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SEA OF SHADOWS 313
“Not necessarily,” the XO said. “Remember, Siraj has been under an
arms embargo for nearly two decades. Their arsenal is composed of what
they had prior to the embargo, supplemented by whatever hardware
they’ve been able to smuggle in. Those Silkworms they’re launching may
span three or four generations of technology.”
“Launching chaff,” the EW announced. His voice was followed by a
rapid series of muffled thumps. “Six away.”
“So far, so good,” the TAO said.
The captain keyed his mike. “Weapons Control—Captain. How much
longer until the Vipers come within our missile-engagement range?”
“Vipers are entering the Auto-Engage Circle right … about … now,
sir.”
The Aegis computers transmitted pre-launch programming data to
eighteen SM-3 missiles, two for each of the enemy missiles remaining.
This shoot-shoot-look-shoot-shoot doctrine would remain in effect until
Towers expended fifty percent of her available SM-3 missiles. Then the
Aegis computer would automatically fall back to a shoot-look-shoot-shoot
doctrine, firing only one initial missile at each incoming Viper before
checking to see if it had been destroyed.
On the forecastle, nine armored hatches flipped open in rapid
succession, and nine SM-3 missiles blasted free of their launch cells and
climbed into the darkness on actinic pillars of fire. The combined roar of
the solid-fuel missile boosters reverberated through the ship like the
rumble of an earthquake.
At the exact same instant, nine other armored hatches popped open on
the after-missile deck, and nine more surface-to-air missiles leapt into the
sky. Dividing the missiles between the launchers was a standard
consideration built into the Aegis computer program. By assigning the
missiles in equal or nearly equal proportions from both launchers, the
Aegis computers could maintain a measure of redundancy.
The Air Supervisor’s voice came over the net. “Splash one! Splash
two! Splash three!” As he watched, the tally of destroyed missiles
continued to mount. A few seconds later, he said, “Looks like we got ’em
all!”
“Round One goes to Towers,” the TAO said quietly.
Round Two was only seconds in coming. “TAO—EW, here comes the
second salvo! I have six active J-band radar seekers! Wait! Six more! I
have twelve in-bound Vipers.”
The Air Supervisor confirmed the report immediately. “We’ve got
them on SPY! I confirm, twelve Vipers in-bound!”