The Eye of Shiva

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.