Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
ONE - Paris, France Monday, 6:13 A.M.
TWO - Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland Sunday, 12:10 A.M.
THREE - Paris, France Tuesday, 7:32 A.M.
FOUR - Chevy Chase, Maryland Friday, 9:12 A.M.
FIVE - New York, New York Saturday, 4:57 A.M.
SIX - New York, New York Saturday, 6:45 P.M.
SEVEN - New York, New York Saturday, 7:27 P.M.
EIGHT - New York, New York Saturday, 7:30 P.M.
NINE - New York, New York Saturday, 7:34 P.M.
TEN - Bethesda, Maryland Saturday, 7:46 P.M.
ELEVEN - Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland Saturday, 8:37 P.M.
TWELVE - New York, New York Saturday, 9:01 P.M.
THIRTEEN - New York, New York Saturday, 9:33 P.M.
FOURTEEN - Quantico, Virginia Saturday, 9:57 P.M.
FIFTEEN - New York, New York Saturday, 10:08 P.M.
SIXTEEN - Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland Saturday, 10:09 P.M.
SEVENTEEN - New York, New York Saturday, 10:11 P.M.
EIGHTEEN - New York, New York Saturday, 10:29 P.M.
NINETEEN - New York, New York Saturday, 10:30 P.M.
TWENTY - New York, New York Saturday, 10:31 P.M.
TWENTY-ONE - New York, New York Saturday, 10:39 P.M.
TWENTY-TWO - New York, New York Saturday, 11:08 P.M.
TWENTY-THREE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:11 P.M.
TWENTY-FOUR - New York, New York Saturday, 11:28 P.M.
TWENTY-FIVE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:29 P.M.
TWENTY-SIX - New York, New York Saturday, 11:30 P.M.
TWENTY-SEVEN - New York, New York Saturday, 11:31 P.M.
TWENTY-EIGHT - New York, New York Saturday, 11:32 P.M.
TWENTY-NINE - Washington, D.C. Saturday, 11:33 P.M.
THIRTY - New York, New York Saturday, 11:34 P.M.
THIRTY-ONE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:35 P.M.
THIRTY-TWO - New York, New York Saturday, 11:36 P.M.
THIRTY-THREE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:37 P.M.
THIRTY-FOUR - New York, New York Saturday, 11:42 P.M.
THIRTY-FIVE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:43 P.M.
THIRTY-SIX - New York, New York Saturday, 11:48 P.M.
THIRTY-SEVEN - New York, New York Saturday, 11:49 P.M.
THIRTY-EIGHT - New York, New York Saturday, 11:50 P.M.
THIRTY-NINE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:51 P.M.
FORTY - New York, New York Saturday, 11:55 P.M.
FORTY-ONE - New York, New York Saturday, 11:57 P.M.
FORTY-TWO - New York, New York Sunday, 12:00 A.M.
FORTY-THREE - New York, New York Sunday, 12:01 A.M.
FORTY-FOUR - New York, New York Sunday, 12:04 A.M.
FORTY-FIVE - New York, New York Sunday, 12:05 A.M.
FORTY-SIX - New York, New York Sunday, 12:06 A.M.
FORTY-SEVEN - New York, New York Sunday, 12:07 A.M.
FORTY-EIGHT - New York, New York Sunday, 12:08 A.M.
FORTY-NINE - New York, New York Sunday, 12:11 A.M.
FIFTY - New York, New York Sunday, 12:15 A.M.
FIFTY-ONE - New York, New York Sunday, 12:16 A.M.
FIFTY-TWO - New York, New York Sunday, 12:18 A.M.
FIFTY-THREE - New York, New York Sunday, 12:21 A.M.
FIFTY-FOUR - New York, New York Sunday, 12:25 A.M.
FIFTY-FIVE - New York, New York Sunday, 12:51 A.M.
FIFTY-SIX - New York, New York Sunday, 7:00 A.M.
FIFTY-SEVEN - Washington, D.C. Sunday, 10:00 A.M.
FIFTY-EIGHT - Washington, D.C. Sunday, 11:45 A.M.
FIFTY-NINE - Washington, D.C. Sunday, 12:08 P.M.
SIXTY - Los Angeles, California Sunday, 3:11 P.M.
Other titles by Steve Pieczenik
THE BESTSELLING NOVELS OF
Tom Clancy
RAINBOW SIX
Clancy's shocking story of international terrorism--closer to reality than any government would care to admit.
"GRIPPING . . . BOLT-ACTION MAYHEM."
--People
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Jack Ryan has always been a soldier. Now he's giving the orders.
"AN ENORMOUS, ACTION-PACKED, HEAT-SEEKING MISSILE OF A TOM CLANCY NOVEL." --Seattle Times
DEBT OF HONOR
It begins with the murder of an American woman in the backstreets of Tokyo. It ends in war . . .
"A SHOCKER CLIMAX SO PLAUSIBLE YOU'LL WONDER WHY IT HASN'T YET HAPPENED!"
--Entertainment Weekly
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
The smash bestseller that launched Clancy's career--the incredible search for a Soviet defector and the nuclear submarine he commands . . .
"BREATHLESSLY EXCITING!" --Washington Post
RED STORM RISING
The ultimate scenario for World War III--the final battle for global control . . .
"THE ULTIMATE WAR GAME . . . BRILLIANT!"
--Newsweek
PATRIOT GAMES
CIA analyst Jack Ryan stops an assassination--and incurs the wrath of Irish terrorists . . .
"A HIGH PITCH OF EXCITEMENT!"
--Wall Street Journal
THE CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN
The superpowers race for the ultimate Star Wars missile defense system . . .
"CARDINAL EXCITES, ILLUMINATES . . . A REAL PAGE-TURNER!" --Los Angeles Daily News
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
The killing of three U.S. officials in Colombia ignites the American government's explosive, and top secret, response . . .
"A CRACKLING GOOD YARN!"
--Washington Post
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
The disappearance of an Israeli nuclear weapon threatens the balance of power in the Middle East--and around the world . . .
"CLANCY AT HIS BEST . . . NOT TO BE MISSED!" --Dallas Morning News
WITHOUT REMORSE
The Clancy epic fans have been waiting for. His code name is Mr. Clark. And his work for the CIA is brilliant, cold-blooded, and efficient . . . but who is he really?
"HIGHLY ENTERTAINING!"
--Wall Street Journal
Novels by Tom Clancy
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
RED STORM RISING
PATRIOT GAMES
THE CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN
CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
THE SUM OF ALL FEARS
WITHOUT REMORSE
DEBT OF HONOR
EXECUTIVE ORDERS
RAINBOW SIX
THE BEAR AND THE DRAGON
RED RABBIT
THE TEETH OF THE TIGER
SSN: STRATEGIES OF SUBMARINE WARFARE
Nonfiction
SUBMARINE: A GUIDED TOUR INSIDE A NUCLEAR WARSHIP
ARMORED CAV: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
FIGHTER WING: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIR FORCE COMBAT WING
MARINE: A GUIDED TOUR OF A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT
AIRBORNE: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIRBORNE TASK FORCE
CARRIER: A GUIDED TOUR OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER
SPECIAL FORCES: A GUIDED TOUR OF U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES
INTO THE STORM: A STUDY IN COMMAND
(written with General Fred Franks, Jr., Ret.)
EVERY MAN A TIGER
(written with General Charles Horner, Ret.)
SHADOW WARRIORS: INSIDE THE SPECIAL FORCES
(written with General Carl Stiner, Ret., and Tony Koltz)
Created by Tom Clancy
SPLINTER CELL
Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
TOM CLANCY'S OP-C
ENTER
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: MIRROR IMAGE
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: GAMES OF STATE
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: ACTS OF WAR
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: BALANCE OF POWER
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: STATE OF SIEGE
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: DIVIDE AND CONQUER
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: LINE OF CONTROL
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: MISSION OF HONOR
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: SEA OF FIRE
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: CALL TO TREASON
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: WAR OF EAGLES
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: HIDDEN AGENDAS
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: NIGHT MOVES
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: BREAKING POINT
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: POINT OF IMPACT
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: CYBERNATION
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: STATE OF WAR
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: CHANGING OF THE GUARD
TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE: SPRINGBOARD
Created by Tom Clancy and Martin Greenberg
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: POLITIKA
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: RUTHLESS.COM
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: SHADOW WATCH
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: BIO-STRIKE
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: COLD WAR
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: CUTTING EDGE
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: ZERO HOUR
TOM CLANCY'S POWER PLAYS: WILD CARD
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia
(a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi--110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), Cnr. Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland 1310, New Zealand
(a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196,
South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
TOM CLANCY'S OP-CENTER: STATE OF SIEGE
A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S & R Literary, Inc.
PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley mass-market edition / July 1999
Copyright (c) 1999 by Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S & R Literary, Inc.
Op-CenterTM is a trademark of Jack Ryan Limited Partnership and S & R Literary, Inc.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
Visit our website at www.penguin.com
eISBN : 978-1-101-00365-7
BERKLEY(r)
Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
The "B" design is a trademark belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
http://us.penguingroup.com
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Jeff Rovin for his creative ideas and his invaluable contribution to the preparation of the manuscript. We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Martin H. Greenberg, Larry Segriff, Robert Youdelman, Esq., and the wonderful people at Penguin Putnam Inc., including Phyllis Grann, David Shanks, and Tom Colgan. As always, we would like to thank Robert Gottlieb of The William Morris Agency, our agent and friend, without whom this book would never have been conceived. But most important, it is for you, our readers, to determine how successful our collective endeavor has been.
--Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
United Nations--The Security Council put the final touches yesterday on a written demand that Iraq cooperate with international arms inspectors--but threatens no force if Baghdad fails to comply.
--Associated Press,
November 5, 1998
PROLOGUE
Kampong Thom, Cambodia 1993
She died while he held her under a brilliant dawn. Her eyelids closed softly, a faint breath rose from her delicate throat, and then she was gone.
Hang Sary looked down at the pale face of the young woman. He looked at the grass and dirt in her wet hair and the cuts in her forehead and across her nose. He felt revulsion when he saw the red lipstick on her mouth, the rouge that had smeared across her cheek, and the charcoal-gray mascara that had run from her eyes to her ears.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Not even here, in a land where the concept of innocence was as foreign as the dream of peace.
Phum Sary should not have died so young, and she should not have died like this. No one should die like this, lying in a windy rice field, the cool water muddy-red with their blood. But at least Phum had died knowing who it was that held her in his arms. At least she didn't die as she'd probably lived most of her life, alone and uncherished. And though the search that Hang had never quite abandoned was over, he knew that another was about to begin.
Hang's knees were raised and his sister's head was in his lap. He lightly touched the cold tip of her nose, the fine line of her jaw, her round mouth. A mouth that always used to smile, regardless of what she was doing. The girl felt so small and fragile.
He pulled her arms from the water and laid them on the waist of her tight blue lame dress. He cuddled her closer. He wondered if anyone had held her like this in ten years. Had she lived this horrible life the entire time? Had she finally had enough and decided that death was preferable?
Hang's long face tightened as he thought about her life. Then it exploded in tears. How could he have been so near and not have known it? He and Ty had been in the village, undercover, for nearly a week. Could he ever forgive himself for not having seen her in time to save her?
Poor Ty would be inconsolable when she learned who this was. Ty had been in the camp reconnoitering, trying to find out who was behind this. She had radioed Hang to let him know that one of the women had apparently tried to escape shortly before sunrise, when the watch changed. She'd been chased and shot. Phum had taken the bullet in the side. She'd probably run, then walked until she could no longer move. Then she must have lain down here to look at the waning night sky. Phum used to look at the sky a great deal when she was a little girl. Ty wondered if that sky, the memories of a better time, had given his little sister any peace at the end.
Hang slipped his trembling fingers through his sister's long, black hair. He heard splashing in the distance. That would be Ty. He'd radioed his partner that he'd spotted the girl and saw her go down. She said she'd be there within a half hour. They had been hoping, at least, that she could give them a name, help them break the monstrous union that was destroying so many young lives. But that didn't happen. Seeing him, Phum only had the str
ength to say his name. She died with her brother's name and the hint of a smile on her bright red lips, not the name of the creature who had done this.
Ty arrived and looked down. Dressed like a local peasant, she stood there with the wind whispering around her. And then she gasped. She knelt beside Hang and put her arms around him. Neither of them moved or spoke for several minutes. Then, slowly, Hang stood with his sister's body in his arms. He carried her back toward the old station wagon that served as his field outpost.
He knew they shouldn't leave Kampong Thom now. Not when they were so close to getting what they needed. But he had to take his sister home. That was where she should be laid to rest.
The sun quickly warmed and then baked his damp back. Ty opened the back of the station wagon and spread a blanket amid the cartons. Inside the boxes were weapons and radio equipment, maps and lists, and a powerful incendiary device. Hang wore the remote trigger hooked around his belt. If they were ever caught, he would destroy everything in the car. Then he would use the .357 Smith & Wesson he carried to take his own life. Ty would do likewise.
With Ty's help, Hang placed the body of his sister on the blanket. Gently, he folded her inside. Before leaving, he looked out across the field. It had been made sacred with her blood. But the land would not be clean until it was washed with the blood of those who had done this.
It would be. However long it took, he vowed that it would be.
ONE
Paris, France Monday, 6:13 A.M.
Seven years ago, during training for service with UNTAC--THE United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia--brash, adventuresome Lieutenant Reynold Downer of the 11th/28th Battalion, the Royal Western Australia Regiment, learned that there were three conditions that had to be met before a United Nations peacekeeping operation could be sent to any nation. It wasn't something he'd ever wondered about or wanted to be a part of, but the Commonwealth of Australia felt differently.
State Of Siege (1999) Page 1