“Of course. He’s the chief of staff — have we got the people and clearances sorted out yet?” Lab Rat asked, turning to the senior chief.
The senior chief maintained a determinedly neutral expression. “Without the pictures, yes, sir, but it’s going to take few days for all the watchstanders to learn all the faces.”
“Yes, of course. Let him in. Unlimited access,” Lab Rat said.
A few moments later, Captain Ganner sauntered in to the most sensitive area of the intelligence center. He took a look around, noted the open boxes, gear on every flat surface, and bustle of technicians. The area was in complete chaos.
“How long before you people are going to be open for business?” Ganner asked. “Because I got to tell you, it looks like the war will be over before you can get all those boxes put away.”
“We’re ready now, sir. It’s not as disorganized as it looks,” Lab Rat lied. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. I need five sailors to help on the flight deck. And since most of the boxes clobbering the deck are your gear, I figured you’d be eager to help out. Oh, and by the way — you’ll be standing watches in TFCC. Under instruction, of course. You have the midwatch tonight.” Ganner’s face was bland, but Lab Rat had the sense that he was watching carefully for a reaction.
“Sir, could we speak privately?” Lab Rat asked.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” Ganner said. “I believe you have your orders.”
A hush fell across the intelligence center. Ganner jutted his jaw out and waited for a reaction.
Lab Rat tried again. “Sir, if I could just have a few moments—”
“See you on the midwatch, Mr. Busby.” Ganner turned and stalked out of CVIC.
Senior Chief Brady waited until he’d left the intelligence center and said quietly, “Man, who did you piss off, sir?”
“I don’t know exactly, Senior Chief. But I stepped on it somewhere. Listen, is there any way we can cut loose five people to help on the flight deck?”
The Senior Chief sighed. “I can, but it’s going to slow us down in here, sir. And every minute that we’re not fully operational, well…”
He didn’t have to finish the sentence. Every day that the intelligence center was not fully operational could spell disaster for the battle group. Sure, they were performing the basic functions now, but there was no time for the sort of in depth analysis and projections that Lab Rat preferred to be able to develop.
“Five men,” Lab Rat said quietly. “We’ll go along with this for now. A midwatch more or less won’t hurt me, either. Won’t be the first time I’ve run short of sleep, and it certainly won’t be the last time, will it?”
“I guess not, sir,” Brady said. “But, this is one of those things, sir — you give them an inch, the surface sailors take a mile.”
“I’m not ready to draw lines in the sand yet,” Lab Rat said. “We’ll do what we can to be team players for now, but if it starts affecting operations, I’ll go to the admiral.”
The petty officer guarding the entrance stuck his head back in the compartment. “Sir? That captain, just before he left — he told me to tell you that he’s going to do a zone inspection on our spaces tomorrow. And he told me to get a swab and get started on the deck. He said our spaces look like a disaster, and that they’d better look better by tomorrow.”
Lab Rat heard Senior Chief Brady swear quietly beside him.
“Such an interesting part of town,” the ambassador from Japan murmured as they drove through Greenwich Village. “We have nothing like it in Japan, of course.”
She bit back a reply. She suspected there was indeed a Greenwich Village somewhere in Japan, if not quite as visible or as flagrant as Greenwich Village was here. Instead, she said, “I know the area quite well. Perhaps I can give you a tour someday.”
“That would be very kind of you,” he said. She noticed a frown of disapproval on his aide’s face.
“Then sir, I must ask you… the hour is somewhat late, and you have gone to a great deal of trouble to talk to me privately. May I ask what this is about?”
“China.” The Japanese ambassador spat out the word as though it tasted bad. “And Taiwan. Our position — perhaps I will not give you exact answers. It is difficult… the interest in that region… our own position…” He spread his hands as though helpless.
She knew what he was getting at, and couldn’t decide whether or not to force the issue. Japan was a relatively small nation in terms of land mass and military forces, and it would be very risky for her to offend China. Not only for military reasons, but because of the potential effects on economics and trade as well.
Yet it was equally risky to offend the United States. Thus, he had not wanted to be seen talking to her, not quite so publicly. And yet he needed to convey his country’s difficulties to her so that the United States would not be offended by Japan’s apparent silence on the issue.
“I appreciate your position,” she said quietly. “But you understand mine as well.”
“Of course. And that is what I want to tell you — that, as you suspect, we do not wish to be drawn in to this conflict. Consequently, I believe that within the next several days my country will impose stringent overflight and transit landing restrictions on your military aircraft.” He held up one hand to forestall comment. “This is not an official notification — it is simply my best guess based on experience. Furthermore, should things become… more intense… I suspect my country will withdraw landing privileges altogether.”
Now that was going too far, wasn’t it? She expected some resistance, perhaps some limitations on how many military aircraft could be on the ground at any one of the bases at a given time, but certainly not this. “The spaces are subject to long-term lease agreements,” she said. “Are you suggesting you will break those agreements?”
“I am suggesting nothing. This is purely preliminary. But what I have to say is this — if that happens, if there are serious restrictions imposed on overflight and landing, my government wishes to assure you that we will do nothing that would place American forces at risk. Furthermore, in the case of imminent danger to your people, such as a rescue at sea, we will cooperate most fully.”
“So we’re out on the front lines and we shouldn’t expect any help at all. You’ll abide by international law, and that’s all?” she asked, rather more sharply than she intended. But dammit, what was the point? Allies were supposed to stick up for one another.
“I’m also authorized to tell you,” he said, as though she had not spoken, “that Japan very much wishes to enter into the conflict on the side of the United States. But not, however, until there are sufficient forces in the theater that you can protect us if this should be necessary. We risk much if we support you against China — I think you must not expect any support for months to come after your aircraft carriers are in the area.”
“What about the rest of the Pacific Rim?” she asked. “Where do they stand?”
“To a great extent, their positions mirror ours. They wish to support the United States, wish that most fervently. But the danger is not insignificant, you understand. Especially for the smaller nations.”
Economic powerhouses the Pacific Rim nations might be, but there was no way they could stand up against the military might of China. No, it only made sense for them to try to sit on the sidelines for now. But she had thought that America could at least count on Japan’s support once an American aircraft carrier was near their coast.
“And what is it that you expect in exchange?” she asked.
“Continued friendship, and support for our historic territorial integrity.” His significant glance said everything his words did not.
Ah, so that was it. Japan wanted to ride the fence as long as she could and end up with the U.S. supporting her claims to the Kuriles and Spratley Island chains. The Kuriles, the jagged line of islands extending up to Japan’s north, were currently under the control of Russia. The Spratleys, with their oil-rich seabeds, were to the south, and were a point of controversy between China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and anyone else who could muster up a boat big enough to get out to them.
“That won’t do,” she said sharply. “You know it won’t — and you know I can’t agree to it.”
“Ah. But we had hoped we could count on America’s friendship in the future?”
“It has been adequately demonstrated to you time and time again, my friend. And now, if you don’t mind, I
