So he sent a message to Darwin to that effect, indicating that he wanted to move back into the Java Sea and await a replenishment convoy there. Just getting that far south was a 400 mile journey, and Carrier Strike Group Washington was now available to move into the Celebes Sea and take that watch.
Replenishment Group Forger out of Darwin was in the Timor Sea heading for the Java Sea at that hour with a tanker, ammunition ship, and the FFG (X) Class frigate Tavua, but that rendezvous and replenishment operation was going to take 48 hours.
It seemed that the naval situation was ‘under control’ in both theaters, and that a period of a few days quiet would settle on the seas. The next day, however, on the night of the 20th of January, Admiral Sun Wei sortied again from Karachi. His last desperate dash to Colombo was now underway.
US Satellite intelligence didn’t get a good look at what was happening until dawn on the 21st, but by 08:00, Captain Avrey Holmes had the data.
“These guys pulled a fast one,” he told his XO, Lt. Commander Cooper. “They turned it over last night and were out to sea before sunrise. Satellites picked them up 60 miles south of Karachi, but on a heading of 150. That’s right down the coast of India, and they’re just 30 miles beyond their territorial waters.”
“Now they don’t want to pick a fight with India,” said Cooper.
“I would think not, but there are also two Pakistani surface action Groups following in their wake. Time to get finished up here with the UNREP and head east. Just where, exactly, are we, Mister Cooper?”
“660 miles west of India, sir.”
The Captain took that in. “That means we wouldn’t get into strike range until about 20:00 this evening. Did Sherman leave Mumbai as ordered?”
“Yes sir, she’s about 120 miles south of the port now.”
“Well I’m sure Hap Turner got this same intel, but just in case he missed it, let him know that we think something is fishy here. Unless the Chinese turn west soon, they may be up to something. Tell him we’re heading east at once.”
“What about Roosevelt, sir? They just arrived at Salaha this morning, and we made off with all their loose change.”
“They’ll be on the bench for this one. If the Chinese keep this heading, then they may be attempting to withdraw. That’s good news and bad news, because they’ll be making for Sri Lanka now, and we’ll have to stop them. It’ll be up to Independence and New Jersey, so we’ll have to step lively.”
“India has ships at Mumbai, sir. What if they sortie?”
“Under the circumstances, it would not be very wise for that eel to come out of his cave, but I don’t like those two Pak TF’s trailing along with the Chinese. That could get someone’s dander up in New Delhi.”
“Let’s hope they mind their manners, sir.”
“Fedorov, how are things below decks,” said Karpov. “I haven’t had time to walk the ship of late.”
“Well enough,” said Fedorov. “Orlov has really warmed to his promotion. Now he walks around with his dress Captain’s hat on all the time. It’s almost comical, and some of the men mock him behind his back. But secretly, I think they are proud of him. They know what he does down there, and they are glad to see him get a leg up on the ladder.”
“Good, I meant it as a way to give him something I think he has been sorely needing—respect. I’ll be having dinner with him soon, and try to do that one-on-one with him more regularly. But tell me, is Lenkov still in one piece?”
The grim humor of that forced a smile from Fedorov. “Thankfully, he is, and there has been no further instance of that aberration in the reactor room. But Markov and Volushin haven’t reappeared, and it’s a little disturbing that none of the men have asked about them.”
“You are worried that no one remembers them?”
“Correct.”
“But Dobrynin remembered Markov easily enough.”
“Yes, but that may be because he was made aware of his disappearance from the very beginning. He was right there in the reactor section when it happened. You don’t forget something like that.”
“What about the others there?”
“Dobrynin clued them in on what had happened. I haven’t asked anyone yet, but I wonder if other crewmen on the ship would remember him now. Well, at least we accomplished a few things in the Celebes Sea.”
“Yes, we sunk another aircraft carrier,” said Karpov with a smile.
“And we got rid of Rod-25,” Fedorov followed quickly. “Yet I understand Tyrenkov had something to say about our last kill.”
“Yes,” said Karpov. “He called me on the secure comms last night. Says he thinks the Chinese are building up along the Amur River line, and he doesn’t like it. There’s been a lot of negative press in China—all state monitored and controlled, of course, but Siberians are not well liked there these days. He actually asked me not to sink anything more for a while. Can you believe that?”
“Well, I suppose I can see his point. An Armistice was signed, and here we are sinking a brand name capital ship like we did. The Chinese are probably pissed.”
“Are they?” said Karpov dismissively. “Well I don’t have to remind you that they killed my brother, Fedorov. They killed me. So they get what’s coming to them when they cross my path. That said, it looks like they’ve had more than they bargained for out here. Tyrenkov tells me their Admiral Wu has been recalled to Hainan—relieved of his command. He’s been replaced by Zheng Bao, his nominal superior, and the Chinese fleet has moved back into the Sulu Sea. Enterprise is heading south to replenish, and I suppose we should as well.”
“So where are we headed now, back to Surabaya?”
“Yes, we have a ship there with a few more missiles. We need the Gargoyles, and they have another eleven Zircons—the last in theater on those missiles. No matter. With the way they perform, we have plenty. But there more intelligence from Tyrenkov. He tells me the Chinese are pulling the remainder of their fleet out of the Gulf of Oman. They’re heading south as we speak, trying to get to Colombo on Sri Lanka, I suppose.”
“I thought the Americans sent cruise missiles against that port.”
“They did, but the Chinese have had engineers down there working day and night. You can only knock down a land base temporarily, Fedorov. Remember Pearl Harbor. It’s only a matter of time before it gets up and running again.”
“So what does this mean? Will the next fight be in the Indian Ocean?”
“Most likely, so I want to head that way as soon as we replenish. Enterprise is going to maneuver to the west Java Sea again to cover Singapore, but that’s boring. Let’s get out into the Indian Ocean.”
“That’s a big place,” said Fedorov. “Remember, we can’t use the Sunda Strait, and I wouldn’t advise the Strait of Malacca either.”
“All the more reason not to tag along with the Enterprise. What’s a good course, Mister Navigator?”
“Due south to Surabaya,” said Fedorov. “Then we sail out around Bali and take the Lombok Strait into the Indian Ocean. The Australians have Christmas and Cocos Islands out there.”
“Good sea room,” said Karpov.
“So will we get in on another fight?”
“Possibly. But the Americans are moving to cut off this Admiral Sun Wei before he can reach Colombo. It’s going to be a hard sea road for the Chinese. There’s no turning back. They’ll have to forge ahead, no matter what if they want to get to Sri Lanka, and I think they’re going to lose a lot of ships. One way or another, that fleet was doomed. The American Carrier Strike Groups have proven to be very effective—war winners. And I suppose we had something to do with it all as well.”