“Aye sir.” The seconds ticked away, Nikki looked briefly at him and smiled.
“Active ping,” said Weaps.
“Sir,” Benson looked up, “the Sheng has increased revs and is turning to his port, he’s trying to escape Scooby.”
“That’s what we wanted, he’s Bellerophon’s now. Keep an ear out for more of them.”
SEVERAL MILES TO THE northeast Bellerophon’s control room was bathed in the dull red of night ops.
“Sir, I have a confirmed contact, the library gives high probability of a Sheng SSN,” said Mercer. Bearing two thirty, range 5,000 meters, depth 60, speed 19 knots.”
“Thanks, I expect more of them,” Pike turned, “Weaps, designate contact as tango papa one. Flood tube one, open outer doors.”
“Aye sir.”
“Weaps. It’s unlikely he knows we’re here, I want you to launch tube one but keep the Spearfish on the wire at low revs come left and upslope from deep. Set the fish to an up and under shot but wait till late to cut the wire and commence the high-speed run in.”
“Will do sir. Launch tube one. Fish running keeping slow and low.”
“Mercer, let me know if he shows any signs of knowing we’re here or an attack is in progress.”
“Aye sir,” she jiggled her Bowers & Wilkins headphones.
“Turning fish up slope. Go on fishy, dinners ready,” Weaps chuckled.
The fish climbed the slope out of the gloom, at 300 yards it was time.
“Cutting wire, revs full, fish pinging, pinging. It’s acquired Tango Papa 1. Fish terminal.”
Mercer punched the air. “Hit, Hot datum Tango Papa 1, Hot datum.”
ABOARD THE STONEWALL Jackson Benson heard the dull explosion.
“Bellerophon’s got him.” It wasn’t long before he heard another Shang SSN leave the bay.
“Now Weaps,” said Nathan.
Scooby made an active ping toward the Shang. The boat immediately increased speed and set off towards the northeast. Fleeing an obvious enemy boat waiting for him.
Nathan smiled, “There you go Frank, skin that one too.”
He walked to and stood in the centre of the room.
“Planesman, speed ten knots, move in towards the bay exit. The next one’s ours. Stand off one point five miles. Weaps, flood tubes one and two, open outer doors.” USS Stonewall Jackson edged her way through the darkness, closer to the exit the PLAN boats would have to pass through.
It didn’t take long. Benson looked over his shoulder at Nathan.
“Another sir, it’s a Song class diesel-electric, I don’t need the computer to know. He’s clear of the bay.”
“Weaps, give him the good news.”
Weaps grinned. “Scooby’s pinging him.”
“He’s turning to the northeast increasing speed,” said Benson. Nathan knew the Song boat was at point blank range.
“Snapshot, snapshot, launch tube one.” Weaps ran his fingers over the screen. One touch and death slid from its tube.
“Fish hungry and in pursuit. Pinging, pinging. Cutting wire.” The Mk 48 sped through the coal black sea, its prey in sight.
The fish slammed into the Song amidships, exploding, ripping her into two parts. The aft end still ran its prop, the forward half hung downwards making way, the two linked by a twisted tearing hull section at its lower side. Massive gas bubbles escaped for the surface, the Song class boat finally fell to the slope below. Now another shipwreck.
“Hot datum sir.” It was said without the normal enthusiasm.
“Ok people, we may have another yet, keep listening.”
Soon Benson twirled his finger in the air.
“It’s another, wait one, wait. It’s an SSN, a Shang class. On its way south, wait,” seconds went by, “it’s leaving Yalong harbour now. Clear.”
Nathan gripped the Conn rail. “Weaps, get Scooby to bark at the boat.”
“Pinging.” The Shang didn’t turn east as he’d thought.
They felt a ping through the hull, faint but there.
“It turned towards Scooby and pinged again. It’s turning back to us. He must realise that it’s a decoy. He’s seen us, he must have. His revs are increasing he’s facing us.”
“Planesman all ahead full, all hands secure yourselves,” barked Nathan.
“He’s still coming sir.” The two submarines each seven or eight thousand tons were racing towards each other.
“He’s coming at us,” said Benson, “this is fucking Chicken.” Nathan had been here before, he knew, turn away and your opponent had the advantage. Stay on course and, well let’s not go there. This Captain was a ballsy one.
“Range Benson,”
“Point nine miles.” Bensons tone rose.
“Point eight miles.”
“Weaps, get Scooby pinging again.”
“Point seven five,” said Benson an edge to his voice.
“Weaps, Scooby to simulate launch sounds.” Nathan tried to make him break off the charge.
“Scooby, SIM Launching Mk48.”
“Point six five.”
“Shang is pinging,” said Benson, “directional ping towards Scooby. He’s turning to Scooby, just.”
Point five. Point four five. He’s turning back this way. Scooby’s simulating fish running.” Nathan knew the Shang wasn’t fooled.
“Three point five.” He knew this had to end.
“Snapshot, snapshot. Launch tube two.”
“Tube two launch sir,” said Weaps, “fish is hungry, pinging, pinging.”
“Sir, fish in the water type Yu-6. It’s pinging us.”
“Range to boat Benson?”
“One point eight miles. Fish closing.” Nathan closed his eyes and counted down in his head. Now.
“Come hard left then maintain course, ready countermeasures right side. Go, now. Launch countermeasures.” The two spinning, hissing, devices were blown out of the hull and gassed off, causing the torpedo’s homing sonar to search.
“Two more countermeasures.” There was a slight delay as sailors aft worked to load them. The countermeasures were ejected.
“Mk 48 closing, terminal. Hit.” The boat rocked to the left blown by the shockwave and expanding gas. Benson raised both arms and cheered. “Hot datum. Hot datum. Enemy torpedo has gone for the second set of countermeasures. Shit, it’s turning searching sir.”
“Planesman, hard left all ahead full. Weaps, get Scooby to ping the fish.”
This was it, Nathan knew. “Ready countermeasures left side, go left and emergency deep, emergency deep.”
USS Stonewall Jackson plunged down the slope at full revs.
“Fish running to west, explosion, it’s gone up. It went for Scooby.”
“Ahead one third, trim for ascent, pull up.” The room breathed again, Nathan included. Nikki turned to him and gave him a beaming smile.
“Return to the bay exit. Let’s see if there are any more coming out. Weaps, flood tubes three and four.”
“Aye sir, reloading one and two Mk48.” The boat returned to the entrance and waited listening. Ten minutes went by.
“Sir, Bellerophon’s approaching.” What’s this?
The SSN drew alongside, it wasn’t long before Benson knew what was going on.
“Sir they are trying to use their form of Getrurde.” This is an acoustic shortrange underwater phone.
“Matching signals sir. Try now.” He picked up the handset.
“Nathan?”
“Yes, Frank what’s up?”
“I got a call from Northwood, we’re to proceed to a specific location. Can you follow me?”
“Ok Frank, lead on.” The connection was cut and Bellerophon followed by USS Stonewall Jackson proceeded to the southwest.
Three hours later 15 miles off Hue Vietnam, Bellerophon stopped and came to periscope depth. Jackson did too. The Chief Engineer took advantage of the surface time to run the diesels to charge the batteries. Nathan looked at the monitor after running a 360 with the scope. The British boat had surfaced and flashed to him to do the same.