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SEA OF SHADOWS 213
There was nothing wrong with the communication circuit.
He tapped a fingertip on the glass display screen of the CDRT. Why
hadn’t sonar reported anything yet?
Ten more minutes passed, and Ensign Cooper keyed his mike again.
“Sonar—USWE, report all contacts.”
The Sonar Supervisor’s reply came a few seconds later. “USWE—
Sonar, my tracks are as follows: Ingraham, designated Friendly Surface
Zero One, bears three-one-five. Benfold, designated Friendly Surface Zero
Two, bears two-one-seven. Antietam, designated Friendly Surface Zero
Three, bears zero-niner-four. Sonar holds negative passive or active
POSS-SUB contacts at this time.”
The ensign chewed on this for a few minutes. Could the subs have
slipped by them already? Were the Sonar Technicians searching in the
right place? He keyed the mike again. “Ah … Sonar—USWE, your
Threat Axis is two-eight-zero. Your Search Sector is two-five-zero to
three-one-zero.”
The Sonar Supervisor’s voice carried a note of annoyance. “Sonar
copies, sir. I promise you, if we get anything, you’ll be the first to know.”
“USWE, aye.” Ensign Cooper let his finger off the mike button. He
was getting his first glimpse of real Undersea Warfare, and it was a
waiting game. Hours, maybe days of searching between contacts, most of
which would ultimately turn out to be biologics or distant shipping traffic.
The Tactical Action Officer keyed his mike. “USWE—TAO. Now do
you understand why we call it U-S-W?”
“Sir?”
The TAO chuckled. “It stands for Unbelievably … Slooooooow …
Warfare …”
Ensign Cooper smiled wanly. “USWE, aye.”
“Roger that,” the Sonar Supervisor said over the net. “Do you know
the definition of USW, sir?”
Cooper said, “I know the definition that’s in the book, Sonar. What’s
your version?”
“Six months of boredom, followed by thirty seconds of sheer terror.”
Although no one could see him, Ensign Cooper nodded. “Point taken,
gentlemen. I’ll try to be patient. But if you get anything …”
“You have my word, sir,” the Sonar Supervisor said. “We won’t keep
it a secret.”