SSN

    Finally back at periscope depth, Mack sent his message traffic concerning the battles and the loss of Los Angeles. The ESM operator reported communications from a Chinese HF radio to the north. Acting on a previous thought that he had kept to himself, Mack asked if the Chinese president would mind translating something for them. When the tape of the comms was delivered to the wardroom and played for President Jiang, a smile spread quickly over his face.

    "Captain Mack, that is the commanding officer of the last of Yu's Akulas. He reported he was damaged and he is heading for Zhanjiang Naval Base on the surface to ask for amnesty from the Jiang Zemin government for himself and his men."

    Since the weather was calm, Mack decided to surface Cheyenne and follow the Akula into Zhanjiang Naval Base. This time he allowed President Jiang on the bridge, giving him a hand-held HF radio so that he could act as interpreter for Mack in discussions with the Chinese captain of the Akula. Mack advised the Akula CO that Cheyenne would follow him into port from the Akula's stern, but that he had one Mk 48, one Harpoon, and one Tomahawk antiship missile trained directly at him.

    Cheyenne steamed safely into the naval base and delivered her cargo, and then made a slow transit back to Tsoying. En route, the news came that China had formally declared a cease-fire.

    The war was over. The United States, with the help of Cheyenne, had won.

    Mack heard the news with a mixture of joy and sadness-joy that his crew was safe once more, with nothing more than the hazards of the deep to worry about, and sadness at the cost. For however long he remained at sea, the memory of those lost would stay with him.

    United States Naval Officer Receives Chinese "Order of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung"

    November 9, 1997

    Web Posted at 11:00 P.M. EST (1600 GMT)

    From Beijing bureau chief Jutie Meyer

    BEIJING (TCN)-In an unprecedented ceremony at China's South Sea Fleet Headquarters, Zhanjiang Naval Base, Chinese president Jiang Zemin bestowed the coveted "Order of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung" to the commanding officer of the USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) for his valorous efforts in single-handedly devastating the renegade Premier Li Peng's and General Yu Quili's submarines, purchased with funds diverted from the Chinese people. Not to be outdone, the President of the United States recalled the commanding officer to the White House.

    President Bestows Medal of Honor on War Hero Submariner

    November 10, 1997

    Web Posted at 2:00 P.M. EST (1900 GMT)

    From Washington chief correspondent Michael Flasetti

    WASHINGTON (TCN)-The President today placed the coveted Medal of Honor ribbon with its large medal around the neck of Captain Bartholomew Mackey, commanding officer of USS Cheyenne (SSN 773). Captain Mackey's submarine was the single force in Southeast Asia that literally destroyed the Chinese submarine force, accounting for over sixty authenticated kills without sustaining any damage to his own ship. In an unprecedented meeting of Congress prior to the event. Captain Mackey was selected for promotion to rear admiral, lower half, being read into law by the Senate majority leader. This in itself was an unprecedented move on Congress's part, since the rear admiral selection board, with its congressional confirmation, was months away. And the last officer promotion that Congress had taken out of the hands of the Navy was when they promoted Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, die father of United States Navy Nuclear Propulsion.