by Alex Lukeman
"Nick, we gotta take cover," Lamont said.
There was a parking lot full of cars and a restaurant behind them. They ran behind one of the parked cars and watched what was happening across the street. A window in the front of the restaurant shattered, hit by a bullet. Another stray round whined through the air with a peculiar singing sound.
Nick was still on the link with Harker. "Everything's turning bad," he said. "The crowd's running. People are going down. The cops are getting slaughtered."
In a few minutes it was over. The demonstrators had fled, leaving trails of blood behind. Bodies lay in the street. Backpacks, pieces of clothing, shoes lay scattered on the ground. Banners and signs littered the pavement. The riot police lay where they'd fallen. It was a massacre.
A man walked among the bodies and fired an occasional kill shot. The embassy gates swung open. The terrorists took out black headbands and put them on. They got back in the Kia and drove into the compound. The man who had shot the Marine guards emerged from the gatehouse as the gates swung closed and followed them into the embassy.
Nick said, "They're not covering their faces. That's a bad sign. It means they don't care if they're identified. It could be a suicide mission."
Lamont said, "If they're the ones who blew up the Indian Embassy, they could be planning the same thing here. We need to get in there, get Selena."
"You think I don't know that?" Nick's voice was strained.
"Take it easy Nick, just sayin'."
"Yeah. All right, let's figure out how to get over to that building where the tunnel is."
Nick studied the urban terrain. Beyond the restaurant parking lot was a children's playground, then a building with another parking lot. If they could get through the playground and to the end of that lot without being seen, they'd be right across from where they needed to go.
"We'll move down to the end of the lot behind the cars, then through that playground," he said. "Keep going until we get to the end of the next lot. From there we can make it across the street. We time it right, they won't see us."
"They might not care," Ronnie said. "We're just three civilians trying to get away."
"Or they might want to add a few more to the score," Lamont said.
"Nick." It was Harker. "I'm going to call the president. Don't talk to me unless you need to. But keep the line open."
"Copy that," Nick said. He looked up and down the Boulevard. "Looks like all the bad guys are inside. Let's go."
They got up and sprinted to the end of the parking lot and into the playground. The playground was flat and green, full of mature trees. Big trees, big enough to stop bullets if somebody shot at them. But nobody did. They made it past the playground and into the next parking lot. There was good cover behind the cars. It would be a difficult shot from the embassy.
The lot bordered on a street called United Nations Avenue that formed a T with Roxas Boulevard. Across the boulevard, three long rectangular buildings stretched toward the bay. Their goal was the one in the middle.
They started across the boulevard.
CHAPTER 17
Stephanie and Elizabeth looked at a picture of Omar Steph had found in the international terrorist database.
"He's Abu Sayyaf," she told Harker. "One of their principal lieutenants."
"Look at his eyes," Elizabeth said. "The man's a psychopath. Rice needs to know what he's dealing with."
President Rice was in the Oval Office, where he'd just been informed of the events in Manila. Elizabeth had access to him at any time.
When his phone signaled Harker's ID, he knew what it was about.
"Director. You are calling about Manila."
"Yes, Mister President."
"What can you tell me?"
What Rice needed was a factual briefing with as much as she could tell him in as few words as possible.
"The terrorists are from a Muslim extremist group called Abu Sayyaf. One of my team is a hostage inside the embassy. The rest of them are working on getting into the building as we speak."
"Who's inside?"
"Selena Connor."
Rice knew Selena, had known her since she was a child. Her uncle had been a close friend and supporter. It made the crisis a little more personal.
Harker continued. "The terrorists breached the embassy from the rear. The Marine guards were killed. The ambassador and her staff were taken hostage. A second contingent of terrorists arrived at the front gates, opened fire on the police and the crowd and gained access. There are at least ten hostiles inside the building, possibly more."
"I expect to hear from President Navarro at any moment," Rice said. "We don't get along well and I anticipate problems controlling the situation. He's going to want to go in there and teach the terrorists a lesson."
"Sir, that would be a very bad decision. These could be the people who destroyed the Indian Embassy two days ago and they could be planning to do the same with us. Abu Sayyaf is a fanatical jihadist group. If troops assault the building, the terrorists will kill everyone inside. Dying for Allah is right up their alley."
"You have a way with words, Director. What do you suggest?"
"Sir, it might help to get an American unit on the scene. I realize this will create political problems for you, but we have to keep Navarro from going in there guns blazing. He might be more reasonable if it looks like there could be a confrontation."
"Go on."
"Yes, sir. The terrorists will have demands. They'll want to make a statement of some kind. We have a little time before the end game plays out. You know how good my team is. If you can stall Navarro until they have a chance to get into the building, they may be able to handle it."
Rice considered what Harker had said. President Navarro was a difficult man and Rice did not like him. He thought about assets in the area. The helicopter assault carrier USS Boxer was visiting Subic Bay. On board was a full Marine Expeditionary Unit, with 2200 Marines and the helicopters to take them into Manila. He could have the embassy surrounded within an hour if he gave the order. But if he sent in the Marines it would complicate the chances of reaching an agreement with Navarro about re-opening American bases.
Rice needed those bases to offset the growing Chinese military threat in the region. He needed Subic Bay and the facilities it could provide for the U.S. Navy. The sudden appearance of armed American forces in the heart of Manila would blow any possibility of successful negotiations out of the water. It would probably end the agreement to use Clark as well. Filipino pride and anger would see to that.
There were times when Rice truly wished he had never run for office. He was between a rock and a hard place. Whatever he did was liable to turn out badly. On the one hand, he faced the diplomatic nightmare that would result from putting boots on the ground and criticism from his political enemies for undermining America's future security interests in the region. On the other, American lives had been lost and more were at risk. Rice had decided long ago that he would never let political expediency outweigh what he believed to be the right thing to do.
The embassy was an important symbol of American prestige and power. Failure to respond with everything at his disposal would send the wrong message to terrorist groups everywhere. The attack could not be allowed to pass without immediate American response, whatever the consequences might be. Rice knew the value of decisive action. He decided to give Harker a free hand.
"Director, I don't have troops on the ground but the USS Boxer is visiting at Subic Bay. She has a Marine Expeditionary Unit on board. I could send in a detachment."
"Sir, that would be an excellent choice."
"Wait one, Director." Rice pressed a button on his desk. The door to the Oval Office opened and an aide stepped into the room.
"Get me the captain of the USS Boxer," Rice said. "Call a meeting of the National Security Council and get the National Security Advisor in here. But get me the Boxer first."
"Yes, Mister President," the aide said. He left the office
and closed the door behind him
"Very well, Director. I'll send in the choppers and set up a perimeter. Navarro can bitch all he wants. But Elizabeth..."
Rice seldom addressed her by her first name. "Yes, Mister President?"
"You don't have a lot of time. I can only hold Navarro off for so long."
"Then let's hope that it's enough, sir."
Rice broke the connection. He touched a button on his desk. The aide came back in the room.
"Get State in here right away."
"Yes, Mister President. Sir, Captain Addison is waiting on line two."
Rice activated the speaker. "Captain Addison, this is the president."
"Mister President." Addison had a deep voice that boomed out of the speakerphone.
"Captain, we have a situation. I have a mission for you."
Rice ran down the attack on the Embassy and told Addison what he wanted. Addison listened to the president and thought about the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters on his flight deck.
"How many men do you want on the ground, Mister President? Each one of my Sea Knights carries seventeen Marines. "
"A dozen choppers ought to do it, Captain. How soon can you get them to the embassy?"
"Loaded and in the air in half an hour, sir. Fifteen minutes after that to the LZ."
"Do it faster if you can, Captain. Cut them loose. Patch me through to the commander of the Marine unit."
"Yes, sir. One moment." Rice heard Addison give an order. There was a brief pause. Rice tapped his fingers impatiently on the surface of his desk. A new voice came on line.
"Sir, this is Lieutenant Colonel William Kroger speaking. What are your orders?"
"Colonel, terrorists have attacked our embassy in Manila. They've taken the ambassador hostage and there are casualties. The Marine security detachment has been killed."
Rice heard a sharp intake of breath on the other side of the world.
"Yes, sir."
"I want you to set up a perimeter around the embassy and secure the area. There may be trouble with the Filipinos and I need you to keep them at bay. Don't take any crap from them. I'm relying on you to keep your men in hand. Things could get heated on the scene. Under no circumstances can the Philippine forces be allowed to assault the embassy. You are authorized to resist any such attempt up to but not including lethal force."
"Yes, sir."
"We have friendlies on-site," Rice said. "They are going to attempt a penetration. They're Americans in civilian dress, so they'll be easy to spot if you have to go in."
"Do you anticipate sending us in, sir?"
"I'm hoping to get control of the situation before things get worse. I will send you in if I need to. In that event, lethal force is authorized."
There will be no giving in to terrorists on my watch, Rice thought.
"Understood, sir."
"Colonel, I want to emphasize that you are in command. You have full authority to act as you think appropriate. This is going to get big, fast. Don't let anyone push you around. I don't care if the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs tells you to stand down, you take orders only from me. Any problems, contact me through the Boxer."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, Mister President."
"Go buy our people some time, Colonel."
"I'll do my best, sir."
As Rice broke the connection he hoped Kroger's best would be good enough.
CHAPTER 18
Prakash Khanna was talking with Ashok Rao. The connection between Manila and New Delhi was crystal clear. Both men used phones with encryption that made listening in on the conversation harder than winning the lottery.
"Abu Sayyaf has attacked and occupied the American Embassy," Khanna said. "Many have been killed. Turn on your television."
Rao picked up a remote and turned on a large monitor mounted on the wall of his New Delhi office. The network was running footage taken when the terrorist attack outside the embassy gates had begun. The picture switched to a live telephoto shot of the front of the embassy. The camera zeroed in on the bodies of the riot police. The network ran the attack footage again while an excited announcer in the corner of the screen rehashed the details in a voice of modulated outrage.
Rao turned off the sound. "What is the current situation?"
"Abu Sayyaf has control of the building," Khanna said. "The initial attack came from the bay. Then the others showed up."
"There are hostages?" Rao asked.
"Yes, including the American ambassador. I'm not sure how many. As yet, there have not been any demands. The attack happened only a short time ago."
"What are the Filipinos doing?"
"For the moment, the police are hanging back. They'll probably send in the army. Navarro has made several public statements about being tough on Abu Sayyaf. He can't back down."
"If he storms the embassy, it will create a major international incident," Rao said.
In Manila, Khanna lit a cigarette. "Nonetheless, I think that's what he'll do. Navarro is no friend to the United States. His political base is opposed to an American presence in the islands."
"Perhaps they would prefer a Chinese presence instead," Rao said.
Khanna laughed.
Rao continued. "You were able to get everything in place?"
"Yes. The Americans will discover convincing evidence of ISOK's involvement. They'll think ISOK and Abu Sayyaf have formed an alliance to attack American and Indian targets with high public visibility."
"They have formed an alliance," Rao said. "We're doing Washington a favor, helping them fight their war on terror." Rao paused. "What do you think Abu Sayyaf will do?"
"My guess is that they will start executing hostages until their demands are met. Navarro will never give them what they want," Khanna said. "I don't think anyone will come out of there alive. Abu Sayyaf believes in Jihad. They think God will be pleased if they die fighting the Crusader infidels."
"They are fools."
"There is only one possible outcome once the hostages begin dying. I estimate an assault on the embassy within twenty-four hours of the first execution. Once it's all over, the Americans will discover that Pakistan is behind the attack."
"Excellent," Rao said. "I imagine they will be very angry at their Paki allies." He paused for a moment. "How do you feel about the bombing of our embassy?"
In his office on Lodhi Road, Rao couldn't see Khanna shrug.
"Sacrifice is sometimes necessary," Khanna said. "The ambassador here was useless, an appeaser like the Prime Minister. Perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call to those idiots in New Delhi."
It was what Rao wanted to hear. "I doubt that anything will change the way our Prime Minister and his cabinet think."
"If your plan works it won't matter what he thinks," Khanna said. "He'll be forced to take a hard line with Islamabad and Washington will have to get involved. My only concern is that the Americans have a habit of creating problems once the door has been opened for them."
"Mother India is not Afghanistan or Iraq," Rao said. "We will use them against Pakistan. They will never suspect we have manipulated them."
"What do you think they'll do?"
"Who knows? An attack on their embassy by terrorists is one thing. If they believe Pakistan is to blame, it's another. It will be seen as betrayal, an act of war. They cannot let it pass. Whatever they do, it will make trouble for the Pakis and opportunities for us."
"What are your instructions?" Khanna asked.
"Keep monitoring events. Try to find out what the Americans and Filipinos are doing, the things we won't see on television."
"Understood."
Rao ended the conversation and set his phone down. Then he picked up the phone again and called Krivi.
"Yes."
"It's Rao," he said.
"My brother," Krivi answered.
Rao felt a glow of satisfaction, even pride. He had an important role to play in the future of India. The best part was that Krivi's group would help him achieve his
revenge.
"Are you aware of what's happening in Manila?" Rao asked.
"I am."
"The Americans will soon discover evidence that Islamabad planned the attack. So far there's no reason for them to suspect Pakistan's involvement. That will change once their NSA focuses on the terrorist communications. They'll find a trail that leads straight to Islamabad."
"You seem confident."
"This kind of operation is familiar to me. The technology makes it easy."
Because of Rao, the world was already one step closer to war. Krivi was pleased that he'd judged Rao correctly.
"How can I help?" Krivi said.
"It would be good if demonstrations here in India begin to grow. Even better if they get out of hand. I can't use my own agents for that, it would be discovered."
"I'll see what I can do."
CHAPTER 19
Harker's voice sounded calm as she talked to Nick, as though it was just another day at the office. As if terrorist attacks and sending in the Marines were every day events. In Elizabeth's world, that wasn't far from the truth.
"There'll be Marines on site soon," she said. "They know the embassy detachment is dead and they're going to be pissed. If they go in, they could make a mistake. Be advised."
"Thanks for the encouragement," Nick said.
Nick stood with the others in front of the building Steph had identified as the one with the entrance to the old tunnel under the embassy. A faded sign announced that it was the Chinese Friendship Society Community Center. The door was locked. There was no one around. Everyone in the area had taken off for safer parts of town.
Nick tried the door again. It was still locked.
"Screw this," he said. "Stand back." He fired two rounds and the frame around the lock splintered. He pushed the door open and they stepped inside. Nick closed the door behind them.
Dust motes floated through beams of yellow sunlight filtering through the windows of a large, open space used for dances and meetings. One wall bore a series of faded travel posters for China and the Philippines. On another wall a cork bulletin board posted business cards and notices. They walked through the room and into a kitchen on the side of the building facing the American Embassy.
