The third party was small enough to be transported in a Darwin city police van. Their destination was closer as welclass="underline" the Darwin civil detention center. There, Professor Sonoo and the other surviving techno mercenaries would be held while assorted lawyers, diplomats, and police agencies wrangled over charges ranging from industrial espionage and criminal conspiracy to accessory to multiple murder.
As for the respective corporate entities Sonoo and the others had served, their responses when challenged had been essentially identicaclass="underline" “We’re sorry, but we aren’t acquainted with the gentlemen.”
Amid this outbound traffic, another motorcade had been inbound to the naval base. A pair of Navy-gray Ford Crown Victoria sedans, one of which bore four white stars on its front bumper, and a black Lincoln town car with U.S. Embassy plates.
Cleared through Darwin base security with alacrity, it proceeded to the main base pier where the USS Carlson and Cunningham lay moored. Drawing up alongside the LPD, they found the amphib’s crew manning the rail in dress whites, a Marine honor guard and a full suite of side boys at the gangway.
The Carlson’s bell chimed repeatedly, and her MC-1 sounded the sequence of calls.
“Secretary of State arriving.”
“Chief of Naval Operations arriving.”
“CNO staff… arriving.”
Once aboard, the protocols rapidly broke down. There was simply nothing “in the book” for this particular situation.
“Jesus H. Christ, Eddie Mac! I know you and Captain Garrett both operate outside of the box sometimes, but this is so far beyond—”
Admiral Jason Harwell let his string of words sputter out. White haired and baked gaunt from decades of sea service, he aimed an icy, blue-eyed glare across the wardroom table at MacIntyre “Damn it, man! The only reason I haven’t initiated a formal investigation into your actions in this affair is because I can’t believe the reports I’ve been reading. That’s why I’m here personally, to get a handle on this mess before every officer in this room, including me, gets hit with a general court! If we’re lucky, maybe we can limit it to just you!”
The small group of prime players had gathered in the Carlson’s wardroom, off the record and with no subordinates present, for a preliminary meeting. Harwell, MacIntyre, a somber and thoughtful Harrison Van Lynden, Christine Rendino, and Amanda Garrett.
“Jace, I’ve already stated I accept full responsibility for all aspects of our antipiracy operation down here,” MacIntyre replied stolidly. “I’ve put it in writing and it’s on your desk.”
“I know it is, and I want to know why it was necessary! When did one of my best flag officers go foaming-at-the-mouth crazy on me, Eddie Mac?”
“It was known from the beginning that this job was going to be unconventional, Jace. That’s why you gave it to NAVSPECFORCE and not the Seventh Fleet. I made both the State Department and the National Command Authority aware of that fact as we began to work the problem.”
MacIntyre nodded toward Van Lynden at the head of the table. “You can check with the Secretary of State himself on that. They were informed that we would not get results going by the book, and it was acknowledged that they understood the situation.”
“That’s true, Admiral Harwell,” Van Lynden said mildly. “I do remember the conversation.”
Harwell turned to address Van Lynden. “I’m sure that’s true, Mr. Secretary, but you surely couldn’t have imagined that extending to the hijacking of a naval vessel of a sovereign nation on good terms with the United States. That’s not unconventional, sir, that’s insane!”
Van Lynden steepled his hands before him on the polished wood. “Actually, Admiral Harwell, it’s irrelevant.”
The CNO did a double take. “What’s that Mr. Secretary?”
“Jakarta doesn’t give a tinker’s damn about the loss of their ship or how it came about. In fact, today the Indonesian government will be issuing a press statement about the frigate Sutanto and how it was lost in an operational accident: She struck a reef and sank while assisting the Sea Fighter Task Force in the recovery of the INDASAT space vehicle.”
Van Lynden nodded to the officers grouped at the table, a slight, ironic smile on his face. “In fact, the Indonesian government extends its thanks to the U.S. Navy for their successful rescue of the Sutanto’s entire crew. Just as we are extending our thanks to the Indonesian government for uncovering the plot by a group of New Guinea separatists to steal the INDASAT and hold it for ransom.”
Van Lynden met the eyes of each seated individual. “And, by order of the National Command Authority and until further notice, that is all that has taken place on this cruise. There was no Piskov boarding. There was no attack on the pirate base at Adat Tanjung, and the incident at Benoa Port was a clash between two smuggling gangs, with no direct involvement with the United States Navy. There will be no court-martials. There will be no investigations. This affair, or at least this aspect of it, is now closed.”
Van Lynden sat back in his chair, watching the exchange of startled looks flow around the table. “That’s why all the Sea Fighter personnel were ordered held aboard ship until my arrival,” the Secretary of State continued, rather enjoying the joke of it. “And why the press blackout has been invoked. We had to have the chance to tell you what you’ve been doing lately.”
“Begging your pardon, Mr. Secretary,” Admiral Harwell said, “but just what the hell is going on here?”
“Sorry I couldn’t fill you in beforehand, Admiral, but I flew in from Jakarta just an hour ago. I’ve spent the last two days in emergency consultation with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and with President Kediri. Needless to say, what you are about to hear does not leave this room under any circumstances.”
The murmur traveled around the table: “Understood, Mr. Secretary.”
“All right; here, as you would say in the fleet, is the dope. The Indonesians are terrified and they have every right to be. We have a potential ‘government killer’ scenario developing for the fourth largest government on the planet.
“Makara Harconan was a major player in Indonesia, a major power, and a stabilizing influence in the archipelago economy. Should word get out that he’s actually a world-class criminal and that his holdings have collapsed, it is going be a body blow to the rupiah on the world money markets and decisively damaging to overseas investment.
“Furthermore, the Indonesian people are sick and tired of corruption by their officials. Corruption charges almost brought down the Walid government back in 2001, and this scandal will make the Walid crisis pall in comparison.
“From the communications traffic seized aboard the Harconan transport, we know at least one Indonesian navy flag officer had sold out to Harconan. The gentleman in question has since disappeared, apparently warned that the show is over. Six other senior government and military officials have also dropped out of sight in much the same way. A seventh committed suicide during an arrest attempt, and two more have been found assassinated within the last forty-eight hours.”
The Secretary of State continued to tick off his points. “When the world’s maritime powers gain the proof of what they have long suspected — that Indonesian officials have been allowing their shipping to be victimized — they’re going to start screaming reparation. A lot of Indonesians have suffered at the hands of the archipelago pirates as well. The word that the Bugis clans have been actively involved in a major criminal conspiracy against the other island groups is not going to be taken easily. Some damn fool is going to start shoving Bugis around, and the Bugis are going to shove back, so we can add a race war to the brew.”