HCB Chapter 666 A Tacit Understanding to Cover It Up? Uncle Jin, Who Seems Very Important, Makes His App
Chapter 666 A Tacit Understanding to Cover It Up? Uncle Jin, Who Seems Very Important, Makes His App
The Bald Eagle's headquarters spans five cities and one town.
Since receiving the emergency communication from DD-744, they have been trying to contact Thresher.
"Sir! No response from AN/URC-32 shortwave radio!"
"Sir! DD-744 reporting that there is no response to the ship's AN/PRC-77 VHF communication!"
"Bang!"
A steaming cup of coffee, saucer and all, was slammed onto the gleaming walnut desk. Vice Admiral Bill, commander of the Seventh Fleet, a veteran sailor who had weathered the storms of the Pacific War, was now ashen-faced, his temples throbbing.
"Our veteran sailor, DD-744, can even request assistance from headquarters via shortwave radio! But Thresher, equipped with the most advanced communication tools, has been unable to get in touch?"
"Can anyone tell me what happened? Did the Chinese use their favorite human wave tactics to drink up all the water in the East China Sea?!"
"This is absolutely intolerable!"
"Order! USS.NAVY Lexington Carrier Strike Group, change your original operational plan. Stop getting entangled with the Soviets. Send them to the accident site for reconnaissance! And while they're at it, show those arrogant Chinese what true overwhelming power looks like!"
“AYE! SIR!”
"Sir! Urgent communication from DD-744! They may have discovered the reason why Thresher Shark went missing!"
The general waved his hand to stop the liaison officer from relaying the order and leaned towards the communications officer.
"Sir! There's a depth charge stuck in the Thresher's conning tower! The submarine's communication antenna appears to be damaged! The mast base spacing on this new submarine looks like a slot specifically designed for enemy depth charges..."
"What's even more critical is that this depth charge is currently in the firing state!"
"DD-744 requests withdrawal!"
The communications officer swallowed hard.
He cautiously added a little of his own explanation: "Sir! The Thresher is a huge dirty bomb right now... I don't think our carrier strike group needs to risk going into that area..."
"My God... How dare a Chinese person!"
"Activate the satellite link and contact the Naval Operations Department... This is a huge deal!"
........................
“Ding-ling-ling——!!!”
The sharp ringing of the secure telephone line pierced the deathly silence deep within the Pentagon's E Wing like an icicle. Admiral Arleigh Burke, the Chief of Naval Operations, a veteran known for his iron will and composure, was jolted awake from the lingering effects of the masquerade ball.
"General, 'Blue Messenger' highest priority. From the Pacific Fleet Commander, satellite communications."
Admiral Burke's heart sank. "Blue Messenger"—the highest level of crisis code in a non-nuclear war situation. He entered the triple password and unlocked the communicator.
The Seventh Fleet Commander's slightly hoarse voice was like the best sobering agent, instantly clearing his dizzy head.
"...SIR...'Thresher'...our newest Thresher-class lead ship...was forced to surface in Chinese waters! By...by a Chinese minesweeper! With depth charges! The bombs...they're stuck in the mast base of the conning tower! The entire ship is disabled! The fuse...the fuse is activated! The set depth is unknown! They...the Chinese...are pointing their guns at it! Pointing their guns at the 'Blue'! Ordering us...God..."
"By... a minesweeper?" Burke's voice was unusually calm, eerily calm, but those who knew him well knew that this was the deathly silence before a volcanic eruption.
“AYE!”
"You didn't send this message through other channels, did you?"
"SIR! THIS is USS.NAVY!"
"Very good! Just remember you're in the navy! Chinese people... are nothing to fear!"
"Sir! There's a director in the CIA's Special Operations Unit in Vietnam currently carrying out a special operations plan at the base. I'm worried about this news..."
"give it to me!"
“Sir! Yes, sir!”
Damn! I hate the CIA the most. When it comes to tattling, those bastards come at once. But, compared to the old CIA, the current ones are still easier to talk to...
Admiral Burke scratched his head in frustration. This new nuclear submarine program was something he had painstakingly scraped from the Air Force, and the Thresher was the first ship in this program…
It's important to understand that this was during the peak of COLD. During the Wall crisis, the US Navy postponed its restructuring plan, which led to long-term problems with insufficient funding and strategic mismatch in its submarine program.
If such an embarrassing thing gets out... the consequences would be unimaginable!
No, I don't even need to use my brain to imagine it. I can figure out with my heels that the opposing air force will laugh at me. Not only will they laugh at me, but they will also take a big bite out of my budget for the second half of the year!
The discord between the U.S. Air Force and Navy is a fact that even a beggar on the street knows.
Moreover, what would the opinions of the military industry giants behind him be if this were to go wrong...?
General Burke's face turned ashen!
No, this can't be! Admiral Burke looked up at the portraits of past naval commanders hanging on the wall of his office. In the dim light, these portraits seemed to be silently watching him, their gazes filled with questioning and...contempt.
"It's best to end this with me. There's no need to bother that guy who's busy fighting with the 'underground president' for a woman, don't you think?"
The adjutant held his breath, cold sweat soaking the collar of the high-ranking officer's uniform, and dared not speak rashly. The astute adjutant simply took out his notebook, ready to take notes.
"First order: Silence! Suppress all information! All personnel with knowledge of the matter, from the Pacific Fleet Commander to the engineers of the 'Blue,' must immediately sign the highest level of confidentiality agreement! Any leaks are tantamount to treason! The official statement—" He paused, a cold glint in his eyes, "'Thresher Shark' encountered 'extremely complex sea conditions' during deep-sea testing in international waters, resulting in 'non-fatal external structural damage,' and is currently returning to port for repairs. 'Blue' is providing necessary escort. Remember! That 'thing' is just a damn piece of floating debris impact damage! Anyone who utters the word 'depth charge,' I'll personally shove them into a torpedo tube and launch them!"
"Second order: Come back alive!" Admiral Burke turned to the Chief of Operations, his eyes sharp as knives. "Notify the Pacific Fleet to ensure the 'Thresher' is absolutely on the surface at all costs! Even if there's a big wave, let the escort ships hold it off! Tell Colonel Williams that his 'Blue' is now solely tasked with serving as a 'human breakwater' for that submarine!"
If the submarine sinks, or a bomb explodes on its head, he and his ship should never return!
I want the thresher shark to return to Yokohama Port safe and sound! I'll crawl! I'll crawl back!
Tsk tsk, so this is what it meant to come back alive, huh? Look, what a world of difference this is.
"third……"
When General Burke said this, he paused and leaned back into the soft sofa.
"Help me find the most secretive channel to contact Beijing."
“Tell them we admit defeat! But the conditions… are negotiable! Technology? The ‘ambiguity’ in certain areas? As long as we can keep this under wraps, as long as the Chinese don’t leak those damn photos and stories to The New York Times or TASS! The bottom line… cannot touch our core interests… but everything else… can be on the table! Lower your stance! Understand? Lower your stance!”
The adjutant's face was long and sour. The first few points were manageable, within his authority. But the third one... you might as well send me to blow up the White House...
As the adjutant slowed down his writing, he pondered how to dissuade his boss from that unreliable idea.
Suddenly, a corner of a business card tucked inside a notebook peeked out...
CIA!
Saved!
Manager Jin, you'd better be reliable. If this "deal" goes through, even if the minister doesn't agree to your conditions, I'll find two ships to help you "transport" the goods!
"Sir! The third directive might be helpful to Director Kim of the CIA Special Operations Division!"
"Hmm?" Admiral Burke was about to mention the fourth point, which was about the CIA. Hearing his adjutant say this, he became interested.
"Really?"
"Yes! He doesn't have a big appetite, so he's a... gentleman?"
"Do it immediately!"