scoonts.theminotaur-第10部分

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er　the　BR　signature　in　any　meaningful　manner　you　must　give　up　afterburners　for　your　engines　and　bury　the　engines　inside　the　airplane　to　cool　the　exhaust　gases；　the　sum　total　of　which　is　less　thrust。　Consequently　we　are　led　kicking　and　screaming　into　the　work！　of　design　promises；　which　is　a　handy　catchall　for　mission　promises；　performance　and　range　and　payload　promises；　bang…and…buck　promises。　That's　where　you　e　in。〃
　Admiral　Henry　rose　from　the　bench　and　sauntered　along　the　walk　discussing　the　various　methods　and　techniques　that　lowered；　tittle　by　tittle；　the　radar　and　heat　signatures　of　an　aircraft。　He　talked　about　wing　and　fuselage　shape；　special　materials；　paint；　engine　and　inlet　duct　design　and　placement；　every　aspect　of　aircraft　construction。　Stealth；　he　said；　involved　them　all。　Finally　he　fell　silent　and　walked　along　with　his　shoulders　rounded；　his　hands　thrust　deep　into　his　pockets。
　Jake　spoke。　〃If　the　best　the　air　force　could　get　out　of　their　stealth　attack　plane　was　A…7　performance；　is　it　a　good　idea　for　the　navy　to　spend　billions　on　one？　We　can't　go　buying　airplanes　to　fight　just　one　war；　and　we　need　a　sufficient　quantity　of　planes　to　equip　the　carriers。　Five　gee…whiz　killing　machines　a　year　won't　do　us　any　good　at　all。〃
　The　admiral　stopped　dead　and　scrutinized　Jake。　Slowly　a　grin　lifted　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃I　knew　you　were　the　right　guy　for　this　job。〃
　He　resumed　walking；　his　step　firmer；　more　confident。　〃The　first　question　is　what　kind　of　fights　are　we　going　to　get　into　in　the　future。　And　the　answer；　I　suspect；　is　more　of　the　same。　I　think　the　likelihood　of　an　all…out　war　with　the　Soviets　in　Western　Europe　is　pretty　small…no　way　to　prevent　it　from　going　nuclear　and　the　Russians　don't　want　that　any　more　than　we　do。　But　we　must　prepare　to　fight　it；　prepare　to　some　degree；　or　we　can't　deter　it。　I'd　say　it's　a　lot　more　likely　we'll　end　up　with　more　limited　wars；　like　Korea　or　Vietnam　or　Afghanistan　or　the　Persian　Gulf　or　the　Middle　East　or　South　Africa。　So　the　capability　to　fight　those　wars　is　critical。　We　need　planes　that　can　fly　five　hundred　miles　through　a　high…density　electronic　environment；　deliver　a　devastating　conventional　punch；　and　return　to　the　carrier　to　fly　again；　and　again　and　again。　Without　that　capability　our　carrier　battle　groups　are　an　expensive　liability　and　not　an　asset。　We　need　that　plane　by　1995；　at　the　latest。〃
　〃You're　implying　that　our　plane　can't　rely　on　pinpoint　missiles　for　weapons。〃
　〃Precisely。　The　air　force　has　a　lot　of　concrete　to　park　their　specialized　planes　on；　carrier　deck　space　is　damn　precious。　We　can't　build　planes　that　can　only　shoot　missiles　that　cost　a　million　bucks　each；　then　push　them　into　the　drink　when　we　run　out　of　missiles。　We　have　to　be　able　to　hit　hard　in　any　foreseeable　conflict　with　simple；　cheap　weapons；　like　laser…guided　bombs。〃
　〃So　we　can　do　something　the　air　force　couldn't　with　the　F…l　17？〃
　Henry　threw　his　head　back　and　grinned；　obviously　enjoying　himself。　〃We　aren't　going　to　trade　away　our　plane's　performance　or　mission　capability。〃
　〃But　how…〃
　〃Better　design…we　learned　a　lot　from　the　F…l　17…plus　Athena。　Active　stealth　technology。〃　His　mood　was　gloomy　again。　〃I　think　the　fucking　Russians　have　gotten　everything　there　was　to　get　out　of　the　F…l　17　and　B…2。　Every　single　technical　breakthrough；　they've　stolen　it。　They　don't　appear　to　be　using　that　knowledge　and　they　may　not　ever　be　able　to　do　so。　This　stuff　involves　manufacturing　capabilities　they　don't　have　and　costs　they　can't　afford　to　incur。　But　what　they　can　do　is　figure　out　defenses　to　a　stealthed…up　airplane；　and　you　can　bet　your　left　nut　they're　working　their　asses　off　on　that　right　this　very　minute。〃
　He　looked　carefully　around。　〃There's　a　Russian　mole　in　the　Pentagon。〃　His　voice　was　almost　a　whisper；　although　the　nearest　pedestrian　was　a　hundred　yards　away。　〃He　gave　them　the　stealth　secrets。　The　son　of　a　bitch　is　buried　in　there　someplace　and　he's　ripping　us　off。　He's　even　been　given　a　top　secret　code　name…Minotaur。〃　He　scuffed　his　toe　at　a　pebble　on　the　sidewalk。　〃I'm　not　supposed　to　know　this。　It　goes　without　saying　that　if　I'm　not；　you　sure　as　hell　aren't。〃
　〃How'd…〃
　〃Don't　ask。　I　don't　want　you　to　know。　But　if　I　know　the　Minotaur's　there；　you　can　lay　money　he　knows　we　know　he's　there。　So　the　bastard　is　dug　in　with　his　defenses　up。　We　may　never　get　him。　Probably　won't。〃
　〃How　do　we　know　he　gave　them　stealth？〃
　〃We　know。　Trust　me。　We　know。〃
　〃So　we　have　a　mole　in　the　Kremlin。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that；〃　Henry　said　fiercely；　〃and　you　had　damn　well　better　not。　No　shit；　Grafton；　don't　even　whisper　that　to　a　living　fucking　soul。〃
　They　walked　along　in　silence；　each　man　occupied　with　his　own　thoughts。　Finally　Jake　said；　〃So　how　are　we　gonna　do　it？〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃How　are　we　going　to　build　a　stealth　Intruder　and　keep　the　technology　in　our　pocket？〃
　〃I　haven't　figured　that　one　out　yet；〃　Henry　said　slowly。　〃You　see；　everything　the　Russians　have　gotten　so　far　is　passive…techniques　to　minimize　the　radar　cross　section　and　heat　signature。　To　build　a　mission…capable　airplane　like　we　want　we're　going　to　have　to　use　active　techniques。　Project　Athena。　They　haven't　stolen　Athena　yet　and　we　don't　want　them　to　get　it。〃
　〃Active　techniques？〃　Jake　prompted；　unable　to　contain　his　curiosity。
　〃We're　going　to　cancel　the　bad　guys'　radar　signal　where　it　reaches　our　plane。　We'll　automatically　generate　a　signal　that　nullifies　the　echo；　mutes　it；　cancels　it　oat。　The　plane　will　then　be　truly　invisible　to　the　enemy。　They'll　sew　see　it　on　their　scope。　They'll　never　receive　the　echo。〃　He　thought　about　it。　〃It's　the　biggest　technological　breakthrough　since　the　Manhattan　Project。　Biggest　by　a　mile。〃
　〃I've　heard　speculation　about　canceling　radar　signals　for　years。　The　guys　who　were　supposed　to　know　all　laughed。　Can　it　be　done？〃
　〃The　party　line　is　no。　Impossible。　But　there's　a　crazed　genius　who　wants　to　be　filthy　rich　that　has　done　it。　That　technology　is　the　living；　beating　heart　of　the　ATA。　Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　get　an　airplane　built　and　keep　the　Minotaur　from　stealing　the　secret。〃
　Jake　whistled。　〃Can't　we　put　this　on　all　our　ships？〃
　〃No　doubt　we　will；〃　Henry　said　sourly；　〃and　the　Russians　will　steal　it　before　our　first　ship　gets　out　of　the　harbor。　For　now　let's　just　see　if　we　can　get　it　in　one　airplane　without　someone　stealing　it。　That'll　be　plenty　for　you　and　Roger　Dunedin　to　chew。〃
　〃Existing　aircraft？　How　about　retrofitting　them？〃
　〃Right　now；　as　the　technology　exists；　the　best　approach　is　to　design　the　plane　for　it。　The　power　output　required　to　hide　a　stealthy　plane　would　be　very　small。　The　device　would　be　easy　enough　to　put　on　a　ship；　when　we　get　the　bugs　worked　out。　As　usual　there　are　bugs。　Expensive；　though。〃
　Admiral　Henry　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Our　work's　cut　out　for　us。　The　air　force　will　want　this　technology　when　they　get　wind　of　it；　and　right　now　everything　they　see　winds　up　in　the　Kremlin。　It's　not　their　fault；　of　course；　but　that's　the　way　it　is。　The　manufacturer　of　our　plane　will　see　it　and　from　there　it　may　end　up　in　the　Minotaur's　clutches。　Ditto　the　ship　drivers。　And　the　politicians　who　have　been　trick…fucked　on　the　F…l　17　won't　sit　still　for　more　stealth　hocus…pocus；　they're　gonna　want　justification　for　the　four　or　five　billion　dollars　the　ATA　will　require　just　to　develop；　and　there　it　goes　again。　So　right　now　I'm　sitting　on　a　volcano　that's　about　to　erupt　and　my　ass　is　getting　damn　warm。　You　see　why　I　wanted　you　on　board。〃
　〃Not　really；〃　Jake　said；　wondering　how　far　he　should　push　this。　After　all；　who　the　hell　was　Jake　Grafton？　What　could　an　over…the…hill　attack　pilot　in　glasses　with　four　stripes　on　his　sleeve　do　for　a　three…star　admiral？　Bomb　the　Pentagon？　〃So　what's　your　plan？　How　are　you　going　to　do　this？〃
　Henry　was　so　nervous　he　couldn't　hold　still。　〃I'm　going　to　hold　the　cards　real　close　to　my　chest　and　catch　the　Minotaur　peeking　over　my　shoulder。　Or　that's　what　I'm　going　to　try　to　do；　anyway。〃
　〃Admiral；　with　all　respect；　sir；　what　does　CNO　say　about　all　this？〃　CNO　was　the　Chief　of　Naval　Operations；　the　senior　uniformed　naval　officer。
　Henry　squared　off　in　front　of　Jake。　〃I'm　not　stupid　enough　to　try　to　run　my　own　private　navy；　Captain。　CNO　knows　exactly　what　I'm　doing。　So　does　SECNAV　and　SECDEF。　But　you　sure　as　hell　didn't　get　it　all　in　this　little　conversation。〃
　〃Admiral；　I'11　lay　it　on　the　tine　for　you。　I'm　not　going　to　do　anything　illegal　or　tell　even　one　solitary　little　lie。　I'm　not　a　very　good　liar。〃
　Admiral　Henry　grinned。　〃You　just　haven't　had　the　experience　it　takes。　I've　been　single　for　ten　years；　so　I've　done　a　good　bit　of　it。　Seriously；　all　I　want　you　to　do　is　play　it　straight。　Do　your　job　for　NAVAIR。　Just　keep　it　under　your　hat　that　we　have　an　active　system　we're　going　to　put　into　this　bird。　Roger　will　tell　you　the　same。〃
　〃How　many　people　know　about　this　active　system？〃
　〃Here　in　Washington？　Eight　now。　The　Secretary　of　the　Navy；　CNO；　SECDEF。　NAVAIR；　OP…50…which　is　Rear　Admiral　Costello…me；　you　and　Helmut　Fritsche。　And　let's　keep　it　that　way　for　a　while。〃
　〃Have　you　tested　this　system？　Does　it　work？〃
　Henry　made　a　face。　〃Fritsche's　seen　it　work　on　a　teat　bench。　Your　first　job；　after　you　look　at　the　prototypes；　is　to　put　part　of　it　into　an　A…6　and　test　it　on　the　ground　and　in　flight。〃
　Jake　eyed　the　older　man。　He　had　this　sinking　feeling　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。　There　was　a　hell　of　a　lot　he　wasn't　being　told。　〃So　how　do　you　know　Fritsche？〃
　〃He　was　a　professor　at　Caltech　when　I　was　there　for　a　master's。　We　became　good　friends。　He　did　some　consulting　work　for　the　inventor　on　some　theoretical　problems。　He　saw　what　the　guy　had　and　came　to　roe。　That　was　three　years　ago。　It　was　coincidence　that　there　was　a　deputy　project　manager　job　opening　in　the　ATA　program。　I　talked　Fritsche　into　taking　it。　He　wants　to　be　a　part　of　Athena。　The　theoretical　problems　intrigue　him。〃
　〃You　said　you　didn't　know　all　the　players。〃
　Henry　took　this　opportunity　to　look　around　again。　〃Yeah。　I　don't。　Your　predecessor；　Harold　Strong？　Great　guy；　knew　naval　aviation　from　catapult　to　tailhook；　everything　there　is　to　know；　but　he　wasn't　a　politician；　not　a　diplomat。　He　was　a　blunt；　brilliant；　take…no…prisoners　kind　of　guy。　Somebody　killed　him。〃
　〃Why？〃