Rogue Element

‘Plans to invade Australia.’

‘Shit!’ said Wilkes.

‘That’s why they blew us out of the sky.’

McBride felt hot, sweat flaring on his forehead. The 747 had been shot down as an indirect result of the NSA’s desire to earn an income outside of government funding. So many people were now dead because of that. He felt the urge to apologise, but couldn’t. It was a desire and a failure he would have to live with. ‘Have you any idea how much the authorities in Australia will want to put Joe through the wringer?’ he said instead, changing the subject.

Suryei wasn’t listening. She was seeing the invasion map Joe had described to her. Strangely, she visualised it in her head as if she’d been the one who’d found it. Australia was gone. In its place was Selatan Irian Jaya, Southern High Victory. When? When would the invasion begin?

Parliament House, Canberra, 1010 Zulu, Friday, 1 May

The lights had already been lowered in the theatrette when Niven entered and his eyes were only now adjusting to the gloom. A rear projection screen television sat on the stage. A rectangle of yellow light blazed as Greenway entered. He was a couple of minutes late and mumbled an apology, but Lurch hadn’t missed anything.

The screen flashed into life. The videocamera had been positioned so that its view took in Roger Bowman, Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia, sitting beside a man propped up in a hospital bed. The patient’s head was heavily bandaged and his eyes were a rich red from burst capillaries. What skin could be seen was bruised the colour of a plum. The corners of the man’s mouth were set grimly downwards.

The men in Canberra leaned forward in their seats expectantly. This was one videoconference they hadn’t expected. But as Bowman had just finished explaining, the doctors had told him that the human brain was an unknown quantity. No one had expected the general to come out of his coma for some time but, once the anaesthetic had worn off after the operation, his eyes had miraculously popped open. The general was groggy, but even that was wearing off quickly.

He had demanded to talk to Bowman who, of course, was particularly keen to hear what the Indonesian officer had to say for himself. Fortunately, it didn’t seem that the man’s memory had been impaired in the least.

Bowman cleared his throat. ‘We got that security detail you sent over, Spike. I’ve had the general moved back to the embassy, against doctor’s orders I might add. There were too many people sniffing about for my liking and it’s difficult to explain the presence of half a dozen armed Aussie soldiers in a local hospital.’

Bowman paused and checked his notes. Satisfied that he’d completed the housekeeping, he cleared his throat again and cut to the chase. ‘General Masri has asked for asylum and protection in Australia, for himself and his boy, as quid pro quo for enlightening us on what the hell has been going on,’ said the ambassador.

The Prime Minister was angry. ‘Jesus, I damn well want to hear what the bastard has to say for himself before I start handing out any bloody bonuses.’

Masri considered that before nodding.

The Australians had hastily decided to tell the general a little of what they knew, to throw him off his guard. Blight began. ‘General, we are already aware that your air force shot down our 747,’ he said. ‘Did your government know anything about that?’

In heavily accented English, Masri replied, ‘No. The government knew only what General Suluang told them, which was nothing.’

A wave of relief surged over the PM. Niven whistled at the audacity of Indonesia’s military, but he was also relieved to have unequivocal confirmation of Griffin’s belief that Jakarta was not involved in the act.

‘The plane was not part of the plan. I did not agree with it,’ Masri said.

The men in the room in Canberra exchanged glances. The word ‘plan’ was intriguing. ‘What “plan”?’ asked the PM, getting the question in first.

Masri looked around him, shifting his red eyes left and right, as though he was about to pass something illicit in the street. ‘The plan to take back political control of Indonesia.’

‘A coup d’etat? That’s what this is all about?’ asked Niven incredulously.

Masri nodded. ‘Traditionally it has been the armed forces that have guided Indonesia. We have enjoyed a certain amount of respectful fear, which has helped to keep our country united. East Timor put an end to that. Your country put an end to that —’

‘What complete crap!’ Blight said angrily. There was no excuse for this cowardly, murderous act.

The Indonesian general ignored the Prime Minister’s outburst. ‘And that is why we planned a limited invasion of Australia.’

‘What?!’ exclaimed Niven and the PM in unison. Greenway and Griffin leapt to their feet as if something had bitten them.

‘Jesus Christ, what… how?!’ asked Griffin, his brain going into shock.