A minute after Brent’s assessment Sonar’s report came. “Inbound torpedo, Conn, bearing three-five-five.”
Brent advised, “Captain, we’ve gotta go deep enough to suppress cavitation at evasion speed. About a hundred above test will do it.”
Bostwick repeated the order to Chief Cunningham who quickly executed it. Denver’s hull nudged downward and rolled slightly away from the turn as the ship accelerated to maximum speed.
The Torpedo Room watch reported, “ETC away.”
Brent had taken charge even though not on watch and ordered the helmsman, “Steady two-seven-zero.”
This angered Bostwick, but fear kept him from overruling his young nemesis.
The helmsman’s voice cracked slightly, showing an edge of fear as he repeated, “Two-seven-zero, aye,” and not alone among the crew, grateful knowing that Mr. Maddock had taken the reins.
Brent demanded, “Bearing to the inbound.”
Sonar responded, “Zero-zero-five.”
Forcing a relief sound into his voice, Brent said, “We’re gaining bearing on it. It hears the ETC and is heading that way.”
Bostwick finally spoke. “Classification on the unit, Sonar.”
“We’re working it, sir.”
Brent wanted to know the target’s maneuver and how it avoided the ADCAP. Noise from the inbound torpedo masked the Alfa and made it impossible to assess the tactical situation. The Soviet weapon grew closer and the ping-ping-ping of its active search could now be heard. Stern faces stared at the AIR display. Abruptly, the interval between pings shortened.
Dan Patrick exclaimed, “Oh shit! It’s acquired us!”
With an emphatic tone, Brent declared, “No! Too far away. It acquired the ETC and attacking there.”
Bostwick demanded, “You sure?”
Brent thought, What the hell difference does it make if I’m wrong? We’re dead if it gets us and there’s nothing we can do about it anyway. Brent considered this a good time to let Bostwick resume charge and save some face. Get him involved. “Captain, recommend ride the cavitation curve to one fifty feet, sir. We’ve got a strong thermal layer at two hundred. Suggest we put it between us and the weapon.”
The captain ordered, “Make your depth at one-five-zero, chief. Ahead two thirds.”
“Need a bearing to the target and our ADCAP when we can get it, Captain. Should be around zero-one-five.”
This time, Bostwick did not respond.
The Sonar operator announced, “Best make on the unit is an ET-80 A. Getting fainter.”
All in the Attack Center breathed a sigh of relief. Perspiration soaked the backs of patrol shirts and glistened on each brow.
The captain came back with, “Conn, aye, Sonar. Do you still hold the Alfa and our weapon? Should be somewhere to the northwest.”
Sonar replied, “Standby, Conn.” Twenty seconds passed. “I hear the unit, but no target.”
The captain acknowledged Sonar’s report.
Chief Cunningham reported, “One fifty and holding, Captain.”
“Good,” said Bostwick. “We’ll stay at battle stations while we sneak the hell out of here.”
He did not intend to look further for the Alfa.
Later, Dan and Brent discussed the incident privately.
Dan asked, “What do you figure happened, Brent? I thought we had the bastard cold. How do you think he found us?”
“He heard our torpedo. He certainly didn’t hear us when he went by his closest point of approach and we were in his baffles when we heard his fish. He used the inbound torpedo as an aim point ’cause he knew it came from us.”
“But how did he get so quiet? The exec and captain figure we’ve been led down a primrose path here. The Soviets knew we conducted peacetime surveillance and likely used noise augmenters to cover up how quiet they really can be. Now the war’s started, they turn ’em off.”
“I don’t believe that. Low frequency lines from Soviet boats have always been strongest and augmenters can’t reach down that far. It defies the laws of physics.”
“Then how do you account for their disappearing like they did? To outrun the ADCAP they should have made enough noise to hear them all the way back in San Diego.”
“I don’t know what they did, Dan. Somehow, they dodged our Sunday punch. It’s gonna be a long war if we can’t figure out how they did it.”
Dave Zane greeted his new prospective employee. “Have a seat, Mr. Cameron.”
“I’m more used to Darby … if that’s okay.”
Dave sensed the newcomer’s apprehension and set about relieving it. “That’ll be fine, Darby. I’m told you know something about main propulsion reduction gears.”
While sitting down, Darby nodded and said, “I’ve replaced a few in my time, but I’ll need to do some reading up. Do you have anyone else with experience or do you want me to train the workforce and run the operation?”
“You’ve keyed onto a major piece of the problem. We lost the documentation at Bremerton. Can you take a stab at it?”
Darby whistled softly. “I can, but it’ll be reaching way back. Do you have the parts?”
“They’re on the way. We’re breaking a few rules, but then I guess the Soviets are too.”
Darby said, “Damn nukes didn’t invent bearings or the Babbitt metal they’re made of. Hell, I’ve replaced a lot of bearings on Jimmy and Fairbanks Morse engines. We can get Babbitt to melt down from diesel locomotives that aren’t running now because they’re the same engines used on our diesel boats. We’ll disconnect Newport’s reduction gears from the main engines so they can be jacked while steaming and then I’ll build and install the bearings. We’ll cull out enough guys from the ones you got here to help work on it. You know we’ll be breaking some rules for doing this without certified people, but what other choice have we got?”
Dave noted Darby’s memory remained sharp and felt the working details would be equally so. “We know that. Our boss, Commodore Danis, says he’ll bend everything short of risking major damage to the refit facility.”
“That’s a pretty broad latitude,” Darby said.
“Danis has a pretty broad charter.”
Darby would have liked it better if he had the reference manuals so he asked, “Did you try to get documentation from someplace else?”
Knowing the importance of Darby having some sort of check on his memory, Dave answered, “We’re trying, but all our leads end up in situations similar to Bremerton’s. Maybe some troops in Newport are experienced enough to help you out.”
“Good idea, Captain Zane. I’ll take anything I can get.”
Dave winced at the title but hadn’t made peace with Eric, so he let it pass.
Continuing, Darby added, “Submariners are known to squirrel away a lot of stuff so I’m sure we’ll find some goodies in Newport.”
“When did you last work on reduction gears?”
“About five years ago. An opportunity for promotion came up in the weapons inspection area and I’ve been there ever since.”
“Well, Darby. You’re the only game in town so the job is yours if you want it.”
“Thanks,” Darby said then his tone grew somber, “but there’s more and I don’t want to start off by blindsiding you.”
“What’s that?”
Darby related the problem with Denver’s eject pump and the action by the Civil Service Board dismissing him. He remained quiet after his story and looked at Dave through a grave expression.
Dave reflected a moment then said, “Darby, there’s no question you did wrong and that won’t be tolerated here. However, you impress me as one who appreciates the importance of this work and will perform it in a conscientious manner. All of us have had our letdowns. Probably the difference between you and the rest of us is that you got caught. I suspect the experience will work to my advantage because it’ll make you more cautious. I’m willing to take the chance. The job’s yours if you want it.”