Survivalist - 15.5 - Mid-Wake by Ahern Jerry

Author:Ahern, Jerry [Ahern, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-three

“Sonar’s picking up Soviet Scout subs, Captain. But the odd thing is that it looks as though their own Island Class submarines are pursing them.”

Sebastian’s dark chocolate-colored hands were splayed over the illuminated plotting board which dominated the control station.

“Sonar—talk to me.”

“Sir, I’ve got four Soviet Scout subs proceeding at full flank speed but rather erratically, it appears. I have three Island Class—correction—four Island Class submarines in the classic Soviet pursuit formation. None of the Island Class submarines is dragging a sonar array.”

“Very good, Lieutenant Kelly—keep on it.”

He swung his chair left. “Communications—what are you getting, lieutenant?”

“I’m starting to get low-frequency transmissions on the Soviet distress band, Captain. But the signal is too weak, sir. I can’t make anything out of it.”

He turned his chair toward the Warfare Station. “Lieutenant Walenski—what’s the status on the torpedo tubes?”

“Forward torpedo status—numbers one and four empty, numbers two and three loaded with High Explosive Independent Sensing, Captain. One and four can be loaded. Aft torpedo status—numbers one through four loaded with HEIS, Captain.”

Louise Walenski had confirmed what he already knew. “Very well, lieutenant. Order forward torpedo tubes one

and four loaded with HEIS as well.” “Aye, Captain.”

He looked back to Sebastian. “Commander Sebastian— anything further?”

“Negative, Captain—still monitoring.”

“Order the ship to Battle Stations, Mr. Sebastian.”

“Aye, Captain. Ordering the ship to Battle Stations.” Sebastian reached down the intraship communications microphone. “Now hear this. Now hear this. Battle Stations. I repeat, Battle Stations. This is not a drill.” The klaxon sounded.

He got out of his chair and moved aft between the sonar and computer stations, Seaman First Class Tagachi at periscope station. “Mr. Tagachi—attack periscope.”

“Aye, Captain,” Morris Tagachi responded, activating the control panel. He was already at the attack periscope, folding down, the tube rising. At this depth it was hard to see anything even with vision intensification and computer enhancement. But just off the starboard bow, he thought he could make out one of the great hulking shapes of the Soviet monsters. He snapped the handles back to closed, not bothering to tell Tagachi to lower the periscope.

“Captain—I have their position. Precisely twenty-three degrees off our starboard bow, moving north by northeast at forty-one knots.”

“Thank you, Mr. Sebastian. Sonar?”

“Aye, Captain?”

“Tell me about their engines.”

“Into overdrive, Captain. Not at maximum.”

“Very well.”

Sebastian looked up at him from control deck. He stood beside his chair at the con. “Navigation.” “Aye, Captain,” Lureen Bowman answered. “Plot an intercept course with those Scout subs. After you’ve brought her about, go to all ahead full, lieutenant.” “Aye, Captain.” “Engineering.” “Aye, Captain.”

“Saul—notify me immediately if the starboard reactor

starts acting up again and put everything into the port reactor. We’re going to need speed with that wolf pack out there.”

“Aye, Captain.”

He took the three steps down onto the control and navigation level, not bothering to study Sebastian’s console, but rather staring forward onto the composite video screen which dominated the forward bulkhead. He could make them out almost as clearly as he had through the attack periscope, which wasn’t very clearly at all. He turned and looked back at Sebastian.

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