“Dreamland?” said the carrier radioman, his voice losing its businesslike snap.

“Affirmative. This aircraft is currently assigned to the Abner Read.”

“You know Colonel Dog Bastian?”

“He’s my commander.”

“American helicopter, you will change course,” said the controller. He directed the Werewolf to proceed west for a mile, then to fall into a landing pattern approaching from the ship’s stern.

“I believe they’ve given me permission to land,” Starship told Eyes.

“Good. What was that business about Dreamland?”

“Got me.”

Starship followed the controller’s directions, angling toward the carrier as if he were one of its aircraft. The approach gave him—and the Abner Read’s crew—a good look at the side of the ship, which was faceted to lower its radar profile. It was somewhat lower to the water than an 152

DALE BROWN’S DREAMLAND

American carrier would have been, though it still towered over the Abner Read, whose deck was always awash with the sea.

“There’s a J-13 on deck, ready to launch,” he told Eyes.

“I’ll get good video of it.”

“Keep the cameras rolling.”

After operating off the Abner Read for the last several weeks, the Deng Xiaoping’s deck looked like the entire state of Kansas spread out in front of him. As Starship skipped in over the stern, he saw a dozen sailors race from the port side, parallel to the landing area. Unsure what was going on, he slowed down, barely moving forward.

“I got a dozen guys with guns running onto the deck,”

Starship told Eyes. “You think they don’t understand I’m a robot and they’re trying to kidnap the crew or something?”

“Be ready to get out of there.”

Starship reached the third white circle on the deck, where he’d been directed to stop. As he settled onto the flattop he finally realized what the sailors were doing—they were an honor guard.

“The People’s Liberation Army Navy Aircraft Carrier Deng Xiaoping welcomes Dreamland,” said the controller.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to host you.”

“Same to you,” said Starship. “There … um, when the rotors stop, remove the case from the area between the skids. Just cut the ropes.”

There was a bottle of scotch in the case. Starship watched as two sailors—not part of the honor guard—approached.

Even though the rotors had stopped spinning, they crawled toward the aircraft on their hands and knees, cut away the case, and took Storm’s present away.

“Dreamland Werewolf, you are cleared to take off. Our compliments to your commander, Captain Gale. And please remember us to the colonel, Dog Bastian.”

“Roger that, Deng. Pleasure’s all mine,” said Starship, revving the Werewolf for takeoff.

END GAME

153

Aboard the Deng Xiaoping,

the Arabian Sea

0630

THE MASTER OF THE DENG XIAOPING, CAPTAIN YAUN

Hongwu, smiled when he saw the bottle. Americans were fond of such gestures. He would have to think of something appropriate in return.

Hongwu knew of Captain Gale’s ship, the Abner Read.

Like his own, it belonged more to the twenty-first century than the twentieth. Though it was the size of a coastal corvette, he would not like to have to take it on.

The aircraft had been something new all together. It looked like a miniaturized version of the Russian Hokum; undoubtedly it would be several times as powerful, coming from Dreamland.

All China knew of Dreamland. Barely a year before, the brave crew of a Dreamland Megafortress had saved Beijing from certain annihilation by intercepting a rogue nuclear missile a few miles from the city, dodging Chinese warplanes and missiles to do so. The man who had commanded the flight, Lieutenant Colonel Tecumseh “Dog” Bastian, was a hero to Hongwu personally—his actions had saved Hongwu’s mother and father, his younger sister, and count-less aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Perhaps in the future he would have a chance to thank the colonel personally.

Allegro, Nevada

1800

THE TIME DIFFERENCES COULD DRIVE YOU NUTS. WHEN IT WAS

six P.M., or 1800 in Nevada, it was seven A.M. in Karachi—tomorrow. Today was already yesterday there.

Six P.M. was also time for Zen to talk to Breanna, the best part of his day.

154

DALE BROWN’S DREAMLAND

And the worst. He missed her incredibly. Separation was a fact of life in the military, but the truth was, they’d never been separated on a deployment since their marriage. If one was in danger, the other was. He’d never even thought about it before.

“Dreamland Command,” answered Danny Freah when Zen dialed the special 800 number that connected with the Dreamland Command trailer. The line allowed family members to stay in contact during missions.

“Hey, Danny. Bree around?”

“No, uh, tied up.”

The line was not secure, and both men had to be careful what they said.

“Running late?” asked Zen.

“Late and hairy.”

Zen felt as if he’d been punched in the gut.

“Hairy?”

“She’s OK,” said Danny quickly.

“What’s going on?”

“Jeff, I can’t get into details here. I’m sorry. I’ll have her call you, OK?”

No, it wasn’t OK. Not at all.

He should be there. Rather than getting himself stuck in the back with needles that weren’t doing anything and wouldn’t do anything.

“Yeah, sure. Have her call me when she gets a chance.”

“I wouldn’t wait by the phone, if you get my drift. Could be hours,” asked Danny.

“I’m easy,” lied Zen.

Drigh Road

1200

“YOU WERE UNDER ORDERS TO GET OUT OF THAT AREA, BRE-anna. Why didn’t you follow them?”

Breanna looked at her father. She’d worked with him END GAME

155

now for more than a year and a half, and yet she still felt awkward.

“Innocent people were being attacked,” said Breanna. “I couldn’t turn away.”

Some commanders might have told her that her first duty was to her own crew and country; others might have reminded her that lawful orders were to obeyed. But the colonel only frowned and said nothing.

“My mistake was not acting right away,” Breanna told him.

“If I’d acted right away, then maybe I could have prevented the attack. I second-guessed myself, and I don’t know why.”

“You honestly think that’s the problem?”

She nodded.

“Breanna, the situation here is extremely volatile. The Indians are pressing for a formal investigation. If that happens, you’re not going to be on very firm ground. You were given an order, started to comply, then changed your mind for no good reason that I can see.”

“I’ll deal with that if I have to,” she said.

“If I had more Megafortress pilots, I’d put you on fur-lough. I really would.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“Daddy, you would have done the same thing.”

His face blanched as soon as she said Daddy.

“I did what I thought was right. I’m willing to deal with the consequences if I have to.”

“I wonder if you really are,” said the colonel. “Dismissed.”

The words wounded her more deeply than any criticism of the mission. Walking back to her room, Breanna felt hot tears slipping from her eyes.

DOG HAD FINALLY MANAGED TO MAKE HIS WAY TO HIS TEMPOrary quarters and was just taking off his clothes to catch a nap when a sharp rap at the door interrupted him.

“Go away, Danny,” he said, recognizing the knock instantly.

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DALE BROWN’S DREAMLAND

“Colonel, I will if you want me to, but Storm is looking for you on the Dreamland channel and claims it’s urgent.”

“I’ll be right there,” grumbled Bastian.

He tucked his shirt back in, rubbed his eyes and opened the door. Captain Danny Freah stood in the hallway, shifting his weight from one foot to another, looking a little sheepish.