by gerald hall
“You know that we will now have to set up defenses to protect these missiles in addition to the rest of the facilities at Hebes Chasma and elsewhere on Mars.” Melody Atherton noted.
“Yes, Ma’am. I know. But we do have some time to do that fortunately. Even if the Caliphate were to learn of our new acquisition today, it would take them at least a year to design a space launch vehicle capable of sending a nuclear weapon of any size that far out. Then it would take that rocket eight to fifteen months for that rocket to reach us depending on the relative positions of our two worlds. If their trajectory calculations are even the least bit incorrect, then their weapon will miss us, making for a very expensive failure on their part.
Now, I’m sure that our thousands of geniuses here can design and deploy an adequate defense network before then. It could be something as simple as a point defense cannon firing a load of shrapnel or perhaps a system of high-energy lasers and guided interceptor missiles. Either way, I am confident that we can handle whatever the jihadists decide to throw at us in the near future.” Matt replied.
“What if the Caliphate manages to launch something without us receiving any warning, Colonel? Mars still takes hits from incoming asteroids from time to time without us being aware of it until it has already happened.” Sharon asked.
“Well, I think that was one of the purposes of that little observatory that was built at the lunar colony. It’s not just going to be looking out into deep space. They will have several telescopes also looking back at Earth as well. There are plenty of NASA scientists who wanted to continue their Earth studies research. Studying Earth’s surface from the Moon will also allow the folks out there to watch for large rocket launches coming from Earth’s surface at the same time.” Deborah interjected.
Sharon nodded in acknowledgement as she and Colonel Walker continued to watch the earthmovers bury the hulk of the former ballistic missile submarine. Both of them hated to have to rely upon its deadly cargo to defend the colony. But they feared even more not having it available if the Caliphate decided that one world alone was not enough for them to possess.
“So what are we going to do with these ballistic missiles and all of those nuclear warheads? Obviously, we are not going to launch those nukes to hit targets on the Martian surface.” Sharon asked.
“Of course, not. We have already studied the performance of the Trident missile boosters. I believe that with the reduced gravity here on Mars, a Trident will probably be able to push an eight-warhead payload to escape velocity. This will especially be the case if the missile is using the W76 thermonuclear warhead in the Mark 4 re-entry vehicle. It will be a little harder with the W88 warhead and Mark 5 re-entry vehicle because it is heavier. The W88 is nearly five times as powerful as the W76 however.” Matt explained.
“So you would be pushing big dumb reentry vehicles out into space? If we have an enemy space vehicle coming in, it should be fairly easy to alter its vector to avoid an RV from intercepting it. This even takes into consideration if you modify the post-boost bus to be able to maneuver in space to correct its flight path.” Sharon wondered.
“Not exactly. You are correct in the idea of modifying the missile bus to maneuver in space. But we need to go far beyond that. We will need to modify the reentry vehicles themselves to have their own targeting sensors and maneuvering thrusters for precise independent targeting while in space. These modified RVs would actually borrow a great deal from the Pershing II maneuvering reentry vehicles. But we will scab a sensor and maneuvering package onto the noses of each RV.” Arthur Wheeler replied. He was taking a little time away from his lab to watch the final work on the Wyoming’s installation.
“Won’t that increase the weight to the point that the missile won’t reach orbit, much less reach escape velocity?” Another of the Council members asked.
“We’ve looked into that already. First, we can lighten each RV some because it doesn’t need to survive reentry into a terrestrial atmosphere. The heat shield can be made significantly lighter as a result. We have already determined that we can accept a small reduction in warhead yield in the course of doing this since the heat shield on an RV is frequently also part of the nuclear device itself. Secondly, we can reduce or completely eliminate the penetration aids that the post-boost bus also carries. This will save us additional weight that we can use for modifications on the RVs and the post-boost bus.” Arthur explained.
“Colonel, it sounds like you have put a lot of thought into what can be done with those missiles to help defend Hebes Chasma.” Melody noted.
“We have to be ready to take full advantage of any opportunity that we have to protect and build upon the new civilization that we have created here. It just happened that this submarine became available along with the weapons that it carried.”
“How many nuclear weapons did we actually end up with, Colonel Walker?”
“It looks like we got more than what we had expected. Six of the Trident missiles on that submarine carried eight of the heavier Mark 5 reentry vehicles. But the other eighteen missiles used the lighter Mark 4 RVs instead.
For one thing, we have a lot more warheads than we originally anticipated. Instead of 192 warheads, we have 280. We can afford to reconfigure the re-entry buses to each carry eight of the lighter warheads along with the new guidance and booster systems. These combinations will guarantee that the missiles will reach escape velocity and be able to engage incoming threat craft.” Matt answered.
“What about the heavier warheads that will be removed from those missiles? What will you do with those?”
“We haven’t decided yet. It may be possible that we will carry them aboard gravity shuttles to give those vessels a ranged weapon. We would have to fit these warheads with a propulsion and guidance package of their own in that case. One thing that we don’t know yet is how the physics package of these RVs will react to being in such close proximity with gravity drive modules. That will have to be examined first before we make a final decision on their use.”
Chapter Twenty Two:
US Navy Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine USS Mississippi
One Hundred and Fifty Miles North of the Azores
March 25, 2045
The Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine USS Mississippi was on patrol near the Azores. She and several other submarines were out there listening for activity as a result of the loss of satellite coverage. It was just after four in the morning Greenwich Mean Time when her duty sonar operator reported unusual contacts.
“Sir, I am getting a lot of activity coming out of St. Nazaire, Brest, Le Havre, Cherbourg, Rota, Ferrol and at least a dozen other ports along the coasts of France and Spain. The British ports are still in pretty bad shape after the fighting and sabotage to the port facilities there, I suppose. That is probably why we are not seeing anything coming out of Portsmouth or any of the other British ports.” The Mississippi’s first officer, Commander Eli Clowart reported.
“Churchill would have been proud of the fight that his people put up after the Caliphate flooded into southern England through the Chunnel and onboard more than a hundred transport ships with hundreds of thousands of jihadists. It was practically a scorched Earth campaign after it was clear that Britain would not be able to hold out much longer.” Captain Jules Hammond answered as he looked at the submarine’s master plot.
“At least the Brits were able to evacuate as many noncombatants and other critical assets as they to the Eastern Alliance before the end. Unfortunately, they had to leave a lot of good people behind though.”
“I know. At least our charities back in the States are helping the British refugees get settled in. We have certainly filled quite a few berths at Norfolk with Royal Navy warships for sure. Their crews all seemed to be eager to continue the fight against the jihadists when I talked to them just before we went on patrol.”
“Their biggest problem though is that their ships cannot use most of our weapons. So when the ships from all of these refuge
e navies run out of the weapons that they brought with them, they will be unable to fight at all.
“There are a few exceptions. Most of the NATO navies used the same or similar weapons on their submarines that we did. So all that we have had to do was implement a few software patches into their submarines’ fire control systems. This allowed those submarines to use our torpedoes, Tomahawk cruise missiles and submarine-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles.”
“How are we doing concerning our own weapons, Lieutenant?” Captain Hammond asked.
“We still have sixteen ADCAP torpedoes available in the torpedo room. All of them are checked out and fully operational. Our four vertical launch tubes in the humpback include one Trident II ballistic missile with a standard strategic load-out. The other three tubes have two underwater drones, ten TLAMs and nine SM-6 Block IB birds. Our two forward payload modules have four TLAMs and another two of the SM-6s remaining.”
“Those big SM-6’s have been hell on enemy shipping targets in the ballistic mode. The jihadists haven’t been able to intercept a single one before target impact. Our SM-6 missiles were originally designed to shoot down supersonic aircraft and anti-ship missiles from surface warships and can still perform that mission if they get adequate queuing too.”
“I just wish the Block IB’s that we have in our launchers weren’t the last ones left in the fleet, Sir.”
“Me too, Lieutenant. I have a feeling that we are going to need every single one of them before this war is over with. I would much rather have more of those SM-6’s than carrying those nukes to be honest.”
“Well, Sir. We are bound for the Eastern Atlantic to play spy games out there just in case the jihadists try to make a move out of the Atlantic ports or the Med. I just hope that they don’t find us first.”
“If they do, we will make them pay dearly. After all, only two types of vessels operate in the ocean, submarines and targets.”
Chapter Twenty Three:
Arab Brotherhood Headquarters
St. Peters Basilica, Former Vatican City
March 27, 2045
The grand building that had been the center of the Roman Catholic Church was rapidly being converted into what the Arab Brotherhood ultimately intended to become the largest mosque in the entire world. At the same time, the lower chambers were set up to control all Arab Brotherhood forces. Massive numbers of computers and radios had already been set up in the opulent chambers formerly used by Catholic cleric elites. Dozens of radio antennas and satellite dishes also now festooned the roofs of the former Vatican’s buildings.
“How are the preparations for our special weapons proceeding?” The leader of the Arab Brotherhood, Mohammed al Hussain Sultani, asked.
“There were some initial difficulties getting enough aircraft operational. But we now have over six hundred jet airliners of various types being prepared. The older aircraft required significant modifications for the new automated flight control systems, but the newer Airbus and Boeing airliners were very easy to modify for our purposes.” The head of the Arab Brotherhood’s military arm, Colonel Hassan al Bari explained proudly.
“And what about the weapons that these aircraft will be carrying?”
“They were easy to procure. I had entire trainloads of obsolete Russian munitions brought westward to be loaded onto the aircraft. They were old and considered very unstable. But for our purposes, they were perfect. Each aircraft will make the destruction inflicted on the 11th of September pale in comparison.”
“They will make an excellent supplement to the Russian bombers that you procured, Hassan. Your plan promises a devastating strike against the strongest of the Western infidels.”
“This is true, Sir. We could not possibly operate enough of the ancient Russian bombers to reach the infidel’s military bases without all being shot down short of their targets. We have also taken other measures to inhibit the enemy’s willingness to shoot down the airliners. By the time that they realize what is actually going on, it will be far too late.” Hassan said with a cruel smile.
“Yes, we will play upon the infidels own weaknesses. They remember our strikes against New York and Washington. But are they willing to kill more infidel innocents to save themselves?”
“I doubt it, Hassan. But if Allah wills it, then it will be done. Either way, our operation will clear a path for our mujahedeen to seize the last stronghold of our enemies, Inshallah.”
“Then it is time now to activate the second part of our operation, Sir. This will keep the infidel navies quite preoccupied in addition to their national leadership.” Colonel al Bari replied with a smile.
“Captain, we are picking up a lot of movement coming out of the Bay of Biscay. We are picking up literally hundreds of different tracks on passive sonar. Someone appears to be emptying out all of the ports along the European coast simultaneously.” Mississippi’s lead Sonar Operator Patrick Jones reported.
“Are you sure, Jones?” Captain Hammond quickly asked.
“Oh yea, I’m sure.” The sonarman said while pointing to the scores of individual spikes displayed on his hydrophone monitor from the numerous contacts that he had also heard on his headphones.
“Alright. Eli, take us to periscope depth and send out the call. The bad guys are coming. Once we get confirmation, then let’s move into a good attack position so that we can get our licks in too.” When we get back to Norfolk, I expect to have a broom tied to our periscope mast too.” Mississippi’s captain said with a hungry grin on his face.
Less than two hours after the receipt of Mississippi’s report, virtually the entire oceangoing naval strength of the Alliance Navy was soon underway from Norfolk, Mayport and Groton Naval Stations. In addition, every other Alliance port where warships had been stationed also conducted a mass sortie to intercept the incoming fleet of ships coming from Occupied Europe.
Air bases up and down the Eastern Seaboard were also alerted to the threat of the incoming ships. But because most of the Alliance’s aircraft would not be able to reach the incoming fleet yet, their status was not as high. They were expecting to begin their attacks upon the probable Islamist at least three days later. But there was also an increased operational tempo ordered for the Alliance’s reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft shortly upon the discovery of what everyone believed was a massive invasion fleet coming from the Arab Brotherhood.
The E-3D AWACS radar surveillance plane was flying a routine patrol about one hundred and fifty miles east of Baltimore when it picked up something very unusual several hours after the invasion fleet was first detected.
“Sir, I’ve got tracks coming in across the Atlantic for at least five hundred large aircraft. They are still over three hundred and forty miles to the east of our position. We have no information on any large aircraft authorized to come here from Europe in our database.” The radar controller on duty reported to the senior controller on duty.
“Do you have a classification for the type of aircraft yet, Sergeant Simpson? Colonel Charles Anderson quickly asked.
“We aren’t getting any civilian transponder signals from any of the aircraft so far. Our radar software indicates that most of the aircraft are jets with a high probability that they are large civilian airliners. A small percentage of the aircraft appear to be turboprop-propelled however based on their radar signature.”
“We need to get some fighters out here ASAP to investigate. I will contact Alliance Air Defense Headquarters. Sergeant, continue to monitor the incoming aircraft and pass along any information to the interceptors.”
“Yes, Sir.” Came her immediate reply. But Tech Sergeant Camille Simpson couldn’t help but think that there was something terribly ominous about this massive flight of aircraft coming from occupied Europe.
Within ten minutes, flights of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters were airborne from five different air bases along the Eastern Seaboard en route to the growing formation of incoming aircraft.
“I wonder what all of those airliners are doi
ng flying towards the Alliance? You can’t really drop paratroopers out of them. They have to know that we won’t let them land at any of our military bases. Anyplace that they are allowed to land will be immediately surrounded by our troops too.” Captain Anthony Simcoe, call sign; Tiger, asked from the cockpit of his F-22 Raptor, tail number Zero Six Five.
“I don’t know, Tiger. I gave up on trying to figure out the Islamists’ next move a long time ago. I just would like to hear some good news coming out of occupied Europe for once though.” Major Erwin Cohn, call sign; Desert Fox, Tiger’s flight lead replied from Raptor Zero Four One.
“I wish that we had been loaded with at least some of those Peregrine air-to-air missiles right now, DF. We are going to run out of missiles long before we run out of targets if someone gives the order to shoot. We can pack at least two Peregrines in the space of one AMRAAM inside of our weapons bays.”
“You know why we haven’t been authorized to use the Peregrines yet. We can’t show just how capable we are to the enemy yet. We were damned lucky that all of the production facilities for the Peregrine were here on the East Coast instead of inside the Western Republic. Hell, even the Navy wasn’t allowed to use theirs during the big fight against China and North Korea a few years ago.”
“Yea. They just got to use those new laser weapon pods instead. I still hear those wild rumors about one of the Navy’s female pilots getting something like fifty kills in one night. There’s no way that could happen, even with a solid-state laser like what’s in the pod.”
“I really can’t say, one way or another, Tiger. All that mattered is that our side won the fight that night.”
“The AWACS folks are telling us that there are at least several aircraft in the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 class among the incoming aircraft based on what their radar is telling them. My radar scope is telling me that there are a lot more jumbo jets than that coming this way.”