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has actively ruled over both chains since the seventeenth century and has the documents to prove it.”
    A flash of anger flared in Hawke’s eyes.
    “Bastards have created a flashpoint as dangerous as the Iranians and the Strait of Hormuz, haven’t they? Clearly global conflict implications.”
    “Spot-on. And now they’ve begun insisting that every aircraft transiting these formerly wide-open routes must first ask permission of the Chinese government. Including U.S. and Royal Navy flights. Outrageous. We will not, bloody hell, ask them permission for any such thing! Nor will anyone else, I can guarantee you that.”
    “The result?”
    “It’s all a ruse to provoke a reaction. The new-generation Chinese warrior is a fervent nationalist, with militaristic veins bulging with pride. And, the Chinese are, as we speak, using their North Korean stooges to probe and prod at our will to prevail in this region, both at sea and in the air. I mean, you’ve got NK coastal patrols ‘bumping’ into the Yank’s Seventh Fleet in the night, near collisions with Royal Navy vessels, that sort of thing, spoiling for a fight. The North Koreans, of course, know China will back them up in a showdown.”
    “An extremely dangerous game.”
    “To say the very least.”
    “And the Western countermove?”
    “It gets tricky. Under President Tom McCloskey’s strong leadership, the United States is taking a very hard line with China. The U.S. Navy is dramatically increasing its naval presence in the region, of course. The Seventh Fleet is en route to the Straits of Taiwan. And they’ve deployed U.S. Marines to Darwin, on the western coast of Australia. Meanwhile, our own PM, in a weak moment, actually had an extraordinary idea.”
    “He did?”
    “I know, I know, no one believes it was actually his original notion, but that’s the official story coming out of Number Ten Downing.”
    “What’s his extraordinary thought?”
    “He suggests the allies consider a massive convoy, Alex. Warships from the Royal Navy, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Yanks with an entire carrier battle group, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with seven or eight other countries. Full steam ahead right up their bloody arses and we’ll see what they bloody do about it, won’t we?”
    C laughed and drained his drink.
    “Well, for starters,” Hawke said, “the Chinese may elect to take out a massive U.S. carrier with one of their new advanced killer satellites the CIA was describing to our deputy directors and section heads just last week. It’s not beyond the realm of plausibility.”
    “Hmm, the life of a country squire has not completely numbed your frontal lobe capacity. But you’re right. That is a consideration, Alex. At any rate, right now, the prime minister’s notion is only a good idea. Hardly a done deal, as they say.”
    “Why?”
    “Simple. A few pantywaists in the U.S. Congress are thus far unwilling to go along with the PM’s scheme for fear of losing one of their big billion-dollar float babies. So, alas, our convoy scheme is paralyzed at the moment. But, look, we’re not going to sit around on our arses and let this stand. No, not for one blasted moment!”
    “What are we going to do about it, sir?”
    “You mean, what are you going to do about it, dear boy. That’s why I’m springing for lunch.”
    “Ah, yes, of course. No free lunch, as they say.”
    “Damn right. Never has been. Not in this man’s navy, at any rate.”
    “How can I help, sir? I’ve been sitting on the sidelines for far too long. I’ve got grass and flowers growing up through the soles of my shoes.”
    C looked around to establish whether anyone was within earshot. The aural perimeter thus secured, he said, “We at Six have established a back-channel communication with a high-ranking Chinese naval officer. Three-star admiral, in fact. Someone with a working brain in his head. Someone who does not want go to war over his own government’s