Larry Bond - Cold Choices

“Aye, aye, sir,” replied Jerry, still puzzled.

“You’ve got that look, sir,” quipped Shimko.

“I have a theory, XO. Nothing more.”

“Would you mind sharing this theory with the rest of us ignorant peasants?”

“I think it’s Severodvinsk , Marcus.”

Shimko took his captain’s theory and compared it to the available data. A nuclear-powered attack submarine with an unknown acoustic signature and unknown active sonar in the Northern Fleet led to but one conclusion— Severodvinsk.

“Ooh shit.”

“Yeah, that’s about it,” said Rudel. “Hopefully, Jerry will be able to confirm it once he gets done searching the message traffic.”

Lieutenant Commander Lavoie was searching as well. “Whoever he is, he’s real unhappy we’re here. Maybe he’s trying to drive us away.”

Rudel nodded, still thinking, but answering, “It’s a possibility. Maybe we aren’t moving fast enough for him. But then why block our path out?”

Lavoie continued. “If he’d wanted to hit us, he could have. He isn’t that crazy”

“I sure as hell think he’s nucking futs to get as close as he has,” remarked Shimko.

“Concur, XO. He’s crazy enough for me as well. Helm, all ahead two-thirds, steady on three zero zero.”

Severodvinsk

“What about the remote vehicle?” Petrov’s attention was almost entirely fixed on its progress. He’d let Kalinin take Severodvinsk in a right turn this time, paralleling the American’s turn on the outside.

He might have been unconsciously acknowledging the starpom’s concern. The last pass had been only two hundred meters to port of the American, at an unbelievable thirty-three knots. Even their mine-hunting sonar had been blind at that speed.

Mitrov answered, “It’s still heading northwest at a steady speed. And we’ve identified the sub’s class. It’s an American Seawolf-c lass.” Petrov barely acknowledged the report.

“Even if the tether’s cut, it may have an inertial guidance and its own power supply. Assuming it’s a tethered vehicle to begin with.” Kalinin’s suggestion was certainly possible. It would explain the vehicle’s behavior, but it was unsatisfying. His evidence was slipping away. “We could follow it,” the starpom suggested.

“And leave the perpetrator?” Petrov retorted. “The remote vehicle can lead us on a wild-goose chase while the American escapes. And we have no way to stop or recover the device. No,” he concluded, “we will stay with the American sub.”

Petrov studied the tactical display. The American lay ahead of him, to the north. He’d increased speed to fifteen knots and was headed northwest, away from Russian waters. Severodvinsk was in a slow right turn, swinging past south.

For one moment, he contemplated letting the American go. He had confirmed its existence, identified it, and disrupted whatever they were trying to do. He had met all his mission objectives.

Even as this thought flashed through Petrov’s mind, he rejected it. He could trail them. He could follow them out of this area, watch them recover their remote, and then leave Russian waters, virtually unscathed. They could deny ever being there, and Russia would have only the word of Severodvinsk and her crew. And they still didn’t know what the Americans’ mission was.

They needed more proof. “Increase our speed to twenty-five knots and set up an intercept. I want to pass directly in front of the American. I’m not letting him leave the area.”

As Kalinin acknowledged and turned toward the helmsman, Petrov added, “And Vasiliy — no margin.”

USS Seawolf

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero’s blade rate is increasing again. Possible target zig to starboard. He may be getting ready to make another pass.”

“That’s it,” Rudel announced defiantly. “I’m not betting our lives on his seamanship. Increase speed to twenty knots. XO, prepare a spread of coun-termeasures. Two ADC Mk 5s, an NAE, and a mobile decoy.” He didn’t wait for a reply. “Sonar, conn. We’re speeding up. Stand by to go active on the HF set, but try and keep tracking him passively. Regular reports.”

Sonar’s first report put the Russian at two thousand yards, off their port quarter. “Blade rate is increasing. Contact has steadied up on a new course.”

“Sonar, conn. Good job, Stapp, you’re our eyes. Keep the reports coming.” Rudel released the intercom key and looked at the control-room watch. They were silent, expectant.

“There’s no point in only maneuvering. He can follow our movements and it just increases the chance of a collision. I intend to wait until he’s committed to his run, release a mobile decoy and some countermeasures, then break hard left away at speed. We will then head southwest and break contact. Comments?”

Jerry felt some of the ice in his chest start to melt. The skipper had a plan. It was reassuring to know the captain could still think clearly with a nuclear sub buzzing them.

“Captain, Sierra three zero now bears one seven five at fourteen hundred yards. Estimated speed twenty-three knots and increasing,” reported Shimko.

Rudel watched the display. “Very well, XO. What’s the status of the decoy?”

“CSA launcher ready, where do you want the mobile decoy to go?”

“Preset base course three five zero, maximum speed. Jamming function enabled.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

“Conn, sonar. Sierra three zero’s bearing is unchanged! Repeat, constant bearing, decreasing range. Speed now twenty-five knots.” If a contact didn’t change his bearing and the range decreased, there was only one possible result. Jerry wondered if the Russian planned to swerve at the last minute. Or did he really intend to ram them?

“Sound collision!” Rudel ordered. Once again, the collision alarm’s scream echoed in the boat.

“Course change, sir?” Lavoie asked to ease his own nervousness, but Jerry knew what the answer would be.

“Hold this course, Mr. Lavoie. We don’t know his plans, and if we zig while he zags…”

Severodvinsk

“Captain, the American’s speed increase has slowed our overtake.” Petrov could hear the relief in Kalinin’s report. A slower closure rate would reduce the chance of a collision.

“Increase speed to ahead flank. Continue the intercept, Vasiliy.”

“Aye, sir. Adjusting for the new speed. We should pass no more than a boat length in front of him. I’ve even factored in the amount of time it will take for us to cross his intended track.” Petrov knew the starpom was nervous, maybe afraid, but he still followed Petrov’s orders exactly.

“Our speed is now twenty-seven knots.”

USS Seawolf

“Range is eight hundred yards, Captain. Speed is now twenty-seven knots, still building, slight left bearing drift,” said Shimko nervously.

“Which he would have if he was overtaking,” Rudel mused aloud. “Chief of the Watch, pass the word, all hands stand by for hard maneuvers.”

“Conn, sonar, Sierra three zero’s speed is still increasing.”

“Sonar, conn, aye.”

“XO, tell me when he’s at five hundred yards.”

“Yessir.”

That was cutting things awfully close. Jerry wondered exactly what spot on the Russian boat the hull array was measuring its bearing from. And if the skipper ordered a turn, the sub’s pivot point was amidships, with the stern swinging wide.

“Mark, five hundred yards!” shouted Shimko.

Rudel spit out the orders quickly, as if he’d rehearsed them for days. “Launch NAE and ADC Mk 5s! Helm, all back emergency, left full rudder, steady on course two eight zero. XO, launch the mobile decoy.”