Lash-Up

15 Invasion

Harold Matheson watched with smug satisfaction C-SPAN’s coverage of the House of Representatives debate on the U.S. Space Force. Many of the representatives were visibly angry. Even the president’s allies were upset by his unilateral and secret establishment of a new branch of the armed forces. But by far and away the most vocal opponent of the president’s “unprecedented” move was Congressman Thomas Rutledge from Nebraska.

“Mr. Speaker, while I’m sympathetic to the president’s desire to deal proactively with China’s unwarranted attack on our GPS satellites, this is by no means sufficient justification for his actions. The U.S. Space Force was established without consultation with my colleagues in either the House or Senate.

“Furthermore, this new branch of the armed forces has been funded without the direct involvement of Congress, which is completely unconstitutional! The framers of the Constitution invested in the representatives of the people the ‘power of the purse,’ the power to tax and spend public money for the national government. The president and the executive agencies are only empowered to make suggestions or requests.” A sharp round of applause forced Rutledge to pause. He raised his hand, asking for silence.

“The president may be entirely correct that the time has indeed come for a space force to defend our interests in the heavens, but the way in which he went about doing it is entirely incorrect. Now, I’ve heard excuses from the president’s supporters that speed and secrecy are absolutely critical in this case. Again, that may in fact be true; however, they do not excuse the absence of a proper discussion with the U.S. Congress. The ends do not justify the means!”

Matheson clapped his hands along with many of the other representatives on the screen as Rutledge stepped down from the podium. The man has hit the nail squarely on the head, thought the NASA director. Maybe now the president will listen to reason and rein in Schultz and his fanatical minions.

The buzzing of his phone interrupted Matheson’s quiet gloating. Irritated, he hastily grabbed the handset and said, “Helen, I specifically asked not to be…”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Matheson,” said the secretary rapidly, cutting her boss off, “but the president is on the line for you.”

Matheson was surprised. He expected a call from the White House, just not so soon. Had the president had a change of heart overnight? Did he see the handwriting on the wall and was now trying to shore up support?

“Dr. Matheson, did you hear me? The president is on the line for you,” repeated the secretary.

“Yes, Helen, I heard you. Please connect me. Thank you.”

“Yes, sir, you’re now connected.”

“Good morning, Mr. President,” greeted Matheson.

“Is it, Doctor? I trust you’re watching the debate going on in the House of Representatives?”

“Yes, Mr. President,” Matheson replied with fake sincerity, “a most unfortunate turn of events.”

“Really?” Jackson answered sharply. “Then perhaps you should have thought of this ‘unfortunate turn of events’ before you leaked the Defender design document and the existence of the Space Force.”

Matheson felt the cold chill of fear go up his back. “I … I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Mr. President.”

“Well, then, let me jog your memory. We know the version of the design document posted on the Space News Web site was the same one you had in your possession. We know the Starbucks you went to in an attempt to hide your activities. The IP address was tracked down by the NSA, and we have security-camera footage of you at that establishment at the proper time. This entire mess was due to your incredibly childish behavior.”

The NASA director sat frozen, unable to speak.

“I’m very busy, Dr. Matheson, so let me cut to the chase. Your services as the director of NASA are no longer required. Obviously, all of your security clearances have been revoked. Clean out your office of any personal items and turn in your badge immediately.

“There are two FBI agents in your office foyer; they will escort you off the premises. The attorney general will be bringing formal charges against you in the near future, but since your actions were due to petty jealousy and not traitorous intentions, it will take a little time to accurately determine what goes into the indictment. Therefore, out of deference to your past service, for the moment you’ll be allowed to stay in your home rather than a jail cell.

“You will be fitted with a tracking device to ensure you stay put, and a warrant has been obtained to monitor all your communications. Good day, Dr. Matheson.”

The click over the phone signaled the end of the call, but Matheson continued to hold the handset against his ear, staring blankly at the wall. A moment later, the door to his office opened and a large man walked in.

“Dr. Matheson, I’m Special Agent Romano. I’m here to assist you in moving your personal items out of this office. I have several boxes here, should you need them.”

The Il-76 transport lumbered off the taxiway and stopped. A cluster of uniformed Chinese military personnel waited on the tarmac as the large aircraft’s engines whined to a stop. The instant the rear ramp touched the surface, a Russian army officer sauntered down and directed the Chinese to come aboard. A short few minutes later, the first huge BAZ missile transporter-erector-launcher rolled out of the aircraft’s cavernous bay.

The forty-five-foot, six-wheeled truck inched out of the transport and down the ramp. Four canisters took up two-thirds’ the length of the vehicle, overhanging the end of the chassis.

The command and radar vehicles were already on the ground and had moved off to a clear area to one side of the hangars. Technicians swarmed over the two vehicles, checking them quickly before letting them proceed. Railcars and loading equipment stood ready.

An S-400 surface-to-air missile battery, consisting of the command and radar vehicle and four TELs, was already emplaced around the base. It would protect the airfield while the rest of the equipment arrived.

“At least three batteries of S-400 SAMs have arrived so far. The first was used to cover the airfield, while the second was sent by rail to the Gongga Shan launch site. We believe the third will be used to cover the Xichang control center.”

The news wasn’t pretty, but Admiral Overton had more to tell. He displayed a list of Russian military units, along with their strengths and their locations.

“The Russians have also withdrawn some of their forces, including strike aircraft and ballistic missile units, from the Chinese border. They haven’t moved out of theater, but they’ve moved far enough away to send a clear message.

“The reduced Russian offensive presence on the northern frontier will allow China to move PLA units south as necessary. While disturbing, the latest Russian action is consistent with the growing diplomatic ties between the two countries. Russian official statements have supported the Chinese in the Vietnam crisis, and they’ve been quiet about Chinese attacks on our GPS satellites. These movements indicate that they’ve decided to take sides, but in a subtle fashion. The Russians won’t become directly involved militarily, but they’ll support China’s campaign by supplying arms and easing the border situation.”

Overton saw their reaction and mentally threw the rest of his presentation over his shoulder, just summarizing the key points. “North Korean air assets have been placed on high alert, and some MiG-29s have dispersed to staging fields near the DMZ. While North Korean army units are mobilizing, we haven’t seen any significant movement south.”

He put a new list on the display. “Taiwan has put her military on full-scale alert, for obvious reasons. But India, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand armed forces have also begun mobilizing. Our suspicion is that they fear China won’t stop with Vietnam and will keep on going.”

“We’ve only seen the early signs of mobilization in these countries, but if they continue, other powers like Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia will be compelled to follow suit. With tensions running high and virtually every country in East Asia going to high alert, the chances of something going horribly wrong is getting higher with each passing day. In short, no good will come of this.”

General Kastner looked thinner after almost two months of crisis. He listened to Overton’s brief quietly, then asked, “And the Chinese are still completely ready?”

“All the deployed units are still in place, sir, and they’ve begun mobilizing reserve units throughout the country. Half their fleet is at sea or ready for immediate steaming. Stockpiles at staging areas near the Vietnamese border have actually increased, and thanks to the Russians, the Chinese will probably be able to protect them better. Given their current posture, China could attack the Vietnamese with less than twenty-four hours warning.”

“They certainly know about the congressional resolution,” fumed Kastner. Opposition congressmen from the House had started a resolution calling for the cutting of funding for troops in Japan and South Korea. “With Russia and North Korea watching her flanks, China may now feel free to act.”

Kastner looked at the assembled service chiefs. Everyone looked tired and discouraged. “Are there any other comments?” Only the Marine commandant spoke. “The Chinese believe they have a free hand against Vietnam, and perhaps even Taiwan. It’s possible they may decide to resolve all their territorial issues in one swift campaign. As long as we’re perceived as having one hand tied behind our back, we don’t represent much of a deterrent.”

The chairman sighed with frustration; the situation was crumbling around them, and there seemed to be precious little they could do about it. Picking up a copy of Schultz’s request, he waved it about as he spoke. “Gentlemen, we have another difficult issue to address. We all know about the status of Defender, and their request for more time. Do we recommend for or against the replacement satellite launch? General Warner?”

The air force chief of staff controlled the GPS constellation, although it was used by all the services. “We knew we’d come to this point, sir, and while I’d hate to waste another satellite, I really don’t see us having a lot of other options. We’ve contracted for new birds, but it will be a while before they’re ready. My preference would be to hold out as long as possible and launch when we have a better picture of China’s intentions.”

“China could go to war tomorrow, Mike. You heard Frank’s assessment. By the time you get your ‘better picture,’ it may be too late. This will be a ‘come as you are’ conflict, and we’ll need whatever GPS capability we can get, for as long as we can get it.” General Forest, the Army’s Chief of Staff, wasn’t shy. “Even if we can’t get full coverage, more partial 3D coverage is better than less partial 3D coverage.”

“Trust me, Ted, I’m well aware of the problem,” snapped Warner. “My guys and the navy need the 3D coverage more than the army. But we only have a few spare birds,” the air force general reminded him. “Once we lose those satellites, we’re back to pre — Desert Storm dumb bombs.”

“The Chinese will shoot down one GPS satellite a week whether we launch a replacement bird or not, Mike,” Kastner injected. “This buys us some time. Putting it in my terms: We’re fighting a rearguard action, trading casualties for time.” The soldier looked grim but determined.

Warner nodded his head in defeat. He really didn’t want to say what he was about to say. “If that’s the consensus of the joint staff, then I propose we launch two satellites, not just one. I have one bird each at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg that could be ready to go within three days. It will buy us a little more time and, hopefully, give the Chinese a bit of a shock, maybe enough to throw them off a little. We need to seize the initiative, and this is one way, albeit an expensive one, for us to do so. But this leaves us with only one, maybe two, satellites left in the barn. After that, we’re done.”

“Then we have to hope the cavalry arrives as promised,” Kastner concluded. “I’ll make the recommendation to the SECDEF.”

“With the crisis in East Asia at a boiling point and China on the verge of invading Vietnam, the world waits for China’s next move. Will it be just another strike against the U.S. GPS satellite this coming Friday? Or something larger and more menacing?” inquired the CNN anchor. “And yet there have been unsubstantiated rumors of intense activity at the U.S. Vandenberg Air Force Base. Our Mark Markin has traveled to the remote California facility to investigate these rumors. Mark, tell us what you’ve found so far.”

The screen transitioned to Markin standing in front of a beige granite wall, on which the words VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE were displayed in bold letters.

“Robert, I’m standing at the main gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California, where the rumors of an impending launch are running rampant. Vandenberg is the air force’s Pacific space-launch facility and is the installation of choice when classified payloads are put into orbit. According to anonymous sources, a Delta II rocket with an undisclosed payload has been moved to Space Launch Complex 2 and is being prepared for immediate launch. SLC-2 is one of six active launch facilities at Vandenberg and has two launchpads.”

“Mark, do you have any leads on what the payload is?” The screen was now split, with both Markin and the news anchor shown side by side.

“No, Robert. No one seems willing to discuss the payload, and our requests to visit SLC-2 have been denied by the air force. The best I can do is give you my informed speculation, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude it has something to do with the Chinese assault on the GPS constellation. The most likely option is the mystery payload is a GPS replacement satellite, but that makes little sense to me unless the air force has found a way to defend a satellite from attack.

“The rumors of the launch have only added to the fury of speculation on the Internet about Defender. Fantastic stories about exotic weaponry or orbital-deployed nuclear weapons are most common. A recent post on a space-enthusiast Web page early this morning said the rocket’s payload is an armed defensive satellite that could protect the GPS constellation and that Defender could also control it once both were in orbit. All these theories sound pretty far-fetched, but at this point anything is possible.”

“But even if we don’t know what the payload is, I think it’s safe to say that the United States is finally responding to China’s attacks. Don’t you agree?”

“Absolutely, Robert, and after eleven destroyed satellites, this response is long overdue.”

The news anchor frowned; he seemed displeased. “But, Mark, this doesn’t sound like much of a response, particularly if it’s just a replacement satellite.”

“Normally I would agree with you, but there are also rumors of activity at Cape Canaveral as well. These rumors are considerably more vague than what I’ve been able to find out here at Vandenberg, but, if true, this would suggest multiple launches. And while not unprecedented, it is very unusual. But everything depends on the payload, Robert. Until we know what these space-launch vehicles are carrying, we won’t be able to say one way or the other if this response will be effective or not. And since the U.S. government is reluctant to say anything meaningful about this space war, we’ll just have to wait until we have better information.

“But there is one thing I can say. If the technical details about Defender are accurate, we are looking at a historically unique situation. For the first time, a manned, armed vehicle is being built to wage war in space. This is not even remotely similar to military reconnaissance satellites or even a missile’s reentry vehicle. This is a dedicated, reusable spacecraft with weaponry on board to defend U.S. space assets or to attack an adversary’s — both in space and on Earth. Defender, if it works as advertised, will change forever how space is used. Back to you.”

The door opened as soon as the bus came to a complete stop. A sudden burst of people rushed out, impatient to get where they wanted to go. After the crowd had exited, a grandmotherly figure slowly climbed down the steps to the pavement. At sixty-two, Vinh Thi Nhung was still quite mobile, but steps, particularly steps down, greatly aggravated her arthritis. Since her glacial pace didn’t sit well with the younger people, who always seemed to be in such a hurry, she made it a habit of being the last one out. Once clear, she waved to the driver and thanked him. Vinh still believed in old-fashioned politeness.

She walked along the sidewalk with a throng of other people toward a major intersection four blocks away. The bus stop she chose wasn’t the closest one to her destination, but it was closest to an intersection with a policewoman who directed traffic. Even though Vietnamese traffic laws are very strict, the ever-growing number of cars and motorbikes that crammed the streets largely ignored them. Traffic lights, stop signs, and pedestrian crosswalks were often completely disregarded, resulting in serious accidents and injury. After being nearly hit two years ago in a crosswalk, Vinh now only crossed the busy streets where a police officer directed traffic. She also preferred the women police officers, as they were tougher on traffic violators than the men.

Vinh was becoming less and less enamored with Hanoi with each visit; it always seemed to be more crowded than the last time, and the chaotic hustle and bustle of city life chaffed badly against her quiet suburban upbringing. But Vinh’s daughter had insisted that she meet her and the grandchildren at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for a family outing. The children had just started their lessons on the great war with America, and her daughter thought it was important for the children to hear the stories from their grandmother, who lived during that “titanic struggle.” Vinh smirked as she walked — only the elderly could appreciate the irony of their situation. During that war, the United States was the enemy, and China was an ally. Now, some forty-odd years later, the roles had reversed: China was now the enemy, and the United States the ally.

The crowd had thinned as she walked past the government offices along Hung Vuong Street, and she paused to appreciate the well-planned gardens that surrounded many of the buildings. Abruptly, a loud wailing sound started winding up, filling the streets. Many passersby looked around for the source with curiosity.

Vinh froze. She knew exactly what it was, even though she hadn’t heard that sound since she was a young woman. Frantically, she looked for shelter, her reactions driven by embedded training. She started walking as fast as she could. The mausoleum was the closest and the sturdiest building that the general public had access to. The nearest underground metro station was blocks away. As the air raid siren continued to blare, the rest of the pedestrians finally figured out its meaning, and the people began to panic — screaming and running in all directions.

She was still a block away from the mausoleum when the first government office building was struck. The explosion was deafening. The missile’s warhead tore huge chunks out of the building’s façade and threw the debris high into the air. Shards of glass and shattered bricks rained down around Vinh, but she covered her head with her arms and kept moving, all the while praying that her daughter and grandchildren were already safely inside the mausoleum’s thick stone walls. The next missile hit a nearby building across the street, and the blast knocked Vinh down behind a collection of large earthenware planters. Pieces of broken pottery, clumps of dirt, and uprooted flowers poured down around her as the shrapnel disintegrated the planters.

Rising slowly, Vinh cleared her eyes of dirt and plant fragments only to see the mangled body of a young woman a mere two meters away. The shock brought back the nightmare memories of that hideous month in late 1972, when bombs fell on Hanoi like rain.

“It’s happening again!” she groaned out load. Vinh then shook her head to clear her thoughts. “Keep moving; get to shelter.” She could still hear her mother’s words so clearly. Vinh tried to walk but only managed a single step before falling back to the ground, a stabbing sharp pain in her left leg. Looking down, she could see blood on the sidewalk, her blood. Grabbing a piece of a torn window frame and using it as a crutch, she stood back up and began hobbling toward the mausoleum.

Vinh managed to keep walking, but at an agonizingly slow pace. She wanted to rest, but the exploding missiles far behind her spurred her on. As she worked her way in front of the Ministry of Finance building, a Chinese missile targeting it fell short — Vinh never heard the warhead explode.

“We have liftoff,” squawked the announcing system as the Delta II’s main engine and strap-on solid rocket boosters began pushing the space launch vehicle upward. Unlike the space shuttle that seemed to rise slowly at first, the much-smaller Delta II rocket leapt from its launchpad and quickly picked up speed as it cleared the gantry. The initial stage of the launch had been oddly silent, but ten seconds after ignition, the deep rattling roar of the main engine and the solid boosters shook the area near the launch complex.

As the rocket’s altitude increased, the noise dropped to a low rumble. Now only the rocket’s exhaust could be clearly seen. A little over a minute after launch, the three air-start solid-rocket boosters kicked in, maintaining the vehicle’s acceleration. Seconds later, the six strap-on boosters that had fired earlier began to peel away from the rocket’s first stage. Their fuel spent, the casings were now just dead weight that had to be jettisoned. A minute later, the air-start rocket boosters also fell away.

Well downrange, the Delta II was now over thirty miles above Earth’s surface. Far beyond the thicker portions of the atmosphere, the atmospheric pressure was one-thousandth that at sea level. The first-stage main engine generated sufficient thrust to keep the rocket on its desired trajectory. Two minutes later, a little over four minutes after launch, with the first stage’s fuel depleted, the main engine cut off and the first stage separated from the rocket; moments later, the second-stage engine ignited, continuing the climb.

The first firing by the second-stage engine ended some seven minutes later. The rocket would now coast for nearly an hour in a preplanned parking orbit over one hundred miles high. By this time, the vehicle was on the far side of the planet, and the Guam tracking station picked up the telemetry data and began feeding it back to Cape Canaveral. Everything was proceeding according to the flight plan, and the operators saw that the second-stage engine had restarted for a short forty-second burn to boost the rocket into a transfer orbit. There, the second stage separated and the third stage fired, lifting the satellite to its final orbit. Seventy minutes after launch, the Cape Canaveral flight control team confirmed the GPS satellite had successfully separated from the Delta II third stage and had begun deploying its solar panels. After a quick checkout by the Fiftieth Space Operations Wing in Colorado, the satellite was declared fit for service and was brought online. Her sister from Vandenberg would join her three hours later.