General Cotton nodded and looked her in the eyes.
“You’ve got contacts with the ROC Army, what are they up to?”
“Yes I do,” she said, “I was on exchange attachment with them back when I was a Major.”
“So you know Taiwan, that’ll be useful.” Weingarten smiled.
“10th Army Corps will be first on the scene. 234 mechanized infantry brigade are pushing into the city, they’re using the new Clouded Leopard IFV.” Sally Weingarten when on, “586 Armor brigade is joining the spearhead and 58 Artillery are positioned for backstop. 8th Army Corps from the south are moving up to reinforce them. Air cavalry units are positioning themselves north of the Da’an river, ready to move to wherever they’re needed. There’s a general call up of reserves which is creating a big stir among the population.”
“That’s good people.” Cotton grinned. “I’ll let you know when the next meeting is. Go to it.”
THE OFFICERS LEFT BUT Admiral Kamov hung back. “Yes Nicolaj?” General Cotton sat.
“Sir, I’m concerned about how long this is all taking.” General Cotton started to say something, Kamov raised his palm. “I know they’re doing their best, but it’s the lack of support for Stonewall. I know the administration is still very edgy about rubbing the Chinese up the wrong way, to my mind we’re past that now but.” Kamov shrugged, “I’ve a feeling that we’re going into this with one arm tied behind our backs. I understand with the mid-term elections not far away there’s all manner of political bull involved. But still, we have men and women out there with their asses hanging on the line. Sir, I must tell you, I put some feelers out, very quietly. It may be better if it didn’t go beyond this room…”
THE TWO GARRETT/HONEYWELL jet engines roared as they increased their revs and the turboprop Grumman S-2 maritime patrol aircraft pulled up and turned to the left. After a brief flight, it turned left again on a bearing parallel but opposite to its original heading. The aircraft was low, around three hundred feet above the waves. Out to the rear it trailed a magnetic anomaly detector, sensing the changes in the Earth’s magnetic field a passing submarine would make.
“Clear on run eight, commencing run nine.”
The ROC air force pilot turned his head momentarily towards the Operating Officer. “You think we’ll get one this flight JJ?”
“Probably, Beijing has a lot of surface stuff heading down this way, they must have some cover down there.” They pressed on for long minutes.
“Look up JJ, we got company.” He looked beyond the pilot and there was an aircraft flying parallel and moving closer quite fast. The fighter soon matched height and speed around forty yards away off the left wing.
It looked approximately F16 like but with a canard wing and the throat air intake was separated from the main fuselage to forward.
“J10, the PLAAF is in on the act too. No surprise.”
The J10 pilot signalled to them, he gave a thumbs down signal. The ROC pilot waved to him.
“Cheeky bastard, he’s in our territory.” The J10 pilot gave the thumbs down again. The Operating Officer leaned over and gave him the finger. “Fuck you.” The J10 pulled up and away quickly.
“Stay away you bastard.” The pilot checked the instruments with a practised eye, all clean.
A warning light on the lower cockpit display flashed red and gave a loud buzz.
“What? Missile warning, what’s he?” The pilot pulled the Grumman to the right in a turn back. Before he’d got around a PL-9 short range missile blew off the starboard engine, the wing hung off, debris shredded fuel, hydraulic and electrical lines. The S-2 burst into flames and tumbled down into the nearby sea. Soon there was nothing but smoke drifting downwind. The J10 flew by and roared up into the sky performing a twinkle roll. The air war had begun.
NATHAN ROLLED IN HIS bunk, he was awake early. He looked at his Omega Seamaster, not too early. He’d go to the galley soon. He knew why he was awake early, it was that damn Chinese Song class they’d sunk. OK, he’d sunk. He knew there’d be holy hell if it became apparent what had happened. But he knew what was afoot up there, it was on, the PLAN was on the offensive. Still, he knew if things didn’t play out right, he could be up for a Court-Martial. That was something he’d never expected. It was just that… it was hard to explain, he knew how the PLAN thought. It was a gut feeling, but he knew it was right. He’d faced them so many times now he could feel what they were up to. Nathan rubbed his eyes, at least he damn well hoped he could. He got out of his bunk, dressed and left for the Galley.
“Nathan sir.” It was the XO. “Yes?”
“Word is just in from COMSUBPAC, it’s getting hot up there. There’s been air action and the PLAN task force is heading into Taichung City, Destroyers are standing off, amphibious units are detaching for a run in.”
“Thanks Larry, I’ll get some breakfast and be right there.”
NATHAN STOOD AT THE galley hatch.
“Morning Sir, what will you have?”
“Scrambled eggs toast and coffee thanks.”
“Take a seat Sir, I’ll bring it out.”
He saw free places on a bench and sat opposite a young dark-haired woman a Lieutenant from Engineering. “Hi Lieutenant,” he smiled, “Kate isn’t it?”
“Yes Sir.” She said shyly.
“How’s life back aft?”
“Ok Sir. Better than my first patrol.”
“Oh, what did we do wrong then?”
“I transferred from USS Denver sir.”
“Oh right, glad it’s going well for you here.” Nathan’s eggs and coffee arrived.
He set to with a hunger. “Where are you from Kate?”
“Maine sir, near Bangor.” The two chatted for a while.
“I must go now, hope you’re well back there, any issues let me know.”
“Thanks sir, and please look after her.” Nathan turned and frowned.
“Nikki Kaminski sir. She’s a friend of mine. She’s a nice Southern girl. Like you are. I mean not a girl, but I know you’re from down that way.”
He grinned. “Yeah, Arkansas. I’ll tell her that I spoke with you.” She smiled. Nathan left and returned to the control room.
“Ok Larry what’s going on?”
“Benson has two subsurface tracks out there and a probable Hai Lung boat off to starboard. He has multiple surface tracks with the PLAN task force bearing down on us.
“Benson, which is the forward track?”
“To port sir, I think it’s another Song. He’s running south, range 15 miles, 14 knots at 400 feet depth.”
“Ok keep tracking him Benson. Weaps, designate as Tango one and the starboard track as Tango two.”
“Sir.”
“XO, I think it’s too late to get a ROE relaxation from COMSUBPAC. Planesman down bubble twenty, speed fifteen knots, make your depth 1,000 feet. Head for an intercept course, let’s get under him.”
“Weaps what’s our warload?”
“Sir, tubes one and two Mk 48, tube five Harpoon, tube six Stimpy. Tubes three and four empty.”
“Load Mk 48 tube three and Harpoon tube four.”
“Aye sir.”
Nikki turned to him. “Current plot update available sir,” USS Stonewall Jackson slid into combat prep mode like a well-oiled watch, Nathan smiled with pride, everybody knew their place. This boat was the tip of the USN’s spear, and a damn sharp tip she was.
“XO, Nikki the Wardroom now.” The three of them sat at the table.
“Right, the PLAN’s mounting an invasion and it’s down to us to fight the fight. Suggestions?”
“They may be on exercise.” Larry placed his hands on the table palms up. “I know it looks pretty bad up there, but it could be?”