“Good launch, the bird is flying.”
THE AGUSTA NEARED THE target, just a bit closer thought Lieutenant Plazar. His finger itched over the Torpedo release button. He knew it was better to give the target no room to escape. They closed on the enemy submarine.
The AMRAAM flashed in and struck the helicopter, it broke into three parts and each fell into the sea flaming fire and smoke.
CAPTAIN LAKARANI LISTENED to his sonarman. “So you’re saying it was the same submarine type as we sank before?”
“Yes Sir. It’s near the two cargo ships.”
“Make your heading three degrees. Flood tube two.” The Ghadir class boat INS Marmahi (Eel) had escaped the mayhem going on around it. Boats were being attacked everywhere. Here was an enemy, it would pay for its actions. The Ghadir closed.
NATHAN TOOK IN THE view from the mast. “Come left three degrees.”
“Three degrees Aye Sir.”
Nathan judged the moment. The moment the track would cross the target.
“Launch tube five.”
“Tube five launch, fish is running. Closing, closing.” The cargo ship blew up amidships. A blasting column of water burst into the air lifting the ship with it. The Mk 48 had done its work. The ship’s back had broken. Nathan watched as the fore and stern sections sank beneath the waves.
Now for the forward ship. “Come to three five five degrees.”
The USS Stonewall Jackson came to the new heading. Nathan lined up on the second Roll on Roll off ship. He made his calculations.
CAPTAIN LAKARANI OF the Ghadir submarine Eel calculated his attacking strategy. The same submarine type was she? The same type he’d sunk before. The foreign enemy would learn that Hormuz was Iranian territory.
“Ready tube two.” A Chinese made Yu-6 waited for launch.
“Tube ready, firing solution set for tube two, Sir.” Lakarani waited, this was it.
“Launch tube two.”
The bow vibrated and gave a pulsing sound.
“Torpedo away Sir. Clear launch. It’s running in, speed is now full attack.”
“Sir,” said Benson his alarm came through, “We have a fish running in on us, the library classifies it as Yu-6. Range, point eight miles.”
Shit. “Ready countermeasures to right.”
“Point five Sir, running in fast.” Nathan knew he had to wait. He counted down the seconds.
“Hard left rudder, all ahead full. Eject countermeasures to right.”
The boat tilted hard to the left, the control room personnel held on or were held by their straps.
“Running in Sir. One hundred yards. Fifty.”
Benson laughed. “It’s passed us by Sir, we did it. It’s searching, I can hear its active sonar looking for us.”
Benson stood with clenched fists. “Yes, yes. It’s going for the ship. It’s going for our target.”
Nathan looked at his monitor. The lead ship the Luzon Star was hit astern. Her rear section was ripped away, the bow rose then slid back towards the sea. Within a minute of the impact, the ship had gone down.
With it had gone the last of the North Korean — Iranian nuclear weapons.
Nathan grinned. “Mission almost accomplished. Come about for a heading south. Give me an active ping on that Ghadir boat.”
“Active ping on target. We have him Sir,” said Weaps. “firing solution laid in.”
“Launch tube six.”
“Fish running, aspect change on target, he’s coming left Sir. Turning, turning. Fish pinging, closing. Yes, Hot Datum on target. He’s broken in two, massive gas escape. He’s going down.”
FIVE DAYS OF PATROLLING the Strait after what became known as The Battle of Qeshm Island had come to an end. Nathan ordered the boat to surface in the Gulf of Oman at a predetermined location. “XO let the Chief Engineer know he can run his diesels and charge the batteries.”
“Aye Sir.”
“COB open the hatch.”
“Sir.” Nathan followed him up and into the open air, the two of them stood in the sail. COB run our flag up on the Jackstay.” The Chief of the boat ran up the Skull and bones. The USS Stonewall Jackson flew the pirate flag. She’d killed the enemy on her patrol.
After twenty minutes two identical boats sailed towards her just to her starboard side. In the lead was the first of her diesel electric sister ships USS 73 Easting followed by USS Chosin Reservoir. Their Captains’ stood in their sails.
“Blake,” shouted the Commander of the 73 Easting, “did you leave any of them for us?” Nathan laughed. The two of them sailed off towards the Strait of Hormuz. He knew The Iranian Blockade was in good hands.
ANUPA FINISHED HER final course at the Kolapata restaurant in Whitechapel. She laughed at Marella’s comment.
“Marella, come on he did have a nice bum,” said Tosser.
A man stood behind Anupa with his arms on her chair back.
“Hi, girls I’d just like a word with Anupa.” She turned.
“Josh. What are you doing here?” He flicked his head towards the door. She stood.
“You can have a word with me after,” said Marella.
Anupa stood with him by the door. “What do you want?”
“I had a word with a certain Saudi Prince and we thought you deserved this.” He handed over an envelope.
“It was recently liberated from people of your acquaintance. The Prince wanted you to have this in appreciation of your efforts for his organisation the Maslahat Al-Istikhbarat Al-Aammah. Their colleagues in the Mossad thought it appropriate too.”
“But I haven’t worked for Saudi or Israeli intelligence.” Josh raised his eyebrow and smirked.
“What is it?”
Josh smiled. “Take a look. Good night Anupa.” Josh left.
Anupa stood and leaned against the wall, her mouth open.
She now knew the truth. It had all been a con. The Americans and the British had done the Saudi’s and the Israeli’s bidding. The two of them had worked together to rid the Iranians of Nuclear weapons. The Saudi’s turned the screws with the money, the Israeli’s had worked the Iranian’s and coordinated with the American and the British.
“Sneaky bastards.”
She had to know what was in the envelope, she walked into the ladies and entered a stall. She opened it and took out the document.
“Good God.” In her hands were the details of a numbered Swiss bank account at the Julius Baer Bank along with its password. It held a balance of two million US Dollars.
NATHAN AWOKE IN HIS hotel room. It was around eight in the morning, the usual time. He slid the sheets back and tried not to awake the trim but curvy blond who lay on her side with her back to him. She mumbled something and slept on. He dressed and left the room, passed by the desk downstairs, nodded to the receptionist and left the hotel for his morning walk. Nathan stopped off at the usual store and bought a copy of USA Today.
“Good morning Mr Blake.” He turned to see a stunner of an Asian woman, black hair of course, late twenties. She wore a blue shirt, tied off above the waist and shorts.
“Enjoying your shore leave?” she smiled.
“Yes, I haven’t met you. You are?”
“My name is May Hsin. I’m with my countries National Security Bureau. We’d like some time with you.”
“Why me?”
“Mr Blake, contact Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Nicolaj Kamov. He’ll vouch for me.” She passed him an envelope. “You’ll know what to do. I’ll meet you again soon.” She turned for the door and left. Nathan walked back to the hotel and up to the reception. I’d like to make a call please, to Washington.”