by Andrew Watts
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can you handle it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Tell me what you’re going to do when you take off.” She decided it might be worth making sure that he wasn’t in over his head.
“Uh…I’ll…I’ll fly opposite direction of the ship’s heading. We dropped a smoke. I’ll use the SAR checklist to calculate a starting point and then execute a search pattern and—”
“Okay, just checking. You’ll do fine. Go pick up our other HAC. We’re going to need him. Just ask for green deck when you’re ready to take off. I’ll get the ASTAC at his station again so you’ll have someone on the radio.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She handed the phone back to the junior officer and walked over to the three sonar technicians. “Tell me what you know, gentlemen.”
The chief sonar tech spoke. “Ma’am, we went over the tapes. It looks like a Han- or a Shang-class. A Chinese nuclear fast-attack submarine. She launched four torpedoes and several surface-to-surface missiles. We’ve been trying to listen for her now, but with all the noise we’re making at this speed, it’s kind of hard.”
“What would you expect a Chinese sub to do now, Chief?”
“Probably trail us. With as much noise as we’re making, she’ll be able to track us from pretty far away. She’ll probably slow down once we do, so we can’t hear her. But my guess is that we’ve created some pretty good distance. It’ll be harder for her to sneak up on us like that again now that we know what we’re looking for.”
“Sounds right to me. See if you can get air support. We need P-3s or P-8s doing ASW for us immediately.”
OPS nodded.
Victoria said, “Here are our priorities: One, stay at a safe distance from where we think the Chinese submarine is. Two, rescue Plug and any survivors from the other ships that were attacked. Three—well, we’ll get more on that once we talk to the special operations team that we just pulled out of Ecuador. Where’s the navigator?”
OPS looked down. “She was on the bridge when it happened.”
Victoria turned her head, a pained expression on her face. “Sorry. Who’s taking her place?”
OPS looked pissed. “I haven’t gotten around to staffing yet—”
The junior officer who had handed her the phone earlier picked it up when it rang again. After a moment, he said, “Ma’am, the helicopter is fueled and requesting green deck.”
“Granted.”
She watched one of the TV screens as her two young copilots, officially unqualified to conduct the mission they were about to embark on, took off, then turned back to OPS. “We need to figure out how long we’ll need to pick up all the survivors. And we need to figure out how much time it’ll take to get in helicopter range of Panama City. We have to get a piece of equipment there as soon as possible. Any gap in time is going to be taken out of our on-station time in rescuing the survivors from the other ships. Is that clear?”
“Clear.”
“Good. You guys crunch the numbers. I need to go talk to the troops we just pulled out of the jungle.”
22
Langley, Virginia
David sat in his cubicle at the CIA headquarters building, waiting for the latest update from the USS Jimmy Carter. He had grown accustomed to getting updates every hour on the hour.
There it was.
The files in the Top Secret share drive began filling up with photos and other data. He scrolled through them, looking for anything of immediate interest.
A few cubicles down, Susan stood up at her desk. The look on her face was alarming. David hadn’t seen her look like that, even after the Iranians had attacked the D.C. Beltway.
“What is it?”
“Did you see the latest information from the Carter?”
“I saw that it was uploaded. I haven’t gone through all the data yet.” He wondered how it was possible that she had.
“They sent a flash summary. Alerting us about something specific. I’m looking at it now. Oh my God…”
She raced over to his desk, stopped and turned her head back and forth, looking in each direction. She was trying to decide what to do first. She said, “Come on. We need to see General Schwartz.”
They walked down the Langley hallway until they reached General Schwartz’s office. Susan told his secretary, “I need to see him now.”
The secretary nodded. “Go ahead.”
They opened the door. He was on his computer. He stood, seeing the urgency on Susan’s face. “What is it?”
“Sir, the USS Jimmy Carter just intercepted a communication from the Chinese South Sea Fleet.”
“What’d they get?”
“Sir, it was sent only to ships that were using the Red Cell crypto key. We believe that the Chinese are in the process of attacking our units operating in the Eastern Pacific. They specifically mentioned US Navy Warship 099, which is the hull number of the USS Farragut. We’re still verifying, but I would consider this information highly accurate.”
The general held up his hand. He dialed a number on his secure phone and put it on speaker.
“Director Buckingham.”
“Sir, this is General Schwartz. I have Susan Collinsworth and David Manning in here. We just got an important update, sir. You’re going to want to hear it.”
The director said, “I hope it’s good news. I just heard from our Colombian station chief—the Army Blackhawk that was sent to pick up the MARSOC team hasn’t reported in. The MARSOC group had to activate the backup plan—two Navy helicopters from a destroyer off shore.”
Susan said, “Sir, if the MARSOC group was able to get the crypto key and is headed out to sea, that may explain the information we just received. The USS Jimmy Carter just made some electronic signals intercepts that originated from the Red Cell island. The Chinese South Sea Fleet—this is the command we think is working with Cheng Jinshan—has just commanded a surface action group and a Shang-class submarine to find and sink the USS Farragut.”
The director said, “So PLA Navy ships and submarines have orders to sink the USS Farragut?”
“That’s affirmative, sir.”
“That doesn’t make sense. It would take them a month to travel across the Pacific. How—?”
“Sir, from the intercepts we received, it appears that these units are already located somewhere in the Eastern Pacific.”
The director didn’t respond at first. After a moment he said, “How did we not already know this?”
Susan said, “With our reconnaissance satellites down for the past few weeks, it would have been relatively easy for them to make that voyage undetected, sir.”
The director sighed. “I’ll contact the president. General, please make sure that our SILVERSMITH military units get this information as soon as possible.”
“Will do.”
The director said, “Hold on. As I think this through…General, this should not, I repeat, not be put out wide yet. I don’t want to start a shooting war between the US and China if it turns out that this is all the work of two rogue Chinese men. If we can still contain this and prevent World War Three from breaking out, I’d like to do that.”
The general nodded. “I agree. I’ll speak to Pentagon leadership as soon as we’re off the phone. We’ll keep this information compartmentalized to just the SILVERSMITH Task Force and leadership.”
USS Ford
500 Nautical Miles West of Chile
* * *
FM CNO WASHINGTON D.C.
TO TASK FORCE SILVERSMITH
SUBJ / EMERGENCY WARNING NOTIFICATION
RMKS/1. US MILITARY FORCES IN EASTPAC SUFFERING COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES. POSSIBLE ATTACK IN PROGRESS ON USS FARRAGUT AND ACCOMPANYING ALLIED VESSELS.
2. SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION INDICATES CHINESE SURFACE ACTION GROUP (STRENGTH UNKNOWN) BELIEVED IN VICINITY OF EASTPAC AND TASKED WITH ATTACKING USS FARRAGUT.
3. SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION INDICATES CHINESE SHANG-CLASS SUBMARINE BELIE
VED IN VICINITY OF EASTPAC AND TASKED WITH ATTACKING USS FARRAGUT.
4. FORD CSG SHALL CONTINUE NORTHBOUND AT BEST SPEED AND RENDEZVOUS WITH USS FARRAGUT. MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE WEAPONS POSTURE AND OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PREVIOUSLY SPECIFIED RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.
Admiral Manning sat at his desk, reading the high-priority message that his chief of staff had just handed him.
“What do you think, COS?”
The admiral’s chief of staff stood across from his desk.
“Sir, it sounds like a shit show up there.”
“That’s what I think too.”
The COS said, “Sir, I understand that your daughter is on the Farragut.”
Admiral Manning looked up at the Navy captain. “That’s right.”
The COS looked uncomfortable. “Sir, just let me know if—”
The admiral stood. “I appreciate your concern. I’ll let you know if my emotions get in the way of performing my duties.”
“Oh hell, sir. I didn’t mean it like that. I more just meant—well, if you need anything, sir, just let me know.”
The admiral nodded. He realized that this was just one emotionally challenged military man attempting to comfort another. “Sorry. Thanks, COS. I appreciate the gesture.” He took a deep breath. “Everyone ready?”
“Yes, sir, they’re all waiting.”
“Alright, let’s get started.”
The chief of staff opened the door that lead to the large conference room next door.
“Attention on deck!” A group of thirty or so officers jumped to attention.
It was packed. At the long wooden conference table sat no fewer than five Navy captains and a host of commanders. The CAG, who was in charge of the air wing, and the commodore, who was in charge of the surface and subsurface warfare, sat closest to the admiral. The COs of the ships in company were teleconferenced in, their faces on the projector screen forward of the conference table.
An outer row of chairs surrounded the table. In them, the squadron commanders and staff officers sat shoulder to shoulder, many with notepads in hand, ready to start scribbling at the first hint that their boss would task them with an order.
“Seats,” called the admiral as he sat down at the head of the table. Everyone immediately did as commanded.
The admiral looked at their faces. “Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you now know, we may soon be in open hostilities with Chinese warships in the Eastern Pacific. I’ve been briefed on three scenarios. The first, which seems out of the question now, was that China is completely friendly to us and this whole exercise was a waste of time. As of a message I read just a few minutes ago, I now consider that scenario to be ruled out.”
Many of the faces staring back at him nodded. A few looked confused—those were the ones that the information hadn’t gotten to yet.
“The other scenarios are as follows. Either there is a contingent of rogue Chinese military and intelligence personnel who have, without orders from Beijing, executed an attack on United States interests…or, there is a far larger and more comprehensive Chinese attack in the works. Because we do not yet know which scenario we are facing, and because we wish to avoid triggering the worse of the two, we must act in such a way to avoid unnecessary hostilities with the Chinese military.”
Admiral Manning watched the faces of the men and women in the room as they digested his words. “Simply said, we do not yet know whether to shoot some of them, or all of them.”
The room was dead quiet. He held up the message in his hand. “They have just attacked the USS Farragut. And there are now several ships and at least one submarine headed to finish her off. That can’t happen, team. Not on our watch.”
He looked at the group. “Alright, I want options. When will we be in range with our aircraft?”
CAG said, “Sir, with tankers, we could be in range tomorrow. We’ve got about another forty-eight hours before we’ll be in range without tankers. We’re working with the Air Force to get support for that as we speak.”
“Could we launch the air wing onto shore somewhere and let them operate from there?”
CAG nodded. “Yes, sir, but the intelligence reports we’ve been given are now suggesting possible Chinese surface-to-air missile defenses set up in the area of Manta, Ecuador.”
The admiral rubbed his chin and thought it over. At least thirty faces looked back at him from around the room, waiting for him to speak. Their looks were eager. They all wanted to get in on the fight. He wondered how many of them knew that his daughter was aboard Farragut. He smiled inwardly. They all knew. This was a Navy vessel. Nothing was a secret around here.
“CAG, tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Admiral, the Warfare commanders and I were just discussing this. We suggest launching an E-2D and keeping them out of missile range of Ecuador. We’d be able to set up a link connection with the Farragut. We’ll be able to talk with them, share data, and get a sitrep.”
“Approved, what else?”
“Once we either get tanker support or get in range—whichever comes first—we can then launch a pair of Growlers and a pair of F-35s. We could use the Growlers for electronic attack on the Chinese surface ships. This would help prevent them from detecting or launching their missiles on the Farragut. The F-35s will be armed and ready to drop bombs and conduct strafing runs on the Chinese ships if needed.”
“Bombs and strafing runs?”
“Correct, Admiral.”
“The F-35s don’t have any anti-ship missiles?”
“There are some prototypes in development, sir. But we don’t have any on board.”
The admiral kept calm. While the news was extremely frustrating, it would have been counterproductive to show anger in front of his men. “Understood.” He turned to the commodore. “Any thoughts, Commodore? What’s the best way to fight those Chinese surface ships from your perspective?”
“Admiral, the Farragut has anti-ship missiles it can use. We’re working on getting an Air Force JSTARS to conduct a mission to the area and help us locate the Chinese, without getting too close as to alert them. Once we do that, we’ll be able to go over attack options, if it comes to it.”
“Alright. What about the submarine? What are our plans for that?”
“Sir, I’ve been in touch with the P-8 squadron in El Salvador. They’ve been brought into the fold on SILVERSMITH. They’ve promised to provide as much ASW coverage as possible over the next few days, until Farragut gets to Panama. There is a problem, however.”
“What’s that?”
“Sir, the P-8 skipper told me that they don’t have any live torpedoes. Their mission in the area was ASW training and counternarcotic surveillance only.”
“So I have fighters with no anti-ship missiles, and ASW aircraft with no torpedoes. Very well. I assume that they’ll be able to work in concert with the Farragut and her helos?”
“Yes, sir. We’ve had intermittent HF communications with Farragut today. We think some of her communications equipment may have been damaged in combat. Once we get the Screwtops up and airborne, we’ll be able to relay all this information and confirm plans. It’s been easier to speak with the land-based assets, sir. But we’re working on it.”
The Screwtops was the call sign of the airborne early-warning E-2 squadron, VAW-123. They had recently transitioned from the E-2C to the newer model, E-2D.
“Alright. Get the aircraft launched as soon as possible.” He turned to scan the eyes of the men and women around the room. “Make sure everyone on board knows that they aren’t to share any of this information with anyone on shore. No unauthorized phone calls, email, or Internet. This place is on information lockdown unless it’s official business. That understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
The admiral stood up and walked out. In silence, everyone in the room stood at attention until he left.
23
USS Farragut
Victoria walked into the crowded wardroom. No one called attention on deck, bu
t she could feel that pause—that tension that occurs when the seniormost person enters the room. All eyes were on her, as if asking permission for whatever would come next.
She had called for a department head meeting as soon as OPS had come off duty. They had one of the junior officers standing tactical action officer in CIC.
Chase and the soldier she’d been speaking to in the helicopter—she learned he was actually a Marine captain, and would probably detest the term soldier—ate sandwiches prepared by the wardroom’s CS2. The rest of them sat, waiting for her. A recently retrieved Plug stood in the back of the room.
Juan had picked up a total of thirty-two officers and crew from the various international ships, but they were all recovering in the empty hangar, now converted into an infirmary.
Victoria began, “COMMO, you said you had something to tell me about getting our datalink network up and running.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the ensign said, “we actually just got a good connection a few minutes before I walked in. We’re now linking with an E2-D to the south of us. We still have to set a few things up, but we should be able to have encrypted chat capability with them, and some voice channels, ready within the hour.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Did you say E2-D?” That was the newest carrier-launched radar plane. It provided early-warning and networking capabilities to fleet ships and aircraft. If one of those was flying around in range of them, that meant that a carrier was almost certainly nearby.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“To the south? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma’am. We’re trying to get more information, ma’am. We’ll have something for you shortly.”
“Alright. Let me know the minute you get any comms. We need them to relay our ASW help request and send more air assets to check for any more survivors near the attack site.”
“Roger that.”
The chief engineer spoke for a bit about the status of bridge repairs and damage. Then OPS filled everyone in on new staffing, replacing those who were lost in the attack. No one said a word while he spoke. She could see the looks on their faces. People were exhausted from the stress of the last twenty-four hours.
