Fulcrum: V Plague Book 12 (30 page)

“XO?”  Talbot asked quietly.

“I’m good, sir.  I recognize this as a valid order.”

“Very well,” he said. 

He was turning to issue the orders necessary to launch their
Tomahawks when a shout from the sonar operator stopped him.

“Conn, Sonar!  Multiple surface and airborne contacts approaching
at high speed.  They’re on a bearing to our current position.”

“XO, get us to deep water!”  Talbot barked then turned
around as she began issuing navigational orders.  “TAO, spin up two
missiles and enter the targeting data we received from Pearl in the flash
traffic!”

The control room was suddenly a hive of activity as everyone
jumped to execute the orders that were being issued.  Talbot grabbed an
overhead handle as the deck tilted in response to Adrienne’s orders to move
them farther offshore and away from the approaching threats.  It leveled a
moment later, a slight vibration starting up as the submarine accelerated to
flank speed.

“Captain, missiles are ready!  Doors are open!” 
The Tactical Action Officer called out.

“This is the Captain.  Release of missiles is
authorized!”

“This is the XO.  I concur.  Release of missiles is
authorized!”

The two officers stepped to the weapons console, each
inserting a key that hung from a chain around their necks.  After a brief
countdown, they turned them in concert.  A light flashed on the panel, and
a moment later the boat shuddered as a gas generator shot two missiles out of
the top of the submarine.

“Close outer doors!”  Talbot snapped.  “XO, take
us deep before the goddamn Russians put a torpedo in the water.”

“Aye, aye sir!”

---

Twin geysers appeared in the water, only ten miles from the
entrance to Sydney Harbour.  A second later, blooms of fire lit the dark
surface as the Tomahawks’ rocket motors ignited.  They swiftly gained
altitude before turning over and streaking towards the city.

Quickly, the rockets burned out and jet engines took
over.  Approaching North Head, the point of land that guards the northern
entrance to the harbor, the two missiles began to descend, their speed increasing
to just over 500 miles an hour.  Six miles remained to reach the Gardens
where Barinov was standing, which they would cover in slightly more than forty
seconds.

The launch had been detected by two Russian guided missile
boats sitting in Sydney Harbour for the sole purpose of protecting their president. 
Before the Tomahawks passed North Head, both of their targeting systems had
locked onto the approaching threats.  Seconds later, the computers that
controlled the defensive weapons, which were in automatic mode, ordered the
release of anti-missile missiles.  Each boat fired four.

The eight Russian missiles screamed to meet the inbound
American weapons, constantly adjusting their flight based on a real-time data link
from the ships that fired them.  Even with this advantage, several of them
missed and continued on to fall harmlessly into the ocean when their fuel was
expended.

The last three successfully destroyed the pair of Tomahawks,
over the still waters of Sydney Harbour.  The twin explosions rattled
windows all across the city and caused Barinov to pause and look up into the
night sky.

“American missiles were just intercepted, sir.”  His
aide stood next to him, a secure radio pressed to his ear.  “No other
inbound weapons detected at this time.  We are in pursuit of an unidentified
submarine, east of the harbor entrance.”

Barinov grunted, then took a moment to look back at the
bodies of the American sailors he had personally killed.

“They are children, no?”  He asked his aide, referring
to Americans.

“Yes, Mr. President.  They are, but they are dangerous
children.  And they will come for you again.”

Barinov snorted in response.

“Let them come, Yevgeny.  Let them come.”