"This is a military operation. The people on board are armed.'' The words of the Harbour Radio operator brought some much-needed drama to a mission veering horribly close to farce.

The mission? To find the Xing Da , the Chinese cargo ship packed with immigrants bound for America.

The challenge? To overcome the handicap of not having coordinates -- other than Government Information Services' claim the Xing Da was 24 miles southwest of Bermuda.

It had been 4.30 p.m. on Monday when a Royal Gazette reporter and photographer left St. George's on the hired boat, Princess , to track their quarry.

By the time Harbour Radio's voice crackled over the air waves the hour had crept to 8.30 p.m. -- thanks to an increasingly wild trek around the Island and several false leads.

Only the eagle eyes of Princess 's owner had salvaged the mission from total disaster; He had spotted a tiny light flickering on the horizon, some 12 miles south southeast offshore.

"I hope they are not going to put holes in us,'' he mused ruefully.

Pilot David W. DeSilva, owner of Princess Charters, said half-jokingly: "You know, that's what they'll do. They'll just shoot.'' Harbour Radio came on the air again: "The Minister has placed a one-mile exclusion zone around the area.

"You are now within two miles of the area and we will have to notify the authorities.

"The Coast Guard have you locked on their radar. I repeat this is a military operation.'' Mr. DeSilva slowed Princess down to a crawl and informed Harbour Radio of The Royal Gazette's purpose.

The voice came back over the air; This time minus the hint of menace.

"Thanks for your co-operation. The Coast Guard will inform you when you're within a mile of the scene.'' As Princess slowly and nervously ate up the yards, the glimmer on the horizon turned into three lights.

Against the backdrop of the night sky, the orange lights of Xing Da were a striking sight, while in front of her the US Coast Guard Cutter Reliance glowed ominously.

Suddenly an American-sounding voice shattered the silence.

"You are now running 800 yards parallel from the scene. We would ask you not to come any further. We don't want any trouble.

"We've been told by Harbour Radio of your purpose and you are welcome to take pictures. We thank you for your co-operation.'' The voice was firm, but calm, and Mr. DeSilva assured the Coast Guard that Princess was not seeking trouble either.

The Xing Da may have been still too far off to take decent photos, but the mission to find her had succeeded.

And, what is more, The Royal Gazette had breached the exclusion zone. 007 would have been proud of that, at least.

(Sub-editor's note: But `M' would surely have queried the mission's $800 cost!) TOW HOLD -- The Coast Guard's Reliance tows the Xing Da with the Bermuda tug Powerful behind.