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SEA OF SHADOWS 293
“We can cover the search area in three parallel passes,” the captain
said.
“My thoughts exactly, ma’am.”
“Do it. Execute your search plan.”
“Aye, aye,” the USWE said. He keyed his mike. “Sonar—USWE. Go
active on sonar. Commence your search. Remember how shallow the
water is and adjust your depression angles accordingly.”
“Sonar, aye.”
“UB—USWE. I expect to gain contact within the next few minutes,
and the water is too shallow for ASROC. We don’t know what side of the
ship this guy is going to show up on, so go ahead and prep an over-the-side
shot for the port and starboard torpedo tubes.”
“UB, aye. Recommend we configure both weapons for shallow runs,
minimum initial search depths, and minimum ceiling depths.”
“Good call, UB,” Lieutenant (jg) Sherman said. “Make it so.”
He watched the CDRT, waiting for the first sign of the submarine.
“We’ve got you now, you son of a bitch,” he said softly. “The fat lady is
about to sing, because this opera is over.”
But twenty minutes later when Benfold came to the end of her search
run, there was still no sign of the submarine.
Captain Vargas laid her hand on Lieutenant (jg) Sherman’s shoulder.
“How did he get past us, Alex?”
Her USWE stared at the CDRT, still devoid of submarine contacts.
“He didn’t, ma’am. He couldn’t have.”
“Then he’s still here.”
“I don’t think so, Captain. We would have picked him up.”
“You can’t have it both ways, Alex,” the captain said. “The sub is
either still here, or it got past us. Which is it?”
“He’s here, Skipper.”
“Then maybe he’s under the oil platform, blending in with its sonar
return,” the captain said.
Sherman furrowed his eyebrows. “I don’t think he can do that,
Captain. Between the scaffolding, and the piping, and the pumps, there’s
an awful lot of equipment down …” He stopped. “What did you just say,
ma’am?”
“I said, ‘He might be under the oil platform … ’”
Lieutenant (jg) Sherman shook his head rapidly. “Not that part,
ma’am. The other part.”