The Project 01 - White Jade

cities. Sanya houses SSBN's. If they move to deep water, we could be in trouble."
    The door to the Oval Office opened and an aide beckoned them in.
    Rice was sitting behind his desk, in front of the tall windows fronting the Rose Garden. A large, round rug bearing the Presidential Seal filled the center of the room. A cluster of elegant, upholstered chairs were grouped in front of the desk. Sitting there were General Holden , the Secretary of State and Cheryl Wilson, the Assistant Secretary for Asian Affairs. The President rose and took Selena's hand.
    "Selena. I was surprised to learn you were part of this. It's good to see you again. I was very sorry when William was taken from us. Everyone, please sit down."
    "Thank you, Mister President," she said. They sat.
    "Director Harker has told me about your mission. What I wanted was to look you in the eye and hear about it directly from you."
    "It was an experience, Mr. President."
    Rice glanced at his notes.
    "Gunnery Sergeant Peete. You were wounded."
    "It's nothing, sir." Ronnie sat ramrod straight in his chair in a suit and tie, holding the cane he'd been given at a perfect 90 degree angle. It was quite a change from his usual Hawaiian riot. He might as well have been on parade.
    "At ease, Gunny. Give your leg a rest, you deserve it. " Ronnie relaxed by about a millimeter.
    Rice looked at Nick. "Major Carter. You led the team."
    Nick's service jacket lay on the desk . Sitting a few feet away from the President, he felt the aura of power that went with the office. He had no doubt he was in the presence of the most powerful man in the world.
    "Yes, sir. Sir, I am no longer in the service."
    "I know that, Major . However, you never resigned your commission, so that is not quite accurate. What were your instructions?"
    "To penetrate an ancient temple complex in Tibet ."
    "For what purpose?"
    "General Yang had gone to extremes to obtain the location of this complex. We weren't sure what he wanted. We only knew it was important to him. We felt it was in the national interest to get there first and confound any plans he might have for whatever was found. We were operating on the theory that what was bad for Yang would be good for us."
    "You found evidence of a high yield uranium deposit?"
    "Yes, Mister President. In the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region."
    Rice gave him a careful look.
    "I understand you have video of the underground chamber."
    "Yes, sir."
    "I would like all copies of this video delivered to me personally. Is that clear?"
    "Very clear, sir."
    "Good." Rice sat for a few seconds, said, "How did the firefight begin?"
    Carter told him the story. He smiled.
    "Outstanding. Well done, Major. What is your assessment of the fallout from your mission?"
    "Sir?"
    "Fallout. Political, military. Consequences, if you like."
    The President of the United States was asking for his opinion. It was a first.
    "Well, sir, I don't think there are going to be any consequences to speak of."
    Wilson made a sound of disgust. " Mister Carter, you illegally entered Chinese sovereign territory and attacked and killed over thirty of their troops. How can you possibly say there won't be any consequences?"
    Rice's eyes flicked toward her, but he said nothing.
    Carter felt his temper rising.
    "First of all, they attacked us, not the other way around. Those troops were under the command of Colonel Wu, Yang's man. If I were running the PRC, I wouldn't want to make a big deal about it. It's a deniable incident in a remote region, the result of actions taken by a madman trying to take over China ."
    "You insist there is a coup being planned."
    Carter looked at her.
    "Are you as stupid as you seem?"
    Wilson's face tightened into a puckered scowl.
    Carter said, "Yes, I do insist. From our satellite intel, I would say it has already happened and succeeded or not. If it did succeed, we've got a problem that has nothing to do with Tibet . If it didn't, there aren't going to be any consequences from my mission."
    Wilson's face pinched itself together and she was about to say something when an aide came in, whispered in Hogan's ear, and left the room.
    "Mister President, President Zhang is calling."
    "About time. Put him on the speaker."

Chapter Fifty- Four

    " Sir… " Hogan was looking at Nick and the others.
    " Just put him on the speaker, Kevin. "
    " Yes, sir. "
    " Mister President. " The voice quality was good. Zhang spoke in Chinese, with simultaneous translation on his end. Rice gestured to