Chapter By Chapter> Tom Clancy’s Op-Center: Mirror Image Chapter 51

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.

We move every so slowly to the end of the book. Last time we had two chapters in the same area, a rarity for this book. Today we’re back in Washington, DC, for a slightly longer chapter than normal, but only by a page or so.

It’s back to check in with Op-Center, who has had a better showing in this book than in the last one. We’re too far along for me to add anything that I haven’t added before. It’s almost like this book wasn’t intended to be reviewed a chapter a week. Nevertheless, that’s what I’m here to do so let’s get on with it because I have nothing more to add at this point.

Tuesday, 6:45 AM, Washington, DC

The folks in charge are in the Tank, which if you don’t remember from last book is a shielded room only accessible through a door and a secure landline communication network. Anything outgoing has to be done through Bugs Bennet, the sound guy. And they’ll need him to let them know that they have a hazy satellite picture (thanks to the snow) of Russian soldiers in white hiding around the train covering all flanks. There’s not only a question of whether or not Striker can get in without hurting anyone but if they can get out without breaking some of the rules set up by the committee on how to do this mission without breaking international law and dragging the US further into the war, when our coup people have already done a terrorist act hoping to force us out of it. Again, that didn’t work for Japan, and Rodgers even brings up a similar meeting (obviously  not with them) around World War II.

Also brought up is the Korean incident from the first novel and Rodgers’ report after the fact, continuity used to establish that they are learning from previous events, including their botched first assignment that predated the first novel. In the end, Hood decides to let Squires in on what’s going on and see if he wants to follow through or not. Hood and Rodgers debate this properly. There is a moment when Rodgers snaps at Hood, but he apologizes and Hood forgives him, plus a joke breaks the tension and gets cooler heads to prevail. That’s good storytelling. These people want to get along now, when in the previous book it seemed like they all hated each other. That tends to make for terrible teamwork and one of the reasons I didn’t like these guys in the first novel. Rodgers notes that Striker is under his command and that Hood is just managing instead of leading, but because of the rules involved it’s now his call, and his call is to stand behind Squires’ decision since he’s the man who knows their situation best now that he has that last bit of information.

Anyway, Squires looks at the terrain and still believes they can pull the mission off, though there is still a question of how to get everyone home safely. Hood opts to stand behind Striker and their commander. Well have to wait a couple of chapters to see how that works out. Next time we’re checking in with George and Peggy on their mission. We may finally be getting some action in this novel…eventually.