Sykes's Ultimatum

"I want to review the Archangel's complete communications data during its passage through the desert war zone, hour by hour."

That same afternoon, an official aircraft bearing the Atlantic Federation's diplomatic insignia landed at East Asia Capital Airport.

May 1, C.E. 71, 4:17 p.m.

Sykes had not notified East Asia's diplomatic authorities in advance.

East Asia had received only a diplomatic note sent four hours earlier, worded so briefly it barely resembled a diplomatic document: Atlantic Federation Minister of Defense William Sykes would visit the East Asian capital that day for emergency consultations regarding recent border security incidents.

"Emergency consultations." When Sheng Lan handed the note to Lin Yuan in the car, there was a thin chill in her voice. "The last time he came to East Asia, he called it a friendly visit."

"Last time, he hadn't had two Short Swords shot down."

The meeting was held in a secure room on the third floor of the East Asia Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.

Six chairs stood on each side of the long table. Five people sat on Sykes's side, with Sykes himself in the center. To his left sat a colonel from the United Army Technical Intelligence Division; to his right were two advisers from the Federation's legal team. At the far end sat a silent officer whose shoulder insignia belonged to the United Army Inspectorate General.

Only three people sat on Lin Yuan's side. He occupied the center, with Sheng Lan to his left and a liaison officer from the East Asia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Department to his right. The young man was under thirty, dragged in at the last minute to fill out the numbers. He gripped his pen so tightly that his knuckles had turned an unnatural pink.

Sykes pushed a document into the center of the table.

"Director Lin, let me begin with the facts. On April 2, six United Army Mobile Suits conducting a routine anti-piracy patrol came under fire from unidentified armed forces near the East Asia Air Defense Identification Zone. Two Mobile Suits were destroyed, while all four pilots were confirmed to have returned safely. The United Army General Staff has completed its internal investigation and determined that this was a serious incident of misjudgment and excessive response."

His fingers lightly tapped the document cover.

"We demand that East Asia return the wreckage of the two destroyed Mobile Suits, including all onboard equipment and communications modules. We also demand an explanation of what weapons system East Asia used, as well as the model and origin of the unidentified units deployed that day."

Lin Yuan did not touch the document.

"Minister Sykes, are you finished?"

"One more point." Sykes leaned forward two centimeters. "Article Twelve of the United Army Technical Cooperation Framework explicitly states that member states may not independently develop Mobile Suit weapons systems without assessment by the Technical Committee. East Asia's current actions are suspected of violating this provision. The United Army reserves the right to take further measures in response to this breach."

The diplomatic liaison officer's pen froze above the paper. He did not dare write a word.

Sheng Lan pulled another set of documents from her folder and placed it before Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan opened it.

"Minister Sykes, I'll begin with the facts as well."

He turned the first page toward Sykes.

"At 2:17 a.m. on April 2, six United Army Short Sword-type Mobile Suits entered the East Asia Air Defense Identification Zone at Mach 1.2, carrying live-ammunition pods and Light Beam Rifles. They did not respond to East Asia's identification inquiries."

The second page.

"The active identification beacons of all six Short Swords had been manually disabled. The timestamp on the shutdown command was four minutes earlier than their takeoff time. Entering that command required a captain-level authorization code."

Sykes withdrew his hand from the document and rested it on the armrest.

"I've heard your questions. Now it's my turn to ask." Lin Yuan pushed the documents into the center of the table, placing them beside Sykes's file. "First, did six armed Mobile Suits entering another country's Air Defense Identification Zone with their identification beacons disabled constitute a routine patrol, or armed reconnaissance?"

The colonel from the United Army Technical Intelligence Division opened his mouth, but Sykes silenced him with a glance from the corner of his eye.

"Second, disabling the beacons required captain-level authorization. Who authorized it? Did the captain of the Drake-class Frigate act on his own, or did the order come from detachment command?"

"Third." Lin Yuan did not raise his voice; every word was evenly spaced. "The six Short Swords were heading toward East Asia's Industrial Zone Nine, where East Asian military facilities are located nearby. Does the Atlantic Federation admit that the purpose of this operation included close-range reconnaissance of East Asian military targets?"

Sykes's fingers curled slightly on the armrest.

"Director Lin, regarding the beacons, the United Army's internal investigation concluded that it was an equipment malfunction."

"All six malfunctioned at once?"

"The probability assessment of equipment failures is not a matter for diplomatic talks." Sykes's pace quickened slightly. "I came today to resolve the return of the wreckage and the explanation of the weapons system. The Short Swords are listed as United Army assets. As a United Army member state, East Asia has no right to detain them."

"The wreckage is in the disassembly laboratory of the 811 Institute." Lin Yuan rested his hand on the table. "As unidentified debris that fell within East Asian airspace, we have the right to conduct a security assessment. Once the assessment is complete, the wreckage can be transferred."

"When will the assessment be complete?"

"That depends on when the Atlantic Federation provides formal written answers to the three questions above."

Sykes's lips pressed into a thin line.

He leaned back in his chair, held Lin Yuan's gaze for two seconds, then spoke again. His voice was lower, but heavier.

"Director Lin, the United Army Technical Cooperation Framework is not a suggestion. It is a treaty obligation. If East Asia insists on refusing to cooperate, the United Army Technical Committee will consider reducing East Asia's technology-sharing quota at next month's regular meeting. This includes maintenance data for naval propulsion systems and satellite communications band allocations."

Sheng Lan's pen paused over her memorandum for an instant.

Lin Yuan drew both documents back in front of himself and stacked them together.

"Minister Sykes, East Asia pays 730 million credits in annual member-state contributions to the United Army. Forty percent of that sum is designated for the technology-sharing fund. If the Atlantic Federation unilaterally reduces the sharing quota, East Asia will reassess the reasonableness of its contribution obligations."

He stood up.

"By the way, my legal team has reviewed the full text of Article Twelve word for word. The provision governs weapons systems deployed within the United Army's joint operational framework. It does not include independent national defense research by member states. East Asia's research projects do not fall under this article's jurisdiction."

Sykes rose as well.

"Director Lin, you're gambling that the United Army won't seriously pursue this."

"I'm gambling that the Atlantic Federation doesn't dare."

Their gazes locked above the long table for three seconds.

Sykes looked away, put his document into his briefcase, and turned toward the door. After taking three steps, he looked back.

"Director Lin, some lines leave no way back once crossed."

"Right back at you, Minister Sykes."

After the door closed, the diplomatic liaison officer's pen fell onto the table.

Sheng Lan closed her memorandum, lowering her voice.

"Director, Sykes applied more pressure today than expected. The United Army Technical Committee's review still has to follow procedure, but the fact that he leaked word of it in advance is itself a signal."

"A signal for whom?"

Sheng Lan did not answer immediately.

Lin Yuan pulled out his chair and sat back down.

"For those within East Asia who still think following the United Army is the safest path."

"Director, the lead Ye Qingluan reported this morning is related to this as well. Someone from the National Defense Committee Secretariat has been asking about the follow-up handling documents for Luo Qiming's case. Specifically, they asked whether Luo Qiming's administrative review channel was still open."

Lin Yuan tapped the edge of the table once.

"Who was asking?"

"A clerk from the Secretariat's Third Section. We haven't identified the person behind him yet. But the timing is worth noting. It was exactly four hours after Sykes's diplomatic note was sent."

Lin Yuan pushed the two documents aside, revealing the item beneath them that had not been taken out until now.

Ma Chongshan's requisition request.

Eight Black Irons, for formal service-entry evaluation by the ground forces.

"Sheng Lan, compile Sykes's exact words from today into a verbatim record and send it to Ma Chongshan."

Sheng Lan's pen touched the paper again.

"What does the director want Ma Chongshan to see?"

"Let him see how the Atlantic Federation treats its own member states. Then ask him whether eight units are enough."