Amongst his worry for his crew (well, technically, it was Mike's crew now, but it would always be his crew) he glanced at the empty benches and spared a brief thought for Michael. From what little Rachel had said, their relationship had been slowly fading, but it looked like Michael had realized what he was losing too late. Tom had offered him a ride home, but he'd chosen to stay in China; he hadn't had much family to start with and he didn't want to move to a place where Rachel was a household name. Tom couldn't blame him.
His thoughts turned back to his crew once more, and the realization set in – protocol would keep the ship out in the harbor. He had to help his crew. He gathered his things and was halfway out the hatch when he heard Val's voice.
"Sir, wait!"
Tom ducked back in the plane.
"What is it?"
"This interference – I know what's causing it!"
"And?"
"We have a serious problem."
"Define serious." He was a little exasperated. The James had been attacked, wasn't that serious enough?
"Someone back home is talking to the Chinese."
"Yeah, that's why I'm here. To talk."
"No, not like that. Here, look." She moved her screen so he could see.
You sent him? I thought you wanted out of Asia, to focus on yourselves. Not on helping my enemies.
Michener may have misled him. Give us time, we'll steer things back on course.
"What the fuck?"
"Someone's trying to sabotage these talks." She said unnecessarily.
"But who?"
"Unknown as yet, sir, but I'll keep looking." She pursed her lips. "I'll need the computers on the ship, sir."
"Can't you do it from home?"
"I trust the system on the Nathan James more than the one at the courthouse."
"Fair point. But we are going to have to fight our way there. You ready for that?"
"Gonna have to be." She said, putting her laptop in her bag.
The pilot stuck his head out of the cockpit.
"Sir, the tower has given us clearance."
"If we don't take off soon, they're going to start asking questions." Val said. "And we have to warn Michener."
"Right." He made a decision and pulled out a piece of paper, scribbling a hasty note to the president before folding it and handing it to the pilot. "Take off as scheduled. Do not tell anyone we're not aboard until you've landed. And then hand this directly to President Michener. Not his aide, not his chief of staff, not the vice president, the president himself. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir." At Chandler's raised eyebrow, he confirmed the instructions. "Fly back on schedule, pretend you're on board, and then hand this to POTUS personally."
"Thanks."
"Good luck, sir."