Alpha Strike by Keith Douglass

Author:Keith Douglass [Douglass, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Aircraft carriers, Fiction, Technological, Thrillers, Espionage
ISBN: 9780515120189
Publisher: Jove
Published: 1997-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Sunday, 30 June

1900 local (Zulu +5)

Swedish Ambassador’s Reception New York, New York

Amidst the noise and the lights of the Swedish ambassador’s reception, the delegates to the United Nations still found time to conduct business.

“And again,” T’ing said, barely raising his voice above an icy whisper, “once was not enough.”

“Sir, the United States had no part in the attack on your—on Mischief Reef Island,” Ambassador Wexler said, catching herself just in time. She was under instructions to avoid any positive acknowledgment of China’s ownership of the South China Sea rocks. She saw Ngyugen, the ambassador from Vietnam, nod ever so slightly at her correction.

T’ing sighed. “No other military forces were in the area, madam. As it was last time—an American jet circles an isolated Chinese oceanographic research station, and then the island mysteriously explodes. Perhaps a fishing boat attacked the scientific camp?”

“An oceanographic research station? With tanks and fighter aircraft? And Stingers and submarines on patrol? Forgive me, but I doubt that the ambassador from China is being entirely candid.”

“With unprovoked attacks by the United States on our land, what nation would not make some self-defense preparations?” T’ing replied. He knew it would be impossible to hide the presence of military forces on the islands from the circling satellites.

“The United States has attacked no one, the ambassador insisted, struggling to keep her temper under control. “It was China who attacked us! Your submarine, sir, fired on one of our aircraft operating in international airspace.”

“Following,” T’ing said, “the American destruction of an undefended research station, an attempt to provide a radar lock-up on one of our patrol aircraft for firing an Aegis cruiser missile, and the continued presence of American forces in a legally declared exclusion zone. Only the United States could have the audacity to claim status as a victim while simultaneously attacking our forces herself!”

“We are prepared to make our tactical logs and crews available to an impartial investigating committee. Whatever is causing these incidents in the South China Sea, I believe that the ambassador from China knows more about it than we do.”

“A very generous offer,” T’ing broke in. “Very generous indeed—if the United States had not had sufficient time already to completely fabricate records pertaining to that time. The gentle art of manipulating electrons—who better than the Americans at it?” T’ing shrugged. “Fortunately, we will not need to rely on electronic memories and fabrications. We have something far more reliable.”

“What, a confession?” Sarah Wexler asked sarcastically, immediately regretting her words.

T’ing locked her with a cold stare and let the seconds tick by while all eyes in the room turned to him.

“Something better than that, I believe. And far more reliable. Late this morning, a Chinese naval vessel initiated a search for survivors. Three members of the Spratly base camp survived. One, Shih Tan, was standing outside when the attack occurred and observed the overflight of an American military aircraft, followed minutes later by the explosion. The force of the blast tossed him off the island and into the sea.

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