The Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy [57]
"That's a billion-dollar asset, General," Pelt said diffidently.
Ryan saw the president smile. He was said to like lively discussions. "Judge, what are the legal ramifications?"
"That's admiralty law, Mr. President." Moore looked uneasy for once. "I've never had an admiralty practice, takes me all the way back to law school. Admiralty is jus gentium—the same legal codes theoretically apply to all countries. American and British admiralty courts routinely cite each other's rulings. But as for the rights that attach to a mutinous crew—I have no idea."
"Judge, we are not dealing with mutiny or piracy," Foster noted. "The correct term is barratry, I believe. Mutiny is when the crew rebels against lawful authority. Gross misconduct of the officers is called barratry. Anyway, I hardly think we need to attach legal folderol to a situation involving nuclear weapons."
"We might, Admiral," the president mused. "As Jeff said, this is a highly valuable asset, legally their property, and they will know we have her. I think we are agreed that not all the crew is likely to be in on this. If so, those not party to the mutiny—barratry, whatever—will want to return home after it's all over. And we'll have to let them go, won't we?"
"Have to?" General Maxwell was doodling on a pad. "Have to?"
"General," the president said firmly, "we will not, repeat not, be party to the imprisonment or murder of men whose only desire is to return to home and family. Is that understood?" He looked around the table. "If they know we have her, they'll want her back. And they will know we have her from the crewmen who want to return home. In any case, big as this thing is, how could we hide her?"
"We might be able to," Foster said neutrally, "but as you say, the crew is a complication. I presume we'll have the chance to look her over?"
"You mean conduct a quarantine inspection, check her for seaworthiness, maybe make sure they're not smuggling drugs into the country?" The president grinned. "I think we might arrange that. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. There's a lot of ground to cover before we get to that point. What about our allies?"
"The English just had one of their carriers over here. Could you use her, Dan?" General Hilton asked.
"If they let us borrow her, yes. We just finished that ASW exercise south of Bermuda, and the Brits acquitted themselves well. We could use Invincible, the four escorts, and the three attack boats. The force is being recalled at high speed because of this."
"Do they know of this development, Judge?" the president asked.
"Not unless they've developed it themselves. This information is only a few hours old." Moore did not reveal that Sir Basil had his own ear in the Kremlin. Ryan didn't know much about it himself, had only heard some disconnected rumblings.
"With your permission, I have asked Admiral Greer to be ready to fly to England to brief the prime minister."
"Why not just send—"
Judge Moore was shaking his head. "Mr. President, this information—let's say it's only delivered by hand." Eyebrows went up all around the table.
"When is he leaving?"
"This evening, if you wish. There are a couple of VIP flights leaving Andrews tonight. Congressional flights." It was the usual end-of-session junket season. Christmas in Europe, on fact-finding missions.
"General, do we have anything quicker?" the president asked Hilton.
"We can scratch up a VC-141. Lockheed JetStar, almost as fast as a -135, and we can have it up in half an hour."
"Do it."
"Yes, sir, I'll call them in right now." Hilton rose and walked to a phone in the corner.
"Judge, tell Greer to pack his bags. I'll have a cover letter waiting for him on the plane to give to the prime minister. Admiral, you want the Invincible?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll get her for you. Next, what do we tell our people at sea?"
"If October just sails in, it won't be necessary, but if we have to communicate with her—"
"Excuse me, Judge," Ryan said,