“No, Henry, it was not. The Djinn fast attack craft had left port and were closing on the position of our ships several hours before the rescue mission was launched. The fact that it appeared a pre-planned attack on our ships and was launched from the same base area as the missiles that shot down our reconnaissance aircraft suggests to me that the attack on our ships was part of the same operation as the attack on our aircraft. Seer?”
“I agree. Mister President, the timing and sequencing of events suggests that The Secretary of Defense is entirely correct. The shooting down of Marisol, the coordinated attacks on our ships to appear to be part of a single operation, I believe the firefight between the Germans and our Marines does not fit into that pattern. I think it was a random clash between a blocking force and a coastal patrol.
“I think we must take due recognition of the possibility that the shoot-down and the subsequent naval engagement are part of a concerted plan to drive us out of the Eastern Mediterranean. We know that the Caliphate has been trying to eliminate the refugees crossing that area and we have been preventing that massacre. We also know they have ambitions towards extending their domination along the southern Mediterranean Littoral. There is a very real possibility that attempting to drive us out of the area is an integral part of that plan.
“On a brighter note Sir, we have solved the mystery of how the Caliphate managed to shoot down one of our B-58s. I have had a preliminary message from The Ambassador-Plenipotentiary of Thailand indicating that the Chipanese Hiryu anti-aircraft missile had an electro-optical guidance adjunct. The technical details are on their way back to us now, but the key factor is that it only works against targets flying relatively slowly and at relatively low altitude.
“Under normal circumstances, Marisol would have been flying far outside its engagement envelope, as we know, this time circumstances were not normal ft does appear though, that the Caliphate prepared for its latest expansion by acquiring the latest technology weapons Chipan was prepared to release. The EO Hiryus, the Djinn FAC-Ms and their new coastal defense missiles.”
Rusk nodded. “There is another disturbing possibility we must also take into consideration. We have noted a substantial increase in the number of terrorist attacks around the world in recent weeks. We have examined these and we have discerned a pattern. Every time the Caliphate makes a move to expand its territory, it is accompanied by such a wave. This relationship had occurred to me when Secretary of State and it does so even more strongly at Defense.
“Mister President, I believe that the Caliphate orchestrates these attacks in order to divert attention from its moves. I would note that a number of these attacks take place here in the United States. Since protecting our citizens is our paramount vital interest, I believe that this situation merits even closer attention. Finally, I was struck by a strange coincidence. A few weeks ago, we had a school siege in South Carolina. The perpetrator broke into a classroom full of children, attacked and almost killed the schoolteacher, then held the children hostage. His demands amounted to the conversion of the state schools into Moslem religious classes. He had a long history of mental problems but still, the link is there.
“He was killed by a Russian woman, a retired Army sniper now married to an American. Yesterday, the same couple intercepted a suicide bomber about to attack a restaurant they run in Moscow, again the lady shot the bomber dead before he could do any harm.”
“They breed tough women in Russia, Dean.”
“So it would appear, Mister President. I believe we have to recognize the possibility that the second attack was an attempt at exacting revenge for her part in the failure of the first.
“That is assuming that the school incident was a part of the Caliphate’s preparations for the seizure of Egypt and the subsequent expansion. And that would link the Caliphate directly to hostile operations carried out on the territory of the United States. Our response to such an attack has always been made very clear.”
The conference room fell silent as the message was digested. It was broken by an aide who entered and gave a slip of paper to LBJ.
“I have some good news. Ramsey Chalk has been found. He was in Arlington National Cemetery in what this note describes as ‘a comatose yet highly disturbed condition’ and is now in the intensive care unit of Bethesda Naval Hospital. Dean, please consult with the Seer and the other targeteers coordinate with them in preparing a strategic attack plan for use against the Caliphate. A comprehensive strategic plan.
“Clifford. Make up a document that will, if the Caliphate comply with its terms, makes it clear they have groveled in the mud to avoid our wrath. We will convene again at 4 pm to review the results of your preparations. Thank you.”
Sick Bay, USS “Austin” LPD-4, Eastern Mediterranean
The subconscious stirred, feeling itself gain a glimmer of awareness. Cautiously it sent out feelers, running along the nerves, gently, delicately, probing for the first sign of trouble. Probing for the first sign of pain so that it could flee back to the safety of oblivion. It found none and sent back its message to the conscious brain, it was safe to come back to life now. The nerves and muscles twitched, the brain came back to life and Captain Ivan Jaeger recovered consciousness. He looked around, white room, hospital white. And there was a priest sitting beside his bed.
“Have you come to give me the last rites?”
“And why would I wish to do that Captain? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Father Andras Schneider of the Society of Jesus. When the Americans alerted the Red Cross that they had captured some German soldiers, I was asked to come here and look after your interests. Here, by the way, is an American amphibious warfare ship and you are in its sick bay.”
“Some soldiers? There are other survivors?”
“There are five, one of whom really has received the last rites and I do not think he will live out the day. But two of your men have relatively minor injuries. In fact, one of the American Marines on board is already in the brig because of them. The Marines have some beer hidden away on board and he was caught smuggling a couple of bottles to your men. But let us return to you. You are Captain Ivan Jaeger? From Berlin?”
“Yes Father. I was in the 14th Panzer Division.”
“Ivan, that is a Russian name, your mother had a fondness for Russian novels obviously.”
“No Father, nothing so literary. There was a song back then about a duel between a Turkish nobleman called Abdulla Bulbul Ameer and a Russian named Ivan Skavinsky Skazar. My mother loved the song and she named me Ivan. I always gave thanks she chose that one and not Abdulla although the way things worked out perhaps she did chose the wrong one.”
Father Schneider looked at a file and nodded. “Perhaps Captain, perhaps not. That was not in your official file but we knew of it from other sources. We have had many cases of SS men claiming to be Wehrmacht in order to escape punishment for their crimes. In some cases they killed Wehrmacht soldiers in order to assume their identity. But now tell me why you think I should give you the last rites?”
“Father, it is well known that all German soldiers are executed on capture. Did you not hear what happened after New Schwabia fell. The Russians killed everybody, even our women and children.”
“Who told you this? There were many executions yes. The Russians executed all members of the SS and the Gestapo and the Einsatzgruppen that fell into their hands. And it saddens me to say your women suffered great indignities at the hands of the Russian soldiers. But killed? No. The women and children and those soldiers that were innocent of grave crimes, their lives were spared. The Russians made many statements in anger it is true but when it came to make a decision, they chose mercy.”