Novel excerpts: Thrillers

Cholitz Directive

Prologue

A high level secretive meeting is being held at the conference room of Raffles hotel attended by the upper echelons of those in charge of safeguarding Singapore’s peace and stability. The meeting is headed by the supreme commander of Singapore’s defense, the Minister of Defense himself. At his sides and downward are the Deputy Commander and the generals that comprise the entire Singapore Army. There is even one general in the meeting acting as the secretary whose task is to take down the minutes. The meeting is so secret, so black that most of the aide-de-camps of such obscenely powerful men; with ranks no less than captains through to colonels are forbidden to know even a hint of the issues to be discussed.

Sipping cognac while waiting for the main man, the atmosphere was a jovial, lighthearted one with the men slapping one another’s backs and telling jokes.

A clicking rush of wind, the conference doors opened and Samuel Tan, Minister of Defense walked briskly to the head of the oval table. Instantly the generals snapped to attention and abruptly the atmosphere became solemn. Settling down quickly in his seat and wasting no time, he pointed to Major General Jerry Soh, Head of Intelligence and Clandestine operations.

“Sir,” He began,” it’s confirmed. Malaysia and Thailand is preparing a major assault on Singapore.” Murmurs began to break out among the men. “We have detected anomalous movement of military hardware between the borders of the two countries. We have unconfirmed reports on the involvement of a mysterious third party. The location of the main base of the joint forces has been set on the plains of Penang. The main base is supported by smaller camps scattered around Malaysia and critical key installations like the Communications building and air force bases.”

“I understand,” replied Samuel Tan. “General Bernard, recall all the reservists immediately with the excuse of a surprise large scale exercise. The public must not learn of this. Business must go on as usual as far as possible. We must strike first. I expect all of you to draw out your plans for your respective units by the week’s end.”

Lieutenant General Jeremy Ang Commandant of the Commando units spoke confidently,” We will spearhead the preemptive strike, Sir. We will spread panic and chaos among the enemy and if possible leave them ripe for mop-up for the rest