“We think it’ll take about two days. Maybe less if they make most of the trip submerged. They’re slower on the surface, but they have to come up to recharge their batteries. They’ll stay submerged during daylight so they can’t be seen.”
“When were they scheduled to leave, Admiral?”
“They left about five hours ago while it was still dark. We should take the same course as the Kilos toward the latitude Kim programmed for triggering the worm. I suggest that we just wait for them there using your passive sonar. If the worm works, they’ll stop and contact headquarters for direction and probably implement the backup plan with the older Kilo that only has torpedoes. If the worm doesn’t work, all three Kilos will proceed without stopping. Either way, we should follow any Kilos that take a heading toward the Senkaku Islands.”
“What if they take a different course?”
“If we somehow miss them at the intercept point, we should use the plan for the joint exercise to determine where the allied fleet will be each day. From that information, we can plot a position where the Chinese fleet would have the best chance to obtain visual, radar, and sonar data from the exercise. The Kilo submarines would need to be close to the Chinese fleet to make their primary plan work. That’s where this submarine should be positioned to destroy the three Kilos.”
“Our passive sonar should pick them up, so I doubt we’ll miss them. What if Commander Jordan’s worm disables the two Kilos and they implement their backup plan with a single Kilo, Admiral?”
“If the worm disables two of the Kilos, we should position this submarine between the allied fleet and the Chinese ships. That’s where the single remaining Kilo will be.”
“Thanks, Admiral. I agree with your analysis. Our best chance is to find the Kilos while they’re still north of the Senkaku Islands. I have one more question: How talented are your Kilo commanders?”
“They’re not very experienced, Captain. We’ve only had the Kilo for less than a year. Most of our tactics aren’t very sophisticated. They’re usually predictable, since deviating from training and using initiative isn’t encouraged. Occasionally, you may find an officer with initiative and intelligence who will separate himself from the pack. Sadly, such characteristics aren’t encouraged. It’s thought of as being too individualistic, especially for a country that needs its population to follow a single leader who thinks of himself as a god.”
“Who in the allied fleet is aware of the North Korean threat?” Kim asked.
“It’s my understanding that only the US commander and his ship captains are aware. It was decided that the Japanese, Taiwanese, and South Korean fleet commanders wouldn’t be notified. They have a very nationalistic attitude about this exercise. It’s in their waters, and they’d be easily provoked. They’re all definitely cocked and loaded when it comes to the Chinese and North Koreans.”
“Is there anything else you would like us to do to help, Captain?”
“Yes, Admiral. I’d like you and your nephew and Commander Jordan to plot the likely intercept point with the Kilos at the latitude where Commander Jordan’s worm would disable their missiles. I’d also like you to plot the likely attack locations of the three Kilos for their primary plan, as well as the location of the single Kilo for their backup plan. Thank you, gentlemen, you can leave now. I need to talk with Commander Jordan alone.”
After the admiral and Kim left, James said, “What do you need, Captain?”
“I need you to not kill yourself, Commander. There were three SEALs on deck who are trained for pulling people out of the water. I don’t need the notoriety of losing a good friend of the president and the fiancé of a US Senator while you’re on my boat.”
“I’m sorry, Captain, but the SEALs were at the other end of the deck and I was much closer. I understand your concern, and I won’t do it again.”
“Thanks, James. It’s been a while since we had a confrontation.”
“Yeah, not since my second year at the academy when I caught you with that left hook.”
“Yes, I remember. It still hurts. I was Brigade champion for two years running until you beat me. I would’ve beaten you the next year if I hadn’t graduated.”
“Maybe.”
“How do you like my boat?”
“I hope it’s as good as advertised. I guess we’ll find out pretty soon.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you home to your senator in one piece.”
“I hope so. My last submarine mission didn’t go so well.”
“Yeah, I heard about that. I’m about to give Kim and his uncle a tour of my boat later. I’d like you to join us.”
“Yes, sir, I’d enjoy that.”
The admiral and Kim were in the junior officers’ quarters to discuss the required mission planning when James joined them.
“How does it feel to be on a submarine again, Admiral?”
“This doesn’t feel like a submarine, Commander Jordan. There’s no smell of diesel fuel, and everything’s so clean. This is more like a submerged luxury hotel.”
They began their planning by reviewing the exercise schedule and the locations of the allied fleet during each day of the exercise. They’d been at it for about two hours when Kim was informed that the captain wanted to see him in the officer’s wardroom.
“Kim, I was just informed that your mother underwent surgery at the hospital in Busan and is doing well. She should be released in the next week and will join your sister in temporary base housing. Now, are you and your uncle ready for the tour I promised you?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Good. Commander Jordan is also joining us.”
Captain Ortega called James and the admiral to the officer’s wardroom and began his tour.
“This is the engine room, gentlemen. Nothing special here unless you like to see a lot of nuclear reactor plumbing. The primary innovation in our propulsion system is our pump-jet propulsor rather than regular propellers. It makes us very stealthy and quiet. Quieter than your Kilos, Admiral.”
“I hope so, Captain.”
“Our next stop is the command center, which isn’t located directly below the deck since there’s no periscope. The surface view is provided by telescoping photonics masts with high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors, and a laser rangefinder. All images and data are displayed on flat-screen monitors in high definition.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this technology, Captain.”
“Thank you, Admiral. We’ll skip the torpedo room. I’m sure you’ve both seen torpedoes, and the vertical-launch Tomahawk missiles are highly classified. The best part of the tour is our sonar system. We have a bow-mounted spherical active and passive sonar array, a wide-aperture lightweight fiber-optic sonar array, and two high-frequency active sonars mounted in the sail and keel under the bow. The system enables safer operations in shallow coastal waters, like the ones we were in for your exfiltration, Kim. Our ASW performance is vastly improved by the continuous scan of the waters surrounding the boat.”
Kim was impressed and could see how advanced the Washington was compared to the Kilo. He also knew that if it was detected, however, it would be just as vulnerable as their prey.
30
The Washington was on course to make it to the Senkaku Islands thirty hours after receiving their new orders. Captain Ortega had set up James, Kim, and the admiral in the officer’s wardroom to work on their intercept plan with the Kilos.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. What do you have so far?”
“We’ve looked at the nautical maps of the five Senkaku Islands and the plans for the military exercise,” James said. “The exercise will take place over four days to the east, north, west, and south of the islands, in that order. We’ve marked areas on the maps where the Washington could intercept the Kilos and where the Chinese Navy would most likely station their ships to monitor the exercise.”
“Where’s the intercept point for determining whether the commander’s worm worked?”
“It’s right here, fifty miles north of the islands,” James said. “The admiral believes the Kilos will approach the Senkaku Islands from the northeastern side of the islands. The water is deeper there and would make the Kilos more difficult to detect. As the Kilos approach, they’ll need to be outside of the Chinese fleet to avoid their sensors. The Chinese ships will have their sensors directed inward, toward the allied exercise area, which is close to the islands.”
“When do you think the Kilos will implement their attack?”
“We believe their ideal time will be on the second day when the ships are to the north of the Senkaku Islands. They’d be closer to North Korea and it would be easier to escape the target area. If the worm works, the two Kilos with the missiles would no longer be viable. The admiral was briefed on that scenario in North Korea, where it was decided that the disabled Kilos will be ordered to return home to lessen the chance of detection.”
“What would happen if your worm failed, Commander?”
“Three Kilos will proceed to the target area and attack the allied fleet as planned. Our suggestion is to take out all three Kilos immediately after you’re certain the worm failed. That way the Chinese fleet would not know what happened, since all their sensors would be pointed toward the allied fleet.”
“I agree. We’re authorized to destroy the Kilos if the worm fails.”
“What are your orders if the worm succeeds, Captain?”
“That’s where it becomes less clear, Kim. My orders are to follow and monitor the remaining Kilo, since we know its mission will be to sink a Chinese ship. Your report indicated that it’s possible the Chinese fleet might detect the Kilo. If they do, my orders are to monitor the exercise, but take no action against the Kilo. It’s no longer our problem. I don’t agree with that, but I have my orders.”
“Why don’t you agree?” James asked.
“We all know what can happen when you have a desperate enemy. The Kilo could make a mistake and sink an allied ship or be detected and attack both sides. The panic and confusion might achieve exactly what the North Koreans want, the allied fleet and Chinese fleet shooting at each other. I guess we’ll find out soon, as we’re about to be at the intercept point. I’ll need your help, so please follow me to the control room.”
As they entered the control room the executive officer said, “We’re at the intercept point, Captain.”
“Thanks, Smitty. Okay, all stop. Let me know if we pick up anything on the sonar.”
“How effective is your passive sonar?” the admiral asked.
“We can hear a sardine fart twenty miles away. Seriously, we’re like a black hole in the ocean. In this mode nobody can hear us, but we can hear and analyze anomalies at one-tenth the decibel level that a 688 boat can. We’re much quieter, faster, and can dive much deeper than any Kilo, and we never have to surface unless we want to. We also have more firepower than any class of attack boat in the world.”
“We’re picking up some anomalies along the predicted target track, Captain,” the sonar officer said. “It’s definitely surface traffic.”
“It’s two in the morning, so it could be the Kilos charging their batteries on the surface,” Captain Ortega said.
Thirty minutes later the sonar officer said, “The ASW identifies the target signature as Kilo subs, sir. They’re coming directly toward us.”
“Let me know when they get within five hundred yards.”
Ten minutes later the sonar officer said, “I just lost them, Captain.”
“Okay, take her up to fifty feet and raise the photonics mast. Set a course toward the last point of contact.”
“There they are, Captain. All three of them. They’re totally stationary and at almost the exact position that we predicted.”
“I see that, Commander Jordan.”
“We’re copying some unencrypted voice radio traffic, Captain. Can one of our guests interpret it?”
“Good idea, Smitty. Can you help, Admiral?”
The admiral listened for a few minutes and then he smiled.
“Apparently the worm worked. They’re requesting new orders from headquarters.”
“Why don’t they encrypt their radio communications, Kim?”
“The encryption systems were probably disabled by the worm, since they need accurate time to operate properly.”
“Well, it looks like they’re following their orders,” the captain said. “Two of the subs are turning around, and the third is now headed toward us. That must be the sub with only torpedoes. Ahead one-third and maintain our distance at one thousand yards.”
Captain Ortega was beaming as he walked over to the admiral, James, and Kim. “Great work, gentlemen. Your efforts just made our mission a lot easier.”
“Thank you, Captain. We all appreciate that,” James said. “
You’re welcome. Excuse me, I need to make a phone call.”
Captain Ortega approached his executive officer.
“I need you to send a message to COMSUBPAC, Smitty. Tell them that there is only one Kilo approaching the exercise area and the Washington is tracking it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The Kilo’s diving, sir.”
“Yes, I can see that, Chief. I’m sure they want to avoid detection by surface ship radar. Okay, set our depth to be the same as theirs and maintain distance.”
“They’ve leveled off at three hundred feet, sir.”
“Thanks, Lieutenant.”
Two hours later the sonar officer said, “The Kilo’s slowing down and his depth is decreasing, sir.”
“He’s probably coming up for a look-see. Take us up to fifty feet and raise the mast.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you think of our panoramic display, Admiral? The photonic mast lets us see all around us at once. It’s a big improvement on a periscope.”
“It’s very impressive, Captain. We can see both the allied and Chinese fleets at the same time.”
“Yes, it’s like having a ringside seat at a prize fight.”
“The Kilo seems to be closing his distance on one of the Chinese ships, Captain.”
“Let me know if he opens his torpedo doors, Lieutenant.”
“It’s turning away and it looks like it’s moving toward a second ship.”
“It’s probably checking to see how close it can get before being detected. How close did it get, Lieutenant?”
“Five hundred yards, sir.”
“Gutsy SOB, isn’t he, Admiral?”
“They don’t have much confidence in their torpedoes, Captain. The Kilo was probably ordered to get as close as possible.”
“He just got caught, Captain. One of the Chinese ships must’ve detected the Kilo at about three hundred yards and has turned around and is moving toward it. The Kilo is trying to move out of their sonar range.”
“Thanks, Lieutenant.”
“He’s at dead stop, sir.”
After almost an hour, Captain Ortega told the executive officer that he was going to take a nap.
“It looks like the Kilo has gone silent and is probably saving his batteries. Let me know if anything happens, Smitty.”
Five hours later, the executive officer woke him.
“Captain, we just picked up a sonar bogey, it’s another submarine.”
“Another Kilo?”
“No, sir. This one’s a Chinese attack boat, one of their newest. It went right past us and the Kilo toward the allied fleet at ten knots.”
“Okay, send a message to COMSUBPAC about the contact. Tell them we think the Chinese detected the Kilo during a practice attack run, and it might’ve incited them to monitor the exercise with one of their new submarines. I’m going to the control room.”
As Captain Ortega walked into the control room, he saw the admiral, Kim, and James sitting at a small table.
“Don’t you guys ever sleep?” the captain asked.
“We heard about the Chinese submarine,” James said. “What do you think it means?
”
“I think the Chinese believe they detected an American sub and sent one of their latest nuclear attack boats to find it, Commander.”
“The new Chinese boats are almost as good as our latest 688 boats, Captain. Their ASW could detect the Kilo. If they think their fleet is in danger, they’ll use their active sonar and might also detect the Washington.”
“Yes, I know, Commander Jordan. Do you have any ideas?”
“We could transmit the recorded sonar data on the Kilo doing its practice runs and the sonar data recorded on the Chinese boat to COMSUBPAC via the SATCOM. You could suggest that it be provided to the Chinese government as evidence of North Korean intentions.”
“Great idea, Commander, but I’m not sure COMSUBPAC would do it. It would disclose classified information on our operational capabilities. But at this point it’s worth a try.”
The Washington sent the recorded tracking information to COMSUBPAC who forwarded it to the Pentagon and the secretary of defense. After evaluating the information with his staff, the defense secretary met with the president, who requested an urgent meeting with the Chinese ambassador.
Ambassador Yang was contacted on his cell phone at a local restaurant and took his embassy limousine to the White House. The president briefed him on the recorded data and its source.
“This sonar data was recorded by one of our ships in the Senkaku Island exercise a few hours ago, Mr. Ambassador. It shows the sonar signature of a Chinese nuclear attack boat and a North Korean Kilo operating near the exercise. You can see from the visual display that the Kilo is making targeting runs on a Chinese ship. We also have intelligence information from a very high-level North Korean military source that the Kilo intends to sink one of your ships within the next twenty-four hours. The North Koreans will then blame it on America.”
“This is very shocking, Mr. President. You’re accusing the North Koreans of planning an attack on its closest ally.”
“Yes, Mr. Ambassador, that’s exactly what I’m saying. If your government doesn’t verify this information, we could soon be at war.”
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