Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

SEA OF SHADOWS 257
“SAU Commander, aye. Do you have a firing solution on contact
Gremlin Zero Three, over.”
“SAU Commander, this is Firewalker Two-Six. That’s affirmative.
I’ve got this guy tagged and bagged. Give me batteries released, and I’ll
bring you his head on a plate, over.”
Captain Culkins thought about this for a few seconds. “Firewalker
Two-Six, this is SAU Commander. You have batteries released. You are
authorized to drop below two thousand feet only long enough to make
your attack. Your approach and return are to be made above Angels Two,
over.”
“This is Firewalker Two-Six. Copy all. Out.”
Captain Culkins swallowed. The Navy had sent helicopters after these
submarines three times, and three times the helos had been blasted out of
the sky. He hoped like hell he hadn’t just ordered Firewalker’s air crew to
their deaths.
Firewalker Two-Six:
The pilot’s name was Lieutenant Clinton Brody, or just Clint to his
buddies. He scanned his instrument panel and keyed his inter-phone.
“Start your weapons check-off list,” he said to the Sensor Operator. He
looked over at his copilot, Lieutenant (junior grade) Julie Schramm.
“Here’s the plan, Jules. We stay above Angels Two for the approach. As
soon as we start our attack dive, you launch a pair of flares. My guess is
the sub will pickle off a heat seeker with our name on it the instant he
detects our rotor wash. The flares will give the missile something to play
with. As soon as our weapon is away, we bank hard to port, climb like
hell, and you pop off two more flares. Got it?”
His copilot nodded. “Piece-o-cake, boss.”
“Good. Now, go ahead and make your reports.”
The copilot keyed her radio. “SAU Commander, this is Firewalker
Two-Six. I am prepping for my attack run, over.”
“SAU Commander, aye. Good hunting.”
About a minute later, the Sensor Operator reported that the weapon was
ready to drop. “Standing by to launch on your order, sir.”
“All right, let’s do this,” the pilot said. He nudged the stick forward,
pitching his aircraft into a dive. “Weapon away on my mark”
“Aye-aye, sir.”