Drone Command

The admiral barked an order. The overhead satellite image zoomed in to the deck of the George Washington. F/A-18 Hornets and F-35Cs were lined up and taking off in combat launch operations. The detail was incredible. Myers could read the letters on the vests of the multicolored flight-deck crews scrambling on the tarmac. A bloodred target reticle suddenly appeared, centered on the carrier deck.

A junior female PLAN officer at the chart table shouted an order. Another officer answered back, followed by a dozen more.

A missile launch roared in the loudspeakers overhead, drowning out the chattering voices.

On the chart table, a missile rose from a mobile launcher on the coast of China. The missile track arced high above the table. It disappeared into the unlit ceiling. The Americans were mesmerized.

Admiral Ji pointed at the HD digital screen. The George Washington image was still live. “Watch the screen, please.”

Suddenly, an explosion ripped into the George Washington. The carrier erupted in flames.

“Oh, my god!” Myers shouted.

The holographic George Washington on the chart table burned furiously, listing to one side.

The room erupted in cheers and applause. Ji and Feng clapped their hands approvingly at the officers below them as the lights popped on. The chart table went blank and all the holographic images disappeared. But Ji let the burning hulk of the George Washington continue to blaze on the HD screen.

“We find that realistic war-gaming exercises between deployments keeps our fighting officers razor sharp,” Admiral Ji said.

“Was that your idea of a joke?” Myers seethed.

“Merely a demonstration of the kinds of exercises we run in this room twenty-four hours a day,” Feng said. “I apologize if it upset you. It was only intended to inform you.”

“Very realistic,” Myers said, calming down.

“We have these kinds of training facilities at every headquarters base now and in every regional military district. Of course, we have even more advanced training facilities in Beijing,” Ji said.

“And that’s your proof the Wu-14 actually works?” Pearce said. “A video game?”

“A fourteen-year-old kid with Final Cut Pro and his daddy’s laptop could replicate that video,” Myers added.

“But that ‘kid’ wouldn’t have access to a live satellite image of the George Washington, which you saw with your own eyes,” Feng said.

“Our CGI team superimposed the graphical images of fire and explosions. We find these effects help to add to the realism of the exercise. It gives great satisfaction to our men and women when they make a kill,” Ji said.

“But to answer your question, Mr. Pearce, no, this is not our proof. It is only meant to show you that we have already incorporated the Wu-14 into our battle plans. And now you see the likely outcome of any confrontation with a U.S. carrier group.”

“Then show us the real proof,” Myers said. “Or quit wasting our time.”

She hoped with all of her heart the Chinese were bluffing, but a sick feeling deep in her gut told her to expect the worst.

Unfortunately, her gut was never wrong.

THIRTY-THREE

EAST SEA FLEET HEADQUARTERS (PLAN)

NINGBO, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA

14 MAY 2017

They all stood inside the massive hangar. Myers and Pearce were kept at a distance from the flat, cone-shaped Wu-14 suspended on a sling hanging from a crane. Its dull black hull made the arrow-headed shape all the more menacing. Several white-coated technicians and blue-uniformed personnel hovered over the Wu-14’s open service doors, tablets and notebooks in hand. Ji had explained that as soon as the checklists were completed the Wu-14 would be lifted onto the body of the nearby DF-21D mobile missile and fitted into place where its warhead normally resided.

“That’s it?” Myers asked. “Looks like a prop from a Star Trek episode.”

“That is the Wu-14.” Feng beamed with pride. “It is a true revolution in military affairs. The end of the era of aircraft carriers. The end of American naval power projection capabilities as we have known it.”

“Don’t count your chickens just yet,” Myers said. “It still hasn’t been tested in battle.”

“We have concluded seven tests with earlier prototypes, all successful,” Feng said.

“And all of our computer simulations agree. The Wu-14 is completely operational,” Ji said.

“Seeing is believing,” Myers said. She began stepping past one of the scowling navy guards, who gently shoved her back with the stock of his rifle.

Pearce leaped over and slammed two hands into the surprised guard’s chest. The guard started to raise his rifle but Pearce was too fast, knocking the barrel aside with his right hand and smashing the man’s face with the heel of his left hand. Blood exploded out of the guard’s nose like a crimson party favor. The violent confrontation took all of two seconds. Before the guard’s knees hit the pavement, five other guards rushed at Pearce, pointing their assault rifles at his chest.