Standing On Top of the World: Code Yellow Part III

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Standing On Top of the World: Code Yellow Part III

A beautiful gray flat-top box set against the deep blue of the ocean, The Stennis was a floating runway with a long white wake flowing miles behind it like the contrails of a reconnaissance plane flying at high-altitude.

Easy to spot with a bright sun and clear visibility, however this night, all planes were taking off in the dark; only instruments and skill would return them safely to the carrier deck.

Legend is that President Clinton honored the carrier’s importance when he once admitted, "When word of crisis breaks out in Washington, it’s no accident the first question that comes to everyone’s lips is: ‘where is the nearest carrier?’" Providing "forward presence," and in this case “diplomatic support,” aircraft carriers like the USS John C. Stennis remain an important part of America’s power and image.

Previously Iran threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, used to transport 20% of the world’s oil out of the Persian Gulf. Their bluster protested sanctions imposed by the US and the EU, intending to force Iran to give-up its nuclear program; instead, it got them the biggest police officer in the world, the US Navy, walking a beat.

Dipping slightly after being catapulted clear of the carrier’s bow, the sheer power exerted by Lieutenant Harrington as he lit up the two powerful General Electric turbofan engines, jerked the two officers backward in their seats as the nose pointed upward to a foreboding black sky. This $21M F/A-18F Super Hornet’s thrust-to-weight ratio was still very good, even though it approached the maximum takeoff weight of nearly 50,000 Lbs.

The Hornet pulls 4-6 G’s on the way up: G forces are multiples of ordinary earthbound gravity (1.0 G). G forces are typically shown by accelerating quickly in a sports car, riding a roller coaster, or even sneezing.

“Let’s pull out to the north J.O., I want to get up against the ceiling if possible,” Lt. Harrington said over the intercom. “Roger that, Rocket One,” was my only reply, it was hard. to. talk. while pulling g’s.

Back toward the six, or the rear of the aircraft; otherwise called the stern on a boat, the lights of the carrier and the coastline faded away as we climbed on top of the world soaring at airspeed of almost 500 knots. The plan was to get the squadron up high and then slowly circle downward in a patrol of the Persian Gulf. The visibility was clear enough to see bogeys from far away.

High level satellite photos disseminated publically by the Institute for Science and International Security [ISIS] online (taken April 9, 2012), show a site south of Tehran called “Parchin” that probably was used in nuclear weapon development; however the U.N.’s watchdog agency IAEA was recently denied permission to investigate the site.

This week’s diplomatic meeting in Vienna should address U.N. concerns, but tonight the U.S. Navy is all over the gulf to show Iran what their lack of cooperation could cost them.

“A few of our Hornets are going to use the FTI 2 reconnaissance cameras, so we can get some tactical comm to the ship,” squawked Harrington, “We’ll be their escort.” “The fly-by over Fordo should be the hot-point in this trip, J.O., don’t you think?”

“We have plenty of ammo onboard Lieutenant, let’s not worry if we make bad houseguests?” I replied hastily.

“Their old Tomcats don’t bother me much, taking pictures is the easy part,” adding, “I hate to repeat myself, but it’s the landing back on the boat that worries me.” Honestly, I was totally ignoring the Code Yellow folder from earlier in the evening.

Diplomatic negotiators will assert that Iran must shut down its secret nuclear enrichment facility at Fordo, near the city of Qom, if aviators from the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier find out what is going on from the air.

Moving Iran’s enrichment program to Fordo, built inside a mountain with hardened defenses, might put Iran inside a “zone of immunity,” in which Israel would no longer be able to cripple the centrifuges with typical bombs.

So, tonight, on Israel’s errand, the Code Yellow folder held unconventional plans to destroy Fordo if need be, while Iran thought all eyes were on Parchin.

Laconically, the Lieutenant acknowledged my fear, “ten-four, J.O.”

“Get the paparazzi lined-up to swing down over land,” said Lt. Harrington, who was all business tonight. We had orders.

©Mark H. Pillsbury
(aviator fiction series #3)