“Regarding the Navy’s objective, the Northern and Pacific Fleets, along with all attack submarines from the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets, have taken station in the Gulf of Oman, ready to implement a blockade of the Persian Gulf if directed. As far as NATO’s response goes, an American carrier strike group has moved into the Indian Ocean, shadowing the arrival of our Pacific Fleet, and a second strike group is being sent to the gulf, pulled from China’s coast. The remaining two operational American carriers have departed the West Coast of the United States. Aside from America’s carrier strike groups, NATO appears paralyzed. Although all NATO military units in Europe and North America are mobilizing, none have been deployed.”
“Thank you, General,” Kalinin said. Turning to Foreign Minister Lavrov, he asked, “Where do we stand politically?”
“As expected, Lithuania submitted a proposal authorizing the use of NATO military force to expel Russian troops from Lithuania. Additionally, the United States submitted a proposal to assist Ukraine. A vote on both proposals was postponed after your videoconference with NATO, as the member countries digest the economic disaster they’ll endure if they respond either militarily or with sanctions.”
“The United States has four carrier strike groups under way,” Kalinin said. “What if they challenge our Persian Gulf blockade? Where do we stand with India and China?”
“Neither country has formally responded,” Lavrov replied. “It appears both countries are keeping their options open, and won’t accept or decline unless the situation forces them to.”
“I understand,” Kalinin said. He asked Defense Minister Chernov, “How do things look regarding the oil and natural gas pipelines?”
“The United States checked the locations we provided them, so we are certain they understand we aren’t bluffing. We have been monitoring via satellite, and there has been no further activity at those or any of the other locations we’ve attached explosives.”
Chernov finished with, “Everything is proceeding according to plan.”
45
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Two days after their last meeting in the Situation Room, the president was joined again by Christine, Hardison, and Colonel DuBose, along with McVeigh and Dawn. This time they were accompanied by CIA Director Jessica Cherry, whose services had been called upon to locate the engineer who had designed the Russian detonators. During the previous forty-eight hours, the news from Europe and the Western Pacific had been universally bad, and McVeigh was bringing the president up to speed.
The Ukrainian units in eastern Ukraine, which essentially amounted to Ukraine’s entire ground forces, had surrendered. Regarding Russia’s potential blockade, the Pentagon was developing an engagement plan for the Russian Navy in the Gulf of Oman, but the two-to-one submarine disadvantage was proving to be a difficult nut to crack. At the conclusion of McVeigh’s brief, the president turned to Dawn, who delivered her update.
“On the diplomatic front, we’ve engaged India and China, requesting a meeting with each country’s foreign minister. India has agreed, and I have a meeting in New Delhi tomorrow, but China continues to give us the silent treatment. Russia has also been busy in the diplomatic arena, inviting Lithuanian representatives to Moscow to negotiate new territorial boundaries. However, President Grybauskaitė is giving Kalinin the Heisman for the time being.”
The president smiled at Dawn’s use of the football metaphor — comparing Grybauskaitė’s response to the Heisman football trophy pose — a stiff arm to the face.
Dawn continued, “Russia also invited Ukraine to Moscow to discuss their security operation. Moscow is doing its best to portray their dual invasions as just another day at the office; no big deal. They’re incredibly brash — they’ve even proposed a continental security summit with all NATO countries, no doubt to solidify their gains in Lithuania and Ukraine, and permanently put to bed the prospect of military or economic responses.”
The president replied, “This could work in our favor. Keep the lines of communication with Moscow open. Give the indication that we’re open to a diplomatic solution, that we’ve concluded our hands are tied. Also, delay the NATO vote on the Lithuania and Ukraine resolutions. We need time to eliminate Russia’s stranglehold on Europe’s natural resources. Speaking of that, where do we stand with the pipeline sabotage?”
CIA Director Jessica Cherry answered, “We’ve identified the detonator designer. He’s Anton Fedorov, one of Russia’s top explosive engineers, working at a facility in Velikiy Novgorod, west of Moscow. He lives in a villa on the outskirts of town, where he’s picked up each morning and driven to the facility, then returned home each night. We’ve collected limited intel thus far, but we were able to review the last thirty days of satellite images. He appears to be a homebody; he hasn’t ventured outside his villa in the last month. Not that it matters, because that’s where we’re going to visit him.
“Regarding that visit, we’re preparing a joint CIA-military operation, utilizing a Delta Force unit specializing in hostage rescue. The operation isn’t particularly challenging, aside from transporting the Delta Force unit inside Russia. Fortunately, Velikiy Novgorod isn’t far from the Latvian border, which will enable a quick insertion and extraction. We’ve also arranged a suitable location for Fedorov’s interrogation. With your permission, Mr. President, we’ll proceed with the operation.”
“You may proceed.”
The meeting was about to wrap up when an aide to SecState Cabral entered the Situation Room, delivering her a handwritten message. After reading it, she looked up sharply.
“Mr. President. I have an update on our outreach to China. They’ve agreed to a meeting, but there are two unusual terms. The first is that the meeting will be with the president of China and not his foreign minister.”
There was a favorable response from everyone around the Situation Room table. There was no smile from Dawn, however, which was explained when she conveyed China’s additional condition. “The second stipulation is that the meeting will occur only if Christine O’Connor is the American representative.”
There was silence in the room as all eyes turned to Christine, whose face paled at the news.
“Absolutely not,” Hardison said. “The last time Christine was in China, she held a gun to President Xiang’s head, forcing him to guarantee her safe passage from China. That was a onetime deal, not a permanent travel visa.”
“China is critical,” McVeigh replied. “They have the second-largest surface navy. If they join forces with Russia, it’s over for us. We can’t defeat both at our current strength.”
“What if we pull India to our side?” Dawn asked. “Could that offset China?”
“I’ll go,” Christine said.
The discussions continued in the Situation Room, with Christine’s response unheard.
“I’ll go.”
Conversation ceased as all eyes shifted to Christine again.
The president replied, “I’m not sure that’s a wise decision. As Hardison pointed out, President Xiang promised you one safe trip out of the country, not two.”
“We need to engage China. If this is the only way they’ll meet with us, I’m willing to go.”
Dawn turned to her. “It’s obvious why they requested you. It’s too risky.”