by Dale Brown
Executive Intent
Dale Brown
The United States has just launched the most powerful weapon in history – a missilelaunching satellite called "Thor's Hammer" that can strike anywhere on the planet in seconds. The world's other major superpowers, Russia and China, are rocked by America 's development, and they scramble to respond by gaining control of the seas.
But when terrorists hijack Pakistani missiles and fire them at Indian cities, U.S. President Joseph Gardner has only one option – to use the untested Thor's Hammer. But when something goes awry, Pakistan decides to give China naval strategic advantage by granting access to Middle Eastern ports.
To make matters worse, Somali pirates board a Chinese freighter and slaughter the crew. China responds by brutally attacking and then occupying Somalia, quickly setting up missile pads that can target U.S. Naval ships. Now the U.S. high command is on red alert and the country's security is in total jeopardy…
Another flash point quickly emerges – in Earth's orbit. When Chinese and Russian spacecraft surround an American space station, the threat is clear: negotiate and compromise, or China and Russia will cripple the U.S. Navy with ballistic missiles. Will the world's superpowers be plunged into a full-scale war?
With Executive Intent, the New York Times bestselling master thriller-writer Dale Brown crafts an action-packed tale of intrigue and technological weaponry that pits the world's superpowers in a contest for Earth's oceans and ultimate high ground – space.
Dale Brown
Executive Intent
Book 16 in the Patrick McLanahan series, 2010
This novel is dedicated to my hardworking family,
who refuse to give in even during tough economic
and personal times.
Remember Always the Family.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
JOSEPH GARDNER, President of the United States
KENNETH PHOENIX, Vice President
WALTER KORDUS, White House Chief of Staff
STACY ANNE BARBEAU, Secretary of State
MARCUS COLBY, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
DAVID C. KEELEY, Deputy Secretary of State for Asia
DEBORAH A. CARLSON, Assistant Secretary of State for Chinese Affairs
CONRAD CARLYLE, President’s National Security Adviser
MILLER TURNER, Secretary of Defense
GERALD VISTA, Director of National Intelligence
SALAZAR “SAL” BANDERAS, Secretary of the Air Force
ANN PAGE, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for Space
TIMOTHY DOBSON, Assistant Deputy Director for Strategic Program Research, Central Intelligence Agency
ANNETTE DOUGLASS, Assistant Deputy Secretary of State
GENERAL TAYLOR J. BAIN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
ADMIRAL BENJAMIN KELLY, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
GENERAL CHARLES HUFFMAN, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff
USN ADMIRAL RICHARD COWAN, Chief of Naval Operations
USAF GENERAL ROBERT WIEHL, Commander, U.S. Space Command and USAF Space Command
U.S. NAVY ADMIRAL SHERMAN HUDDY, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command
U.S. ARMY GENERAL THOMAS GREENE, Commander, U.S. Africa Command
COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR FRANK NAUERT, NCOIC, U.S. Africa Command
U.S. AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT GENERAL PATRICK MCLANAHAN (RET.)
BRIGADIER GENERAL KAI RAYDON, Commander, U.S. Space Defense Force, Armstrong Space Station
U.S. ARMY COLONEL ALAN CAMEROTA, Substitute Space-Station Commander
U.S. AIR FORCE COLONEL GIA “BOXER” CAZZOTTO, Commander, 7th Expeditionary Bomb Wing, EB-1C Vampire-Bomber Aircraft Commander
WAYNE “WHACK” MACOMBER, “Tin Man” Commando and Cybernetic Infantry Device (CID) Pilot
U.S. ARMY RESERVE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JASON RICHTER, Commander, U.S. Army Infantry Transformational Battlelab, Fort Polk, Louisiana; CID Engineer and Pilot
CHARLIE TURLOCK, CID Pilot
U.S. AIR FORCE MAJOR ALAN “FRODO” FRIEL, EB-1C Vampire-Bomber Mission Commander
U.S. NAVY COMMANDER SCOTT BREAM, XS-19 Midnight Spaceplane Pilot
AIR FORCE MAJOR DANA COLWIN, XS-19 Midnight Spaceplane Pilot
MARINE CORPS MAJOR JESSICA “GONZO” FAULKNER, Spaceplane Pilot
U.S. AIR FORCE FIRST LIEUTENANT JEFFREY MCCALLUM, Spacecraft Electronics Technician
U.S. AIR FORCE SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT VALERIE “SEEKER” LUKAS, Senior Noncommissioned Officer of Armstrong Space Station
PETTY OFFICER PAUL MALKIN, Rescue Swimmer, USS Rourke
JONATHAN COLIN MASTERS, Chief Engineer, Sky Masters Inc.
HUNTER “BOOMER” NOBLE, Vice President of Engineering, Sky Masters Inc.; S-9 Black Stallion and XS-19 Midnight Spaceplane Pilot
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
ZHOU QIANG, Premier of the People’s Republic of China
TANG ZHAOXING, Minister of Foreign Affairs
ZUNG CHUNXIAN, Minister of National Defense
GENERAL HUA ZHILUN, Commander of 11th Strategic Rocket Forces, People’s Liberation Army Air Forces
LI JIANZHU, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
IGOR TRUZNYEV, President of the Russian Federation
AIR FORCES GENERAL ANDREI DARZOV, Chief of Staff of the Russian Defense Forces
BORIS TARZOV, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations
PAKISTANIS
AMANULLAH MAZAR, President of Pakistan
INDIANS
SHANTOSH PAWAR, Prime Minister of India
BRAZILIANS
ERNESTO NASCIMENTO, Brazilian Ambassador to the United Nations and Temporary Chairman of the U.N. Security Council
YEMENIS
SALAM AL-JUFRI, Employee of Yemeni Fish Company Limited
WEAPONS
AESA-Active Electronically Scanned Array, a radar system that uses pulsed radar beams instead of a mechanically moving antenna to search the sky
AIM-9 Sidewinder-American heat-seeking air-to-air missile
AIM-120 AMRAAM-American Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, radar-guided air-to-air missile
AL-52 Dragon-a B-52 bomber modified to carry an antiballistic-missile laser
AN/FPS/79-space tracking radar
AN/SPY-1-advanced shipborne air and space control radar
APG-79-fire control radar aboard the American F/A-18 Hornet fighter
AS-17 Krypton-Russian hypersonic air-launched attack missile
AWACS-Airborne Warning and Control System, an aircraft-based radar system used to track air and sea targets
BAMS-Broad Area Maritime Surveillance, a U.S. Navy program to use long-range unmanned aircraft for surveillance near a naval battle group
C-802-Chinese ship-or shore-launched antiship or land-attack missile
COIL-Chlorine-Oxygen-Iodine Laser, a system that uses a chemical reaction to produce laser light
Dong Feng-21 (DF-21)-Chinese submarine-or land-based mobile surface-to-surface solid-fuel rocket
DSP-Defense Support Program, a system of geosynchronous infrared satellites that detect missile launches on Earth
E-2C Hawkeye-a carrier-based long-range surveillance radar aircraft
Evolved Sea Sparrow-a ship-based antimissile defense system
FEL-Free Electron Laser, a laser that produces laser light by moving electrons freely through a magnetic field
50N8 Graza-Russian long-range surface-to-air missile
Grebe-a submarine-launched unmanned reconnaissance aircraft
Jian Hong-37N-Chinese carrier-based interceptor and attack aircraft
Julang-1S-Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile, based on the DF-21 ballistic missile
Ka-27-Russi
an ship-based patrol and antisubmarine warfare helicopter
KT-3-Chinese land-based antisatellite missile based on the DF-21 ballistic missile
LADAR-Laser Radar, a system that uses electronically steered laser energy to detect ground, air, and space targets
MiG-31 “Foxhound”-Russian supersonic long-range interceptor aircraft
Mk 45-American standard shipborne five-inch gun
MQ-35 Condor-American air-launched commando insertion aircraft
netrusion-inserting damaging or corrupt data into a computer network through digital sensors
OMV-Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle, a device that can carry defensive or offensive weapons in space or through Earth’s atmosphere
Orion-next-generation manned orbital and lunar spacecraft
RQ-4 Global Hawk-a large, long-range, high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft
SA-N-9-Russian advanced naval surface-to-air missile system
SBIRS-Space-Based Infrared System, American next-generation space-based missile launch detection and tracking system
SH-60 Seahawk-American ship-based patrol and antisubmarine warfare helicopter
SM-2 Standard-American ship-launched antiaircraft, antiballistic, and antisatellite missile
SPG-62 target illuminator-American ship-based radar that places a beam on an air target that surface-to-air missiles can home in on
Sukhoi-34 Fullback-Russian advanced interceptor and attack aircraft
thirty-mike-thirty millimeter
Tin Man-American infantryman who wears an advanced electronic protective armor system
TLAM-Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, American ship-or submarine-launched long-range attack cruise missile
Xia-class-Chinese ballistic-missile submarine
YAL-1 Airborne Laser-American antiballistic-missile laser aircraft, based on a Boeing 747 aircraft
Yantar-4K2-Obsolete Russian reconnaissance satellite
ACRONYMS AND TERMINOLOGY
ACU-Army Combat Uniform, new designation of American battle uniform
ADS-Active Defensive System, American aircraft laser system that defeats enemy antiaircraft missiles with bursts of laser energy
American Holocaust-term used to describe the Russian bomber attacks against the United States
BG-Brigadier General
Boats-abbreviation for a naval enlisted man who trains, supervises, and directs ship’s maintenance duties
CAG-Carrier Air Group, referring to the commander of an aircraft carrier’s air wings
CID-Cybernetic Infantry Device, an American infantry combat system utilizing a manned robot to afford superhuman protection, strength, speed, and attack capabilities equivalent to an infantry platoon
CINC-Commander in Chief; former designation of the commander of a major U.S. military command (now reserved for the president of the United States)
CJCS-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior uniformed adviser to the president of the United States
CNO-Chief of Naval Operations, the senior uniformed officer of the U.S. Navy
CTF-150-Combined Task Force-150, a multinational antipiracy maritime security force
DCI-Director of Central Intelligence, the senior administrator and coordinator of all of America ’s intelligence services
dielectric-a hard or rigid structure that allows electromagnetic energy to pass through in both directions
Duty Officer-a computerized interactionable service linking several computer services
Electronic Elastomeric Activity Suit-a mechanical compression garment worn by astronauts that uses computer-controlled electronically compressible material to maintain near-sea-level pressure on the human body while in a vacuum
EMU-Extravehicular Maneuvering Unit, a device that attaches to an astronaut’s space suit that allows precise movement in space
EPIRB-Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, a device that transmits identification and location information via satellite to rescuers
FBI-Federal Bureau of Investigation, American federal domestic law enforcement and investigation agency
ForceNet-American naval computer global data-exchange system
FSB-Federal Security Bureau, new name for the Russian KGB foreign and domestic intelligence and security force
GRU-Glavnoye Razvedyvatel’ noye Upravleniye, Russian military intelligence agency
GUARD-international emergency radio channel
HMU-Handheld Maneuvering Unit, a device used by astronauts to maneuver in space
Hohmann transfer orbit-an orbit used by spacecraft to move from one orbit to another
home plate-common term for home base or aircraft carrier
Hydra-smaller version of a COIL laser used for self-defense
hypoxia-physical difficulties associated with a lack of oxygen (loss of sight, uncoordination, unconsciousness)
ISI-Interservices Intelligence, Pakistani intelligence agency
KGB-Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, Soviet domestic and foreign security and intelligence agency, now FSB
Maddie-Multifunctional Advanced Data Delivery and Information Exchange, the civilian version of the “Duty Officer”
MFD-Multi-Function Display, an advanced computer control and display system
NCIS-Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ chief law enforcement investigation service
NOSS-Naval Ocean Surveillance System, a system of satellites that detects and tracks vessels by homing in on radio transmissions
NSO-National Security Organization, the Republic of Yemen ’s domestic and foreign intelligence and security force
PETA-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an American animal-rights organization
PLA-People’s Liberation Army, the unified land, sea, and air forces of the People’s Republic of China
PNSA-President’s National Security Adviser, senior civilian military and domestic security adviser to the president of the United States
PRC-People’s Republic of China (mainland China)
Ro-Ro-Roll-On, Roll-Off, a cargo ship where vehicles or equipment can be loaded on one end and driven off on the other end
SAC-Strategic Air Command, former major American military command that controlled all nuclear-capable attack and global reconnaissance and command-and-control forces
SCA-Suez Canal Authority, civil organization responsible for regulating, maintaining, and patrolling the Suez Canal
SECDEF-common acronym of the secretary of defense, the senior civilian administrator of all branches of the U.S. military
SECNAV-common acronym of the secretary of the navy, senior civilian administrator of the U.S. Navy
SECSTATE-common acronym of the U.S. secretary of state
SIGINT-Signals Intelligence, collecting, identifying, and analyzing electromagnetic emissions
Space-Based Infrared System-satellite-based system that detects and tracks missiles and aircraft
SPACECOM-common acronym for the U.S. Space Command, the major American military command responsible for space activities
STRATCOM-U.S. Strategic Command, the major American military command responsible for strategic missile defense, information warfare, command and control, and surveillance
TMO-Traffic Management Officer, the officer responsible for monitoring movements of ships or aircraft through a particular area or region
VFR-Visual Flight Rules, the rules governing aircraft operations in good weather
WMD-Weapons of Mass Destruction, referring to biological, nuclear, or chemical weapons designed to kill large numbers of people over very large areas with few numbers of weapons
REAL-WORLD NEWS EXCERPTS
U.S. PLANS FOR FUTURE WARS IN SPACE (www.Space.com, February 22, 2004): The U.S. Air Force has filed a futuristic flight plan, one that spells out need for an armada of space weaponry and technology for the near term and in years to come. Called the Transformation Flight Plan, the 176-page document offers a sweeping look a
t how best to expand America ’s military space tool kit.
…The CAV (Common Aero Vehicle) is an unpowered, maneuverable, hypersonic glide vehicle deployed in the 2010-2015 time period. The CAV could be delivered by a range of delivery vehicles from an expendable or reusable small launch vehicle to a fully reusable Space Operations Vehicle. It can guide and dispense conventional weapons, sensors, or other payloads worldwide from and through space within one hour of tasking. It would be able to strike a spectrum of targets, including mobile targets, mobile time-sensitive targets, strategic relocatable targets, or fixed hard and deeply buried targets. The CAV’s speed and maneuverability would combine to make defenses against it extremely difficult…
SINO-RUSSIAN MILITARY MANEUVERS: A THREAT TO U.S. INTERESTS IN EURASIA (Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., and John J. Tkacik Jr., www.Heritage.org, September 30, 2005): Peace Mission 2005, the unprecedented Sino-Russian joint military exercises held on August 18-25, should raise concerns in Washington. The war games are a logical outcome of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation, signed in 2001, and the shared worldview and growing economic ties between the two giant powers…
The Russian daily Nezavismaya Gazeta was more blunt about the purpose of the war games: This is above all an assault on the unipolar world that has so suited Washington since the end of the Cold War. Chinese commentators were similarly frank. Jin Canrong, professor of international relations at the People’s University of China, stated that the main target is the United States. Both sides want to improve their bargaining position in terms of security, politics, and economics. As Pravda.ru announced, “The reconciliation between China and Russia has been driven in part by mutual unease at U.S. power…”
RUSSIA NEGOTIATES SALE OF 50 SU-33 FIGHTERS TO CHINA (Sinodefence.com, October 27, 2006): Russia and China are finalizing negotiations for the delivery of up to fifty Su-33 carrier-based jet fighters, at a cost of US$2.5 billion.