22 January 1998

1950.

"I DON'T KNOW WHY I TOLD THE KID THAT. I DON'T KNOW why I said anything."

Breanna watched as Zen wheeled himself backward across the room. It had been a long time since she'd seen him so agitated, so angry with himself.

"G.o.d, Bree. Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut? What if he doesn't walk?"

"I don't think it's going to be that bad, Zen," she told him. "I'm sure the doctors will be able to do something."

Zen shook his head. "I saw the looks on their faces when we brought him into the base. I've seen that look. G.o.d, I've seen that look."

"Jeff, you can't get so down on yourself. It's not up to you whether he walks or not. G.o.d, if anyone would understand-"

"He's not going to understand."

"I mean, if anyone could understand what he's going through, it would be you. It is you. Jeff?"

But Zen had already rolled out of her room.

Northeastern Romania

23 January 1998

0900.

BY 9:00 A.M., GENERAL LOCUSTA HAD PROVIDED BUCHAREST with a full report of the bombing of the gas pipeline. Two rebels had been killed, he claimed-not exactly a lie, since he did have two bodies to present, though Locusta knew that the men had been left by the Russian special forces troops that launched the attack.

He downplayed his own losses, though he had already ordered full military honors for both men killed.

The damage to the pipeline was minimal, Locusta a.s.sured Bucharest; it would be repaired within days and there would be minimal disruption of the gas supplies.

Locusta was playing a dangerous game. The attack was part of a payoff for Russian cooperation in the coming coup, cooperation that would include the use of an a.s.sa.s.sin against the defense minister when the time came. It was also meant to convince the government to send the last units he felt he needed to a.s.sure himself victory when he moved against the president.

But it could also backfire and encourage Bucharest to sack him. Even though he'd been warning for weeks that an attack might be imminent, and even though he'd claimed that he didn't have the necessary troops for the growing threat, there was still a possibility that he could be blamed for failing to stop the attack, and be replaced by someone else.

If that happened, all of his preparations would be lost. At the very best, he'd be back where he was two years before: commander of a single division, not the leader of an army corps three times the size. All of the connections he had carefully cultivated among the old-timers-the hard-liners shut out by the new government-would be lost. Those men valued strength, and the scent of weakness and failure would send them running.

So when the phone didn't ring at precisely 9:00 a.m.-the time set for Locusta to speak to the president about the incident-the general began to grow nervous. He fidgeted with his feet, a habit he'd had since he was a boy. Pushing them together under the desk, he began jerking his legs up and down, tapping his soles lightly together. At 9:05 he rose from his desk and walked around the office, trying to remain nonchalant and work off his growing anxiety.

By 9:10, he was worried, wondering if he should place the call himself.

He decided not to. President Voda's office had made the appointment, and made it clear that the president would call him. To short-circuit the process would be a concession, however subtle, to a man he despised.

The phone finally rang at 9:17. Locusta waited until the third ring before answering.

"General Locusta."

"Please hold for the president."

Another three minutes pa.s.sed before President Voda came on the line.

"Tomma, tell me what is going on," said Voda abruptly.

"The pipeline is secure-for now. We have shot two guerrillas. With more men, I can prevent future problems."

"More men-you always ask for more men."

"Unfortunately, last night proves I am right."

"I see estimates that the guerrillas are faltering."

Locusta sighed. He knew that the guerrillas' movement was in fact growing smaller, partly because of his efforts, but also because the leftists were naturally weaklings. But it did him absolutely no good to admit this.

"Yes, yes, I suppose the events of last night are proof of what the situation is," said Voda finally. "I will get you your men. But-no operations over the border. Not at this time."

Though he had made suggestions in the past, Locusta had no plans to launch any operations now. He would, though, soon. When he was in full command.

"Did you hear me, General?"

"If we have a specific target, Mr. President, I think you might reconsider."

"When you have a target, you will review it with me. I will decide."

"Yes, Mr. President. But if we have to stay on defense, the additional men will be critical."

"You'll have them. You'll get whatever you need."

The president continued to speak. He was concerned about the situation. He didn't want news of it to get out; he didn't want Romania to appear weak. Locusta agreed-though he knew that the Russians would already be leaking it.

Then the president surprised him.

"I am considering asking the U.S. to a.s.sist us," said Voda.

"The Americans?" said Locusta, caught off guard.

"Politically, it would have been difficult a few weeks ago, but now that they are riding a wave of popularity, it is something that could be managed. You've been asking for more aircraft-they can provide some."

"I don't need the Americans to chase down these bandits."

"Our own air force is useless," said the president coldly.

Locusta couldn't argue with that. He suspected, however, that Voda wanted the Americans involved as much for political reasons as military ones. Voda's grand plan called for Romania to join NATO: another foolish move, borne from weakness, not strength.

"Their aircraft will help you track the guerrillas," said the president. "I will inform you if they agree."

The line went dead. Locusta stared at the phone for a second, then slammed it down angrily. The president was an a.s.s.

The Americans would complicate everything if they came.

Approaching Dreamland

0550.

PRESIDENT MARTINDALE WATCHED OUT THE WINDOW OF Air Force One as the hulking black jet drew parallel to the wings. It was a sleek jet-a B-1, Martindale thought, though he would be the first to admit that he wasn't an expert on aircraft recognition. It had the general shape of a fighter but was much too large to be one-nearly as long, in fact, as the EB-52 Megafortress riding beside it.

He recognized the EB-52 very well, of course. No other aircraft had ever been so closely identified with an administration before. It was ironic, Martindale thought; he certainly considered himself a man of peace-not a dove, exactly, but the last politician who would have chosen a weapon of war as his personal token. Yet he'd called out the military more than anyone since Roosevelt.

And much more effectively, he hoped.

Most of his critics didn't exactly see it that way. He didn't much mind the congressmen in the other party criticizing him. It was their job, after all. But when people in his own party questioned his motives in stopping the war between China, India, and Pakistan-that flabbergasted him.

And of course, they loved to claim he used Dreamland as his own secret air force and army.

Dreamland's reorganization under Major General Samson would stop some of those wagging tongues, integrating the command back into the regular military structure. But Martindale didn't want the baby thrown out with the bathwater, as the old saying went. Dreamland was the future. Samson's real task, as far as he was concerned, was to make the future happen now.

"Are those planes an escort?" asked the Secretary of State, Jeffrey Hartmann. "Or are they checking us out?"

"Probably a little bit of both," laughed Martindale, sitting back in his seat.

"If we can get back to the Romanian issue before we land," said Secretary of Defense Chastain. "It's a very serious situation. Europe is depending on natural gas for winter heating. If that pipeline is destroyed, we'll have chaos."

"No, not chaos," said Hartmann. "The Russians can provide an adequate supply. They have over the past few years."

"At prices that have been skyrocketing," said Chastain. "Prices that will mean a depression, or worse."

"You're exaggerating," said Hartmann.

"The Russians see the pipeline as a threat," said Chastain. "They're dancing in the Kremlin as we speak."

"I don't see them involved in this," said the Secretary of State. "They'll exploit it, yes. That's the Russian way. Take any advantage you can get. But they're not going to back guerrillas."

"Don't be naive," said Chastain. "Of course they are."

"They have enough trouble with the Chechens."

"I think the situation is critical," said Philip Freeman, the National Security Advisor. "Gas prices are just one facet. If the Russians are involved, their real goal may be to split NATO. They certainly want to keep the other Eastern European countries from joining. Look at how they're setting the prices: NATO members pay more. We've seen the pressure with Poland. The Romanian pipeline makes that harder to do."

"You're jumping to conclusions," said Hartmann. "There's no evidence that the Russians are involved. I doubt they are."

There was a knock at the door of the President's private cabin. Martindale nodded, and the Secret Service man who was standing nearby unlatched it. A steward appeared.

"Mr. President, the pilot advises that he is on final approach."

"Very good. Buckle up, gentlemen. We're about to land."

DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE ACTED AS DREAMLAND'S LIAISON, Jed Barclay had been to the base only a handful of times over the past two years. He'd never been there with the President, however, and so was surprised by the pomp and circ.u.mstance the secret base managed: Not only had a pair of Megafortresses and EB-52s escorted them in, but a half-dozen black special operations Osprey MV-22s hovered alongside Air Force One as the 747 taxied toward the hangar area. Six GMC Jimmy SUVs raced along on either side of the big jet, flanking it as it approached the small stage set up just beyond the access ap.r.o.n. The entire area was ringed by security vehicles and weapons. Mobile antiaircraft missiles stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Razor antiaircraft lasers. There were antipersonnel weapons as well-large panels of nonlethal, hard plastic b.a.l.l.s were strategically placed on the outskirts of the audience area, along with an array of video cameras and other sensors. Given how difficult it was to get to Dreamland, the gear was obviously intended to impress the President and his party.

Not that normal security was neglected. As a precaution, the President's stop at Dreamland was unannounced, and in fact would only be covered by the three pool journalists who were traveling in Air Force One. Their access-and even that of most of the White House staffers and cabinet members-would be limited to the immediate runway area where the ceremony was to take place.

The reporters wore expressions of awe as they walked down the rolling stairway from Air Force One. It was the first time they'd seen most if not all of the aircraft and weaponry in person.

Nearly all of Dreamland had a.s.sembled in the hangar area, with video feeding those with essential jobs elsewhere in the complex. The Whiplash security people, dressed in their black battle gear, ringed the crowd, though there was no need for crowd control in the traditional sense: While thrilled by the visit, the Dreamlanders were hardly the types who might start a riot.

Jed slipped down the steps, nodded at one of the men-the sergeant called Boston, whom he'd met before-then moved along the audience tape, catching up to the President and his party, who were met a few yards from the steps by General Samson. The general's hands moved energetically, visual exclamation marks as he told the President how grateful he and his entire command were for the visit. As he spoke, Samson smiled in the direction of the pool reporters, who'd been ushered to the opposite side of the President by the a.s.sistant press liaison. Jed couldn't quite hear what Samson was saying, but knew enough from dealing with him that the word the general would be using most often would be "I."

"Jed!"

Jed heard Breanna above the din of the crowd and the canned Hail to the Chief music being projected from the onstage sound system. It took a few moments to locate her; he was shocked to see her sitting in a wheelchair under a freestanding canopy at the far right of the reception line.

He knew she'd been injured during her ordeal off the Indian coast, but somehow it was impossible to reconcile the image he saw before him. Breanna was athletic and outgoing, a beautiful woman who'd made him jealous of his cousin the first time they met-or would have had he been capable of feeling anything but awe toward his older cousin.

Now she looked gaunt, her face peeling from sunburn, her eyes blackened like a prize fighter's after a t.i.tle bout.

"The chair is just temporary," she said, rising as he drew near. Her smile was the same, though her lips were blistered. "They're really babying me. I only strained my knee. It's embarra.s.sing."