“We will,” Dahan said. “The Israeli airborne assets are now a threat to detecting our ship while it runs at high speed. We’ll need to slow to avoid being identified as a combatant.”
Cahill reflected upon the detection ranges of the adversary’s assets.
“The Phalcon system on your Gulfstreams has an advertised tracking range of only two hundred nautical miles,” he said. “Granted, detection range for a ship this large may be a bit farther, but we’re barely east of Malta.”
“The detection range is three hundred and fifty nautical miles for this ship and its large radar cross section,” Dahan said. “A Gulfstream could fly from the Israeli coast to detection range in less than two hours.”
“They won’t fly directly towards us, unless they’re fanning out several aircraft across the Mediterranean to search for us. And I need to stay on the surface to get to Dmitry.”
She offered the gruff gaze.
“Then a tactical decision must be made,” she said.
Cahill welcomed his executive officer’s interjection.
“I can resolve this,” Walker said. “That’s why I called you up here. Dmitry doesn’t need us.”
“I assume that’s good news?” Cahill asked.
“You bet,” Walker said. “He’s an ace as I see it. He took out two Israeli submarines and can maneuver at will to the operational theater without our help.”
“No shit, mate? Dmitry’s putting Jake at risk of being our second-best submarine commander.”
“It’s not all good news,” Renard said.
Cahill focused on the video screen.
“I assumed not,” he said. “Otherwise we wouldn’t all be awake now.”
“Indeed. Jake and Dmitry have enjoyed rapid and successful engagements, but an unintended consequence is the Israeli’s certitude about whom they face as an adversary. We’ve left no room for doubt.”
Pondering the implications of becoming known, Cahill glared at the screen in hopes his boss would offer a clue. The Frenchman’s fatigued, sullen sockets framed steel blue eyes that betrayed no hint. He tried to lure a clue.
“Three slow-kill torpedoes and two dolphin bombs pretty much equate to your calling card, mate,” Cahill said.
“Agreed,” Renard said. “They’re adjusting their defenses to account for our technology and our tactics, which are unfortunately becoming too easily recognized for my tastes.”
The Frenchman’s tone revealed the hint of caution Cahill sought. For a man who planned every move to control his world, Renard appeared to be shifting to a backup option.
“So they know a lot about us, but what’s it all add up to?” Cahill asked.
“They know that the Specter attacked Shaldag Three and that the Wraith attacked the Leviathan and the Splendor,” Renard said. “And they know they can’t defeat us in open waters, if I surmise their behavior correctly.”
Dahan exchanged quick words in Hebrew with her soldier, and then she aimed her voice at the screen.
“That’s correct,” she said. “The Israeli Navy is warning all unit commanders about Renard’s fleet and its latest actions, and the information is accurate. In response, the submarine fleet ordered the Revival to cease an intelligence-gathering mission and to join the Crocodile in the Gaza Strip blockade. Jake’s interference there caught the prime minister’s attention.”
Cahill questioned her definitiveness.
“How are you sure the Revival is in one place and the Crocodile in the other?”
Her hips glided as she shifted her weight and cocked her head, leaving Cahill to wonder if every statement he uttered offended her.
“We know from historical briefings that the Revival’s crew is experienced in offshore intelligence missions while the Crocodile’s crew has trained for open sea combat.”
“So it was the Crocodile that Jake discovered at the blockade?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Okay,” Cahill said. “Two Israeli submarines are stranded on the other side of the Suez Canal. Two are disabled thanks to Dmitry. One is laid up in dry dock, and that leaves only the Crocodile and the Revival to support the blockade. Isn’t this the best outcome we were hoping for at this point?”
“It was,” Renard said. “But I had planned on the Israelis being aggressive and pursuing Jake and Dmitry, and their defensive reaction to protect the blockade is the worst of the outcomes I analyzed. It places obstacles in the way of the humanitarian aid convoy we intend to escort to Gaza.”
“So that’s the bad news,” Cahill said. “But you did analyze it and consider other options, right?”
A glint of pride glimmered in the Frenchman’s eye as the corners of his mouth angled upward.
“Indeed, I did, and I’m sure you’ll embrace the change in plans.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’m going to have Jake and Dmitry both loiter outside the blockade awaiting your arrival.”
“Ah, another mission where me transport ship doesn’t do any transporting — only fighting, not that I’m complaining.”
“Well, you may complain about this,” Renard said. “You’re going to have to submerge, but not for the reasons Major Dahan suggested. You won’t be hiding any time soon from the airborne early warning assets. In fact, I want you to stay surfaced until you can verify that an airborne asset has identified you.”
Cahill folded his arms.
“If I had to guess, you’re setting another one of your traps.”
“I am, my friend,” Renard said. “And what better bait than the Goliath?”
CHAPTER 7
Jake tapped a nervous finger on the Specter’s central plotting table and looked to his French mechanic.
“This doesn’t seem fair,” he said.
“That’s because it isn’t,” Henri said. “But this is warfare, and ambushes are an acceptable means to victory.”
Across the table, the Israeli Aman officer shrugged.
“I can’t lend any judgment,” he said.
“But you do confirm that I’m facing only one submarine?”
“You could have surmised that for yourself, but yes. The most logical place for the Revival to be gathering intelligence is off the coasts of Lebanon and Syria, which means it’s too far away to interfere with you before you reach the Crocodile. You didn’t need me to tell you this.”
“Still, I appreciate the confirmation,” Jake said.
He lifted a stylus from its magnetic mount and stuck its tip into the oval of uncertainty about the Revival’s location.
“That’s as good a guess as any,” the Aman officer said. “I have little knowledge of the Revival’s operating area. I only know the latest intelligence coming from the submarine fleet refers to Hezbollah, and that places it near Lebanon.”
“It would be a challenge for the Revival to reach Terry before he can attack the blockade, especially since it lacks air-independent propulsion,” Jake said. “It would have to snorkel a lot. The Israelis would be wiser to send the Crocodile without delay for a head-to-head battle with Terry.”
“I agree,” the Aman officer said.
“Then I’ll focus on just the Crocodile.”
Jake double-tapped the stylus in the ellipse of uncertainty around the Crocodile and then selected a hostile submarine icon from a dropdown menu. With the system adjusting his freehanded attempt, he drew a straight line from the Israeli submarine and snapped it to the expected future track of the Goliath.