Sky Masters полностью

Tang bristled at the mention of the word “nuclear,” and the Americans knew that the meeting was at an end. He rose to his feet, his hands still folded before him; his face was just as impassive and expressionless as ever. “I believe we have discussed all pertinent topics. With your permission, we will deliver your messages to my government with all speed.”

“Include this message, Mr. Ambassador,” Danahall said coldly. “If the United States detects any further activity in the Davao Gulf or on Mindanao to suggest that Chinese troops are moving to take the city of Davao, its airport, or the towns around the northern part of the Davao Gulf or delta, the United States will consider that a hostile act against an ally and will respond appropriately.” Danahall and the others rose. “Good day, Mr. Ambassador.” Danahall kept his fingertips on the table, without extending a hand. Tang gave a short bow, as did his interpreter and assistant, and they departed.

“God, I must be getting old,” Danahall said. He dropped into a chair, letting Kellogg take his desk back. “I can’t sell it like I used to.”

Kellogg’s outer office phone buzzed. “Yes?”

“Staff meeting in five minutes, sir,” his secretary said. Kellogg acknowledged the call and hung up. The message was a simple code to let them all know that the Secret Service wanted to come in to sweep the office, hallways, and anterooms for newly planted listening devices before the men began talking about anything of substance.

“I wanted to avoid giving the man a damned ultimatum, and that’s exactly what I ended up giving him,” Danahall said. “Dumb…”

“I’m sorry I mentioned the ‘N’ word,” Kellogg said. “I guess I’ll never make much of a diplomat.”

“We’re all thinking about it, and he knew it. It had to come out sooner or later.” Danahall paused, then said, “But I think he did leave us a few cracks we can explore — not very big cracks, but at least it’s something to work on.”

“I hope something happens in the next twenty-four hours,” Kellogg said grimly as they stood to allow the Secret Service to begin their work, “because otherwise I think the diplomatic side has just run its course.”

Duty aboard the Chinese Liberation Army Navy destroyer Hong Lung for the day watch and flag staff began at five A.M. with reveille shortly before sunrise, prayers for those who were so inclined (Admiral Yin Po L’un, and therefore most of his flag staff, were not), a thirty-minute exercise period, cleanup, and breakfast, which usually consisted of chicken or fish soup, rice, tea, and hard candy or caramel squares for the enlisted men. Morning inspection began at six-fifteen, and the reports from each section aboard ship were received by the captain by ten minutes to seven. By seven A.M. the executive officers of each ship of the fleet escorting the Hong Lung reported to the Admiral’s chief of operations, as did the group commanders from the three other naval battle groups in the southern Philippines; Yin’s chief of operations then compiled the morning report for the Admiral for presentation precisely at seven-fifteen.

The Admiral first received a synopsis of incoming-message-traffic from Beijing or South China Sea fleet headquarters in Zhanjiang (important messages would of course have received his immediate attention), then a theater situation briefing and intelligence briefing. Yin’s chief of operations, Captain Sun Ji Guoming, bowed deeply as he began: “Sir, I am pleased to provide you with the following theater briefing summary at this time, updated as of five A.M. local time:

“The primary threat to People’s Liberation Army Navy’s forces involved in the Philippines conflict currently is the United States Navy’s aircraft carrier Independence battle group from Japan operating in the Luzon Strait, the U.S. Army Twenty-fifth Infantry Division deployed to Guam, elements of the U.S. Marine Corps Third Marine Amphibious Force mobilized on Okinawa and deployed with the Independence carrier battle group, and the deployment of the Air Force First Air Battle Wing to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. It is important to point out that these all represent partial deployments of each unit, with approximately thirty to forty percent held in reserve at their home bases.