engaged in a standard expanding square search pattern around the last
data. Additionally, S-3 Vikings and E2C Hawkeyes are quartering the
area, searching for any visual or electronic traces of him.”
“How the hell could they miss him?” Batman burst out.
“Jesus, it’s not like we don’t know where we lost contact on him.”
The Marine Corps colonel stiffened. “I don’t know, Admiral. That’s a
question Major Hammersmith will have to answer for us, when we find
him. When, not if.” The Marine’s tone of voice brooked no
disagreement. “The admiral will recall that there are seven MiG-29s in
the immediate vicinity. The Cubans are in targeting mode, so my
fighters are having to cover the SAR assets and keep the MiGs off the
slow-flyers. The seas aren’t helping any, either.”
“Just find him. Colonel,” Batman said wearily. “We’ll sort out what
happened later. Right now, all that matters is we have a man in the
water and we don’t know where he is.”
The admiral took a deep breath and turned to his chief of staff.
“What’s next on the agenda?”
The chief of staff pointed at Bird Dog. “Preliminary CONOPS-contact of
operations for integrating the Arsenal ship into battle group
operations against Cuba under the current scenario. Arsenal is too new
to be covered in the standard scenario. Until we have Major
Hammersmith back on board and air superiority established, we need to
consider a full range of options.”
Batman nodded. As distasteful as it was, the tactical situation
demanded that he and his staff put aside their worry over one pilot in
the water to focus on the big picture.
If the MiGs kept swarming, odds were that Washington would feel obliged
to execute one of the contingency plans developed for this area. It
was up to him to make sure the carrier battle group used every asset as
effectively as possible, and that included the USS Arsenal. “Go
ahead.”
Bird Dog stood and moved to the podium, gesturing at the enlisted
technician manning the computer at the back of the room as he did. His
entire presentation was integrated with intricate graphs and charts, a
briefing skill he’d been especially adept at at the War College. Not
that anyone in this crowd would notice, not with their attention
riveted on Thor’s fate. Bird Dog felt a ripple of anger, then pushed
it away, ashamed to be considering the impact of Thor’s mishap on his
staff work.
After the standard greeting to the admiral and senior officers. Bird
Dog said, “All war, of course, is political in nature. All operations
here are merely the extension of politics by other means.” He paused,
surveying the room, assessing the impact of quoting Clausewitz to
officers so senior to him. “With that in mind, our targets against
Cuba must be carefully chosen in order to maximize American national
security objectives.” He clicked the mouse in his hand, flashing a
detailed topographical map of Cuba onto the screen. “Indeed, given the
delicate issues at stake, I’ve taken the liberty of preparing a precise
list of target locations and the estimated impact on Cuban national
strategy for Joint Chiefs of Staff approval. I’ve also detailed areas
that we must avoid, where the danger of collateral damage is too
great.
Here, for instance.” He flashed his laser pointer up on the slide,
privately pleased at the professional look it gave his presentation.
“This is the central medical complex on the base. Three buildings to
the west is the Cuban command post. We must insure that” “Didn’t they
teach you anything at War College?” Batman said coldly.
“Sir?” Bird Dog’s confidence fled.
“We’ve had plenty of experience with detailed input on targeting
objectives with political purposes in mind. In fact, as a War College
graduate, you ought to know that. The individual targeteering and
weaponeering management of that conflict significantly prolonged the
entire war. Additionally, it led to tragic results.” Batman’s voice
took on a somber note as he remembered how many classmates and friends
he’d lost in bombing runs supposedly targeting truck farms. “Targeting
must be a military function, first and foremost. Yes,” he continued,
waving aside Bird Dog’s attempt to comment, “whether or not we enter