Reluctantly, the surface warfare officer handed over the manila folder.
Tombstone leafed through the printouts and diagrams. Part of the information was indeed useful — descriptions of additional precautions the battle group should take to detect missile dangers from the coastline, pop-up aircraft, and neutral traffic. It was the last two diagrams that worried him. They contained detailed descriptions of possible shore targets along the coast, as well as a range chart showing increased early alert warning capability if the Aegis were to proceed into six miles off the coast.
“According to this, you’d be in full view of anyone on the coast,” Tombstone remarked.
“They’ll be able to see us anyway. Even twelve miles away, the carrier will be visible. The masts of the smaller ships, too.”
“And you’re recommending this as an OP-PLAN?”
“I’m recommending it as an approach to exerting our rights of innocent passage. The law lets us intrude into their territorial waters if we’re in transit between two international waters and not conducting military operations.”
“But you would be, according to this. Conducting military operations, I mean.”
“They’d never be able to prove it. I’d leave my helos airborne, with orders to bingo to the carrier for refueling.”
“Well. Captain, you’ve certainly put some thought into this,” Tombstone said, anger starting to grow. CAG had been right — the Aegis was potentially more of a problem than CAG’s aircrews. “And I appreciate your initiative in sharing it. So let me explain my intentions to you, just so we’re all in sync with this.
“The Aegis,” Tombstone continued, “is an extremely valuable battle control platform. Your capability to manage the air war, as well as the assets of the other cruisers in the battle group, is vital in conflict. What I am concerned about is whether or not you are incompetent, stupid, or absolutely fucking insane.”
Killington had started to beam at Tombstone’s words. His mouth dropped open at the last sentence, and his face froze into an incongruous mask of self-approval and shock.
“But-” he started.
“Shut up and listen if you want to stay in command for more than another three seconds. We are not at war, Captain! My message contained no secret message that you should run through your secret decoder ring. We are simply going to patrol back and forth in the box I’ve laid out for you, staying outside the twelve-mile limit! And the first time I catch your happy little ass and your boat closer than fifteen miles away from the coast, I’m going to helo over to your ship, walk up on your bridge, and publicly castrate you. And then I will relieve you of your command. Do you understand me, you idiot?”
The Aegis CO choked out a “Yes, Admiral.”
“From now on, I am going to be taking particular note of the operations involving Vincennes. Every time I look at the screen in combat, I’d better see your ship so tightly in the middle of her screen position that it’d take a crowbar to pry you loose. There had better never be a question in my mind about what you are doing, where you are going, or what you are thinking. Is that absolutely clear, Captain?”
This time, Killington could only nod.
“Get back to your ship. Don’t let this happen again.”
The Aegis CO rose and walked to the door. In the few steps that it took him to get there, he regained a portion of his composure. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned back toward Tombstone.
“I thank the admiral for taking the time to instruct me in basic rules of engagement for this part of the world. Be assured, Admiral — I won’t forget our conversation.” His face was carefully neutral during his statement.
“Get out, before I change my mind and relieve you now,” Tombstone said in a deadly quiet tone.
CHAPTER 8
We will be increasing the size of the garrison here immediately,” Mein Low said. “Your logistics officer will meet with mine to discuss the details.”
“May I ask why?” Bien forced a neutral tone into his voice. The ten Chinese Flankers currently on “temporary assignment” to Vietnam were already straining the resources of the small training base.
“Increased training opportunities,” the Chinese officer replied. “Your men have made excellent progress in air combat. It is time to take the next logical step in this evolution and begin experimenting with squadron-level tactics rather than one-on-one combat. To support that, I need more than one squadron here.”
“I will have to discuss this with my superiors, of course,” Bien said politely. “It will take some time to make preparations for more aircraft.”
“The next squadron will arrive next Tuesday,” Mein Low said, as though his Vietnamese counterpart had not spoken.
“I’m not certain-“
“Four days from now, Bien.” Mein Low fixed Bien with an impassive, vaguely threatening look.
So finally the Chinese show their hand! Bien thought. I warned the government against this very scenario. Once China has a presence inside a country, they can be very difficult to dislodge. They are the perpetual unwanted houseguests who far overstay their welcome — haven’t we at least learned that during the last twelve centuries? And to refuse this additional deployment will be an invitation for them to extend their presence by force.
The politicians who were eager to consolidate their recent gains in power had been eager to take advantage of the advanced air-power training the Chinese had offered. Bien’s concerns had been dismissed as old-fashioned, his fears as paranoia.
“In addition to more advanced training for your countrymen,” Mein Low puffed, “there will be other exciting opportunities to advance your regional security. Our squadrons will also be deploying to Malaysia and Brunei, to assist their programs. Within months, you will have the capability to make the South China Sea an impenetrable fortress. Never again will you see the Americans invading your soil, destroying your unity! With our help, you will be invulnerable.”
I heard those arguments six months ago, when your first aircraft arrived It was that very concept that sold the politicians on this entire evolution — that we would develop the capabilities to withstand another American invasion. But if the Soviets were difficult masters, how much worse the Chinese will be!
But there was nothing to be won jousting with the Chinese commander, not when his own politicians failed to see the dangers. Bien bowed politely, leaving Mein Low’s office deeply worried about the future of his country’s independence.
Most of the battle group wheeled to the west, steadied on a course of three hundred, and headed toward the coast of Vietnam. Jefferson turned into the wind, generating thirty-five knots of wind across the deck, and set flight quarters.
Inside Hornet 401, Major Frederick Hammersmith, call sign Thor, cycled his stick forward, back, and then side to side, testing his aircraft control surfaces. He watched the Yellow Shirt and nodded when he got a thumbs-up. He shoved the throttle forward, coming to full military power. The Hornet vibrated eagerly as he went to afterburners.
Thor returned the Yellow Shirt’s salute and settled the small of his back against what passed for a lumbar support pad in his seat. Two seconds later, the steam-driven catapult screamed forward, accelerated the Hornet to 130 knots in just under four seconds, and threw it off the forward end of the carrier.
The Hornet dropped sickeningly. Thor felt the usual second of sheer terror, wondering whether he had enough airspeed to fly. Of all the things that could go wrong in carrier aviation, a “soft cat” was his personal nightmare.