Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowledgements
ONE - Charleston, South Carolina Monday, 4:57 A.M.
TWO - Charleston, South Carolina Monday, 5:01 A.M.
THREE - Washington, D.C. Monday, 7:33 A.M.
FOUR - Alexandria, Virginia Monday, 8:11 A.M.
FIVE - Washington, D.C. Monday, 8:29 A.M.
SIX - Durban, South Africa Monday, 3:10 P.M.
SEVEN - Washington, D.C. Monday, 9:11 A.M.
EIGHT - Washington, D.C. Monday, 10:40 A.M.
NINE - Beijing, China Monday, 10:46 P.M.
TEN - Beijing, China Monday, 11:18 P.M.
ELEVEN - Taipei, Taiwan Monday, 11:49 P.M.
TWELVE - Washington, D.C. Monday, 1:01 P.M.
THIRTEEN - Washington, D.C. Monday, 1:13 P.M.
FOURTEEN - Beijing, China Monday, 2:27 A.M.
FIFTEEN - Arlington, Virginia Monday, 2:44 P.M.
SIXTEEN - Washington, D.C. Monday, 3:18 P.M.
SEVENTEEN - Taipei, Taiwan Tuesday, 4:22 A.M.
EIGHTEEN - Washington, D.C. Monday, 5:00 P.M.
NINETEEN - Beijing, China Tuesday, 4:40 A.M.
TWENTY - Washington, D.C. Monday, 7:00 P.M.
TWENTY-ONE - Beijing, China Tuesday, 8:11 A.M.
TWENTY-TWO - Arlington, Virginia Tuesday, 8:12 A.M.
TWENTY-THREE - Washington, D.C. Tuesday, 8:48 A.M.
TWENTY-FOUR - Beijing, China Wednesday, 5:22 A.M.
TWENTY-FIVE - Beijing, China Wednesday, 5:23 A.M.
TWENTY-SIX - Zhuhai, China Wednesday, 11:00 A.M.
TWENTY-SEVEN - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 2:00 A.M.
TWENTY-EIGHT - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 2:16 A.M.
TWENTY-NINE - Beijing, China Wednesday, 2:00 P.M.
THIRTY - Yu Xian, China Wednesday, 2:11 P.M.
THIRTY-ONE - Taipei, Taiwan Wednesday, 7:32 P.M.
THIRTY-TWO - Beijing, China Wednesday, 8:00 P.M.
THIRTY-THREE - Beijing, China Wednesday, 8:22 P.M.
THIRTY-FOUR - Alexandria, Virginia Wednesday, 8:41 A.M.
THIRTY-FIVE - Beijing, China Wednesday, 8:44 P.M.
THIRTY-SIX - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 9:38 A.M.
THIRTY-SEVEN - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 9:51 A.M.
THIRTY-EIGHT - Zhuhai, China Wednesday, 10:00 P.M.
THIRTY-NINE - Beijing, China Wednesday, 11:08 P.M.
FORTY - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 12:00 P.M.
FORTY-ONE - Beijing, China Wednesday, 12:33 A.M.
FORTY-TWO - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 2:55 P.M.
FORTY-THREE - Shanghai, China Thursday, 4:42 A.M.
FORTY-FOUR - Beijing, China Thursday, 5:11 A.M.
FORTY-FIVE - Zhuhai, China Thursday, 7:18 A.M.
FORTY-SIX - Zhuhai, China Thursday, 8:02 A.M.
FORTY-SEVEN - Xichang, China Thursday, 8:55 A.M.
FORTY-EIGHT - Xichang, China Thursday, 9:14 A.M.
FORTY-NINE - Xichang, China Thursday, 10:22 A.M.
FIFTY - Xichang, China Thursday, 10:28 A.M.
FIFTY-ONE - Xichang, China Thursday, 10:31 A.M.
FIFTY-TWO - Zhuhai, China Thursday, 10:49 A.M.
FIFTY-THREE - Xichang, China Thursday, 11:00 A.M.
FIFTY-FOUR - Washington, D.C. Wednesday, 11:11 P.M.
FIFTY-FIVE - Xichang, China Thursday, 11:20 A.M.
FIFTY-SIX - Xichang, China Thursday, 11:33 A.M.
FIFTY-SEVEN - Xichang, China Thursday, 11:40 A.M.
FIFTY-EIGHT - Xichang, China Thursday, 11:49 A.M.
FIFTY-NINE - Xichang, China Thursday, 12:02 P.M.
SIXTY - Zhuhai, China Thursday, 12:18 P.M.
SIXTY-ONE - Beijing, China Friday, 10:00 A.M.
SIXTY-TWO - Washington, D.C. Friday, 10:22 A.M.
SIXTY-THREE - Washington, D.C. Friday, 10:43 A.M.
SIXTY-FOUR - Washington, D.C. Friday, 3:48 P.M.
Other titles by Steve Pieczenik
THE BESTSELLING NOVELS OF Tom Clancy
THE TEETH OF THE TIGER
A new generation—Jack Ryan, Jr.—takes over in Tom Clancy’s extraordinary, and extraordinarily prescient, novel.
“INCREDIBLY ADDICTIVE.”
—Daily Mail (London)
RED RABBIT
Tom Clancy returns to Jack Ryan’s early days—in an extraordinary novel of global political drama.
“AN OLD-FASHIONED COLD WAR THRILLER.”
—Chicago Sun-Times
THE BEAR AND THE DRAGON
President Jack Ryan faces a world crisis unlike any he has ever known.
“INTOXICATING . . . A JUGGERNAUT.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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.”
—The Seattle Times
DEBT OF HONOR
It begins with the murder of an American woman in the back streets of Tokyo. It ends in war.
“A SHOCKER!”
—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!”
—The 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!”
—The 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!”
—The 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!”
—The 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!”
—The 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 REGIM
ENT
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-CENTER
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: 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
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TOM CLANCY’S OP-CENTER: WAR OF EAGLES
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Martin H. Greenberg, Ph.D.; Larry Segriff; Denise Little; John Helfers; Brittiany Koren; Victoria Bundonis Rovin; Roberta Pieczenik, Ph.D.; Carl La Greca; and Tom Colgan, our editor. But most important, it is for you, our readers, to determine how successful our collective endeavor has been.
—Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
ONE
Charleston, South Carolina Monday, 4:57 A.M.
When Jesse Wheedles was a young man stationed at the Charleston Naval Base, he had a very precise and accurate job description. The Athens, Georgia, native was chief mess management specialist. He was proud of that position. Wheedles was more than just a cook, more than just a bagger who put together MREs—meals ready to eat—for consumption by sailors in transit. Wheedles was a craftsman. His job was to make certain that whatever their rating, whatever their taste, when someone sat down in his mess hall, he or she had the best soup, hottest entrée, and finest cookies and coffee in the United States Navy.
He had a paper napkin signed, “Amazing food!” by Undersecretary Sabrina Brighton proving just how well he had succeeded.
Wheedles wondered what life would have been like had he stayed with the navy. After his hitch, he took over the family restaurant, a roadside diner that was struggling to survive in the face of fast food and coffee bars. They hung on ten years, after which his dad sold the property to a developer, divided the profit among his three sons, and called it a day.
Wheedles lost his share of the $90,000 in an Internet start-up.
Now both the former mess chief and the naval base were doing something else. The base had been there for nearly ninety-five years, ever since President Theodore Roosevelt visited Charleston for its bicentennial celebration and decided that it would be a more suitable location for a naval facility than Beaufort. His decision didn’t sit well with the citizens of that city, who sent a wreath and their condolences when the base finally closed.
Southerners forgave, but they did not forget.
The military presence here had a long and significant history. During the American Revolution it had been the site of a major British siege. The fall of Charleston resulted in the single greatest loss of troops for the American cause and had effectively left the Southern colonies in the hands of the Crown. The proud port had also been one of the lifelines of the Confederacy, dry dock for the submarine H. L. Hunley, and the home base for ironclad blockade runners.
Fort Sumter, the flash point of the Civil War, was located here. The martial history of Charleston, built and shaped by sinew and soul, was too important to end with the cold, blind judgment of a computer.
But so it had.
The facility had been shut down in 1996 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Program. That was a day of great mourning for the city. There was concern at the time that the loss of the fleet and four thousand support jobs would kill the harbor and drag Charleston with it. But federal agencies and commercial enterprises sailed to the rescue, filling the base with tenants and barely causing a skipped
beat in the economic pulse of the city.
The redevelopment project even saved the struggling career of thirty-seven-year-old Jesse Wheedles. Thanks to his former navy CO who was on the harbor renewal advisory board, Wheedles got a job as the morning manager of Teddy R’s, a new waterfront restaurant that catered to freighter and tanker crews arriving or departing on the early morning tide. It was a great position, because he got to do something he enjoyed and was good at, and he loved arriving before sunup to turn on the grill and get the deep fryer bubbling. He loved the feeling of literally firing up his day almost as much as he enjoyed the taste of the night sea air. Unlike the navy, where everyone had been groomed and uniformed in a kind of hive look and personality, the men who came to his restaurant were multicultural. They looked, spoke, and even smelled different. He welcomed the opportunity to experience a little bit of Bulgaria or Hong Kong, of Venezuela or Great Britain right on his doorstep. Wheedles was also delighted by the fact that when he left work at two in the afternoon there was still warm daylight to enjoy with his wife and young twins.
There was just one thing Wheedles had never anticipated: that one day a freighter might explode in the predawn blackness, destroying a significant section of the dock, Teddy R’s, and ending his life.