State of Siege - Tom Clancy [52]
"Then we will adapt it,", she said. "The sentiment is correct. We must acknowledge that these people have the power to kill or release our delegates and children. Perhaps bowing to them will gain us time and trust."
"It certainly won't gain us their respect," Mott said. "I disagree, Colonel Mott," Takahara said. "Submission has been known to placate terrorists. But I am curious, Madam Secretary-General. How do you intend to bow?"
Takahara always surprised Ani. Throughout history, Japanese leaders had never been comfortable with conciliation-unless they were pretending to want peace while preparing for war. Takahara was not like that. He was a genuinely pacifistic man. "I'll go to the terrorists," Chatterjee said. "I'll express our interest in helping them and request time to arrange an opportunity for them to address their requests directly to the nations involved."
"You're inviting a siege, was Mott declared. "I prefer that to a bloodbath," said Chatterjee. "Besides, we must secure one thing at a time. If we can achieve a postponement of the deadline, perhaps we will be able to find the means to defuse the situation."
"May I remind you," said Takahara, "the killers in dicated that no communication would be acknowledged other than word that the money and transportation were theirs."
"It doesn't matter if they acknowledge," Chatterjee said. "Only that they listen."
"Oh, they'll acknowledge, all right," Mott said. "With gunfire. These monsters shot their way into the Security Council. They've got nothing to lose by shooting a few people more."
"Gentlemen," said Chatterjee, "we can't pay the ransom, and I will not permit an attack on the council chamber." It was obvious to Ani that the secretary-general was growing frustrated. "We are supposed to be the finest diplomats in the world and, at present, we have no options other than diplomacy. Colonel Mott, will you accompany me to the Security Council?"
"Of course," the officer said.
He sounded relieved. Chatterjee was smart going out with a soldier at her side. Speak softly, and carry a big stick. Ani heard coughs and the sound of chairs being moved. She glanced at her computer clock. The secretary-general had a little over seven minutes until the deadline. That was just enough time to get to the Security Council chamber. The bug would arrive shortly thereafter. Ani removed her headphones and turned to the phone to call David Battat. The line was secure, run through an advanced TACSAT 5 unit inside the desk.
The phone beeped as she reached for it. She picked up the receiver. It was Battat.
"You're there," Battat said.
"I'm here," Ani said. "Canceled my hot date and came over as soon as this broke."
"Good girl," the forty-two-year-old Atlanta native said. Ani's fingers went white around the phone. Battat wasn't as bad as some of the others, and she didn't think he meant to be demeaning. It was just something he'd gotten used to in the spy-club-for-men. "The attack just broke on the news here," Battat said. "God, I wish I were there. What's happening?"
The young woman told her superior what Secretary-General Chatterjee was planning. After listening to the plan, Battat sighed. "The terrorists are gonna waste the Swede," he said. "Maybe not," Ani replied. "Chatterjee is pretty good at this."
"Diplomacy was invented to powder tyrants' behinds, and I've never seen it work for very long," Battat said. "Which is one of the reasons I'm calling. A former Company man named Bob Herbert phoned about twenty minutes ago. He's with the National Crisis: Management Center and needs a place for his SWAT team to crash. If they get a go-ahead from above, they may make a move to get the kids out. The boys up here have no problem with them using DSA as long as they keep our noses out of it. You should expect a General Mike Rodgers, Colonel Brett August, and party in about ninety minutes." "Yes sir," she said.
Ani hung up and waited before returning to her