Fatal Terrain
Page 38
locked up the two lead formations. The Q-5 fighter, with var-
iable-geometry wings, was fast and agile, but the AS-10 mis-
sile had a maximum range of only six miles and required the
pilot to acquire the target using the TV sensor on the missile
itself. Atkins jammed the Q-5's mapping radar, which meant
the Chinese pilots had to climb so they could visually acquire
the two Navy frigates-and that made them sitting ducks for
Atkins and his Scorpion missiles. Both missiles hit dead on
target, destroying two Q-5s, and their wingmen promptly did
a one-eighty and headed for home.
"Pilot, mil power, heading two-zero-zero," Atkins ordered.
"I've got two formations of two still inbound. They split up,
but we know who they're going after-they gotta converge
soon. We gotta be there ahead of them." The Megafortress
banked hard in response, speeding southward toward the two
Navy frigates. "Okay, I've got the closest bandits at our seven
o'clock, ten miles-they're only a few miles from their launch
points. Stand by for Stinger launch. Give me a hard turn to
one-five-zero."
252 DALE BROWN
As Elliott threw the Megafortress into a hard left turn,
Atkins activated the tail-mounted Stinger self-defense rockets,
locked up the formation of Q-5 bombers to the west, and began
laying down a string of Stinger airmines in the path of the Q-5
fighters. The airmines exploded far ahead of the fighter-
bombers, probably too far to be seen, but Atkins was hoping
that he might catch one or both of the fighters with the large
cloud of flak pellets generated by the exploding rockets. When
the Megafortress was just a few miles from the northernmost
formation, Atkins shouted, "Hard right, heading two-five-oh!"
and as the bomber turned, Atkins started pumping out rockets
in front of the second formation.
This time, they were closer to the Chinese fighters-one
direct hit. The pilot of the single-engine Q-5 fighter, his engine
shelled out by hundreds of steel pellets from the Stinger rock-
ets, bailed out seconds before his Q-5 fighter exploded when
the engine tore itself apart. His wingman stayed on the attack
run and launched all four of his AS-10 missiles, copies of the
American-made Maverick attack missiles, at the James Daniel.
The Chinese pilot locked all four missiles on target, then
started a hard right turn away from the frigate-directly into
the lethal attack cone of the Megafortress's Stinger tail cannon.
At least six of the Megafortress's Stinger rockets hit home,
shredding the Q-5's canopy, engine, forward fuselage-and
pilot.
"JD, this is Headbanger One, one fighter launched on you!"
McLanahan shouted on the satellite fleet common frequency.
"We show four inbounds!" But the warning came too late.
The frigate's Phalanx close-in weapon system, a 30-millimeter
radar-guided Gatling gun, destroyed two of the AS-10 missiles
that had auto-locked onto the frigate, but the other two hit
home. Their forty-pound high-explosive warheads struck the
helicopter hangar and the forecastle. The nearly one-inch-thick
Kevlar armor around the command spaces protected the bridge
and forecastle, but the other missile destroyed the James Dan-
iel's starboard-side helicopter hangar, the 75-millimeter gun,
and the amidships Mk 92 fire-control radar antenna, and an
explosion in one of the starboard Mk 32 anti-submarine tor-
pedo tubes created a fire and extensive damage.
Fully loaded and hungry for vengeance, Kelvin Carter and
his crew aboard Headbanger Two attacked the second large
formation of Chinese attackers from maximum range. The sec-
ond formation of Chinese aircraft was four H-6 bombers, cop-
ies of the thirty-year-old Soviet Tupolev-16 Badger heavy
bomber; each bomber carried two huge Hai Ying-4 Sea Eagle
anti-ship missiles. Two H-6 bombers were hit by Scorpion
missiles and were forced to break off their attacks, but the
other two got within range of the Navy frigates, fired their
cruise missiles, and turned for home. Carter's crew launched
their last six Scorpion missiles at the Sea Eagle missiles, de-
stroying two of them. The Duncan managed to destroy one
with its 76-millimeter gun and damage the last one with its
Phalanx close-in weapon system, but even damaged, the three-
quarter-ton cruise missile devastated the Duncan. The missile
hit the aft starboard quarter, tearing a huge hole in the stem.
It took several more minutes for Atkins and McLanahan
both to declare the area secure. At least eight Taiwanese F-16
and F-5 fighters were nearby, patrolling the air' space from sea
level to forty thousand feet. "JD, this is Headbanger, how
copy?" McLanahan called.
"Loud and clear," the James Daniel's tactical action officer
responded. "We show clear to the north. The Taiwan air force
showed up and kicked ass to the south."
"What's your status?"
"We both got hit pretty bad," the TAO reported. "We're
still under way, but fires up on deck are still not under control.
Duncan is heavily darnaged-we're setting up to receive sur-
vivors. She probably won't make it."
"Crap," McLanahan cursed aloud. "JD, Headbanger One
is going to clear off north and hit the tanker. Headbanger Two
will stay on station, in case the PLAN shows up. We'll be
rotating our coverage as long as you need us. We're fully anti-
ship capable. We'll still need the Taiwan Air Force in the area
to help with antiair coverage."
"Copy, Headbanger," the TAO replied. "We sure would
appreciate all the help we can get. I sure as hell won't bad-
mouth you zoomies anymore."
"Son-y we couldn't be more help," McLanahan said.
"We'll be watching yoiir backside. Headbanger One clear."
254 DALE BROWN
THE PRESIDENT'S STUDY, WHITE HOUSE
OVAL OFFICE., WASHINGTON, D.
WEDNESDAY, 18 JUNE, 2151 HOURS ET
It was right there, on a CNN "Breaking News Special Report"
live video of a sinking Chinese ferry, about twenty miles from
Quemoy Island. Again and again, CNN also replayed the vide-
otape that had been turned over to them at their Beijing bureau
by the Chinese governments video showing two missiles
slamming into the ferry, the explosions, the fire ... CNN was
also showing videotape of a similar attack on the Chinese air-
craft carrier Mao Zedong, during Reunification Day celebra-
tions. First they showed the fireworks, the children, the flags,
the awestruck civilians on tour-and then they showed the dev-
astation just seconds after torpedoes from an unknown attacker
slammed into the carrier. The videotape clearly showed the
damage, showed the injured and dead civilians ...
... and it showed what caused all that death and destruc-
tion, a captured Taiwanese attack submarine, forced to the sur-
face, captured, then sunk by Chinese shore- and carrier-based
naval forces.
"My God," som
eone muttered. "This is the most incredible
tape I've ever seen. We've got to respond right away."
"The first damn thing I want everyone to do is to calm
down, " the President of the United States, Kevin Martindale,
said as he swiveled uncomfortably in his chair. The members
of his staff and the military representatives were on their feet
watching the TV monitors in absolute shock and horror. "I'm
not taking any more phone calls from the media for the rest
of the evening, especially from CNN. I don't care if Jane
Fonda herself calls asking for more information." With the
President in his study adjacent to the Oval Office was Philip
Freeman, the President's National Security Advisor; Robert
Plank, Director of Central Intelligence; and chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral George Balboa, representing the
uniformed services.
Entering last and standing beside and slightly behind the
President was his chief of staff, Jerrod Hale. "Secretaries
Chastain and Hartman are not available," Hale told the Pres-
ident. "The Vice President and Mr. Ricardo are en route, ETA
ten minutes."
"I need to talk to Jeffrey and Arthur ASAP,- the President
told Hale. Turning to his assembled advisors, the President
began, "Phil, get us started."
"Yes, sir," Freeman said, opening a red-jacketed folder
with the words "TOP SECRET" emblazened on the cover.
"About an hour ago, approximately seven P. Washington
time, eight A. Hong Kong time, several very unusual and
deadly events occurred in the Formosa Strait region almost
simultaneously. We're seeing the press reports of what hap-
pened, but I have the preliminary field reports, and they paint
a much different picture.
"First, several missiles were fired at two U. Navy frigates
operating near Quemoy Island," Freeman said. "One frigate,
a Naval Reserve Fleet ship named the Duncan, was hit by two
torpedoes and slightly damaged. The EB-52 Megafortress was
in the vicinity at the time of the attack, and the crew reported
that it detected the missile launch and pinpointed the ship that
launched the missiles. Without penrnission, the Megafortress
attacked."
"Ol' Brad Elliott hit his intended target, too--except it turns
out it was a Chinese passenger ship, " Admiral Balboa inter-
jected hody. "Brad Elliott disregarded orders and blew the shit
out of a passengerferry.
"Casualties?"
"The Chinese report sixty-eight civilians dead, over two
hundred injured," Freeman said somberly. "Unable to verify
it yet, but judging by the videotape, that's an accurate number.
Rescue efforts are under way, as we can see."
"Oh, God," the President murmured; then, in a much
louder, angrier tone: "What possible explanation did Elliott
give?"
"The crew claims that the ferry was towing a barge that
made it look like a cruiser or destroyer on radar, and that the
rocket-powered torpedoes launched at the Duncan and James
Daniel did come from the direction of that ferry," Freeman
said. "They said they were just protecting the frigates."
"General Freeman, I wish you'd stop being a mama's boy
to Brad Elliott," Admiral Balboa exploded. "Technical
glitches, wolf in sheep's clothing, saving the day, spooks and
goblins-forget the damned excuses, because he's got a mil-
256 DALE BROWN
lion of them. The bottom line is that Elliott attacked again
without permission. He didn't do a complete target assessment
and fired two heavy missiles at a noncombatant."
"But the Megafortresses redeemed themselves," Freeman
went on. "They stayed with the frigates and helped to fight
off a Chinese air attack on the frigates. According to reports
from the James Daniel and the Megafortress's crew, China
launched several formations of fighters and attack planes, in-
cluding four heavy bombers with large anti-ship cruise mis-
siles. Elliott and his wingman. in the Megafortresses used their
antiaircraft weapons to shoot down a number of the attackers;
Taiwan Air Force fighters helped to fight off several forma-
tions of Chinese fighters."
"None of this would have happened," Balboa argued, "if
Elliott hadn't put those two missiles into that ferry."
"I disagree, Admiral," Freeman said. "Those fighters and
attack planes were on the scene within minutes of the attack
on the ferry. This was a planned attack, made to look like
retaliation for our attack."
"That's bullshit, Freeman."
"All right, all right," the President said. He turned-to Free-
man and said, "Looks like Brad Elliott screwed up big-time,
Philip. Is he on his way back to Guam?"
"No, sir," Freeman replied. "Both Megafortresses are on
station with the James Daniel and Duncan, in case any Chi-
nese naval vessels try to approach. The Taiwanese air force is
also overhead, in case there are any more air attacks."
"Sir, we've got to stop fucking around with these damned
B-52 monstrosities and take command of the region," Admiral
Balboa said, completely abandoning all courtesy toward his
commander in chief. "We need the Independence to move into
the Strait to assist the frigates in recovery and withdrawal, right
now. And we've got to initiate an investigation of that missile
attack-Elliott and whoever else screwed up has to be held
liable. Congress, our allies, and the American people are going
to scream bloody murder over this. Elliott needs to have his
nuts chopped off!"
"Admiral, I warned you, watch your damned mouth when
you're speaking to the President," Jerrod Hale snapped.
"Jerrod, easy-I'm upset, too," the President said. "All
right. Terminate all the EB-52 patrols, recall those bombers
back to wherever the hell they came from-hide them away
someplace where the press can't find them, until we have the
spin under control. When they get back to Guam, I want a full
investigation of the incident. . . " he paused, then added,
". . . with the intention of filing criminal charges against El-
liott, McLanahan, whoever was in command of the aircraft that
fired the missiles against the 'ferry. This is going to be seri-
ous." He paused again, then added, "And get the Indepen-
dence group under way to take up patrol positions in the Strait.
We can use commercial or allied salvage services to assist the
frigates, but the reason we're moving the Independence into
the Strait is to help the frigates."
"Yes, sir. " Balboa nodded and was on the phone imme-
diately, issuing the orders. In the meantime, sir, what do you
suggest we tell the press about the attack on the ferry?" Bal-
boa asked. There was a definite edge in his voice this time, as
if he was rubbing the President's nose in the filth caused by
his decision to send in the EB-52 Megafortresses. "We will
not blame this attack on my frigates-they obeyed orders and
did not open fire, unlike your damned thingamajigs."
"Admiral..." Jerrod Hale warned him, picking up on his
disrespectful tone of voice. Balboa glared at Hale, but kept
silent by taking an unrepentant sip of coffee.
The President did not show any anger at the chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "We tell them ... that we had armed
military patrol aircraft in the area that mistakenly fired on the
ferry," he said. "No elaboration beyond that. We can report
the rest in closed-door briefings if necessary, but no details
about the Megafortresses to the press." Freeman and Hale
nodded; Balboa showed little reaction. "All right. What else
happened out there?"
"At almost the exact same time, sir, the Chinese carrier Mao
Zedong was hit by three torpedoes as it lay at anchor near
Hong Kong," Freeman replied. The President's aw sagged,
and he muttered a barely audible "Ah, shit." "It i was part of
Reunification Day celebrations; it carried a skeleton crew of
about a thousand, and approximately a thousand civilians, most
of whom had slept aboard the ship. The carrier reportedly sus-
tained major damage. Casualties are reported to be heavy.
"The carrier responded with an attack by several helicop-
ters, at which time they attacked and damaged a Taiwanese
Sea Dragon-class submarine, forcing it.to the surface. The
258 DALE BROWN
crew was taken off the sub, and then it was blown to bits and
sunk by gunfire from the carrier Mao. "
"Jesus," the President muttered. "What does the ROC say
about it?"
"Taiwan hasn't issued any statements so far," DCI Robert
Plank responded woodenly. The President looked surprised,
then frustrated, then angry at the news. "We know that a cou-
ple Taiwanese subs have been shadowing the Mao since it
returned to Hong Kong after the attack on Quemoy-we've
got two subs in the vicinity as well, although we were careful
to stay out of Hong Kong waters. Apparently the Taiwanese
navy decided the Mao was too inviting a target and decided
to be heroes and sink the son of a bitch. Their plan backfired."
"Simultaneously, it appears that a Taiwanese C-130 trans-
port plane was detected near Lang-Ch'i Army Base, twenty