Brown, Dale - Patrick McLanahan 06 (26 page)

 
          
Part
of McLanahan’s air intelligence suite was the “God’s-eye” view of the area
supplied by Jon Masters’s satellite reconnaissance systems. A string of small
low-orbiting satellites developed by Sky Masters, Inc., nicknamed NIRTSats
(Need It Right This Second Satellite), scanned the
Formosa Strait
with powerful synthetic aperture radars,
then downlinked the information to the EB-52 Megafortress via satellite relays.
This produced an overhead image of the area depicting all of the ships,
aircraft, and landmasses on the SMFD computer monitor. McLanahan could
manipulate the image in thousands of ways, zooming in and out to individual
targets or back to get the “big picture” tactical situation, and he could use
the real-time image to pick targets to attack.

 
          
“The
PRC vessels are redeploying their ships,” McLanahan reported. “They’re turning
west, trying to get out of Taiwanese waters. Speed up to twenty knots and
increasing. Smaller ships are heading forward to take the point, but that big
destroyer is still in the lead.”

 
          
“They’re
not trying to avoid that Taiwanese boat—they’re turning to get ready to open
fire,” Elliott observed. “What in hell does Sung think he’s doing? Those
carrier escorts will chew him to pieces.”

 
          
The
secure UHF radio transceiver channel clicked to life, as the
encryption-decryption algorithms instantly synchronized the two parties; then,
in English with a thick Chinese accent, they heard: “American bomber, American
bomber, this is Captain Sung aboard the
Kin
Men,
how do you read?”

 
          
“Who
in the world is that?” Nancy Cheshire shouted. “The captain of
what\'7d”

 
          
“He
said he was the captain of the
Kin Men
—that’s
the name of that Taiwanese frigate that’s cruising near the Chinese fleet,”
Elliott said.

 
          
“How
in hell did he get our secure UHF frequency?” McLanahan asked. “And how does he
know we’re a bomber?”

 
          
“So
much for communications security,” Elliott groused on interphone. “Typical Navy
COMSEC procedures—as leaky as a wet paper bag. Or else this frigate is part of
the Navy’s surveillance of that Chinese fleet. Good thing we’re on secure
frequencies.” He keyed the mike, waited for the transceivers to synchronize,
then responded, “Loud and clear,
Kin Men.
This is Headbanger.”

 
          
“Jesus,
Brad! ” McLanahan interjected. “You’re going to
talk
to him? We don’t know who the hell he is! It could be a PRC
tap.”

 
          
“There
is no way the PRC or anybody else could have broken the encryption logarithm
and channelized with us—we only decided on it six hours ago, before we launched
from
Guam
,” Elliott said. In fact it was relatively
easy to do with the right equipment. The secure radio system they used simply
changed frequencies in random intervals. The timing and direction of the hop
was controlled by a predetermined code that only the mission participants used.
It was possible to scan the entire radio band and pick up the conversation, but
an eavesdropper might only hear a snippet of conversation before another hop
occurred. “The only way that Taiwanese captain can be talking to us is if he
got the codes from the Navy. Obviously, we’re all working together here.”

 
          
McLanahan
was not convinced, but Elliott’s argument made some sense. “Tell him to
authenticate,” McLanahan suggested. Everyone involved in this surveillance
operation, from the Navy and Air Force crews in Asia to radio operators half a
world away to the President’s communications staff, used a standard challenge-and-response
code system to verify that the other party in the conversation was who they
were supposed to be and not an eavesdropper or faker. The challenge-and-
response was supposed to be used even over secure frequencies. Either party
could initiate a challenge, or ask for multiple challenges, but for maximum
security the
calling
party initiated
the challenge. Once both sides were properly authenticated and satisfied of the
other’s identity, any instructions or changes to standing orders were followed
by a lookup code system, using the current UTC date-time group followed by a
letter. McLanahan punched up the current decode document on his computer
terminal: “Give him bravo-India—response should be ‘bravo.’ ” “Look, Muck,
we’re on a secure satellite link,” Elliott argued. “We don’t have time for
alphabet soup right now.” Before McLanahan could argue further, Elliott
switched radios:
“Kin Men
, we’re
picking up major radar emissions from the Chinese carrier group. It appears you
are closing on the carrier group, and the
Mao
looks like it’s getting ready to attack. What is your status?”

 
          
“Headbanger,
we are moving to intercept the Communist battle group,” Sung replied. “We will
not stand by while the Communists close in and attack our territory. We ask
that you stand by and assist us if the Communists should attack.”

 
          
“He’s
what?”
McLanahan retorted.

 
          
“Kin Men,
we think that is a very unwise
decision, repeat, that’s a very bad idea,” Elliott radioed. “Recommend you
reverse course and avoid direct contact. We can give you position and status
reports. Do not engage that group.”

 
          
“Negative,
Headbanger,” Sung responded. “My headquarters has recommended that I attempt to
keep the group out of missile bombardment range. Our intelligence has revealed
that the Communists are carrying nuclear land attack and anti-ship missiles. We
are counting on you to provide heavy attack cover if necessary. Stand by. We
are launching our helicopter now.”

 
          
“Shit,”
Elliott swore, “the Chinese ships are carrying
nukes”
Elliott and McLanahan had both been involved in the
China-Philippines conflict three years earlier, when China had set off one
low-yield thermonuclear device against some Filipino warships and later
threatened to launch another; he had no doubt that China would try it again
against the Taiwanese navy. “Til contact Samson.
Jesus
,
Taiwan
could be in serious trouble here.” Elliott
switched to his number two radio, which was a secure satellite patch to General
Samson, who was in charge of the bomber mission as a staff member of the U.S.
Navys Pacific Command headquarters, reporting to Admiral William Allen.
“Buster, this is Headbanger.” “Go ahead, Headbanger, this is Buster,” Samson
himself responded. “Authenticate delta-delta.”

 
          
McLanahan
looked up the response and read it off to Elliott: “Headbanger has Mike.”

 
          
“Good
copy,” Samson replied. “Go ahead, Headbanger.”

 
          
“Buster,
we got problems out here, and I just wanted you to know I had nothing to do
with it,” Elliott said, with just a trace of amusement in his voice. “We were
just contacted by a Taiwanese frigate named the
Kin Men.
Its captain is named Sung. He is about to lock horns with
Pig One. He claims the Pigs have nukes and they’re getting ready to use them.
Sung is launching his fling-wing and is getting ready to start pumping ’em out.
Better notify the squids and the dolphins to come give us a hand. We need
permission to engage the Pigs if necessary.”

 
          
“Repeat
that last, Headbanger?” Samson responded, the surprise and shock evident in his
voice even over the secure satellite link. “You’ve been in contact with a
Taiwanese warship over the secure radio link? ”

 
          
“Hey,
he contacted me, he knew we were an American bomber, he knew exactly where we
were, and he’s locked on to our comm algorithm,” Elliott said. “I figured
either the squids gave all this information to him, or someone leaked it to the
ROC. In any case, he says the Liberation Army Navy battle group is carrying
nuclear weapons that they’re going to use on
Quemoy
, and he’s going out to stop them right now.
We need permission to set up a protective electronic screen around his ships
and engage as necessary. Over.”

           
“Headbanger, this is Buster. Keep
your nose cold until I get the straight word from Atlas,” Samson replied,
telling Elliott to hold his fire until he notified Admiral Allen directly.
“Stand by.”

 
          
“Confirmed,”
McLanahan said, checking his weapons status. “I’ve still got a
check fire
data message from PACCOM. My
nose is cold. Someone better get on the horn to Taiwan Navy headquarters. One
of their naval units is about to start a war with
China
! ”

ABOARD THE CHINESE CARRIER
MAO ZEDONG

THAT SAME TIME

 
          
“Sir,
port lookout reports that the S-70 helicopter on the Nationalist ship’s
platform is turning rotors!” the officer of the deck shouted. Admiral Yi swung
around and scanned the ship with his binoculars. Although the Taiwanese ship
was still facing its bow directly toward the Chinese ships, it was possible to
see the S-70’s turning main rotor behind the large aircraft hangar. The
40-millimeter gun’s barrel was now lowered and aimed directly at the
Mao.
“Radar reports a second vessel
coming over the horizon heading right for us, possibly another Nationalist
warship.”

 
          
Dammit,
Yi shouted at himself,
this is accelerating too fast!
He was
only minutes away from starting a shooting war with the Nationalists! He yanked
the phone off its cradle, keyed the mike, and said in Mandarin, “Frigate
Kin Men,
frigate
Kin Men,
this is the carrier
Mao
Zedong.
I warn you, if you attempt to launch your helicopter now, I will
open fire on it. We do not wish a war with you, but you must not provoke us
further! ”

 
          
“Carrier
Mao,
you will reverse course
immediately, or
you
will be fired
upon without further warning! ” the skipper of the Taiwanese frigate responded.
“You and your entire fleet are in danger of anti-ship cruise missile attack at
this very moment. I warn you, shut down your radars or they will be destroyed
by anti-radar weapons that have been launched against you.”

 
          
“Prepare
to lock radars on enemy aircraft, traverse the Crotale launcher and prepare to
open fire,” Yi shouted to the officer of the deck. “Clear to load the AK-130s.”
The two 130-millimeter gun mounts began to turn toward the Taiwanese frigate;
at the same time, the large octuple French-made Crotale Modulaire launcher
swiveled port and down, aiming its eight Crotale antiaircraft missiles directly
at the frigate.

 
          
“Crotale
launcher elevated, hot birds on the rail, sir! ” the officer of the deck
reported. “Hong-Yang-2 anti-ship missiles on
Kang
and
Changsha
aligned and ready for targets. P-500s
spinning up and ready in two minutes.”

 
          
“Where
are my fighters?” Yi shouted.

 
          
“Interceptor
One flight of two is on deck; first aircraft should be ready to launch in five
minutes. Interceptor Two flight of two will be on deck in three minutes.”

 
          
“Acknowledged,”
Yi replied. “Lock fire control and targeting radars on the Taiwanese frigate.
Notify me immediately if the helicopter lifts off.” Then, aloud, to the rebel
commander, he muttered, “Very well, Captain, you wanted to play tough guy. What
will you do now?”

ABOARD THE EB-52 MEGAFORTRESS

 
          
“Target-tracking
radars locked onto the Taiwanese frigate,” Vikram shouted excitedly on
interphone. “They got him nailed. Crotale targettracking radar is up. They’re
tracking the helicopter even while it’s still on deck. Square Tie anti-ship
missile-targeting radar locked on, bearing to the
Kin Men
and a second bearing on the newcomer to the southeast. They
can attack at any time.”

 
          
Elliott
swore aloud and keyed the mike again: “Buster, this is Headbanger, the Pigs are
getting ready to start breakfast. What do you want us to do?”