Ice Station Nautilus (12 page)

With both objectives completed, Lake called out, “All stations, Conn. Going deep. Helm, ahead two-thirds. Dive, make your depth two hundred feet.”

Each station acknowledged and
Michigan
tilted downward, leaving periscope depth behind. “Scope’s under,” Lake announced, then turned the periscope until it looked forward. She snapped the handles back to their folded positions, then reached up and rotated the periscope ring counterclockwise, lowering the scope into its well.

As
Michigan
leveled off at two hundred feet, a radioman entered Control, delivering the message clipboard. Wilson reviewed the messages, studying one in particular. They had received new orders.

He was surprised
Michigan
had been selected. But after reviewing the locations of the other three SSGNs—USS
Florida
was in the Persian Gulf, and
Ohio
and
Georgia
were in standard maintenance periods—he realized they were the closest submarine with SEALs and Navy divers. He would need to brief the crew on
Michigan
’s new task, and have the Navigator prepare the charts and plot a course through the Bering Strait.

Wilson turned to Lieutenant Lake. “Come down to five hundred feet, course north. Increase speed to ahead flank.”

21

MOSCOW

With the morning sun streaming through tall Palladian windows behind him, President Yuri Kalinin looked across his desk at his minister of defense, Boris Chernov.

“Mr. President,” Chernov began, “an American submarine has sunk in the Barents Sea, somewhere beneath the polar ice cap.”

“Have they requested our assistance?” Kalinin asked.

“No, Mr. President. The United States is mobilizing their rescue assets.”

“Is there some way we can assist?”

“We do not believe so. The Americans have a robust rescue system, which can be quickly transported where they need it.”

“If we have not been asked for assistance and cannot provide any, then why the urgent meeting?”

“There is a … wrinkle in the situation,” Chernov replied. “
Yury Dolgoruky
departed on patrol five days ago. American submarines deploy to the Barents to trail ours, and there is no target more desirable than
Dolgoruky
. It is not unreasonable to assume the Americans were trailing her, and if that is the case, there is the possibility the two submarines collided.”

“Do we have any indications they collided?”

“No, Mr. President, but unless
Dolgoruky
reports in, we cannot be sure. That is why I am here, to request permission to order
Dolgoruky
to break radio silence.”

Before Kalinin could respond, his phone rang. His executive assistant would not interrupt a meeting with his defense minister unless it was important.

“What is it?” Kalinin said as he answered the phone.

“The American president is on another line. He wishes to speak to you.”

Kalinin glanced at Chernov as he raised an eyebrow. “Put him through.”

The American president offered a perfunctory greeting, then got straight to the point. An American submarine had gone down under the polar ice cap. He offered what little he knew, then addressed the sensitive issue.

“We believe our submarine trailed
Yury Dolgoruky
under the ice, and the two submarines may have collided.”

Kalinin eyed his defense minister as he replied, “I am sorry, Mr. President, but you are misinformed.
Yury Dolgoruky
is not on patrol in the Northern Barents. She is in local waters off the Kola Peninsula for crew training. However, if you need our assistance, do not hesitate to ask.”

He hung up the phone, then directed Chernov, “Order
Dolgoruky
to report in.”

22

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

The Admiralty building, built in Russian Empire style with a quarter-mile-long facade, served as the headquarters of the Imperial Russian Navy under the tsars until 1917, becoming the seat of power for the Russian Navy again in 2012. Sitting atop the building’s 240-foot-high golden spire, the sailing warship weather vane is one of the city’s most recognizable symbols.

On the third floor of the building, Fleet Admiral Georgiy Ivanov stood behind Michman Danil Krasinski, seated at his console in the Communications Center. As the young man scrolled through the messages on his display, Ivanov could tell the radioman was nervous; his supervisor peered over his left shoulder, while the highest-ranking officer in the Russian Navy peered over his right. Krasinski scrolled through the radio messages received from Northern Fleet units in the last week, searching for transmissions from
Yury Dolgoruky
.

The Communications Center had been transmitting for the last twenty-four hours over every circuit, including VLF and ELF in case
Dolgoruky
went under the ice, ordering the submarine to report in. Ivanov had grown nervous, the probability that disaster had befallen
Dolgoruky
becoming more likely with each passing hour. Even if Captain Stepanov had taken
Dolgoruky
under the ice for some reason, he was far too experienced to have taken her so deep that he couldn’t transit to open water within the required time frame.

Upon reaching the end of the queue, Krasinski announced, “There is nothing, Admiral.
Dolgoruky
has not transmitted since she left port.”

Ivanov turned to Krasinski’s supervisor. “Initiate Signal Number Six procedures.”

23

MOSCOW

Yuri Kalinin was reviewing the daily intelligence briefing when he heard the heavy knock on his door. He acknowledged, and Russia’s minister of defense entered, striding briskly across the thirty-foot-wide expanse of open space. Chernov stopped in front of the president’s desk, and Kalinin could tell he brought news. He gestured toward a chair.

As Chernov settled into his seat, Kalinin asked, “You have word of
Dolgoruky
?”

“She has not reported in,” Chernov replied. “The Navy has concluded she has sunk, most likely in a collision with the American submarine. Northern Fleet has initiated Signal Number Six procedures.”

Kalinin was silent for a moment, then asked, “Do we know where she sank?”

“No,” Chernov replied. “
Dolgoruky
’s operating area is extremely large; over one million square kilometers. Once our ballistic missile submarines reach their operating areas, they can travel in any direction, even under the ice.”

“How do we find her?”

“Northern Fleet is sortieing every ship to look for her, but our ship and submarine sonars are not equipped for bottom searches. We will be lucky to stumble across her. A more likely scenario is that the Americans find her for us. They have a rough idea of where their submarine sank. Once they locate it, we will know where to look for ours.”

“Therein lies the problem,” Kalinin replied. “If the Americans find their submarine, they will likely find ours.”

“But the Americans won’t be looking for
Dolgoruky,
” Chernov replied.

A confused expression worked its way across Kalinin’s face. “Why not?”

“Because we’re not going to tell them
Dolgoruky
sank. Let them look only for their submarine, and if they find it, we will set up a base camp nearby, ostensibly to assist. But we will be preparing to rescue
Dolgoruky
instead. Without America looking for her, the odds we reach her first will increase.”

“I understand,” Kalinin replied. “But what if the Americans
do
reach her first?”

Chernov studied Kalinin carefully before he answered. “You know what we must do.”

Kalinin evaluated Chernov’s assessment, then pulled a stationery pad from his desk. Chernov waited as Kalinin wrote and signed the directive, then placed it in an envelope and sealed it. He handed it to Chernov.

“Deliver this to Fleet Admiral Ivanov.”

*   *   *

As Boris Chernov closed the doors to the president’s office, an idea began to take hold. Tragedy had befallen the Russian Navy again. Yet it was also an incredible opportunity, and it didn’t take long to decide the risk was worth it.

He headed to the Kremlin basement.

Moments later, Chernov entered the Intelligence Center. The senior officer on watch, Captain Second Rank Eduard Davydov, looked up from his console. “Good morning, Defense Minister. How can I help you?”

“Which American submarine is in the Barents Sea?”

Davydov entered several commands at his console, and maps of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Persian Gulf appeared on the monitor at the front of the Intelligence Center. Overlaid on the maps were five blue areas and one green.

“America’s Atlantic Fleet has five attack submarines and one guided missile submarine on deployment. By analyzing underway dates, transit times, and port calls, we can determine where each submarine is deployed. The blue areas indicate the locations of their fast attacks, while their guided missile submarine is in the green area. As you can see, their guided missile submarine and two fast attacks are in the Persian Gulf, with another two fast attack submarines in the Mediterranean. The fifth fast attack is on a northern run. We detected her passing our surveillance arrays near Iceland, which puts her in the Barents Sea.”

Davydov moved the pointer on the display onto the blue area covering the Barents Sea. A text box popped up, displaying the relevant data. Davydov read it aloud. “The American submarine in the Barents is
North Dakota
.”

Chernov suppressed a smile.

North Dakota
was America’s first Block III Virginia class submarine, armed with the latest tactical systems.

It could not have been more perfect.

24

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

After a short flight from Moscow, Boris Chernov entered the office of Fleet Admiral Georgiy Ivanov, prepared to discuss not only the directive he was carrying in his suit pocket, but another, more dangerous effort that would require the Admiral’s cooperation.

Chernov settled into the chair across from Ivanov. “These are difficult times,” he began. “Another Russian submarine has sunk, and the challenge we face is more difficult than
Kursk
. We do not know where
Dolgoruky
is.”

Ivanov replied, “You are not telling me anything I don’t already know. Get to the point.”

Chernov was taken aback by the Admiral’s brusque response, which he excused, given the circumstances. “I have discussed the situation with President Kalinin,” Chernov replied, “including what to do if the Americans reach
Dolgoruky
first.” He pulled the sealed envelope from his pocket and handed it to the Admiral.

Ivanov opened the envelope and read the instructions.

“I understand,” he replied. “I will draft the order myself and send it today.”

Chernov held out his hand. There could be no record of what Kalinin had ordered.

Ivanov hesitated, then folded the directive and placed it back in the envelope. “I could destroy it for you,” he said as he returned it.

Chernov said nothing as he slid the envelope into his pocket. There was a strained silence before he broached the second, more sensitive topic.

“There is something else I wish to discuss with you, Admiral.”

Ivanov said nothing, waiting for Chernov to continue.

“The American submarine that sank is their first Block III Virginia class, outfitted with their newest tactical systems. If we reach it first and evacuate the crew, we can harvest the submarine’s technology.” Chernov leaned forward in his chair. “We cannot let this opportunity slip through our fingers.”

Admiral Ivanov stared at Chernov dispassionately, giving no indication he was moved by Chernov’s plea. “What do you want, Boris?”

Chernov took a few minutes to explain his plan, finishing with, “If we are successful, all will be forgiven.”

The Admiral considered Chernov’s proposal. The assets required for the operation were under Ivanov’s command. If he failed, it would be his head on the chopping block.

Chernov tried to assure Ivanov there was no threat of incarceration. “I believe there is no risk to you other than your career. If things do not turn out well, I have no doubt Kalinin will fire you. But that will be the extent of the ramifications. Whether we succeed or fail, Kalinin will publicly deny our involvement while assuaging the Americans.”

After a long silence, Ivanov replied, “You are correct. We cannot let this opportunity pass. I will give the necessary orders.”

25

K-329
SEVERODVINSK

Captain Second Rank Josef Buffanov made his round through his submarine’s Central Command Post, stopping to review the last entry in the Deck Log.

Course: 000, Depth: 100 meters, Speed: 35 knots

Severodvinsk
had been in the Barents Sea, headed to the Mediterranean for deployment, when Buffanov received new orders. They were now headed north at maximum speed, preparing to slip beneath the polar ice cap in search of
Yury Dolgoruky
.

K-329
Severodvinsk
was a fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarine, the first of the new Yasen class. Built as a replacement for the Project 971-A attack and 949-A guided missile submarines, dubbed Akula and Oscar by the West,
Severodvinsk
’s technology was state-of-the-art. Outfitted with a new spherical array sonar,
Severodvinsk
was also equipped with upgraded flank arrays on the hull and more capable towed arrays. While the sensor suite of the Yasen class submarine was vastly improved, so was her armament. With ten torpedo tubes and eight vertical launchers, each of the latter carrying five antiship or land-attack cruise missiles,
Severodvinsk
was a formidable ship.