Episode 21

Pacific Command HQ

Joint Base Hickam Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

“When do we get CSG 3 back out there?”

“The Stennis is leaving Washington tomorrow and should mate up with the rest of the strike group in three days.  Five more days for basic workups.”  General Braverman almost rolled his eyes.  The Admiral asked the same question every day.  It was getting boring.

“And the Ronnie?”

“Ronald Regan and CSG 5 are two weeks out.  They were up for a minor refit in Japan and are unwinding that work.”

“Damn.  Just our luck that this thing blows up with only one CSG in the Pacific.”

“We have CSG 12 and the Lincoln scheduled to transit to the Pacific in 21 days.”

“About time.”

While the sucker punch using B-52’s had pushed the PLAN back behind the nine-dash line, the attack on the Vinson had basically eliminated the Navy as a strike force in the Pacific until the rest of the carriers could be sortied.  Losing four F-15E’s to take out a relatively small SAM site on Woody Island didn’t bode well for the war.

“We need to get those growlers out there.  Let’s stage a squadron out of Whidbey down to Okinawa.”

“That puts them minimum two tanks from any meaningful targets.  We are running low on tankers.”

“Then re-run the F-22 ambush.  That worked.”

“You really think they fall for that again?  They have shifted to long-range missile strikes against the tankers.  Even if they miss, the tanker is off station.”

“If I ever find the motherfucker that mothballed the Raven, I will kill him.”

“There will be a line, sir.”

“Amen.”

While the air attack in the Pacific had worked to offset the lack of Naval punch, the cost was high.  They had already lost more aircraft in the Pacific than during the entire Gulf War.  The reality is that they needed to push the PLAN back further.  The island bases in the South China Sea allowed the PLAN to operate with close air support from land bases and to have overwatch from the SAM and ballistic missiles stationed there.  Pinning their ears back with HARM strikes wasn’t going to change that.

“Dammit, we just can’t commit to Leopard without air superiority. Scrub Leopard for now. We need to implement the area denial strategy.  Option B.”

“Yes sir, they are holding at point tango.”

“Give them the go.”

“Aye, aye sir.”