“How many planes could we get aboard,” Hammond asked.
“Probably around fifty if we do it right,” the CNO said. He turned back to the President. “With your okay, I’ll start that process too,” he said.
“Make it so,” the President said. He looked around the room. “Gentlemen, we have a lot to find out in a short period of time. Let’s get all our facts and figures together and meet for a working lunch. In the meantime, you have approval to do what we talked about. Admiral, get those submarines active and clear the harbors for the rest of the fleet. The rest of you get ready. We need to start something on short notice.”
“Mister President, as the Supreme Commander, I have a request,” said Hammond sitting up in his seat. The rest of the room got quiet. “Sir, I want to implement at least a little part of the plan General Black referred to. I need to get cruise missiles lined up to do what you, yourself recommended. I want to take down the infrastructure of Russia. I want to target their oil and electricity industry to put as many people as I can in the cold and dark. It may not blunt their attacks, but it will sure as hell get their attention.”
The President looked at Hammond and smiled. “Who am I to refuse the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe?”
Like every submarine commander in the fleet, when the ELF receiver went off, they almost jumped. It took over a minute, but now Captain Jacobs was staring at the message. So it finally happened, he thought to himself. Oh well, so much the better. Texas had already sunk one submarine, what would a few more be? He reached for the microphone for the general announcing system.
“All hands, this is the Captain. Well, it happened. It looks like World War Three has begun. The President has ordered unrestricted submarine warfare on all Russian targets. As of now, we go to port and starboard watches. I want fish in the tubes at all times, and I don’t want a single bit of noise to leave this ship. USS Texas is at war. So let’s forget any troubles we may have had. Now we are going to take the fight to our enemies. That is our only purpose. We will set the watch in ten minutes,” he said as he placed the microphone back in its cradle.
He turned to the bitch box. “Sonar, you have all the allied sounds?” he asked.
“Aye, Captain. We were updated before we left port, as usual. We’ll be able to tell friend from foe,” the Chief replied.
“Good. Let’s just hope our allies will be able to do the same. Now where is the closest Russian?”
“Poss sub bearing 057 at a range of about fifty miles. But Captain, we are hearing several of them. They may be waiting for the carrier,” the Chief said.
“I’m coming in,” Jacobs said. He rounded the corner and entered the cramped sonar space. There was not much room with all the electronic equipment, but there was already an intensity you could cut with a knife. He made his way to a small chart table. The Chief was already hovered over it. “Show me,” Jacobs said.
Chief Cooper pointed to a line of five contacts. They appeared to be waiting along the direct course of the task group. “Not good, Captain,” Cooper said.
Jacobs scratched his head. “Yea, not good. Get their position to the OOD. I’m going to go to periscope depth and send a flash satellite message to the carrier. If they change course and these guys do too, then we know what’s up and we’ll go after them. Maybe we can set a few of those helos out there to work them over a bit too. If they think the helicopters are all we have, then we can sneak in and rip ‘em a new one. Set it up quick, Chief,” Jacobs ordered.
Within ten minutes, USS Texas came to periscope depth and raised its satellite antenna. The message went out in less than a second. A reply came just a minute later and the carrier task group turned to the left. In sonar, Cooper watched as the line began to move in concert with the task group. The sonar operators began hearing increased engine noises from the direction of the contacts. Now they knew where the enemy was. To Jacobs, that was just too damn bad.
“Okay, everybody up. Hit the floor, we are in a shooting war and need to be three hundred miles from here by tomorrow morning. Everybody up!” Master Sergeant Ricks screamed as he flung open the door to the barracks-style temporary accommodations and flipped on the overhead lights. Most of the men in the room simply moaned until Ricks repeated his order. Then they slowly began to respond.
“What do you mean war, Sergeant Major?” asked one of the men.
Ricks scowled at the man. “I mean just that. The Russkies just invaded Poland a few minutes ago. They are crashing across the border even as you take your sweet time. So, it looks like we just made it in time.” Ricks turned to the rest. “Now everybody pack your stuff and be outside ready to roll in ten minutes. I have busses waiting,” he yelled.
Ricks turned and walked outside the barracks in time to see the first of the school busses pull up in front of the door. This was the last of the group he had to get up. Some of the earlier ones were even now stumbling out of their barracks into the early morning light. More busses rolled in. These would be the transportation to the train station where a train was being loaded out with all the gear they had brought over. That train would take them to Poland, if the Russians hadn’t gone through it first.
Ricks took in a deep breath of air. There had been a change in plans. At first he had been told he would be staying home, then orders had come down to send him along so that he could see how things worked first-hand, then take back the lessons for training down the road. He had been surprised that Su Lynn had not strongly objected. She mentioned how his buddy, Paul Huffham, had told her what to expect, and she had resigned herself to it. She and the boys had gone with him to the airport. They had all been waiving when the plane taxied away. The worst part for Ricks was the knowledge that Su Lynn was pregnant again. The idea that she might have the baby alone didn’t make him feel any better. His sons, the twins, were excited. Yes, they were sorry to see him leave for a long time, but they knew Daddy always brought neat things back whenever he left. They were fine now and growing up to be very good young men.
Ricks’ thoughts were interrupted by a car pulling up. A Lieutenant Colonel jumped out and came over. Both men saluted.
“You must be Master Sergeant Ricks. I’m Sanders, your new CO,” he said extending his hand. “Sorry we didn’t have the time to say hello before all this, but looks like we’re going to have to do this on the fly. Is everybody ready?” he asked.
“Yes, sir, the busses are almost all here and the people should be out in about five minutes. I understand the equipment is already on the way,” Ricks said while shaking the Colonel’s hand.
“Yep. Didn’t even take it out of those shipping containers. They’re being put on rail cars on the same train. We’re going to a place called Lodz. We’re to set up and be ready by 0300 day after tomorrow. By the look at the Russian advance, they may be within striking distance by then. We’ll get briefed on the train after we leave. You all set?” the Colonel asked.
“Yes, sir. I pack light. You going with us?”
The Colonel grinned. “Yes, we all go together. Once we get rolling, come on up and we’ll get better acquainted. A friend of ours, Colonel Peterson, told me to just point and say go. But I kind of like to go along. If nothing else, I’ll be able to tell if he was lying to me about you,” the Colonel joked.
Ricks’ face broke into a wide grin. “I do like an officer who doesn’t mind getting dirty with the troops. I’ll get these guys to the station as quick as I can,” he said as he saluted.