“What the hell, Chris. You’re drunk?”
“I’ve had a few.”
“Give your pistol to Tarbottom.”
“I’m a good shot,” she replied. “Probably better than him.” She waved the gun in Tarbottom’s direction.
Harrison reached over and grabbed the gun from her hand. “I don’t want a drunk amateur firing a weapon anywhere near me.”
“I’m not an amateur.”
As Harrison handed the pistol to Tarbottom, Christine’s irritation began to mount. Harrison was treating her the same way he had in Beijing, discounting her ability. The SEALs wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for her. However, considering her current condition, she had to admit he was right this time.
Chief Stone led one SEAL fire team toward the PRM control van, while Harrison led the other team along the front edge of the LARS. Christine peered around the corner as the four SEALs halted. One of the SEALs knelt on one knee and aimed his weapon toward the LARS control platform, just around the other corner.
Christine heard the whisper of his MP7, followed by the thud of a body impacting the snow. Two SEALs moved forward and disappeared around the corner, returning seconds later dragging a body. All four SEALs returned to where Christine, Brackman, and Tarbottom waited and released the dead Spetsnaz, tossing his assault rifle onto the snow nearby.
Christine perked up and turned to Harrison. “There’s an extra weapon. I could—”
“Zip it, Chris,” he said. “If I need your help, I’ll ask for it.”
She glared at him, then sat between Brackman and Tarbottom, with her back against the LARS. A minute later, Chief Stone and the other three SEALs returned, one of them carrying a Spetsnaz over his shoulder. The Spetsnaz was deposited onto the snow beside the other, along with his weapon.
Harrison turned to Brackman, Christine, and Tarbottom. “Two down, five more to go. Since we know where four are, we’ll eliminate them next, then track down the last one. Stay here, and we’ll be back in a few minutes. Any questions?”
After Christine and the others shook their heads, the eight SEALs disappeared around the corner of the LARS. Brackman kept watch in the direction the SEALs had headed, while Tarbottom monitored the other direction. Across from Christine, the two dead Spetsnaz lay face up in the snow. She decided to keep an eye on them, just in case.
70
“Conn, Sonar. Hold a new narrowband contact, designated Sierra eight-five, bearing two-eight-zero. Analyzing.”
Standing on the Conn between the two lowered periscopes, Wilson acknowledged Sonar’s report. Sierra eight-five was almost assuredly the Akula that had surfaced nearby, but Sonar would confirm or deny his suspicion after analyzing the frequency tonals.
In the meantime, Wilson reviewed the tactical situation. Michigan was headed south, with Sierra eight-five on the starboard beam. He decided to maintain course long enough to obtain a bearing rate for the contact, while Sonar determined its classification.
Sonar followed up. “Conn, Sonar. Sierra eight-five is classified Akula.”
Matvey Baczewski stood in the Central Command Post, waiting impatiently while his First Officer shifted between the fire control consoles, analyzing the data from Hydroacoustic. The American SSGN was no longer hovering; they must have heard Vepr submerging.
Baczewski evaluated the geographic display. Bearings to the contact drifted rapidly to the right, which meant the American submarine was headed south. Once their adversary’s course was refined to within ten degrees and its speed to within a few knots, they would be ready.
Captain Third Rank Petr Lukov, Baczewski’s First Officer, was hunched over the shoulders of the two men at the fire control consoles. He tapped one Michman on the shoulder. “Set as Primary.” The Michman complied, and Lukov announced, “Captain, I have a firing solution.”
Baczewski ordered, “Prepare to Fire, Hydroacoustic two-five, tube One.”
Captain Wilson studied the sonar display, watching Sierra eight-five on their starboard beam, drifting aft. With only one leg of bearings, there was insufficient data to determine the contact’s solution; it could be close and operating at slow speed, or distant and headed toward them at high speed. He was about to reverse course to determine which scenario he was dealing with when a report from Sonar came across the Control Room speakers.
“Conn, Sonar. Receiving metallic transients from Sierra eight-five. Possible torpedo door mechanisms.”
Wilson acknowledged Sonar’s report, then called out, “Firing Point Procedures, Sierra eight-five, tube One. Select under-ice presets. Open outer doors, tubes One and Two.”
As the personnel in Control executed their checklists, Wilson added, “Helm, left full rudder, steady course north.”
If the Russian crew was preparing to fire, it would be prudent to maneuver.
“Contact maneuver,” First Officer Lukov called out.
Baczewski stopped beside Lukov and reviewed the two fire control displays. Instead of bearings drifting to the right, they were now steady. Their adversary had turned to the north. It would take a few minutes to sort out their contact’s exact course, but in the meantime, Baczewski would maneuver to a more favorable position.
“Steersman, right standard rudder, steady course one-two-zero.”
Vepr would move behind the American submarine.
“Possible contact zig, Sierra eight-five, due to upshift in frequency.”
Wilson evaluated Sonar’s report. The Akula submarine had either increased speed, turned toward them, or both. After analyzing the new bearing rate, it became clear the Russian Captain was maneuvering into Michigan’s baffles. Two could play that game.
“Helm, ahead full. Left full rudder, steady course two-nine-zero.”
The Helm rang up the higher bell as he shifted his rudder left.
Michigan’s Weapons Officer, Lieutenant Marcus Benjamin, announced, “Outer doors open, tubes One and Two. Weapon in tube One has accepted presets and is ready with the exception of Master solution.”
Benjamin looked over his shoulder at Lieutenant Commander Terry Sparks. The Weps could not report Weapon Ready until the XO determined a firing solution and updated it to Master. Unfortunately, they were in the middle of a melee, with both submarines maneuvering aggressively. Who lived and died would be determined by which crew determined an adequate firing solution first.
“Contact two-five is maneuvering again,” the nearest fire control Michman announced. Baczewski moved behind the Michman, evaluating the new bearing rate. It was drawing aft more rapidly than expected. The American Captain was astute, realizing Vepr was headed into his baffles, and was attempting the same.
With both submarines alerted to the other’s presence and tactical goals, the scenario would degenerate into a circular tail-chase, each submarine constantly maneuvering to prevent the other from entering its baffles or developing a firing solution.
Baczewski decided to change tactics.
“Cancel fire,” he announced, followed by new commands. “Prepare to fire, Hydroacoustic two-five, horizontal salvo, tubes One and Two. Tube One fired first.”