The XO called out, “Possible target zig, Master one, due to upshift in frequency.”
The Kilo’s crew had detected the air compressor tonals and was turning to investigate. As the watchstanders tried to determine the Kilo’s new course, the submarine lurched.
Metallic groans filled the air as the deck tilted downward. The stern was rising from the bottom. A moment later, the bow broke free and Michigan drifted upward with a ten-degree down-angle.
Wilson ordered, “Dive, zero bubble. Hover at three-eight-zero feet.”
The Diving Officer ordered the Chief of the Watch to flood water into After Trim. As water flowed into the stern trim tank, Michigan leveled off until a zero bubble was obtained. The Dive then ordered the Chief of the Watch to hover at 380 feet.
The hovering system kicked in, flooding water into the variable ballast tanks, stabilizing Michigan at the ordered depth.
Wilson ordered, “Secure the air charge and start up the Engine Room.”
Lieutenant Cody relayed the order to Maneuvering, and Wilson waited while the nuclear-trained machinist mates raced to bring up the electrical generators and propulsion turbines. To survive a duel with another submarine, Michigan needed power and propulsion.
73
BEREGOVOY, RUSSIA
As a white van sped down Highway E97, Maxim Anosov looked out the passenger window, searching for the exit to Beregovoy. His driver knew the area well enough and didn’t need a map, but Anosov followed along on his smart phone, which indicated they were approaching the exit in a few hundred meters. The van slowed and made a left turn, then Anosov checked the map again; they were five kilometers from their destination.
Anosov resisted the urge to check the firearm in the holster beneath his jacket. It was loaded with the safety disengaged, and there was no point in checking it again. The CIA safe house in Sochi didn’t have a detachment of tactical mercenaries, but Anosov was no stranger to firearms, and his driver was also armed. Additionally, today’s assignment was as simple as it got. Swing by the designated address and pick up the package. Even though this package — America’s national security advisor — was unusual, Anosov had been involved in far more delicate extractions.
As Anosov’s van headed down the two-lane road, it was passed by two Russian military armored personnel carriers, traveling well above the speed limit. The vehicles diminished in size as they sped into the distance, then turned left. A sick feeling formed in Anosov’s stomach when he checked the map on his phone. The armored carriers had turned down Ulitsa Podgornaya, the road on which his package was waiting.
The van made the left turn and Anosov propped his elbow on the open window, projecting a nonchalant look as they traveled toward their destination. Ahead, the two personnel carriers had stopped and two dozen Russian soldiers were streaming forth, surrounding a duplex apartment. Anosov checked the map again, then swore under his breath. The Russian military had somehow tracked down Christine O’Connor.
“Continue on,” Anosov directed his driver.
The van slowed, imitating the natural curiosity of passersby. One of the Russian soldiers, standing by the street, waved them on. As they passed 140 Ulitsa Podgornaya, Anosov spotted Christine O’Connor, in handcuffs, being led roughly from the duplex toward a personnel carrier. He discreetly took a picture with his smart phone.
After the van traveled another hundred meters, Anosov pounded his fist on the dashboard. If they’d arrived a few minutes earlier, O’Connor would’ve been safe in the back of his van.
74
USS MICHIGAN
“Confirm target zig, Master one,” the XO announced. “Master one has turned toward. No anchor range.”
Wilson listened to Patzke’s report, then examined the three combat control consoles tracking Master one. All three consoles had converged on solutions with the target pointing directly at Michigan, but the solution range varied from four to ten thousand yards.
Determining the target’s range was critical, since that would determine when the torpedo would enable, turning on its sonar. If it enabled too soon, the target would have advance notice of the approaching torpedo, improving its odds of evading. If the torpedo enabled too late, it would pass by the target, blind, before beginning its search.
“Attention in Control,” Wilson announced. “I intend to initiate Firing Point Procedures, but won’t shoot until we have propulsion. Hopefully Master one will give us the time we need. Carry on.”
There was no doubt in Wilson’s mind that the Kilo’s crew had detected Michigan; the contact had turned toward them after the high-pressure air charge commenced. However, the Russian crew was probably still sorting out what they held on sonar. Air compressor tonals would not be easily correlated to an American submarine in combat, plus Michigan was stationary, contrary to tactical guidance. Submarines constantly maneuvered during combat, trying to prevent their adversary from gaining a firing solution while helping their combat system algorithms calculate the target’s course, speed, and range.
Additionally, the Kilo was in deeper water, looking upslope toward shore, where shore-based tonals often interfered with sonar. Electrical power plants near shore, for example, often emitted tonals similar to submarine electrical generators. Although Wilson preferred to maneuver, their stationary predicament had its advantages.
“Firing Point Procedures,” Wilson announced, “Master one, tube One, normal submerged presets, except set minimum run to enable.” Since the target range hadn’t been nailed down yet, Wilson ordered the torpedo to go active as soon as possible, so it didn’t run past the target before turning its sonar on.
Patzke stopped behind each of the combat control consoles to examine the target solutions, then tapped the middle fire control technician. The watchstander pressed a button on his console and the XO announced, “Solution ready.”
The fire control technician at the Weapon Control Console sent the course, speed, and range of their target to the MK 48 torpedo in tube One, along with the target search presets. A few seconds later, the Weapons Officer reported, “Weapon ready.”
“Ship ready.” Lieutenant Cody announced. The torpedo countermeasure launchers were armed.
Michigan was a single button push away from firing.
The Russian Kilo continued its approach toward Michigan, but the three combat control consoles still had markedly different ranges to the target.
The Sonar Supervisor’s voice came across the Conn speakers. “Conn, Sonar. Mechanical transients from Master one. Contact is opening torpedo tube outer doors.”
Wilson acknowledged Sonar’s report, then turned on the 2-JV speaker on the Conn, listening to communications in the Engine Room. Main Seawater had been restored and they were drawing a vacuum in both main condensers, but it wasn’t low enough yet. If they sent steam into the turbines before there was sufficient vacuum on the other end, the steam would back up, bringing the turbines to a halt.
A sonar ping echoed through Michigan’s hull, coming from the approaching Kilo. The Russian crew was dealing with the same question as Wilson’s — what was the target’s range? With a steady, bow-on approach, the Russian captain had skipped the valuable maneuvers his fire control algorithms needed to determine the target’s range. He had two options: maneuver to the side to get a crossed-bearing range, or go active. Going active was much quicker, but would give his submarine’s presence away. The Russian captain had guessed correctly; Michigan was already aware of the Kilo’s approach.