The Rising Sea

32

Rudi Gunn arrived at the White House after being summoned out of the blue. The lack of information as to why suggested it wasn’t going to be a pleasant visit.

After a brief wait, he was ushered inside the Oval Office, where he stood respectfully until directed to sit. The President sat behind the big desk, reviewing something through a pair of antique reading glasses. Vice President Sandecker stood beside him.

James Sandecker was normally a welcome sight for Rudi, since he’d run NUMA before accepting the offer to move to the second-highest position in the American government. But Sandecker’s face was stern and Rudi felt no warmth from his old boss.

The President pushed the paperwork aside, took his glasses off and looked across the desk. “Rudi, you know how much respect I have for NUMA in general and your leadership in particular. So, it pains me to ask you this, but… what in the name of God are your people up to in Asia?”

“Pardon me, Mr. President,” Rudi said, “but I’m not exactly sure what you’re referencing.”

“The State Department has been inundated with communiqués suggesting your Special Projects team has been wreaking havoc in Japan. They’ve been seen dealing with local gangsters, accused of getting involved with an antigovernment cult and burning down a thousand-year-old castle. Now we’re receiving intelligence out of China that all of Shanghai has gone into lockdown and a massive dragnet has been spread across the city to locate two more wayward NUMA operatives who snuck into the country like spies.”

Rudi had been expecting heat to come down sooner or later. “They’re not wayward, Mr. President. They’re working on the sea-level issue, following up leads which suggest China may be responsible for what we’ve seen globally.”

“They appear to have violated Chinese sovereignty in their efforts.”

Rudi didn’t blink. “I directed them to take whatever action was necessary in search of answers. I’ll take responsibility.”

The President appeared cross.

Sandecker offered a comment. “I told you Rudi wouldn’t pass the buck.”

“Don’t cover for him, Jim.”

“He doesn’t need me to. He’s telling it to you straight.”

The President turned to face Rudi once more. “Do you have any idea how delicate the situation is right now? How precarious Japanese — American relations are? China has been giving them the full-court press for over a year to become part of an Asian-only trading bloc and military alliance. Things are changing fast. Nine months ago, they settled the dispute about war crimes from World War Two. Six months ago, they began treaty negotiations. Three months ago, they held joint naval exercises for the first time ever. Tomorrow, they will sign an extensive cooperation agreement. And, next week, the Japanese Parliament will vote on whether or not to remain bound by the mutual defense treaty with America.”

“I hardly see how that—”

The President cut him off. “Any untoward actions blamed on America will just fuel the fire. The burning of the ancient temple has been played on nationalistic websites in Japan over and over for the last seventy-two hours.”

Rudi waited to make sure the President was done. “Not much I can do about that, Mr. President. The castle was not burned by our people. It was, in fact, burned in an attempt to kill the occupants and the members of my team. We believe the kill order came from China.”

“I see.”

“As for the activities in Shanghai,” Rudi added, “my people are investigating something that could prove far more devastating than any political setback or realignment. The fact of the matter is, if this sea-level rise proceeds unchecked, switching political alliances and signing new treaties will be a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”

The President waved him off. “I don’t want to hear about the damned sea-level rise. I’ve heard it from Jim too many times already. In my opinion, you’re both a little crazy.”

“Yes, Mr. President, perhaps we are.”

The President stared at Rudi for a long moment and then turned to Sandecker. “You really handpicked a stubborn bunch over there at NUMA.”

Sandecker grinned. “Damned proud of it, too.”

“We’ll see what it gets us,” the President said. “In the meantime, Rudi, perhaps you can explain this.”

Without another word, the President aimed a remote control at the far wall. With the touch of a single button, a large panel slid backward, revealing a hidden high-definition monitor.

A short video began. It displayed the murky view from an underwater camera. Along the side of the screen were various instrumental readings.

“It’s our standard ROV interface,” Rudi admitted.

The video was jerky, spliced together in a hasty fashion. For three seconds, they watched swirling water clouded with sediment. The next cut was a sonar image of what appeared to be a range of cone-shaped mountains along the seafloor. A close-up of one made it obvious that water was blasting from it like a geyser. Finally, they were treated to several shots of underwater wreckage, ending with a white robotic arm and face.

“Where did you get this?” Rudi asked.

Sandecker answered. “It was broadcast this morning by the Indie News Network without comment or explanation. They’re claiming they were hacked, but, interestingly enough, the transmission was preceded by a series of numbers. String those numbers together and you get the NUMA ID codes for Paul and Gamay Trout.”

“Your lost agents in Shanghai,” the President said.

“Yes, Mr. President.”

Sandecker spoke the thought already playing on Rudi’s mind, “You may have sacrificed them, Rudi. I hope it was worth it.”

“They must have thought so,” Rudi said, “or they wouldn’t have sent this out. It’s up to us to figure out what it means. And to get Paul and Gamay out of there.”

“We’re not going to get them out,” the President said. “We’re not even going to acknowledge their presence in the country.”

“It’ll be pretty hard to deny it if they get captured,” Rudi said.

“He’s got a point,” Sandecker added.

A look of frustration and anger crossed the President’s face. “You’ve put us in a difficult position.”

“For that, I apologize,” Rudi said. “But it’s in all of our interests to get Paul and Gamay out of there before the Chinese catch up to them.”

“Not if it means throwing gas on the fire,” the President said. “Our best bet is to downplay the significance of this and make no moves whatsoever. If the Chinese think we don’t care, they might stop caring themselves.”

“Or they might bury Paul and Gamay in unmarked graves.”

“A risk they took when they entered China.” The President shut off the flat-screen and closed the panel. “That’s all for now.”

Rudi had spent enough time in the Navy that being curtly dismissed after getting reamed out was second nature. But that didn’t lessen the sting. He stood. “Thank you, Mr. President.”

“Hang on, Rudi,” Sandecker said. “I’ll walk you out.”

Rudi left the Oval Office with Sandecker at his side.

“You know I wouldn’t have sent them in without good reason,” Rudi told his old mentor.

Sandecker moved with a quick stride, hands behind his back. “I’ve seen the briefing on the sea-level rise. I’m aware of the urgency. The President is, too, but his hands are tied politically. Until half of Florida is underwater, no one is going to see the need for action.”

Rudi knew the game. He and Sandecker had always tried to rise above it. “I’d be violating the trust of the American people if I sat around and waited for that to happen.”

“Yes, you would,” Sandecker said. “So get what information you can out of this video and we’ll see what we can do. With something more than murky pictures to go on, we might be able to act. At least we’d be able to bring the truth to light. Just determining that China is behind this would be a step in the right direction. But we need to know how they caused it, why and how bad it’s going to get.”

“Could we sneak a submarine in there for a more detailed look?”

“Not a chance,” Sandecker said. “The Chinese have doubled their patrols since Paul and Gamay made this recording. We’d be risking a direct military confrontation if we violate their waters again.”

“And making the political situation worse,” Rudi said. “I understand.”

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the foyer, where Rudi stopped and spoke his mind. “I’m not leaving them out there to die.”

Sandecker didn’t blink. “I share your concern, Rudi. I brought Paul and Gamay on board. Sent them out on their first assignments. But you have to accept reality. We may not have any choice in the matter.”

Rudi had spent a career leaning on the wisdom of James Sandecker. For the first time in his life, he found himself in utter disagreement with the Admiral. “I’m not leaving them.”

“Then you’d better find a way to get them back here without making things worse.”