Seconds after it pierced the hull, the steel after deck lifted slightly, a movement so unexpected as to be virtually unrecognizable. Then it lifted again, and large sections of it peeled back from the hull, leaving a fiery interior exposed. The flames spread quickly until fire was gouting out of every orifice of the ship.
Along the forward deck, the survivors swarmed around the self-deploying life boats, chopping through the restraining straps. Those with the presence of mind to do so simply triggered the deployment mechanism and the life rafts fell into the sea. The inflation devices triggered automatically when salt water hit them, and within seconds brilliant international orange inflatables were dotted around the ocean below the S-3. People plunged over the sides, making barely perceptible splashes in the water as they entered it, then struggled to paddle over to the nearest rafts. They faced large swells capped with whitecaps, and the wind was catching the life rafts and driving them away from the survivors. Those that did catch a life raft wielded the small paddles to try to return and help their ship mates, but more than one drowned before they could return to help them.
As the reports from the Viking overhead the flaming wreckage of the Observation Island began coming in, a hush descended over the compartment. There was an occasional muttered curse as it became clear that few could have survived the attack, and in the background, the radio chattered as the air boss lofted every rescue helo he had into the air, sending most of them to the Observation Island and vectoring a few to the last known location of the AWACS.
Coyote cupped his face in his hands for a few moments. No one spoke to him. He needed no suggestions from his staff, no tentative outlines of a plan of action. It was to make the call in moments just like this that he had been placed in command of the battle group, and everyone instinctively knew that their advice and comments were neither required nor desired.
Finally, as the last of the helos lifted off the deck, Coyote looked up. His eyes were dark with unfathomable rage. There was no trace of anguish or sorrow on his face.
“They’re going to pay for this,” he said, his voice flat and cold. “And pay hard.”
SIXTEEN
Wexler was working late. She had just finished going over the first response to China’s petition to ban nuclear powered ships from territorial waters, addressing each ridiculous point as though it merited serious consideration, when the CNN headlines anchor said, “This just in.” The secure, encrypted telephone line on her desk rang just as a map of Taiwan and China flashed up on the screen.
Wexler’s head snapped up. Pamela Drake was neatly framed by the television screen. She was clearly made for this sort of work, and knew it. Large, intense green eyes seem to burn through the screen, framed by dark hair cut to chin level. Only the slightest touch of gray showed at the temples, and Wexler suspected that that would be soon eliminated.
“We have just learned,” Drake began, her voice grave, “that China has been forced to respond to a U.S. incursion into her territorial waters’ airspace. Earlier today, an AWACS aircraft operating out of Japan ignored warnings of a Chinese naval exercise in progress and approached the ships maintaining, according to our sources, an ‘aggressive posture.’ The AWACS was accompanied by a surface vessel, the USNS Observation Island, a reconnaisance and intelligence platform. When the AWACS refused to turn back, Chinese aircraft fired upon her and the accompanying spy ship. The fate of the air crew and the crew of the ship is not known. Chinese forces are reporting no casualties.”
Drake looked up from the notepad in her hand and stared directly into the camera, her face a mask of concern, her dark green eyes reproachful. “On the surface, it appears that this is another instance of America ignoring other nations’ rights to their territorial sovereignty. The loss of life on board the AWACS and Observation Island is regrettable, but the true fault lies with the military commanders who insist on such aggressive posturing before all diplomatic measures are exhausted. China is not alone in the world in expressing grave concern about the presence of nuclear reactors just off her coast, and her concerns warrant serious consideration.” She turned to a small monitor by her side and said, “With me now is General Herman Caring, who retired two years ago from the Air Force. General, what’s your initial take on this?”
General Caring, USAF (retired) was the sort of senior officer who looked like a general. His features were strong, his voice confident as he spoke.
Caring. A fine person to ask. Cashiered for financial misconduct. They never should have let the bastard retire quietly — a court-martial, that would have kept him out of this cushy spot now. Wexler stared, as the general began to speak.
“Of course, our first thoughts must be with the crew of the AWACS,” he said. “The crew carries parachutes, but in a combat situation, there is rarely time to use them.”
“So you believe there’s little chance they survived?” Drake asked.
“That would be my initial assessment.” Although she had not thought it possible, Wexler saw Caring’s face look even more concerned. “But as you say, the question about what the aircraft was doing there in the first place must be answered. I can tell you that during my days in command, all pilots were carefully briefed to observe international boundaries. But what practices are currently, I hesitate to say.”
“But China does claim one thousand miles around her coastline as for own airspace, does she not?” Drake asked. “And neither the AWACS or the Observation Island carry offensive weapons, do they?”
Okay, give her credit. She’s at least trying to put on a fair show. Maybe at least part of the people watching will understand.
“Yes, it’s true that not all nations recognize China’s territorial claims, the U.S. among them. And as to whether either American platform was carrying weapons, well — it wouldn’t have been normal procedure,” the general conceded. “Although with the portability of weapons platforms today, I could not state with any certainty that the ship was not carrying Harpoon antiship missiles. But Pamela, I think we have to look at the circumstances. This issue is still being addressed by a number of legal experts, and there are diplomatic ways to address this sort of thing. The use of force, in the aggressive testing of another nation’s limits, should only be as a last resort. The consequences, as the families of the AWACS and Observation Island crews will tell you, are altogether too serious.”
“I assume we can safely conclude that this is related to the rumors about a new ballistic missile that the Chinese have developed,” Drake continued. “Can you put that in perspective for us, General?”
“Of course, Pamela.” To Wexler’s jaundiced eyes, General Caring appeared to enjoy addressing the reporter by her first name almost as much as he enjoyed taking pot shots at his former service. “You have to understand that many nations around the world engaged in ballistic missile development and testing. In China’s case, her coastline does not primarily open on to open water, as ours does. The United States routinely conducts these sort of tests itself. But every report I’ve seen has shown that China has gone to extraordinary lengths to prevent any inadvertent problems from threatening the security of the world nations around her. Indeed, given the rise of anti-American sentiment in some regions, I would wonder that the other nations are not more supportive. After all, a strong China is the best defense against what they claim is American imperialism.” Caring pointed one finger at the camera. “I must emphasize, that there is no evidence — none — that China is planning any ballistic missile test launch at this particular time. And even if they were, we have countless examples of how safely they have done that. There was no reason for American forces in the area to assume that aggressive posture, and certainly no reason to cut short the sea trials of an untested carrier. This sheer waste in terms of manpower and resources is absolutely mind-boggling.” He leaned back, apparently confident that he had made his point.