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“KC-130J, sir.”
“That’s that great big airplane with propellers, right? Not jet engines?”
“That’s correct, sir.”
“What do you think the goddamn Mexicans are going to think when they see four Black Hawks—instead of the one they expect—flying over their country with a couple of great big aerial gas stations? Jesus, I’m glad I brought this up!”
“Another option, Mr. President,” O’Toole said, “if I may?”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Another option would be to refuel the Black Hawks, before or after the exchange, using a Navy assault vessel, such as the USS Bataan, in international waters—say fifty miles out—off the coast. This is what Castillo did when he made the assault on La Orchila Island . . .”
General O’Toole’s face flushed as he heard what he had just said.
The President looked at him coldly.
“That’s what Lieutenant Colonel Castillo, Retired, did before he almost got us in a war with Venezuela?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’d like to know who authorized the use of that vessel,” the President said. “Was that you, General O’Toole?”
“No, sir. But under the circumstances, it was, in my judgment, the right thing to do.”
“Fortunately you are not in a position to make decisions like that. If it wasn’t you, who was it? That mustachioed idiot McNab?”
&
nbsp; “I don’t believe General McNab was involved, Mr. President. And certainly not able to give orders to the captain of a Navy vessel.”
“Well, that narrows it down somewhat, doesn’t it? McCarthy, make a note for me to discuss this with General Naylor at the earliest opportunity.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And with Secretary Beiderman. And incidentally, where the hell is he?”
“He’s at the Pentagon, sir,” Mulligan said.
“Get him on the phone and get him over here,” the President said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, since we will not be using a U.S. Navy vessel operating fifty miles off the Mexican coast to fuel the Black Hawks, does that mean we’re out of options? Jesus H. Christ! Talk about going off half cocked!”
“There is one more option, sir,” O’Toole said. “A submarine. It would rendezvous with the Black Hawks off the Mexican coast . . .”
“A submarine?” the President parroted incredulously.
“Yes, sir. We have been experimenting with the technique. In our tests a Black Hawk can be refueled on the high seas in about ten minutes, sir.”
The President did not reply.
O’Toole said, “One problem with using a sub—”
“Go on, O’Toole, drop the other shoe. What’s the problem with this option?”
“I’m not sure a submarine could be equipped with the necessary equipment in time for this operation.”
