Episode 52

USS Kidd (DDG 100)

100 miles Northeast Fiery Cross Reef

“Raid Warning Sir. Multiple Bandits inbound to Fiery Cross Reef.”

Captain Harris crossed over to the tactical plot table in CIC. “Could they be vectoring around to an attack on the Task Force?”

“Unlikely sir. Their geometry is wrong and unless our intel is way off, they’re going to be bingo fuel in forty minutes. Not enough gas to screw around like that.”

“OK, signal the task force, new heading two one zero at thirty knots.”

“Aye, Aye Sir.”

Harris’ First Officer joined him at the plotting table. “What are you thinking skipper?”

Harris grunted as he examined the plot. “I’m thinking that the ChiComs aren’t dumb. They know we’ll go after this raid with everything we’ve got.”

“Yeah, dumb they ain’t. Time on target attack?”

“That’s what I’d do.”

“Subs too.”

“Yeah, subs too.”

“Fuck.”

“Language, Butch.” Harris punched his XO lightly on the shoulder to show he was kidding. “But, yeah. Fuck is right.”

While the Chinese had not been able to master the complexities of the overall American combined arms strategy, they had been able to coordinate multiple attacks across distance and time. While the attack on Guam had turned out to be one dimensional, this was mostly bad luck on their part. Any attack on Fiery Cross had the advantage of being much closer to the Chinese mainland and other supporting bases like Woody Island. Ideally, from a Chinese perspective at least, they would attack with aircraft, land based missiles and submarine launched cruise missiles all at the same time to maximize their potential to knock out the fledgling American presence on their island.

“Sir, we have a firing solution on the Bandits, max range for the SM-6. Ready to fire on your order.”

“Belay that. Weapons tight.”

If Harris was right, they’d need all their missiles shortly. The flyboys would have take care of the incoming planes on their own.