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  This book is a work of fiction. Fiction is a noun. Fiction is defined below.

  1.

  The class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.

  2.

  Works of this class, as novels or short stories: detective fiction.

  3.

  Something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.

  Most of the characters are from my imagination. The history is not what was taught in school. It too is a product of mine. I have used some real names. I have used some real places. But they are added to the book for continuity.

  Thank You. I hope you enjoy your read.

  Challenge Trio

  First installment is Hope for the Future

  Reserved.

  Copyright © 2015 by James Huber All Rights

  No part of this publication may be reproduced,

  distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except the use of brief quotations for the sole purpose of a book review.

  Dedicated to Rose.

  Without her, none of this could have happened. The books would still be a dream to me, as she is a

  This map represents the makeup of the Central part of the North American continent after the New French defeat and subjugation, as told in the book To Challenge the Present. It will remain that way until all opposition is ended and the cities are rebuilt. The Kingdom of New England has negotiated recognition of New Savannah as a friendly nation. New Savannah was formed by uniting some south eastern states. The City of Savannah was on the border of two states, so it was a compromise to name it New Savannah.

  The Malacca Straits

  The huge tanker had a smooth crossing of the Arabian Sea and the Northern part of the Indian Ocean. That was normal for this time of the year. The next body of water was the Bay of Bengal. It was coming up fast and the communications officer had sent the message to get lined up to pass through the Straits of Malacca, This was a small opening from the Indian Ocean into the Pacific. Any ship sailing west had to pass there or endure a never ending trip across the Southern Ocean.

  When the okay was given, the Captain took the con and slowly entered the north straits. He had radar, sonar and every sounding device up to full power. The opening is narrow and shallow. Some wrecks were reported on the bottom so they needed to be avoided. To insure safety he stationed two seamen on the flying bridge with high powered binoculars. They were to watch for small craft or possible drifting debris that could damage the ship.

  The Captain turned it over to the First Officer and went to his sea cabin to rest up for the exit of the straits, some twenty hours away. They had reached the 500 kilometer mark heading true to ESE bearing. No incidents and very few ships had been seen on this crossing so they were running fair.

  After three hours one of the lookouts reported an anomaly in the water just off the port bow. He couldn’t identify it so he called the first officer out onto the flying bridge. Just as the officer took the binoculars he yelled out, “Torpedo, three hundred meters off the port bow, now two torpedoes. Sound general quarters.”

  The klaxon blared out and the ship’s Captain had just reached the bridge in time to see the two deadly objects contact his ship. That was the last thing he ever saw. Some men got

  away, but very few. The ship’s back was broken and it went to the bottom.

  Modern times in Southern France

  Renee had just finished with the breakfast crowd and was tidying up her little café. It was in the foothills of the French Pyrenees Mountains and on a road connecting to the ski slopes. She was wiping off the tables outside and when she looked up the small mountain road she saw two men approaching. She watched them walking up the road and then she dropped her cleaning towel and ran to the arms of her brother, Jacques Lapre, General, Empire of France, Retired.

  When her sobbing and hugging was finished it started anew with her old friend, Alain VanNess, Colonel, Empire of France, Retired. The three of them had grown up together and had been separated by time, distance and wars. That was all over now, they were home. Then all three of them made their way back to the café for rest and planning a new life.

  CHAPTER ONE

  King Edward was one of the busiest men in the Continent. His faithful friend and companion, Sir Malcolm of York, was now the Prime Minister of the old country of New France. He was up to his neck in alligators too. Both men were capable of doing their jobs but the King no longer had the wise counsel and help of Sir Malcolm. Sir Malcolm no longer had the leadership of his best friend and boyhood companion. Both now had to do it on their own. They could, but it was better to have reliable help. They had worked together for many years.

  King Edward’s son was too young and Malcolm’s older son, Keith, was now an upper classman at the Military Academy in Nueva España (Florida). Since Florida had so many coastlines they were the natural choice for naval instruction.

  New England and New Savannah sent their men there to train with the Spanish. The Spanish have always been a seafaring nation and it was passed down generation to generation.

  Ensign Keith York was one semester from completing his course of training. at the Academy. Malcolm thought it would be a good idea to reassign Keith to the Defense Ministry in Philadelphia.

  That way he could be close to home and he could advise his father. He would advise purely on current trends.

  Malcolm’s first priority was to move the Capital of the New Province to Memphis. Indianapolis, the old capital, had been ruined by bombing raids during the last year. The weather was better in Memphis and the rivers there were great for travel.

  The airports were getting rebuilt, but it was a slow process. That didn’t matter that much. Not very many people were flying anywhere. Aviation for private citizens was still impractical.

  With the opening of free access to the rivers, the Kingdom was now able to expand and start to catch up on creature comforts, one of which was river cruises. The first to be opened was a riverboat holiday out of Pittsburg.

  The sternwheeler would take a casual trip to Memphis and dock for two days and then return to Pittsburg. Meals were served and entertainment was offered to those so inclined. Most just went for the ride.

  Sir Malcolm and his family took the trip to New Plymouth when the river service first started. It had been renamed from New Orleans to erase the stigma of the French name.

  They checked into Government House and, of course, they were given the finest apartment overlooking the city. Young Malcolm wanted to go to Bourbon Street the first chance he got. His mother vetoed that idea.

  They were starting to bring the issue to Malcolm when the doorbell rang. The Administrative Assistant answered and took a message from a Cavalry officer. The Officer left immediately.

  The Assistant, Sir Humphrey Karnes, took the message directly to the family quarters and was admitted immediately.

  “Sir Malcolm, forgive me for intruding but this came

  Eyes only to you from a courier of high rank.”

  Malcolm, still not used to being called Sir, took the message and cut the wax seal. He read it and turned to his son

  and said, “No Bourbon Street this time. The King wants me back up there tonight.”

  “Sir Humphrey, contact Keith’s boss, the Superintendent of the Naval Academy in Corpus Christi. See if he can be released early. He’s only one semester out and so far has excelled. Tell Commodore Salinas that I will be forever in is debt if he can oblige me.”

  “Get my gear and put my utility uniform out. I leave in ten minutes. A helicopter will pick
me up on the lawn.

  “My lady, duty calls, it will be at the capitol, so there won’t be any more danger, and Mal can be my orderly. We leave now in eight minutes.”

  His wife did not complain. She had married a military man and accepted his role in the Kingdom. She decided that she and Sally would go buy everything they could to soothe their disappointment. Then they could join him when he said.

  The two ladies watched as the noisy, clattering helicopter kicked up dust, dirt, leaves, papers and not a few hats. Sir Malcolm, Malcolm XXIII, and his various assistants and helpers were boarded, strapped in and the chopper lifted up and clattered off to the North East.

  They would fly it to Atlanta, in the country of New Savannah and from there to Philadelphia. Since it was an international flight he stayed on the plane rather than clear customs with his whole retinue.

  New Savannah was a small country just below New England on the map. It was located on the Atlantic coast and was just above the country of Nueva España, or New Spain. Both countries were aligned with New England, and in one way or the other they had helped defeat the French colonies in America.

  Sir Malcolm knew all of the important men and women in these countries and had visited them all just recently. King Edward had a plan and he used Malcolm to cast the plan out to the allies. That was one of Malcolm’s fortes, that and his military prowess.

  When Malcolm and his retinue arrived at the King’s residence they were hustled in and were put at ease to wait for King Edward. He wasn’t long coming.

  “My oldest and closest friend, I welcome you. My house is your house.” Edward was much relieved that Malcolm was there. Between the two of them they had battled off a country twice their size.

  “Sir Humphrey, please get Sir Malcolm and his people settled into their quarters. We will have a top level meeting in two hours and then dinner.”

  Humphrey hustled off, with Malcolm Junior, to get things set up. They both had been in the Palace many times and knew the rooms they would occupy.

  When they left Malcolm said, “This must be important. I pulled Keith out of the Academy; he should be here in the morning. What’s so urgent?”

  “The Thang Dynasty has declared that all of Indonesia is now a protectorate for them and that the Malacca Straits are now sovereign property. Premier Bao vowed to show their determination; they torpedoed a freighter bound for San Diego, Empire of Mexico.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  The Emperor of Mexico, Maxmillian XV called for a war council meeting. His first cousin, Señor Felipe Guerra De Carlos, the King’s Chief of Staff, had the council chambers ready.

  He assured himself that the projectors and the computer stations were up and running. Felipe was a very dedicated man. Not only was he dedicated to the Emperor, he was dedicated to the nation and to his work. He tolerated nothing less from his employees. He was known to go to a work place and personally fire a substandard worker and then demote a supervisor for allowing that person to continue. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, the word got around fast.

  Felix was the Emperor’s oldest cousin and he had admired Maxmillian for most of his life. He was rewarded with the same admiration. Felipe had earned, not inherited, his position as the Palace Counselor and Chief of Staff to the Emperor.

  It was an old and honored position. That was as it should be because most royals were basically inept when it came to organization. They often became warriors but needed the administration that goes with a country.

  But Maxmillian had long ago established a lean, efficient administrative work place. He would not be delayed by thinkers and professional planners. Felipe was neither. He was a study of efficiency.

  The Emperor came down to the room and was accompanied by his son Rodrigo Santander Guerra Maxmillian. His daughter Princess Sophia Maria Guerra was with them.

  Maximillian used their advice on many things especially abut modern technology and society.

  Rodrigo was as majestic as his father. He had studied at the Military Academy in Corpus Christi and had commanded a company in a couple of border skirmishes against the French. As a very young man had proven himself in battle and was highly respected.

  Rodrigo was a qualified master aviator and flew Helicopters as his choice. He was a handy man to have around.

  Sophia was a degreed artist and designer. She was up on all current customs and fads. She sifted them for the Emperor so he didn’t have to worry about silly fads or trends. She knew what would last and advised him so.

  When the assembly was seated Maxmillian painfully stood and made the announcement that everyone knew was

  coming. He didn’t delay with and introduction.

  “My people, my friends, my allies, I cannot continue in my role as both Monarch and Leader of the Armed Forces of the Empire of Mexico. My health is declining and it’s getting harder to miss my sleep so much. I like afternoon naps more than political intrigue.”

  That statement got the required laughs.

  “As soon as events allow, I yield to my son Rodrigo as Maxmillian XVI. Serve him as you have served me.”

  His cheer was echoed around the meeting hall and soon all over the kingdom. In a few minutes it was being spread among the international news agencies.

  France thought little of it; they had been reduced to a tertiary party at best. Not many people cared what France thought anymore.

  Great Britain was interested in how it would affect the western border of their offspring colony of New England. They had hereditary lineages in Buckingham Palace. Mexico had changed names and families several times and all seemed well.

  The only one really thinking about it was Diem Bao Thang Tuan. The dynasty was headquartered in the country of Troken.

  He was the major power behind the government of the Thang Dynasty. He was not a hereditary leader because he was a military officer that took over the country when the old Queen died. He faced little opposition and in the style of one of his heroes, Ho En Lai, he disposed of any opposition that he met.

  Even Ho En Lai even Lai had outlived his usefulness and died one evening after falling off of a railroad walkway. Lai had walked the walkway thousands of time. It was the trains that fascinated him. He felt powerful and healthy watching the big engines switching and pulling.

  Now Bao needed to get agents in place. He knew the Prince, now Emperor, Rodrigo was a warrior, but was he brave behind a whole army only? Was he brave and mature enough to take on another country like his father did?

  Bao called in his Intelligence Officer and told her to get to work on checking out this new Emperor of Mexico.

  Colonel Ngong Trang called her cadre of intelligence officers together for a brain storming session.

  Bao was pleased because he had already set a foreign tanker to the bottom for failing to obey his orders. Now, he had to see if this new man had the intestinal fortitude to do something about it.

  Colonel Trang thought the best thing they could do is to sink another ship, this one should be a transport from New England. That would put a shudder down the backs of two countries.

  Bao gave the approval and Trang left for the Lam Cao Bay naval base to issue the needed orders. It was best to do it in person. No more as advanced as Troken was, it still came under surveillance from the Western Powers. Thang did not have the ability to mask their commications and activities. The Empire of Japan had refused to deal with them. Bao thought that after he subjugated Mexico and New England he may have to give those uppity Japs a good hiding.

  Other people had something to say about that and it was most likely that they would. The Eastern mind and the Western mind do not always think the same way.

  The Eastern minds have been living in a civilized society since long before most Western ones stopped worshiping oak trees and painting their faces. They had all of the time in the world and had used it judiciously. Most countries had lasted in some shape or form and some prevailed yet today.

  Hundreds of years before the Spanish, En
glish and Portuguese had made such big names for themselves, the Empire of the Han (Korea) had sent out sailing ships and explored all the way around to what is now India and established trade and commerce. Back then it was called Hindustan. But at the same time the Native Americans were lashing logs together for a raft and the Northern Europeans had not yet figured out oceanic travel.

  The point that the western powers constantly missed was that while the Westerners were ready and able to go immediately and get it out the way, the Eastern philosophy was to take time and wear the enemy down.

  Because of these differences, any type of conflict between the two is hard to predict. The outcome is based on too many variables. Who would do what and when?

  CHAPTER THREE

  The Heir Designate, he wouldn’t be Emperor until the official ceremony, Rodrigo called the meeting to order and related what had happened in the South Pacific.

  “Premier Bao, of the Thang dynasty, has attempted to impose his territorial rights to cover the Malacca straits. If this man is allowed to run rampant on that area he can totally eliminate the short cut out of the Indian Ocean to our West Coast and to our territory of California.

  “Yesterday he brazenly sent a submarine and caught one of our tankers coming out of the passage. He put it on the bottom with two torpedoes. The captain of the Sub knew what he was doing. He hit the aft section and took out the propellers and the rudders. He then sent another into the full side of the tanker.