It would be a gamble; the noise may give them away, but Orlov wasn’t going to give them a chance. Leopard had to be ready.
“Weapons Officer. Compute Type 53 firing solution on our contact.”
It took longer than normal.
“Sir, I have a calculation on him, it’s difficult due to his new drive. But we have a solution. Tube two is ready with Type 53.”
“Flood tube two.”
“Tube two flooding Sir.” A Type 53 with USS NYC’s name on it was ready. Six hundred and seventy eight pounds of high explosive was waiting, ready to pounce.
Chapter 5
NOSEY LOOKED UP.
“I have a new contact sir. Heading our way.”
Franks looked at him with a questioning stare.
“It’s loud and heading our way, surface contact, 16 knots.”
A warship? It was possible, and if there was a frigate up here it would no doubt be heading down to the conflict zone.
“Running it through the library, sir,” said Nathan.
The crew worked on the new contact. What about the Akula? What was it up to?
“Report Nosey.”
“Sir, surface contac… sir. Wait one.” Nosey listened to the sea’s sounds.
“Tango one’s flooding tubes. She’s flooding a tube.”
“Weaps. Flood tube one. Open outer doors.” Franks knew there’d be little time.
“Surface contact still bearing down. I have…I have… sir, confirm surface contact. Library has her. She’s a goddamn civilian. It’s the Morskoy to Kerch ferry. Bearing three five five degrees.”
Damn, thought Franks, just what we need.
“Tube one flooded, outer doors open, fish ready in all respects,” said Nathan.
“Tango one’s opening her outer doors. She’s ready to fire. Ferry still bearing down on us.”
Franks knew it was time for a risk.
“Flood forward one and two. Open and trim all vents fore and aft. Make for depth. Planesman. Eight degrees to port all ahead full. Down bubble 15, make your depth 150 feet.” He was hoping that the confusion and noise of the ferry would throw off the Akula. USS NYC powered away at speed. She was heading under the ferry.
“Come on girl,” said Franks, “dive, dive and swim. You can do it.”
“SIR, THE VIRGINIA HAS gone port at speed. She’s heading under the ferry.”
“Chertovski ublydudok.” Fucking bastard.
“We’re losing lock with the Type 53. It’s the noise from the ferry, sir.”
Orlov knew if they launched, the fish might choose the wrong target in the confusion. They couldn’t risk hitting the ferry.
“Can you track this American bastard?”
“Sir, it was difficult before. Now there’s little chance.”
Orlov had just lost the quarry. He turned to Radyuhin. “That’s it, we’ve got some data on him. It’s time to go south and join the Fleet.”
“Sir, we might still stay with him.”
“No, XO, we had our chance. Come to 200 degrees and head for the strait.”
Orlov hadn’t wanted to track this Sea Ghost anyway. It was now time to get at the foe. They’d got some information though. If they met again, Leopard would be ready.
IT WAS A FEW HOURS later. He’d got some sleep. Franks walked aft down the companionway, called at the galley and returned forward. He turned right into the room she’d been allocated. She slept on a lower port bunk; other than her, the room was empty. He shook her.
She awoke with a look of surprise but quickly realised where she was. He handed her the coffee.
“Good morning.”
She sipped the coffee. “Thanks.”
“We’re in the Sea of Azov now.”
Her eyes widened. “Are we underwater yet?”
“We have been for the last seven hours.” She seemed uncomfortable. “This is a submarine, it’s what we do, we sail underwater.”
“I know, I’ve not been on one before.” She looked at him wide eyed. “Did anything happen last night?”
“Not really. Nothing unusual. Just normal submarine stuff,” Franks lied.
“Yana. All I know about this mission is that you are to be put ashore in Eastern Ukraine. Some of that is obvious, but I’d like to know in more detail why? Why you?”
She sipped her coffee again and gathered her thoughts. “It’s necessary to contact the Ukrainian loyalists in the east. To contact their leadership. I’m trusted. They know me. The American broadcasts I’m in are smuggled into Eastern Ukraine. They know my position is very much pro-Ukrainian unity. They see me as a focus for resistance against the Russian encroachment. I didn’t seek this role, but it’s now mine. I’ll carry it out. To them I’m a symbol of free Ukraine.”
Franks knew she’d an old head on young shoulders. “Where do you want to go ashore? Apart from the coast.”
“I need to be close to Novoazovs’k, about ten kilometres west of the Russian border. I can get a lift up the road towards Donetsk.”
“Do you need to go ashore after dark?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll need to wait, we’ll be there by 13.00 hours. Get yourself up and wander where you wish. You’ve twelve hours before you go ashore.” He stood.
“Captain?”
“Yes.”
“There is something I’d like.” He waited.
“I was in a rush, there wasn’t much time. I know this will be a big favour, but the CIA approved it. It’s down to your judgement, Captain.” She looked him in the eyes with a fixed stare. “If I could, I’d like to borrow one of your crew. It would be a big help. I think I’ll be back in eighteen hours or so.”
“I wasn’t told this.”
“There was no time.”
“None of my crew speak Ukrainian. They have no papers or passes.”
She leaned out of her bunk and reached into her bag. Her tee-shirt only just covered her ample chest, Franks couldn’t help but notice.
“I brought this. It’s a camera and mini printer. I’ve a spare Ukraine passport.”
“To say you’d no time, you’re well equipped.”
“They were close at hand,” she lied.
“Will he need any special skills?”
“No. He’ll need to be calm, cool, quick thinking and good physically if the need arises.”
“You mean in a fight?”
“Yes, I don’t think that’ll happen but…”
“And you’ll need him for eighteen hours?”
She nodded.
Franks thought about it. It’d need to be an Officer. One who’d fit her description, about her age, who might pass as a boyfriend. The right temperament. Quick thinking, one who he could spare while they were lurking around waiting. Franks came to his decision.
“Ok, wait here. I’ll be back.” A few minutes later he returned to her room. She was in her underwear, pulling on her jeans. She was trim, yet curvy.
“Yana, this is Nathan, my Weapons Officer. He’ll go ashore with you. Make sure you bring him back. I’ll leave you to let him know what you’ll need him to do.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
He left.
Yana looked at him approvingly, he was young and strong looking. That he was good looking wasn’t needed, but she wasn’t complaining.
“Nathan. I’m Yana. Let me take your picture.” She took the picture and applied it to the passport with a sticky back revealed as she peeled the photo’s back away.