The Dogs of War I

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"Dick, please, just listen for a second. Arthur is recalling all our Ambassadors from the NATO countries, including me. We've been ordered to leave within the hour, probably less."

"What are you talking about? Why would he do that? It doesn't make any sense."

"You're not listening to me. We're being recalled home because he's going to declare war and is afraid that we'll be used as hostages."

"He can't do this. This is insane,"

"I know that, we all do but he won't listen to any sort of reason. He insists that American sub violated our water space. He says it was spying and has declared it an act of aggression by the US and her allies. He's saying that he's going to make the announcement as soon as we clear allied territory."

"But how can he force you to leave? You can't just…"

"Dick, listen to me. There are guards here, Xan and Marcus and I are being ordered home. We have no choice. They're going to escort us out any minute. The declaration of war will probably come within a couple of hours."

"But…"

"He knows that we can't win a war with the surface nations but he's determined to fight anyway. We'll be annihilated."

"But maybe it's just a negotiating tactic or something and he's not telling you."

"Our Navy has been mobilizing for weeks, they're arming to full strength and are already moving to blockade major surface ports. As soon as they're in position, Arthur is going to issue the declaration. We've all been trying to defuse him, but he won't listen to anyone. This is real."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I couldn't tell anyone. I was under orders not to talk."

"But…"

"Just listen. I only have another minute before they realize that I'm talking to you. The guards are just outside. I had my cel in my pocket and they're afraid to search royalty-Don't you understand what I'm saying? A blockade is an act of war in itself, even without a declaration. The other nation's Ambassadors have been calling and demanding meetings for weeks trying to find out what's going on with the build up and the movements and we can't give them any solid answers. We've been under a gag order." There was some background noise, voices and the sound of things falling or being thrown.

"Garth?"

A loud voice, angry words in Atlan came through the phone. "We're being moved out. I'll try to contact you." There was the sound of a struggle, of the phone being dropped or thrown and the line went dead.

Dick stared at the cel in his hand. Holy Fuck.

Automatically he dialed Bruce's private number, the one only about four people in the world had. It was answered on the third ring.

"Yes?"

He spoke without preamble. "Do you know anything about what's going on with Arthur declaring war against some of the surface nations?"

"Only that he's scaring a whole lot of people. Have you heard from Garth what's going on?"

"He says that it's for real and that their Ambassador's, including him, are being forced home under armed guard. Shit, Bruce, he's gone."

"Have you spoken to Barbara?"

"No, not yet. Do you know anyone in the State Department you could ask? Does anyone in the JLA know anything?"

"All I know is that he's been acting more paranoid by the day for the past few months and that he's seeing threats under every bed and in every shadow."

"Garth says that they can't win a war with the surface, but he's determined to fight anyway. It sounds like he's suicidal or something."

"Yes, I think he might be. Do you know if there's anyway that he could be removed from power? Has Garth ever told you about any checks and balances that they might have?"

"No. All he ever said is that princes either die of old age or murder. And he's mentioned that Arthur is above the law."

"Hell. Maybe the JLA will have to stop him."

"That would be interfering with a foreign country."

"It wouldn't be the first time. I'll get on this. You let me know if you learn anything."

The connection was broken.

Not knowing what else to do for a second, he clicked on the TV and turned to CNN. The breaking story banner was up and some talking head was going on about the growing crisis situation that was developing and how nations around the world were moving to act to protect their ports and shipping with all possible speed. Navies were mobilizing and statements were being prepared. All ships at sea were being ordered into the nearest port since no one really knew what the Atlan navy was capable of.

He hit the computer. "Barbara? You there?"

The screen immediately lit up. "I'm here. Your boyfriend OK so far?"

"He's been forced home. What's going on, Barbara? Can they really do any damage or are they just saber rattling?"

"Their weapon capabilities are unknown. No one has ever made an inspection and they've never been forthcoming as to what they have available. Even Garth has stonewalled me when I've asked him. My guess is that with a nation as advanced as Atlantis, though, you don't want them pissed off at you if you can avoid it."

"Is this really war?"

"Not yet, but it looks like it will be pretty soon. The Atlantean government announced that they would have a statement within about half an hour."

The newsreader at CNN was talking again against the scrolling banner. "We've received confirmed reports that the ports of New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Havana and others have been closed by blockades of Atlantean warships. Reports are that while no shots have been fired, ships both trying to either enter or leave these ports have been warned that any attempt to cross blockade lines will result in their being fired upon. In addition, there are reasons to believe that the entranceways to these harbors have been mined." The woman looked off camera for a moment. "This just handed to me. The American State Department has ordered a freeze on all assets owned by any Atlantean government agencies, businesses or individuals, effective immediately."

She looked off camera for a second. "We have an analysis as to what this could mean from our economic expert, Dr. Peter Mueser. Peter, are you there?" There were a few seconds of blank screen then another cut back to the head. "We seem to be having some technical difficulties but we'll get that to you as soon as we can."

"Recapping. Atlantean warships have blockaded major ports around the world and in response the American government has frozen all assets of that country that are registered in the US. England and Australia have followed suit with the freeze. We are going to a live feed now from what I'm told is the Senate Chamber of the Atlantean Government, located approximately a mile and a half underwater in the mid-Atlantic. A spokesman is ready to deliver a statement."

A man wearing Atlantean robes was standing behind a rostrum. He spoke in accented English.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. As of twelve noon, Atlan time, approximately fifteen minutes ago, a state of war exists between our nation and the United States of America. Any nation in any way siding with the United States or in any way aiding that nation against us will be considered to be acting in an aggressive manner and the state of war will extend to include that nation as well.

"We do not make this decision lightly, however, our national boundaries have been violated innumerable times and our people poisoned by the intentional dumping of toxic wastes in such a manner as to intentionally kill and maim. Efforts to negotiate treaties to put an end to these violations have failed.

"We have no choice but to defend ourselves and protect our population.

"In accordance with this announcement, our ambassadors have been recalled and are, at this moment, enroute home. Any treaties already in place are subject to review on a case-by-case basis. Several major surface ports have been blockade so as to prevent military and private shipping from interfering with out national interests. At this time we also wish to state that we cannot guarantee the safety of any foreign vessel found within the limits of our legal boundaries. Our National borders are to be crossed only at your own risk."

From a central room on the surface, there was a babble of voices from the assembled reporters who were assigned to cover the announcement. "No questions at this time." The spokesman walked out.

The screen shifted to one of the national talking heads. "To recap; A man identified as The Duke of Panos, has just announced that war has just been declared against the United States by Atlantis as a result of what they term repeated violations against their national borders and what was referred to as the deliberate dumping of toxic wastes. He further stated that a number of major ports around the world have been blockaded and that worldwide shipping and passenger ships can not expect safe passage should they attempt to cross any of their national lines. There have also been reports coming in from reliable sources that some harbors have been mined."

The screen cut to a graphic of the area claimed by Atlantis. "Since official contact with the Atlantean government was established less than a decade ago, there is a tremendous amount that we simply don't know about this country which is known for rejecting almost all outside contact. We do know that it's ruled by King Orin who is, apparently, an absolute monarch. We know that they have some sort of parliament or representative council from the fifteen separate city-states that make up their nation. We do not know their population, their GNP or, unfortunately, their military capabilities. We do know that they are quite advanced technically. In some areas they are acknowledged to be significantly ahead of surface nations."

Another head broke in. "Does that mean that the threats could be backed up with real weapons?"

"Unfortunately, no one knows for sure, but the American State Department is apparently acting under the assumption that they can do pretty much whatever they claim they can."

"There has been some speculation for several months now that King Orin might be under a tremendous amount of stress and that he might react in an inappropriate manner should something occur which he perceives as a threat. Could that be what we are seeing now?"

"A number of people in the State Department have considered that possibility, especially in light of the fact that the King has recalled his ambassadors out of alleged fear for their personal safety. That would hint at paranoia. For a more in depth analysis of that possibility, we go to out medical expert, Dr. Frank Carver."

Dick's phone rang, causing him to jump. "Yes?"

"Dick? Mr. Grayson? It's Ann Ryder, the Prince's assistant. Have you seen what's happening?"

"Yes, he called me. Do you know anything?"

"Not all that much. Look, I'm really scared and I think you're the only one who might understand what I'm going through right now. I'm sorry to break in like this, but could I come over to your place?" She heard the pause. "I could be there in five minutes, I'm almost across the bridge now."

"Yeah, of course. Top floor."

The Medical expert on CNN was going on citing past examples of Arthur's temper and various neurosis. In all the years that he'd had a passing acquaintance with the King, Dick never had liked the man.  There was something about him that just seemed-off. He was a loose cannon and when you coupled that with the crap he had pulled on Garth over all those years…yeah, well Dick knew that there was a pretty good chance that the guy would flip out at some point.

It seemed that flip point had arrived.

He wasn't even all that surprised when he had a minute to let it sink in. It seemed that he had started getting weird a few years ago when his son had been killed and his marriage headed south. Whatever he had been using to hold himself together, at least most of the time seemed to have unraveled then.

He heard the knock on the door.

Ann.

She stood there, took one look at him, put her arms around him and started crying. He hugged her back, for himself as much as for her.

"It was a nightmare. We were just working in the office. It wasn't even lunchtime yet. The Prince was on another floor talking with the rep from South Africa. I was in the front, near the reception desk when one of the UN guards came in and said that there were some men who demanded to see the Ambassador and Marcus and that they were armed, but they were from Atlantis and insisted that they were there under orders from the King.

"They pushed their way in-I don't know how they got up to our floor, but they did. We couldn't use the phones to warn the men, they wouldn't let us. When Gar….the Prince and Marcus walked back in from their meeting, they walked right into it. They had no idea.

"The three of them were taken back to Gar…" She started to apologize.

"It's OK. That's what I call him. Go on. Who was the third man?"

"They took them back to Garth's office. Oh, I forgot. Xan-you know him, their Ambassador to the US? He was up with us today for meetings, too, so he was with Garth and Marcus. I couldn't understand what they were saying because it was in Atlan and they were speaking really fast. I'm starting to learn it, but it was too fast for me and I think they were using some slang, too.

"About an hour later their guards took the three of them out. Garth asked me to tell you what happened."

Dick moved her further into the apartment, sitting her on the couch beside him, his arm still around her shoulders. "He called me from his office, I think. He had his cel with him. I knew that he was being forced back against his will."

"Then I started hearing the reports of what's happening. We didn't know what to do, so I stayed there, answering the phones and the questions that were flooding in from everybody-the other countries, reporters, the White House. Then after about an hour, we got a call from the Council in Atlantis. We were ordered to shut the office, lock the door and go home. I heard that the town house is under guard, too. The city of New York has stationed cops in front to avoid any retaliatory damage happening."

"Ann, did you know any of this was going down before it happened this morning? Were there any warnings at all or were the Ambassadors all kept in the dark?"

"I don't really know. I think they had an idea that something was up a week or maybe two ago. There were a lot of things going on behind closed doors and they were making a point of speaking in Atlan so that no one would know what they were saying. And it wasn't even just Atlan-some of us can understand that a little. They were using some weird dialect that no one up here knows. I know that Garth moved a lot of money out of this country-both official accounts and his own stuff. Really a lot of money. Tens of billions of dollars. The Federal Trade Commission and the SEC and the Wall Street watch dogs were calling but I guess that it was all legal because it all went through to protected off shore accounts." She took a Kleenex from the box on the coffee table, blew her nose. "He must have had a reason to suspect that the assets would be frozen or something. I don't know, maybe he was acting under orders."

Their attention was taken by the TV. "This just in. There are confirmed report of shots being exchanged near the border claimed by Atlantis in the Atlantic Ocean, about one thousand miles east of New York City. The first reports are that an American destroyer has been fired upon and has sustained what could be serious damage. Other Naval ships are responding to this exchange and are moving to aid the damaged ship. There is no immediate word of casualties."

"Oh, shit." Dick sounded so-sad. It was really starting. "Ann, the news reports and what I've gotten from some friends is that even with the new openness and the treaties and Ambassadors that Atlantis has sent to the surface the last few years, we really don't know much about them. Not the real nuts and bolts. I heard that it isn't even known what their population is. You work with them everyday-you must have heard something."

"Well you live with him. You would know as much as I do. OK, I'm sorry. I just know mostly what everyone knows about them, they're smart and nice and they have incredible artwork. They're sophisticated and advanced but they kept all kinds of things classified. They were always very nice about it, but the reports would always be encrypted and even basic stuff like how their government worked, the line of succession, their GNP-all of that was glossed over. Major things like their military capabilities weren't ever open for discussion."

"Well, they must have been asked."

"Of course they were. They'd either politely change the subject to something they were willing to discuss or just say they couldn't talk about it."

"How did they get away with that? I mean they were dealing with the UN and the State Department?"

"They wouldn't have been able to pull it off much longer, I don't think. They were just so charming and they milked they whole mystique about being from underwater and being the stuff of legend for all it was worth. They knew exactly what they were doing. If they were about to be cornered they would come up with a major change of subject like that art exhibit at the Met they hosted."

"That was calculated? I mean beyond a PR thing?"

"Of course it was. They were starting to get tough questions about their sources of power and the size of their military. They wouldn't answer that sort of thing. That was all Garth's idea when they knew that they were close to being busted for hard answers."

"Did Garth ever come out and say this to you?"

"Of course not, but being there every day, it was pretty obvious."

"Shit, he even told me that it was a big cultural thing so people on the surface would start to get to know them."

"And I think that was part of it-but a small part. It was a big smoke screen."

"What about Marcus? You two were getting pretty tight there. Did he ever talk about any of this?"

"Marcus? God no. He was-is completely loyal to his government. He'd do anything they asked and he's so cowed by the whole royalty thing that he's wipe Garth's shoes if he was asked. They wouldn't ever leave anything lying around at night or even if they just went to lunch. Security was subtle, but it was tight. No one knew anything that they weren't supposed to."

The TV caught them again. "We have breaking news. It has just been announced that the USS Potomac has been sunk with heavy loss of life.  We have live pictures and we are…are we?…Yes, we are going to the scene." The screen shifted to a shot of the Mid Atlantic on a sunny day taken from a helicopter. There were several ships surrounding a burning oil slick and men were being pulled from the water by means of other copters and small lifeboats.

"We have no word yet as to the number of sailors who have been lost, but the first reports are that at least several hundred crew are missing. We're going to a radio report from aboard the aircraft carrier USS JF Kennedy at the scene.

"Yes? This is Captain Jon Thatcher speaking. We were cruising together about half an hour ago when we heard and saw a large explosion from the Potomac, which was just astern of us at the time.  It appeared to be some sort of powerful torpedo or something similar.  It appeared to hit near the ordinance and within about two minutes the ship just went up."

"Captain, are there many survivors?"

"We're bringing them in now, but it seems that there was heavy lose of life."

"Is there any question as to whom is responsible, sir?"

"Several minutes the attack we received a radio warning from a voice purporting to be a Naval officer of the Atlantean Navy warning us to change course."

"And did you do so?"

"No, we don't recognize the border they are claiming."

"They issued a second warning, we continued, they told us that they would start shooting and they did."

"Did the Atlantean ship ever show itself?"

"No, it's some sort of sub. It hasn't surfaced."

"Have they offered to aid the men in the water?"

"No, but they did say that they wouldn't hamper rescue efforts."

"Have they?"

"No, we haven't been impeded."

Dick turned the sound off. "That's that. Now there will be retaliation and it will escalate."

"You know the thing about them that really struck me all the time I worked with them?"

He looked at her, shrugged. "What?"

"They're smart. I mean they're really smart. Even the people they brought up here to be menials, the cooks and the maids are really smart people. Well read and informed. At first I just thought that they had decided to bring the best helpers they could, but then I started wondering why someone who could discuss the great philosophers was dicing vegetables or making beds."

"You think they were spies of something?"

"I don't know, but it seemed odd."

"I never really paid that much attention to the others besides Marcus. I think I spoke to one of the maids a couple of times, but that's about it. I know Garth and Marcus are both pretty damn bright.  Hell, Garth is miles ahead of me when it comes to all that stuff he was doing. Half of the time he would talk about something and I hadn't a clue."

"They used to wipe the floor with the other reps at the UN, but they would do it with so much charm that no one ever really noticed that they'd just been hosed. And after a dinner or something they would talk about it and what had been said and they would nail every nuance and little slip-they were always doing that. A lot of times they would laugh about how easy it was."

He got up to get the phone. "I'm going to order some dinner. What would you like? Chinese?"

"Sure, Fine. Anything is fine." The food ordered, they returned to the couch.

"You think that this whole thing at the UN and all was a cover of some kind?"

"No-maybe-I don't know. I don't want to think that it is-was. I like them. I really like them."

"You think that they were just using us and the UN and whatever else to gather information for their government or something?"

"I-I think that they genuinely like us and that they were here to open doors and negotiate the treaties and all of that, but I believe that there was another agenda. Sure I believe that."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, but I do know that their loyalties are to their country and their King-especially Garth. Isn't he the next in line to the throne? He always downplayed it, but he's as royal as you can get."

"Did you ever hear them talk about Arthur-Orin?"

"Only bits and pieces. I think they thought that he was nuts and had to be contained."

"If Arthur found out then he'll see Garth as a threat to his power.  He's in danger going back home. Do you think that Garth would look for a way to supplant Arthur?"

"I think that Garth loves his country and would whatever he thinks is necessary to protect it."

"If Arthur thinks Garth is a threat to him…shit."

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