“We need to work on those papers you found at the crash site,” Max suggested. “The answer could be in their log.”

“We need to learn more about this Admiral Tsai.” This came from Eric Stone, who had been sitting at the helm station but had walked around the op center so that he stood behind Eddie. “And what was aboard his ship. This could be a significant archaeological find.”

“Actually,” Max said, “we need to ask ourselves if this is worth pursuing further. What’s this to us, anyway?”

“I think the answer is pretty clear,” Stone replied. “This is something of interest to the Argentine government, a regime currently at odds with the United States. Whatever their agenda, it can’t be good.”

“I agree,” the Chairman said. “The Generalissimos have an interest in this thing, and until we know their angle we should keep at it. What about the drawing of that cove or inlet?”

“That is the outline of the area where their ship was sunk, and, before you ask, I’ve already got Eric here running a computer match of South America’s coastline, including all couple hundred islands that make up Tierra del Fuego. It’s going to take some time.”

“Okay. What’s the latest on Linda and her team?”

“They’re still in the snowcat. You’re not going to believe what they found. What was supposed to be a small Argentine research station turns out to be a full-blown oil field.”

“A what?”

“You heard me. They’re drilling for oil off the Antarctic Peninsula.”

The news rocked Cabrillo, and he blurted stupidly, “But that’s illegal.”

“Well, yeah. Apparently they don’t care.”

“Have you reported this to Overholt?”

“Not yet. Linda said she snapped some pictures. She wants to include them with her report.”

“This is getting weirder and weirder,” Max said. “They’re taking a hell of a risk pulling a stunt like that.”

“Not really,” Eric Stone countered. “They’re already an international pariah, so what’s a little more bad will?”

“Bad will, my butt. The U.S. is going to send an armada down there. It’ll be like the Falklands War all over again.”

“Are you sure?” Stone asked, one eyebrow arched.

Hanley opened his mouth to reply but thought better of it because he wasn’t sure. With the U.S. military spread thin around the world and the current occupant of the White House more focused on domestic issues, it was possible that the government’s response would be weak protests and another round of UN sanctions.

“Now we have to ask ourselves if a six-hundred-year-old Chinese ship has anything to do with current global events,” Eric said.

“If things hold true to form,” Juan replied, “we can count on it.”

Eddie asked, “What do you want us to do once Linda returns? Should we stay down here or start heading north?”