Under the Ice

“No, comrade, perhaps it wasn’t.” The white-haired veteran couldn’t help but respect the young officer’s coolness under fire.

“The contact is cutting its forward speed!” It was the voice of the excited sonar operator.

Quick to return to the console, both Sergei Markova and Mikhail Kharkov studied the repeater screen. The electronic line showing the contact’s screw turns had evened out dramatically, and it was obvious that the sub had substantially cut its forward velocity.

“Maybe they’ve spotted us,” offered the Zampolit, who had vigilantly remained at the sonar operator’s side.

“I don’t see how they could,” returned the captain.

“Right now the Neva’s practically dead in the water.

With our stealth system in operation, they would have to go active to even have a chance of locating us. And with our anechoic tiles in place, there’s a good chance even that tactic wouldn’t be fruitful.”

“Maybe they’ve known our position all along, and have only been playing with us,” the paranoid Political Officer said.

Sergei looked out to the repeater screen and replied, “That’s even more unlikely, Comrade Zinyagin. If you ask me, I say that within the next sixty seconds the Yankee skipper is going to reveal his intentions once and for all.”

Barely a half minute later, this prophetic remark came true when the sonar operator pressed his headphones tightly over his ears and then called out loudly for all to clearly hear, “They’re changing course, Captain!

The new bearing is two-six-zero.”

“Why that’s almost due west!” exclaimed the admiral.

“I told you they’d be headed for Lancaster Sound.”

“It looks like they’re after the black box all right,” observed the ship’s captain as he thoughtfully stroked his square chin.

“Senior Lieutenant, put that intercept vector into the navigation computer right now. Those Yankee bastards don’t realize it as yet, but they’ve come as close to spoiling our mission as they’re going to get!”

“And this Dr. Lansing is that portion of the ship we fondly call Defiance Power and Light. You just saw the reactor compartment. This is where it’s controlled from, and where the resulting energy is transformed into steam to turn our propellers and electricity to run almost everything else.”

Matt Colter stepped aside and beckoned his attractive guest to enter the maneuvering room before him.

Laurie Lansing readily did so, and soon found herself in a relatively cramped compartment dominated by a massive console filled with dozens of gauges,

switches, and dials. Three seated figures were responsible for monitoring these instruments, though the newcomer’s entrance momentarily diverted their attention from them.

Quick to bring the three back in line was the deep, firm voice that emanated from the room’s shadows.

“What the hell’s the matter with you guys? Get your eyes back on the instruments where they belong or you burns will never qualify!”

As his men instantly complied, the tall, dark, solidly built figure of Lieutenant Frystak stepped forward to greet his guests.

“Good morning. Captain.

And I presume that this is Dr. Lansing?”

“You presume right,” replied the civilian as she accepted the officer’s warm handshake.

“I’m sorry about the interruption.”

“Lieutenant Frystak and his men here are the guys I rely on to keep the heart of this ship pumping,” said the captain.

“And speaking of the devil, so far you’ve given me everything I’ve asked for and then some, Lieutenant.”

Frystak affectionately patted a nearby instrument panel.

“It’s all in a day’s work. Captain. We were able to survive our little disaster drill and keep on line even as we reacted to that simulated steam leak in the main condenser and the fire in the auxilliary turbine unit.”

“So I noticed,” returned the captain.

“You and your men deserve a hearty job well done.”

Frystak humbly nodded.

“Thanks, Captain. And by the way Dr. Lansing, how is your work progressing?”

Laurie instantly liked the straightforward engineering officer, who reminded her of a college schoolmate.

“We’ll know for sure soon enough, once the captain gives the order to surface. As of this moment, all the installation and reprogramming have been completed. Now begins the hard part, the waiting.”

“Any new system is going to have its bugs,” reflected Frystak.

“If the theory’s correct, you’ll get it right eventually.”

“I hope a lot sooner than that,” retorted Laurie.

Matt Colter grinned.

“If Lieutenant Frystak and his men can keep these engines purring away as they have been, you’ll have that chance soon enough. Doctor.

Now, how about having a look at the engine room? I’m sure the men there won’t mind a little company, will they. Lieutenant?”

Well aware of the crew’s undying curiosity whenever the subject of their civilian passenger came up, Frystak responded.

“I don’t think they’ll mind at all, Captain. Shall I ring the chief and let him know that you’re coming?”

Shaking his head that this wouldn’t be necessary, Colter escorted his guest through the aft hatchway.