2.2. Hostage rescue to be attempted only after tasking in 2.1 successful.
2.3. Penetration into sovereign waters authorized for execution of this mission.
2.3.1. While inside sovereign waters remain undetected.
2.3.2. If detected, remain unidentified as US submarine.
2.4. CO, USS SAN FRANCISCO, as on-scene commander, authorized to abort mission if determined to be not accomplishable or of too high a risk.
3. Open and review Special Sealed Appendix to OPORD. Will advise if implemented.
4. Good Luck
5. COMSUBPAC sends
BT
20
21 Jun 2000, 0255LT (20 Jun, 1955Z)
“Well, that lays it out. Don’t know what we are going into." Fagan laid the message board on the table.
Hunter and Fagan were seated in Hunter's stateroom.
"No sign that they know we are coming, yet they are in a high state of readiness. Are we walking into a trap here? And what about this “hostage rescue only after we destroy the product.” How are we going to tell their folks that we let them die but we destroyed the virus? Most of them are just kids and they are all out here to help make life better for the locals,” Fagan demanded
“XO, life isn’t fair." Hunter answered. "You and I both know that if we don’t take out the virus, in the best case these people use it to blackmail the world. In the worst case millions will die a very ugly, painful death. Not a whole lot of options in this one. We have to take it out."
The emphasis was on "have to."
Hunter shook his head ruefully. "Unfortunately, the hostages have to be second priority. We will do everything that we can to get them out, but if the choice comes up, they lose. We need to make sure that we don’t have to make the choice.”
Hunter watched Fagan closely. This was where the rubber met the road. If there was any time in this mission where he needed Fagan to be clearheaded and calm, it was now. Was the stress building? Would Fagan be able to handle it? Still had to be careful. Watch his every move.
“What's this Special Sealed Appendix to the Op Order?" Fagan asked. “I don’t remember seeing any sealed parts of the OPORD when we picked it up at SUBPAC.”
“It was delivered later by special courier,” Hunter replied. “This one is very specifically “CO Eyes Only” so I can’t show you. It's in my inner safe. If anything happens and you need it, you know the combination. I don’t know what is in it yet, myself.”
Hunter continued, “Now what do we pass on to the SEALs and how do we plan this out? Let’s get Roland in here and discuss it. But remember, no one is to know about the smallpox , not even the SEALs."
21 Jun 2000, 0302LT (20 JUN, 2002Z)
The ramrod stiff SEAL Lieutenant stood at the stateroom door and barked, “LT Roland reporting as ordered, sir.”
“Come on in. Close the curtain and have a seat." Hunter pointed to the pot of coffee and stack of cups. "Grab a cup of coffee."
Roland sat down at the table and poured himself a cup.
"Things have changed. We can’t wait for the ARG to complete the mission. Not enough time. The terrorists are apparently about ready to make a shipment. We need to do some planning,” Hunter said. “I want to go over some options with you and the XO."
Hunter pulled his chair over so the three sat around the small table in the cramped stateroom. A large-scale chart of the area, the latest message and the now obsolete plan that they had so recently labored over were spread out on the tabletop.
Hunter started the discussion. “Timetables need shifting. We expect the weapons to be shipped within the next two days. We are tasked to stop it before the virus is off Nusa Funata. The Marines will be out of range for a week, at least. We'll have to do this with what we have. Any ideas?
Roland and Fagan looked over the charts while Hunter wrote on a pad that he had pulled from his desk. Roland commented, "Looks to me like we have two missions, the terrorists and the hostages. Can we do both?"
Hunter looked up from his writing. “Lieutenant, the team topside has digital imagery communications capability, doesn’t it?”
The SEAL Lieutenant answered, “Yes, sir. They have gear to get intel for the Marines so they can do their Twelve Step Planning Process. They need as much intel as they can get and imagery is always the best way to give it to them. It’s also useful for strike planning. The ARG will use it for both aircraft and Tomahawk strike planning. Are you thinking of a Tomahawk strike?
Hunter began to write out a timeline. “That’s one step. I’m looking for a way to bring off both missions simultaneously. We think that the production facilities are in those caves Turnstill’s mining equipment dug. We can’t get TLAM’s into them. We don’t have any with penetrator warheads. But you can get demolitions in under the cover of confusion from a strike at their pier facilities and disruption from your snipers. Those .50 caliber sniper rifles can raise some havoc.
“I want to re-task the squad to geo-locate and image the pier facilities, airfield and the missile facilities for TLAM strikes. I also want them to find and verify the hostage positions. Our best intel is that they are under heavy guard but have not been moved. Also, looks like we are looking at a heavy weapons equipped battalion with some armor.”
“What missile facility? We haven’t been briefed on that,” barked LT
