An airborne warning-and-control aircraft orbited high above the Seventh Fleet carrier and her six escort ships from Cruiser Destroyer Group Five. The Grumman Group Two E-2C Hawk-eye provided the radar eyes for the warships and the fighter planes. The "Hummer" rotated with three other Carrier Air Wing 15 Hawkeyes to supply around-the-clock surveillance for airborne threats. If the early-warning aircraft spotted unidentified planes, the "bogies' " position and altitude would be sent by digital link to Kitty Hawk and to the air-warfare officer aboard Chancellorsville, one of the carrier battle group's two Aegis cruisers.
Miles from the center of the carrier group and operating in separate quadrants, two Lockheed S-3B Viking jets patrolled for submarine activity. The pair of antisubmarine-warfare aircraft, known as Hoovers because their engines sound like vacuum cleaners, also provided the capability for visually searching the surface of the ocean. The crews of the jets from the VS-37 Sawbucks took pride in knowing that they were the best of the best in the ASW business.
Beneath the choppy waters leading to the Strait of Malacca, a Los Angeles — class nuclear-powered attack submarine quietly prowled the depths in search of stealthy threats to the battle group. Limited by the shallow waters of the southern end of the narrow strait, which varies from 90 to 120 feet in depth, the submarine had to stay in the northwest area, where the bottom gradually deepens until it reaches approximately 650 feet at the boundary of the Andaman Basin.
With the threat from Soviet ballistic-missile submarines now history, the American attack-submarine community had shifted its focus to detecting and countering diesel subs in shallow coastal waters. The challenge is particularly difficult because the latest generation of diesel-electric boats is extremely quiet and has the endurance to "sleep" on the bottom of the ocean for extended periods of time.
In the crowded Strait of Malacca, the problem of detecting enemy submarines is exacerbated by the mixed propeller noises generated from the multitude of vessels plying the busy shipping lanes.
The commanding officer of La Jolla acted primarily on his own and seldom communicated with the battle group. Like all fast-attack skippers, he didn't like any type of communication that might reveal his presence and location. His mission, like the responsibility of the commanding officers of the surface ships, was to protect the vulnerable aircraft carrier. He would quietly attempt to find and kill any submarine that dared to stalk the battle group.
On the massive flight deck of Kitty Hawk, two Grumman F-14D Tomcats from Fighter Squadron 111 were sitting on the bow catapults in an Alert Fifteen status. They were armed with Phoenix long-range missiles and Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missiles.
The Tomcat pilots and their radar-intercept officers were resting in their squadron ready room, waiting with a degree of apprehension for the order to scramble. If any type of threat materialized, the "Sundowner" crews would have to be airborne in fifteen minutes or less.
Like everyone else, the pilots and RIOs weren't sure why they were in the strait, but they suspected that it had something to do with Japan. The escalating tensions caused by the fractured relations between the two countries was the lead story on every news program beamed to the ship.
Seated at a chart table in the flag bridge, the battle group commander, Rear Admiral Isaac Landesman, fully understood why his ships were taking up station in the Strait of Malacca. The order to raise the group's defense-readiness condition from DEFCON FIVE, the level of normal peacetime activities, to the status of DEFCON FOUR was a surprise for the entire battle group. The upgraded defense condition mandated an increased intelligence watch and an increase in security.
The luxuriously decorated hospitality suite overlooking the Marunouchi business quarter was crowded when Tadashi Matsukawa gave the quiet signal that it was time for serious matters. The attractive young geishas silently prepared to leave the softly lighted room. After the quartet of talented hostess-entertainers were politely escorted away by a member of the large-scale security detail, Matsukawa followed the. Prime Minister and Chihiro Yamashita to a small platform and podium.
Yamashita, the resilient chairman of Keidanren, Japan's powerful Federation of Economic Organizations, thanked Matsukawa for providing the entertainment and the spacious meeting facilities for the important business conference.
Afterward, Prime Minister Genshiro Koyama thanked the cartel members for rearranging their schedules on such short notice, and they all adjourned to the large soundproof conference room on the top floor.
The building was guarded by sixty specially selected uniformed guards and forty-five civilian-clad security specialists. The entrances were locked and guarded, and seven men with automatic weapons patrolled the roof. Fifteen people had spent over four hours checking from floor to floor for anyone hiding in the building. In addition, a sophisticated monitoring system relayed television pictures to a central command post, and pairs of armed sentries roamed each floor.
The elevators and stairs were guarded, and the elevator doors could be electronically sealed from the command post. Security was extremely tight for the "brain trust" — the experts concerned with planning the ongoing economic and military strategy of Japan.
When the men were comfortably seated, Prime Minister Koyama stepped behind the lectern.
"Japan," he began solemnly, "as you are painfully aware, has reached another crossroad in our long and proud history." The room was deathly quiet.
"As our country has rapidly approached this historical intersection," he continued glumly, "we have attempted to steer clear of confrontations with the Americans and concentrate on prosperity and growth. Unfortunately, the course we have chosen often finds us at odds with the United States."
The Prime Minister paused a brief moment to make eye contact with many of his friends and associates. "Today, Japan faces an intractable situation. Even though our current relations with the U. S. are strained, we must confront Washington and announce our independence… and we must be steadfast about our intentions."
Koyama closely studied the audience and saw the looks of understanding. He also saw reactions of doubt from some, including Foreign Minister Nagumo Katsumoto. The short, stylishly dressed statesman, who was perpetually bent at the waist, appeared impassive. As Koyama knew from years of friendship with Katsumoto, the expressionless look on his face meant that he was not pleased.
"Many of you have discussed the situation with me privately," Koyama observed as he gazed at the sea of faces, "and many of you have suggested that it is in Japan's best interest to give notice to the powers in Washington."
He looked squarely at Tadashi Matsukawa and saw the slight nod. "Notice that we are going to henceforth make our own decisions regarding our country's future, including the size and scope of our military."
The Prime Minister saw the looks of agreement from the majority of the attendees. What bothered him was the sour looks on the faces of the chief executive officers of Japan's Big Four securities firms. The leaders of Daiwa, Nomura, Nikko, and Yamaichi were sitting together and obviously disagreed with the idea of approaching the Americans with any type of proposal.
"We must be united in our cause," Koyama declared and noted the suddenly grim expression on the face of the Foreign Minister, "or we run the risk of dividing our own country. Our political parties are in agreement that now is the hour for discussing our independent future with the Americans.
"If we approach this subject with a well-organized plan, I believe we can minimize any negative reaction from Washington and achieve the results we desire and need."
He looked at Matsukawa for a moment and turned back to the audience. "I would like," he said in his raspy voice, "one of our widely known and esteemed business leaders to speak to you, then we'll discuss the subject in detail." He motioned to Matsukawa and introduced him to the gurupu, then quickly walked to his seat.