The USS Commanche would be in the last known area of the new Chinese carrier in 24hrs. As that was where the ships reported by Hood were also apparently heading, there would be two very capable vessels available for offensive operations if necessary against those two groups. General Shaw went on to add that the Royal Navy also had three surface warships in the Pacific waving the flag for the British armaments industry. The brand new Invincible class small carrier HMS Prince of Wales, with her Harriers, a squadron sized Royal Marine detachment, Merlin helicopters and the new naval variant of the Apache gunship. The equally new multi-role destroyer HMS Cuchullainn and the frigate HMS Malta along with an oiler and replenishment ship. The Admiralty understandably wanted to recall the ships soonest but Washington had requested that they remain in the area for the time being, at least until China could be confirmed as not being actively allied to the Russian aggressive moves. The Admiralty had responded by stating, quite reasonably, that as the US Seventh Fleet was over twice the size as the entire Royal Navy, they were hardly going to appreciably boost the available firepower in the Pacific. They would be sorely needed in the Atlantic if it came to a shooting war. Britain’s PM had predictably over-ruled the Admirals, mistaking largess for statesmanship so the ships were now attached to Seventh Fleet. The Brits were to make all speed to Japan to top up their magazines and generally replenish. They would also join with a US Aegis cruiser and additional destroyer and frigate’s to augment their screen before heading north.
North Korea was reported to be quiet and no sabre rattling present there. Its young leader’s ego was a casualty of recent threats to invade the south and use nuclear weapons, because he had been called on it and lost a lot of face when the US Military had responded with a ‘Are you feeling lucky, punk?’ General Shaw saw no reason to reinforce at this time. In the Pacific, homeland and Europe, the general recommended all forces disperse when possible to minimise pre-emptive damage by the terrorist threat. As yet the London device was the only solid evidence that there were 99 other such weapons out there, but he wanted to minimise risk.
The National Guard had been federalised and the first reservists were reporting in. The federalised merchant shipping was arriving in port and as soon as possible the general wanted to implement the pre-set loading plan of war stores for Europe. Although only at division strength the US forces in Germany still had two armoured divisions and one mechanised divisions worth of pre-positioned equipment and the airlift had begun to move out the troops to man them.
NSA reported that the subversive program at large in their satellite Intel system had been identified, however it appeared to be booby trapped by a virus which would activate if the program were deleted or isolated and bypassed. It could be purged from the system but it would take time. On the positive side, federal warrants had been issued for the apprehension of two NSA employee’s currently at large having failed to turn up for work. The NSA director added ruefully that both were Chinese American citizens and both had access and opportunity to insert the program, which they now believed to have been in operation for the past 28 months. He added that it was a highly sophisticated piece of work that overlaid harmless images in critical areas. They did not yet know which areas of the globe were affected but so far it appeared that only relatively small areas had been disguised by the program to prevent prying eyes from learning what was really going on.
“Do we know how the Russian carrier came to be the other side of the globe from where our Intel led us to believe it was?” the president enquired.
“It had to have passed through the Bering Straits, in which case we may have screwed the pooch, but I suspect a friendly voice in Panama or Egypt would have dropped a dime on them as it passed through one of those canals. There is an investigation team enroute to Alaska now; we may have been compromised there too as their sensors are not tied into the same system as the satellites, Mr President.”
CIA and FBI both updated the president on the hunt for the devices, which may be out there somewhere. CIA had another item for the president that was a cause of concern.
“Mr President, we may have a problem in the UK” Terry Jones warned him.
“I haven’t heard anything but positive stuff from there, did I miss something?” the president asked.
“Sir, Art Petrucci, head of station has a very reliable source. Do you know of any diplomatic mission the Brits have negotiating with Russia?”
“No, what have you got?”
Once the CIA Director had laid out the information from Petrucci the president was both annoyed and curious
“Who the hell is his source?” Terry wrote it on a piece of paper and folded it before sliding it across. The president burnt the note and crushed the ashes.
“Well thank heaven not everyone of integrity has been replaced over there… keep me posted.” Turning to an aide he forced the man to bend lower as whispered in his ear.
Without change of expression the man left the room.
“General Shaw, please remain behind after this session if you would please… thank you ladies and gentlemen.” And the meeting adjourned.
Whilst Shaw waited patiently the president sat deep in thought for a few minutes collecting his thoughts.
“I now know how Eisenhower felt when France withdrew from NATO.” He said to himself.
“Sir?”
“General Shaw… would you please have some of your staff draw up contingency plans for the possibility of Britain’s declaration of neutrality.”
“There must be some mistake sir… the British have always stood shoulder to shoulder with us. What was the CIA Intel sir?”
“Firstly general, head of station trusts his source in as much as the source does not trust his own premier and has no political axe to grind whatsoever. It also appears that the British PM never envisaged ever being in the position that he does now, with a nuclear world conflict in danger of breaking out. He is reportedly hedging his bets. It seems he can talk the talk but the walk is beyond him.” The president nodded sadly.
“However, I very much doubt he speaks for the majority of his people… what do you think?”
“I have personally witnessed British soldiers drop their personal weapons and set to with the ‘enemy’ with fists on a training exercise, sir”
The president smiled.
“Your troops, general?”
“Hell no sir, the ‘enemy’ were Brits too… they just happened to belong to a different regiment… those guys love a fight!”
“Let us hope that is true of their present governments shadow opposition too!”
“Sir?” asked his senior soldier.
“Nothing general, just thinking aloud… I want the contingency plan to be in the utmost confidence, understood general?”
“Of course sir.”
Having been collected from the Officers Mess at Brecon by a very attractive female captain and silent NCO driver; the trio had driven toward London. Nikoli had chatted pleasantly with the captain and attempted to extract her telephone number, with no success but she had been amused by his attempt.