Dancing with the Dragon (2002) (33 page)

"Let's see if our distinguished congressional leadership will invite me to a special joint session."

Prost shook his head. "In my view, sir, that would be too formal, as if we're looking for a fight or are ready to declare war."

"What do you suggest?"

"The Oval Office. It's the setting most Americans relate to, and you're the only person they'll see. You'll have a captive audience without distractions from cameras panning around a roomful of celebrities--each vying to get their mug on television."

"That makes sense."

"And I recommend a private meeting with key members of Congress, before the telecast, of course. We have to be forthright and honest with the American people, and we have to be willing to listen to both sides of the aisle in Congress. That means keeping the leaders of both houses and every American informed about every step we take."

"I concur. If we're pressed into a major military confrontation with China, I'm going to openly request congressional support." The president looked at the chairman of the joint chiefs. "Les, do you have any recommendations?"

"Yes, sir." He composed his thoughts. "First, I want to say that we've made great strides in the recent past toward rebuilding our military, but we aren't there yet. There's always the danger that we could be backing ourselves into a corner where we would be forced to use our nuclear weapons."

Chalmers kept eye contact with Macklin. "If we engage China, North Korea is sure to see an opportunity to make mischief--we could find ourselves pressed on two fronts and get waylaid in the Middle East."

The president showed no emotion. "I know it's your duty to give me the worst-case scenario, and I appreciate it."

"Yes, sir."

"You mentioned recommendations?"

"Yes--when I recalled the Roosevelt battle group to the South China Sea, I requested joint military exercises with Australia and New Zealand. They have really pitched in for us and joined Roosevelt. I strongly suggest we move Roosevelt closer to the southern end of the Taiwan Strait and leave Kitty Hawk at the northern opening to the strait."

"You want to keep them in deeper water?"

"Yes, sir. We have three submarines in the area, and by tomorrow evening we'll have another sub rendezvousing with Roosevelt."

"Good, let's muster the troops," Macklin said boldly as he rose from his chair. "We have a lot to do before I leave for Bangkok."

North Korea

Despite the United States's questionable decision to ease sanctions on North Korea, famine, starvation, corruption, sabotage, black-marketing, and exposure to the world of the country's irreversible problems had shaken the teetering system.

Unable to disguise the growing economic and political disasters, not to mention the 3 million people in a country of 22 million who had starved to death, the dictator of the rogue nation was rapidly losing control of his minor nuclear power.

Unstable and desperate, North Korea posed a serious threat to South Korea and the 40,000-plus U. S. troops stationed there. Along with the White House the South Korean political and military leaders were preparing for the worst.

With more than 1,065,000 military personnel, 3,600 tanks, 432 naval surface combatants, 82 bombers, 780 fighters, and 10,400 surface-to-air missiles, North Korea would be a formidable enemy.

The USS Stennis battle group was steaming at flank speed to the Yellow Sea, and the Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, were sending additional bombers and fighter planes to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Yokota Air Base, Japan; Osan Air Base, South Korea; Misawa Air Base, Japan; and Kadena Air Base, Japan (Okinawa). If the North Korean government collapsed and their military attacked South Korea, far more lives could be sacrificed than had been lost to starvation.

High above the Hungnam Seaport in the city and provincial capital of Hamhung, a Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance plane was documenting the arrival of thirty-two MiG-21 fighters from Kazakhstan. The long-lived spy plane was observing the fifth shipment of warplanes from the former Soviet republic.

North Korea was rapidly adding more jets to the 140 MiG-21s it had previously purchased. The total force of jet fighter aircraft now totaled 803 and was growing. Sixteen Russian attack pilots were augmenting the training of North Korean fighter pilots. The Russian instructors were handpicked and very experienced veterans.

Southeast of North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang, a Central Intelligence Agency Gnat unmanned aerial vehicle was using an improved synthetic aperture radar to spot tanks and troops moving toward South Korea. A product of General Atomics and Sandia, the SAR was observing the lines of military equipment and personnel through clouds and light rain. The soldiers were going to one of three staging points that were increasing in size by the day.

Analysts at the CIA's Global Response Center were certain that North Korea was on the verge of invading their neighbor to the south.

The Oval Office

The president appeared to be relaxed and calm as he walked to his desk. It was framed on one side by the American flag and on the other by the presidential flag. He took his seat and adjusted his tie, while making eye contact with his staff and the camera technicians from major media outlets. The lights came on and he was given his cue.

"Good afternoon," he began without expression. "As many of you know, early this morning U. S. forces went ashore in Panama to liberate an American warship being held captive by Chinese military forces in the Panama Canal. This was an intolerable act of blatant aggression by the Red Chinese military and the Communist Party leaders in Beijing."

Macklin's neck muscles began to tighten. "Furthermore, intelligence sources have confirmed that Chinese military forces were responsible for shooting down a U. S. reconnaissance aircraft and damaging a Marine Harrier jet--both of which were over the Panama Canal."

The network crews were riveted on the president. This wasn't the friendly, jovial man they had come to know.

"I have spent my entire adult life dedicated to protecting and preserving the freedom and security of our United States of America. I will not tolerate this aggression against the American people. Under the Panama Canal treaties of 1977, we reserved the right to intervene militarily if the canal and its operation were threatened. I invoked that clause this morning."

Feeling tension creep into his shoulders and neck, Macklin forced himself to relax. "As president of the United States, I am assuming jurisdiction of the Panama Canal as of this date. I will ask Congress to render the treaties null and void."

Macklin's words deeply impacted those who were present. Looks were exchanged in an effort to gauge reactions to what the president had said. There was no doubt President Macklin was showing the same fortitude and courage as president that he'd shown in Congress and in fighter planes during Vietnam. Who was going to tell the president of the United States that he couldn't have the canal back?

"I am sorry to inform you that a number of American lives were lost today in the process of freeing our ship and reclaiming the canal. Our fine men and women in uniform performed their duties in an extraordinary manner. Every American should be proud of them."

Macklin had to slow his breathing. "No president ever wants to put American military men and women in harm's way, but we have been called upon to do so many times in the history of this great country. It is the price we must pay for freedom."

The president's mouth quivered. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends who lost loved ones in Panama."

He tried not to show any emotion, but it was coming to the surface. "Let me make it very clear to our allies, and most importantly to those who choose to be our enemies. While I am president of the United States of America, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and we will not tolerate any form of aggression."

Macklin stared at the camera for a long moment. "May God bless America--our wonderful country built on freedom. Thank you."

Stone faced, Macklin waited until the lights went out and quietly walked out of his office. No one dared ask him a single question.

Chapter
23.

The Halekulani

After the president's emotional address, Jackie punched the mute button on the television and turned to Scott. "What we have here is old-fashioned brinkmanship, and that doesn't bode well for the summit in Bangkok."

Scott walked to the window and took in the view of Waikiki and Diamond Head. "For the Chinese, this will be about saving face."

"After today's events, they'll have to tether Liu Fan-ding to the ground."

"Yeah, I'd hate to be one of his personal aides."

She sat her coffee cup on the table. "Do you think he'll cancel his trip to Bangkok?"

"Who, Liu Fan-ding?"

"No, President Macklin, our ride to Bangkok."

"He's the one who called for the summit--I expect he'll attend," Scott said, and glanced at the film footage from Panama. "This clash with China is even more reason for the president to solidify our position with the Southeast Asian nations."

Jackie stared at the television for a few seconds. "We'd better check with Hartwell and get an update on their plans."

"Good idea."

"We may not want to go to Bangkok."

"Having second thoughts?" Scott asked.

"Knowing Liu Fan-ding, he might bomb Bangkok after watching President Macklin take the canal back."

"I wouldn't put anything past him." Scott checked the time and reached for the phone. "I'll call Hartwell."

Jackie had just stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself when Scott finished his conversation with Prost. "What's the current temperature?"

"Warm and getting warmer."

Scott gave her a quick brief about the two battle groups moving closer to the Taiwan Strait, then changed the subject to Bangkok. "The president's plane will be arriving here at one o'clock tomorrow morning."

"When do we leave?"

"As soon as the plane is refueled," he said; "He's using one of the command-post aircraft."

Jackie was surprised. "Wow, things must be getting serious."

"I didn't ask Hartwell why the plane change, but the president is certainly sending a message."

"Yeah, that'll flash around the world--maybe it's too provocative."

"Hey, he means business."

"Any idea yet about our role?" she asked.

"He didn't bring it up and I didn't ask."

"Well, we'll know soon enough."

"Oh, I almost forgot," he said. "The boys in Beijing are now missing three of their laser-weapons ships."

"What happened?"

"One of their ships--the Deng Ju-shan--took out an E-2C from Kitty Hawk, killing the entire crew. A short time later, the Chicoms' laser ship ran into a couple of torpedoes and went to the bottom."

"How coincidental."

"Yes, very unfortunate."

"What was the response from President Macklin?"

"The White House hasn't made a statement yet. For the time being, they're calling the loss of the Hawkeye an operational accident."

"Have the Chinese gone into full threat mode or do they know about their laser ship?"

"Beijing knows what happened to their ship, but they can't prove it. So, as it stands right now, it's a matter of who blinks first."

Jackie reached into the dresser for a pair of shorts and a colorful aloha shirt. "I have a very bad feeling about this brawl with China."

"Same here," he said, watching an update on the Panama Canal skirmish. "Another item of interest Merrick Hamilton is back on active duty and has orders to an F/A-18 squadron."

"Great." She tucked the shirt into her shorts. "What about Zheng Yen-Tsung? Do they have any idea where he is?"

"The FBI thinks he went back to China. The feds are rounding up a large number of alleged Chinese spies who are singing their hearts out."

"I hope they're right about Zheng," she said. "But he could be anywhere--that's what frightens me."

"You're right," Scott said. "We'll have to keep our guard up, but I believe the FBI knows what's going on."

"There are plenty of ways he could track us. And you, of all people, know that's true."

"Okay, it's true. But their military and our military know about the lasers and the bogus holograms, so I don't see why Zheng YenTsung would want to hunt us anymore."

"Well, the media hasn't picked up on it yet."

"After Bangkok I have a feeling it won't be long before the story is on the front page of papers all over world."

"I hope so," she said.

"Hey, we're wasting the day. Let's hit the beach and get a Bloody Mary."

She pointed to the bathroom. "It's all yours. I'm going to check in with Mary Beth and see how everything is going at the office." "Tell her hello for me."

Beijing, the People's Republic of China

The world-renowned Palace Hotel was rapidly filling with high-ranking military officers summoned to meet with President Liu Fan-ding before he departed for Bangkok. Located near major diplomatic and governmental offices, the stately hotel had been the gathering place for many pleasant military functions. This occasion would not be one of them.