Battlecraft (2006)

'I'm afraid the Americans are not all that convinced of Captain Bashir's innocence,' Mahamat said. 'My source tells me that orders have been issued to the carrier battle group that all ships sighting the dhow are to report the location and course it is following.'

'Ah! They are suspicious then,' the sheikh said. 'But what if we used the dhow in the same manner we are going to use the Jakarta?'

'Do you mean to set a trap?'

'Of course,' the Sheikh said. 'If they are using that ACV as a patrol vehicle, we could draw it to the dhow at a predetermined location where your squadron could easily destroy and kill the infidel crew.'

'Such a thing must be handled most carefully, Sheikh Omar.'

'I am so happy that you appreciate the sensitivity of the situation,' the sheikh said. 'And there is another very important thing for you to consider. I have been entertaining the idea of having your fast-attack squadron take over the arms-delivery missions.'

'It would be most feasible, Sheikh Omar,' Mahamat said. 'In fact, having us take a more active part in this program would present additional opportunities to destroy that ACV.'

'You seem worried about that vessel.'

'Captain Bashir told me it was well armed and moved extremely fast across the water.'

'Then the sooner it is sunk, the better!'

'The Americans will replace it with another.'

The sheikh laughed. 'Then we shall sink that one too. And the next, and the next, and the next.'

'We will be able to adapt to whatever situation the Americans create,' Mahamat said. 'I can guarantee that.' 'Allah biauwid alaik--God will reward you!'

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PATROL BOAT 22

INDIAN OCEAN

VICINITY OF THE EQUATOR AND 90 EAST

10 OCTOBER

0800 HOURS LOCAL

LIEUTENANT Commander Ferdinand Aguilando stood on the bridge as the vessel plowed through the slight choppiness of the sea. Four seamen--one each forward, port, starboard, and aft--scanned the horizon with their binoculars, looking for the arrival of the S. S. Jakarta. Aguilando was in a good mood. The cargo carried by the Greater Sunda Shipping Line vessel was made up of Russian PKM 7.62- millimeter machine guns. This had been confirmed by both Abduruddin Suhanto and Harry Turpin. Between that and the cocaine expected from Suhanto, Aguilando expected to purchase both a new motorcycle and automobile within a couple of weeks. It was only a question of the models and makes he desired. Additionally, he would move his mistress into a larger, more luxurious apartment. She showed her gratitude for special consideration in exceedingly pleasant ways.

The Jakarta was expected to arrive at the location sometime between 0730 and 1030 hours. It was difficult to be precise about the ocean rendezvous because of the vagaries of loading and transferring cargo in clandestine conditions. There also existed an outside chance that the law might interfere with the get-together as well. Patience and a certain amount of pessimism brought reality to such situations.

Aguilando went below to the radar station and checked the scope. Its circular sweeps revealed nothing but empty ocean surrounding the patrol boat.

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FLAGSHIP HARBI-MIN-ISLAM

0830 HOURS LOCAL

COMMODORE Muhammad Mahamat relaxed in his cabin, outwardly calm but inwardly excited about the morning's potential for excitement. The commanding officer of Oman's crack fast-attack squadron had decided that he needed no backup from any of the half-dozen attack boats that made up the rest of his outfit. His personal flagship could easily handle the day's mission.

A knock on the cabin door interrupted his reading of the Masqat Nisr newspaper. 'Come in!' he barked, slightly irritated at the interruption.

A sailor stepped into the cabin and handed him a sheet of paper. 'Radio message, Amid. The Jakarta reports she will rendezvous with the Philippine patrol boat at approximately 0930 hours.'

'Haida taiyib!' Mahamat exclaimed. He reached over and turned on his intercom connection to the bridge. 'Sound general quarters!'

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PATROL BOAT 22

0925 HOURS LOCAL

AGUILANDO stood by the helmsman as they slowed to one-third speed. The Jakarta was a hundred meters off their starboard bow, moving at ten knots. The officer picked up the microphone on the radio that was tuned to the international maritime frequency.

'Freighter Jakarta, this is Philippine Patrol Boat Twenty-Two. We have spotted you and are ready to pick up the cargo. Heave to and prepare for the transfer. Over.'

The familiar voice of Captain Bacharahman Muharno came back over the speaker. 'This is the Jakarta. I will not pass the cargo to you. Over.'

Aguilando was confused. 'Did you not pick up the machine guns?'

'I have them, but I refuse to give them to you. Out.'

'Have you gone crazy?' Aguilando asked angrily. He could not believe the unexpected insolence. 'Heave to or I'll send you to the bottom.'

'If you do that,' Muharno said, 'the ship and machine guns will go down together.'

'And also you and your crew!' Aguilando screamed into the microphone. 'Now heave to, damn your lost Muslim soul! You pull that fucking tub over now, Muharno, or I'm going to put a cannon round through your hull! Over!'

'I say again,' replied Muharno. 'I am not going to comply with your order. Out!'

Aguilando started to press the transmit button again when the petty officer of the watch came up to the bridge. 'Ship approaching off our stern, sir. A warship of unknown nationality.'

Now a new voice came over the speaker. 'Jakarta,, this is the Harbi- min-Islam. Continue on your course.'

Aguilando swung his eyes rearward. 'This is Philippine Patrol Boat Twenty-Two, unknown warship. Identify yourself and your nationality.'

A couple of seconds later, a French Exocet MM-40 missile whipped so low over the patrol boat that Aguilando's cap was whisked off his head as the rocket continued on toward the open ocean. A second shot came right after the first and slammed into the stern of the Philippine boat. The concussion of the resultant explosion blew forward, sending a thick shower of white-hot metal, sheets of flame, and roaring gases through the lower deck. In the unnoticeable passage of a millisecond, the crew in the area was reduced to minute specs of charred flesh and bone.

Aguilando and the other survivors above deck could feel the unbearable heat through their shoes, then saw clouds of steam rolling up from the sea as the boat began going beneath the waves. By that time the Harbi-min-lslam had come alongside and its Bofors twin-barrel cannon pumped bursts of 40-millimeter shells into the sinking hulk at a rate of six hundred rounds a minute. The Filipinos who had been topside joined their shipmates below in death.

Commodore Mahamat stood out on his signal bridge, watching as machine gun crews sent bursts of automatic fire into the debris of the patrol boat to ensure there would be no survivors. He looked up to see the Jakarta fading in the distance as it continued on to make its rendezvous with the dhow Nijm Zark.

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ACV BATTLECRAFT

OFF THE PAKISTANI COAST