tc.redstormrising-第73节

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〃Damn；〃　he　said　quietly。　The　plan　called　for　him　to　use　his　cluster　munitions　to　ignite　what　the　Durandals　had　burst　open。
〃Don't　think　the　Rockeyes　are　necessary；　Duke；〃　Eisly　observed
Ellington　tried　to　blink　away　the　dots　as　he　turned　away；　keeping　as　low　as　he　could。　He　found　himself　flying　right　down　a　road。
The　Soviet　mander…in…Chief　of　the　Western　Theater　was　already　angry；　and　what　he　saw　to　the　east　didn't　help。　He'd　just　conferred　with　the　mander　of　the　Third　Shock　Army　at　Zarrentin　to　learn　that　the　attack　had　again　bogged　down　within　sight　of　Hamburg。　Furious　that　his　most　powerful　tank　force　had　failed　to　achieve　its　objective；　he'd　relieved　its　mander　on　the　spot　and　was　returning　to　his　own　mand　post。　Now　he　saw　what　could　only　be　one　of　his　three　major　fuel　depots　rising　into　the　clear　sky。　The　General　cursed　and　stood；　pushing　aside　the　roof　panel　on　his　armored　mand　vehicle。　As　he　blinked　his　dazzled　eyes；　a　black　mass　seemed　to　appear　at　the　lower　edge　of　the　fireball。
What's　that？　Ellington　wondered。　His　TV　display　showed　four　armored　vehicles　in　a　tight　columnone　of　them　a　SAM　launcher！　He　flicked　his　bomb…release　controls　to　Armed　and　dropped　his　four　Rockeye　canisters；　then　turned　south。　His　tail…mounted　strike　cameras　recorded　what　followed。
The　Rockeyes　split　open；　distributing　their　bomblets　at　a　shallow　angle　across　the　road。　They　exploded　on　impact。
CINC…West　died　a　soldier's　death。　His　last　act　was　to　seize　a　machine　gun　and　fire　at　the　aircraft。　Four　bomblets　fell　within　a　few　meters　of　his　vehicle。　Their　fragments　sliced　through　the　light　armor；　killing　everyone　inside　even　before　its　fuel　tank　exploded；　adding　another　fireball　to　a　sky　that　had　still　not　returned　to　darkness。

USS　CHICAGO
The　submarine　came　slowly　to　the　surface；　spiraling　up　to　allow　her　sonar　to　check　the　entire　area　as　she　rose　to　antenna　depth。　His　luck　had　been　bad　so　far；　McCafferty　considered；　which　was　not　a　situation　that　encouraged　risk　taking。　As　the　submarine　leveled　off　beneath　the　waves；　the　ESM　mast　went　up　first；　sniffing　for　hostile　electronic　signals；　then　the　search　periscope。　The　captain　made　a　quick　sweep　around　the　sky；　then　the　surface；　his　executive　officer　closely　watching　the　television　readout　to　back　up　the　skipper's　observations。　Everything　looked　clear。　There　was　a　moderate　sea　running；　with　five…foot　swells；　and　the　clear　blue　sky　was　decorated　with　fair…weather　cumulus　clouds。　On　the　whole；　a　beautiful　day。　Except　for　the　war。
〃Okay；　transmit；〃　McCafferty　ordered。　His　eyes　never　left　the　periscope；　which　he　turned　continuously；　angling　the　lens　up　and　down　to　look　for　trouble。　A　petty　officer　raised　the　UHF　antenna；　and　the　〃okay　to　transmit〃　light　blinked　on　in　the　radio　room　aft　of　the　attack　center。
They　had　been　summoned　to　the　surface　by　an　extremely　low…frequency　radio　message　with　their　call　sip；　QZB。　The　senior　radioman　powered　up　his　transmitter；　keyed　out　QZB　on　the　UHF　satellite　broadcast　band；　and　waited　for　a　reply。　There　was　none。　He　gave　his　neighbor　a　look　and　repeated　the　procedure。　Again　the　satellite　missed　the　signal。　The　petty　officer　took　a　deep　breath　and　transmitted　QZB　yet　a　third　time。　Two　seconds　later　the　hot　printer　in　the　after　er　of　the　room　began　to　print　up　a　coded　reply。　The　munications　officer　keyed　a　mand　into　the　cipher　machine；　and　the　clear　text　came　up　on　another　printer。
TOP　SECRET
FR：　SUBLANT
TO：　USS　CHICAGO
1。　REPORT　LARGE　REDFLT　AMPHIBIOUS　GRP　DEPARTING　KOLA　1150Z19JUNE。　FORCE　POSITION　10…PLUS　PHIBS　WITH　15…PLUS　BATANT　ESCORT　INCL　KIROV；　KIEV。　HEAVY　RPT　HEAVY　AIR　ASW　SUPPORT　THIS　GRP。　EXPECT　ALSO　REDFLT　SS/SSN　SUPPORT　THIS　GRP。　WESTERLY　COURSE；　HIGH　SPEED。
2。　EVALUATE　OBJECTIVE　THIS　GRP　BODO。
3。　PROCEED　AT　BEST　SPEED　TO　70N　16W。
4。　ENGAGE　AND　DESTROY。　REPORT　CONTACT　IF　POSSIBLE　BEFORE　ATTACK。　OTHER　NATO　SS/SSN　TRAFFIC　THISAREA。　AIR　SUPPORT　POSSIBLE　BUT　NOT　RPT　NOT　LIKELY　AT　PRESENT。
5。　WILL　AMPLIFY　LOCATION　THIS　GRP　AS　POSSIBLE。
McCafferty　read　the　dispatch　without　ment；　then　handed　it　to　the　navigator。　〃How　long　to　get　there　at　fifteen　knots？〃
〃About　eleven　hours。〃　The　navigator　took　a　pair　of　dividers　and　walked　them　across　the　chart。　〃Unless　they're　flying；　we'll　be　there　long　before　they　are。〃
〃Joe？〃　the　captain　looked　at　his　executive　officer。
〃I　like　it。　Right　on　the　hundred…fathom　curve；　and　water　conditions　are　a　little　squirrelly　there；　what　with　the　Gulf　Stream　ing　in　so　close　and　fresh　water　ing　out　of　the　fiords。　They　won't　want　to　be　too　close　inshore　because　of　the　Norwegian　diesel　boats；　and　they　won't　stray　too　far　out　because　of　the　NATO　nucs。　If　I　had　to　bet；　I'd　say　they'll　e　right　to　us。〃
〃Okay；　take　her　down　to　nine　hundred　feet　and　head　east。　Secure　from　general　quarters。　Let's　get　everybody　fed　and　rested。〃
Ten　minutes　later；　Chicago　was　on　a　heading　of　zero…eight…one；　steaming　at　fifteen　knots。　Deep；　but　in　relatively　warm　water　from　the　ocean　current　that　begins　in　the　Gulf　of　Mexico　and　runs　all　the　way　to　the　Barents　Sea；　she　enjoyed　sonar　conditions　that　made　detection　by　a　surface　ship　nearly　impossible。　The　water　pressure　prevented　cavitation　noises。　Her　engines　could　drive　the　submarine　at　this　speed　with　only　a　fraction　of　her　total　rated　power；　obviating　the　need　for　the　reactor　pumps。　The　reactor's　cooling　water　circulated　on　natural　convection　currents；　which　eliminated　the　major　source　of　radiated　noise。　Chicago　was　pletely　in　her　element；　a　noiseless　shadow　moving　through　black　water。
The　crew's　mood　changed　slightly；　McCafferty　noticed。　Now　they　had　a　mission。　A　dangerous　mission；　but　one　they　had　trained　for。　Orders　were　carried　out　with　calm　precision。　In　the　wardroom　his　tactical　officers　reviewed　tracking　and　attack　procedures　long　since　memorized；　and　a　pair　of　exercises　were　run　on　a　puter。　Charts　were　examined　to　predict　likely　places　for　especially　bad　water　conditions　in　which　they　might　hide。　In　the　torpedo　room　two　decks　below　the　attack　center；　sailors　ran　electronic　tests　on　green…painted　Mk…48　〃fish〃　and　the　Harpoon　missiles　in　their　white　canisters。　One　weapon　showed　an　electronic　fault；　and　a　pair　of　torpedomen　immediately　stripped　off　an　inspection　plate　to　replace　a　ponent。　Similar　checks　were　made　of　the　Tomahawk　missiles　in　their　vertical　launch　tubes　nested　in　the　bow。　Finally　the　weapons…control　team　ran　a　puter　simulation　through　the　Mk…117　attack　director　to　ensure　that　it　was　fully　operational。　Within　two　hours　they　were　sure　that　every　system　aboard　was　operating　within　expected　limits。　The　crewmen　exchanged　hopeful　smiles。　After　all；　they　reasoned；　it　wasn't　their　fault　that　no　Russian　had　been　dumb　enough　to　e　their　way；　was　it？　Just　a　few　days　before；　hadn't　they　practically　landed　on　the　beach…in　Russia！…without　being　detected？　The　Old　Man　was　a　real　pro；　wasn't　he？

USS　PHARRIS
Dinner　was　awkward　to　say　the　least。　The　three　Russian　officers　sat　at　the　end　of　the　table；　mindful　of　the　two　armed　guards　ten　feet　away；　and　the　cook　in　the　wardroom　pantry　who　kept　a　large　knife　conspicuously　in　view。　The　officers　were　served　by　a　young　seaman；　a　beardless　boy　of　seventeen　who　scowled　mightily　at　the　Russians　as　he　served　the　salad。
〃So；〃　Morris　said　cordially；　〃do　any　of　you　speak　English？〃
〃I　do；〃　answered　one。　〃I　am　instructed　my　captain　to　thank　you　for　rescue　our　men。〃
〃Tell　your　captain　that　war　has　rules；　and　so　does　the　sea。　Please　tell　him　also　that　he　showed　great　skill　in　his　approach。〃　Morris　poured　some　Thousand　Island　dressing　on　his　lettuce　as　the　message　was　translated。　His　officers　were　keeping　a　close　eye　on　their　guests。　Morris　was　careful　to　avert　his　gaze。　His　remark　had　the　desired　effect。　A　rapid　exchange　took　place　at　the　other　end　of　the　table。
〃My　captain　ask　how　you　find　us。　We…how　you　say…get　away　from　your　helicopters；　no？〃
〃Yes；　you　did；〃　Morris　answered。　〃We　did　not　understand　your　operating　pattern。〃
〃Then　how　you　find　us？〃
〃I　knew　you　were　attacked　earlier　by　the　Orion；　and　that　you　ran　at　high　speed　to　catch　up　with　us。　The　angle　for　your　attack　was　predictable。〃
The　Russian　shook　his　head。　〃What　attack　is　this？　Who　attack　us？〃　He　turned　to　his　mander　and　spoke　for　thirty　seconds。
There's　another　Charlie　out　there；　Morris　thought；　if　he's　not　lying　to　us。　We　ought　to　get　someone　who　speaks　Russian　to　talk　to　the　crewmen　below。　Damn；　why　don't　I　have　one　of　those？
〃My　captain　says　you　are　mistake　in　this。　Our　first　contact　with　you　was　from　helicopters。　We　did　not　expect　your　ship　to　be　here。　Is　this　new　tactic？〃
〃No；　we've　practiced　this　for　some　years。〃
〃How　you　find　us；　then？〃
〃You　know　what　a　towed…array　sonar　is？　We　first　detected　you　on　that；　about　three　hours　before　we　shot　at　you。〃
The　Russian's　eyes　went　wide。　〃Your　sonar　so　good　as　that？〃
〃Sometimes。〃　After　this　translated　the　Russian　captain　spoke　what　seemed　a　terse　order；　and　the　conversation　stopped。　Morris　wondered　if　his　radio　technicians　had　wired　the　microphones　into　the　Russians'　quarters　yet。　Perhaps　what　they　said　among　themselves　would　be　useful　to　fleet　intelligence。　Until　then　he'd　continue　to　make　them　fortable。　〃How　is　the　food　aboard　a　Soviet　submarine？〃
〃Not　same　as　this；〃　the　navigator　answered　after　conferring　with　his　boss。　〃Good；　but　not　same。