‘Hold, Captain.’
‘We take out their observation post,’ suggested Pacolli to Swain.
‘That would escalate,’ said Swain.
‘They wouldn’t retaliate against the hostages. This isn’t the Middle East.’
‘Are you a hundred percent certain?’
Pacolli paused, then said, ‘No, sir. I am not.’
‘Ozenna needs to keep low. We’ll get back to him,’ said Swain.
‘Stay within signal, Captain,’ said Pacolli. ‘You will have your orders in a few minutes.’
‘Do I have to spell this out?’ said Holland as the call ended. ‘We get enemy forces off American territory. Now!’
‘Mr President-elect, I need you to go back to Blair House, consult with your team, and get back to me within the hour,’ said Swain sternly. ‘I will work with whatever plan you come up with as much as I can. You have my word on that.’ He turned to Slater. ‘Mr Prime Minister, we’ll give you an escort to the embassy. Since you are with me in DC, we will ask European leaders to work through you. Perhaps Britain, France, and Germany could come up with a unified response and bring as many of the European states with you as possible.’
‘My hand will be stronger if there is no more military action,’ said Slater.
Swain’s voice hardened in a way that brooked no opposition. ‘I’d like Ambassador Lucas to stay here because of her direct link to Dr Walker and Captain Ozenna. The rest of us will re-group in the Situation Room.’
Prusak looked up from his tablet. ‘CNN are publishing their interactive poll,’ he said.
‘So quickly?’ said Slater with surprise.
‘It’s very basic,’ Prusak explained. ‘They ask the audience to press a button on a For or Against question. So far sixty-nine percent believe we should just walk away from this.’
‘What was the question?’ asked Swain.
‘“Do you believe the United States should take immediate military action against Russia’s occupation of Little Diomede?” And that sixty-nine percent has just gone up to seventy.’
‘Bullshit,’ said Holland. ‘Let’s wait for the Fox poll.’
‘We’ll speak in an hour, Bob,’ said Swain. Amid low murmurs of conversation, Swain stepped across into the en-suite restroom. The Oval Office emptied, leaving Prusak and Stephanie alone.
‘Does this stink, or what, Matt?’
‘Which part? Bob Holland? Your Prime Minister? Viktor Lagutov?’ Prusak asked.
‘Can you do as these polls suggest? Let Russia take this god-forsaken island?’
‘No way. It would mean we surrender the border change, the energy reserves, the gateway to the new Arctic shipping routes, the prestige of America. If we go with it now, Holland will reverse it. So, keep talking, Steph, because I need to know your thoughts.’
‘Lagutov’s bright, but an academic rather than a leader. Sergey Grizlov’s a street-smart wheeler-dealer.’
‘Didn’t you…?’
Stephanie blushed. ‘Years ago, when we were young and believed that inside every Russian was a little democrat waiting to burst out.’
‘Useful, though.’
‘I can call him when the time’s right, if that’s what you mean. But the one we need to track is Alexander Vitruk. He is ruthless and must have wider military support. If Sergey Grizlov is behind Vitruk, we have a very dangerous situation, because however wretched and remote Little Diomede is, it’s not Crimea. It’s Russia taking America. Whatever the polls say, you’re not going to let them raise the tricolor and declare it Russian soil, whether Holland or anybody else is in this office.’
‘Agreed.’
Stephanie swiped her hand impatiently through the air. ‘So, what then is their plan — the humanitarian rescue, the Duma session, the new border? It can’t stop here.’
‘Like I said — a play for the Arctic, control of shipping routes, fossil-fuel resources?’
‘Too opaque. Why risk so much now against everything else they have going with the United States — trade, the Middle East deals, terror, penthouse properties, oligarch bank accounts, and Fifth Avenue shopping sprees?’
‘They’re doing it now because they think they can,’ suggested Prusak. ‘They took Crimea and eastern Ukraine, and Europe did nothing. They’re outpacing us many times over with bases and ports in the Arctic.’
‘All of that, yes. But I have a feeling this is about Lagutov’s succession. He’s playing Grizlov and Vitruk against each other.’
‘You think this is all orchestrated by Lagutov?’
‘Lagutov is a big theorist with a deep sense of history. Grizlov is his political muscle and is pro-West. Vitruk is his military muscle and leans towards China, the authoritarians, and Asia. Lagutov might be testing which of the two is stronger.’
The side door swung open, and Swain stepped back in. ‘I agree with you, Stephanie. But first, call Ozenna. You do the talking, Stephanie. He’s the one on the island. Ask him what his plan would be.’
They waited for the line to be set up, encryption secured. A technician’s voice came through her earpiece: ‘Go ahead, Ambassador.’
‘Captain Ozenna?’ she said.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Captain, how best can we use you?’
‘I need to cross to Big Diomede. Cut off the snake’s head.’
The snake goes all the way to the Kremlin, thought Stephanie. ‘What can you achieve there?’
‘I can tell you who is where and how to hit them.’
‘Would it be better to stay and guide in the Marine units?’
‘There are other Eskimos who can do that.’
Prusak shook his head. The civilian Eskimos in Wales had declared the ice unsafe. The Eskimo Scouts were way up north near Barrow on exercises.
‘They’re saying they can’t,’ said Stephanie.
‘Can’t or won’t?’
‘Explain, Captain.’
‘Many will think this is a con, that you’re going across to raid homes for narcotics, skins, and guns.’
‘We can talk to them.’
‘If you’re willing to break rules, I know the best man to do this.’
‘Go on.’
‘He’s in the Goose Creek Correctional Center. His name is Don Ondola. He’s the father of Akna, the pregnant girl. Get him to Wales, and if there’s a way across the ice he’ll find it, better than me. Don’s the best there is. The ice is thin in many places. He may miss some. Heavy with equipment, men will fall through. You may take casualties. But Don will get most across.’
‘Ondola is serving life for murder and rape,’ said Prusak quietly, reading from his tablet.
Swain made his decision in a second. ‘Get Ondola down there,’ he said. ‘Send Ozenna across to the Russian base.’
‘How long will it take you to get across to Big Diomede, Captain?’ asked Stephanie.
‘Six hours, depending how the ice is packed. With the Russians watching, could be longer.’
‘And you will make it?’
‘Yes, ma’am. I know this place. It’s my sea. Once we neutralize the base, you can chopper in the men from Wales. If I don’t make it, Don brings them across. This way gives you two options.’
Swain gave her a nod. ‘OK, Captain. It’s a go for Big Diomede.’
‘If you use Don, tell him I told you to.’
‘We will.’
‘They’ll be tracking the location of this phone,’ said Ozenna. ‘Once I’m across, I will use the Russian military radio. You’ll need to get Tin City onto that.’
Swain stepped closer. ‘This is President Swain, Captain. Good luck and take an American flag with you.’
‘Copy that, sir. And thank you, sir. Please, keep that school out of it. My fiancée and eighty American citizens are there.’
The line cut.
‘How long to get Ondola to Wales?’ asked Swain.