Thankfully, the Spetsnaz aboard the fast attack submarine were unaware of what had transpired atop the ice. Based on the equipment they had sent up, currently stacked in the two-story deck transfer lock, all of the submarine’s tactical systems were off-line, including their WQC. However, they had heard the two underwater explosions through the hull and the attendant in the PRM had inquired. The co-pilot in the control van reported they had no idea what it was and the conversation ended there.
McNeil addressed Commander Steel. “What’s the status of the rescue equipment?”
Steel answered, “The port side of the hyperbaric complex is damaged. Luckily, the decompression chambers and all essential gear are contained in metal Conex containers to make them easy to transport, and the extra layer of metal helped protect things. But the port decompression chamber is out of commission for the time being, and there are a few holes in the pressurized flexible manway we’ll need to patch before we can rescue Dolgoruky’s crew. The Russian submarine is likely pressurized, and it would be counterproductive to rescue the crew, only to have them die from the bends. However, we can retrieve the PRM from North Dakota, because she’s at standard atmospheric pressure.”
“How many men can the PRM carry?” McNeil asked.
“Sixteen, plus two attendants.”
McNeil turned to Harrison. “Take two squads down and regain control of North Dakota.”
Harrison conferred with the other SEAL platoon OIC, selecting the fifteen men who would accompany him. Lieutenant Allen left to round up the desired personnel, along with two sets of Spetsnaz Arctic gear. Harrison and Chief Stone would don the gear, gaining a valuable few seconds before the Russians aboard North Dakota realized they weren’t Spetsnaz. Harrison turned to Captain Brackman, who had regained consciousness shortly after McNeil arrived; after a quick check by the Undersea Rescue Command’s Medical Officer and a bandage applied to his head, Brackman was released.
“I need a layout of North Dakota,” Harrison said.
Brackman located a notepad and pen, then drew a diagram of the Virginia class submarine, showing the compartments and levels. At Harrison’s request, Brackman noted the location of the watertight doors between the compartments and the ladders providing access between levels. Harrison studied the diagrams, then tore the sheets from the notepad.
Commander Steel’s handheld radio squawked. It was the rescue supervisor in the control van. Steel answered and was informed the PRM was on its way up to off-load equipment.
Steel turned to Harrison. “The PRM will be back in the deck cradle in fifteen minutes.”
“How many Spetsnaz are in the PRM?” Harrison asked.
Steel relayed the question, and after the rescue supervisor examined the video feed from the PRM’s interior camera, he replied, “Only one.”
Fifteen minutes later, Harrison stood in the flexible manway beside Chief Stone, with both men wearing the white Spetsnaz outer layer and holding Russian MP-443 pistols in their hands. One end of the manway was open, providing Harrison a view of the LARS A-frame and the ice hole beneath it, while behind him was the deck transfer lock, which provided access to the port and starboard habitrail tunnels leading to the two decompression chambers. The flexible manway was large enough for only two persons to stand abreast, so the remaining fourteen SEALs waited in the deck transfer lock.
The cursor frame that would mate with the PRM descended into the water, and a moment later, Harrison felt the subtle vibrations and heard the groan as the two heavy-duty winches began lifting the PRM. The submersible emerged from the water, its wet surface glistening under the bright ice station lights. It continued upward until it reached the top of the A-frame, where the PRM locked into the latch mechanisms. There was a jolt as the massive A-frame pivoted from the outboard to inboard position, mating the PRM with the end of the flexible manway.
The hatch ring rotated, freeing the lugs from the secured position. There was no window in the door, so it was impossible to tell who was on the other side. The door opened, revealing one of the attendants, Bob Ennis, who glanced at Harrison and Stone before securing the door on the open latch.
Ennis looked again at the two Spetsnaz, speaking dryly, “If either of you happen to understand English, you need to move aside. We’ve got equipment to off-load.”
Neither Harrison nor Stone replied.
Ennis shook his head, then pulled back inside the PRM, and a Spetsnaz appeared in the hatch opening. He said something in Russian, then his eyes narrowed as he examined Harrison and Stone more closely.
Harrison raised his pistol and squeezed off three rounds, the first two hitting the Spetsnaz in the chest and the third in his face. The Spetsnaz fell back into the PRM and Harrison and Stone moved forward, each taking station on one side of the hatch.
“We’re Navy SEALs,” Harrison said to Ennis and whoever else was in the PRM. “We’ve regained control of the ice station. Are there any other Russians inside the PRM?”
“No,” was the reply, and Ennis appeared in the hatch, examining Harrison, then Stone. He stepped from the PRM, followed by Art Glover, the other attendant.
Harrison peered inside the PRM. It was packed with electronic equipment. He turned to Ennis and Glover. “We’re going to off-load the equipment, then head back down with a platoon of SEALs. What can you tell us about the Spetsnaz aboard North Dakota?”
The two attendants had little to offer, except that there were fifteen Spetsnaz still aboard the submarine.
“Thanks,” Harrison replied. “Let’s get the PRM off-loaded.”
Chief Stone informed the other SEALs the PRM was secure, and the sixteen SEALs, along with Ennis and Glover, off-loaded the equipment and the dead Spetsnaz.
Ten minutes later, Harrison was aboard the PRM, sitting on a steel seat on the port side, near the hatch they had entered. There were seven SEALs to his left, while Chief Stone and the remaining seven men sat opposite them. Glover was at the far end of the PRM, while Ennis stood beside Harrison. Ennis closed the hatch, sealing the eighteen men inside, then Glover notified the control van. A moment later, Harrison felt the PRM ascend and then lurch as the A-frame shifted to the outboard position. The A-frame came to a halt, and the PRM began its descent.
84
Harrison listened to the whirr of the submersible’s thrusters as they adjusted Falcon’s descent toward North Dakota. Although Harrison and Stone wore the Spetsnaz white outer layer, the other fourteen SEALs wore their black insulated wet suits. Harrison and Stone had discarded the Russian MP-443 pistols, since they didn’t have silencers, in favor of the MP7, hanging from a sling around each man’s neck. When he and Stone boarded North Dakota, there were two things each man needed to conceal as long as possible: his face and his weapon. Once a Spetsnaz spotted either, he’d realize something was amiss. Still, Harrison figured they’d be able to descend the ladder before anyone got suspicious.
The whine of the PRM’s thrusters increased, and the submersible’s descent slowed. There was a clank as the PRM struck a metal object, and the thrusters coasted to a halt. Bob Ennis activated the low-pressure dewatering pump, which began dewatering the transfer skirt between the PRM and submarine hatches. He then opened an equalizing line between the PRM and the transfer skirt, which allowed air to flow in as the water was pumped out, and Glover bled air from the air banks into the PRM to maintain it at one atmosphere.