“If it were up to me, if it were truly up to me, I’d let them fight it out. Hell, I think it’s our best interests. I don’t have to tell you about the Chinese. The Indians are trouble as well. As long as the extremists are in control, the Indians are trouble as well. But if I had to choose, at this point, I’d side with the Indians. Hell, I’m tempted to help them even now. My orders, though—and unlike you, I actually believe in following orders—are to keep the two sides apart, and to do nothing to increase hostilities. Nothing! Now how the hell am I supposed to do that? Put myself directly between them?”

“I’m not sure, sir.”

“Twenty-four hours from now, that’s where I’ll be. Kitty Hawk and her escorts will be positioned to blow both of their fleets out of the water. Hell, I could do it now. If I got the order.

“Yes, sir.”

“But blowing them up wouldn’t bring peace, would it?”

“No, sir,” said Dog.

“Which is my mission, whether I like it or not. Now how can I fulfill that mission with a bunch of cowboys running around shooting things up? Very good cowboys,” added Woods before could object. “Excellent cowboys. But your job was reconnaissance—spying. Not fighting.”

Woods emphasized the words the way one might talk to a five-year-old. Colonel Bastian had pretty much reached the end of his patience.

“I thought the SEALs were bad,” added the admiral. “You guys make them look like kids on their way to First Holy Communion.”

“I don’t know that that’s accurate, sir,” said Dog. “On that atoll, my people were fired on; they responded. At sea, we shot down two missiles. Missile that surely would have sunk the Chinese carrier, which ought to count for something.”

The admiral frowned; Dog couldn’t help but wonder if he would have preferred the carrier went down.

“In the air, every incident with the Chinese was initiated by the Chinese,” said Colonel Bastian in a level voice. “You have the tapes and the data from every flight. We’re not cowboys, sir. We’re just our job, as ordered.”

“I’m not unreasonable, Tecumseh. Truly, I’m not. I had the Filipinos moved at you request.”

“ I didn’t say you were unreasonable, Admiral.”

“But?”

“You do seem to go out of your way to make me your whipping boy.”

“That’s because I don’t like you,” said Woods.

The two men stared at each other. Dog waited for Woods to soften what he’d just said, take it back by adding, “that’s what you think, isn’t it?” But he didn’t.”

“You’re in over your head on this operation,” the admiral said finally. “Don’t get me wrong. You’re competent, capable, even a hotshot. But Dreamland and Whiplash—you need perspective. You’ll understand what I’m saying in five or six years.”

“I understand now.”

“The surveillance mission with Piranha will continue,” said Woods. “That’s a direct order from the President I can’t and won’t ignore, but the mission will be carried out under my personal direction. You’re no longer in the loop, Colonel. You have a lot of work to do at Dreamland.”

“What?”

“It’s not necessary to embarrass you in front of your people. But I will. Go home.”

Dog had to physically bite his lip to keep himself from saying or doing anything else. It was only after he boarded his transport helicopter topside that he realized blood had dribbled down his chin.

Aboard Shiva in the South China Sea

August 27, 1997, 1326

They came to periscope depth cautiously, aware the sonar contact was a Chinese destroyer. Admiral Balin confirmed the crew’s prediction quickly; they were almost perpendicular, and close enough for Balin to see the two large guns at either end. The ship was surely a Jianghu frigate.

Captain Varka gave the order to change their course. They came around quickly and began closing on the Chinese vessel.

The Kali weapons and their assorted equipment had robbed Balin of precious space, leaving him room for only six torpedoes. He would fire two at the destroyer, holding the others for whatever target he would find later.

“Sir,” said Captain Varja. “We have additional contacts. A carrier.”

“A carrier?”

“Making good speed,” added the captain. “Other vessels as well. Beyond the destroyer.”

Balin put his eyes back to the periscope view. There was only gray beyond the destroyer.

They were using only their passive sonar. To use the active array would surely alert the Chinese to their presence—but would also provide a good deal more information.

He wanted it too badly; he must be cautious.

Balin stepped away from the periscope. His eyes met Varja’s. The captain surely had the same thoughts.

“We must find it,” said Balin softly.

“Agreed.”

Varja gave the orders to use the sonar.

One carrier, less than three miles away. It was the Shangi-Ti; the sound signature left no doubt.

There was another—another very large contact in the distance, more than likely a vessel of the same size as Shangi-Ti.