Tiger's Claw

ABOARD THE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY NAVY CARRIER ZHENYUAN

THAT SAME TIME

“Acknowledged, sir,” Admiral Chen responded, but the secure connection had already been broken. He immediately selected the telephone channel for carrier flight operations.

“Flight operations duty officer Lieutenant Wu, sir.”

“Captain Zhang, immediately.”

“Shì de, xiânsheng,” the duty officer replied. A few moments later: “Hai Jun Shang Xiao Zhang, sir.”

“Captain Zhang, launch the alert fighter,” Chen said. “Vector the pilot to an American helicopter flying north. I want it shot down immediately.”

“Dui-bu-qi, xiânsheng?” Zhang replied in disbelief.

“Immediately, Captain,” Chen said in a completely toneless, almost dead voice.

“Sir . . . Bolin . . .” Zhang said. He was one of the few junior officers on the entire vessel—in the entire fleet—allowed to call the admiral by his first name; they had known each other for years. “Are you damned sure you want to do this?”

“I have orders directly from South Sea Fleet headquarters, Peiyan,” Chen said in a low voice. “Directly from Admiral Zhen.”

“But you are still the captain of the Zhenyuan battle group, Bolin,” Zhang said. “You took a chance by complying with that order to shoot down the American patrol plane if it appeared it would not crash. I think you can escape retribution for that. But shooting down an unarmed patrol helicopter?”

“I have my orders, Peiyan.”

“I say again, you are the commanding officer of this entire battle group, Bolin,” Zhang said. “You have the ultimate authority and responsibility to refuse any order that might endanger your men or your vessels. Shooting down that helicopter will certainly result in immediate American counterattack on this battle group. Their carrier battle group will be within striking range in just a few hours!”

Chen hesitated for several moments, scanning the bridge and noting the duty officer and a few of the watchstanders glancing in his direction, wondering what the captain would do. Finally, Chen straightened his shoulders. “Launch the alert fighter, Captain Zhang. Immediately. Attack and destroy the American helicopter. Acknowledge.”

“Acknowledged, sir,” Zhang responded in a voice even deader than Chen’s had been. “I will fly the sortie myself. Then, if we are shot or imprisoned as murderers, we will do so together.” And the connection was terminated.