Dale Brown - Executive Intent

He motioned for everyone at the conference table to pick up their dead-extensions, then punched the “HOLD” button again.

“Put him on.”

A moment later: “Mr. President, this is President Truznyev, via an interpreter.”

“Hello, Mr. President. This is about the incident in the Gulf of Aden, I presume?”

“‘Incident’? Three Russian airmen are dead and one is missing,” Truznyev said. “In addition, several sailors were injured due to your bomber’s provocative high-speed pass near our vessels, which also sustained some damage. This is more than just an ‘incident,’ sir-it is an act of war!”

“What it is, Mr. President, is a terrible misunderstanding, a complete lack of communication, and the case of a bomber pilot who far exceeded her authority and performed in an extremely careless and reckless manner,” Gardner said. “But that doesn’t excuse you sending four more jets out there and attacking the bomber and its tanker.”

“I understand that you would choose to forget about the Russian pilots killed by missiles launched from that very same bomber,” Truznyev said. “But I have another grave concern to ask you about, Mr. Gardner, and I hope you will be truthful with me, because tensions are already high in that region, and lying would only make matters worse.”

“Lying? Mr. President, I’m not in the habit of lying. What is it that-”

“It is our finding that one Russian airman was killed at the very same time that one of your space-based attack weapons was detected deorbiting in the same area,” Truznyev interjected. “We have not been able to extensively interview the surviving pilot yet, but it appears to us that an American space-launched interceptor weapon destroyed one of our planes. Is this true, sir?”

“Stand by, please, Mr. President,” Gardner said, hitting the “HOLD” button again. “Shit, he knows about the Hammer thing taking out one of his planes! How could he know that?”

“ Russia operates space surveillance and intelligence-gathering sites from an island off the coast of Somalia, from India, and from ships that can be deployed anywhere, sir-they might even have one in their task force out in the Gulf of Aden,” Director of National Intelligence Gerald Vista said. “I’m sure they carefully track any of our spacecraft in range, especially the weapon garages.”

“Well, what the hell am I supposed to say now?”

“Mr. President, if you tell Truznyev that Major Faulkner acted without authorization,” Vice President Ken Phoenix said, “it’ll appear as if the entire U.S. military is out of control.”

“It does look like it’s out of control, Ken!” Gardner snapped.

“Colonel Cazzotta and Major Faulkner were doing their jobs, sir-Cazzotta had been ordered to inspect and report on the Russian fleet, and Major Faulkner was ordered to protect American interests with their space-based weapons.”

“I didn’t tell the bomber pilot to race around the ships as if he-I mean she-was getting ready to attack them, just fly nearby and show the damned flag!” Gardner exclaimed. “And I ordered those Thor’s Hammer things not to be used, and I was in the process of doing away with them.”

“Sir, I recommend you use this opportunity to challenge Truznyev,” Phoenix said. “This whole thing started when the Russians gave us permission to inspect their task force, then engaged the bomber offensively with radar and verbal challenges, acting as if they were ready to attack. If the Russians had simply allowed the plane to fly by, none of this would have happened. It’s not our airmen’s fault they reacted aggressively-they were only doing their jobs.”

The president thought for a moment. Finally the expression of confusion and doubt lifted, and the rest of the president’s national security team thought they were going to watch the commander in chief get tough with the Russians. Gardner hit the line button: “Mr. President, I…apologize for what has happened today,” he said. Most of the national security team looked as if they tensed all at once-even Barbeau’s surprised expression on the video teleconference screen was evident. Ken Phoenix’s expression was utterly blank. “The actions of the bomber crew were uncalled for and provocative at the very least, and were possibly a violation of orders punishable by a court-martial. As for the downing of one of your fighters…yes, sir, a weapon was fired from space by our Space Defense Force.”

“So you admit it.” Truznyev crowed. They could hear the Russian president’s angry, incredulous voice in the background, even though the translator delivered it in his usual even monotone.

“Mr. President, it underscores the absolute necessity of instituting a ban on offensive space-based weapons,” Gardner said. “The space-station crew felt it was necessary to help defend the bomber and tanker, and so they acted. If such weapons are banned, such actions will not occur.”

“So you ordered this attack from space to induce Russia to agree to a ban on the very weapons you used to kill our airman?” Truznyev asked. “How dare you, sir! It is bad enough holding a gun to our heads by placing those monstrosities in orbit and then asking for a ban on such weapons, but then you dare try to increase the pressure by killing a Russian with one!”

“That was not my intention, sir,” Gardner said. “I did not sanction either action-the bomber crew and the space-station crews acted without my prior permission. They thought that their actions were part of their standing orders. They should have asked…”

The Russian president’s incredulous voice in the background completely drowned out the translator’s: “Vy ne odobrjaet ikh dejjstvija?” Truznyev shouted. The translator quickly cut in: “You did not approve their actions, sir?”

“Of course not!” Gardner said. “Things happened too fast.” He realized he had just about lost control of this entire conversation, so he quickly added, “We told you we were going to patrol your task force, sir, and you engaged us anyway. Why was-”

“No, sir, do not attempt to place the blame on Russia,” Truznyev said. “Your airmen and Space Defense Force troops’ provocative and warlike actions resulted in the deaths of perhaps four Russian airmen and a dozen injuries.”

“And I deeply regret the loss of Russian life, Mr. President,” Gardner said. “But we are still confused as to why you would grant permission for a simple patrol overflight of your fleet, and then attack it. Were you trying to instigate a response, or-”

“Do not change the subject, Mr. Gardner,” Truznyev said. “You promised the world you would not employ those space-attack weapons and you called for a ban of such weapons, then you proceed right along and use another to shoot down a Russian aircraft. You simply cannot be trusted any longer, sir. You are a liar. And if you seek to pretend that you did not give the order to employ those weapons, you are not only a liar but a coward.”

“There is no need for such language, sir,” Gardner said.

“This is Russia ’s demand to you, Mr. Gardner,” Truznyev said. “All patrols by aircraft within strike range of our task forces will cease immediately. We will consider any such aircraft hostile and engage it immediately and without warning. Do you agree, sir, yes or no?”

“We are allowed freedom to navigate the sky as well as the sea, sir. We will not-”

“I said, Mr. Gardner, do you agree?”

Gardner hesitated, but only for a few moments: “Agreed, Mr. President,” he said. “In the interest of mutual peace and trust, the United States will fly no patrol aircraft within one hundred miles of any Russian warship.” His national security advisers looked aghast as they listened in on the conversation; Phoenix still wore the same stony expression.