〃Do you suppose he intends to fill it with explosives and blow up something；〃 offered Cabrillo； 〃like maybe the Panama Canal。〃
〃Certainly not the Panama Canal or any other shipping facility；〃 said Pitt。 〃He'd be cutting his own throat。 His ships need access to ports on both oceans as much as any other shipping pany。 No； Qin Shang must have something else in mind； another motive； one just as menacing and just as deadly。〃
THE SHIP PLOWED EASILY THROUGH THE SWELLS IN A SLOW rocking motion under a sky so brightly lit by a full moon that one could read a newspaper under its beam。 The scene was deceptively peaceful。 Cabrillo had not called for the ship's full cruising speed； so she loafed along at eight knots until they were far beyond the Chinese mainland。 The whisper of the bows cutting the water and the aroma of fresh baked bread wafting up from the galley might have lulled the crew of any other cargo ship on the China Sea； but not the highly trained men on the Oregon。
Pitt and Giordino stood in the surveillance and counter…measures control room in the raised forecastle of the ship； acting strictly as observers while Cabrillo and his team of technicians focused their eyes and minds on the radar detection and identification systems。
〃She's taking her sweet time；〃 said the surveillance analyst； a woman by the name of Linda Ross who was seated in front of a puter monitor that showed the three…dimensional display of a warship。 Ross was another prize from Cabrillo's headhunting expeditions for superior personnel。 She had been chief fire…control officer on board a U。S。 Navy Aegis guided missile cruiser when she fell under Cabrillo's spell and an offer of incredible pensation that went far beyond any money she could make in the Navy。 〃With a maximum speed of thirty…four knots； she'll overhaul us within a half an hour。〃
〃How do you read her？〃 asked Cabrillo。
〃Configuration indicates that she's one of the Luhu Type 052 Class of big destroyers launched in the late nineties。 Displaces forty…two hundred tons。 Two gas turbine engines rated at fifty…five thousand horsepower。 She carries two Harbine helicopters on her stern。 Her plement consists of two hundred and thirty men； forty of them officers。〃
〃Missiles？〃
〃Eight sea…skimming surface…to…surface missiles and a surface…to…air octuble launcher。〃
〃If I was her captain I wouldn't be concerned with preparing a missile strike against a helpless…looking old scow like the Oregon。 Guns？〃
〃Twin one…hundred…milh'meter guns in a turret aft of the bow；〃 said the analyst。 〃Eight thirty…seven millimeters mounted in pairs。 She also carries six torpedoes in two triple tubes and twelve antisubmarine mortar launchers。〃
Cabrillo wiped his brow with a handkerchief。 〃By Chinese standards； this is an impressive warship。〃
〃Where did she e from？〃 asked Pitt。
〃Bad luck on our part；〃 said Cabrillo。 〃She just happened to be cruising across our path when the alarm went out and harbor officials notified their navy。 I timed our departure so that we sailed in the wake of an Australian freighter and a Bolivian ore carrier to confuse Chinese radar。 The other two were probably stopped and searched by fast attack patrol craft before being allowed to continue to their destinations。 We had the misfortune to draw a heavy destroyer。〃
〃Qin Shang has a long arm to get that kind of cooperation from his government。〃
〃I wish I had his influence with our Congress。〃
〃Isn't it against international law for a nation's military to stop and search foreign ships outside their territorial waters？〃
〃Not since nineteen ninety…six。 That was when Beijing implemented a U。N。 Law of the Sea Treaty； expanding China's territorial waters from a twelve mile limit to two hundred miles。〃
〃Which puts us well within their waters。〃
〃About a hundred and forty miles inside；〃 said Cabrillo。
〃If you have missiles；〃 said Pitt； 〃why not blast the destroyer before we e in range of its guns？〃
〃Although we carry a small； older version of the Harpoon surface…to…surface missile with more than enough explosive power to blast a light attack craft or a patrol boat out of the water； we'd have to get incredibly lucky with our first launch to take out a forty…two…hundred…ton destroyer bristling with enough weaponry to sink a fleet。 Disadvantage belongs to us。 Our first missiles might take her launchers out of action。 And we can slam two Mark 46 torpedoes into her hull。 But that still leaves her with enough thirty…seven and hundred…millimeter guns to blast us into the nearest scrap yard。〃
Pitt looked at Cabrillo steadily。 〃A lot of men are going to die in the next hour。 Is there no way to avert the slaughter？〃
〃We can't fool a naval boarding party；〃 said Cabrillo solemnly。 〃They'll see through our disguise two minutes after setting foot on deck。 You seem to forget； as far as the Chinese are concerned； Mr。 Pitt； you and I and everyone on board this ship are spies。 And as such； we can all be executed in the blink of an eye。 Also； once they get their hands on the Oregon and her technology and realize her potential； they won't hesitate to use her for intelligence operations against other nations。 Once the first Chinese marine sets foot on our deck； the die is cast。 We fight or die。〃
〃Then our only option is surprise。〃
〃The key is that we won't constitute a threat in the eyes of the captain of that Chinese destroyer；〃 Cabrillo explained gruffly。 〃If you were him； standing on your bridge looking at us through night glasses； would you be trembling in your boots at what you saw？ I doubt it。 He might train the hundred millimeters on our bridge or one of the thirty…seven…millimeter twins at any crewman showing on deck。 But once he sees his marines e on board and begin seizing the ship； he'll relax and call off the ship's alert； provided he even bothered to order one。〃
〃You make it sound as cut and dried as a snowball fight；〃 ventured Giordino。
Cabrillo gave Giordino a patiently worn look。 〃A what fight？〃
〃You'll have to excuse Al's regressive display of humor；〃 said Pitt。 〃He gets mentally unstable when things don't go his way。〃
〃You're just as weird；〃 Cabrillo growled at Pitt。 〃Doesn't anything ever faze you two？〃
〃Think of it as a response to a nasty situation；〃 Pitt said in mild protest。 〃You and your crew are trained and prepared for a fight。 We're merely helpless bystanders。〃
〃We'll require the services of every man and woman on board before this night is over。〃
Pitt studied the image on the monitor over Linda Ross's shoulder。 〃If you don't mind me asking； just how do you intend to trash a heavy destroyer？〃
〃My plan； elementary as it is； is for the Oregon to e to a stop when ordered。 Then es a demand to board and inspect us。 Once we sucker him into standing off within spitting distance； we act like innocent； ill…tempered seamen while they observe us at close range。 Once the Chinese boarding party climbs on deck； we'll lull the captain even deeper into a state of inertia by lowering our Iranian ensign and raising the People's Republic of China flag。〃
〃You have a Chinese flag？〃 asked Giordino。
〃We carry flags and ensigns of every maritime country in the world；〃 answered Cabrillo。
〃After your show of surrender？〃 said Pitt。 〃Then what？〃
〃We hit him with everything we've got and pray that when we're through he has nothing left to throw back at us。〃
〃It beats a long…range duel with missiles we couldn't win；〃 said Max Hanley； who was sitting in a chair beside an electronics specialist manning a tactical data unit。
Like a football coach in the lockers before the kickoff； Cabrillo went over his game plan carefully with his players。 No contingency was left undevised or unpolished； no detail overlooked； nothing left to chance。 Tension was nonexistent。 The men and women on board the Oregon prepared to go about their jobs as if it was a typical Monday morning in the big city。 Their eyes were clear and fixed； they did not have the frightened look of the hunted。
When Cabrillo finished； he asked； 〃Any questions？〃 His voice was deep and low； with the tiniest trace of a Spanish accent； and although he was far too experienced and perceptive not to accept fear； no hint showed in his face and manner。 Hearing no inquiries from his crew； he nodded。 〃Okay； that's it then。 Good luck to you all。 And when this little scrape is over； we'll throw the biggest party the Oregon has ever known。〃
Pitt raised a hand。 〃You said you needed every man。 How can Al and I help？〃
Cabrillo nodded。 〃You two gave evidence the other night that you're not afraid of a fight。 Go to the ship's armory and pick up a pair of automatic weapons。 You'll need more fire…power than that forty…five…caliber popgun of yours。 Also check out a couple of sets of body armor。 After that check with the costume department for some grungy old clothes。 Then join the deck crew。 Your talents will e in handy in stopping the Chinese marines once they e on board。 I can only spare a few men from more important duties； so you'll be slightly outnumbered。 There probably won't be more than ten of them； not enough to matter since you'll have the element of surprise。 If you're successful； and I'm counting on it； you can lend a h