When Giants Collide

[GPBurdell]

Friday, July 22, 1983 - Washington, D.C.

The United States Navy's First Fleet would limp back to port, damaged, but not critically so. The battleships Dakota and Ohio had been sunk, and many of the others in the fleet sustained significant damage, along with three of the five precious carriers. Nonetheless, the end result of the wargames exercise was the disabling or sinking of sixty percent of the attacking Soviet fleet. Most importantly, the Navy F-15s had overcome the Mig-29 defenders and sunk six of the seven Soviet carriers.
Considering the state the military had been left in by the previous Administration, Secretary of Defense Clayton Harrison was rather pleased with the outcome of this exercise. Now, two years into President Reagan's term, almost all branches of the services were restored to thier proper strengths. The Navy was the first line of defense against Soviet attack, with four active fleets each with five aircraft carriers. The Air Force was reporting full combat readiness as well, from the Fighter Command in Atlanta to Strategic and Bomber Command in Houston, to Missle Command in San Francisco. Both sides realized that war between the United States and the Soviet Union would engulf the entire civilized world in conflict, yet both were prepared for just such an event.
Harrison signed off on the Secretary of the Navy's exercise report and began to review the newest data file on the Army's readiness. It seemed that Harrison's goal to reorganize the Armored Calvary divisions was proceeding much more slowly than he cared for. As he began to delve into the latest details, and adjutant entered the office.
"You're needed at the White House, sir," the adjutant informed him. "There's been a development."
The week started promisingly enough. What assets American intelligence had reported that there had been some kind of political rift between the world's three foremost communist powers. There had been tension between the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China for years, and now it seemed that Berlin was getting fed up with Moscow's domineering diplomatic style, as well. One of the reasons for the recent American military buildup was the alliance between the Democratic Republic of Germany and the Soviet Union. Both nations together covered an extraordinary amount of the world's territory, and any united attack by both nations was certain to overwhelm the Western powers bordering Germany. Even the combined military powers of Britain, France, Italy, and Greece were no match for the Communist partners.
Now, it seemed, that the military alliances between the Soviets, Chinese, and Germans had been terminated by each. This meant that the world was a little safer now. As an immediate result of these developments, the Central Intelligence Agency had been instructed to step up its efforts to re-establish its human intelligence networks everywhere it could. The previous Administration in its idealistic zeal had single-handedly dismanted the entire American intelligence network; even now the CIA was little more than an expensive office complex on the outskirts of Washington. While riding in the government car to the White House, SecDef Harrison was briefed on the basic details of the latest international incident.
International espionage was a game played by all. It was not uncommon for spy rings to be ferreted out by counter-intelligence origanizations in each country. All that usually occurred was a form-letter protest, and the offending nation would soon re-establish its network. While such activities were considered illegal, and did indeed pose a threat to national security, espionage activity was tolerated while being labeled "acts of war" in diplomatic meetings. Thus, it was never considered that a nation would take that label seriously. No one ever expected the great conflict to begin like this. Wars are funny that way.
Upon reaching the White House, the Secretary of Defense was escorted to the Situation Room to join the President, Secretary of State Ron Hanson, and the various members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"We do not want this temporary conflict to get out of hand," stated the President. "The Japanese government is a bit out of sorts right now, but if we let the situation cool for a few days, we can convince Emperor Hirohito to come to more peaceful terms." SecState Hanson nodded in agreement.
"Mr. President," responded Rear Admiral Donaldson, "If we do not strike now, the Japanese carrier fleet can be in the Strait of the Potomac by tomorrow ready to bomb American soil. We can use First and Second fleets in a first-strike maneuver to eliminate that threat."
"And by doing so, launch a larger war," the President said. "No, we have no animosity toward Japan; it would not be in our national interests to engage in an extended conflict with them. Let's let State work with Kyoto and see if the Japanese Parliament can reverse the Emperor's unfortunate decision."
"Mr. President, " Harrison added, "It might be wise to put Second Fleet on alert in the Strait and activate Washington, New York, and Boston's combat air patrols."
"Very well, " Reagan replied. "See to that, but order the aircraft to patrol only; do not attack until they are fired upon."
Thus the meeting ended, but it would not be the last. By the next morning, China and Iran had signified thier proclaimed "solidarity" with the Empire of Japan by enacting a trade embargo against the United States. The first Japanese stealth bombers, ironically purchased from the United States, began thier attack on the Second Fleet at 4:27 Am on the 23rd. Several squadrons also attacked the American coastline. By eight AM, the Canadians and Mexicans were meeting to pass thier own declarations of war against the Empire of Japan, as required by the mutual protection agreement between the three powers. As of Secretary Harrison's second visit to the Situation Room, the President had authorized Operation Terminate Threat. The world's most terrible war had begun.

Saturday, July 23 - 0845 hours - USS Nimitz

Earlier that morning, two reconnaisance flights from the deck of the USS America had located the Japanese carrier fleet just off the coast of the Japanese home island. Intelligence estimates indicated that the Japanese navy owned five aircraft carriers, and the American F-15s had located all five of them. Twenty battleships and ten AEGIS cruisers made up the remainder of the Japanese navy's complement, although not all of them were escorting the carriers. This was a serious mistake.
Lieutentant Miguel "Slowlead" Mininio had briefed his flight squadron earlier that morning, and now sat in his F-15N awaiting the order for takeoff. His squadron's target was the Katsuragi, currently sailing with the Amagi and Unryu, all being escorted by two battleships and an AEGIS cruiser. Minutes after being catapulted off the deck and rendevouzing with his squadron, Mininio's Strike Group Eagle-17 spotted thier goal. His group wasn't the first squadron of F-15s to arrive at the targets. All three battleships and the cruiser were burning already, and the Eagle-3 squadron from the USS America had already shot down the few Japanese aircraft that had been launched. "Leader-17 to squadron," Mininio said over the radio. "Arm Harpoon, fire on acquisition." Five of the fighters in his squadron, including his own, were armed with the air-to-surface Harpoon anti-ship missles. The Katsuragi had already been hit once by another attack group, and was on fire, attempting to retreat, but it was too late for them. the AGM-84D dropped fro his fuselage and streaked toward its target. "Leader-17 to squadron," Mininio said over his radio again, "Let's get out of the way." The group rose to 30,000 feet, and turned back toward the USS Nimitz, as the Katsuragi was struck by all five missiles, and began to sink rapidly. By the end of the day, all five Japanese carriers were resting on the bottom of the Strait of the Potomac.

6:23 PM - Washington, D.C.

John Hanson hung up the phone after his conversation with the French President. Despite his best advice, the French now were joining the war against Japan at the request of the Canadians. The State Department was working overtime attempting to limit the sudden spread of hostilities, insisting that this conflict was really a diplomatic mistake that had gotten way out of hand. No one seemed to be biting, however. In an odd turn of events, SecState recieved a message ten minutes later indicating that the Soviet Union was also now at war with Japan, at the request of the French. Soviet involvement in the region was bound to be messy at best, but Hanson had deep suspicions of the suddenly friendly relationship between the French and their new Soviet allies. It wasn't long before China joined the fray as well, alongside the Soviets. It would be a late night, indeed. Hanson left his office, and walked through the maze of Foggy Bottom to a small, isolated area outside the building that was designated as the smoking area. That probably wasn't the best idea, he thought after he got outside. From his vantage point, he could see some of Washington's beaches, this one closed for security purposes. Despite the Navy's victory over the Japanese carrier fleet earlier that morning, they hadn't sunk the entire Japanese Navy yet. A Japanese battleship could be waiting off the coast to shell the State Department building. Well, he thought, that was up to Defense - there was little he could do about that anyway. On the way back to his office, he overheard a CNN report on a television in one of the cafeterias concerning Japanese shelling of the coast just north of Boston.

Sunday, July 24, 1722 hours - USS Nimitz
Miguel and his squadron were finishing the paperwork on another good day. The Second Fleet had tallied a total of nine kills - seven battleships, a submarine, and a troop transport. The 17th Squadron itself had put paid to a Japanese battlewagon. It was also rumored that the First fleet had sunk a battleship and AEGIS escort just off the Italian coast.
Nonetheless, the ship's rumor mill was predicting the Second Fleet's return to port by the end of the week. Miguel and his pilots would soon finish thier action reports, storm through the mess hall, and retire for the night to the officers' quarters for cigars, some less-than-sanctioned adult beverages, and a night of poker. Despite the amazing success of American air power so far in this brief campaign, it did not mean the missions were easy on those that flew them. This kind of recreation had long been a common part of Navy life, especially among its aviators. In the morning, duty would take precedence again, and the 17th would lead the attack against an especially brave, but foolish AEGIS cruiser and its submarine escort.

July 25, 12:32 AM - Moscow

Vyacheslav Molotov would have most certainly preferred to have been in bed already. It was not to be, however. As was his custom, the leader of the Soviet Union, Josef Stalin, had summoned his Foriegn Commisar to one of his many midnight meetings. Stalin was an enigma to everyone, even to Molotov, who was one of the most feared men in the country. Molotov's experience had taught him that Stalin could at once be clever and ingenious, and outright irrational - his moods swung from great rages to a calm, quiet contemplation. Oddly, it was safer for everyone when Stalin was outraged; when he grew calm he was at his most dangerous. Stalin was also one Americans might call a "workaholic". It appeared to Molotov, as with the rest of Stalin's cabinet, that the leader never bothered with sleep. He was at work long before everyone else, and would stay working deep into the night. He had little consideration as well for others in that regard. Hence, Molotov's car left him in the courtyard at the Kremlin at 12:35 in the morning.
Molotov made his way to Stalin's office where a very tired secretary waved him on in. "He's waiting for you, Comrade," she said as Molotov made his way past. Molotov feared little in life, but the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was one thing he did fear; not only for his own well-being, but for the sake of the nation as well. While Stalin could be ingenious, he could also be vengeful, vindictive, and occasionally completely blind to certain facts of international politics. This was to prove to be one of those times.