“So what do we do?” the President asked. “Are you considering sending in the Marines or this Air Battle Force thing?”
Preston considered the question for a moment, then replied. “Yes, sir — in limited numbers and in total secrecy. General Curtis mentioned the equipment installed on Brad Elliott’s experimental planes — that may be a good place to start. Sending the entire Air Battle Force would be difficult to keep secret, but sending three or four aircraft would be a simple matter. I recommend approving the STRATFOR’s plan to deploy the PACER SKY-equipped combat aircraft as soon as possible.”
The President’s eyes glanced over to his brother-in-law, Benson, who was enthusiastically nodding his agreement; Secretary of State Danahall looked grim and undecided, but eventually gave a slight nod.
“Approved, Thomas,” the President said. “Keep it quiet. I want those planes kept under wrap until I decide to tell the world they’re there.” He paused, rubbing his eyes wearily, then added, “And I hope to hell we get some good news from Ambassador O’Day in Singapore.”
The emergency meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations began shortly after the first of five daily prayers for its Moslem members; the crier’s call to prayer was played over the building’s public-address system, and a shining silver and crystal chandelier on the right-hand wall of the conference center indicated the direction of Mecca. Deborah O’Day, the United Nations ambassador from the United States, had been reminded to stay in the ladies’ room until prayers were over — women, even foreign nonbelieving women, were not encouraged to be nearby during prayers.
O’Day was familiar with most aspects of Moslem life; she was especially versed on its feudalistic treatment of women. In many ways ASEAN, where four of the seven member nations were predominantly Islamic, was little more than an exclusive all-male country club, their play interrupted occasionally by short periods of more or less serious work and debate. Women performed the usual secretarial duties and little more — except, of course, for the courtesans who could be seen wandering the halls of the adjacent hotel where most of the delegates and foreign ministers stayed.
It was important for these delegates to not look upon her as a woman, but a representative of the United States government. She even went as far as wearing a very male-cut outfit, with a double-breasted jacket, a long ankle-length skirt that resembled a Muslim robe, and had even cut her hair very short for this meeting. Anything to blend in was fair game.
The meeting got under way with the last series of short speeches concerning the Chinese presence in the Philippines, and one by one the delegates voiced their opposition to China sending so many troops and so many warships to those islands.
As expected, the delegation from the Philippines urged restraint, patience, and understanding through these troubled times. O’Day had not met the new ambassador from the Philippines, knew nothing about him, and had not been granted an appointment with him. The ASEAN executive council had immediately credentialed him, however, so he had full authority to vote and debate during the meeting: “The Philippines are in the process of enacting the first meaningful, productive change in our nation’s history,” the Philippine ambassador said. “Our nation has been dominated by foreigners almost since our inception…”
O’Day cocked an eyebrow. She got the drift — the ambassador was obviously somebody’s parrot. Well, she sure as hell wasn’t buying it. “Mr. Ambassador, let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Where is President Mikaso? Has he been assassinated? Taken captive?”
“Silence, Ambassador O’Day,” the chairman of the executive council, the ambassador from Indonesia, said. “You are not permitted to speak in this forum…”
She ignored him. “I would like proof that it was an American weapon that detonated off your shores, as you claim. This council has been given substantial evidence that it was a Chinese warhead—”
“Lies,” Ambassador Perez spat. “I demand that this woman be removed from our presence and that her government apologize for her insulting behavior…”
“Sit up and take it like a man, Ambassador,” O’Day said evenly. “After all, I’m only a woman…”
That was too much for the ASEAN delegates; even the Brunei Crown Prince, who could not keep his lascivious eyes off her and had nodded approval when she first spoke up, shook his head.
“Ambassador O’Day, you have been granted observer status only,” the chairman said. “You are not permitted to speak. You will not be warned again. Ambassador Perez, continue with your statement.”
“Thank you. My country has been bled by the former regime’s failed economic policies and by American imperialism. The Chinese were victims of rebel aggression as well. When they offered humanitarian aid after the nuclear attack — a gesture that was not made by any other nation until days later, including many nations represented here — we also requested assistance in quelling the well-armed and bloodthirsty rebels…”
“You ought to write techno-thrillers, Mr. Perez,” the Crown Prince from Brunei said with a laugh. “They are very popular in my country. Unfortunately, your lies are not.”
Perez pressed on. “I urge my fellow delegates to vote to disapprove sanctions against my country and to follow continued relief and police efforts by the Chinese government. My people beg for your help and understanding. Thank you.” He turned and gave O’Day a murderous glare, then stared straight ahead, waiting for the Council’s decision.
“The resolution before the council would approve full economic sanctions against the Republic of China and the Philippines,” the chairman summarized, “and would restrict all trade and commerce with China, and would authorize the Association to implement all policies and invoke all measures to urge China to withdraw its military forces from all members’ territorial or disputed waters. We vote by open-voice ballot. Five votes are required to pass the resolution. If all discussion is concluded, please record your vote.”
One by one, they voted.
Indonesia.
Malaysia.
Singapore.
The Kingdom of Brunei.
All in favor of the resolution.
The Philippines voted against it.
As did Thailand, who along with Vietnam — the last two ASEAN countries to vote — had waived any closing arguments to the resolution. That had O’Day worried. She had tried to talk to each ambassador before the meeting, but had no luck. Both were critical countries; both had borders with China, and their huge neighbor was always a major presence in any political and military situation.
But both were members of ASEAN to counter China’s influence, and so far it was working. They finally had the political clout to stand up to their powerful neighbor.
“The kingdom of Thailand,” its ambassador said, “is convinced that such a resolution, made in the heat of passion and without extensive study and debate, would be counterproductive. As much as Thailand seeks an end to violence and fear, we cannot support such a resolution without further study. Thailand abstains.”
O’Day couldn’t believe it. Of all countries, Thailand stood to lose the most if China were allowed to exert a greater influence in the region; she had never expected them to abstain…
That left Vietnam as the deciding vote. They would have to vote yes, O’Day thought. After all, Vietnam and China were all but enemies. True, Vietnam was the only Communist country in ASEAN, and true, Vietnam and China had once been uneasy allies, but…