by Unknown
Gee shook hands and bowed slightly. “It is an honor to have you in our shipyard, Captain. After all you and your crew have done, we are happy to make your repairs,” the man said.
“Thank you, sir. As you can see, we had a little run in with a missile or two,” Hammond said pointing back toward the stack.
“Yes, we understand. Admiral Shranski brought us the blueprints a few days ago and we have completed the upper section of your funnel. My crews should have it repaired within three days,” Gee said.
“His crews will also take a look at where the other missiles hit and make repairs there as well. I had your descriptions and they can manufacture it,” Shranski said.
“That’s a lot quicker than I thought. I had the feeling we would be out at least two weeks or more.”
Gee beamed. “No, Captain, we made the funnel in our shops. We will come aboard this evening and begin cutting the remainder of the funnel at a certain height and then simply weld the two together. The interior ducting is already inside. If all works well, we should be able to match everything up,” he said. “The crane above you can lift it on the ship with no problem.”
Hammond glanced at the crane on the pier. It had a long extension arm and a giant pulley with many strands of cable. He was staring at it when the air raid alarm sounded. “Everyone inside the armored belt! General Quarters!” Hammond shouted. “OOD, get everyone inside and you and your watch take cover,” he yelled as the announcement was made and the general quarters alarm went off.
The shipyard officer dashed back down the brow as men began to scramble to their stations. Hammond grabbed RADM Shranski and almost pulled him up the ladders into the ship and farther into Strike.
“We have inbound missiles, Captain. Three are targeted within the city,” called out one of the watch standers.
“Ballistic missiles or cruise missiles?”
“Ballistic missiles, Captain. We don’t have the capability to counter them,” he said.
Watching the satellite screen, the incoming missiles appeared as red dots with a half circle under them with a long line indicating the speed. The line was very long. “Battle stations manned. Zebra set,” reported another watch stander.
“Very well!” said Hammond.
The XO came into Strike. “You weren’t planning on getting underway were you? He asked.
“Not really. Let’s ride this out and see what happens. Do they have the capability for nukes?”
“I’m not sure if these are short or medium range Captain,” said the duty officer. “If they’re medium range, they could,” he said.
Hammond looked at his XO. “Set Circle William.”
“Aye, Captain.” He grabbed the 1MC. “Set Circle William throughout the ship. Ready the water washdown system,” he ordered.
Throughout the ship men began closing the last fittings that would protect them against nuclear fallout. Ventilators were closed and all other openings to the outside were sealed where they could. The bridge watch transferred to the bridge on the 0-8 level and closed all the doors and windows. All around the ship men began to worry. They could handle bombs, planes, missiles, or nearly anything else that goes ‘boom,’ but the thought of a nuclear blast made their skins crawl. For the first time, many of the men were scared. All they could do was wait. “Circle William set, sir.”
In the distance, an explosion was heard. Then a second one. The third seemed almost beside the ship, but the ship didn’t shudder or rock. It had missed. Looking at the satellite screen, the missiles were targeted all across the southern peninsula. One-by-one they blinked out as they struck the ground. The men waited for a few minutes to see if any more appeared. When they didn’t, Hammond picked up the 1MC. “OK guys, it looks like the missile attack is over. Luckily they were conventional. But this reminds us that we are still in a very dangerous shooting war. Be prepared to go to battle stations anytime and anywhere. Our job here is to do some repairs and get back out to sea. The good guys may need us much faster than we figured, so let’s do all we can to get the job done,” he said.
Placing the microphone back in its cradle, Hammond turned to the XO. “They did a good job setting Circle William. You and a couple of guys go around and do a spot check. When you’re satisfied, secure from general quarters.”
“Will do, Captain.” He grabbed Ops and called down to DC Central to get the Master Chief and Blackie.
“Admiral, why don’t you and I go to my cabin,” Hammond said. They exited Strike and went down a ladder to his cabin. “Come on in, Admiral,” Hammond said with a smile. He ushered Shranski to an armchair and he took the end of the couch.
“You know, Roger, you’re making quite an impression of a lot of people back home,” Shranski said. “I understand the President wants your funnel cap mounted on the White House lawn.”
“You’re kidding me. We’re just doing our job. What’s so different about us, sir?” Hammond asked.
Shranski shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Your band is making headlines, we hear about you guys shooting up a bunch of supply depots and tank farms, then you go and get hit by three missiles. The fact you aren’t dead rates at least an honorable mention,” he joked. “I also know Thacke has been shouting your praises to the winds and the carrier group commander wants to have your children. Not bad for a surface puke.”
Hammond grunted. “Hell, the band plays because I like how they sound and the crew enjoys it; especially when they have a tedious job. The rest is just what we do. You were a SWO, if you were a frigate captain, wouldn’t you put your ship in harms way?”
Shranski stifled a laugh. “I know a lot who wouldn’t. Anyway, the right people think you’re doing a great job and I’m one of them,” he said.
Hammond grinned. “Thanks, Mike.”
Shranski threw up a hand. “Don’t thank me yet. One of the tasks I have while I’m here is to investigate how you lost your stack. So while they weld another one on, I am supposed to pry into what was done and who did it. I have four other guys to help. We’ll start tomorrow,” he said somewhat sternly. Then he eased up a little. “But while we’re here, just go on about your business. Get your ship fixed and get back in the war. You know what I’ll be looking for and who I’ll need to talk to. I’ll work with your XO and get it done. Don’t worry, if something’s messed up, I’ll let you know,” he said with a grin.
Hammond nodded. “Okay, I’ll have the XO and department heads check in with you and round up the usual suspects. We don’t have a thing to hide. The logs are with the quartermasters and the watch officers. The XO knows who was on watch and where. I particularly want you to single out the repair parties and the gunners. They did an awesome job. The XO himself had the deck and conn. I was in Strike. My ship is yours for whatever you need,” he said.
Shranski smiled at the man. He was modest as hell and wanted the credit to go to the troops. Shranski already knew how the investigation would go. “Don’t worry, Roger. We’ll get through this. Would you mind if we stayed aboard while we work? If we have to get underway with you it will make it a little easier.”
Hammond’s face broke into a wide grin. “I had a feeling you would want to get underway with us. You’ll love the hell out of it. Come on,” he said standing. “Your cabin is right next to this one.”
As the men exited the cabin, the crew secured from general quarters. There was a shipyard conference to do and some extra officers to bring aboard. The XO was concerned about the investigation, but not overly so. He could think of nothing to be ashamed of or against regulations. The after boiler rooms had been shut down for the last 48 hours and the steam cross connected to keep the generators running and the ship moving. The forced draft blowers had been kept running to pump cool air into the boiler casings and stacks to lower the temperatures inside. By midnight, the shipyard crew had come aboard and measured off five feet above the deck on the remnants of the after stack. A straight line was drawn and the torches began cutting through the thick steel. Up above, some
workers welded some eyes to the stump of the funnel and attached steel cables. The overhead crane extended and the hook was lowered. Once the cables were attached, the crane took a strain and just waited. In four hours, men crawled inside the funnel and began welding through the inner baffles. By seven am, the last of the metal had been cut away and the remnant of the funnel pulled cleanly away from the ship it had been attached to since 1943. It was set on the pier, soon to be joined by an exact duplicate of the stack that had just been completed by the shops.
South Korean Lines
“It was a massive incursion. We have tanks, a few helos, lots of artillery and a world full of infantry coming across the border. General Richardson initiated the strategy by pulling her troops east and south and consolidating along a line from Ibonp'o to Goyang. General Monahan is holding the line from Goyang to Suweon,” said a briefer before the assembled senior officers.
“That’s a pretty big pocket for these guys to fill,” said General Ryan Bradley, the Army Chief of Staff. He had come to Korea to check on the troops. There were fifteen Army, Navy and Marine commanders from seven nations in the room.
“Yes it is, General,” said Richardson. “But this gives us the chance to draw what they have out and then nip it off like a polyp during a colonoscopy. Even if we fall back to the coasts, we have that twenty-five mile corridor we can operate in all the way up the coast. The North knows if they move in, the battleships will be there to take them out. The idea would be that we let them come up against a brick wall and then we go over that wall from Yangyang and drive straight across the peninsula to Seoul. Cut through fast and clean and then choke them off.”
“I agree. There are some good passes through the mountains we can use, and I have people getting me information on the new tunnels they are using to move people around. If you can get me some special operations troops, we might be able to sabotage their works before the move,” said General Yao, the leader of the South Korean Forces. “General Richardson and I have been talking about this and she is providing some Marine Recon forces. I could use some more help.”
“While holding my line, I plan on sending a couple of brigades up the coast to the outskirts of Inchon. If I could take the port, we could set up an end run that would knock their socks off,” Monahan said.
“And I will have all the battleships and cruisers off the coasts by this time tomorrow. I will coordinate some additional air sorties against what we can see,” said Thacke, sitting in the back of the room.
“Sounds like you people have been talking,” Bradley said with a chuckle. “The main problem I see is knocking out their supply lines. The damn North Koreans have tunneled their way all across the area from what I understand. Even their stockpiles are underground and right now I don’t know where they are. The good news is right about now the Allies are launching a spy satellite that’s going to sit right on top of Korea. By this time tomorrow we might have an idea where everything is coming from. General Yao, I will get you those units. Anything we can do to louse up their operations will help. What else can I do to help all of you?” he asked.
“Just be ready for anything, General,” Monahan said. “From what we’re hearing these guys are almost fanatical in their devotion to Kim. They’re killing everyone in their way and moving on. We’ve actually seen what appeared to be suicide squads being thrown against our troops. It may get a little messy.”
I’m not looking at this to be any kind of pushover,” said General Bradley, “And I’ll defend whatever you must do to achieve our objectives as long as it is within reason. I will say the same thing to the President. You won’t hear any squawking from Washington.”
Monahan stood. “Very well then, get everything lined up. I want this kicked off as soon as we see some slackening in the number of troops coming across. That will be our sign. Get your people and equipment in place and be ready. When this happens, I want these people to wish they had never even heard of South Korea,” he said. All the people stood up and began leaving the room. General Bradley stopped Richardson before she left.
“Claire, I’m glad to finally meet you. You’re one hell of a tactician and one damn fine field commander,” he said shaking her hand.
“Just an old grunt, General. Though I must say I am enjoying it.”
“Well, your plans and your leadership got us this far. Your people advanced farther and faster than any others. I’d say more, but you’re just a Marine,” he said.
Both laughed. “I didn’t do much, General. When you have good people, they do all the work for you.”
“Spoken like a true soldier. I just wish I could be here to see this done. You and your people are poised to make some history. When the word comes down to go, turn ‘em loose and kick ass. I like your thinking. We can pinch these guys off and leave the North with very little to defend themselves. Just make sure you don’t get overwhelmed.”
“We’ll be ready. If you decide to stay, you can come along with us.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he joked while shaking her hand again.
Chapter 19
September 30 - Taking the Lead
Cape Canaveral
The KH-13 reconnaissance satellite lifted off on time and entered Earth orbit just as planned. The large machine made its way over the pole and eventually moved toward Korea. The onboard systems maneuvered the Hubble sized satellite into its fixed orbit and seemingly locked it in place. Solar collectors opened and antennas extended. A small dish antenna pointed itself towards an island in the Aleutians chain.
Luckily the Aleutians had been spared during the EMP attack. The old military base had a large dish antenna and the receivers to pick up the satellite’s signals and relay the information via fiber optic line to Langley. Within ten minutes the satellite reported itself on station and began running the diagnostics to bring itself online.
The KH-13 was far more capable than the venerable KH-11 or KH-12 satellites. In particular, the infrared optics had the capability to make out the very subtle differences in temperature that might indicate an underground bunker or storage facility. Tunnels were a piece of cake. The first orders to the satellite were to aim its infrared sensors and its cameras toward the DMZ. One hour later, the military had answers to where the tunnels and exits were. Two hours later, several underground facilities were identified, not the least of which was a huge warm facility under the Kim Il-Sung Stadium in downtown Pyongyang.
USS Iowa
Hammond couldn’t believe his eyes when a new funnel with all its gear was trucked onto the pier. It had already been primed and painted with the exception of the places that would be welded. It looked as if this was a piece to some giant toy model that was just waiting to be cemented into place from a kit. He looked over at the old stack, taken off the ship earlier. It was sitting on the pier beside the new one; mangled and torn. The blast had ripped the steel in several directions and it looked like some kind of cancerous growth. But Hammond had almost hated to see it leave the ship. It had been a part of her since she had been launched and to see it like that hurt inside.
Within minutes the crane was attached to the lifting points on the new funnel. It was lifted gently, moved over the ship, and positioned exactly over where the old one had been. After cutting the old stack away, the grinders had come in and ground the remaining steel down to bare metal so that the new welds would be solid. Positioning spacers had been welded on so that the new funnel would be directed into place easily. The old foreman was using hand signals as the funnel was positioned only fractions of inches from the stump of the old stack to make sure it was exactly where it should be. The funnel lowered until it met its counterpart on the ship. Only very small spacers remained. The welders immediately began to lay beads of welding around the stack to hold it in place. More welders were inside the structure doing the same to the baffles inside. In a few places where the baffles did not meet, the sledge hammers were pulled out and they were forced into position. Then the crane was disconnected and moved away
.
The welders attacked the funnel with a purpose now, welding the two pieces together both inside and out, ensuring the welds were perfect. Once done with one section, the grinders came back in and ground the welds down to make them smooth on the outside. Then another crew began slapping red lead paint over the bare metal. A second layer would be added, then a coat of haze grey. The crews were in a hurry. By the next morning, the transmitter/receiver for the RPV would be installed under a fiberglass dome on the forward part of the funnel. When that was complete, the ship would be going back to war.
Every man on the job felt the urgency. Missiles had come twice. The word was the enemy was coming southeast. All of them were determined to get this ship out a quickly as possible before they might be shut down again.
DMZ, Korea
Ricks and his team were watching thousands of people begin to gather across the DMZ from their station. They had called in the information and were told to sit tight and observe until they started coming across, then high tail it. The line of vehicles they had stopped just a few nights before were now an aid to the enemy because they would provide cover for some coming across. Already several strafing and napalm attacks had been made against the people on the other side, but it hadn’t slowed them down. Ricks and the demolition team spent all night setting charges and getting ready for the inevitable.
Hufham dashed across the old road and stopped beside Ricks. “The guys down the way have started seeing them pile up three hundred yards away. This is going to be a big one,” he said looking over the top of some logs they set up for cover.
“You know, I hate giving up this ground again. It’s getting too expensive,” Ricks said.
“See anything new?” Hufham asked.
“Just more people. That napalm attack roasted a bunch of them, but more just filled in after the fires stopped. I don’t hear any tanks or anything, but they sure don’t try and hide themselves. I told the guys not to fire and give away our positions.”