Turtledove
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Jackson
Fictional Character
"Getting Real"
Set in the Future
Type of Appearance: Direct
Species: Human
Nationality: United States
Occupation: Secretary of State

Secretary of State Jackson was the senior U.S. official dealing with the Chinese over the issue of Real. He was a short, plump, black man. In 2117, he along with the Secretary of Defense Berkowitz and the Secretary of the DEA Kojima met with the Chinese diplomat Hu Zhiaoxing in Los Angeles to discuss the matter.

Hu was uncooperative with the U.S. demands that China stop distributing Real viewing it as an attempt to limit trade. Jackson eventually issued an ultimatum, that Real distribution stop or there would be war. Hu indicated that that would be unadvisable and the meeting ended.

After the U.S. failed in its attacks on Chinese holdings on the Channel Islands and the Chinese punitive raid on Los Angeles, Secretary Jackson and his colleagues again met with Hu, this time on Catalina Island. Hu met them on the dock and asked why they had come. Jackson answered that they wanted to known what would be required to end the war. Hu agreed to offer terms and sat down in a chair while leaving them standing in front of him.

Jackson objected to the second term, that San Pedro and Long Beach were the U.S.'s busiest ports but circumstances compelled him to agree. Jackson also objected that the U.S. didn't have twenty trillion dollars to pay as an indemnity but Hu firmly told him to get it.

Jackson protested that it was a harsh peace but was forced to sign the peace treaty.

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