“That’s what the submarine is there for, Captain. Send the escorts ahead to scout for subs as well. I want that carrier and nothing is going to get in our way,” Lineman said with a swagger. “Besides, every reward has a little risk,” he grinned. “Now let’s get this force moving,” he demanded.
Toland turned to his watch officer. “Until the admiral’s staff comes in, we need to get the word out. Send to all stations the new course and speed. More instructions to follow,” he said. There was a note of caution in his voice.
“Aye, Captain,” the watch officer said. Pulling open the ATP-1, he quickly pulled out the correct message and picked up the secure satellite circuit. Within a minute, the entire force had changed course and sped up to 27 knots.
Captain Jacobs had just gone to his cabin to do some paperwork when he heard a rumbling coming through the skin of the ship. He rushed to the ship’s control room in time to hear the report from sonar.
“The whole task group has suddenly sped up. We’re listening to multiple blade counts turning at least 25 or more knots. They have also changed direction, sir,” said the sonar operator.
“Very well,” said the OOD. He turned to the Captain. “Sounds like the whole group just changed course and sped up. Beats me what they’re up to,” he said.
“I could hear it in my cabin. For a minute I thought we might have caught something. Any idea of a course yet?” Jacobs asked.
The OOD called to sonar. “Sonar, bridge, any idea of a course yet?”
“Looks like around 035 or so, bridge. I’ll have a firm one for you in a couple minutes,” he said.
“Let’s not get left behind. Take her down to 800 feet and increase speed to 27. At least there we won’t be cavitating,” said Jacobs.
The OOD gave the order and the ship tipped down slightly as she sank deeper into the ocean.
Jacobs walked to the sonar shack. “Can you hear anything in all this noise?” he asked. “I can still hear that rumble through the hull.”
The sonar watch shook his head. “Not much, Captain. I’m trying to filter out as much as I can, but with that much noise, we won’t be able to pick up shit. Us going to a higher speed isn’t helping much either,” he complained.
Jacobs nodded. “I know, but at the rate they are going we will get left far behind and we can’t do that either,” he said. “I wish I knew who the lunatic is that gave this order. Every Russian submarine in the Atlantic can hear them now. It’s just the invitation they are looking for.” He turned to the petty officer at the console and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Just do as best you can, Faris. If you hear anything new, just holler. I’m afraid this is going to be a hairy trip,” Jacobs said.
Petty Officer Faris grinned back at his captain. “I have a few tricks. If I hear anything, I’ll sing out,” he said confidently.
Jacobs grinned and nodded. “That’s just what I need to hear,” he said as he turned and went back to the control room.
“What do you mean he’s gone to sea?” asked Admiral Griffin.
“Just that, boss. I just got word he took off four hours ago and headed toward the Kennedy. He dragged his staff along with him. Just before he left, he sent out special instructions to the Kennedy task group to prepare for his arrival. Nobody checked with us about it. He just left,” his Chief of Staff said.
Griffin threw his pen on the desk. Lineman had not been his pick for COMUSFF, but the Pentagon had insisted. Now the hothead was going out on his own. “You don’t think he is going to try and go after that carrier, do you?” he asked.
The Chief of Staff shrugged his shoulders. “He may just want to make sure his carrier gets back in one piece,” he said.
“Well, get the word out to him that the Air Force is sending out a force to take care of that carrier. Make sure he stays out of the way. When he gets back here, let him know I want to see him. He can’t just go running around without letting people know what he’s up to,” Griffin said.
“Will do, sir,” the Chief of Staff said. He quickly drafted an immediate message to COMUSFF and sent it to the communications center. Unfortunately, because Lineman had left in such a hurry, his communications staff had been left behind and the switch from Norfolk to USS Kennedy had not yet been made.
“We have an EW bearing line of 040 for several radars. I have an E-band air and surface target acquisition radar, an F-band surface search radar, G-band flight control radar, I-band navigation radar on that bearing. They match with the Admiral Kuznetsov. I also have a top pair and top plate radar, that match a Slava Class cruiser on the same bearing. There are some other navigational radars as well,” shouted the electronic warfare technician from behind his enclosed curtain. Suddenly a bearing line appeared on the weapons coordinator’s console matching the report.
Lineman looked up from his reading with a look of glee. “Get me a triangulation from the other ships, ASAP!” he demanded. Within a few minutes a second and then a third line crossed the scope from other ships. They pinpointed a position 320 miles away. Lineman slapped the Captain on the shoulder. “There he is, Captain. At this range, we can launch anytime,” he said.
Captain Toland looked over at the chart. “That’s not where we expected to see them, Admiral. I thought they were supposed to be over here somewhere,” he said pointing toward another position on the chart.
“That was hours ago, Captain. You don’t expect them to sit at all stop, do you?” Lineman demanded. “Now let’s get some birds in the air and take care of business. I want those fighters up within twenty minutes,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” said Toland. He turned and walked to the back of the room where his intelligence officer was standing. He had just entered the room with a message. The man looked very concerned. “You heard him,” Toland said.
“Yes, Captain, but I don’t think that’s them. It would have meant them steaming at flank speed for hours to get that far away. Besides, I have a message here saying for us to expect a large number of Air Force planes in the next couple of hours. They have been ordered to take out the carrier,” he said handing over the message.
Toland took a moment and read the message. “Okay, look. Let’s brief the crews and get these guys in the air. Tell the CAG (carrier air group commander) I want to double our CAP (combat air patrol), then get these guys off toward this target. At the same time, tell them there might be another force at the first position and that if we take out the first, then go for the second. Get two tankers up as well. That ought to cover the bases. I’ll mention this to the Admiral.”
The intelligence officer nodded and quickly left the room. Toland went back to Admiral Lineman and handed him the message. “Admiral, my intel guy just handed me this. It seems the Air Force has been handed this one,” he said.
Lineman got visibly angry. “No Air Force pilots are going to do what I consider the Navy’s job. I want those planes in the air now! Is it happening?” he nearly shouted.
“Yes, Admiral. The crews are being briefed now and I am getting everything in the air to support the mission. I also doubled the CAP just in case,” Toland reported.
The lines on Lineman’s face eased. “Very good, Captain. We are getting ready to sink the Russian’s only aircraft carrier in the Atlantic and open up the skies again. If the Air Force wants to do some cleaning up after that, then be my guest. We in EMCON (emission control)?”
“Yes sir. No emissions except for Link 16 until they begin their attack or you say go.”