As Michigan finished turning to its evasion course, Wilson studied the torpedo bearings. They were diverging, which meant one torpedo had been fired at Jimmy Carter and the other at Michigan.
Another report from Sonar blared across the Control Room speakers. “Torpedo launch transient, bearing zero-two-zero. Correlates to Jimmy Carter.”
Commander Gallagher had counterfired, which would keep the Russian submarine crew preoccupied for a while. The task now, for each of the three submarines, was to evade the incoming torpedoes.
Wilson studied the torpedo bearings on the Conn display. They were drawing slowly aft, which was a good sign, but no guarantee the torpedo would pass by without detecting Michigan.
“Multiple mechanical transients, bearing zero-two-two! Correlates to Jimmy Carter.”
Four more red bearing lines appeared on the Conn display.
“Conn, Sonar. Detect four additional torpedo launches from Jimmy Carter. They appear to be the same type of torpedo that destroyed our MK 48 when we fired at Jimmy Carter a few weeks ago.”
Wilson acknowledged the report. Gallagher had launched four anti-torpedo torpedoes, most likely two at the heavyweight headed toward Jimmy Carter and two toward the torpedo chasing Michigan. The four new bearing lines began to diverge, two slanting toward the torpedo pursuing Michigan and the other two merging with the torpedo chasing Jimmy Carter.
Not long thereafter, Sonar reported, “Conn, Sonar. Explosion bearing zero-two-four.”
A faint explosion, not nearly as powerful as a heavyweight torpedo detonation, echoed through Michigan’s hull. It had likely been one of Jimmy Carter’s ATTs. Confirming Wilson’s assessment, three torpedo bearing lines disappeared from the Conn display: the Russian torpedo headed toward the Seawolf class submarine, plus two of the ATTs.
Four torpedo bearing lines remained: the heavyweight torpedo chasing Michigan and the two ATTs chasing it, plus the MK 48 Jimmy Carter had fired at the Russian submarine.
“Heavyweight torpedo detonation! Bearing correlates with Master six. Loss of Master six.”
Sonar had lost the propulsion-related tonals from the Russian submarine, which meant its engine room had been severely damaged. Whether it was going to the bottom, however, Wilson didn’t know. Russian submarines, typically built with nine or ten compartments, could withstand the flooding of a single compartment. The crew’s fate would be determined by how many compartments the MK 48 explosion had breached.
A moment later, Sonar reported, “Breaking-up noises on the last bearing to Master six.”
The Russian submarine was headed to the bottom, its compartments beginning to implode. Wilson hoped Michigan didn’t share the same fate.
He examined the remaining three bearing lines. The bearing to the lead ATT had merged with the incoming Russian torpedo. The ATT was closing on its target.
Sonar reported, “Explosion, bearing zero-six-five! Loss of Russian heavyweight and one of the ATTs.” Sonar followed up. “Last ATT has shut down.”
Wilson examined the display. There were no more torpedoes in the water, and the four Russian surface warships were hightailing it away from the area.
Michigan and Jimmy Carter’s mission had been accomplished. The merchant had been sunk, with the Russian submarine destroyed in self-defense.
73
BANGOR, WASHINGTON
ONE MONTH LATER
Christine’s SUV coasted to a halt beside USS Michigan, moored to the Delta Pier at Naval Base Kitsap. Waiting at the submarine’s brow was Lieutenant Commander Tom Montgomery, who greeted Christine and escorted her onto the submarine and down a hatch into the Operations Compartment, arriving at Captain Wilson’s stateroom.
After Michigan sank the merchant carrying the gas centrifuges to Iran, the guided missile submarine had returned to its home port for refit and crew change-out. Inside the black leather satchel Christine carried was a citation and medal. She’d be presenting Wilson with the CIA Intelligence Star for his effort in sinking the merchant, plus the numerous other issues he’d helped with over the years.
A private meeting with Wilson had been arranged, avoiding the sensitive nature of awarding the submarine’s Captain, but not each crew member whose support was vital, the CIA medal. For the Navy’s part, however, each member of Michigan’s BLUE crew was being recognized with a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Wilson was unaware, however, of the pending CIA honor.
Wilson rose from his desk to greet Christine, then gestured to a small table as he closed his stateroom door.
They engaged in small talk, eventually segueing to Michigan’s mission in the Persian Gulf and the crew’s excellent performance. They had sunk the merchant while preventing the inadvertent attack against all four Russian surface warships, which would have compounded the problem created when Jimmy Carter sank the Russian submarine.
Now that the subject had turned to Michigan sinking the merchant ship, Christine reached into her satchel and retrieved a palm-sized medal case, which she placed on the table along with a certificate folder.
“I believe standing at attention during an award presentation is proper protocol.”
Wilson eyed the contents on the table, then smiled. “It is.”
Both rose from their seats, then Christine opened the folder and read the citation, handing it to Wilson afterward. The CIA Intelligence Star was one in a group of medals referred to within the agency as jock strap medals, since they were often awarded secretly due to the classified nature of the respective operation and subsequently couldn’t be displayed or even acknowledged publicly. In Wilson’s case, however, the medal could be worn proudly with his others, since his involvement in sinking the merchant ship carrying the gas centrifuges was public knowledge.
Christine opened the small case and retrieved the medal, then pinned it to Wilson’s uniform as was customary in the Navy. She congratulated Wilson, but instead of shaking his hand, she gave him a hug. They had been through a lot together, and Wilson had come through for her every time.
Christine bade Wilson farewell and was escorted from the submarine, climbing topside as twilight began creeping across the Pacific Northwest. As she approached her SUV, her thoughts turned to Khalila.
How to handle her would be a delicate matter. Part of that management involved Jake Harrison, whom she had arranged to meet later today at his house in Silverdale, not far away. Inside her satchel was another folder, this one containing a nondisclosure agreement involving Khalila’s true identity; Harrison’s agreement was the only one outstanding.
Mixell’s trail had gone cold, and Harrison had headed home for a week to spend time with Angie and Maddy. Although Christine sensed tension in Angie’s presence, she looked forward to seeing Maddy, checking up on how her back flips on the beam were going and how she had done at the gymnastics meet a few weeks earlier.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Harrison.
74
SILVERDALE, WASHINGTON
Harrison picked up his cell phone, answering the call he’d been expecting.