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.S.involvement' military would need? Also for the cargo ships and aircraft, the communications systems, the laser-guided munitions, the electronic jamming units, the military planning system, the fully modernized command structure? Certainly not from Britain!”La Porte said confidently, “The money will be there, Sir Arnold, when the need becomes so clear that even the politicians can evade the future no longer.When they understand that the fate of Europe is at stake.”Sir Arnold was watching the French general intently.“Do you perhaps envision a time when we'd want to go to war with the United States?”A hush spread around the room, while La Porte paced, his face in a sudden scowl, his ponderous body impressive for its agility.“We already are at war with the Americans, in every aspect of life and business except militarily.But militarily, we cannot be.We are too weak, too dependent on all their systems, hardware, and even the most modern weapons.We have soldiers and arms that we can't properly equip, move, or control, without Washington.” He stopped pacing to face them, allowing his stern, unblinking eyes to examine each face.“For example, what would happen if there was some extreme crisis with Russia or China, and the American systems upon which we depend were all rendered useless or worse? What if Washington lost control of its own command and control systems? Where would we be then? If, for any reason, the Americans became defenseless, if only for a short time, then we would, too.In fact, we'd be even more defenseless.”Sir Arnold's eyes suddenly narrowed in his leathery face.“Do you know something the rest of us don't, Roland?”Roland la Porte met his gaze.“I know nothing more than you, Sir Arnold, and I'm insulted you'd even raise the question.If anyone would know more, it'd be you.We French do not have a 'special relationship' with the Americans, unlike you English.But yesterday's invasion of the American energy networks could have easily been far worse, which certainly underlines my point.”General Moore stared at La Porte a full thirty seconds more.Then he seemed to think of something else.He relaxed, smiled, and stood up.“I believe our business here is over.As for the fate and future of Europe, we in Britain consider it tied permanently to that of the United States, whether we like it or not.”“Ah, yes.” La Porte smiled a humorless smile.“The concept of your George Orwell, I believe.”General Moore, the Englishman, flushed a livid red, locked eyes again with La Porte, then turned on his heel and marched out of the conference room.“What was that all about?” General Inzaghi wanted to know, his black marble eyes suspicious.Otto Bittrich said grimly, “The English novel 1984.In it, England was Air Strip One for a Pan-American and British Commonwealth entity called Oceania, united happily forever.At the same time, Europe and Russia were joined together and formed Eurasia.What was left over was called EastasiaChina, India, Central Asia, and all the Oriental countries.Personally, I'd say Britain already is America's Air Strip One, and we must proceed without them.”“Exactly how do we proceed?” Gonzalez asked.La Porte had the answer: “We must each convince our nations and EU delegates that a future European military is the only way to protect Europe's identity.And our greatness.In fact, that is our destiny.”“You are speaking about the principle of such an army, General La Porte, yes?” General Gonzalez said.“Of course, Valentin.” General La Porte's eyes were dreamy.“I'm an idealist, it's true.But it's a principle we must start to work toward now.If the Americans can't protect their own utility systems, how can they continue to protect ours? We must grow up, be on our own.”Captain Darius Bonnard stood out of the night wind as the last of the five generals' helicoptersGeneral Inzaghi'srose up against the night sky.The salty Mediterranean air was crisp, invigorating, and he breathed deeply as he listened to the loud chop of the blades.The big bird flew north, in the direction of the Italian coast.Once it was safely out of range, the Charles de Gaulle altered course, sliding quietly through the sea in a long arc as it headed back to the French coast and Toulon.Still, the Frenchman continued to watch the Italian helicopter as its lights faded, the roar of its rotors dimmed.But he was not so much watching as mulling over the meeting of the generals, which had been instructive.He had sat at the back of the room, quiet and unobtrusive, where he had missed nothing.General La Porte's compelling arguments for a European military had pleased him, as had discovering that most of the other generals were already thinking along the same lines.But the general's implication that he knew more about the recent breakdowns in American electronic systems than was common knowledge had worried him.Bonnard sensed trouble on the horizon.He pulled meditatively on his lower lip as he thought about the British general, Sir Arnold Moore.The English bulldog was stubborn, obviously an American pawn, and altogether too paranoid.What La Porte had said had alarmed his English sensibilities, and he would soon be reporting possible plots to his prime minister, the War Office, and MI6.Measures would have to be taken, and quickly.Again the captain looked out to sea, where the retreating helicopters formed four tiny dots.Sir Arnold Moore would be handled.He smiled.There were only three more days.Just three days to control all aspects.Not long at all, but in other ways, perhaps, an eternity.Covert One 3 - The Paris OptionChapter FifteenToledo, SpainAs Smith watched through the barred window, Emile Chambord tenderly pressed his wrinkled cheek down onto the top of his daughter's head, closed his eyes, and murmured something, a prayer perhaps.Theacute;regrave;se clung to him as if he had come back from the dead, and in a way he had [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]