Phantom force the uss cu.., p.41
Phantom Force (The USS Cunningham Quintet Book 5), page 41
“Apparently you think Harconan is giving you the straight dope?” MacIntyre said as she hung up the phone.
“It fits with everything we’re seeing on the boards and it fits what I know about the man.”
MacIntyre scowled. Damn, she would have to bring that up.
“Makara Harconan can be a focused planner, but he’s also mercurial and essentially egocentric. He has no government or set national policy to answer to, no bureaucracy to turn around. He is a king with a king’s prerogative to change his mind in a heartbeat. Now he’s been attacked, he’s angered – and he’s turning on his attacker. That opens a window of opportunity for us.”
Harconan was not the only mercurial figure in the equation. MacIntyre had to struggle to keep pace with this drastically altering scenario. There were also the diverting sounds of zippers opening and clothes slithering from the other room. “To do what?”
“To turn the entire Indonesian situation around,” she replied. “To regain control on our terms.”
MacIntyre glanced up toward the gap in the door, just in time to catch a momentary flash of golden tanned skin. God damn it to hell, MacIntyre, not now!
“That would be quite a trick,” he fired back. “The entire archipelago is in chaos.”
“Exactly, Elliot.” Her purring alto grew more distant, lifting over the sound of water hissing from the shower. “For the first time, we know who we’re fighting and, for the first time, we have a level playing field. Ketalaman’s intervention has thrown Harconan’s plan into chaos. But our successful evacuation of the Kediri government from Jakarta has also thrown Ketalaman’s plan into chaos. Nobody has a viable plan in play and the first people to develop one wins.”
“You’re sounding like you have one.”
“I think I do. But it all depends on two factors. One, we have to keep our alliance with Harconan a secret. Nobody – and I mean nobody – can know he’s actively working with us. That’s why I brought him out to the Shenandoah. Here, we have full control of him and of the situation.
“Next, the trick will be to bring together a widely diverse group of factions. You’re still a fishing buddy with the Secretary of State, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Great. You can deliver him, and through him, the State Department.” The water shut off. “Beyond State, we’ll need to bring on board the Kediri government, the Australians, the Bugi Pirate clans, the Morning Star revolutionaries in New Guinea and the Balinese religious leadership.”
MacIntyre turned to fully face the door. “Damn it, Amanda, that wouldn’t be a trick, that would be a canonizable miracle!”
Amanda appeared in the doorway, wrapped in a thigh length beach jacket and vigorously toweling her hair dry. “Don’t I know it,” she said, smiling wryly. “What’s more, we only have a matter of days, if not hours, to make it happen.”
Command-and-Control Block, USS Shenandoah
0024 Hours; Zone Time, December 3, 2008
Harconan found himself amused. The situation was strikingly novel, the shark surrounded by the pod of killer whales. The group of uniformed men and women gathered around the big briefing table were all eyeing him with the same baleful wariness as the two side-armed Marines at the compartment door.
It was something of a compliment to be considered so formidable, but it was also going to make his eventual disengagement from this situation something of a challenge.
But that was a matter to be dealt with later. For now, he was where he wished to be.
“Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to show you what I can bring to the table.” From his position at the head of the briefing table, Harconan gestured at the large screen display. It glowed with a map of western Indonesia, the islands dotted with several score position hacks paired with geographical co-ordinate sets. “With certain previously mentioned exceptions, these are my untapped weapons caches in the archipelago. The Indonesian government forces should find them useful. I trust that, by now, you have proven their veracity?”
“We’ve been in communication with the Indonesian Army command on Java,” Admiral MacIntyre replied. “They’ve already investigated a couple of your cache sites. The arms were there and the inventories match. We’re willing to concede you’re delivering the goods in this instance.”
“As I can in a number of other areas, my good admiral,” Harconan replied. “I can give you Intelligence contacts in every major and the majority of the minor ports in the archipelago, as well as a major coast watcher network. For example …” Harconan stood and turned to the screen, then tapped a port symbol at the Northwestern tip of Sumatra. “Here at Banda Aceh, you have the primary concentration of rebel naval forces. Currently in port and ready for sea you’ve got the frigates Slamet Riyadi and the Silas Papare, a Van Speijik and a Parchim conversion. You’ve also got two major amphibious warfare vessels, the LSM Teluk Hading and the Indonesian Fleet flagship, the Teluk Surabaya.
“You also have a light forces group: a dagger missile boat, two Lurssen FPB 57 gunboats and two Kondor class minesweepers.” Harconan swept his hand to the eastern entrance of the Malacca Strait. “Here you have – or at least you had – their first-string force: three Fatahillah class frigates and another dagger boat inbound to Banda Aceh from their patrol stations. The port facilities at Banda were making preparations to refuel and restore them upon their arrival.”
At the other end of the table, Amanda glanced at her little golden-haired shadow, Christine Rendino. The younger woman nodded.
“We’ve known you’ve always had a handle on anything moving by sea in these waters, Makara,” Amanda replied. “Point taken. Continue.”
“All right, I can also provide you with armed commando and Intelligence gathering teams on a number of the islands, including Java and Sumatra. I can provide you with names and targeting data on a number of the Islamic radicalist cells that are likely supporting the Ketalaman coup, and I have contacts with a number of the prominent Hindu religious and community leaders on Bali. I’ve already urged them in the strongest possible terms to reign in the anti-Muslim violence there.
“Most importantly, I can give you littoral sea control and shallow draft sea transport. I can mass dozens of armed pinisi wherever you want them, and I can give you a couple of hundred inter-island coasters and schooners ready to sail and deliver troops, passengers or cargo wherever needed.” He stopped and quietly considered them all. “But I will require a few things in return.”
“Such as?” MacIntyre replied.
Harconan noted that the Admiral’s stare had the truculence of a displeased bull water buffalo.
“For one, I’ll need communications facilities. Ketalaman took out my own headquarters. Your fine ship here, the Galaxy Shenandoah, should be able to provide what I need admirably.”
Not an eye blinked around the table. There was not the least whisper of reaction to his probe.
“Or wherever it is that we are,” Harconan went on. “I will also need some promises.”
“Such as?”
Harconan leaned against the edge of the briefing table, putting emphasis on each word. “I want your word, Admiral, and that of Captain Garrett, that my people will be protected, my captains, my crews, my clan chiefs, my agents. They will fight under your command, not Kediri’s. You will, in turn, guarantee them anonymity. Their identities will not be handed over to the government.”
Amanda and MacIntyre again engaged in a silent visual conference. “Accepted,” MacIntyre replied. “What else?”
“If I actively begin assisting you, Ketalaman will know about it. He will retaliate against the Bugi colonies within his reach. I want your guarantees that, to the fullest extent of your capacities, you will assist in the protection of my noncombatants.”
This time it was Amanda who replied. “You have my promise.”
“That will be satisfactory.”
“You don’t mention anything about immunity for yourself,” MacIntyre said.
The taipan shrugged and grinned. “A minor matter to be discussed at a later date.”
Amanda’s eyes narrowed and the faintest hint of a rueful smile tugged at her lips. “I’ve got one more question for you, Makara. I know you’re in very deep with the leadership of Morning Star Liberation Movement on New Guinea. Just how much so?”
“I’ve supported their cause and they’ve supported mine,” Harconan replied with caution. “I’ve delivered them arms and I’ve done them other favors here and there.”
“Will they listen to you? Can you influence them?”
“I can put you in contact with certain of the tribal counsels. And, if my advice is asked for, I will give it.”
Amanda and her Admiral exchanged another protracted look and MacIntyre nodded minutely. Then he looked back to Harconan. “All provisions accepted, Mr. Harconan.”
Harconan returned to his chair at the briefing table. The Admiral had spoken. Provisionally, he was on board and a member of the team.
But the Marine sentries still remained at the door.
“Captain Garrett,” MacIntyre continued. “This is your package. Bring the Operations Group up to speed on what we’ve been looking at.”
“Yes, sir.” She rose from her chair and walked the length of the table, brushing past Harconan without looking at him.
“Go to full map view, please.”
The large screen display flicked to a full imaging of the Indonesian Archipelago. “Ladies and gentlemen, as you know from our sociopolitical database on Indonesia, a key aspect of national discontent has been a perceived Java-centricity within the Jakarta government. In this instance, it’s valid. The island of Java and the capital of Jakarta are at the very heart of this conflict. The side that controls Java and Jakarta will win.
“At the moment, the question who exactly controls what is still up in the air. The rebels are in nominal possession of the capital city, but fighting between rebel and government forces is ongoing across the rest of Java. Our assessment is that neither side has an adequate block of ground forces on the island to secure it. The classic doctrine of ‘Who gets there fustest with the mostest’ will decide the outcome of this battle.
“In this, the rebels currently have the edge.” Amanda’s hand drifted from Java across the Sunda Strait. “Their primary base of power and the bulk of their reserve formations on Sumatra, right next door, while the government’s loyal troops are scattered throughout the islands, especially on New Guinea at the far eastern end of the archipelago.
“The basic strategic equation is simple. We must use the assets available to us to slow the rate of rebel reinforcement while accelerating that of the government. The distance factors can be leveled by outside airlift, ours and that of the other Regional Intervention Force powers. That will not exceed our existing rules of engagement.
“As for the rest? That will be up to us.”
Washington D.C.
0452 Hours; Zone Time, November 5, 2008
Secretary of State Harrison Van Linden didn’t much enjoy diplomacy by video. He was both a statesman and a poker player of the old school. He preferred direct eye to eye contact with his opposite number.
Modern telecommunications also put you at the mercy of time zones. Diplomacy and discretion dictated that one had to give the other fellow the decent night’s sleep.
Van Linden had elected to conduct this video conference from his own office at the State Department. Per force, it must be an off-the-cuff piece of work, if for no other reason than President Kediri’s “Capital City” was now the USS Pelelieu holding at anchor in Benoa Port.
“Mr. Secretary, the President of Indonesia is standing by on-line,” the communication officer’s voice issued from the speaker of his desk videophone deck.
Van Linden snuck a last sip of strong black coffee and passed the cup and saucer to an aide outside of the camera. His Chief of Staff was present in the room as well, as well as a staffer with a networked laptop balanced on her knees, ready to call up and feed him any required information from the crisis database.
There would be another observer as well, one not physically present. President Childress would be monitoring both ends of the call from the White House.
“Put President Kediri through, please, and record.”
“Very good, Mr. Secretary.”
The phone’s small flat screen flicked over from the State Department seal to an image of a briefing room aboard the Regional Intervention Force flagship.
President Kediri sat stony-faced in the foreground of the screen. The Indonesian Foreign Minister and the Golkar Party Chairman flanked him, each man wearing translator headsets. A handful of other Indonesian officials and senior military officers occupied the other seats in the briefing room, refugees rallied from locations outside of Jakarta. This was the only remnant remaining of the standing national government. The question was: was it enough of a seed to grow again?
“Good day, Mr. President,” Van Linden began. “I hope that you are well and that our accommodations and facilities have been adequate.”
“Your military has been most helpful, Mr. Secretary,” Kediri replied stiffly. “We have been able to re-establish communications with those elements of our armed forces still faithful to the true government. We survive, but the situation is critical.”
“We are well aware of that, Mr. President, and we are doing everything within our power to assist you in this crisis.”
“Does this course of action include more troops to assist my government in putting down Ketalaman’s coup?” Kediri demanded.
“It does not, Mr. President,” Van Linden replied levelly. “The commitment levels and the mission of the Regional Intervention Force will remain as they are now. However, we are fully prepared to give your government full support in the areas of Intelligence-gathering, logistics, transportation and communications. Indeed, we are already giving you that support. We will back you to the limit, Mr. President, but that limit is any active involvement in your civil war.”
“But we are losing the war on the three principal islands, Java, Sumatra and Bali!” Kediri protested. “The damn Hindus have driven all government authority from the island, save for that which is supported by your peacekeeping troops. Ketalaman holds Jakarta! It’s only a matter of time until there is a total collapse of resistance!”
Van Linden nodded gravely. “We fully agree, sir, and we have been working to develop a resolution to this situation. We have entered into negotiations that we feel could produce such a resolution.”
“Negotiations?” Kediri stiffened. “What manner of negotiations and with whom?”
“With a number of the involved parties, Mr. President,” Van Linden said, sidestepping the question. “We believe we may have come up with a course of action that could lead to a favorable outcome for your government.”
“Why were we not advised of these negotiations?” It was a demand from the Indonesian, not a mere question.
“We weren’t certain how events would develop, sir, and we desired to provide you with a concrete package before we brought it to your attention,” Van Linden replied. And I didn’t need you jiggling my elbow, Mr. President. Things are difficult enough as is.
“We’ve developed a two-phase plan actually,” the Secretary of State continued before he could be interrupted. “A Balinese resolution and a Javanese-Sumatran resolution. The Balinese resolution can be solely diplomatic and can be in play very rapidly.
“We have opened channels of communication with a number of the most powerful and respected pedanda of the Agama Tirta leadership. We have explained to them the true source and intent of the acts of desecration against their religion and we have provided them with evidence in this matter. So far, they’ve proved receptive to our contacts and they’re willing to use their influence to stop the violence against the Balinese Muslim population. The Balinese are essentially a people of peace, and this outburst of bloodshed has become appalling even to them. They are willing to work with us, Mr. President.”
“In the name of sanity, I should hope so!”
“But,” Van Linden said, “there is also a list of their concerns that they wish to be addressed.”
Kediri’s eyes narrowed. “Concerns? Of what nature?”
“They desire – no, they require – an increased Hindu representation within the National Government and a semi-autonomous Balinese island administration. They desire that Bali be led by the Balinese.”
“That is a blow against the central government,” Kediri protested. “That is totally against the spirit of our national policy of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika!”
“The Balinese leaders that I conferred with brought that subject up.” The corner of Van Linden’s mouth quirked slightly. “They stated that if ‘we are many but all are one’ is indeed the law of the land, and if the Javanese desire to administer Bali’s internal affairs, then perhaps a just solution would be for the Balinese to administer Java’s internal affairs. Thus, symmetry would be established.”
Kediri’s jaw tightened.
“However, Mr. President, the Balinese also state that, if their proposals are unacceptable, they are quite willing to consider independence.”
