curse as it became clear that few could have survived the attack, and in the background, the radio chattered as the air boss lofted every rescue helo he had into the air, sending most of them to the
Coyote cupped his face in his hands for a few moments. No one spoke to him. He needed no suggestions from his staff, no tentative outlines of a plan of action. It was to make the call in moments just like this that he had been placed in command of the battle group, and everyone instinctively knew that their advice and comments were neither required nor desired.
Finally, as the last of the helos lifted off the deck, Coyote looked up. His eyes were dark with unfathomable rage. There was no trace of anguish or sorrow on his face.
“They’re going to pay for this,” he said, his voice flat and cold. “And pay hard.”
SIXTEEN
Wexler was working late. She had just finished going over the first response to China’s petition to ban nuclear powered ships from territorial waters, addressing each ridiculous point as though it merited serious consideration, when the CNN headlines anchor said, “This just in.” The secure, encrypted telephone line on her desk rang just as a map of Taiwan and China flashed up on the screen.
Wexler’s head snapped up. Pamela Drake was neatly framed by the television screen. She was clearly made for this sort of work, and knew it. Large, intense green eyes seem to burn through the screen, framed by dark hair cut to chin level. Only the slightest touch of gray showed at the temples, and Wexler suspected that that would be soon eliminated.
“We have just learned,” Drake began, her voice grave, “that China has been forced to respond to a U.S. incursion into her territorial waters’ airspace. Earlier today, an AWACS aircraft operating out of Japan ignored warnings of a Chinese naval exercise in progress and approached the ships maintaining, according to our sources, an ‘aggressive posture.’ The AWACS was accompanied by a surface vessel, the USNS
Drake looked up from the notepad in her hand and stared directly into the camera, her face a mask of concern, her dark green eyes reproachful. “On the surface, it appears that this is another instance of America ignoring other nations’ rights to their territorial sovereignty. The loss of life on board the AWACS and
General Caring, USAF (retired) was the sort of senior officer who looked like a general. His features were strong, his voice confident as he spoke.
“Of course, our first thoughts must be with the crew of the AWACS,” he said. “The crew carries parachutes, but in a combat situation, there is rarely time to use them.”
“So you believe there’s little chance they survived?” Drake asked.
“That would be my initial assessment.” Although she had not thought it possible, Wexler saw Caring’s face look even more concerned. “But as you say, the question about what the aircraft was doing there in the first place must be answered. I can tell you that during my days in command, all pilots were carefully briefed to observe international boundaries. But what practices are currently, I hesitate to say.”
“But China does claim one thousand miles around her coastline as for own airspace, does she not?” Drake asked. “And neither the AWACS or the
“Yes, it’s true that not all nations recognize China’s territorial claims, the U.S. among them. And as to whether either American platform was carrying weapons, well — it wouldn’t have been normal procedure,” the general conceded. “Although with the portability of weapons platforms today, I could not state with any certainty that the ship was not carrying Harpoon antiship missiles. But Pamela, I think we have to look at the circumstances. This issue is still being addressed by a number of legal experts, and there are diplomatic ways to address this sort of thing. The use of force, in the aggressive testing of another nation’s limits, should only be as a last resort. The consequences, as the families of the AWACS and
“I assume we can safely conclude that this is related to the rumors about a new ballistic missile that the Chinese have developed,” Drake continued. “Can you put that in perspective for us, General?”
“Of course, Pamela.” To Wexler’s jaundiced eyes, General Caring appeared to enjoy addressing the reporter by her first name almost as much as he enjoyed taking pot shots at his former service. “You have to understand that many nations around the world engaged in ballistic missile development and testing. In China’s case, her coastline does not primarily open on to open water, as ours does. The United States routinely conducts these sort of tests itself. But every report I’ve seen has shown that China has gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent any inadvertent problems from threatening the security of the world nations around her. Indeed, given the rise of anti- American sentiment in some regions, I would wonder that the other nations are not more supportive. After all, a strong China is the best defense against what they claim is American imperialism.” Caring pointed one finger at the camera. “I must emphasize, that there is no evidence — none — that China is planning any ballistic missile test launch at this particular time. And even if they were, we have countless examples of how safely they have done that. There was no reason for American forces in the area to assume that aggressive posture, and certainly no reason to cut short the sea trials of an untested carrier. This sheer waste in terms of manpower and resources is absolutely mind-boggling.” He leaned back, apparently confident that he had made his point.
But Wexler could see, to her credit, Pamela Drake was not fully convinced. Uncertainty furrowed her brow, and she looked as though she had several follow-up questions. That would have been in keeping with the Pamela Drake that Wexler knew.
But apparently in response to a question that she alone could hear, probably from the microphone in her ear, Drake simply said, “Thank you, General. I’m sure we all join you in wishing and hoping for the safety of the men and women on the AWACS.”
Suddenly, Wexler heard a scuffle in the outer office. At first, it consisted of higher female voices raised in protest and indignation. Then, she heard Brad’s deeper voice bark out, “Stop! You can’t go in there.” There was a crash as something hit the floor, and the door to her office flew open.
T’ing was framed in the doorway. Although he was not much taller than she was, the cold glare on his face and icy disdain in his eyes made him seem much more formidable.
Wexler stood, as much out of surprise as courtesy. “What’s going on out there?”
Brad loomed immediately behind the ambassador from China. Wexler could tell he itched to grab T’ing and throw him bodily out, but she knew he wouldn’t. Not under the circumstances.
