Chapter 6: Chapter 2: The Vanishing Signal

Under the night sky of the East China Sea, the ocean surface was calm. The massive fleet on its return voyage cut through the waves slowly, orderly and tranquil. With the help of the data link, the entire fleet did not require many people to control; most of the crew had already entered dreamland, and the moonlight reflected a cold, elegant glow upon the decks. A sense of solemnity and killing intent permeated the air.

When the fleet reached a point 120 kilometers northeast of Pengjia Island, the tranquil sea surface suddenly shuddered, as if a stone had been thrown into a still pond, kicking up a ripple out of nowhere. If an aircraft were passing overhead at this moment, it would clearly see concentric circles gradually expanding into the distance. Above the sea surface where the ripples lay, a gravitational lens gradually unfolded. Looking from the fleet beneath the lens toward the night sky, the starlight across the heavens gradually shifted toward the edges, presenting a redshift phenomenon.

At this moment, the fleet was just sailing into this sea area. Sea fog began to permeate the front of the fleet and gradually grew dense. As the fleet passed through, the ships could no longer be seen by the naked eye; only the scattered, dim blinking of anti-collision lights could be glimpsed in the distance. Before long, the entire fleet gradually vanished into the thick fog. They vanished even from the eyes of the countless satellites and monitoring systems. From this moment on, the National Strategic Command Center, thousands of kilometers away, entered a state of total busyness. The entire Chinese coastline activated a Level I combat readiness state overnight. In the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the Zhoushan Archipelago, and the islands of the South China Sea, all foreign observers closely monitoring the movements of China's military forces discovered with astonishment that several unrecorded strategic nuclear submarines had suddenly appeared, sailing into the ocean toward unknown destinations. Carrier strike groups originally cruising in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea began to assemble toward the East China Sea. The entire Western Pacific underwent a sudden, violent change.

However, at this moment in the bridge command cabin of the *Beiping*, the duty communications officer received a report from the lead destroyer, the *Haikou*, and subsequently reported to the duty command staff officer.

"The *Haikou* reports sea fog, visibility is less than 50 meters. Should we notify the Commander?"

"Is the navigation of all ships normal? Is the data link information transmission normal?"

"Report, everything is normal."

"Notify all ships to enter the fog zone. Navigate strictly according to the data link information. Report the status of all ships at any time."

"Copy. All ships, attention. All ships, attention. The formation is entering the fog zone. All ships, attention. Please check your data link information and navigate strictly according to the data provided by the data link. Please ensure navigational safety. All vessels are to provide feedback on their current status in one minute."

"Record the relevant situation and write it down. Although sea fog is normal, such dense fog persisting for a long time is quite rare." Suddenly, the duty officer noticed a red light flashing on the data link display; navigation information was lost, and the Beidou navigation satellites could not be connected.

"Report, navigation information lost, unable to link to satellites."

"Preheat the Beidou navigation system, reconstruct the navigation model, and re-search for satellite positions."

"System preheated, searching for the celestial sphere containing the satellites."

"System returns error, unable to find signals from Beidou satellites."

"Open the uplink channel and perform a manual request."

"Manual request received no response; no response from the Beidou system across the entire celestial sphere."

"Dock with Dongfanghong-4, request space relay connection."

"Dongfanghong received no response."

"Switch to GPS navigation."

"Unable to receive GPS signal. Navigation system has failed. Formation navigation data is abnormal. Requesting to terminate data link status."

"Notify the Commander. Chief of Staff, take your position. Report the situation to all ships. Terminate data link status. Maintain a distance of 150 between vessels, speed 5. The entire fleet is to enter Level II combat readiness. All personnel to their posts."

As the piercing combat alarm sounded, the thick fog drifting around the entire fleet also began to gradually dissipate. The entire fleet was like a pride of lions suddenly awakened, slowly spreading out and assuming an offensive posture. Yet, the enemy that had blinded the lions' eyes was nowhere to be found.

Xia Haian rushed into the command cabin while straightening his military uniform. "Chief of Staff, report the situation."

"Neither Beidou nor GPS can connect. There was no response to the Dongfanghong-4 space docking request. The situation is the same for all vessels in the entire fleet. Currently, the entire fleet is navigating based on the inertial navigation of this ship. The *Haijing-02* patrol aircraft has been sent up for reconnaissance. The fleet's combat readiness has been raised to Level II, and all personnel are at their posts."

Li Hao, who had arrived a step ahead, immediately reported.

"Have the *Haijing-02* conduct patrol reconnaissance within a 50-kilometer radius of the formation. Launch two squadrons of fighter jets for formation security. Set the fleet to combat formation. Reorganize all non-combat vessels. Speed 5."

"Yes." <201, requesting 15-minute intervals.>

"The Fengyun series satellites are also not responding."

"Request real-time imagery service from the *Sun-04* patrol area."

"*Sun-04* received no response."

"Communications officer, contact the forward base and inquire about the situation."

"Report, the forward base has not responded."

"Contact the General Staff Headquarters."

"Report, the General Staff Headquarters has not responded."

"Impossible! Unless it is a nuclear war, it is impossible for the General Staff Headquarters not to respond."

"Could we be being jammed?" Wang Chongwu, who had rushed in, said upon hearing the situation.

"Report, there are no signs of jamming on any frequency bands. Communication between the vessels of the entire fleet is perfectly fine, but calling other units yields no response."

"Communications officer, continue attempting contact. *Haijing-02*, report status."

"*02* reports, no aerial or sea units found within a 400-kilometer radius."

"How much time until dawn?"

"It is currently 4:00 AM. There is only one hour until sunrise."

"Have Electronic Warfare 01 and Electronic Warfare 02 take off to conduct reconnaissance on the fleet's assembly area. The situation is unclear; tell them to remain highly vigilant."

"Yes."

"Notify the submarine squadron to expand their alert perimeter. Have the *Haikou*, *Lanzhou*, *Wuhan*, and *Guangzhou* launch their shipborne helicopters to conduct anti-submarine formation security. All vessels to Level I combat readiness."

"Report, the wireless listening receiver has detected a shortwave radio signal. Decryption is in progress."

Before long, the telegram was handed to Li Hao. The telegram was not long, but its content immediately made him break into a cold sweat. Seeing Li Hao's pale face, Xia Haian immediately snatched the telegram. After reading it, his expression also changed. After a period of silence, he handed the telegram to Wang Chongwu and commanded the communications officer.

"Notify the commanders of all combat vessels and all high-ranking officers of combat units to attend a meeting at the flagship in one hour. Merchant ship captains must also attend via video link. Additionally, focus on monitoring shortwave and broadcast signals. Notify Electronic Warfare 01 and 02 to conduct high-altitude optical reconnaissance over the Shanghai and Taipei regions and report status at all times."

As the orders were issued, various vessels launched their shipborne helicopters and rushed toward the flagship, the *Beiping*. The entire fleet was permeated by an indescribable, heavy atmosphere; war seemed not far from them.