“Jake?”
“Go ahead.”
“They apparently already thought this scenario through. They verified that Argentina isn’t flying any anti-submarine air patrols near you, and they agreed. But I had to stick my neck out for you. My career is on the line if you run or try anything stupid.”
“I won’t.”
“I know you won’t, but I had to remind you. It’s settled already. The commander of the Ambush agrees, and he wishes you happy hunting.”
CHAPTER 23
Three hours and fifty minutes later, the Specter rocked in the swells as its diesel engines charged its battery and pushed its electronic propulsion motor to its limits.
Several of the Taiwanese youngsters discovered the misery of seasickness and had retreated to their racks, but enough men remained coherent, and Jake had them alter the weapons loadout.
The pivotal limpet torpedo filled tube one. As the second half of the one-two punch, an Exocet missile rested in tube two. Jake ordered a drone into tube three, and heavyweight torpedoes were staged in tubes four and five. The last tube contained a super-cavitating torpedo for no other reason than Jake’s desire to have a two-hundred-knot weapon available.
He stood on the conning platform, grasping its encircling railing for equilibrium.
“At least being on the surface allows us to keep the phone line open,” he said. “Where’s the San Juan now, Olivia?”
“The heat signature is drifting almost parallel to you,” she said. “It’s coming slightly toward you.”
“Still no news from the Ambush?”
“No.”
“No surprise,” Jake said. “It’s probably too busy sprinting.”
“You’ll have to trust the Ambush,” she said.
“This is all about trust and a little luck at this point,” Jake said. “There’s always slop and a little luck required in submarining.”
“I know,” she said. “You need to submerge soon.”
Her tone sounded sentimental, like an ex-girlfriend bracing to lose him a second time. If he wanted to say goodbye to anyone, it would be his wife, but he preferred to think he would return home.
“I will,” he said.
“Hold on!” she said. “The heat signature is going away. The San Juan is finished snorkeling.”
“Got to run! Thanks for your help, Olivia.”
He shut down the communications to the outside world.
“Henri, lower the radio mast. Open the main ballast tank vents and submerge the ship.”
Jake glanced at a screen showing his battery at fifty-five percent charge, which he considered adequate for most contingencies. But he needed to conserve that energy by selecting a slower speed.
“Henri, all ahead two-thirds, make turns for eight knots.”
He then walked to the central navigation table and reviewed the geometry.
The Specter’s sprint and the San Juan’s drifting had reduced the gap between the submarines to seventeen nautical miles, but the distance proved insurmountable for Remy’s ears and for those of his young apprentice.
Jake looked to his sonar operators for hope, but Kang and Remy shook their heads. He muttered to himself, not caring who heard.
“Patience,” he said. “The Ambush will come through.”
“Should we transmit secure active?” Remy asked.
“I don’t want to risk revealing ourselves when we’re so close. Ask me again in ten minutes if you don’t hear the San Juan by then.”
For lack of any other option to occupy his mind, Jake glared at the navigation chart. Assuming the unheard San Juan remained on its course, he had closed to within sixteen miles of it.
He resisted the urge to stare down his sonar team, but he allowed himself periodic glances. His heart leapt as he saw Remy curling forward in thought.
Then his young apprentice stole the Frenchman’s thunder.
“Active countermeasures!” Kang said. “They’re on the bearing of the San Juan!”
“Agreed,” Remy said. “The Ambush must have attacked.”
“Spin up tube one,” Jake said. “Get the limpet torpedo’s system running. Enter the Subtics solution for the San Juan into it. We will maintain our present course and speed. Keep listening for the San Juan to update the solution.”
“Flow noise!” Kang said. “It’s the San Juan.”
“I hear it, too,” Remy said. “Assuming a speed of twenty knots and updating the solution.”
The chart showed Jake’s target fifteen miles away.
“We need to get closer,” he said. “All ahead standard.”
“They may hear us, Jake,” Henri said.
“They’re not listening for us. We’re quiet enough.”
“I’ve lost the San Juan due to our own flow noise,” Kang said. “I can’t hear through our own flow.”
“You will when we get closer,” Jake said.
A minute passed. Then another.
“I still don’t hear it,” Kang said.
“Line up the sonar system to transmit secure active with the narrowest beam possible at one-quarter power aimed at the system-generated bearing of the San Juan,” Jake said. “After every transmission, line it up again, narrow beam, aimed at the system’s latest bearing to the San Juan until I tell you otherwise. Got it?”
“Yes, Jake,” Kang said. “The system is lined up.”
“Transmit secure active.”
“Transmitting,” Kang said. “Active return! Range, fourteen miles.”
“It’s not running straight at us,” Remy said. “But close enough. It’s a steep angle.”
“But it will slow down when its commander realizes he’s outrun the Ambush’s torpedoes,” Jake said.
“You’re probably right,” Remy said.
“I am right. We’re losing time, and the Ambush isn’t able to help us anymore. It’s now or never. Henri, all ahead full.”
The Specter trembled with the strain.
Two more minutes passed.
“Transmit secure active,” Jake said.
“Transmitting,” Kang said. “Active return! Range, thirteen miles.”
“Thirteen miles,” Jake said. “Since we sped up, it must have slowed down. Damn it.”
“I must note that you are within range of a torpedo shot,” Henri said. “You can shoot now if you wish.”
“I want a better shot.”
“I understand.”
“Per my calculations in this sound environment,” Remy said, “you risk counter detection by the San Juan at this speed within eleven miles. Counter detection could be sooner than that if its sonar operators are attentive.”
“I’m taking that risk,” Jake said.
Another two minutes.
“Transmit secure active,” Jake said.
“Transmitting,” Kang said. “Active return! Range, twelve miles.”
“Jake,” Henri said. “The San Juan is maintaining its course. You can slow down and control this situation. I appreciate your courage, but use your wisdom!”
Jake glared at the Frenchman. Unlike the confrontation in the wardroom, Henri’s features were soft.
“For all our sakes,” Henri said. “Be patient.”
Running his hand through his hair, Jake played the odds in his mind. He agreed with his colleague.
“All ahead two-thirds, make turns for eight knots.”
The trembling subsided.
“Open the outer door to tube one,” Jake said.
“The outer door is open,” Henri said.