Chapter By Chapter> Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image chapter 23

Chapter by Chapter features me reading one chapter (or possibly multiple chapter for this one) of the selected book at the time and reviewing it as if I were reviewing an episode of a TV show or an issue of a comic. There will be spoilers if you haven’t read to the point I have, and if you’ve read further I ask that you don’t spoil anything further into the book. Think of it as read-along book club.

I would make a joke about reading this book while sick, but so far there is improvement over the previous novel. The Op-Center crew has been less annoying than the first book and show a bit more competence and teamwork. Last time we learned more about just how small Commie Op-Center is compared to the original.

I’m also noticing that these are necessarily the mustache-twirling villains you’d expect. Dogin and his two partners in evil are, but Orlov is really interesting to watch in action. The man isn’t in this for power and control like Dogin is. He really things what he’s doing, and it’s still questionable how much he actually knows about what he’s doing, is in the best interests of Russia. He’s a patriot who love his country and will use his clout and position as a former cosmonaut for the benefit of the country. We also saw he will put people over leaders, which is more of an American thing (or it’s what we claim to strive for–we all know Congress has its share of power mongers). He’s a good man who may or may not be in the middle of doing bad things. Again, I don’t know how much he knows.

We won’t learn much this chapter, as it’s back to our heroes in DC, who have been showing themselves to be more worthy of the title than in the previous novel. I’m hoping that trend continues.

Chapter 23: Monday, 1:45 PM, Washington, DC

We begin with Paul and Mike going over the personality profiles to see who might be involved. The current Russian president, Zhanin, is ruled out as being part of this. The actions don’t fit his profile. He uses the system for his goals, not the military, plus he has pushed for using the military on the mobsters, explaining Shovich’s part in this, and instead evidence points to Dogin, having the right connections and hatred of capitalism, which Zhanin is at least looking to exploit for Russia’s benefit. It’s a good plan on Zhanin’s part, using Russian interest in American stuff to ultimately benefit Russia’s economy and businesses in action. One example is they want American movies but will buy Russian VCRs. (That’s what we used to watch movies on before 4K HD Blu-Ray and streaming, kids.)

Herbert then comes in with all the info on the maneuvers that if you have the big picture, and they do, show Russian military moving into attacking positions and the Russian satellites being co-opted to be used by Commie Op-Center. The tourist plan is out, and now they need a new way to get Striker in there.

Before Herbert arrives we get Paul and Mike working together, and doing so much better than the first book. Despite the disagreement over jurisdiction in having a British agent join up with Striker, the plans are made and they’ll work together in order to make it work. Paul doesn’t believe in psych profiles, but looks over them anyway and does gain important information we readers know to be accurate. Rodgers makes a slight joke at Paul’s expense, tied to Dogin’s action. And yet Dogin isn’t Paul’s mirror here, it’s Orlov. They just don’t currently know that. (Both Paul and Dogin are former mayors.) In the first book Mike went off with Striker instead of being there working with Paul in monitoring the Korean situation. This is what I would have rather see them do in the first book, using their perspectives and expertises together to come up with game plans and figure out what’s going on and who’s behind this. It would have pushed off one of my issues with the first novel.

We’re going to Sakhalin Island in our next chapter. Not sure where that is but I’m sure I’ll find out.