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SEA OF SHADOWS 299
The CNO took a breath and exhaled heavily. “Nothing, sir. What’s
left of Kitty Hawk’s strike group is at least twenty hours too far south and
west. Even if we turn them around now, that sub will be in Zubayr before
they can get through the Straits of Hormuz. My P-3s in Saudi are pinned
down by a sand storm. If it clears in the next couple of hours or so, I can
get them up into the northern Gulf, but even that will probably be too
late.”
The national security advisor asked, “What about that nuclear
submarine you wanted to send after them?”
“We had to clear the Topeka out of the Gulf. With four ships up there
hurling torpedoes right and left, we couldn’t risk a blue-on-blue
engagement with a friendly sub.”
“Those nuke subs are fast,” Brenthoven said. “Get it back up there!”
The CNO shook his head. “They’re not that fast. Topeka is too far out
of position.”
“What you’re telling me,” the president said, “is that I made my bed,
and now I have to lie in it.”
“I didn’t say that, Mr. President,” the CNO said.
“But it’s true, nevertheless …”
“I’m afraid so.”