The Algerians could expect no mercy from Admiral Devlin if Cameron gave him permission to unleash his Naval air. There would be no Algerian Air Force within two hours from the time “execute” was given.
The United States Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint fed an other sitrep to Sixth Fleet. Clive leaned forward and ran his finger over the chart taped down to the plotting table. Orbiting near the RC-135 were six United States Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and a KC-135 tanker. If air power had to be employed, it would be a joint Navy-Air Force action. The Falcons had chopped to Sixth Fleet twenty minutes ago after topping off from the tanker, and were on their way to a combat action station east of Algiers. He now had the Algerian capital bracketed by United States fighter aircraft.
The near-empty CH-46s and CH-53s from the amphibious task force were enroute to the harbor area. The helicopters would be within visual range of the Marines any second.
So far, everything had been tense, but textbook-perfect. Even so, like the contemplating admiral, something nagged at the back of dive’s mind.
Something they should be considering. The fog of battle, which Clausewitz had so eloquently defined, always grew thicker with every passing minute of an operation. Time increased the confusion factor.
It definitely increased anxiety.
“Clive,” the admiral said, interrupting his chief of staff’s thoughts.
“Do the Algerians know about our fight a couple of hours ago with their Navy and Migs?”
That was it — the monkey wrench. A cold shiver ran up his spine. “I don’t see how they couldn’t, Admiral. We shot down two Migs and sunk a Kebir patrol craft. Someone ashore has to know.”
“I know that, Clive. But what I’m saying is, has this information reached Algiers? We know their command, control, and communications C3 system is in disarray. If this information hasn’t reached Algiers, what will happen when the Algerian military commanders are informed?
Especially if they find out before those evacuees reach the staging area where we can protect them? Will the Algerians react negatively?
Are we getting any national intelligence help? Is NSA giving us any data on this?”
“No, sir,” Commander Mulligan replied. “All of their resources are focused in support of the Korean situation. We don’t meet their threshold of concern. But even if we did, they aren’t geared to this type of action. Any tactical support we have to produce ourselves.”
“What are the cryppies getting up in their spaces?”
As if hearing his name, the Sixth Fleet crypto logic officer burst into Combat. “Admiral, we’ve got problems.”
The chill spread across Clive’s shoulders. This was not good. Whenever a crypto logic officer showed up from “behind the green door,” like Joe Rochefort of Midway fame, then something was up and that something was usually bad. Clive shut his eyes momentarily and shook his head. He saw the sweat pouring down the commander’s face and recognized the emotion in the voice. Wonder if Joe Rochefort acted the same way when he told Nimitz about Midway?
“What is it?” Admiral Cameron asked, a slight tremble in his voice.
The admiral already knew, Clive realized.
“Algerian troops have been given orders to stop the convoy. They are already enroute to turn the evacuees back and to force our troops out.”
“To hell with them,” Admiral Cameron replied. Even in the darkened Combat spaces, Clive saw the red of anger shoot up the admiral’s face.
“Clive, call Colonel Stewart and the ambassador. Give them a heads-up, but tell them they are to continue forward. Let’s hope it’s a bluff.
Either way we continue.”
“Admiral,” the crypto logic officer said. “The Algerians are authorized to use force if we refuse to follow their orders. They have permission to open fire. I don’t think it is a bluff. These are fanatics we are dealing with, sir. Admiral, with all due respect, in about ten minutes you can expect the convoy to come under fire.”
“Admiral,” Clive added softly. “We have over six hundred unarmed civilians protected by fifty-six Marines. They have another five miles to the harbor. If the Algerians attack the convoy, then it’ll be a massacre. We don’t have the forces ashore to protect them.”
The admiral looked at his crypto logic officer. “How sure are you of this information?”
“I’d give it high credibility, Admiral. There’s no reason for the Algerians to spoof us on this. I estimate ten minutes maximum, sir, and then you’re going to have dead Americans on your hands.”
“I’d say thirty minutes, Admiral,” Commander Mulligan, the intelligence officer, said. “The nearest Algerian garrison is less than five miles from the embassy. If the troops are bivouacked there, they are probably in alert status, which I am sure they are with American Marines at the harbor. Thirty minutes is a more reasonable time for them to hit the convoy.”
“And the minimum time?”
“Minimum time is any minute now.”
The crypto logic officer nodded in agreement. “Unfortunately, Admiral, not all of the Algerian troops are bivouacked in their garrisons. Most are already deployed.”
The intelligence officer gave his crypto logic counterpart a fierce look. Admiral Cameron turned to his chief of staff. “Clive, get more Marines in there. I’m not going to abandon those people. If the Algerians want a fight, then they’ve come to the right place.”
“Yes, sir. The USS Nassau prepositioned their 46s and 53s as soon as the Harriers launched. Marines are already on board, in hot standby.
We have another hundred in battle gear for a second wave, if we need them.”
“Then launch them. Tell Colonel Stewart to expect additional forces.
How many Marines do we have ashore at the staging area?”
“About eighty, sir.”
“Good, tell him to expand the corridor. The Algerians at the harbor may be unaware of the orders about the convoy. If they are, then we had better find out on our terms and not theirs. Tell the Marines to lock and load. Colonel Stewart has permission to use force as he sees fit.”
He turned to the crypto logic officer. “I hope you’re right, Commander.”
“Yes, sir,” the crypto logic officer replied. “I hope I’m not,” he mumbled to himself.
“Commander, what is the situation in the harbor?” the admiral continued.
“Best we have on the harbor situation, Admiral, is that the Algerians there are regulars and the group heading toward the convoy are rebel fundamentalists. Those at the harbor have been ordered to neither hinder nor cooperate with the Americans. If that is, in fact, their orders and we try to move out, they should stand aside and allow it.” The crypto logic officer crossed his fingers and said a prayer to Joe Rochefort, the saint of cryppies.
“Good! Let’s find out. Clive, tell Colonel Stewart to inform the Algerians that we are sending a force forward to meet the convoy and escort them through the lines to the LCAC. Keep the Algerian regulars in the dark as long as possible. Jam their radios. Tell Bulldog to do it even if it involves hostile engagement.”
“Aye, aye, Admiral,” Clive responded.
The anxiety of imminent hostilities settled over the darkened spaces of Combat like a widow’s cowl. The noise level decreased further as professionalism drove the watch standers to an increased level of concentration.
“Clive, I want Devlin’s F/A-18s to overfly our forces in the harbor and the convoy. Tell them to expect a hostile reception. Tell the Cobras to close the convoy and take up a defensive protective corridor around the trucks, and if attacked, they are to respond accordingly. Direct the Harriers to the harbor to provide protection there. If necessary, we’ll send them in to support the convoy.”