Episode 31

USS Ohio (SSGN-726)

200 Miles South East of Woody Island

“Action message, sir.”

Marklee did a double take.  They were only six hours from zero hour.  He hadn’t expected any further orders.  They had briefly risen to antenna depth mostly to get a good GPS fix.  

“Thank you Chief.  Please ask the XO to join me in my quarters.”

“Aye, aye sir.”

Marklee had to read the orders over three times to be sure he understood them correctly.

Commander Leyland came into the compartment looking as surprised as Marklee felt.  “News skipper?”

Marklee silently handed over the action message. 

“Whoah!  Clean sweep postponed indefinitely?  And what are these target coordinates?”

“Keep reading.”  Leyland continued to study the lengthy orders.  “It looks like command has pinpointed every stationary radar emission site in the Spratley Island chain.  We are taking them all out.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, all of them.  Over one hundred.”

Leyland’s face scrunched up as he did the math.  “Looks like we can only double tap each one.  Even then we are Winchester along with the Virginias.”

“Yeah, I came to the same conclusion.  Any trouble with the timing?”

“Nah, we could shoot from right here.  We may want to move a bit south and west, but we have plenty of sea room.”

“Notice what’s not there.”

“Yeah, no list of SAM stations or capabilities assessment.”  

“These orders were put together quick.”

“Says at the bottom there that targeting data will come from the ARTE report.”

“What the heck is that?”

“Dunno, but it’s coming from Beale.”

“Global Hawks?”

“Good bet.  I don’t think they are flying U-2’s over Chinese SAM sites at the moment.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Let the COB know.  We go to action stations at zero three hundred local.”

“Aye, aye sir.”