DEFINITE KILO-CLASS SIGNATURE HEADED EASTBOUND ON A COURSE OF ZERO-NINE-ZERO DISTANCE FROM COASTLINE IS APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES DESIGNATE THIS KILO AS KILO ONE. IF THEY CONTINUE ON COURSE THEY ARE HEADED FOR LOS ANGELES OVER.
SOSUS CENTER IS THERE ANY WORD OF A SECOND SUB OVER.
NEGATIVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. HOW OFTEN DO YOU REQUIRE OUR READINGS OVER.
GIVE US AN UPDATE EVERY HOUR UNLESS KILO CHANGES COURSE WE NEED A FIX FROM LOS ANGELES SO WE CAN TRIANGULATE OUR SHIPS’ COURSES TO INTERSECT OVER.
SOSUS CENTER AYE YOU’LL HAVE LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE IN ONE MINUTE OVER.
“Okay, people,” the admiral says to those gathered around him. “We know that one sub is some fifteen hundred miles west of L.A. Once we get an approximate fix, we can move part of our screen to surround that one. Then we wait for word from the White House.”
Admiral O’Rouke notifies a squadron of his destroyers and frigates to intersect Kilo one. May God be with them, he will remember thinking for the rest of his days.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
First Reading and Book Signing Scheduled at a Barnes and Noble Store
On Saturday, March 27th, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, Joe Smiga, will read excerpts from
his novel, “Behind The Lies,” at Barnes and Noble in Manchester NH. Following the
reading, he will hold a book signing. You are invited to attend and listen to
portions of the book. In the October 19th issue of the New Hampshire Union Leader,
John Clayton wrote that the novel is worthy of Tom Clancy.
his novel, “Behind The Lies,” at Barnes and Noble in Manchester NH. Following the
reading, he will hold a book signing. You are invited to attend and listen to
portions of the book. In the October 19th issue of the New Hampshire Union Leader,
John Clayton wrote that the novel is worthy of Tom Clancy.
Chapter Eighty-Five Same Week in October
Khasanjani speaks. “In one week we expect our Kilos to be on their assigned stations. After we communicate with them we’ll give them their instructions to launch their attacks.”
“When will Hezbollah and Hamas begin their diversions?” Farook inquires.
“That commencement date will be coordinated with the Kilos arriving at their final firing positions. We will give the Kilos three days to arrive after we communicate, and then the diversions will begin. On the fourth day of the diversions, the Kilos will strike. And we will fire on Israel from within our borders,” says Ahmajid. Beards are stroked and heads nod around the table.
“We now have twelve nuclear armed Shahab-3 land based missiles ready for positioning,” Khasanjani continues. “Two will be used against Israel. The remaining ten will be in position to fire against countries that we feel might try to counter our moves. No one will know that, at that point, we’ll only have ten more.”
“Do you really expect that to happen after they see what happens to Israel and the United States?” asks Givon.
“One cannot assume anything in battle,” replies Khasanjani. “One must be prepared for all contingencies.”
“So, say the attack comes off as planned. Afterwards, what kind of retaliation would you expect from the United States,” asks Abbas.
“When will Hezbollah and Hamas begin their diversions?” Farook inquires.
“That commencement date will be coordinated with the Kilos arriving at their final firing positions. We will give the Kilos three days to arrive after we communicate, and then the diversions will begin. On the fourth day of the diversions, the Kilos will strike. And we will fire on Israel from within our borders,” says Ahmajid. Beards are stroked and heads nod around the table.
“We now have twelve nuclear armed Shahab-3 land based missiles ready for positioning,” Khasanjani continues. “Two will be used against Israel. The remaining ten will be in position to fire against countries that we feel might try to counter our moves. No one will know that, at that point, we’ll only have ten more.”
“Do you really expect that to happen after they see what happens to Israel and the United States?” asks Givon.
“One cannot assume anything in battle,” replies Khasanjani. “One must be prepared for all contingencies.”
“So, say the attack comes off as planned. Afterwards, what kind of retaliation would you expect from the United States,” asks Abbas.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Chapter Eighty-Four Halfway Through The Mediterranean
Flying at twenty thousand feet, an American P3 Orion has just left its base at Palermo, Sicily. Half an hour into the flight, one of the communications people says, “I just got a blip on my screen five miles off our starboard wing.”
“What do you make of it?” asks his watch officer.
“It’s too big to be a fishing vessel from around here. It’s traveling at fifteen knots. Can anyone make out any nav lights out there for me?”
The co-pilot and the watch officer each look out into the distance. Even on a night like this, they should be able to see some type of illumination from navigational lights, but neither man can.
“Well, the funny thing about this contact is that the surface was clear for a half hour into the flight, then all of a sudden – he’s just there.”
“Do you think you have a sub contact?” the watch officer asks.
“Well, based on the briefing before we took off, I’d say it’s a good possibility.”
“Who do you think it might belong to? Can you ID it?”
“What do you make of it?” asks his watch officer.
“It’s too big to be a fishing vessel from around here. It’s traveling at fifteen knots. Can anyone make out any nav lights out there for me?”
The co-pilot and the watch officer each look out into the distance. Even on a night like this, they should be able to see some type of illumination from navigational lights, but neither man can.
“Well, the funny thing about this contact is that the surface was clear for a half hour into the flight, then all of a sudden – he’s just there.”
“Do you think you have a sub contact?” the watch officer asks.
“Well, based on the briefing before we took off, I’d say it’s a good possibility.”
“Who do you think it might belong to? Can you ID it?”
Monday, January 18, 2010
Chapter Eighty-Three Second Week of October
ENCRYPTED MESSAGE TO: COMPAC FLEET HEADQUARTERS * BREAK * TOP SECRET PRIORITY * BREAK* FROM NAVAL HEADQUARTERS HAWAII * BREAK * TWO SUBS LOCATED ONE HUNDRED MILES NORTHEAST OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS * BREAK * VESSELS ARE RUNNING APPROXIAMATELY ONE MILE APART * BREAK * HEADED NORTHEAST * BREAK * VESSELS WERE SEEN BELOW THE SURFACE BY SQUADRON OF OUR HARRIERS * BREAK * DEAD RECKONING NAVIGATION PLACES THEM HEADING FOR OUR WEST COAST * BREAK * WE DO NOT HAVE ANY TWO OF OUR SUBMARINES CURRENTLY WORKING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF EACH OTHER * BREAK * SPECULATE THAT THESE MIGHT BE PART OF WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR * BREAK * WILL AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE PROCEEDING* END OF MESSAGE *
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Chapter Eighty Two Feeling Blind
Admiral Robert Smith and General James Bradley sit, side-by-side and ramrod straight, before the president’s desk in the Oval Office.
“Are you getting anywhere in locating any of the five Kilos?” the president asks, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. His fatigue shows. Don’t worry, he thinks. I’d probably faint from the shock if you told me you have.
“Mr. President, finding a diesel submarine that runs as quiet as these Kilos and doesn’t even need to fully surface to charge their batteries – it’s like trying to find five needles in a haystack twice the size of China,” says Admiral Smith.
“Anything from the Air Force yet, Jim?”
“We’ve got the same problem the Navy has. The only positive thing I can tell you, sir, is that the Air Force would have found them at some point if they were just out on standard maneuvers.”
“So you’re telling me that the Air Force thinks they’re in attack mode.”
“I’d put my career on the line for it, sir.”
“You just did, Jim. Bob, do you concur with Jim?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Then what would your recommendations be now?”
“Are you getting anywhere in locating any of the five Kilos?” the president asks, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. His fatigue shows. Don’t worry, he thinks. I’d probably faint from the shock if you told me you have.
“Mr. President, finding a diesel submarine that runs as quiet as these Kilos and doesn’t even need to fully surface to charge their batteries – it’s like trying to find five needles in a haystack twice the size of China,” says Admiral Smith.
“Anything from the Air Force yet, Jim?”
“We’ve got the same problem the Navy has. The only positive thing I can tell you, sir, is that the Air Force would have found them at some point if they were just out on standard maneuvers.”
“So you’re telling me that the Air Force thinks they’re in attack mode.”
“I’d put my career on the line for it, sir.”
“You just did, Jim. Bob, do you concur with Jim?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Then what would your recommendations be now?”
Monday, January 11, 2010
Chapter Eighty-One NSA's Nightmare
NSA director John Walker calls his two most senior officers into his office and asks them to close the door behind them. Jim Stewart and Dave Carter take the seats Walker gestures to in front of his desk. They’ve never seen the director look so serious.
“Gen’lmen, right now we’re lookin’ in every cranny, nook and corner of the waters of the world to find those five Kilo subs that departed Iran last week,” the director says, his frustration showing. “The first priority of every American vessel, above the surface or below, is to report any sightin’s, direction of travel, et cetera. The Air Force has been flyin’ special missions from the moment we discovered them gone, to see if we can locate any or all of them before they get too far away. We gotta keep track of them.” Walker pauses. “Y’all both know that we’ve reconfigured ev’ry satellite we have to keep a sharp eye over the whole area. However, the biggest part of the problem is that, by their very nature, subs aren’t the easiest vessels to detect.”
“John, those subs are probably only surfacing late at night to replenish their batteries,” says Jim Stewart. “Hell, they don’t even have to surface – they can just snorkel. And Kilos are damn quiet. We’re going to need some lucky breaks on this one.”
“The president realizes that, Jim,” offers Carter. “That’s what’s got him so worried.”
“Well, what do we expect five subs to do? Destroy shipping or cause port problems?” asks Stewart.
“No, it’s a bit bigger than that,” Walker says quietly. “We suspect the Iranians are carryin’ cruise missiles on those submarines.”
Both Stewart and Carter make long whistling sounds as the thought sinks in.
“Gen’lmen, right now we’re lookin’ in every cranny, nook and corner of the waters of the world to find those five Kilo subs that departed Iran last week,” the director says, his frustration showing. “The first priority of every American vessel, above the surface or below, is to report any sightin’s, direction of travel, et cetera. The Air Force has been flyin’ special missions from the moment we discovered them gone, to see if we can locate any or all of them before they get too far away. We gotta keep track of them.” Walker pauses. “Y’all both know that we’ve reconfigured ev’ry satellite we have to keep a sharp eye over the whole area. However, the biggest part of the problem is that, by their very nature, subs aren’t the easiest vessels to detect.”
“John, those subs are probably only surfacing late at night to replenish their batteries,” says Jim Stewart. “Hell, they don’t even have to surface – they can just snorkel. And Kilos are damn quiet. We’re going to need some lucky breaks on this one.”
“The president realizes that, Jim,” offers Carter. “That’s what’s got him so worried.”
“Well, what do we expect five subs to do? Destroy shipping or cause port problems?” asks Stewart.
“No, it’s a bit bigger than that,” Walker says quietly. “We suspect the Iranians are carryin’ cruise missiles on those submarines.”
Both Stewart and Carter make long whistling sounds as the thought sinks in.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Chapter Eighty Second Week of September
Admiral Robert Smith is holding a staff meeting at headquarters that will put into place two carrier battle groups and maintain Mediterranean coverage with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. His chief of staff, Captain Bruce McKay is leading the presentation for everyone on staff who has a need to know.
“Gentlemen, what we discuss here remains in this room or will be encrypted before being sent to the appropriate vessels. We are positioning our forces in case of a need for armed confrontation with Iran. By order of the President of the United States, we are going to assign the following:
“The Sixth Fleet, operating in the Mediterranean, will begin cruising eastbound to position itself within four hundred miles off the coast of Israel in the next thirty days.
“The Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean will position itself six hundred miles due south of Karachi, Pakistan. This force will be the commanding presence over two Ohio-class submarines and one Seawolf. The Ohios will remain fifteen hundred miles off the coast of Karachi. The Seawolf will position itself within fifty miles of the coast when ordered to do so.” He pauses. “Are there any questions so far?”
“Gentlemen, what we discuss here remains in this room or will be encrypted before being sent to the appropriate vessels. We are positioning our forces in case of a need for armed confrontation with Iran. By order of the President of the United States, we are going to assign the following:
“The Sixth Fleet, operating in the Mediterranean, will begin cruising eastbound to position itself within four hundred miles off the coast of Israel in the next thirty days.
“The Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean will position itself six hundred miles due south of Karachi, Pakistan. This force will be the commanding presence over two Ohio-class submarines and one Seawolf. The Ohios will remain fifteen hundred miles off the coast of Karachi. The Seawolf will position itself within fifty miles of the coast when ordered to do so.” He pauses. “Are there any questions so far?”
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Chapter Seventy-Nine Top Secret Orders
All five of the Kilos head on a southern course as directed by their captains. Each captain then heads to his cabin to open the sealed orders he was given. This manner of receiving their orders is a new experience for each of them. In the past Admiral Azis gave them their orders personally, followed by his wishing them a safe voyage. The admiral was no where in sight at the piers today, even as they departed.
As each captain reads his orders he has no way of knowing that, except for their specific targets, they are all receiving the same information.
As each captain reads his orders he has no way of knowing that, except for their specific targets, they are all receiving the same information.
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