“Tom Harding doesn’t think so,” Admiral Mann said. His manner suggested he could not listen to any criticism of his sub driver.
“The Seawolf is still standing by out there, is that correct?” the President said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Is there any possibility that the Japanese will find them?”
“Given enough time and assets, it’s possible,” Admiral Mann conceded. “But it’s more likely they’re looking for North Korean submarines, although we don’t have any evidence that Pyongyang has made such a response.”
“How soon before the two Chinese submarines reach the area, assuming that’s where they’re heading?” the President asked Murphy.
“Submerged they’re capable of making twenty-five knots, which could put them on site in another fifteen or twenty hours. But they’re still running on the surface, at twelve knots, which means they won’t be showing up for another three days. Gives us time to sort out the situation.” Murphy glanced at the photos Roswell had handed him, the line from King Lear coming back to him again. “But we have another developing problem that might lead to an even more disturbing conclusion.”
“Okay, for now the Seawolf says where it is, because without reliable satellite data they’re our only source of information,” the President said. “Or are you going to tell me that this other problem will make that impossible?”
“It depends on the Japanese,” Murphy said. “We have some National Reconnaissance Office satellite pictures of the Japanese main islands. It appears that most, if not all, of their military installations have gone to a full state of readiness.”
“We’re not finished with our analysis, but the photographs seem to be fairly conclusive,” Roswell said.
Murphy passed the file around the table. General Podvin shook his head. “I’ve heard nothing about this.”
“They’re keeping it quiet,” Murphy said. “In the past they’ve always informed us when they were conducting any sort of an exercise, especially one of this magnitude. But this time they haven’t.”
“Why not?” the President asked. “What disturbing conclusion are you suggesting?”
“The Japanese wanted proof that North Korea had in fact developed operationally ready nuclear weapons. Apparently they have the proof now, and they intend to do something about it.”
“By invading North Korea?” Secretary of State Carter asked incredulously.
“The North Koreans have the Taepo Dong ballistic missile with sufficient range and power to lift a nuclear weapon the seven hundred miles to Tokyo,” Murphy said. “Even if Kim Jong-Il has no intention of doing something as insane as that, the mere fact that he now has the weapons and the capability to do it is enough to make the Japanese very nervous. It’s almost as bad as when the Russians tried to put nukes in Cuba.”
“It’s those goddammed Chinese submarines,” Admiral Mann said. “It’s going to end up a Mexican standoff, with the Seawolf caught in the middle.”
“What do we do about it?” the President said. “Tokyo will deny everything, and we can hardly tip our hand by admitting the Seawolf is up there. Pyongyang is stonewalling it. And the Chinese are merely on a routine patrol. Nobody is doing anything wrong.”
“The Japanese are not going to war, I can guarantee it,” Secretary of State Carter stated flatly and he looked around the table challenging anyone to dispute him.
“Unless they were nudged,” Murphy said.
The President gave him a bleak look. “What else does the CIA have?”
“It’s possible that alert is an after-the-fact reaction to a situation that caught Tokyo by just as much surprise as it did us.”
“Wait a minute,” Carter said. “You’re not going to tell us that this was another renegade submarine captain, like a couple of years ago, because we’re not going to buy it. I’m recommending that we get word to Tokyo, Pyongyang and Beijing to back off immediately. And I’m willing to leave this morning to personally deliver just such a message.”
“Shuttle diplomacy won’t work this time, Mr. Carter, just as it wouldn’t have worked in Cuba, because like Castro, Prime Minister Enchi may not have all the facts, or be completely in charge of the situation.”
“Jesus Christ, General—” Carter said, but the President held up a hand.
“Proceed, Roland.”
“On pages fifty-seven through sixty-two you’ll see photographs and dossiers on two men who were seen meeting near Sasebo eleven days ago. The stricken submarine was homeported there, and that’s where the Orions are based.”
The President’s eyes never left Murphy. “Who are these men?”
“Hiroshi Kabayashi and Shin Hironaka, part of the organization that nearly brought down Enchi’s government two years ago and almost got us into a shooting war.”
“Hironaka was their director general of Defense,” General Podvin said. “The sonofabitch is in jail.”
“Not anymore.”
“But he’s no longer directly involved with the government or the defense establishment,” Podvin said. “I know that for a fact.”
“I shouldn’t have to ask if your source is reliable,” the President said.
“It is.”
“What you’re saying is that these two men may have formed another organization — a zaibatsu, if I remember the Japanese word — to manipulate their own government.”
Murphy nodded. “That’s what we believe.”
“To do what?”
“Protect Japan against the nuclear attack by North Korea that Hwang Jang Yop warned about in 1997.”
“The man was a maniac,” Carter said. “No one believed a word he said. Even the South Koreans dismissed most of his story as rubbish.”
“That’s just the point, Mr. Carter. Seoul didn’t believe it, we didn’t and neither did Tokyo. But someone did, and they’re doing something about it.”
“Okay, assuming what you’ve told us is true, what do you think we should do?”
“Get Seventh but of Tokyo Bay, as the Japanese requested.”
“And send them where?”
“The Sea of Japan by the northern route over the top of Honshu. In the meantime inform Prime Minister Enchi that we also detected the underground nuclear explosion at Kimch’aek, and we’re going to investigate.”
“With the entire fleet,” Admiral Mann said disparagingly. “That’s going to send them one hell of a message.”
“Better than having the fleet bottled up if something should occur. It’ll give us time to work out our other options.”
“Which are?” the President asked, a flinty note in his voice. He wasn’t liking what he was hearing.
“We want to interview Kabayashi and Hironaka.”
“You’d have to kidnap them to do it,” Carter said.
“That’s a possibility,” Murphy replied, not backing down. “We’re working on a number of scenarios now.”
“Can you pull it off, General?” Secor asked. “With plausible deniability in case something goes wrong?”
“I don’t know the answer to that. It’s something we’re working on.”
Secor turned to the President. “Even if Enchi is in the dark we could get in some real trouble if this blew up in our faces. There are other considerations.”
“What about the Russians?” the President asked Murphy. “Has there been any activity at Vladivostok?”
“Not yet, but they are certainly aware of what’s going on.”
“Will they become a factor?”
“I don’t think so.”
“How long would it take for Seventh Fleet to be ready to sail?” the President asked Admiral Mann.