Brown, Dale - Patrick McLanahan 05 by Shadows of Steel (v1.1)

lock-on signal right away. “Locked on!
Clear me to fire! ”
                 Cromwell
thought for a moment: if the Stinger missed, they’d have highlighted themselves
to the fighter. The helicopter might come after them then ... but the others
might be safe, might have time to make it. “Clear to fire! ” Cromwell shouted.
                 “Missile
away!” the gunner shouted as he superelevated the launcher and squeezed the
trigger. The missile popped out of the launcher, its main rocket motor ignition
seemingly close enough to touch. The Stinger missile heeled sharply north, the
motor burned out. . . and seconds later, they saw another bright glob of light
and a streak of fire drawn across the night sky. “Got the motherfucker!” the
gunner shouted. They saw the streak of fire continue north—it was on fire, but
apparendy still flying.
                 “A
half a kill is better than nothing,” Cromwell said as the crew fitted another
missile onto the firing grip assembly. In twenty seconds they were ready to
fire a second round.
                 The
helmsman turned the lifeboat back on a westerly heading, toward shore but away
from the brightly burning ship. It was hard to pick out details, but the shape
was different; it was listing heavily to port, almost capsized, Jon Masters
guessed. He had never seen a ship sink for real before—even from this distance,
it was horrifying. They could hear hisses and pops and tearing, grinding metal
sounds roll across the water; then, several minutes later, nothing. The ship
was out of sight a few minutes later, lost forever.
     
    The white House, Washington , D.C.
    SEVERAL HOURS LATER
     
                 “Do
not talk to us of treachery and
sedition, Madam Vice President,” Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati, the Iranian Foreign
Minister, said over the phone. His English was good, with a touch of a British
accent. “First the United States assists the Gulf Cooperation Council with a
wanton attack on Iranian soil—then you violate our sovereignty, our peace, and
our right to free access to international waters and sovereign airspace by
flying spy planes over our vessels. Not only that, madam, but our vessels and
aircraft came under attack by your spy vessel! This is an act of war, and you have started it! ”
                 “The United
States had no spy vessels or aircraft anywhere near your ships, Dr. Velayati,”
Ellen Christine Whiting said. “The United States will not tolerate air or naval attacks on
unarmed civilian vessels in international or allied waters ...”
                 But
Velayati was already speaking before the Vice President
                 could
finish: “It is vital for the peace and safety of the entire region for all to
stop these threats and accusations, pledge assistance to help in
rescue-and-recovery efforts, and pledge cooperation in restoring peace to the
region,” Velayati said. “The Islamic Republic is conducting
rescue-and-reconstruction work on our damaged property on Abu Musa Island —the death and destruction, I must remind
you, which was caused by you and your Zionist stooges!”
                 “I
can assure you, Minister, that the United States government was not involved in the attacks
against Abu Musa Island ,” Whiting said, “and neither were the
Israelis. The Gulf Cooperation Council was responding to the threat of
anti-ship, antiaircraft, and long-range missiles placed on your illegal
military installations. I can assure you, Minister, that the United States will not tolerate any—”
                 “I
have told you, madam, that Iran is not responsible! Not responsible!”
Velayati exploded. “Do not provoke my government, madam! America wants war with Iran ! We are not begging for war like America ! We want peace! But we will act to protect
our people and our homes! We want all warships to depart the Persian Gulf at once. All foreign