiro Sasaki’s residence, banging on the door.
After two unanswered doorbell rings, someone shouted, “Break the door down!”
A man pulled out a gun, shot off the lock, and they stormed inside.
They found the house completely deserted.
“Damn it, Doctor Koichiro Sasaki has been snatched away too. Quickly, inform headquarters and check if the others are still home.”
…
…
In a command center somewhere in Japan, Toyotomi Ichiro glared at Mizukawa Kazuhide and roared angrily. “What? Six Nobel Prize-winning scientists have disappeared? What are you doing? They are the core foundation for the future rebuilding of Great Japan. Why weren’t they guarded?”
Mizukawa Kazuhide replied, “Sir, it indeed is our fault. However, two were unguarded, and the other four disappeared along with our surveillance teams.”
Toyotomi Ichiro took a few deep breaths, then said, “Isn’t this the work of the Americans? Didn’t their terms for accepting immigrants specifically require college graduates?”
“Possibly them. GIA has quite a few people in our country, and the troops are evacuating.”
“Damn these beasts; they’re clearly out to poach our talents,” Toyotomi Ichiro could not help but swear. “Make sure to send outstanding talents to those smaller nations willing to take us in. Offer the Americans common college graduates or those with degrees unrelated to technology.”
“Yes, sir.”