Arctic Wargame - Страница 48

“I’ll go with you,” Anna said, stepping up beside Justin.

“Take Ned and a few other guys,” said Joe. “In case things get ugly.”

“I’m staying here,” Emily said, moving to the driver’s seat of Justin’s truck. “Carrie will be in good hands.”

Justin nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Now, just to let you know, the commander, if he’s there with the copters, may be slightly pissed off.” Emily placed her hand on Justin’s right arm. “At first, the commander didn’t want to violate Canada’s territorial sovereignty. But he was more than willing to order a rescue mission when I called the base from Arctic Bay. As we were talking, I learned from him about the Danish airplane landing here, like I told you earlier. But what I didn’t tell you was that he ordered me to stay in the Bay. Obviously, I disobeyed that direct order. Besides,” Emily bit her lip before continuing, “in the heat of the moment, I may have called him a coward.”

“What?” Anna blurted.

“Yes, exactly that.” Justin pointed at Anna.

“He wasn’t going to lift a finger, and he wasn’t coming to your rescue. I was trying to challenge him, in hopes he would change his mind.”

“Well, your insult did work, since he sent three choppers here,” Justin said. “Late, of course, but better late than never.”

“I wanted you to learn this from me, in case Richard’s in there, and comes charging at you about this.”

“Trust me. He has many, many other reasons to be furious with me. Just keep an eye on Carrie, and I’ll take care of this.”

Justin looked over across the road. The three Seahawks were touching down over the permafrost. A cloud of snow dust surrounded them, as their blades began to slow down. “Let’s go, guys.” He gestured toward the Seahawks and led a group of ten men.

Anna followed one step behind him, her rifle ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.

Chapter Thirty

Nanisivik, Canada

April 14, 12:03 p.m.

Colonel Richard Clark was dressed in the same navy blue uniform as the first time Justin had met him, with a black felt overcoat that hung down to his knees. A deep frown was carved in his face.

“Commander,” Justin said with a respectful nod.

His team stood at about fifty feet away from the commander and his men, seven people in all, who were lined up in front of their helicopters. They were carrying assault rifles and looked more like a SWAT team than a rescue dispatch.

“I owe you a big apology,” Justin said.

The commander gave Justin a smirk.

“OK, two apologies. I took Emily with me, and I borrowed your chopper. But it was for a very noble reason.”

“Go on, I’m listening.”

“I have the evidence to convince you of the Danish attack. We’ve just survived a long and harsh battle. Many good men are dead or gravely wounded. We have captured a few of the Danes, who will testify to their evil plans, reasons, motives, and whatever you want to ask them.”

“You don’t have to convince me of anything.” He gestured with his hand to his troops to relax their position. “I’m sure Sergeant Moore told you about the landing coordinates of the Super Hercules,” he said in a quiet voice, although a certain degree of anger was still evident in his words. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. In a way, you could say she did you all a big, big favor.”

“She did, you’re right. In fact, I can truly say she saved our lives, a great number of our lives.”

“I’m glad we agree on something. As soon as we intercepted the Hercules, we contacted the Canadian Forces to establish the identity and the objective of this plane. After confirmations that the plane was not Canadian, we demanded clarifications from Denmark. Their replies were vague, at best. They had scheduled a wargame for later in the week, but it was supposed to take place in international waters and airspace, not deep into Canadian territory. After we received this information, and as soon as the Canadian Forces authorized me to fly into the Canadian airspace and retrieve one of my own, I rushed in.”

“Did you blast the Hercules to smithereens?” Anna asked.

“No. The airplane exploded all of a sudden.”

“We tried to stop it from taking off. I guess our firepower must have damaged its flying systems,” Justin said.

The commander shrugged. “I’m up to my neck in a matter that doesn’t pertain to me. You and Canada can clean up your mess.”

Justin nodded and exchanged a quick glance with Anna. “OK. The Seahawk was shot down and the pilot, Carrie, is unconscious, fighting for her life. I will kindly ask for your help to fly her and my other wounded men to a hospital. The closest one is in Iqaluit.”

The commander took one step forward. “I guess this battle has taught you how to ask politely when you want something, huh? My clearance does not involve the transportation of Canadian army troops or irregular militia.”

“I’m sure you have access to the right channels to ask for such an authorization. Many people are gravely wounded. They will die if not provided immediately with extensive medical attention.”

The commander held Justin’s pleading gaze for a brief moment. “All right. I’ll get the necessary authorization, and we’ll take your people on board. The only restriction will be the one imposed by the choppers’ capacity.”

“Thank you. I’m very much obliged.”

He dismissed Justin’s gratitude with a wave of his hand. “I don’t see Emily among your people.” His tone of voice expressed clear disappointment.

“Hmm, that… yes… about Emily.” Justin chewed the words in his mouth.

“Is she dead?” he asked without any emotion. “You can tell me the truth.”

“No, she’s not dead.”

“So, where is she? Didn’t she recognize the Seahawks?”

“I was… I understand you and Emily exchanged some… some harsh words.”

The commander moved closer to Justin. “Harsh words is a euphemism.” He lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. “Sergeant Moore disobeyed a clear and direct order. She was willing to put my own life and the life of my men in great danger and force us into a war we have no part in. Now, where is she hiding?” He looked over Justin’s shoulder toward a cluster of trucks further down the road.

“Emily has been a tremendous help to us and—”

“Save it, Hall. If she’s a hero for Canada, then honor her bravery with a medal. But she disgraced her country, and she’ll be lucky if she doesn’t get court marshaled.”

“Commander, I’m sure we can come to an agr—”

“Yes, an agreement. Hand over the traitor, and I’ll save your girlfriend and your wounded friends.”

Justin shook his head. “I don’t think that’s going to cut it. Emily deserves praise for her bravery, not punishment for taking a stand. I’m not going to let that happen.”

Ned moved his M-16 rifle a little farther from his chest and settled his finger on the trigger.

“Maybe that’s how you do things here in Canada, stealing copters from allies, kidnapping their soldiers and using them as human shields. In the US—”

“In the US you like to force other countries to agree to military bases in their land, like the one you run in Greenland, under the excuse of space surveillance and defense operations, joint security initiatives and other bullshit like that.”

It was the commander’s men’s turn to tighten their grip around their weapons.

Justin raised his right hand, gesturing to his men to stay calm. “Those helicopters, the Seahawks behind you, were stationed in Greenland without the knowledge and the authorization of its government authorities. This is in clear violation of the treaty for the expansion of your base. It’s in your own best interest and in the interest of the US that your secret about these violations does not end up on the cover of New York Times.”

A somber mood fell over the commander’s face. “I have… I have no idea what you’re talking about, Hall,” he stuttered, waving his arms in agitation. “And you’re badly mistaken if you think you’re in a position to impose your terms on me.”

“We’re simply negotiating a peaceful and acceptable solution to everyone. We’ll be tight-lipped about your choppers. You have our word.”

Anna nodded and so did Ned. The commander began pacing back and forth. Justin focused his attention at the men standing by the Seahawks. A shootout was going to be nobody’s victory. Justin hoped the commander would make the right decision.

“What does she want?” he whispered in a low voice. He avoided Justin’s eyes, staring instead at the slushy ground around his boots.

“Emily, Sergeant Moore, will have to agree to these terms, but I believe an honorable discharge or a transfer to a detail equal to her current position is a fair deal.” Justin delivered his proposal in one quick sentence, before the commander could change his mind about reaching a compromise.

The commander entertained the proposal for a minute in his mind. At some point, he opened his mouth, but then shook his head, snapped his fingers and said nothing. He hesitated another second, then spoke in a quiet voice, “We have a deal. You’ll forget about the Seahawks, and she’ll get a transfer to Alaska or some other God-forsaken place.”

“Thank you,” Justin said.

“Thank you, sir,” Anna said with a respectful nod.

“Don’t mention it.” The commander turned around and swaggered toward the helicopters. “My men will help you bring in the wounded. We’ll leave as soon as everyone’s loaded up.”