Sam nodded, and studied the route, trying to determine any location where the submarine would have been forced to surface and might have thus been spotted using satellite imaging. The course spanned a long route from the British Isles, south into the Mediterranean, through the Dardanelles Strait, Bosporus Sea, Black Sea, and Sea of Azov within Russia. From there, it returned, making it out of the Mediterranean Sea, and across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal and on toward the Pacific.
Sam stopped. “I can see why you’re keen to keep this experiment under wrap. You would have many upset nations, including some of our closest allies by admitting that you penetrated their coastal regions under stealth.”
Woods made a thin-lipped smile. “As you can see, our allies wouldn’t be too impressed either. But it was paramount to the experiment’s success that we tested it with high fidelity.”
Sam’s eyes ran across the route along Northern Africa, down the Skeleton Coast, across the Atlantic, and finally landing on Panama. His eyes narrowed. “Was this the end of the experiment?”
Woods shook his head. “No.”
“So, what was supposed to happen here? Was the Omega Deep meant to surface and report, or go somewhere else?”
“No, there was more to the experiment.”
“Where?”
“She was to cross through the Panama Canal and head southwest, on to Australia, before turning north, and returning to Pearl Harbor.”
“Can you please bring up the more detailed map for me?”
“Sure.” Woods clicked a new icon, and the second map appeared, with the route superimposed in red. “But I doubt it will do you much good.”
Sam studied the new map. “How did you plan to get it through the Panama Canal?”
“Oh, that took some planning, but in the end, we decided to coincide it with a particular date we planned to have an old Iowa class battleship transverse the Panama Canal for a historical event.”
Sam said, “I wasn’t aware they even fit through the Panama Canal?”
“They do. Only just. The Iowa class battleship is the largest vessel in the world that’s allowed to make the crossing. At 108.6 feet, she only just squeezes into the 110 feet wide Panama Canal.”
“How would that have helped you squeeze the Omega Deep through? The Panama Canal’s water-tight locks are 1050 feet in length, with a useable length of 1000 feet. No way you’re going to get a battleship and the Omega Deep through in one go.”
“No. Of course not. The engineers at the Panama Canal insisted that we pay for two allotted spaces, so that they could have a dry run after the Iowa class battleship made its traverse, that way they could see if there were any faults and then repair them, before another large vessel, such as a cargo ship crossed.”
Sam grinned. “And in that dry run, you were going to bring the USS Omega Deep?”
“Exactly.”
“Was there any way you could have spotted the submarine had it passed through the canal?”
“Not if it maintained its Omega Cloak and its crew didn’t want to be spotted. Originally, there was a plan… but obviously things have changed.”
“What was the plan?” Sam asked, eagerly.
“During the filling of the third lockout, someone on board the Omega Deep was going to release a helium-filled balloon in the shape of an American flag. To any casual observer, it would appear that the balloon had just floated into the area, but it would be a confirmation the submarine had passed through the region.”
Sam said, “Do you have recorded footage of that date.”
“We don’t personally,” Woods said. “But there’s a live feed from the top of the lookout tower. They keep records. I can bring those up if you want?”
“Yes please.”
Woods raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think the crew decided to rub our noses in the fact that they stole $30 billion dollars’ worth of military hardware, by giving us a sign, do you?”
“As you said, it’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened.”
Commander Woods searched the Panama Canal’s security records on his laptop, entering the exact date and time the USS Omega Deep was supposed to travel through the canal and pressed search. The recording of the live feed came through.
The image captured the Iowa class battleship leaving the water lock, and Woods fast-forwarded the section until it showed the battleship leaving and an empty water lock, now thirty feet lower.
Wood glanced at Sam and pressed play. “Here you go.”
Sam watched as the heavy steel, watertight locks closed and the empty lock filled with water until it was another thirty feet higher. Through squinting eyes, he searched the surface of the lock. Shallow ripples showed a local breeze teasing the empty water’s surface.
Wood’s lips formed a hard line, as he went to press stop on the recording. “I’m sorry. They weren’t there.”
Sam’s response was an immediate, almost visceral, cry. “Stop!”
“Why?”
Tom said, “Look at that!”
Wood’s eyes fixed on the image on the laptop.
There, in the middle of the empty water-tight lock, was a balloon rising out of nothing. Woods paused the image and zoomed in on the balloon. It was shaped like a flag and covered in the stars and stripes of the American flag.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Sam watched as Commander Woods slammed the laptop screen shut.
There would undoubtedly be a lot of questions he couldn’t answer if anyone else in the room spotted the anomaly.
To Sam and Tom, Woods said, “Come with me.”
Sam grinned and followed the commander out of the U.S. Navy Undersea Rescue Unit’s mobile command center, crossed an open field and entered a new building. Inside they headed through a series of secure passageways, toward the main command center for COMSUBPAC — the Pacific Submarine Fleet’s headquarters. The three men walked in silence. They all knew the consequence of such a finding, but no one could have expected what it meant.
At the end of the hallway, two marines in dress uniform guarded the soundproofed door.
Woods approached the door, but one of the marines blocked his progress.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the marine said, “I can’t let you in. The presidents in a meeting.”
Woods spoke with the quiet authority of a man with nearly four decades of command. “He’s going to want to hear what I have to say.”
The marine looked like he was going to protest, but then said, “I’ll just be a minute, sir.”
The marine knocked on the door, entered, and returned a few moments later. “You’re right to go through.”
Sam and Tom approached the door.
The marine stared at them, wondering if he should question more, before the commander said, “They’re with me at the president’s express orders. He’ll want to hear what they have to say, too.”
Inside, the president, secretary of defense, and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff were sitting around a series of leather lounges. The president greeted them and motioned for them to take a seat.
Sam and Tom took a seat.
Commander Woods closed the soundproof door and took a seat.
The president said, “You’ve found something?”
Woods opened his laptop. The image still depicted a balloon a few feet off the surface of the water within the Panama Canal. “Yeah, what do you think of this.”
There was a collective, audible exhale throughout the room as the president, secretary of defense, and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff took in the significance.