Chapter Thirty-Six: Framing and Scapegoating

  Before 5 am, Peng Maobang was woken up by You Hongjun from the sofa.

  "What?" Peng Maobang stood up with a whoosh before he had even finished putting on his shoes. "Is the news confirmed?"

  "Five minutes ago, the second reconnaissance satellite sent back infrared photos. The 'Vikrant' has been engulfed in a massive fire and is currently undergoing spectral analysis."

  "Who did it?" Peng Maobang quickly regained his composure and sat down to tie his shoelaces.

  "Is this still necessary to say, sir?"

  Peng Maobang was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Let's go, to the command center, I want to see the satellite photos with my own eyes."

  The first to discover that the "Vikrant" was severely damaged was a radar reconnaissance satellite, with a resolution of five meters on its radar images, which could only determine that the speed of the "Vikrant" had dropped to zero. Later, an optical reconnaissance satellite passing over the Indian Ocean took higher-resolution infrared photos, which determined through infrared radiation that a large fire had broken out on the "Vikrant", and the hull was severely tilted to the left.

  When Peng Maobang arrived at the command center, dozens of duty officers were excited beyond control.

  "What's going on?" You Hongjun felt very embarrassed.

  "Sir, I have just received the third photograph. The Vikramaditya is also on fire. Preliminary assessment suggests that the ship has suffered severe damage. Additionally, the Vikrant has capsized."

  You Hongjun was startled and immediately turned around to look at Peng Maobang.

  "Send the message to the commander-in-chief immediately, and also help me contact the Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan." Peng Maobang had thought of a countermeasure before arriving at the command center. "Tell Lin Xiao Lei that the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier battle group has been defeated, let him act according to the backup plan."

  Half an hour later, Pakistani President Sharif personally held an emergency press conference.

  He did not disappoint the hundreds of reporters who had rushed overnight, but he was disappointed in them because none believed President Yahya's announcement of a great victory. The press conference took place as "Vikrant" had just sunk and "Vikramatia" was still struggling on the surface.

  In the view of some "biased" Indian journalists, the President of Pakistan must be boasting. With just a few conventional submarines of the Pakistani Navy, it is impossible to sink an Indian aircraft carrier, let alone get close to one.

  When the sky in Beijing just lit up, no one doubted the words of the President of Pakistan anymore.

  The TV station first reported that the Indian Navy's aircraft carrier battle group was ambushed by an unidentified submarine, and the "Vikrant" was hit by three torpedoes and sank at 2:00 am New Delhi time. The "Vikramaditya" was hit by two torpedoes and sank before dawn. The TV station also released two photos taken from high altitude by satellite or reconnaissance aircraft, showing the "Vikrant" with its belly up and overturned on the surface of the sea, and the stern of the "Vikramaditya" had completely sunk into the sea.

  Several European television stations later reported on the news and released photos taken by commercial remote sensing satellites.

  At this moment, some families rejoice while others grieve.

  Lin Xiao Lei watched related reports through satellite TV on warships.

  It's both good news and bad news for him.

  The good news is that he no longer has to worry about the threat of Indian aircraft carriers, and the task force can boldly enter the Arabian Sea through the Sunda Strait.

  The downside is that he lost the opportunity to sink an Indian aircraft carrier.

  According to the original plan, the special mixed fleet entered the Indian Ocean from the Malacca Strait, luring the Indian fleet into the Andaman Sea, and then ambushing the Indian aircraft carrier with four attack nuclear submarines from the South China Sea Fleet and the East China Sea Fleet.

  Now don't mention sinking an aircraft carrier, it's probably impossible to even get a frigate.

  "Captain, we will reach the turning point in half an hour."

  "Proceed with backup plan." Lin Xiao Lei felt helpless, "Contact other captains and let them have some fun too."

  To be honest, none of the twelve captains of the special mixed fleet were happy. The twelve warships carried hundreds of anti-ship missiles and after setting off, they were still actively planning tactics to attack Indian aircraft carriers with missiles. Now it seems that this time is also going to the Arabian Sea for a "tour".

  Santos, India's interim prime minister, was also unable to get excited about it.

  When the news reached his hands, not only had Vikrant sunk, but efforts to salvage Vikramaditya had also been declared a failure. The Western Fleet Commander went down with Vikrant, while Eastern Fleet Commander Patel was overpowered before he could throw himself into the sea.

  Within a matter of minutes, the Indian Navy suffered its worst loss in history.

  Santos couldn't believe it, no matter what - two carriers sunk in less than an hour. What was even more unbelievable was that the ambush on the carrier battle group might have been carried out by American submarines!

  According to the report submitted by Das, before the sinking of "Vikrant", an anti-submarine warfare ship discovered a suspicious submarine which again fired torpedoes at "Vikrant". After being attacked by the anti-submarine warfare ship, the submarine escaped from the battlefield at a speed of over thirty knots. Later, the anti-submarine warfare ship salvaged a damaged device in the sea area where the submarine was active, and initially determined that it was a component of the American submarine's photonic mast.

  Faced with "ironclad evidence", Santos couldn't help but believe it.

  Whether he liked it or not, Santos had unwittingly linked the "Avenger" to an American submarine.

  Was the "Killer" sunk by an American submarine?

  "When the "Killer" was ambushed, only the United States had attack nuclear submarines deployed in the Indian Ocean. At that time, the Seventh Fleet entered the Malacca Strait, and four attack nuclear submarines deployed at Diego Garcia also left their base."

  Before the war, the United States "tactfully" warned India not to use nuclear weapons in the war.

  To ensure that nothing goes wrong, the US has reason to make a move.

  Even if the US submarine sank the "Jiaolong", what happened afterwards doesn't make sense. For example, the US should have framed China and wouldn't have provided India with intelligence on China's attack nuclear submarines that were all in the western Pacific at the time. Most importantly, the US had no reason to attack India's aircraft carrier battle group.

  There are no nuclear weapons deployed on an aircraft carrier and there is no strategic deterrent force.

  India's aircraft carrier battle group is meant to counter the Chinese fleet, not the US Seventh Fleet. India also does not have the ambition of competing with the United States for dominance in the Indian Ocean, at least not now.

  Even if the Indian Navy threatens US interests in the Indian Ocean, the US should not strike at this time.

  The more Santos thought about it, the more he couldn't understand.

  Before dawn, Santos ordered the air force to temporarily halt its attack and also halted the ground troops that were gathering in Kashmir from pushing into Azad Kashmir.

  In any case, it must be clarified whether the US was involved in taking out India's nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier.

  If so, this war cannot be continued.

  If not him, then who?

  With very mixed emotions, Santos dialed the hotline.

  At this time, Ji Youguo was preparing to meet with the Pakistani ambassador.

  "General Peng Maobang has arrived, he says it's an urgent matter."

  "Anything urgent?" Ji Youguo put down the file in his hand, "Let him come in. Also, let the Pakistani ambassador wait a little longer."

  Wang Yuanqing nodded and went out to invite Peng Maobang in.

  "Just received the news." Peng Maobang looked very excited, "It was done by 'Swordfish', and 'Swordfish' has safely left the battlefield!"

  Ji Youguo seemed to have expected it. "What's the situation with 'Swordfish'?"

  "No damage, heading south to leave the danger zone. I have ordered Huajianfeng to return immediately." Peng Maobang picked up a cigarette on the table, "'Swordfish' has made another great achievement, its existence must have raised suspicions from India and the US, it can't stay in the Indian Ocean anymore."

  "We can't get involved in these things, and it's also necessary for the 'Swordfish' to come back." Ji Youguo rubbed his chin.

  "Moreover, 'Swordfish' also sent back a more important message."

  "What's the news?" Ji Youguo felt that Peng Maobang was intentionally being mysterious.

  "When the Vikramaditya was attacked, INS Shishumar came under sudden attack by a US submarine, initially identified as USS New Hampshire, stationed at Diego Garcia. The Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare ships also detected the US submarine and dropped depth charges. Under threat, the US submarine not only abandoned its attack on INS Shishumar but also drew away the Indian anti-submarine forces, allowing INS Shishumar to escape."

  "What!?" Ji Youguo was shocked, "You mean..."

  "It is quite possible that India would think that the US submarine had attacked their aircraft carrier, and even suspect that a US submarine had ambushed the 'Vikrant'."

  "No, not a big possibility." Ji Youguo immediately shook his head. "Santos is no fool, the US has no reason to attack Indian warships, at least no reason to take out an Indian aircraft carrier. If I'm not mistaken, Santos will definitely be on the phone with the US President."

  "At least we can retire successfully."

  Ji Youguo nodded. "Whatever happens, let's just pretend we don't know anything and let India and the US suspect each other. We'll just watch the excitement from the sidelines."

  "I think so too. I came all the way here just because I feel that Pakistan should increase its publicity efforts."

  Ji Youguo immediately understood Peng Maobang's meaning. "We'll receive the Pakistani ambassador soon, and let Pakistan take center stage."

  "Right," Peng Maobang turned back and said, "The 'Swordfish' sank two aircraft carriers with torpedoes. When Pakistan makes propaganda about it, they must not mention the anti-ship missile, or the play will be ruined."

  Ji Youguo smiled and shook his head, sending Peng Maobang out, then asked Wang Yuanqing to invite the Pakistani ambassador over.

  On the afternoon of that day, the Pakistan Navy announced the process of ambushing an Indian aircraft carrier battle group. Although it did not mention specific tactics and the submarines that performed the task, in the announcement, it mentioned "a certain country".

  No one will associate "certain country" with China because Pakistan won't call China that.

  As a result, the United States has become the focus of the whole world. Because except for China, only the US Navy can sink an Indian aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean.