Read Drone Command for Free Online Page B

will.”
    Pearce shook his head. “He won’t believe it, though. He lost his men. But tell him anyway. Tell him I said so.”
    The Chinese had been warring against the Vietnamese for more than two millennia, but for the most part, the Vietnamese people, through sheer determination and force of arms, had maintained a relative cultural independence from the Han warlords on the other side of the rugged border. But like Japan, Vietnam had island disputes of its own with the PRC, especially over the Spratly and Paracel Islands in the South China Sea and for much the same reasons as the Japanese: oil, gas, and national sovereignty.
    Pearce had his own run-in with the Chinese a few years ago in the Sahara. Hunted two of them down. Exacted a brutal payback for killing Mike Early and Mossa, the Tuareg chieftain who had helped him find himself again.
    â€œWhen we return to Hanoi, I would like you to be my guest at the academy. We now produce six of our own drone systems. I would very much like your comment on them.” She was clearly proud of her country’sachievement. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he knew their indigenous drones still relied on imported engines and propellers.
    â€œI wish I could.”
    â€œAnother secret mission for your government?”
    Pearce smiled. Wouldn’t answer.
    â€œFirst time in Vietnam?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen you must come back. It is not like this all the time. It is a beautiful country with friendly people.”
    That’s what his dad had said, too, in rare moments of reflection. “I definitely want to come back.”
    â€œPlease do. And please call me. My brother and I would be honored to show you our nation at its best.”
    â€œI just might take you up on that.”
    â€œIs there anything I can do for you in the meantime? Anything at all?”
    Actually, there was. He explained the situation. Gave her the names.
    â€œIt won’t be easy. I’ll see what I can do.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œIt’s the least I can do.”
    Pham pulled off her headset and leaned her head back against the seat and closed her weary eyes. She fell asleep instantly.
    Pearce stared into the night, lost in a thousand memories.

SIX
    PEARCE CABIN
    NEAR THE SNAKE RIVER, WYOMING
    JULY 1987
    H e smelled lilacs in her hair.
    Troy held his sister tightly, breathed in the cloying smell of the cheap shampoo. Marichelle’s favorite. She was two years older than Troy and almost as tall. Best friends.
    Troy let go. “Call me when you get there.”
    â€œSoon as we get to Grandma’s. I’ll call every Sunday, I promise.” Marichelle was teary eyed and snotty. Dark hair and eyes like their dad.
    Troy nodded. “Be careful out there, okay? Any guy messes with you, I’m gonna kill him.”
    She shook her head. “You can’t protect me if you’re not there, tough guy.”
    Her words stung. They were supposed to.
    Thirteen-year-old Troy Pearce was just under six feet tall and a hundred and forty pounds, mostly sinew, with a rebellious lick of jet-black hair falling over his clear blue eyes. The sturdy rough-hewn cabin behind him was small but tidy. His grandfather’s, on his dad’s side. Troy had never met him. His dad said if you knew the cabin, you knew him.
    Marichelle started to say something, but stopped. She wanted to beg Troy to come with them again, but it was no use. They had already fought about it last night.
    He had to stay. Dad needed him.
    She had to go. Mom couldn’t take it anymore.
    And that was that.
    Troy glanced over at his mom leaning against a faded yellow Datsun two-door squatting in the dirt driveway. No hubcaps. A long way to California in a beater car like that. His mother was dark and pretty, with his same blue eyes, but tired. Her arms were crossed, a natural pose. She’d been on defense a long time.
    He caught her eye. She smiled. More tears. She