158: Chapter 158 Encounter at the Strait

January 2nd, 3:17 PM, at the eastern mouth of the Strait of Malacca, the junction of the Singapore Strait and the South China Sea.

On the sea surface, two fleets stood in a silent standoff.

To the west, the US Navy destroyer USS Stockdale took the lead, followed by the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf and a Ticonderoga-class cruiser. The three warships were in an inverted V formation, blocking most of the shipping lane.

To the east, the Chinese Navy destroyer Lanzhou led the comprehensive supply ship Huangshan and the frigate Yueyang in a single-column formation. In the center of the formation was the transport ship Yuanwang-7.

The two sides were 3.2 nautical miles apart, a distance close enough at sea to see personnel moving on the other's bridge with the naked eye.

Inside the bridge of the Stockdale, Captain Robert Miller raised his binoculars, carefully examining the seemingly unremarkable transport ship.

"Captain, they refuse to change course," the executive officer reported. "The Lanzhou just sent a light signal saying, 'Our formation is conducting training exercises, please yield.'"

Miller sneered, "Training exercises? Training with a civilian ship? The Chinese sense of humor is getting worse."

He lowered his binoculars and walked over to the radar console. "Activate active sonar, set the frequency to maximum. I want to see if there's anything hidden under that ship."

"Captain, that frequency... will damage their sonar system."

"Then let it be damaged," Miller said expressionlessly. "They have the option to change course."

The active sonar pulses traveled through the seawater at 1,500 meters per second, piercing toward the Chinese formation like invisible blades.

Almost simultaneously, inside the bridge of the Lanzhou, the sonar operator reported, "Commander, the enemy has activated active sonar, frequency 3.5 kHz, intensity... 30% above the limit!"

Chen Hai stood before the bridge command console, his expression unchanged. "Activate electronic countermeasures system, level two. Also, order the Huangshan to deploy towed acoustic decoys."

As the order was given, multiple radomes on both sides of the Lanzhou began to rotate, beaming invisible electromagnetic waves toward the American ships. This was not offensive jamming, but "barrier jamming"—forming an electromagnetic shield around their own formation to significantly degrade the accuracy of the enemy's radar and sonar detection.

Almost simultaneously, beneath the sea, the acoustic decoys released by the Huangshan began to operate. These towed devices could simulate the acoustic signatures of large vessels, appearing as multiple targets on the sonar screen.

On the Stockdale's sonar screen, the single target that had been clear suddenly split into four or five, moving chaotically through the water.

"They are deploying decoys," the sonar officer reported.

Miller gritted his teeth. "Order the Vella Gulf to approach for reconnaissance, get within 1.5 nautical miles. I want to see exactly what's loaded on that ship's deck."

The Vella Gulf began to accelerate, its massive hull carving a white wake across the sea as it charged toward the starboard side of the Yuanwang-7.

The distance was closing rapidly: 2.5 nautical miles, 2 nautical miles, 1.8 nautical miles...

On the Lanzhou, Chen Hai stared at the radar screen, his right index finger unconsciously tapping the edge of the console. His daughter's drawing lay beside him, the rough texture of the crayon transmitting through the plastic film to his fingertips.

"Commander, the American ship is at 1.5 nautical miles and still closing," the radar operator's voice sounded somewhat nervous.

Chen Hai took a deep breath. "Order the Yueyang to cut between the Yuanwang-7 and the American ship. Order the Yuanwang-7 to increase speed to 18 knots and prepare to turn to evade."

The frigate Yueyang suddenly accelerated, its bow turning right, inserting itself like a dagger into the path between the Yuanwang-7 and the Vella Gulf. This 4,000-ton frigate appeared petite in front of the 10,000-ton cruiser Vella Gulf, but its course was resolute, without any hesitation.

When the distance between the two sides closed to 1 nautical mile, the Vella Gulf finally began to turn. The closest distance between the two ships was only 800 meters—at sea, this was already a dangerous distance.

"They've turned!" the radar operator reported.

Chen Hai nodded, but his eyes remained grave. Because he saw that the Stockdale was adjusting its position, aiming its bow at the Lanzhou.

"The enemy's fire control radar is active!" the electronic warfare officer suddenly shouted. "Frequency... X-band, it's the SPY-1D radar of the Aegis system!"

The air in the bridge instantly froze. A fire control radar lock meant that the enemy had completed the calculation of firing solutions and could launch missiles at any time.

Chen Hai's hand pressed onto the communication button, but before he could speak, a calm voice came over the speaker:

"Commander, this is Lin Hai of the Yuanwang-7. Our ship has passed the narrowest part of the strait, and the channel ahead is open. I suggest the formation accelerate through and not get entangled with the American ships."

The old captain's voice was as calm as if he were discussing what to have for dinner. "Also, tell the Americans that among our eight containers, four contain 'Dongfeng-16' simulated training missiles, not live ammunition. If they really want to see them, they can apply to visit once we reach Saudi Arabia."

When this message was relayed back through the encrypted channel, Chen Hai was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

"Relay this message word-for-word to the Stockdale," he ordered. "Send it in plain text."

Thirty seconds later, when the phrase 'Dongfeng-16 simulated training missiles' appeared on the Stockdale's communication screen, Captain Miller's expression changed.

He certainly knew what the 'Dongfeng-16' was—the main medium-range ballistic missile of the Chinese Rocket Force, with a range covering the entire First Island Chain. Although it was said to be 'simulated training missiles,' who could guarantee that there wasn't the real thing hidden inside?

More importantly, the fact that the Chinese dared to send this message in plain text meant they weren't afraid of the Americans knowing at all. This was a form of confidence, and also a warning.

"Captain?" the executive officer looked at him.

Miller stared at the transport ship in the distance, which was still sailing steadily, was silent for a full minute, and then picked up the microphone:

"All ships, maintain current positions, do not continue to close in. Notify Pacific Command that the target vessel is suspected of transporting... strategic materials, recommend terminating close-range reconnaissance."

He put down the microphone and whispered to the executive officer, "The Chinese are too well prepared. From the exercises in the South China Sea to the formation escort here, every step has been calculated. Continuing to entangle with them will only cause trouble for ourselves."

"But our superiors ordered us..."

"Our superiors want intelligence, not war," Miller interrupted. "We've had enough intelligence for today—the Chinese have the capability and the determination to provide maritime protection for their strategic transport. This fact is more important than what's inside those eight containers."

He took one last look at the receding Chinese formation and turned to leave the bridge.

On the sea, the two fleets gradually pulled apart. The setting sun dyed the entire sea area gold.

On the Lanzhou, Chen Hai watched the receding red dots on the radar screen and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up his daughter's drawing and kissed it lightly.

"Tell the Yuanwang-7, see you in the Indian Ocean."

January 3rd, 2:00 AM, the Yuanwang-7 sailed into the Indian Ocean; the sea became vast, and the starry sky was crystal clear.

Captain Lin Hai stood on the open-air deck outside the bridge, the sea breeze blowing through his graying hair. The first mate walked over and handed him a cup of hot tea.

"Captain, just received news, the South Sea Fleet formation has turned back in the Andaman Sea," the first mate said. "The Americans didn't follow."

Lin Hai nodded and took a sip of tea. "They won't follow. Malacca is the throat; once you pass the throat, it's open sea. Tracking a ship with naval escort in open waters is an act of war."

"What we're transporting this time... is it really missiles?" the first mate couldn't help but ask.

Lin Hai looked at him and smiled. "Eight containers, four are empty—a smokescreen. Three contain Red Flag-9 radar systems and launch vehicle components. The last one..." He paused, "contains the 'Dongfeng-16' simulated training system—it's really just a simulation, for training the Saudis."

"Then why were the Americans nervous?"

"Because they didn't know which were real and which were fake," Lin Hai looked at the starry sky. "Strategic deterrence sometimes doesn't require real weapons; it just requires leaving the opponent guessing."

He remembered twenty years ago, when he was still a second mate on an old cargo ship, Chinese ships passing through Malacca were often intercepted and inspected under various pretexts. At that time, the Chinese crew on board could only swallow their anger.

Now, with a naval formation escort, there is the confidence to say "no" to American warships.

Twenty years, how the world has changed.

"Notify all crew members," Lin Hai turned around. "It will take five days to cross the Indian Ocean, let everyone take shifts to rest. There's still a tough battle to fight when we reach Jeddah."

"Yes."

Inside the cargo hold, eight 12-meter-long special containers sat quietly, fixed to their bases. On the surface of the containers, the Spark Technology logo shimmered under the emergency lights.

Inside one of the containers, there were no missiles, but a complete set of the 'Dongfeng-16' simulated launch system—from the command vehicle to the launch vehicle to the support vehicle, all were full-scale models, but the internal consoles, screens, and operating systems were exactly the same as those used by live-fire units.

This was specifically requested by Su Chen: "What we are selling is not just weapons, but the capability to use weapons. With this simulation system, the Saudis will be able to train a complete missile battalion operation team within three months."

And in the other three containers, the real components of the Red Flag-9BE air defense system were "sleeping" in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. They would be unloaded at Jeddah port, then transported by land to Riyadh, and deployed within 48 hours.

These systems made of steel and silicon were about to change the sky of a region.