Episode 116

Pacific Command HQ

Joint Base Hickam Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

General Braverman entered the Admiral’s office with a grin on his face.

The Admiral looked up as he entered. “Good news?”

“Yes sir.” He placed a large bound document on the Admiral’s desk. “Final treaty signed this morning. The weenies over at state had to piss in the coffee before they drank it, but it’s basically your agreement, sir.”

The Admiral picked up the document and lazily flipped through it. “It’s not my agreement that matters, son. It’s about ending this fucking war.”

Braverman sobered at the Admiral’s tone. “Yes, sir. I think we’ve done that.”

“And what about operation Albacore?”

“Ready to go. The boats are in transit.”

“What did the Aussies say?”

“Are you kidding? The admiral who runs their submarine force almost giggled when I asked him on the phone.”

“I am still thinking it should be Vietnam.”

“Yes, sir. However red team feels that Australia is more neutral, politically. They have a good reputation with China for being level headed. The Vietnamese are too hot right now. To make this work, it has to be something we can deny with a straight face. The sailors won’t talk, they don’t call it the silent service for nothing.”

“Yes, understood. OK. Greenlight Albacore.”

ROCS Sea Serpent (SSN-795)

Tsoying Naval Base, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Chief Wilcox was conning the former USS Pittsburgh from the sail. On the surface, nuclear submarines like the Sea Serpent were not very seaworthy and they took a steady hand to bring into port. Which is why the Australian captain standing next to him was pretty much just keeping out of the way.

“Ya know sir, I’m just the hired help around here, but ain’t the Chinese gonna notice three ‘nucs coming into this here harbor?”

The Australian submariner chuckled. “I think that’s the idea, Chief. That way when Chinese boats disappear from the straight, the Taiwanese can claim the kills.” In fact, there were an even dozen American submarines in the strait at the moment. As soon as the Taiwanese crews were aboard the three Los Angeles class attack boats, the “sanitization” of the Taiwan strait would begin.

“Shit sir, is that a brass band?” Wilcox pointed down to where the Pittsburgh was supposed to moor. What looked like half the Taiwanese Navy was standing there. With a band.

“Strewth! TV cameras too. Did you think I was here to drive the ship? I’ve been told to yabber in the most Australian way possible.” He looked at Wilcox, obviously uncomfortable in his Australian Navy uniform. “Just pretend to be a yobbo, you’ll be fine.”

“A yobbo, sir?”

“A redneck.”

“Oh, aye sir. I can do that.”

In short order, the former American submarine was tied up at the pier and the Australian officer was ushered onto a podium where a Taiwanese Navy Admiral began to speak in Mandarin.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are extremely proud today to introduce you to the three newest members of the Navy. These ships represent the first nuclear-powered vessels in the proud tradition of the Republic of China Navy. We would also like to thank and welcome the Australian training officers who have so selflessly volunteered to familiarize our brave sailors with their new vessels. Because of the extreme danger faced by our country, they will be proceeding to sea immediately to help protect our beautiful country. Make no mistake: These are Chinese vessels crewed by Chinese sailors, the pride of the Republic of China!”

The crowd went nuts as the Taiwanese submariners came smartly to attention and then began to embark on the submarines. Within two hours, the three submarines were submerged again and prowling the Taiwan straight. In fairness to the Admiral, some training did actually occur on-board when the American crew was off duty.

Within three days, Taiwan claimed over thirty ships sunk within five hundred miles of Taiwan. The PRC invasion of the ROC was over once the sea lanes were cut. It took two weeks for the commanders on the ground to admit defeat, but their fate had been sealed the moment the strait was closed.

The South Sea War, sparked by the Kidd Incident, was over.