“Their only effect is to confuse… maybe to anger just a little bit. No, they don’t really have a specific effect on what Imperator is going to do. The only purpose I can imagine is to antagonize them a little bit.” Danilov’s countenance grew hard as he spoke. “If there is one sonarman, or one person in their control room, or perhaps even an individual involved with their computer who hesitates for a split second longer than he should have, then there is a definite reason for those noisemakers. And”—here he grinned at Sergoff, who he knew would appreciate his grim little joke—“if they have no effect at all, then we are all dead and there is no further need for them — we will have justified the government’s expense for them.” He chuckled long after Captain Lozak had given up trying to understand his humor.
“Admiral, Id say we’re at the range to turn. Snow is aware of our location and he’s got to commence his dive anytime. The smoke has to be gone by now.” Sergoff had planned the details of this attack himself, following Danilov’s outline. They would fire the moment there was any indication Imperator was preparing to dive. The noisemakers should mask Seratov’s preparations. The additional noise generated by Imperator’s diving — the sound of the props, the flooding of ballast tanks — hopefully all of that would combine to hide the sounds of the torpedoes enabling run.
Danilov placed an encouraging hand on Lozak’s shoulder. “Make your turn and commence your run. Sergoff will assist. And, Captain — the Americans expect you to make a run at them. Accept the fact that they’re going to take evasive action and use equipment you are unfamiliar with — and probably fire back at us. It’s a fact of life. Do you agree?”
Lozak understood. This was what he would have done earlier — bore in on that giant submarine, fire everything… destroy it as soon as possible. There was no reason to wait. “Yes, Admiral.” He was exultant now. He would be patient, just as they insisted, until the sounds of Imperator getting underway came to them. Then it was full speed, right down the throat!
“Standby to get underway,” Snow called down to control. “We’ll submerge in four… no, less than that… about three minutes. Where the hell is Carol Petersen? Has she got an estimate for us yet?” He had to have some sort of confirmation. Even if Caesar wasn’t back on line… something… anything to justify…
“Negative, sir. They’re jury-rigging a line now… should have communications with the computer room pretty quick.”
The XO interrupted from control. “Captain, those aircraft are at ninety miles now. Definitely unfriendly… just painted us with target acquisition radar.”
“Then do the deed… illuminate them.” Snow heard his orders repeated in the background. “Anything else out there to worry about?” Anything else to confuse the issue? To keep Imperator helpless?
“There’s some others, but they’re a hell of a distance. Nothing to be concerned about if we’re pulling the plug.”
“Have radio try to raise the nearest friendlies. Tell them to sanitize this area. Weil be back to pick up Houston survivors.” Never before had so many extraneous factors…
The light indicating sonar appeared on the speaker. “Captain, Seratov has turned. He’s on an intercept course… maybe making six to eight knots… range under five thousand yards.”
“Fire control, have a solution ready. We’re about to submerge. Weapons Officer, prepare torpedoes. Target closing from astern. As soon as we have the sail below the ice, I will be turning to port for attack. They will have fired on us by then. Now, dammit, where the hell is my line to the computer?”
“Still rigging, Captain. Messenger reports there’s no way you’re going to have Caesar on-line for this attack—” The last words were drowned out by the roar of the helo landing forward. Snow watched as three men were gently lifted out onto the elevator. Andy Reed waved up at him weakly. Then the helo was lifting off again, banking toward the remaining survivors.
The gull-wing doors slowly began to fold back into Imperator’s hull.
“I want rig-to-dive reports on the double,” Snow called down to control. He watched the helo return the short distance to the patch of ice where the forlorn figures huddled. At least they’d be inside the helo until he could get back.
“Helo deck hatch, secure… engineering ready to answer all bells… diving officer says give him the word to submerge.”
Snow strained his eyes in the direction of the approaching enemy planes. “How about the aircraft?” It would be foolhardy to dive if there were incoming missiles loose.
“Gave ’em five seconds irradiation twice, sir… just to make sure. We counted six incoming. There’s four heading in the opposite direction. Two just plain dove into the ice.”
“Roger, I’m securing.” I’m doing exactly what they used to do fifty years ago, dammit!
Snow double-checked each of the sail hatches as he slid down the ladder. Jumping the final half dozen feet into the control room, he called out, “Submerge this ship… double fast. Prepare decoys… stand by defense systems… we have to be under attack.”
A variety of orders echoed through the control room in rapid succession as Imperator began settling. The sail had to be under before they could maneuver. Without the computer, there was no picture in the imager. Each station in the giant submarine was functioning on its own, reporting directly to Snow, taking their orders from him as he evaluated the situation. Once again, they were operating like the old attack submarines he remembered from years before, except this one was four times bigger and much more difficult to maneuver.
Then Snow felt power surge through his entire body — this was as it should be! He was no longer competing with a computer. They were diving… toward security.
Unlike the attack boats of the past, there was no rumbling as Imperator’s tanks filled, no tilt of the deck as she settled. Snow waited calmly, once again at peace with himself, until the words he was waiting for came: “Sail is clear of the ice… ready to maneuver.”
“Left full rudder. All ahead full… firing point procedures…” He was captain — there was no question in his mind who controlled Imperator.
To each man — Stevan Lozak, Pietr Sergoff, Abe Danilov—Seratov’s approach was the culmination of their careers. They had been offered the opportunity to take part in the final action that would decide the fate of their country’s national strategy.
While the closing rate of the two submarines increased rapidly, the three men pictured the event as if they were involved in a movie. It was a slow-motion race for each of them, the film seemingly halting at each frame rather than portraying the impending battle as a high-speed duel.
Lozak heard each of the reports from his battle stations team, responding to each with a curt “very well.” He was unaware that they were strung together in rapid fire. Each of his men had been ready and their responses matched the speed of the weapons system they commanded. While Lozak was sure that he took the time to evaluate each report and ensure that it was proper, his responses were synchronized with their own. His breathing became rapid as he gave the order—“Shoot!”—for each weapon. When the final torpedo was in the water, he was sucking in deep gulps of air.
Pietr Sergoff studied the process with a detachment that surprised even himself. He had done everything possible to prepare for this moment, and it was not his place to interfere as Seratov’s captain fought his ship. There was no thought in his mind of surviving this action. And, he surmised as he reflected on the crisp efficiency of the attack, there is really no reason to return home since I have served my country as I was trained. Perhaps it was an honor…