On board Cheyenne, Cheyenne, Mack was well aware that he would need to take care of the most dangerous ASW threats to Mack was well aware that he would need to take care of the most dangerous ASW threats to Independence. Independence. The Akula submarines would be hard to detect and had weapons that could attack the carrier from long distances. He would have to take special care to deal with these threats, even if it meant letting the noisier, less dangerous Romeos and Mings slip by, leaving them for The Akula submarines would be hard to detect and had weapons that could attack the carrier from long distances. He would have to take special care to deal with these threats, even if it meant letting the noisier, less dangerous Romeos and Mings slip by, leaving them for Bremerton Bremerton and and Columbia Columbia to handle. to handle.

Word passed rapidly throughout the Battle Group that evidence strongly suggested that the Chinese task force had arrived at the Spratly Islands and was now beginning to refuel. That told Mack that the battle was about to begin.

Cheyenne was in perfect position to launch her Tomahawk cruise missiles at the refueling warships and their piers, but Mack agreed with the Battle Group commander's decision not to. Not even was in perfect position to launch her Tomahawk cruise missiles at the refueling warships and their piers, but Mack agreed with the Battle Group commander's decision not to. Not even Cheyenne Cheyenne could have taken out all sixty ships, and launching her Tomahawks would have given away could have taken out all sixty ships, and launching her Tomahawks would have given away Cheyenne's Cheyenne's position. That would have risked exposing her to any Akulas in the area, and hampered her in her ASW mission. position. That would have risked exposing her to any Akulas in the area, and hampered her in her ASW mission.

Mack would have liked to go after the Chinese ships while they were still no threat to the Independence Independence Battle Group, but he agreed with the decision. He would wait, silently, until the enemy submarines began to show up on his sonar consoles. Battle Group, but he agreed with the decision. He would wait, silently, until the enemy submarines began to show up on his sonar consoles.

Cheyenne wasn't the only U.S. asset in the area with Tomahawks on board. The USS wasn't the only U.S. asset in the area with Tomahawks on board. The USS Hewitt's Hewitt's entire Mk 41 vertical launch system had been loaded with sixty-one land-attack variants of the Tomahawk cruise missile. And as the Chinese ships steamed into the Spratlys, entire Mk 41 vertical launch system had been loaded with sixty-one land-attack variants of the Tomahawk cruise missile. And as the Chinese ships steamed into the Spratlys, Hewitt Hewitt received orders to launch her missiles. received orders to launch her missiles.

Within several minutes, Hewitt's Hewitt's entire arsenal had been fired and the Tomahawk missiles headed, at low altitude, for the Spratly Islands. entire arsenal had been fired and the Tomahawk missiles headed, at low altitude, for the Spratly Islands.

By now, USCINCPAC had provided the ships in the area with extremely accurate digital terrain data of the islands. This intelligence, combined with the accuracy of the Tomahawk's GPS, ensured an unprecedented accuracy when the Tomahawks arrived at their destination.

Forty-six minutes later the Tomahawks arrived at their targets. One by one the missiles impacted, giving the Chinese their first indication that perhaps the attack on the carrier Independence Independence was not such a good idea after all. was not such a good idea after all.

At the naval bases where the Chinese task force was refueling, many of the piers where the ships were pulling in to be refueled were completely and utterly destroyed.

In all, twenty-three Chinese ships and submarines were destroyed outright. The explosions and fires resulting from the Tomahawks wreaked havoc on the firefighting efforts of the small damage-control contingents at each of the mini-bases.

Ten more fast attack craft and four submarines were soon destroyed in secondary explosions also caused by the Tomahawks.

All in all, following the American Tomahawk attack, the total Chinese task force of sixty-two naval vessels was cut down to twenty-five ships, including eighteen surface ships and seven submarines: three Romeos, two Mings, one Kilo, and a single Akula. Of the eighteen surface ships remaining, not all of them had the fuel to fight the Americans and then return to China-but that didn't matter. The order came down from above that all twenty-five ships would fight-whether they had enough fuel or not.

Win or lose, many of the Chinese sailors would not be coming home from this battle.

Cheyenne's sensitive sonars picked up the sounds of destruction as sensitive sonars picked up the sounds of destruction as Hewitt's Hewitt's Tomahawks found their marks. These noises were followed almost immediately by the distinctive sounds of the surviving Chinese submarines running out to sea. Tomahawks found their marks. These noises were followed almost immediately by the distinctive sounds of the surviving Chinese submarines running out to sea.

Mack ordered Cheyenne Cheyenne to proceed to periscope depth. Once there, he radioed to proceed to periscope depth. Once there, he radioed Independence, Independence, alerting her that the Chinese vessels had started in her direction. When that had been done, Mack manned battle stations and took alerting her that the Chinese vessels had started in her direction. When that had been done, Mack manned battle stations and took Cheyenne Cheyenne back down to a safer depth. back down to a safer depth.

"Conn, sonar," the sonar supervisor reported, "we've got far more than a dozen contacts headed in this direction."

"Sonar, conn, aye," Mack said. "Make tubes one and two ready in all respects, including opening the outer doors."

As was standard aboard Cheyenne, Cheyenne, all four of her torpedo tubes were already loaded with Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes. She was now preparing to use them. all four of her torpedo tubes were already loaded with Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes. She was now preparing to use them.

Cheyenne was waiting at a distance of about one hundred miles west of Ladd Reef, one of the westernmost points in the Spratly Island chain. was waiting at a distance of about one hundred miles west of Ladd Reef, one of the westernmost points in the Spratly Island chain. Independence Independence was operating two hundred miles west of was operating two hundred miles west of Cheyenne's Cheyenne's position, three hundred miles from Ladd Reef. position, three hundred miles from Ladd Reef.

The Chinese navy was not rated among the world's finest. As Mack listened to the reports coming in from his sonar supervisor, he could see why.

Active sonar was good for in-close work. Used properly, active sonar could give a competent submariner an effective firing solution, map a minefield, or help navigate an unfamiliar trench. Used poorly, in the hands of incompetent or inexperienced sailors, active sonar was the equivalent of hanging a target on the side of your ship and inviting the enemy to fire.

That's what the Chinese were doing as they sped toward the Independence Independence carrier group. Many of the oncoming surface ships were pinging away with their active sonar, obviously searching for American submarines. carrier group. Many of the oncoming surface ships were pinging away with their active sonar, obviously searching for American submarines.

Mack was delighted. He could hardly believe it when Cheyenne's Cheyenne's TB-23 thin-line array picked up faint signals that matched the variable-depth active sonar fitted to the new Chinese Luhu destroyers. The Chinese ships were too far away to detect TB-23 thin-line array picked up faint signals that matched the variable-depth active sonar fitted to the new Chinese Luhu destroyers. The Chinese ships were too far away to detect Cheyenne, Cheyenne, but their active sonar was illuminating their own submarines and providing Mack with both range and targeting data on the Chinese. but their active sonar was illuminating their own submarines and providing Mack with both range and targeting data on the Chinese.

Nearly thirty minutes passed before the active sonar source got close enough for the BSY-1 to decipher its range from the bearing rate.

"Captain," the sonar supervisor reported, "it's definitely coming from a Luhu destroyer. BSY-1 range is 88,000 yards to the pinging Luhu, bearing 092, but sonar isn't picking up any other signals yet."

Mack thought to himself that the Luhu, designated Master 98, must have been the first Chinese vessel to leave the Spratly Island chain after the Tomahawk cruise missile attack. He was sure, however, that it wouldn't be the only one.

Mack had to play a delicate balancing game now. As the Luhu drew closer, Mack knew that eventually he would come into active sonar range of the destroyer, and the Luhu would detect Cheyenne. Cheyenne. Before that happened, Mack would have to take the destroyer out with an Mk 48. But he didn't want to do that too soon. He was relying on the Luhu's sonar to paint a picture of exactly what Chinese ships were headed his way, and he didn't want to alert the other Chinese captains to the mistake they were making. Before that happened, Mack would have to take the destroyer out with an Mk 48. But he didn't want to do that too soon. He was relying on the Luhu's sonar to paint a picture of exactly what Chinese ships were headed his way, and he didn't want to alert the other Chinese captains to the mistake they were making.

"Conn, sonar, we just detected another contact, this time a submarine. The active Luhu sonar was reflected off the submarine's hull. We can't tell what class it is yet." Mack designated the submarine Master 99.

"Conn, sonar, we just got another active ping! This one's coming from a Chinese Luda," reported the sonar supervisor.

"Range to the new contact is 82,000 yards," reported a BSY-1 operator as Mack designated the Luda Master 100.

Mack would like to have gone to periscope depth so he could alert Independence, Independence, but he dared not give away his position. He hoped that on the surface, the Battle Group ships were seeing the same things that but he dared not give away his position. He hoped that on the surface, the Battle Group ships were seeing the same things that Cheyenne Cheyenne was hearing. was hearing.

He needn't have worried. He couldn't tell it on board Cheyenne, Cheyenne, but even as he was worrying about the ships he was assigned to protect, wave upon wave of F/A-18s were launching off the deck of but even as he was worrying about the ships he was assigned to protect, wave upon wave of F/A-18s were launching off the deck of Independence. Independence. F-14s were waiting in the air to escort them to their targets in case any Chinese aircraft were to take to the sky. F-14s were waiting in the air to escort them to their targets in case any Chinese aircraft were to take to the sky.

The first raid from Independence Independence consisted of twenty F/A-18 Hornets and seven F-14 Tomcats flying cover. These were also escorted by a single EA-6B Prowler intended to jam Chinese radar, which might otherwise be tracking the attacking jets. consisted of twenty F/A-18 Hornets and seven F-14 Tomcats flying cover. These were also escorted by a single EA-6B Prowler intended to jam Chinese radar, which might otherwise be tracking the attacking jets.

As soon as the F/A-18s closed to within one hundred miles of their target, they switched on their APG-73 radars. Prior to this they had been relying on information from the E-2Cs and the F-14s, which carried a new passive infrared search-and-track system, to alert them to any changes in the Chinese operation.

But the Chinese, though reeling from the Tomahawks, weren't finished yet. They had indeed learned from their earlier air assault, and as soon as the EA-6Bs ALQ-99 radar jammer began jamming their ground radar on the Spratly Islands, they launched their secret weapon-air defense fighters. Sixteen SU-27 Flankers and over thirty J-7s, Chinese variants of the MiG-21, lifted off from their tiny bases in the small islands of the Spratlys.

The F-14s' radar detected the swarms of Chinese fighters as soon as they lifted off into the air. Approximately two hundred miles from the carrier Independence Independence and just over one hundred fifty miles from the Spratlys, the F/A-18s began picking up speed in order to target their Harpoon missiles at the Chinese fleet before the enemy fighters arrived on the scene. and just over one hundred fifty miles from the Spratlys, the F/A-18s began picking up speed in order to target their Harpoon missiles at the Chinese fleet before the enemy fighters arrived on the scene.

The F/A-18s formed single-file lines and began launching two Harpoon missiles apiece. After firing, they turned and flew back toward Independence Independence to refuel and rearm. to refuel and rearm.

Before the F/A-18s returned, Independence Independence launched some of the fighters she normally kept in reserve. Six more F-14s and four F/A-18s began racing from the decks of the carrier in an effort to join in the fight. launched some of the fighters she normally kept in reserve. Six more F-14s and four F/A-18s began racing from the decks of the carrier in an effort to join in the fight.

The F-14s escorting the strike group attacked the Chinese fighters first. Each of the F-14s was armed with four long-range Phoenix missiles, two medium-range AMRAAMs, and two short-range Sidewinders. The F/A-18s flying in to assist had been fitted with four AMRAAMs and two Sidewinders apiece. As soon as the first SU-27s entered within 120 miles of the F-14s, the first wave of AIM-54C Phoenix missiles were launched at the oncoming Chinese aircraft.

The success of Independence Independence and her aircraft was, ironically, making things more difficult for and her aircraft was, ironically, making things more difficult for Cheyenne. Cheyenne. Relying solely on her sonar, she was having a difficult time attempting to grasp what was going on above her. Explosion after explosion from the direction of the Chinese task force told Mack that the American aircraft had begun their attack, but he would have to wait until the noises died down to figure out how many ships were left and which submarines he would target. Relying solely on her sonar, she was having a difficult time attempting to grasp what was going on above her. Explosion after explosion from the direction of the Chinese task force told Mack that the American aircraft had begun their attack, but he would have to wait until the noises died down to figure out how many ships were left and which submarines he would target.

Mack had just begun what he thought would be a long wait when sonar reported active sonar from a submarine contact. The continuing loud explosions made it nearly impossible to determine the range. The underwater sonar environment was difficult to interpret using only passive sonar-but Mack refused to use his active suite; he knew it would give away his position.

"Conn, sonar, we just got the classification of that submarine that was active," the sonar supervisor said. "It's an Akula!"

That got Mack's attention.

Within minutes, the fire-control coordinator reported, "Range to the Akula, Master 105, is 33,000 yards; she must have snuck up on us during the air attack."

He was probably right, but that didn't make Mack feel any better. Letting the Akula get that close was a mistake, and Mack knew he had to make up for it. To do that, he had to maneuver Cheyenne Cheyenne closer to the Akula. closer to the Akula.

Overhead, the barrage of explosions continued, indicating that the immense carrier attack had still not ended.

Slowly Cheyenne Cheyenne increased speed to six knots and began proceeding in the direction of the Akula, the quietest non-friendly submarine in the world. The only good thing, from Mack's perspective, was that the Chinese Akula was still pinging away. Their Russian-made passive sonar was worthless in the current underwater environment, and the only way they could detect contacts was to use their active sonar. increased speed to six knots and began proceeding in the direction of the Akula, the quietest non-friendly submarine in the world. The only good thing, from Mack's perspective, was that the Chinese Akula was still pinging away. Their Russian-made passive sonar was worthless in the current underwater environment, and the only way they could detect contacts was to use their active sonar.

"Range to Master 105 is now 28,000 yards," reported the fire-control coordinator.

"Firing point procedures, tubes one and two, Master 105," responded Mack.

Both tube outer doors were already opened and ready, and because the Akula was using her active sonar they now had an accurate firing solution on the Chinese submarine.

"Match sonar bearings and shoot, tubes one and two, Master 105," ordered Mack.

The two Mk 48s were fired in the direction of the Akula and Mack kept the guidance wires attached for as long as possible. He didn't want these torpedoes to miss.

As the Mk 48s left their tubes and closed the distance to the enemy submarine, the sonar room and combat systems officer provided continuous updates on their status. The final updates came after ten minutes.

"Conn, sonar, two explosions in the water, bearing 079. The Mk 48s just detonated."

Mack acknowledged the report, but he wasn't as elated as he'd have liked. He'd made a mistake, and against a better opponent that mistake could have been deadly.

He wondered how things were going on the surface, and whether any of the other American captains had made similar mistakes.

They hadn't. Not a single shot had gotten through Independence's Independence's defenses. defenses.

Of the attacking Chinese fleet, not a single surface ship remained undamaged. The few surviving Chinese sailors had been forced to abandon their sinking warships and drifted in lifeboats. Around them, strewn in an unorganized pattern in between many of the small ships, lay the remnants of the Chinese fighters and their air defense effort, which had attempted to stop the American antishipping attack. The Chinese action had failed-miserably.

The Americans attacked the Chinese ships and aircraft so effectively that not one American fighter had been lost. Thirty-four high-performance Chinese aircraft were destroyed in the battle, along with eighteen surface ships. Now the hope of the Chinese navy lay with their six remaining submarines: three Romeos, two Mings, and one Kilo.

The explosions had stopped and, with the exception of the occasional Chinese ship sinking beneath the waves, the water was again quiet beneath the South China Sea. As the background noise faded, Cheyenne was once again able to use her passive sonar and to begin to build a picture of what they faced.

"Conn, sonar, we've got numerous sonar contacts-probable submarines. We can't tell quite how many at this point, but it's definitely more than two. The contacts sound like they may be operating close together."

"Sonar, conn, aye."

Mack had made one mistake based on overconfidence. He wasn't about to do that again.

"Okay," he said to the communicator, "let's get some help here. Draft a message to Bremerton Bremerton and the SEC (submarine element coordinator). Ask them if they could give us a hand with these numerous submarine contacts." and the SEC (submarine element coordinator). Ask them if they could give us a hand with these numerous submarine contacts."

Fifteen minutes later, word was sent to Bremerton. Cheyenne's Bremerton. Cheyenne's sister submarine, upon receipt of the message over her floating wire and concurrence of the SEC, began running at flank speed in an effort to meet up with Mack and his crew. sister submarine, upon receipt of the message over her floating wire and concurrence of the SEC, began running at flank speed in an effort to meet up with Mack and his crew.

The Chinese diesel submarine captains knew that they were in trouble. Once their refueling points were destroyed, they'd lost all hope of striking a significant blow against the Americans. Without the chance to fully fill their diesel fuel tanks at their base in the Spratlys, each of the submarines was running low both on fuel and on battery power.

Communicating with each other as quietly as possible, they all agreed that their best chance now was to simply try to survive. A slow, quiet run for their home waters might get them back to mainland China. If they were lucky. But, as Mack had found out earlier, luck was a fickle, fragile thing, and never to be counted on.

Once Bremerton Bremerton arrived on the scene in her assigned depth zone, she established communications with arrived on the scene in her assigned depth zone, she established communications with Cheyenne Cheyenne via underwater telephone. That allowed Mack to pass the word that a large Chinese submarine group had been detected some distance away and that the Chinese group had begun to head back in the direction of China, bearing 010. via underwater telephone. That allowed Mack to pass the word that a large Chinese submarine group had been detected some distance away and that the Chinese group had begun to head back in the direction of China, bearing 010.

Bremerton and and Cheyenne Cheyenne conferred and laid their plans. Then they separated, conferred and laid their plans. Then they separated, Bremerton Bremerton on course 300 and on course 300 and Cheyenne Cheyenne on course 040. The two American submarines had begun stalking their prey. on course 040. The two American submarines had begun stalking their prey.

One by one, Cheyenne Cheyenne and and Bremerton Bremerton found the fleeing diesels. The Chinese submarines, however, were so low on battery power that they could put up no fight at all. Mack found it almost like shooting at anchored ships. All the Chinese could do in defense of their lives was to launch a few decoys. The decoys failed, and after they had run out there was nothing left for the Chinese captains to do but just wait, one by one, until they were destroyed by the American submarines. found the fleeing diesels. The Chinese submarines, however, were so low on battery power that they could put up no fight at all. Mack found it almost like shooting at anchored ships. All the Chinese could do in defense of their lives was to launch a few decoys. The decoys failed, and after they had run out there was nothing left for the Chinese captains to do but just wait, one by one, until they were destroyed by the American submarines.

The last submarine to be attacked by Cheyenne Cheyenne was the venerable Kilo, and her captain gave it all he had. In a last-ditch, desperate attempt, he tried to surface after was the venerable Kilo, and her captain gave it all he had. In a last-ditch, desperate attempt, he tried to surface after Cheyenne Cheyenne had launched her torpedo. had launched her torpedo.

His efforts were noble, but they were doomed. The Mk 48 followed the Kilo, Master 111, all the way up before blowing a hole in the boat's stern and sending it straight back to the bottom.

Mack and his crew on board Cheyenne Cheyenne had never had a mission like this. Three submarines had been destroyed by had never had a mission like this. Three submarines had been destroyed by Bremerton Bremerton and four by and four by Cheyenne Cheyenne in this one action alone. in this one action alone. Independence Independence and her Battle Group had, during this battle, destroyed over sixty ships and submarines, more than thirty aircraft, and inflicted irreparable damage on the military installations on the Spratly Islands. The tide in the war against China had now turned completely in America's favor. and her Battle Group had, during this battle, destroyed over sixty ships and submarines, more than thirty aircraft, and inflicted irreparable damage on the military installations on the Spratly Islands. The tide in the war against China had now turned completely in America's favor.

But Mack didn't take much satisfaction in that. He knew that glory faded quickly, and tides had a way of turning when you least expected it.

Strait Up The battle royale was over. Mack still could not believe the losses that Independence Independence and her entire group had inflicted upon the Chinese. That battle, he was sure, would go down in history as the single most one-sided battle in naval history. and her entire group had inflicted upon the Chinese. That battle, he was sure, would go down in history as the single most one-sided battle in naval history.

Cheyenne was currently running at periscope depth, with new information on their latest orders coming in over SSIXS. As soon as the new orders were decoded and printed out, Mack took them and went directly to his stateroom, where he could look at them and analyze the details of his upcoming mission in a quiet surrounding without any distractions. was currently running at periscope depth, with new information on their latest orders coming in over SSIXS. As soon as the new orders were decoded and printed out, Mack took them and went directly to his stateroom, where he could look at them and analyze the details of his upcoming mission in a quiet surrounding without any distractions.

As soon as Mack finished reading the new orders, he called a meeting in the wardroom with Cheyenne's Cheyenne's executive officer, the communicator, the combat systems officer, the navigator, and the sonar officer. executive officer, the communicator, the combat systems officer, the navigator, and the sonar officer.

Within minutes, the officers Mack had requested were waiting in the wardroom. As Mack entered, all conversation cut off abruptly.

"Gentlemen," Mack said, "I have just received our new orders. We have been tasked to detach from the Independence Battle Group and head north. We will have a long transit of over one thousand miles ahead of us. Our destination is the Formosa Strait, in between China and Taiwan." Mack paused to let that last sentence sink in.

"Let me fill you in on what's been going on in the world around us. Things have been going very well for the United States. Jiang Zemin, the Chinese president who was overthrown in the July coup, has recently surfaced in Taiwan after the USS Seawolf Seawolf smuggled him out of mainland China." smuggled him out of mainland China."

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Mack knew that would come as a surprise to his officers. He gave them a moment to absorb that and then continued, "Cheyenne "Cheyenne has been asked to 'delouse' and reconnoiter the Formosa Strait so that Jiang can be transported back to China when the moment for him to return to power arrives." has been asked to 'delouse' and reconnoiter the Formosa Strait so that Jiang can be transported back to China when the moment for him to return to power arrives."

Mack looked around at the officers present, making eye contact with each of them. "Naval intelligence does not have a firm grasp on what type of enemy warships are in the area. They are expecting large numbers of Luda destroyers and possibly several very dangerous Akula or Kilo submarines. Naval intelligence also reports that large areas of the Formosa Strait are heavily mined, so let's watch our step."

On that cautionary note, Mack concluded the meeting and the officers went back to their previous duties.

As Cheyenne Cheyenne pulled away from the pulled away from the Independence Independence Battle Group, Mack thought about the dangers of this new mission. He and his crew had not had much experience with encountering naval mines, but he knew that they presented a great threat to all naval vessels, including submarines. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the only naval casualties the U.S. suffered came from two inexpensive and low-technology mines. It was an ironic twist on modern warfare, thought Mack, that a mine costing a few thousand dollars could sink a billion-dollar submarine like Battle Group, Mack thought about the dangers of this new mission. He and his crew had not had much experience with encountering naval mines, but he knew that they presented a great threat to all naval vessels, including submarines. During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the only naval casualties the U.S. suffered came from two inexpensive and low-technology mines. It was an ironic twist on modern warfare, thought Mack, that a mine costing a few thousand dollars could sink a billion-dollar submarine like Cheyenne Cheyenne if the mine were to come into contact with her hull. if the mine were to come into contact with her hull.

As soon as the meeting in the wardroom was complete, Cheyenne Cheyenne began her long trip north from began her long trip north from Independence. Independence. USS USS Bremerton Bremerton would be leaving the South China Sea and returning to the Indian Ocean. USS would be leaving the South China Sea and returning to the Indian Ocean. USS Columbia Columbia would stay with the would stay with the Independence Independence Battle Group, acting as ASW escort, in the same SSN(DS) role Battle Group, acting as ASW escort, in the same SSN(DS) role Cheyenne Cheyenne had played so many times. had played so many times.

"Make your depth four hundred feet," Mack said.

"Make my depth four hundred feet, aye, sir," the OOD said, acknowledging the order.

"Speed twelve knots," Mack added. This order was also repeated.

There was no emergency rush for Cheyenne Cheyenne to get to the Formosa Strait. Safety was Mack's primary concern. He would much rather get to his destination slowly and quietly than to arrive there after having to fight his way up north. to get to the Formosa Strait. Safety was Mack's primary concern. He would much rather get to his destination slowly and quietly than to arrive there after having to fight his way up north.

Besides, Mack didn't want to announce his position to the Chinese navy. The strait between China and Taiwan was their home waters, and held the threat of warships coming from all directions. There were four Chinese naval bases within range of Mack's destination. Each of those bases could send submarines, attack craft, or destroyers and aircraft after Cheyenne Cheyenne if they knew she was in their waters. if they knew she was in their waters.

Which meant, Mack knew, that he would have to be sure that they didn't find out Cheyenne Cheyenne was there. was there.