NAVY Chief of Staff (KSAL) Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh signed a secret telegram in the middle of July this year. This ordered two fast patrol boats—KRI Ajak and KRI Sura, which were returning to Surabaya following exercises with the Malaysian Navy, to head for Belawan Harbor in Medan, North Sumatra.

They were ordered to pick up two young officers, a major and a lieutenant colonel, who would have the ships' subsequent orders with them.