Tiger's Claw

SOUTH SEA FLEET HEADQUARTERS, ZHANJIANG, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

THAT SAME TIME

“Admiral Chen of the Zhenyuan is on the phone, sir.”

Admiral Zhen picked up the telephone. “Go ahead, Admiral Chen.”

“Sir, radar reports another aircraft, possibly a patrol helicopter, heading north away from the search area,” Chen said. “It was observed hovering for several minutes in an area just north of the search box.”

“A second search helicopter?”

“The high-endurance American cutters embark two rotary-wing search aircraft, sir, one manned and one unmanned,” Chen said. “The unmanned aircraft has been neutralized, but the second one is heading north at high speed.”

Heading back to its mothership, Zhen thought. And if it was hovering, it means it could have found something—and if that something could implicate China in the downing of the American search plane, his mission would have failed.

“Bring down that second patrol helicopter with Wúsheng Léitíng, Admiral Chen,” Zhen said. “I do not want that helicopter to return to the Coast Guard vessel.”

“Stand by, sir,” Chen said. Zhen’s anger rose as the seconds ticked by. Finally, Chen reported: “Sir, the helicopter is out of range of Silent Thunder.”

“Then order one of your screening vessels to shoot it down.”

Another maddening pause; this time, Zhen anticipated the reply: “Sir, we have no destroyers or frigates in position.”

“Then launch the alert fighter, Chen,” Admiral Zhen said. “Shoot down that helicopter.”

“Repeat that last, sir?” Chen asked in a high, squeaky voice, obviously not expecting that order whatsoever.

“That is the second time you questioned an order,” Zhen said. “I repeat, shoot down that damned helicopter! I do not want that helicopter to get back aboard that cutter! Acknowledge my order!”

“But sir . . . sir, none of our pilots are night carrier landing qualified, sir,” Chen said.

“What did you say, Chen?” Zhen thundered.

“Sir, this was a shakedown cruise for the deck handlers and propulsion section crews, not for night flight operations. Our pilots are day carrier landing qualified only!”

“I do not want excuses, Chen!” Zhen shouted. “Get a fighter and your best pilot airborne now. I do not care if he has to recover on a land base or if he has to ditch, but I want him airborne now!”