Voyage of the Devilfish

“Scope’s under,” Pacino called, rotating the hydraulic control ring. “Lowering number-two scope.” The periscope optic module vanished into the well and continued down until it reached the stop 30 feet below. Pacino watched the depth gage as the hull popped and cracked. By the time it reached 546 feet the speed indicator had climbed to 34 knots and the deck began its vibration. Pacino went back to the navigation plot to see how the NAVSAT fix came in. As he studied the chart, wishing the distance to the ice would melt away. Radioman Gerald handed him the metal message board and the top-secret log.

“Flash traffic, sir. Top secret.” Pacino signed for the messages, opened the clipboard cover and read the message that had been urgent enough to call Devilfish up from her deep transit.

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FLASH

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150354ZDEC

FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH

FM— COMSUBLANT NORFOLK VA

TO— USS DEVILFISH SSN-666

SUBJ— MISSION REDEFINITION REF— COMSUBLANT OPORD 54-0964A DATED 13 DEC

SCI/TOP SECRET — THUNDERBOLT PERSONAL FOR CO// PERSONAL FOR CO// PERSONAL FOR CO

BT//

1. NEW INTELLIGENCE HAS DETECTED DEPLOYMENT OF ALL NORTHERN FLEET ATTACK-SUBMARINE UNITS FROM BASES ON NORTHERN RUSSIA COAST. SORTIE OF OVER ONE HUNDRED ATTACK SUBMARINES OUTCHOPPING THE BARENTS SEA TO THE GI-UK GAP. SPEED OF ADVANCE HIGH. VECTOR ANALYSIS INDICATES PROBABLE DESTINATION U.S. EAST COAST. OMEGA UNIT ONE MAY BE LINKED TO THIS DEPLOYMENT. AS YET ANALYSTS UNABLE TO VERIFY SUCH A LINKAGE.

2. OMEGA UNIT ONE DETECTED. ITS POSITION DEEMED RELIABLE AT COORDINATE ALPHA TWO ONE DECIMAL TWO TACK FIVE THREE DECIMAL SIX, CHART Z-SUBONE.

3. UNIT SURFACED AT POLYNYA WITH ONE ANTENNA UP. NO RADIO TRANSMISSIONS DETECTED. POSSIBLY UNIT IS LISTENING AND IS NOT TRANSMITTING YET.

4. DEVILFISH ORDERS REDEFINED. DETERMINE POSSIBLE HOSTILE INTENT OF OMEGA SUBMARINE AND DETERMINE ANY LINKAGE TO ATTACK-SUBMARINE FLEET HEADING TOWARD U.S. COAST. SUBLANT RULES OF ENGAGEMENT NO LONGER APPLY. DEVILFISH ORDERED TO TEST OMEGA UNIT USING ALL METHODS SHORT OF ACTUAL WEAPON RELEASE. DEVILFISH COMMANDER AUTHORIZED TO USE ALL REPEAT ALL INITIATIVE IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

5. FURTHER INTELLIGENCE WILL BE RELAYED AS IT IS RECEIVED HERE.

6. GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HUNTING, MIKEY. 7. ADM. R. DONCHEZ SENDS.

BT//

For the first time in a long time Pacino allowed a smile. The question of how to get the crew to engage the OMEGA had just been answered. Fleet deployment that intelligence didn’t foresee.. Perfect sanction for his confrontation with the OMEGA.