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SEA OF SHADOWS 319
“There aren’t any F-50s in-theater,” Captain Bowie said. “So our bad
guys are F-1s, which means we still can’t shoot them. They might be
Siraji, but they might also be from Iran, Jordan, or Kuwait. Mirages aren’t
exactly rare in this part of the world.”
The TAO keyed Navy Red. “Firewalker Two-Six, this is Towers.
Watch your back, you’ve got two Bogies inbound from the north, over.”
“Towers, this is Firewalker. Copy inbound Bogies. Keep them off my
back for another thirty seconds, until I get off my shot, over.”
“We’ll try, Firewalker,” the TAO said. “But the Bogies have not
satisfied Rules of Engagement criteria to be designated as hostile.”
On the Aegis displays, ten friendly-missile symbols merged with seven
flashing red Viper symbols. When the display finished updating itself, the
flashing red missile symbols were gone.
The Air Supervisor’s voice came over the net. “TAO—Air. Splash
seven! We got them all!”
The Tactical Action Officer was about to key his mike to acknowledge
when another report came in.
“TAO—EW, Bogies just lit up their fire control radars!”
“That’s it!” the captain said. “Batteries released! Take them out!”
The TAO keyed the net. “Weapons Control—TAO, Bogies have been
designated as hostile. You have batteries released. Engage and destroy!”
Without waiting for acknowledgment of his order, the TAO shifted to
Navy Red. “Firewalker Two-Six, this is Towers. The Bogies are setting
you up for an attack! Abort your torpedo launch and get the hell out of
there!”
“Just another three seconds,” Firewalker Two-Six’s copilot said over
Navy Red. “Here it comes … Weapon away—now, now, NOW!”
Under the starboard side of the helicopter’s fuselage, solenoidcontrolled
latches snapped open, releasing Firewalker Two-Six’s torpedo.
The weapon dropped like a rock until its parachute pack deployed a
fraction of a second later, slowing the torpedo’s rate of descent and
drawing it into a slightly nose-down angle for optimum water insertion.