****
The video was shown at the White house and the Martial Arts Instructor for the Secret Service dropped his jaw. "Fuck me!" was all he could say, over and over again.
The President arrived in Marine One and was escorted directly to the Situation Room where the Joint Chiefs, the Chinese Ambassador, and all the Cabinet members were waiting for him.
The President sat down with a no-bullshit attitude and pointed at the Chinese Ambassador, "Tell me everything you know and leave nothing out. I am telling you now, Taiwan being recognized as a sovereign nation by the United States is a very distinct possibility at this point. So talk me out of it."
The Ambassador was visibly shaking as he began to speak, "Mr. President, I assure you the faction we have discussed are the ones responsible for this. The General Secretary is disgraced and has lost face as a result of this incident and fully recognizes the need to work closely with you and your country to avert any further complications on the political front."
"To that end, operatives are even now setting the groundwork for your people to attend the meeting of international tyrants and leaders of rogue terrorists meeting in Geneva in two weeks time. They have been told to work closely with your CIA field operatives when you send them. I have the contacts with me," he handed the CIA Director a sheet of paper, "We wish to fully cooperate in any operation, sanctioned or otherwise, to eliminate this common threat to our countries."
The President then looked at the CIA Director and said in a commanding voice, "I hereby declare, as President of the United States, that those involved in this situation represent a clear and present danger to the sovereignty of the United States and they are to be dealt with accordingly. Have I made myself clear?"
The Director and Joint Chiefs answered as one, "Yes, Mr. President." The President got up and walked out, letting his people handle the situation from there. As he left the whole room erupted in the chaos of planning and contingencies.
****
As we drove up to the Cottage, it was obvious everyone was there. The Seal Team had transported back via Chief and the Apaches. By the time we arrived back home it was dinner time and I was famished.
I was a bit worried as I knew Chef and many of her assistants had not been back long enough to fix us dinner so I was pleasantly surprised to see two portable Teppanyaki grills set up next to the grill on the pool deck.
They were rather large and two Teppanyaki Chefs were preparing Kobe Wagyu beef steaks to order along with Tonjiru (Pork and Vegetable Miso Soup) in side pots and sauteed Negi, Daikon, Shiso, Renkon, and Takenoko stir fried vegetables.
There was also a chilled bar on the dock with many types of Sushi, Sashimi, Nigiri, and Makizushi. Tied up behind the bar were two pontoon boats where two Sushi Chefs were busy preparing the dishes and keeping the bar stocked.
The Maki offerings included Torotaku maki (tuna and pickled radish roll), Anakyu maki (cucumber and conger eel roll), Negitoro maki (green onion and tuna roll), and Natto maki (Fermented Soybean roll).
The Nigiri offerings included Maguro / Toro (Fatty Tuna), Sake (Salmon), Hamachi (Young Yellowtail), and Uni (Sea Urchin) Gunkan.
The Sashimi choices were Otoro (extra fatty Tuna), Hotate (Sea Scallop), Ikura (Salmon Roe), Kanpachi (Greater Amberjack), and baby whole Tako (Octopus).
For the more squeamish, Sushi Rolls included the California Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Teriyaki Roll, and Shrimp Tempura Roll were available.
These selections were offered with lots of pickled White Gari Sushi Ginger, Tamaruya Shizuoka Wasabi paste, and Yamashin Shiro Shoyu (White Soy Sauce).
The food was pared with a sugar-sweetened matcha green tea blend called Uji Shimizu and Dassai Junmai Daigninjo Sake with a sweet and sour flavor profile that is both soft and smooth.
Being a huge Sashimi and Nigiri fan I loaded up with all the offerings and sat at a pool table with the family enjoying lots of Sake and green tea. Cathy popped up, "Are you actually going to eat all that raw fish and stuff?" Lillie nodded her head in agreement with Cathy.
"Why? What do you find objectionable? This is not the fare you can pick up in a supermarket. It is fresh, sushi grade, and the flavors are quite delicate."
"You aren't afraid of getting worms or something?"
"No Sushi Chef in the world would accept anything that was contaminated. I tell you what...Have a few shots of Saki with me, after that, you can try the Otoro Sashimi and even the Negitoro maki. If you don't like them, I will pay you $100 each for each dish."
"What if we do like it?"
"You have to replenish what you eat," I laughed.
After the Saki, I had each eat a slice of pickled ginger. After that cleaned their palates I took my fingers and dipped the Otoro into the Soy Sauce that I had dissolved a small amount of Wasabi into and fed each Lady a half. "Now don't just chew once and swallow it. Give the flavor time to present itself."
"Are you sure that is raw fish? It doesn't taste anything like fish."
"As I said, this is a very high grade that you cannot purchase in a grocery store. That is actually the highest grade extra fatty Tuna. Ready to try the Negitoro maki?"
"Sure!" They both pipped.
I fed them a slice of ginger and then dipped the Negitoro maki in the Wasabi/Soy mixture and fed each one half again.
"Mmmm, and that was?" Cathy asked.
"Green onion and tuna roll."
"THAT was Tuna!"
I laughed along with Sue and Leesie who were also sitting at the table, "Yes, that was Tuna."
