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SEA OF SHADOWS 207
The president sighed. “Okay. We keep working the diplomatic angle,
but we leave the carriers in place, for now at least.”
He leaned back. “Germany.”
Undersecretary Mitchell spoke up. “The diplomatic situation between
Germany and Britain is deteriorating rapidly, Mr. President. Chancellor
Shoernberg has publicly refused to apologize for the attack on HMS York
and HMS Chatham. He claims that Britain defaulted on all existing
treaties and agreements the second the Royal Navy tried to impede the
passage of German submarines through international waters. He’s calling
for a formal apology from Prime Minster Irons, and he’s demanding
reparations for the aircraft that were destroyed and the pilots who were
killed. He’s really pitching a fit over the German warship, the Sachsen.”
“Reparations? I don’t see that happening,” Doyle said.
“I don’t either,” Mitchell said. “The average British man on the street
has blood in his eye right now. They were already mad as hell over the
attack on their embassy. They’re ready to hurt somebody, and the
shooting match with the Germans has just given them a target for all of
that anger. Prime Minister Irons is addressing Parliament this afternoon.
The grapevine says she’s going to ask for suspension of diplomatic ties
with Germany.”
The president grimaced. “Not good. When countries stop talking …”
“They have a tendency to start shooting,” the national security advisor
finished. “Sad, but true, Mr. President. And from the looks of things, both
sides are gearing up for it. Military bases on both sides of the English
Channel have been ordered to increased states of readiness, and air activity
for both countries has picked up by about fifty percent.”
“Is the naval operating tempo increasing as well?”
“Not yet, sir,” Brenthoven said. “But that’s probably coming.”
“What’s the latest on the submarines?”
“No word on their current location, sir. Fifth Fleet has assigned four
ships to intercept them south of the Strait of Hormuz. I have to tell you,
Mr. President, it’s going to take a lot of luck to pull this off.”
“Unfortunately,” Doyle said, “luck has been in rather short supply
around here lately.”
The president nodded. “Right now, we’re looking at about eighteen
different ways the world could go to shit.”
Undersecretary Mitchell smiled weakly. “Well, at least it can’t get any
worse.”