The Scorpion's Gate (32 page)
“I dunno who Amos and Ahmed are, Rusty, but from where I sit, it’s going to take a helluva lot to stop the U.S., China, and Iran from invading Islamyah,” the Senator observed.
16FEBRUARY 22
Combat Information Center
USS
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Northern Arabian Sea
“
H
ow far are you from the lead element of their battle group, Captain?” Admiral Brad Adams asked the skipper of the cruiser USS
Ticonderoga
on a secure voice hookup.
H
ow far are you from the lead element of their battle group, Captain?” Admiral Brad Adams asked the skipper of the cruiser USS
Ticonderoga
on a secure voice hookup.
“Admiral, I am on the bridge and I can see one of their ships on the horizon through the glasses. Looks just like a U.S. Burke-class, and he’s closing on me,” the voice said over the speaker.
“Too close,” Adams said to Captain John Hardy, who was standing next to him in CIC. Then the admiral pressed the mike to talk to the cruiser
Ticonderoga.
“Captain, pull back. Maintain twenty-fivemile separation, but let him know you’re there. Turn everything up so he knows.” Hanging up the phone, he turned to his intelligence officer. “If we have to fight them, we’re going to get bloody. I don’t want to start that fight by mistake or miscalculation.” He exhaled.
Ticonderoga.
“Captain, pull back. Maintain twenty-fivemile separation, but let him know you’re there. Turn everything up so he knows.” Hanging up the phone, he turned to his intelligence officer. “If we have to fight them, we’re going to get bloody. I don’t want to start that fight by mistake or miscalculation.” He exhaled.
“Johnny, do the Chinese still think that the
Ticonderoga
is us? The
Reagan
? Do they think we’re down there in the Indian Ocean?”
Ticonderoga
is us? The
Reagan
? Do they think we’re down there in the Indian Ocean?”
“From what I can tell from the intercepts, that’s exactly what they think”—Hardy laughed—“and from the daily plots the Pentagon issues, I’d say Washington thinks we’re down there, too!”
“And the Iranians, Johnny?” Adams asked.
“Them too,” the captain answered. “Their plane followed us out past Hormuz into the northern Arabian sea, but then it went back. I don’t think anybody knows we’ve been circling since we went EMCON and then electronically lit up the freighters from Diego Garcia to look like warships. I think the trick is working, just like it used to do with the Soviets.”
The
Reagan
’s commander, Captain Andrew Rucker, had been listening, and he walked over. “I gotta hand it to you, Admiral. I didn’t think you could hide a U.S. carrier battle group, let alone from the Pentagon.”
Reagan
’s commander, Captain Andrew Rucker, had been listening, and he walked over. “I gotta hand it to you, Admiral. I didn’t think you could hide a U.S. carrier battle group, let alone from the Pentagon.”
“Well, it’s a Cold War trick. You put out radar corner reflectors and radio and radar transmitters and suddenly a destroyer looks like a carrier, a freighter looks like a cruiser to the satellites and the radio intercept towers. It worked on the Chinese. The only reason that the Pentagon thinks we’re down there is because that’s what we are reporting to them. And because Bobby Doyle and a few other friends are playing along . . .” Adams replied in a low voice.
“But at some point, sir, we’re going to have to hightail it down there if we’re going to block the Chinese fleet,” Rucker said, looking at the location of the ships on a wall projection.
“If we have to, we will. We’ll crank the reactors and scoot, but we’ll do it under emissions control, quiet, so they don’t see us coming.” The Admiral continued: “If we get caught out by the Pentagon, I’ll take the fall. You’re just following my orders.” At the door, he turned back to the two captains. “I’m going topside to get some air. Let me know if anything changes. Rucker, you want to join me?”
On the flight deck, Brad Adams and Captain Andrew Rucker walked among the aircraft in the predawn dark, hands thrust in their pockets. They had seldom seen an aircraft carrier so still. No flight activity under way. The normally spinning radars turned off. Most of the lights out. Adams stared out at the water, wondering if he was doing the right thing. He wanted to be in two places at once, in the Gulf to stop the Iranians from invading Bahrain and Islamyah, and in the Indian Ocean to intercept the Chinese troop ships and maybe shoot it out with the Chinese fleet. Right now, he was in neither place, but bobbing up and down in the Arabian Sea.
“Andy, what we’re doing here is on the razor’s edge of insubordination. Look, I believe in civilian control of the military. It’s what has kept us from having coups and the kind of chaos other nations have had. But when the civilians’ decisions aren’t subject to checks and balances, when they distort information, when they cow the media into going along with their shit, I dunno,” Brad mused.
“Sir, they taught us at Newport how when Colin Powell’s generation of young officers came back from Vietnam, they all swore that they would never let the civilians take the Army to war again if there was no good need, no endgame, no informed popular support. Maybe we gotta get back to that attitude in the military,” Rucker suggested.
“Admiral,” John Hardy called out across the flight deck. The captain ran across the steel plate. “The Iranians have set to sea. Everything they’ve got. Amphibious assault ships, car ferries, freighters. Moving toward Islamyah and Bahrain. NSA reports that they’ve launched almost one hundred sorties from their air bases.”
“How long do you think that they can fend them off ?” Adams asked, taking the reports.
Hardy shook his head. “Not long. Islamyah is holding forces in the West, in case we invade them, too.”
“Well, it’s decision time, Johnny.” Adams looked back out to sea. “I cannot go back into the Gulf. Not while we still have the Chinese coming our way.”
A sailor approached them, carrying a large manila envelope. Hardy opened it. “Shit. It’s a CRITIC from ASU Bahrain: ‘Iranian aircraft dropped bombs on Fifth Fleet headquarters at 0530 local.’ ”
“Good thing we emptied it out, Johnny.” Adams looked at the CRITIC message. “But we still have a lot of Americans nearby. Let’s go back inside.”
As they reentered CIC, the battle group commander, Rear Admiral Frank Haggerty, was directing a flurry of activity. He was speaking into the secure telephone. “Commander, this is very important. Can you confirm that the
Zhou Man
has done a one-hundred-eightydegree turn?”
Zhou Man
has done a one-hundred-eightydegree turn?”
A voice responded over the speaker box on the wall. “Yes, sir, Admiral. I’m looking at her stern through the periscope. She did a big wide turn.”
Adams went over to Haggerty. “Who is that?”
“It’s the CO on the
Tucson.
She’s been submerged, following the
Zhou Man.
But I also have the P-3 that’s been tracking the Chinese Ro-Ros. It’s reporting that they are sailing in toward Karachi.
Ticonderoga
says the destroyer that was out front turned around, too. I think they’re bugging out, Brad.” Haggerty was clearly excited. “What the hell happened?”
Tucson.
She’s been submerged, following the
Zhou Man.
But I also have the P-3 that’s been tracking the Chinese Ro-Ros. It’s reporting that they are sailing in toward Karachi.
Ticonderoga
says the destroyer that was out front turned around, too. I think they’re bugging out, Brad.” Haggerty was clearly excited. “What the hell happened?”
“Admirals, if I may, a couple of things happened,” Captain Hardy said, poring over his papers. “Almost all of the Indian Navy has put to sea in battle formation and they were sailing up behind the Chinese.” Hardy almost chuckled. “And the
Zhou Man
and
Zheng He
both got a high-precedence, special encryption message from Beijing. But we don’t know what it said.”
Zhou Man
and
Zheng He
both got a high-precedence, special encryption message from Beijing. But we don’t know what it said.”
“I do,” Adams asserted. His colleagues looked surprised. “It was sent over five hundred years ago from the Chinese Emperor to Admiral Zheng He in the Indian Ocean. It said, ‘Return at once.’ When he got back, the Emperor burned the fleet and almost every record of its great expeditions. Later, the Emperor relented and let him go to Mecca on the hajj...but without the fleet.”
Adams walked to the small podium sometimes used by briefers in the CIC. “Gentlemen, and ladies, here is the situation as I see it. We are unable to complete our mission to intercept the Chinese ships because they are either headed into port in Pakistan or have turned tail and are heading back to China.
“On the other hand, we have a CRITIC saying our headquarters in Bahrain has just been bombed, and we have intelligence that Iran has begun an amphibious assault on both Bahrain and Islamyah. I don’t need orders when I am told Americans are under attack.
“Captain Rucker, bring the
Reagan
about into the wind. Launch both Enforcer squadrons with full weapons loads across Oman toward Bahrain and Islamyah. Execute Plan Ten Zero Nine, as modified. Forty-third Squadron is to take out the Iranian Navy. Fortyfourth is to take out the Iranian coastal air and Navy bases. The U.S. Air Force Raptors in Oman will escort.
Reagan
about into the wind. Launch both Enforcer squadrons with full weapons loads across Oman toward Bahrain and Islamyah. Execute Plan Ten Zero Nine, as modified. Forty-third Squadron is to take out the Iranian Navy. Fortyfourth is to take out the Iranian coastal air and Navy bases. The U.S. Air Force Raptors in Oman will escort.
“Admiral Haggerty, get in touch with the Gulf allies. Tell them what we’re doing and ask them to execute, as planned in last week’s modification to Plan Ten Zero Nine. We will recover the Enforcers in Qatar, refuel, and rearm. That wing of new Super F-16s the Emirates have, they will be flying over Hormuz as we go through. If anything moves on the Iranian islands, they’ll pickle it.
“Captain Hardy, terminate the deception operations. Let’s light up the battle group’s electronics and let the Iranians know we’re coming.
“All right, everybody. Any questions?” Adams almost yelled. A loud “No, sir” rang in CIC. “Then let’s go to war. Captain Rucker, strike the battle ensign.”
The lights on the tower of the
Reagan
lit up, its radars began to spin, a horn rang out, and a small blue flag covered in five-pointed white stars was run up the flag mast. The huge ship lurched forward, accelerated, and began to execute a U-turn, spreading a giant curving wake behind it. Giant elevators rose from below, carrying aircraft to the flight deck. Men and women in brightly colored jumpsuits ran to the planes, in red, in green, yellow, purple...
Reagan
lit up, its radars began to spin, a horn rang out, and a small blue flag covered in five-pointed white stars was run up the flag mast. The huge ship lurched forward, accelerated, and began to execute a U-turn, spreading a giant curving wake behind it. Giant elevators rose from below, carrying aircraft to the flight deck. Men and women in brightly colored jumpsuits ran to the planes, in red, in green, yellow, purple...
Back in CIC, Captain Hardy waited until Adams had walked around the command center, checking on the execution of his orders, patting the seamen on their shoulders. Then Hardy quietly asked the Fifth Fleet commander, “What modification to the plan?”
“The one the Gulf allies got from me last week,” Adams mumbled while reading a message board. “The one approved at CENTCOM headquarters by General Bobby Doyle.”
“Not by the CinC, General Moore?” Hardy asked.
“Bobby’s the J-F. He can approve plans, Johnny.” Adams smiled.
“And did you also arrange to have the entire goddamn Indian Navy, including its two little aircraft carriers, sortie out to trap the Chinese in between our two fleets, Admiral?” Captain Hardy whispered back.
“You overestimate me, Johnny. I think maybe Secretary Conrad had that little maneuver planned. God only knows what he gave them to do it.” The admiral laughed as he handed Hardy the message board. “But that’s not why the Chinese turned back. Look at the message traffic. The government of the Islamic Republic of Islamyah formally requested that the Chinese terminate their military assistance program and withdraw all Chinese military personnel. Abdullah bin Rashid’s office announced it publicly late last night!”
“No fuckin’ way—ah, excuse my French, sir,” Hardy said, flustered.
Admiral Haggerty joined the discussion. “Looks like I missed something. Anyway . . . Admiral Adams, shall I send a message to Tampa and Washington telling them what we’re doing?”
“Of course, Frank, that’s standard operating procedure. And we
always
follow standard operating procedure. Bring it to me to sign out,” he said, looking at his watch, “in about a half hour or so. I’m going out to watch the air wing launch. Maybe after that.”
always
follow standard operating procedure. Bring it to me to sign out,” he said, looking at his watch, “in about a half hour or so. I’m going out to watch the air wing launch. Maybe after that.”
Haggerty and Rucker both laughed. Haggerty saluted. “Aye, aye, sir.”
Boardroom, Banc Bahrain
Thirty-fifth floor,
Bank Bahrain Building
Bank Bahrain Building
Manama, Bahrain
T
he Iranians may bomb the Ministry of Defense, but I doubt they will attack this bank,” the Bahraini Defense Minister, General Ibrahim, said to Brian Douglas. “And from here we have good lines of sight and communication.” Behind him, soldiers were connecting radios and telephones, setting up long-range telescopes and television monitors. Below, in the city, Brian could see fires and smoke rising from several locations throughout the area, where the predawn Iranian air raid had penetrated the Bahraini air defenses.
he Iranians may bomb the Ministry of Defense, but I doubt they will attack this bank,” the Bahraini Defense Minister, General Ibrahim, said to Brian Douglas. “And from here we have good lines of sight and communication.” Behind him, soldiers were connecting radios and telephones, setting up long-range telescopes and television monitors. Below, in the city, Brian could see fires and smoke rising from several locations throughout the area, where the predawn Iranian air raid had penetrated the Bahraini air defenses.
“We are protecting the mouth of the port with patrol craft, divers, our frigate, and a U.S. cutter. And we and the Americans laid a minefield last night. The Americans SEALs are assisting. They did not sail away with everything,” the Bahraini general said, pointing to the east.
“How much damage did the Iranians do at the air base?” Douglas asked. Sheik Issa Air Base was behind them to the south, a view blocked from where they stood.
“Pretty bad, but we had rolled some of our F-16s off the base and moved others to the corners of the International Airport, so we still have eight or nine F-16s operational,” the Bahraini general admitted. “We expect the Iranian landing to be at the northern beach area, and that’s where I have most of the army. We have some American-built multiple launcher rocket systems, and I have them aimed there.”
The sky was turning from black to gray in the north, the direction from which the attack would come. In the east, fingers of light pink were appearing on the scattered clouds as the sun began to rise. “I have a visual. I can see their fleet,” an officer yelled in Arabic. Brian looked through his telescope. He could see through the midst the hulk of a destroyer and then a smaller warship to the west. Then, between the two, he saw water sprays, and below the sprays fast-moving hydrofoils laden with armored vehicles and trucks. “They will be within range in two minutes,” Ibrahim said. The sun broke the horizon and shone brightly, blinding those
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