CARRIER 8: ALPHA STRIKE By: Keith Douglass

ordered the Aegis to, Killington would be forced to try for a tail shot

against a missile fired at the battle group if a raid did come off the coast.

Unfortunately, Tombstone could not possibly explain his rationale to the

Aegis CO, even if he had been inclined to. The real reasoning behind the

operational plan was on a strictly limited need-to-know basis, and Killington

didn’t need to know. All he had to do was execute a normal Aegis role in the

battle group.

“It’s not necessary that you know why. Just that you know where. You

do–so get your ass on station,” Tombstone said impassively.

“Aye, aye, Admiral. We’re heading north at flank speed,” Killington said

finally, a note of suppressed anger in his voice.

“Not flank speed! Your orders are to use normal transit speeds.

Thirty-plus knots is an aggressive posture, and you’re supposed to be assuming

a normal patrol station. Listen to me very carefully, Captain. My chief of

staff had command of one of your precious Aegis cruisers before he was

assigned here. Given any provocation at all from you, I’ll give him a second

command. Yours. Got that?”

“Yes, Admiral.”

Tombstone slammed the receiver down and then switched the dialer off the

private frequency. He stared gloomily at the CCTV, focused on the now-quiet

flight deck. So much depended on the Aegis fulfilling her delicate role in

the maneuvers! Killington’s request hadn’t been unreasonable–to be filled in

on the big picture, and to know how his ship’s orders contributed to it.

Still, coming from Aegis, he’d been predisposed to deny the request out of

hand. And now, with the Aegis headed north smartly, every hour simply

increased the logistic problems associated with flying the CO over to the

carrier.

Damn, hadn’t he learned this lesson as a lieutenant commander? The

problems associated with managing the highly competent men and women who made

up the modern Navy? Wasn’t there some point at which he’d feel certain he was

capable of doing his job and leading his people?

Tombstone sighed. Too much depended on this plan coming off exactly as

planned.

CHAPTER 17

Tuesday, 2 July

0800 local (Zulu -7)

Tomcat 205

“You set?” Bird Dog asked as he tucked his kneeboard in over the

preloading button on his G-suit. Sudden acceleration would depress the button

and activate the suit before it could react automatically. One more thing

that could go wrong, something in the back of his mind noted, another little

mechanism for killing pilots: gray out and unconsciousness brought on by high

G-forces.

I might not even know, if it was bad enough. Be in the drink in seconds

if I passed out. Cold seawater, hot jet engines, big explosion. It’d be

fast, anyway. God, at least don’t let me stay conscious. Don’t let me have

to watch it.

An involuntary tremor shook him, and he pushed the thoughts away. This

was no time to be thinking about the dangers he faced every day, not while

sitting on the cat. Keep your mind in the cockpit, idiot. That’s what kills

more pilots than anything else–getting distracted at just the wrong minute

and forgetting to fly the aircraft. Look at Gator. He’s done this a million

more times than you have, and you don’t see him sweating the load.

Bird Dog glanced in the mirror and saw the RIO give one last tug on his

harness. Ice-blue eyes, framed by the flight helmet and the face mask, met

his. Gator gave him a thumbs-up.

“Ready now,” Gator answered.

Bird Dog snapped off a salute at the handler and pressed his head and

back hard against the back of the seat. Seconds later, he felt the first

slight motion of the Tomcat. The steam piston rammed forward to the bow of

the ship, accelerating the F-14 to 145 knots in six seconds. Catapulted off

the carrier at just above stall speeds, the Tomcat clawed for airspeed and

attitude, but settled for just staying airborne.

“Always a miracle,” Gator said, taking a deep breath.

“I haven’t let you down yet, have I?” Bird Dog asked, trying for a light

note in his voice.

“First time’s the last time. So you know where we’re heading?” Gator

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