Marshall, Greg, I'm counting on you. This can't go any further. Make sure they know we mean business.'
'I have another option that may prod the Russians a bit faster toward a negotiated settlement,' Curtis said. The President's smile disappeared. Marshall Brent glared at Curtis.
'Ice Fortress, ' Secretary of Defense Preston asked. 'ReactiVate Ice Fortress.
'Or at least threaten to reactivate it,' Curtis added quickly.
'It's out of the question,' Brent asked. 'The 1986 ArmsReduction Treaty, which took us two long years to hammer out, strictly forbids Ice Fortress. If we bring it back, we are guilty of lying. Our credibility will go down the drain.
'Ice Fortress is the only thing we have that can even begin to match up to that laser system,' Curtis argued. 'Without it, we have nothing to bargain with. Why should the Russians agree to anything we want?Why should they shut down that site?Because we say 'pretty please'?'
'The Soviets won't ignore us,' Brent asked. 'Gregory and I will confront them in the U.N. We'll present the data you've received and challenge them to deny it. I believe that will be the last we'll hear of any laser defense site. 'The President looked grim. 'You're right, Marshall,' he said slowly.
'We hold off with any movement on Ice Fortress.
It's not an option. Not now.'
Marshall Brent looked relieved. 'There will be a settlement, sir. We will end this. 'And at the moment, he had managed to convince himself.
The President nodded, then swiveled around and stared wordlessly out the triple windows of the Oval Office as the others quietly filed out.
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL NEW YORK
'Last item on the agenda before the New Year's recess,' Ian McCaan announced before a regular meeting of the United Nations Security Council, 'is a presentation by the American delegation on the progress of the ongoing investigation of the alleged loss of the American Air Force RC-135 off the east coast of the Soviet Union. We are pleased to have in attendance the distinguished Secretary of State of the United States of America, Mr. Marshall Brent. Mr. Brent, please-' 'Excuse me, Mr. Secretary-General!' Karmarov interrupted, a shocked expression on his face. He half-rose out of his seat as Marshall Brent walked down the center aisle of the closed Security Council chamber.
'Mr. Secretary-General, this… ' he fought for composure, '…
I was not aware that this matter had been placed on the agenda. No one has consulted my office… ' By this time Marshall Brent had reached the floor of the chamber. Greg Adams, the U.N. ambassador, had relinquished his seat to the Secretary of State and now sat behind and to his right. Brent held up a hand and smiled at the Soviet chief delegate.
'I'm afraid I am at fault, Mr. Karmarov,' Brent began.
Karmarov's protest died in midsentence, and he slowly lowered himself to his seat. 'I have taken the liberty of invoking a little-used and rather esoteric regulation in the Security Council's rules of order.
'A 1957 addendum to Article Thirty-nine of the Security Council's Affairs of Conduct allows either side of any dispute before the Security Council to provide periodic progress reports of any council-ordered investigation. I have taken the liberty of putting together a report that I'm sure your fellow delegates will be most interested in-' 'Pardon me, Mr. Brent,' Karmarov interrupted again, even more forcibly this time. He bent over to Andrina Asserni, whispered a few words to her, and watched as she rushed out to an anteroom. 'That matter is still under investigation. I know that little progress has been made, sir, but it is still fairly early-' 'That's right, Mr. Ambassador,' Brent asked. 'But a status report is still allowed. I'm sorry Miss Asserni was called away to double- check the article, but its validity here has already been examined and approved by the Central Steering Committee. 'Karmarov looked at Ian McCaan, who nodded.
'Apparently, Mr. Karmarov,' McCaan said, 'the Soviet secretary on the Steering Committee did not notify you. The request is in order. Of course, you will have an opportunity to add any remarks you wish.'
Assemi returned just then with her finger in a thick red leather-bound book. She whispered a few words to Karmarov, who narrowed his gaze and fixed it on Marshall Brent.
'The article you mentioned does not deal with the matter you wish to discuss,' Kannarov said, 'and apparently gives little authority or justification for such a presentation. It is entirely out of order-' 'The nature of the presentation,' McCaan broke in, 'and the subject matter convinced the Steering Committee to adapt the rules. Besides, Ambassador Karmarov, it is the last order of business for the Council and no other matters are scheduled until the spring. I'm sure the Council will be interested in the contents of this presentation.'
The Russian offered no resistance-in fact, his voice became a bit more apologetic. 'The investigation has only been open less than a month 'And yet it has gone nowhere,' Brent said immediately, his tone clipped but steady. 'American requests for transcripts, ordinary transcripts of your military controllers on duty at the time of the loss of the RC-135 have been ignored. Similar requests by the International Civil Aeronautics Organization have also been ignored. According to ICAO convention, such transcripts are usually submitted to the parties involved in less than twenty-four hours. 'Karmarov staged his indignation. 'I will personally investigate the incompetence of-' 'My office has already investigated the matter,' Brent said.
'The Soviet Foreign Ministry advises me that the transcripts were turned over to your United Nations delegation. 'Karmarov again was about to reply, but Brent held up a hand.
understand the situation, Mr. Ambassador,' Brent said in a forgiving tone. 'The Foreign Ministry did advise me that your office has not had time to fully study the transcripts.
Turning the transcript over to us before looking at them yourself wouldn't make sense, I agree.'
'I beg the Council's indulgence,' Karmarov asked. 'Pressing matters in my delegation and the last-minute flurry of activity prior to the New Year's recess have delayed my study of those documents.'
'Of course, Mr. Ambassador,' Brent asked. 'The Foreign Ministry was kind enough to answer a few questions, though. I hope you at least have had an opportunity to glance at the transcripts so as to enlighten the Security Council on a few points.
'I'm sorry, Mr. Secretary, I-' 'The Foreign Ministry assures me that, although three launched from Ossora MiG-29 fighter-interceptor aircraft were Airfield on the northern Kamchatka peninsula near Kavaznya, they never closed with the so-called intruder aircraft. The RC-135 aircraft was allowed to fly toward the coast without being challenged. Mr. Ambassador, why in the world would the Soviets allow an unidentified aircraft to fly to within thirty- five miles of the coastline, within thirty-five miles of a top secret research installation, without being challenged by three interceptors assigned to pursue it?'
Heads turned toward Karmarov. 'Mr. Secretary,' Karmarov said through tight lips. 'I cannot at this time answer-' 'The Foreign Ministry also reports that no efforts were made to reach the RC-135 on normal, internat a y recognized emergency channels. Now, Mr. Ambassador, the Soviet Union launched three advanced interceptors out after an American aircraft it says was intruding into highly sensitive Russian airspace, yet never closed on the intruder. They obviously saw the aircraft-yet never tried to raise the aircraft by radio, never tried to warn it away. Why?Perhaps I can offer a reason,' Brent hurried on. At his signal, a rear-projection screen began to descend over the mural of 'The Rise of the Phoenix' at the head of the Security Council chamber.
Ambassador Adams pushed an electronic pointer into his hands and Brent stepped quickly toward the head of the circular Council table.
Flaring to life as Brent stepped up to a small podium at the head of the table, the screen showed several rows of words and numbers on the left and several bar graphs on the right.
'I will show the Council exactly what took place aboard that unarmed reconnaissance plane,' Brent began. 'This is the exact, unedited position and status data transmitted from the RC-135 aircraft as it approached Kavaznya. It shows summaries of the aircraft's performance and summaries of what the aircraft's sensors were receiving.'
Brent hit a button on the console. A second slide appeared beneath the first, this one a map of eastern Asia centered on Kavaznya.
