Sea of Shadows

FRIDAY; 18 MAY

3:30 PM EDT

White House Press Secretary Lauren Hart stood at the podium and leaned close to the bank of microphones. “Ladies and gentlemen,” she said, “the President of the United States.”

The men and women of the news media came to their feet as President Chandler strode into the room. The usual smattering of polite applause died away when he reached the podium.

White House Chief of Staff Veronica Doyle watched from just inside the door.

Camera flashes began popping at irregular intervals. The president looked out over the assembled press corps and marshaled his thoughts.

“Good afternoon,” he said finally. “As most of you are no doubt aware, five days ago, a squadron of German war planes engaged in an extended sea battle with two warships of the British Royal Navy. One of the British ships, HMS York, was sunk as a result, and the other ship, HMS Chatham, was severely damaged. Four German aircraft were destroyed. Over two hundred British Sailors were killed, as well as the pilots of the downed German planes.

“Last night, shortly before midnight eastern daylight time, two squadrons of British Sea Harriers conducted coordinated missile strikes on a German warship in the North Sea, apparently in retaliation for the earlier attacks on York and Chatham. The German guided-missile frigate FGS Sachsen sustained major damage. Eighty-six German Sailors were killed along with one British pilot, who failed to eject when his aircraft was destroyed.

“There has been a great deal of speculation in the media as to who fired the first shot, and — more to the point — what led the German and British navies into conflict to begin with.

“I’m afraid that I can’t shed much light on the first question. Analysts from the Pentagon and the Naval War College have been over the available data in detail, and they are no closer to knowing who pulled the trigger first. And, since both countries have denied initiating the hostilities, it seems likely that we will never know who fired first.

“But I can answer the second question. HMS York and HMS Chatham were conducting a naval blockade against four submarines of the German Navy. And they were carrying out that blockade at my request.”

The room broke into an uproar of voices as the journalists leapt to their feet and began shouting questions. A male voice cut through it all. “Mr. President, can you tell us about the attack on USS Kitty Hawk?”

The president held up a hand and waited for silence. It was several minutes in coming. Only when it became clear that he was not going to say another word until order was restored did the journalists take their seats.

Eventually, the president nodded. “I asked Prime Minister Irons to blockade the Strait of Gibraltar to prevent the passage of the German submarines. I made the decision to do so on the basis of compelling evidence that the government of Germany intends to deliver those submarines, and other high-tech weaponry, to the Middle Eastern nation of Siraj, in clear violation of international law and standing United Nations sanctions.”

Once again the press corps erupted into a clamor of confused questions.

And, once again, the president held up his hand and waited for silence.

“As I mentioned, we have compelling evidence of Germany’s intentions,” he said finally, “and we have made arrangements to deliver that evidence to the United Nations Security Council. I am confident that, upon reviewing the evidence, the UN will take appropriate action to prevent the German government from arming a nation known to support terrorists.

“Unfortunately, the wheels of international diplomacy turn slowly. By the time the United Nations can react to this situation, Germany’s first shipments of military hardware will have reached their destinations in Siraj.” The president paused for a second to let his words sink in.

“Abdul al-Rahiim styles himself as the president of Siraj, but the world knows better. You and I know better. Abdul al-Rahiim is a dictator and a tyrant. He is a lawless brute who rules by violence and by the threat of violence. He has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use military force against his neighboring countries and against the very people he claims to govern.

“Until this point, the United Nations has chosen to contain his abuses through restrictive political and economic sanctions, enforced largely by a multinational naval blockade. Though many people — and I include myself on the list — have advocated for more direct action against the government of Abdul al-Rahiim, the UN’s sanctions have had significant success in keeping a lid on his oppressive regime.

“But those efforts will all come to nothing if we allow this tyrant to rearm his military. Think of the damage he was able to do with aging ex-Soviet military hardware. And then imagine what he could do with state-of-the-art weaponry. Imagine what the Middle East will look like if Abdul al-Rahiim finds himself in possession of cutting-edge submarines, fighter jets, and missile systems.

“The United States cannot— will not — stand by and watch as advanced weapons systems are handed over to Siraj. And so I asked Prime Minister Irons for assistance in blocking the delivery of four technologically advanced submarines. The resulting blockade ended in the attack on HMS Chatham and HMS York.

“Early this morning, United States Navy warships operating on my orders attempted to intercept the German submarines in the Gulf of Aden, south of the Middle Eastern country of Yemen. A naval battle ensued. An aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk, suffered serious battle damage, and two U.S. Navy helicopters were shot down. Twenty-one American Sailors were killed: fifteen aboard the Kitty Hawk, plus the air crews of both helicopters.

“I spoke at length with Chancellor Shoernberg on the phone, shortly after we received word of the attack on USS Kitty Hawk. He formally declined to apologize for the attacks on our ships or the ships of the Royal Navy. Chancellor Shoernberg also refused to comment on Germany’s intentions with regard to Siraj. In the hours since our phone conversation, the chancellor has rejected all attempts to open a diplomatic dialogue.”

The president gripped the edges of the podium and stared directly into the television cameras. “I do not wish to believe that a long-trusted ally has turned against the United States, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to view the actions of the German government in a friendly light.”

His eyes narrowed. “To Chancellor Shoernberg, President Bremen, and the Federal Assembly of the German government, I say this: I have already dispatched ships to intercept and sink the four submarines in question. It is neither my desire nor my intention to threaten a sovereign nation with a long history of peaceful ties to the United States, but we will not permit aggression against our citizens or our military forces to go unpunished.

We remain open to a diplomatic solution, but we will take whatever steps we deem necessary to prevent the delivery of those submarines to Siraj.

Chancellor Shoernberg, turn back those submarines!”

The president turned and walked toward the door. Flashbulbs began popping furiously and an entire choir of reporters began shouting, “Mr. President! Mr. President!”

Press Secretary Hart stepped up to the podium. “The president thanks you all for coming. He regrets that he cannot answer questions at this time.”

* * *

“That’s not going to hold them for long, sir,” Veronica Doyle said as the president passed her on his way out the door.

“I don’t expect it to,” the president said. “But it should put that son of a bitch Shoernberg in the hot seat for a while.”

CHAPTER 31

WASHINGTON, DC