Читать книгу The Crucible - Joaquin De Torres - Страница 6

Commander Kim Doo-hwan, the Executive Officer (XO) of the North Korean battlecruiser Kim Il-Sung, approached his commanding officer’s door apprehensively. He carried with him bad news and was reluctant to report it. Conflicted and distressed, he could see how the plans of his commanding officer and his government would shatter his life. Both plans were much different in scope, but the results would be the same: to put an end to the American blockade by force.

The government’s plan would sacrifice the lives of millions; his commanding officer’s plan would sacrifice just s single ship--his. Well-educated, well-respected and well-connected, Kim’s life and whatever dreams he may have had for his future, were about to end.

After taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked.

“Come in, Doo-hwan,” answered the man inside. Kim entered and closed the door. “Pour yourself some coffee; it’s hot.” Kim set his folder down on the desk and moved to the small vanity table where a coffee machine sat. He turned back and glanced at the man sitting behind the desk, staring at a portrait of a woman and a child at a small alter behind the desk. A black ribbon encased the large frame of the photograph. Small candles were alight at the foot of the portrait and the sweet smell of jasmine incense perfumed the room. Kim realized that he had come at the wrong time. He stood at attention and looked at the most respected and admired man his life.

“It's difficult sometimes, Doo-hwan, to get through the day.” The man wiped away tears from his eyes. Kim offered a slow, venerable bow to the portrait and small family alter the man was facing. Kim held the bow, paying his respects.

“I must go now, my beloved wife and son." There was a pause, then a deep bow to the portrait. The pain that gripped his heart and the anger that possessed his soul were held in check. He absorbed it all bravely, with dignity, allowing the corridors of his training to lead him back and stand him upright. Duty called, and emotions were now to be placed along side the memories now residing upon the alter.

Admiral Park Woo-kuen spun around in his swivel chair, his 65-year-old face now serene and composed. He looked at the well-disciplined, 37-year-old man standing rigidly in his sharply-pressed uniform. Tall, refined and commandingly handsome, Kim’s face exuded discipline and temperance.

"Please pour us both some coffee and sit down, Doo-hwan. I'm done for now. Thank you for your patience." Kim turned back to the table and poured each of them a cup and brought them back to Park's desk who then regarded them sternly.

“It’s shameful that we have so many luxuries aboard this vessel while the rest of our nation suffers.” Kim pulled up a chair and sat. “This coffee, the meat and fish in our freezers, the sacks of rice in the holds--it’s unfair that we have so much.” His face registered disgust.

“Yes, Admiral; it’s not fair.”

“We are the warriors, Doo-hwan, and now the government is depending on us to do what we’ve been trained to do." He caught the young commander gazing at his cup, reluctant to touch it. “Go on, drink it. It is already in your hands; don’t waste what is so coveted.” The admiral eyed him with admiration. “Times have turned the military into the privileged class. We’re fed well now because the time has come for us to fight.”

"The final meal before battle," Kim answered with a slight grin. "How ironic when we've been called the spineless dogs of Asia by our neighboring countries."

“Indeed, how ironic.” Park took a slow sip from his cup. “After what we will do, they will never criticize us again.” At hearing this, Kim dropped any hope of changing his commander’s mind. “Now, you have something for me, Commander?” Park’s smile faded as his eyes dropped to the folder lying on his desk.

“sir, these are key notes taken from the Security Counsel and Ministry of Defense emergency meeting yesterday.” Park stared blankly at him, prompting Kim to continue. “sir, my operatives in the counsel sent me this e-mail as soon as they could.” He opened the folder and proffered a printout of the e-mail to Park. “This could change everything. We should be receiving orders any day now.”

“We already have,” Park said flatly. He produced a sheet of paper from his desk and laid it on top of Kim’s document. His fingers tapped on the sheet dismissively. Kim quickly recognized the official letterhead--Toejo Naval Headquarters.

“Admiral, is something wrong?”

“These are our new orders.” He handed the sheet to Kim then looked away grimly. “It says that we are to put to sea and shadow enemy ships leading the blockade. But we are not to fire on them until we are first fired upon. We are to simply shadow them for now.”

“Shadow them?” Kim’s eyes narrowed questionably.

“It’s a sign that our government is beginning to buckle under the weight of international pressure. Our nation is dying, Doo-hwan; put to death, executed in the most cruel way. Even our president’s hard rhetoric can’t deflect that fact.”

“But the threat he made--the threat of attacking South Korea and Japan--just words? Our forces have been ready to fight for months. The families of a third of our crew are dead because of this blockade! My own parents!"

"And my wife and son," added Park, nodding his head in understanding. “Only my daughter is all I have left now.”

"And we are to simply shadow the enemy ships?” Kim’s flesh pulsed with rage.

“The United States has managed to kill more North Koreans with this blockade in just seven months than in any other war they fought, and they haven’t fired one bullet,” Park said sullenly. “The new strain of Cholera, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Asian Bird Flu, SARs and Swine Flu have done the killing for them.” Park gazed at Kim with bitter eyes. “It took our loved ones and half a million more while antibiotics and treatment kits are globally available!” His head turned to one side. “AND THE WORLD WATCHES!” he thundered, slamming his fist down hard on the desk in absolute revulsion. He looked away, then back to Kim. Suddenly rejuvenated with indignation and fury, Kim recommitted to the admiral’s plan.

"We will not follow these orders, Doo-hwan. We must make a statement; a global statement. We must fire that first shot.”

“And the target?”

“The Kitty Hawk. It will make the biggest statement. Once the American pride of the Pacific, she has been brought back out of decommission to come and harass us.”

“Where is she, Admiral?”

“Doing trials and testing off Hawaii before she transfers to our waters to reinforce the blockade.”

“You want to attack the Kitty Hawk?” asked Kim with a hint of caution. “What about her battlegroup? They will protect--”

“There is no battlegroup as of yet,” countered Park. “My sources tell me she will be in Hawaiian waters until she can get a squadron of planes, but that won’t be for another two weeks.” He looked pensively at Kim. “This is something we must do alone. I don’t trust the rest of our fleet’s commanders to support us. They’re too dedicated to their own political survival to think of anything as big as this. Besides, most of them are as corrupt as they are cowards.”

“There is one, Admiral,” Kim interjected. “We both know that--”

“No!” Park spat, shaking his head quickly. “This can only be done by us.” Kim swallowed his sentence and nodded in agreement. “Besides, you know the Defense Minister and I are enemies. He doesn’t know our intentions, and I’ll not risk anymore commanders. You’re all I need, Doo-hwan.” He reached over and grabbed Kim’s wrist gently. “It pains me enough to know that your life and your career--” he closed his eyes in regret. “Will be changed forever.”

“I chose this life, Admiral,” Kim said calmly, trying hard to suppress his anxiety. “You taught me everything I know and believe in this mission. I will follow you to the end.”

Park opened his eyes and smiled.

“Thank you, Doo-hwan. Now, the target. In order to not be seen as the instigators of a war, we must not be in Korean waters when we carry out our plan.”

“What do you mean, Admiral?”

“I mean, we must be very far away from the Korean Peninsula and our fleet. We must be on our own, independent and completely unconstrained from our government.” Park studied Kim’s face, looking for doubt.

“Admiral, our original plan was to engage a small ship in our operating area, disable it, but not destroy it, then--”

“The plan has changed considerably since we last talked, Doo-hwan. Trust me, after you hear me out, you will realize that the new plan, no matter how radical it sounds, is a more beneficial one.” Park waited for Kim’s response, which took a long moment.

“Then where, sir?”

“Somewhere you aren’t expecting.” Park took a longer sip from his cup. “America.” Kim stared blankly at him, but Park nodded his head. “We’re going to Hawaiian waters.”

“Why?” Apprehension now mapped Kim’s face.

“Because they would never expect it. We will be able to have the audience that is needed to change American policy.” Park pushed away from his desk and walked over to a large wall map depicting the entire Pacific Ocean area. He pointed to the Korean Peninsula. “If we attack here or anywhere in our or Japan’s waters, our actions will be seen as just part of what’s supposed to happen in a war zone.” He moved his finger down to the tiny formation depicting the Hawaiian Island chain. “But if we strike here, something that’s clearly not supposed to happen, then we’ll capture not only America’s attention, but the attention of the world!”

Kim could only stare at the finger pointing to the islands. His eyes traced the distance between the finger and the Korean Peninsula and shook his head.

“So, you’re saying we’re going to travel over 4,000 miles to American waters to attack an American aircraft carrier.” Kim’s face was nothing less than incredulous.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Park’s face was stern and showed no doubt. “The surprise factor, the audacity of the act, and the reason for it are things the media will kill for. To achieve our final goal we desperately need the media.” Kim’s eyes trailed off as he considered the possibilities and the implications of this new plan. He broke out of his contemplative moment and refocused on his news.

“Admiral, it’s important that you read about what was said at that meeting yesterday.” Kim again offered the sheet of paper.

“The orders you received are inconsequential.” Park returned to his seat and took the paper. “What? We’re going to war?” he asked as he read the lines again. “It says first strike capability on South Korea is first priority, followed by successive strikes targeting U.S. bases, then thermobaric strikes against surface units.” He read further. “Evacuation procedures are fifth priority!? What is this!?”

“The high command nor the government cares about our people. The orders call for the total obliteration of South Korea with no consideration to our citizens. Look at the bottom line, Admiral.”

“The public is not to be warned!” Park couldn’t believe what he had just read.

“The defense minister feels that any advanced preparation would only inform the enemy of our intentions. He did suggest possibly giving the U.S. a 12 or 24-hour warning, but didn’t state which, or when.”

“It doesn’t say anywhere when this attack is to happen!” Park was furious that he and his fellow commanders would receive weak mission orders while the government planned an all-out attack.

“My contact feels that it will happen within two weeks,” Kim offered solemnly. “If no relief is given to our nation by that time, a warning will be given. If the blockade is not lifted by the end of that warning, South Korea is to be destroyed at all costs.” Kim’s voice trailed off, overshadowed by dread. Park stood up and walked to the map again, his eyes silently studying the tracks, distances and waypoints that he had plotted in his mind earlier. He turned around crisply.

“Time is critical, Doo-hwan.”

“For what?”

“We will engage the carrier.”

“But, sir--”

“We will attack the carrier, then surrender to the Americans. We will make our plea then in front of the world once we enter Pearl Harbor.”

“Admiral, how can we--” Park held up his hand upon which Kim ended his attempts to object.

“Think about it first, Doo-hwan! By doing this we will have done two things--both positive. First, we would plead for the end of the blockade making them believe that desperation forced our hand. Public opinion by the Americans and the world is overwhelming. They want the blockade to stop. We must take advantage of this. And second, according to your news, we will have stopped an attack on South Korea. We will have saved both nations from going to war!”

“How can that happen?” Kim asked, already knowing the answer.

“If we get the Americans to end the blockade, and international agencies like the UN or Red Cross begin bringing in aid, our government would have no reason for the attack. None, whatsoever.” Kim nodded to Park’s delight. “I don’t care what happens to me as a consequence. I plan to turn myself over to American authorities. I will take the blame for it all, so that the crew may return home as heroes.” Park’s eyes were riveted with resolution. He raised his finger into the air. “The most important thing we must do--you and I--is to get the American’s to end the Iron Clad blockade. That’s it! How it’s done, is as you said, inconsequential.”

“I’m with you, Admiral! To the end!”

“Good! We will slip out of the harbor tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? sir, we can’t do that,” Kim cut in. “Our weapons bays are not yet loaded and we can’t load them until the day after tomorrow when the storm front is anticipated.”

“Storm front? Load them now!”

“sir, the storm front will blanket the coast with so much cloud cover that the American imagery satellites won’t be able to photograph the dock. We’ll be shielded during the loading. If we intend to travel across the Pacific undetected, we need to use the storm fronts.” Kim’s expression was clear and firm. “It's typhoon season and we must use this natural and powerful advantage.” Park took a deep breath, held by Kim’s unshakable eyes which now glimmered with the possibility that this plan may just work. He acknowledged his protégé by nodding his head and silently thanked the gods for him.

“Of course, Doo-hwan. Of course, you’re right. I got carried away.”

“Who is to know among us?” Kim asked. “I’ve told no one.”

“Set a meeting for tonight; here in my quarters.” Park took a slip of paper and wrote the names of those he wanted to attend and handed it to Kim. “Make sure they are present.” Kim nodded and stood. “Just text me to let me know when, Doo-hwan. Oh, and I will need Lieutenant Commander Cho from navigation to help me plot the courses. Send him here immediately.”

“Yes, Admiral.” Kim turned and headed for the door.

“Doo-hwan,” Park called out. When Kim turned the admiral was unrolling a huge Pacific Rim chart over a plotting desk. “Bring some brandy when you come back. After the meeting I want to have a toast.”

“A toast, Admiral?” Park looked at him, his eyes glazed over with vigor and passion.

“We’re going to change history, Doo-hwan. We’re going to change the future of our country forever!”