Chapter 330: The US Navy has arrived—let

The transport convoy headed south all the way, passing through the Malacca Strait and entering the Indian Ocean.

"The maritime radar detected a convoy approaching!"

"It's fine, they're just here to watch." Qin Miao said: "Don't mind them; we'll keep sailing our course—they wouldn't dare cause trouble."

This was the 1980s, when the East and the United States were still allies, and Americans were constantly thinking about how to drag the East into their chariot to jointly oppose the Russians; in this context, how could Americans dare to confront the East head‑on?

That is, in the 1990s, after the Soviet Union collapsed and Americans became the world's sole superpower, they started picking fights everywhere, which led to the Galaxy‑ship incident.

It was a pivotal event that thoroughly woke up the Easterners: without strong naval power, they would always be bullied. Afterwards they bought the Varyag, built Aegis warships… the Eastern navy finally grew strong! They'd take leisurely trips to the US West Coast, stroll around the British doorstep, and even enjoy freedom of navigation.

Now, even if Americans suspected there was something special aboard our ship, they would absolutely not dare to come over and inspect it—they lack the guts. If they provoked the East and drove it toward the Soviet Union, their situation would only get worse!

So, pay no heed to the Americans; we'll just keep sailing our own way.

On the carrier Enterprise, Captain Colonel Michael raised his binoculars and looked at the cargo ship under way.

"What were the CIA people thinking? Just a few glances at some photos and they want us to observe? Our US Navy doesn't have that much spare time!"

"According to the CIA, they discovered that a certain Mr. Sha and the East had become overly close in trade—after all, they hadn't even established diplomatic relations when they bought all that weaponry—and this time, who knows what's in the containers." Said Carrier Air Wing Commander Colonel Charles from the side.

On the carrier, the captain and the carrier air wing commander are of equal rank—one commands the ship, the other the embarked aircraft—so during major operations the carrier will have a commander whom everyone obeys; however, US carriers sail worldwide, and their captains are long trained, not merely promoted from pilots; they must possess political acumen.

"Why not launch a carrier aircraft to go take a look?" Michael suggested.

"Yeah, I was thinking the same—launch a Seahawk helicopter to go have a look; if they get scared, that indicates a problem, but if they keep sailing, there's no issue."

A few minutes later, an SH‑60 Seahawk helicopter roared to life and lifted off from the flight deck.

On the cargo ship.

"They've launched a helicopter!" Liu Zhigang said, a little alarmed: "They wouldn't send marines over to board and inspect our cargo ship, would they?"

"The US Navy and the Marine Corps are two separate branches; they wouldn't mix unless there was a major military operation. As for boarding inspections—a ship is a nation's floating territory at sea; they wouldn't dare do that. We'll just keep sailing our own way."

Qin Miao glanced at the Seahawk helicopter approaching in the sky and snorted, "Do they really need to probe further?"

The helicopter's roar grew louder and louder as it circled the ship once, then lined up with its course, as if intending to land on the cargo containers.

The cargo ship remained as steady as Mount Tai, pressing ahead however it pleased.

Just as the helicopter was about to descend, it pulled up again and flew ahead of the ship.

The helicopter's pilot looked toward the bridge, where a few sailors were operating the ship, someone even idly cracking melon seeds.

"Seahawk report: this cargo ship shows no abnormalities!"

"Come back!" Charles called casually over the radio: "This is indeed a very ordinary cargo ship…"

"Seahawk calling: we've spotted an Indian cargo ship rapidly approaching!"

Opposite us, ten or so nautical miles away, an Indian cargo ship was under way, and the two vessels' courses… were practically the same!

"How interesting!" Michael gazed at the distant sea: "Who knows which of these two ships will give way?"

Although the ocean is vast, genuine cargo lanes are few and tend to be busy; normally, when they meet, they yield to each other—the international maritime collision‑avoidance rules are second nature to every captain.

In this head‑on situation, all that's needed is for each to turn right to guarantee safe passage.

But……

Just then, a voice crackled over the radio.

"Listen up, Indian cargo ship ahead: this is the Eastern cargo ship Sunshine. You're blocking our course—clear out immediately!"

On the international public frequency, the English call… was quite explosive!

On the cargo ship, Liu Zhigang widened his eyes at Qin Miao, and after Qin Miao released the transmit button, he hurriedly said: "Comrade Qin Miao, we're sailing here… better to do less than more—just let each other give way, why bother…"

"Internationally, it's customary for the smaller vessel to yield to the larger— that Indian cargo ship is only a few thousand tonnes, so of course it must give way to our ten‑thousand‑ton leviathan!" Qin Miao added, glancing nearby: "We've even got the US Navy providing cover—we can't lose face!"

Is this being done for the US Navy to see?

"This is the Indian cargo ship Nalala, currently in Indian waters—you must give way to us!"

Sure enough, moments later the Indian call came back, and it was clearly laced with anger.

The Indians never imagined that, right on their own doorstep, someone would crash the party!

Liu Zhigang stared at Qin Miao in astonishment, waiting for his next move.

Qin Miao pressed the transmit button: "This is the Eastern cargo ship Sunshine calling the US Navy formation—please uphold normal maritime navigation rules: the small vessel yields to the large!"

On the Enterprise, the Americans listening to the Eastern and Indian captains lock horns were all stunned.

They'd come just to gawk—how did they suddenly get summoned to act as referee?

"US Navy brothers, summon the courage of 1971!" Qin Miao continued over the radio: "What you're facing is a rogue‑nation cargo ship!"

During the Cold War, US‑Indian relations were hardly friendly! After all, India constantly shouted non‑alignment, trying to wrest the top spot from Uncle Sam; although before the 1970s the US treated India and Pakistan equally, in 1971, during the third Indo‑Pak war, the US still deployed a carrier to the Bay of Bengal to intimidate India!

Later, India detonated a nuclear bomb, earning extreme American displeasure, and then signed a peace‑and‑friendship treaty with the Soviet Union, acquiring vast quantities of Soviet arms.

To this day, India is still basically in cahoots with the Soviet Union!

Michael couldn't sit still: "Why not send a helicopter over?"

"Send a fighter jet," Charles replied.