Preface: "Prelude to War" In 1997, former
Chinese Communist Party leader
Deng Xiaoping dies, creating a power struggle within the
Chinese government. Premier
Li Peng later takes over in a
coup d'etat and orders the arrest of his political rivals, particularly Deng's technical successor
Jiang Zemin. He then orders an invasion of the
Spratly Islands, where a large oil deposit was recently discovered by an American oil company. A Chinese attacks the American aircraft carrier , prompting one of her escort submarines to sink the Chinese sub in retaliation and killing everyone aboard. War between the two countries becomes imminent.
"First Blood" , a commanded by Captain Bartholomew Mackey, deploys from
San Diego to
Pearl Harbor to join the conflict in the
South China Sea. Initially ordered to fire on any Chinese submarines only in self defense,
Cheyenne encounters and later sinks a when the latter fires first. With the war now underway, Mackey bears witness to the sinking of another enemy sub near Pearl Harbor.
"South China Sea Station" Cheyenne is diverted from her initial destination in Pearl Harbor and is ordered to proceed to South China Sea and escort the aircraft carrier . Along the way, she sinks a Chinese
Luda-class destroyer and its escort , which are in the area to
lay mines and attack
Independence. She additionally cripples a Chinese
task group as well as another Romeo-class sub before meeting with
Independence.
"Four if by Sea, Six if by Land" Initially assigned as the advance escort for the
Independence carrier group,
Cheyenne receives orders to proceed to
Spratly Islands and destroy a Chinese submarine base there. Along the way, it scores kills on another Luda-class destroyer and two more enemy subs.
"Dogfight" Cheyenne meets up with the
submarine tender in
Sulu Sea for supplies and debriefing. Its new orders are to sink any Chinese submarines and surface ships in contact. While managing to destroy one Han-class and three s, Mackey discovers the existence of a Russian joining the Chinese.
"Interdiction" Cheyenne is once again assigned to patrol duty on the
Independence carrier group. Tasked to attack a Chinese surface task group from north of the Spratlys, Mackey prevents two Chinese-crewed Alfa-class submarines from attacking an American frigate by sinking them. After successfully sinking the surface task group, it later fends off a
Ming-class submarine from sinking
McKee before meeting up with the latter.
"Ambush" Cheyenne is tasked to patrol several abandoned oil rigs in the Spratlys. It destroys a Chinese submarine depot there, as well as a Kilo-class submarine.
"Target: Convoy" Cheyenne is dispatched to cripple a Chinese merchant group entering the Spratlys from the
mainland, later managing to evade an attacking Romeo-class submarine.
"Patrol" Mackey is informed that the
Chinese Navy is aware of his submarine's actions and is deploying all their ships to hunt down and sink
Cheyenne. Additionally,
Cheyenne is assigned to patrol routine in the Spratlys as well as to destroy Chinese airfields and runways with
Tomahawk missiles near the Philippine island of
Palawan. Mackey later scores kills on three Chinese-crewed Alfa-class submarines.
"The Fourth Patrol: From Russia with Love" After completing its patrol duties,
Cheyenne makes a quick stop at the former United States military base in
Subic Bay, Philippines. After undergoing weapons replenishment from
McKee and maintenance through the
floating dry dock Arco, the submarine is assigned to sink six s with experienced Russian personnel embedded within the Chinese crews before they reach the
Paracel Islands north of Spratlys.
"Rescue" A
SEAL Team One unit recaptures the American
oil drillship Benthic Adventure from the Chinese in the Spratlys. With the ship now being escorted by the
Independence carrier battle group to safety,
Cheyenne is assigned to join the convoy and protect the ship from any Chinese submarines in the area. Along with the
Independence carrier group, they later ward off several attacking Chinese vessels intent on sinking
Benthic Adventure.
"Battle Royale" After failing to recapture
Benthic Adventure, the Chinese Navy sends over sixty ships and submarines from the mainland to attack the
Independence carrier battle group.
Cheyenne takes part in sinking most of the Chinese fleet.
"Strait Up" Former Chinese leader Zemin resurfaces in
Taiwan, having been smuggled out of China by .
Cheyenne is assigned to
reconnoiter the mine-infested
Formosa Strait in order to find a safe passage for the deposed Chinese premier's eventual return to the mainland. Mackey scores kills on a Kilo-class submarine and two Luda-class destroyers.
"Typhoon Hunt" Cheyenne is deployed to sink a Russian-crewed
Typhoon-class submarine operating in the South China Sea, along with its
Akula-class escorts. In the ensuing attack, one remaining
Akula-class submarine manages to escape.
"Hornets' Nest" Cheyenne continues patrolling the eastern side of Taiwan to "sanitize" the area of enemy submarines. Surviving an ambush, she scores kills on five
Akula-class submarines (including one that had escaped earlier) and two Kilo-class submarines.
"Special Delivery" Cheyenne is tasked with transporting Zemin to mainland China to negotiate a ceasefire to the ongoing conflict with Chinese Premier Peng. It manages to sink the Sino-Russian next-generation
nuclear attack submarine Mao, which has been aggressively pursuing
Cheyenne. After Zemin retakes his position as
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, he declares a ceasefire ending the war in the South China Sea. Mackey is later honored by the Chinese and American governments. ==Reception==