Admiral Morales stood on the bridge, holding the satellite phone in his hand. The voice of Moses still echoed in his ear.
"The Squid needs help."
He was silent for three seconds. Then he pressed another number.
"Connect me to the 'Feathered Serpent Temple'."
The phone rang once and was answered. It was Victor's voice, very calm.
"Carlos."
"Leader, the Squid Man is requesting aid. The Syrians are preparing to cross Lake Tiberias, the Egyptians have already passed the Suez Canal, the second batch of Iranian missiles is on the way. The United States is still more than twenty hours away."
Victor was silent for three seconds.
"Tell them," he said, "Mexico can help. But with conditions."
Morales waited.
"First, the Squid acknowledges publicly that the bombing of the Mexican Embassy is an act of war, apologizes to Mexico, and compensates the victims' families."
"Second, surrender the F-16 pilot."
