by Dale Brown
nese waters. Speed up to twenty knots and increasing. Smaller
ships are heading forward to take the point, but that big de-
stroyer is still in the lead."
"They're not trying to avoid that Taiwanese boat-they're
turning to get ready to open fire," Elliott observed. "What in
hell does Sung think he's doing? Those carrier escorts will
chew him to pieces."
The secure UHF radio transceiver channel clicked to life, as
the encryption-decryption algorithms instantly synchronized
the two parties; then, in English with a thick Chinese accent,
they heard: "American bomber, American bomber, this is
Captain Sung aboard the Kin Men, how do you read?"
"Who in the world is that?" Nancy Cheshire shouted. "The
captain of what?"
"He said he was the captain of the Kin Men-that's the
name of that Taiwanese frigate that's cruising near the Chinese
fleet," Elliott said.
"How in hell did he get our secure UHF frequency?"
McLanahan asked. "And how does he know we're a
bomber?"
"So much for communications security," Elliott groused on
interphone. "Typical Navy COMSEC procedures-as leaky as
a wet paper bag. Or else this frigate is part of the Navy's
surveillance of that Chinese fleet. Good thing we're on secure
frequencies." He keyed the mike, waited for the transceivers
to synchronize, then responded, "Loud and clear, Kin Men.
This is Headbanger."
"Jesus, Brad!" McLanahan interjected. "You're going to
talk to him? We don't know who the hell he is! It could be a
PRC tap."
"There is no way the PRC or anybody else could have
broken the encryption logarithm and channelized with us-we
only decided on it six hours ago, before we launched from
Guam," Elliott said. In fact it was relatively easy to do with
the right equipment. The secure radio system they used simply
changed frequencies in random intervals. The timing and di-
rection of the hop was controlled by a predetermined code that
only the mission participants used. It was possible to scan the
I P_
FATAL T E R RAI N 129
entire radio band and pick up the conversation, but an eaves-
dropper might only hear a snippet of conversation before an-
other hop occurred. "The only way that Taiwanese captain
can be talking to us is if he got the codes from the Navy.
Obviously, we're all working together here."
McLanahan was not convinced, but Elliott's argument made
some sense. "Tell him to authenticate," McLanahan sug-
gested. Everyone involved in this surveillance operation, from
the Navy and Air Force crews in Asia to radio operators half
a world away to the President's communications staff, used a
standard challenge-and-response code system to verify that the
other party in the conversation was who they were supposed
to be and not an eavesdropper or faker. The challenge-and-
response was supposed to be used even over secure frequen-
cies. Either party could initiate a challenge, or ask for multiple
challenges, but for maximum security the calling party initi-
ated the challenge. Once both sides were properly authenti-
cated and satisfied of the other's identity, any instructions or
changes to standing orders were followed by a lookup code
system, using the cur-rent UTC date-time group followed by a
letter. McLanahan punched up the current decode document
on his computer terminal: "Give him bravo-India-response
should be 'bravo.' "
"Look, Muck, we're on a secure satellite link," Elliott ar-
gued. "We don't have time for alphabet soup right now."
Before McLanahan could argue further, Elliott switched ra-
dios: "Kin Men, we're picking up major radar emissions from
the Chinese carrier group. It appears you are closing on the
carrier group, and the Mao looks like it's getting ready to
attack. What is your status?"
"Headbanger, we are moving to intercept the Communist
battle group," Sung replied. "We will not stand by while the
Communists close in and attack our territory. We ask that you
stand by and assist us if the Communists should attack."
"He's what?" McLanahan retorted.
"Kin Men, we think that is a very unwise decision, repeat,
that's a very bad idea," Elliott radioed. "Recommend you
reverse course and avoid direct contact. We can give you po-
sition and status reports. Do not engage that group."
"Negative, Headbanger," Sung responded. "My headquar-
ters has recommended that I attempt to keep the group out of
missile bombardment range. Our intelligence has revealed that
130 DALE BROWN
the Communists are carrying nuclear land attack and anti-ship
missiles. We are counting on you to provide heavy attack
cover if necessary. Stand by. We are launching our helicopter
now."
"Shit," Elliott swore, "the Chinese ships are carrying
nukes." Elliott and McLanahan had both been involved in the
China-Philippines conflict three years earlier, when China had
set off one low-yield thermonuclear device against some Fil-
ipino warships and later threatened to launch another; he had
no doubt that China would try it again against the Taiwanese
navy. "I'll contact Samson. Jesus, Taiwan could be in serious
trouble here." Elliott switched to his number two radio, which
was a secure satellite patch to General Samson, who was in
charge of the bomber mission as a staff member of the U.
Navy's Pacific Command headquarters, reporting to Admiral
William Allen. "Buster, this is Headbanger."
"Go ahead, Headbanger, this is Buster," Samson himself
responded. "Authenticate delta-delta."
McLanahan looked up the response and read it off to Elliott:
"Headbanger has Mike."
"Good copy," Samson replied. "Go ahead, Headbanger."
"Buster, we got problems out here, and I just wanted you
to know I had nothing to do with it," Elliott said, with just a
trace of amusement in his voice. "We were just contacted by
a Taiwanese frigate named the Kin Men. Its captain is named
Sung. He is about to lock homs with Pig One. He claims the
Pigs have nukes and they're getting ready to use them. Sung
is launching his fling-wing and is getting ready to start pump-
ing 'em out. Better notify the squids and the dolphins to come
give us a hand. We need permission to engage the Pigs if
necessary. "
"Repeat that last, Headbanger?" Samson responded, the
surprise and shock evident in his voice even over the secure
satellite link. "You've been in contact with a Taiwanese war-
ship over the secure radio link?"
"Hey, he contacted me, he knew we were an American
bomber, he knew exactly where we were, and he's locked on
to our comm algorithm," Elliott said. "I figured either the
squids gave all this information to him, or someone leaked it
to the ROC. In any case, he says the Liberation Army Navy
battle group is carrying nuclear weapons that they're going ' to
&
nbsp; use on Quemoy, and he's going out to stop them right now.
FATAL T E R RAI N 131
We need permission to set up a protective electronic screen
around his ships and engage as necessary. Over."
"Headbanger, this is Buster. Keep your nose cold until I
get the straight word from Atlas," Samson replied, telling El-
liott to hold his fire until he notified Admiral Allen directly.
"Stand by.- '
"Confirmed," McLanahan said, checking his weapons
status. "I've still got a CHECK FIRE data message from PAC-
COM. My nose is cold. Someone better get on the horn to
Taiwan Navy headquarters. One of their naval units is about
to start a war with China!"
ABOARD THE CHINESE CARRIER MAO ZEDONG
THAT SAME TIME
"Sir, port lookout reports that the S-70 helicopter on the Na-
tionalist ship's platform is turning rotors!" the officer of the
deck shouted. Admiral Yi swun around and scanned the ship
9
with his binoculars. Although the Taiwanese ship was still fac-
ing its bow directly toward the Chinese ships, it was possible
to see the S-70's turning main rotor behind the large aircraft
hangar. The 40-millimeter gun's barrel was now lowered and
aimed directly at the Mao. "Radar reports a second vessel
coming over the horizon heading right for us, possibly another
Nationalist warship."
Dammit, Yi shouted at himse this is accelerating too t!
He was only.minutes away from starting a shooting war with
the Nationalists! He yanked the phone off its cradle, keyed the
mike, and said in Mandarin, "Frigate Kin Men, frigate Kin
Men, this is the carrier Mao Zedong. I warn you, if you attempt
to launch our helicopter now, I will open fire on it. We do
y
not wish a war with you, but you must not provoke us fur-
ther!
"Carrier Mao, you will reverse course immediately, or you
will be fired upon without further warning! " the skipper of
the Taiwanese frigate responded. "You and your entire fleet
are in danger of anti-ship cruise missile attack at this very
moment. I warn you, shut down your radars or they will be
destroyed by anti-radar weapons that have been launched
against you."
132 DALE BROWN
"Prepare to lock radars on enemy aircraft, traverse the Cro-
tale launcher and prepare to open fire," Yi shouted to the
officer of the deck. "Clear to load the AK-130s." The two
130-n-fillimeter gun mounts began to turn toward the Taiwa-
nese frigate; at the same time, the large octuple French-made
Crotale Modulaire launcher swiveled port and down, aiming
its eight Crotale antiaircraft missiles directly at the frigate.
"Crotale launcher elevated, hot birds on the rail, sir!" the.
officer of the deck reported. "Hong-Yang-2 anti-ship missiles
on Kang and Changsha aligned and ready for targets. P-500s
spinning.up and ready in two minutes."
"Where are my fighters?" Yi shouted.
"Interceptor One flight of two is on deck; first aircraft
should be ready to launch in five minutes. Interceptor Two
flight of two will be on deck in three minutes."
"Acknowledged," Yi replied. "Lock fire control and tar-
geting radars on the Taiwanese frigate. Notify me immediately
if the helicopter lifts off." Then, aloud, to the rebel corn-
mander, he muttered, "Very well, Captain, you wanted to play
tough guy. What will you do now?"
ABOARD THE EB-52 MEGAFORTRESS
"Target-tracking radars locked onto the Taiwanese frigate,"
Vikram shouted excitedly on interphone. "They got him
nailed. Crotale target-tracking radar is up. They're tracking the
helicopter even while it's still on deck. Square Tie anti-ship
missile-targeting radar locked on, bearing to the Kin Men and
a second bearing on the newcomer to the southeast. They can
attack at any time."
Elliott swore aloud and keyed the mike again: "Buster, this
is Headbanger, the Pigs are getting ready to start breakfast.
What do you want us to do?"
"Stand by, Headbanger," Samson replied a few long, ag-
onizing moments later. "We're waiting for word from Wran-
gler." That was Admiral Balboa, chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff-this decision was going right to Washington.
"Screw Balboa, Earthmover," Elliott shouted on the radio,
forgetting all communications security procedures. "That Tai-
FATAL TERRAIN 133
wanese frigate is going to be blown out of the water in about
sixty seconds if we don't do anything."
"Check your fire-and your mouth, Headbanger!" Samson
responded angrily. "If no one has opened fire yet, you don't
open fire. And maintain proper COMSEC procedures!"
Suddenly, McLanahan's God's-eye view on his large su-
percockpit display picked up a new flying target. "I got missile
launch detection-and it's from the Taiwanese frigate!" he
shouted. "Subsonic, low-flying, probably a Harpoon anti-ship
missile ... Taiwanese helicopter lifting off ... now picking up
several more missile launches from the Kin Men ... I've got
missile launch detection from the newcomer as well, subsonic
missile launch, probably Harpoons."
"Dammit, the Taiwanese frigate attacked," Elliott said.
"Why in the hell didn't he wait?"
McLanahan heard that comment, but he was too busy to ask
about it: "I've got six missiles in the air, all aiming for the
Chinese carrier and destroyer," he reported. "Lead PLAN de-
stroyer now opening fire with missiles now, subsonic, probably
HY-2-anti-ship missiles."
"Commit all countermeasures!" Elliott shouted. "Clear for
wing pylon weapon release!"
"We don't have authorization yet, Brad," McLanahan
shouted.
"Patrick, that Taiwanese frigate is going to be Swiss cheese
unless we do something," Elliott retorted. "Get on it right
now! DSO, stand by on the Wolverines."
"Brad, wait......
"We're only launching decoys, Patrick," Elliott said.
"What in hell are you waiting for? You're clear for wing
pylon release."
Vikram looked over at McLanahan, his finger poised over
the launch commit button. McLanahan hesitated for a moment;
Vikrarn considered that approval and pressed the buttons on
his keyboard. "Roger. Stand by for pylon launch, crew," Vi-
krarn announced. He launched two defensive Wolverine mis-
siles, one from each wing pylon pod. McLanahan knew he
should halt the launch, but decided not to interfere.
The turbojet-powered Wolverine cruise missiles set up a
protective orbit around the Taiwanese frigate and activated its
powerful electronic jammers, creating an intense blanket of
jamming and decoy signals. When the Chinese Hong Yang-2
134 DALE BROWN
Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles activated their terminal homing
radars in the preprogrammed target "basket" area, they sud-
denly found not one, but hundreds of radar targets. The seeker
heads merely picked out the electronically largest radar target
and aimed right for it, descending from two hundred feet above
the water to twenty feet to make it harder for anti-missile
weapons to stop it.
But every Chinese Sea Eagle missile had locked onto a false
target created by the Wolverine missile's jammers. When it
lost radar contact, it immediately turned and locked onto the
next largest radar target. Every time the Sea Eagle missile
turned, it slowed down, making it easier for the Kin Men's
guns and Standard missiles to hunt them down; the ones that
were not destroyed by the Taiwanese frigate were detoured
farther and farther away until they simply ran out of fuel and
crashed into the sea.
"All right, everyone, check fire," McLanahan shouted on
interphone after both Wolverine cruise missiles were on their
way. "Brad, turn us away from the Chinese battle group be-
fore they backtrack those Wolverine missiles."
"We can't stop now, Patrick," Elliott shouted. "Get the
Rainbows and Strikers out! That Taiwanese frigate is still un-
protected! "
"Negative, pilot," McLanahan responded. "Everyone stand
by." He switched his radio to the scrambled satellite channel:
"Buster, this is Headbanger, we've got Screamers in the air,
repeat, Screamers in the air. Advise if you want seconds."
"Say again, Headbanger?" Samson responded. "You
launched? On whose orders?"
"Let's get with the program, Earthmover," Elliott cut in.
"We're the only thing standing between that carrier battle
group and the Taiwanese navy. Let's send the Tacit Rainbows
and Strikers and end this right now."
Headbanger, you check your fire until we get word from
the boss," Samson said. "Stay nose cold. You hear me, pilot?
Noses cold. If you're still in contact with the Taiwanese frig-
ate, tell him to disengage and get out of the area. I'm getting
permission for you to cover his withdrawal."
"What if he attacks again?" Elliott asked, but Samson had
no reply. He swore loudly into his oxygen mask and switched
to the secondary secure radio channel: "Kin Men, this is Head-
banger," Elliott radioed to the Taiwanese frigate. "We showed
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