Fatal Terrain
Page 23
minutes was a very long time to be without up-to-date infor-
mation.
As soon as the newest hi-res photo came in, McLanahan
was on the interphone. "The carrier is launching fighters," he
reported excitedly. "I'm picking up two heading north and
climbing fast, passing five thousand feet. And I've got several
small escorts overtaking the northern destroyer. Looks like
they might be geting into launch position. Stand by, crew,
radar coming on." He moved the cursor on the supercockpit
display, designated all of the vessels closest to the Taiwanese
frigate, then hit the computer command button: "Identify."
WARNING, ATTACK RADAR SWITCHING TO RADIATE ...
WARNING, ATTACK RADAR RADIATING ... ATTACK RADAR
SWITCHING TO STANDBY, the computer reported. In three sec-
onds, the powerful Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar on the
EB-52 Megafortress measured each vessel in three dimensions
with six-inch accuracy. It took another twenty seconds for the
computer to compare each ship's measurements to the data in
its memory files and identify each ship, along with its primary
weapon and electronic fit.
The computer read off its search results: TARGET SIX IS
JIANGWEI-CLASS FRIGATE, it announced in a very human-
sounding female voice. ANTIAIR HQ-61 FOG LAMP,
100-MILLIMETER RICE LAMP DIRECTOR, 30-MILLIMETER
ROUND BALL. ANTI-SHIP EIGHT EACH YJ-1 SQUARE TIE, 100-
MILLIMETER SUN VISOR, 30-MILLIMETER SUN VISOR. TARGETS
THREE, FOUR, SEVEN, NINE, HUANGFENG-CLASS GUIDED-
,MISSILE BOATS. ANTIAIR, 30-MILLIMETER, ROUND BALL FIRE-
CONTROL RADAR. ANTI-SHIP FOUR EACH HY-1, 30-MILLIMETER.
TARGET FIVE AND EIGHT, HOUKU-CLASS MISSILE BOATS. AN-
TIAIR 25-MILLIMETER. ANTI-SHIP, TWO EACH HY-1.
"That middle frigate is a real threat for us," McLanahan
said. "We could easily be within range of that HQ-6l."
"The range of a Hong Qian-61 is only six miles, sir," Vi-
krarn said.
"I heard of an improved version with triple that range,"
McLanahan offered. "That frigate might be carrying it."
150 DALE BROWN
"An improved HQ-61? I never heard about that."
"And what if it's really a Crotale SAM system?"
"Crotale has a max range of eight miles," Vikrarn said.
"We're twenty-six miles from the PLAN fleet."
"Emitter, if you ever want to make captain someday,"
Cheshire suggested, "just nod and say, 'Yes, sir.'
"Yes, sir," Vikram complied.
"Good boy," Cheshire said. McLanahan gave his DSO a
thumbs-up.
'I don't think the Tacit Rainbow attack deterred them,'
Elliott said, with a smile. "I think we're still an item of inter-
est. Let 'em, have the Wolverines."
"Agreed," McLanahan said. "Stand by for pylon missile
launch, crew." His fingers were flying over his touch-screen
supercockpit display, designating nine vessels as targets. He
then armed four of the attack-configured AGM- 177 cruise mis-
siles and programmed all four with all nine possible targets.
The cruise missiles would attack the target list in order. If a
target was not destroyed, it would attack; if missed, it would
reattack; if destroyed, it would move to the next target in the
list. "Stand by for pylon missile launch, crew. Wings level."
McLanahan then hit the voice command button: "Launch
commit Wolverines."
WARNING, LAUNCH COMMIT PYLON LAUNCH ATTACK WOL-
VERINE MISSILES, the computer responded on interphone, then
entered an automatic launch hold.
"Launch," McLanahan ordered, canceling the launch hold.
The Megafortress crew felt a slight shudder as the tiny bomb
bays on the wing pylon weapons pods opened and four mis-
siles were ejected into the slipstream. "Center up on the steer-
ing bug, pilot, heading zero-two-five to the refueling anchor
point, and let's get out of here."
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA PEOPLE'S
LIBERATION ARMY HEADQUARTERS,
BEIJING, CHINA
THAT SAME TIME
Admiral Sun Ji Guoming's executive officer did not wait for
a reply before hastily knocking on his superior's office door
FATAL TERRAIN 151
and rushing in. The first deputy chief of staff was studying a
large map of Taiwan and the east coast of China that had
updated positions of several Chinese and Taiwanese military
units depicted on it, including intelligence estimates of their
size and strength. The aide bowed as Sun turned angrily to-
ward him and said, "Sir!"
"I asked not to be disturbed!"
"Message sent here directly from East Fleet headquarters
for the chief of staff," the aide went on. "The commander of
the carrier Mao is requesting assistance."
"Assistance? Where is it? What's happening?"
"In the Formosa Strait, fifty kilometers south of Quemoy
Island. The admiral informs us that the Mao and its escorts
have been ordered to halt and submit to an inspection by a
frigate of the Taiwanese navy. . ."
"What?" Sun shouted, leaping to his feet in absolute shock
and surprise. The carrier battle group was still at least a day
from its attack staging position near the Nationalist-held island
of Quemoy-it should still be well inside Chinese waters. The
attack on Quemoy was not supposed to start for another week
at the earliest! "You say they are being confronted by the
Nationalist navy?"
". . . and they are being supported by what they believe is
an American stealth bomber firing cruise missiles!"
Sun:s head snapped back to his aide as if he had heard a
gunshot right behind him. "A stealth bomber? How do they
know? Have they seen it?"
"Intennittent radar contacts, but shortly thereafter a series
of devastating anti-radar missile attacks," the aide replied.
"The weather is clear, their radars are operational, but they
cannot detect the aircraft attacking them. The captain said he
had no choice but to shut down all radar systems after he and
one of his escorts, the Kang, were hit by anti-radar cruise
missiles that came out of nowhere."
"Follow me," Sun ordered, and he and his aide ran out of
the office and onto the private elevator that took them down
to the chief of staff's underground command center. The com-
mand center was little more than a large radio shack, manned
around the clock with communications specialists broken into
four sections, representing the army, navy, air forces, and Sec-
ond Artillery Corps, which controlled the land-based nuclear
ballistic missiles. Except for exercises, it was rarely visited by
152 DALE BROWN
anyone much above field grade rank, so it created quite a stir
when Deputy Chief of Staff Admiral Sun Ji Guoming burst
into the chamber and over to the chief of staff's seat. "Senior
controller!" Sun shouted, as he put on his headset.
"Sir!" a voice responded. "This is Major Dai, senior duty
controller. "
"I want to speak with the commanding officer of the carrier
Mao Zedong right now," Sun ordered. "And put up a chart
with locations of naval air units in the Quemoy area and unit
resource report data on our Sukhoi-27 wing."
"Yes, sir," Dai replied. In moments, a hastily sketched map
of the Fonnosa Strait region went up on a rear-projection
screen in front of Sun. "Sir, naval air units in current mission-
ready status in the Quemoy region include the Nineteenth Air
Wing at Quanzhou, with thirty J-6 fighter-attack planes, and
the Seventh Air Wing at Juidongshan, with twenty-two J-6
fighters. In addition, the Fifty-first Air Wing at Fuzhou is op-
erational with nineteen H-6 bombers."
"I want all three wings put on immediate combat alert,"
Sun said. "Any units on ready alert right now?"
Another long wait; then: "Negative, sir."
"Beginning today, those three air wings shall have one-third
of their flyable planes on twenty-four-hour combat alert," Sun
ordered. "I want as many J-6 fighters loaded with air-to-air
weapons and cannon ammunition and launched as possible,
and be sure they have functioning gun cameras. Their target
is any unidentified aircraft in the vicinity of the Mao carrier
group. What about the Sukhoi-27s?"
"The Second Air Wing at Haikou currently has twelve Su-
27 fighters operational."
"Twelve?" Sun retorted. "It was reported all forty planes
allotted for combat operations were operational! Damn you,
Major, it is the command section's responsibility to see to it
that the general staff has accurate information!" Dai stiffened
and lowered his head in submission. It would be far too late
to launch the Su-27s, Sun thought@-the J-6s would have to
do. "Get those J-6s airborne, and I want an Ilyushin-76 radar
plane launched as well to assist in the search. Where is the
chief of staff right now?"
"I will check, sir," the senior controller said. His staff was
working more quickly now. "Sir, the chief of staff is in quar-
ters. Shall I ring him?"
FATAL TE R RAI N 153
"Negative. Notify me at once when the chief of staff checks
in with the command section."
"Yes, sir.... Sir, Admiral Yi on the carrier Mao is on chan-
nel two."
Sun switched his communications selector to the proper set-
ting: "Admiral Yi, this is Admiral Sun. How do you copy?"
The transmission was heavy with static-obviously this was
an HF shortwave radio patch, not a satellite,hookup. "I read
you, sir," replied the voice. "Do you wish a status report?"
"Go ahead with your status report, Admiral."
"We are in visual contact with a Taiwanese flagged war-
ship, the Kin Men, a guided-missile frigate," Yi reported in a
loud voice, as if he were shouting across the sky. "The frigate
has opened fire on my group, hitting the destroyer Kang with
missile fire. The Kang suffered minor damage and is still op-
erational. The Mao destroyed several inbound missiles with
terminal defenses but was hit by small anti-radar missiles
launched by a suspected stealth aircraft operating in the vicin-
ity in concert with the rebel ship. Minor damage only. We are
still operational. We attempted to return fire but have encoun-
tered heavy jamming and anti-radar cruise missile attacks, and
we are currently running silent and relying on passive sensors.
I have launched two fighters in air defense configuration. We
are still in contact with the Nationalist vessel."
"Have you made contact with the stealth aircraft?" Sun
asked excitedly.
"Negative," Yi replied. "We get intermittent radar con-
tacts, but nothing solid. We are currently attempting to make
contact via optronics, and our fighters are airborne and begin-
ning the search. Over."
"Admiral Yi, you will destroy that Nationalist frigate," Sun
ordered. "Order a full-scale attack by every vessel in your
battle group. You are permitted to use every weapon in your
arsenal. . ." He paused for a moment, then emphasized,
". . . every weapon. Do not allow that rebel frigate to escape
under any circumstances. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," Yi replied.
"Admiral Yi, you will then launch an immediate attack on
Quemoy Island from long range," Sun said. "Again, you are
ordered and authorized to use every weapon in your arsenal.
Do you understand?"
There was a very long pause, during which Sun thought they
154 DALE BROWN
had been cut off, but then: "Comrade Sun, I must have clar-
ification," Admiral Yi radioed. "You are authorizing and or-
dering me to use any weapon in my battle group to attack and
destroy the Nationalist military forces on Quemoy Tao. Is that
coffect?"
"Yes, that is correct," Sun said. "Any and every weapon
in your arsenal is free to use. Your attack will commence im-
mediately. And find that stealth bomber and blow it out of the
sky!"
When Sun looked up after that interchange, he saw almost
everyone in the command center staring at him. The senior
controller's eyes were bulging. "Sir ... I am sure you are
aware that the Mao battle group carries nuclear attack weap-
ons.. Your order to the Mao could be interpreted that you or-
dered a nuclear attack against-"
"I ordered nothing of the kind, Comrade Dai," Sun said.
"Only the minister of defense or the president can issue such
an order, coffect?" The senior controller nodded blankly.
"Now, what I want is an immediate launch of those fighters.
Crews should be responding to their planes by now."
"Yes, sir," the aide said. "The alert has been issued. I shall
type up the order and submit it to the chief of staff for his
approval."
Sun swung on his aide angrily and shouted, "Did I order
you to type anything or submit anything to General Chin? I
want those fighters in the air in less than thirty minutest will
notify the general and get his approval. I want to be notified
personally of every development immediately. Now, move!"
As the aide hurried off, Sun knew that he was never going
to tell Chin or anyone else of this-until and unless the Amer-
ican stealth bomber was brought down. Then his hope was to
personally deliver a gun camera tape of an American stealth
bomber being shot down to President Jiang-and use it to
begin his campaign to rid China's waters of the United States
and its lackeys.
ABOARD THE EB-52 MEGAFORTRESS
in attack mode, AGM-177 Wolverine missiles moved too fast
to be tracked by NIRTSat satellite snapshots, but the missile's
FATAL T ER RAI N 155
datalink information allowed McLanahan to watch in absolute
fascination as the missiles closedrapidly on their quarries.
All Wolverine missiles were programmed to execute a turn
shortly after launch so the enemy could not simply trace the
missile's flight path directly back to its launch point; missiles
coming from many different directions also made it appear as
if t
here were more attackers out there. Each Wolverine missile
executed its "dogleg" as it glided down from launch altitude
to sea-skimming altitude, between fifty and one hundred feet
above the sea, guided by a pencil-thin radar beam that pre-
cisely measured the distance from the belly of the missile to
the waves. During the glide, the missile automatically opened
its turbojet engine air inlets and exhausts, warmed up the elec-
tronics for its radar and imaging infrared sensors, and activated
its threat sensors, countermeasures system, and GPS satellite
navigation system. With the GPS locked on to at least three
satellites, it now had target circular error accuracy of less than
thirty feet; once it locked onto eight satellites, its navigation
precision was good to within six inches in both position and
altitude. Just before reaching its cruise altitude, the computer
commanded the turbojet engine to start, accelerating the mis-
sile to over four hundred miles an hour.
With a ripple of microhydraulically controlled skin, the
Wolverine missile turned on a dime and headed for its first
target. Once lined up on target, it activated its radar for just
two seconds and compared the range to the target received
from the radar to the range to target on its navigational flight
plan-the two figures were within seven feet of each other.
The missile sampled the GPS navigation information again,
then took a longer radar fix of the target, getting bearing as
well as range-now the two were within two feet of each
other. Satisfied, the missile signaled back to the EB-52 Mega-
fortress that it was on course and ready to attack.
Patrick McLanahan opened a new computer window on his
large supercockpit display, then ordered the sensor feed from
the missile displayed in the window. The radar image showed
a bright white rectangle, with the missile's sensor's crosshairs
centered on it. McLanahan switched to imaging infrared, and
a small orange speck appeared; magnified, McLanahan could
discern the long, gracefully swept bow, tall amidships super-
structure, and huge bow-mounted 100-millimeter gun of the
big Chinese Jiangwei-class guided-missile frigate. McLanahan