by Jon Sedran
“And that name CIA forwarded to us, Tranchi?”
Barillas dug out a note from a folder. “Tehrani, Rostam Tehrani. Iranian arms buyer…former Republican Guard officer, that’s it.
“Thank you Aaron…now go home and get some rest, it’s late.”
Maddy went back to her office and finished catching up on other work. It was almost midnight when she turned off her PC and headed home. A steady rain was coming down, but the traffic was refreshingly light. The car’s windshield wipers were hypnotic and she had to concentrate to keep from dozing off on her twenty minute drive home. She pulled up into her garage and sat thinking, The damn budget cuts. My team is putting in twelve hour days and little to show for it. If Iran gets a goddamn bomb, it’s all over.
* * * *
Senator Marcus Smith, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, arrived at Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain on a fact-finding tour of the vital military base. After getting a tour of base facilities by Thompson, he was taken to base headquarters for a briefing.
“Good afternoon Senator, welcome to Fifth Fleet headquarters,” said Kaminski shaking Smith’s hand. “We have all been on edge since the incident in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranians have become more aggressive than ever, maneuvering their small boats directly in front of our ships forcing them to change course.”
“Well, I hope cooler heads prevail and keep a lid on the boiling pot,” said Smith.
Kaminski nodded. “Senator, we have a presentation set up for you in the conference room…please follow me.”
“Admiral Thompson will run the presentation,” said Kaminski, as he pulled a chair out from the table, “Please have a seat.”
“Good afternoon senator,” said Thompson, picking up the remote to begin the presentation. “The Navy’s Fifth Fleet is responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and coast of East Africa…as far south as Kenya.” He advanced the slide show, speaking as he went, “It shares a commander and headquarters with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT. The fleet typically includes a carrier strike group, amphibious ready group or expeditionary strike group, as well as other ships and aircraft. Here you see a current list of the fleet’s major assets. Base military personnel oversee up to thirty ships, and support the twenty-five thousand sailors that patrol the Persian Gulf and Arabian and Red Seas. This base is vital to our projecting power in the Gulf region,” he explained, advancing to the next slide. “Senator, this is a satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz. You can see is a narrow strategically important waterway between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. On the north coast we have Iran and on the south coast is the United Arab Emirates, to the west is Saudi Arabia. The Strait at its narrowest here is twenty-one miles wide and with Iran claiming a twelve mile territorial limit it can get interesting. It is the only sea passage to the open ocean for most of the petroleum-exporting Persian Gulf States. Estimates are that almost one-third of the world's oil supply passes through the Strait. This makes it one of the world's strategically important chokepoints.” He paused and then added, “It’s our job to keep it open…any questions, Senator,” he asked, as he ended the presentation.
Smith frowned. “I understand all those littoral combat ships we spent all that money on, lack the firepower of our larger ships.”
“Senator, they have their place in the overall mixture of naval forces we have deployed. The bigger ships cannot maneuver well in the narrow Strait and in shallow waters,” stated Kaminski.
“My sources tell me the Iranians are not just going to be swatted like flies if we have to fight them,” Smith said, adding, “I hear they have some very advanced missile systems.”
“Yes senator, they do, but we still have a very large edge in technology,” Thompson stated.
“I hope that’s enough,” offered Smith.
“It will be,” Kaminski quickly assured him. He glanced at Thompson and then added, “Senator, let me be frank, this base oversees all regional naval operations, a huge and critical task. The budget cuts are really hurting us here. The area is a ticking time-bomb, and you are correct, they are not a third world joke that we’ll sweep off the map in some forty-eight hour “shock and awe” event.” He looked directly at Smith, “This didn’t make it into the news, but they nearly sank the Princeton last month. It barely made it back to port here, and it will be in for extensive repairs for a year…if it can even be repaired. Technology is advancing so quickly that our capital ships can be vulnerable to an attack by a much weaker power. The American people will not handle large losses very well.”
“Admirals, I understand, and I support a strong defense. But I’ll be frank too; we are over eighteen trillion dollars in debt, with little hope we can ever pay it off. The cuts are here to stay…do the best you can,” Smith responded, tersely. “And one last thing, speaking of these new technologies, many in Washington believe our carriers are just gigantic floating targets…expensive floating targets. Thank you for the briefing gentlemen.”
“Admiral, sir, flash message from the Pentagon,” said the XO, quickly entering the briefing room.
“Excuse me senator, Admiral Thompson will show you around,” said Kaminski, as he turned and left the room.
The message was short and included few details,
- FLASH -
Iranian naval forces are confirmed to be laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
You are directed to:
Notify all subordinate commanders.
Notify all vessels under your command.
Bring all fleet assets to DEFCON Three.
Advise when force status is DEFCON Three.
Admiral Hardy, Chief of Naval Operations
Kaminski shook his head. “Damn.”
* * * *
After concluding a successful SEAL team insertion and recovery in Somalia, the attack sub USS Virginia was heading to join the Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf. Travelling undetected toward the Arabian Sea, the sub’s skipper, Commander Mark Davis ordered them up to periscope depth to take a peek around and check for messages. Almost as soon as the mast antenna broke the surface two priority messages from naval operations came through.
“Skipper, flash message from fleet,” announced the Virginia’s communications officer, as he handed a text message to Davis. He read the brief message, lowered the periscope, and then got on the ship’s intercom. “We are at DEFCON Three everyone, DEFCON Three. The Iranians have started laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. We are ordered not to enter the Strait until further advised.” He hung up the microphone and looked around at his crew for a moment. “Looks like the Iranians still don’t believe our version of the sinking of their two patrol boats. XO, get out the manual, DEFCON Three procedures, read ‘em out loud. Let’s do it!”
“Aye, aye, captain,” replied the XO, who quickly retrieved the manual. The apprehensive, but very capable crew readied the sub for combat operations.
Davis glanced at the second message and then read it out loud. “We have been given coordinates and are to wait there for the cargo ship St Paul now transiting through the Suez Canal. Then we are to tag along with them to Aden Port in Yemen. NSA intercepts and recent Iranian naval activities indicate they may attempt to interfere.”
* * * *
Israeli Air Force Northern Command, Air Defense Sector Three, consists of early warning and targeting ground-based radars, supporting a mixture of front-line fighter aircraft and surface to air missile batteries under the control of subordinate Air Defense Command. The sector has primary responsibility for the airspace along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
“Colonel, picking up a target, low, bearing zero four five, fifteen miles, one-hundred ten knots, no ident on it…looks like another Hezbollah drone,” reported Sergeant Erez operating the sector three surveillance radar unit at IAF’s Ramat David Air Force Base.
Hezbollah Brigade Commander Fadi Kasim was carrying out his orders to probe Israeli air defense radar coverage
. “As you directed commander, we launched the three drones into Israeli airspace,” reported the special security team member, adding, “The last one will return shortly.”
“Praise Allah,” replied Kasim.
“They are likely testing our response times,” surmised the colonel. “Just track them, but I’m not going to send anything up if they don’t get any closer or head toward any sensitive areas.”
“Israeli air defense radar did not pick the first drone up until it was almost seven miles inside their airspace,” the special security team member proudly reported.
“Did you plot the signal strength, and locations?” asked Kasim.
“Yes, it is all recorded and saved to a secure drive. The new drones are working very well…we will soon have a complete map of their radar coverage.”
“Excellent, continue the good work,” said Kasim.
* * * *
“Senator, I’m sorry we had to cut your tour short, but we just received word the Iranians have begun laying mines in the Strait,” reported Admiral Kaminski. “I’ve called my staff together and I have to meet with them now.”
“I understand,” said Smith, “Looks like I’d better get back to Washington.”
At the hastily arranged senior staff briefing at the Fifth Fleet base, Kaminski quickly laid out what he knew. “Okay everyone, we just got a flash message from the Pentagon. They have confirmation the Iranian Navy is laying mines in the Strait. We are to go to DEFCON Three. What is the status of our minesweepers?”
As Kaminski spoke, a junior officer presented fleet assets, status and positions on a wall monitor.
“We have two minesweepers on patrol near the Strait and one in port, but it can put to sea in twenty-four hours,” Thompson reported.
“Okay. We don’t yet know how many ships or even planes, they have laying mines, or exactly where,” said Kaminski, adding, “Cancel all leaves, except emergency. Issue a fleet-wide alert. Get every ship that is operational out of port. And let’s get some eyes on that area. See if the air force can put a couple of drones in the air and take a look at the Strait…get some satellite imagery too.” The officers present in the room each knew what that had to do.
“Admiral, the St Paul was due here in three days after a port call in Yemen. The Virginia was also scheduled to join the fleet but has been ordered to tag along with them,” said Thompson, adding, “All ships not involved in minesweeping operations have been ordered to stay clear of the Strait until further advised.”
Kaminski nodded.
“Admiral, do we have authority to engage the Iranian minelayers?” asked one of the officers.
“No. not yet,” replied Kaminski. “Unless we’re attacked, of course.” He paused and looked around the room. “This could get real ugly, let’s be ready.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Kaviani entered the heavily guarded room at the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security in Tehran. Seated around a large rectangular table were the six religious leaders of the Guardian Council and IRGC Commander, General Namazi. Dr. Benuit stood nearby. Absent was the Iranian President.
Kaviani took his seat at the head of the table and looked sternly at each of the faces. “We have been very patient. I’m sure you all know the U.N. preliminary report on the attack on our two ships is inconclusive. I expected as much. However, at the request of President Massoud, who spoke with the American President, we agreed to halt mine-laying operations for now.”
Javadi slammed his fist on the table. “The Americans will never stop their aggressions. The Great Satan and their Zionist masters only understand force.”
“We need to buy more time…I understand progress on our special project has been very good,” Kaviani responded.
Javadi took a deep breath. “Yes, excellent,” he answered. “I have asked Dr. Benuit to bring us up to date.” Javadi motioned for Benuit to begin.
He nodded and began a PowerPoint presentation. “I will go through the highlights of our program,” he announced, pressing the button on the remote. “You may stop me if you have any questions. Here is our new Shahab III missile. It will be the delivery system we use to loft the device. It can lift a six-hundred eighty kilogram payload for a distance of up to two-thousand kilometers. This, I might add, easily puts the Zionist state within range. The old American “Fat Man” bomb design is too large and too heavy to fit on any missile. Also, the uranium gun design weapon dropped on Hiroshima is also too big and heavy to consider.” He advanced the slides. “Instead, we went with the widely-used two-point implosion design you see here. It can utilize either plutonium or highly enriched uranium. In this slide you can see the device partially assembled. The process of designing and machining a two-point implosion device is very difficult. Fortunately, we received a great deal of assistance from our friends around the world.” He paused for few moments and then went on, “Here is a high-speed X-ray photograph of a successful pit compression test. At the exact moment of maximum compression, a shot of neutrons energizes the compressed core and a thirty-million degree reaction gets under way.” He continued on through the slides, “Our Korean and Pakistani friends assisted us greatly by providing much of the programming needed for our computerized machining processes. This has cut the time required considerably.” There was a low murmur of voices as a cleric pointed at the slide and mumbled something to the cleric seated next to him.
“Please continue,” Javadi requested, motioning with his hand.
Benuit looked up at the monitor and resumed the presentation. “Here you see the device at Oghab-Three with its major components shown. We have nearly overcome the two biggest obstacles; producing enough weapons grade materials and miniaturizing the device. It should have a yield of fifteen to twenty kilotons. Here is mockup of the device being fitted into the Shahab III payload bay. A successful test flight with an inert warhead will confirm our ballistic computations. Does anyone have any questions?” The audience remained silent.
“Excellent Dr. Benuit,” said Kaviani, clapping his hands quietly. “When do you estimate the first device will be ready?”
“The recent accident at Parchin set us back…”
Kaviani immediately interrupted, “Accident?”
“It was fully investigated, Ayatollah…at any rate we should have the first device ready in ten months...we just need the fissile materials.”
“How soon will we have enough weapons-grade material?”
Benuit scrolled through his tablet PC screens. “There have been some further delays in the U-235 enrichment to eighty percent…also plutonium conversion is behind.” He looked at Kaviani and said, “Allah willing, we will have enough for the first device in less than three months.”
“Excellent,” he said, adding, “We must be extra cautious and avoid detection. Until the weapons are ready and fitted to our missiles, we are vulnerable to attack. He studied the faces of the others for a few moments. “Does anyone have anything else to report?” No one responded and Kaviani continued, “I should remind you all, I have not yet told President Massoud of this project,” he somewhat reluctantly acknowledged. “We need a public spokesman who is credible, and will not have to lie about knowledge of our weapons program. I will of course let him know when the time is right.”
“He will not be pleased,” offered a cleric.
Kaviani ignored his comment. “Thank you all for coming,” he said, as got up to leave.
* * * *
The next few days passed uneventfully and the President was thankful for that. He had thought about taking Air Force One down to Florida and getting in a few rounds of golf, but decided against it.
“Mr. President, the Pentagon confirms the Iranians are still refraining from laying any more mines, at least for now. Your phone call to President Massoud seems to have calmed things down a bit in that region,” said Kragen, briefing the President in the Oval Office. “When the Iranians saw that the preliminary U.N. report on the incident was inconclusive, they felt they had to se
nd us a message,” she added.
Acosta read through an e-mail on his PC monitor then looked up at Nancy. “Admiral Hardy reports the Iranians only put down a few-hundred mines, then stopped. Our navy and the Brits have swept most of them. I think you’re right” he concluded, adding, “The navy says the channel will be cleared and can reopen by late tomorrow. Looks like the mines sank one oil tanker and damaged two more…and also sent a British minesweeper to the bottom. Apparently they are deploying some new type of high-tech mine.”
“Could have been worse…a lot worse,” offered Kragen, looking tired.
Acosta let out a loud sigh. “Iran’s official news agency is broadcasting over and over that the U.N. investigation was a white-wash. They still insist their two naval vessels were attacked and sunk in unprovoked attacks and in violation of international laws.”
“We need to keep a dialog going with Massoud. He may be the only cool head left over there,” Kragen said.
“Yes, I agree, Acosta said dryly. “Hardy says our naval ships are now experiencing constant harassment and being forced to take evasive actions. The Iranian navy is now engaging in an aggressive game of “chicken.” He took a sip of coffee. “Miscalculations are inevitable. We need to diffuse things over there quickly.”
“I will do my best,” replied Kragen, sounding less than sure of herself.
* * * *
“The Americans and British are quickly sweeping the mines we laid and will reopen the shipping channel through the Strait shortly,” reported Admiral Tovar meeting in Tehran at the Defense Ministry with Ayatollah Javadi and the IRGCN and regular navy commanders.
“That is okay, the navy only put down a limited number, but it was enough to drive the price of oil much higher and they are feeling the pain,” said Javadi smugly, adding, “We may be able to defeat America without firing a shot. Of course if that does not happen, we will employ other means. “General Yazdi please bring us up to date on our missile testing.”