Cold Choices

movement two hours ago. She’s on twenty-four-hour notice, so she can be flown from San Diego early tomorrow, if we want to use her. The two Super Scorpio ROVs are already loaded on C-17s and are on strip alert. We’ve also detached USS Churchill from Standing Naval Force Atlantic. They’re near Norway. She’ll steam north, and we’ll fly the repair parts Seawolf requested out to her. When she delivers the parts to Seawolf she’ll also take off her casualties.”

“Was that wise?” Abrams, the State Department official, asked. “What if Churchill encounters Russian naval vessels while searching for the sub?”

“It’s international waters,” the admiral replied, “and we’ve ‘encountered’ Russian units before.” He wanted to say more, but Gosport kept things moving.

“We have several questions to be answered. I’ll address them in order of their urgency. First, do we pass Seawolf’s information on to the Russians?”

“We haven’t?” exclaimed Sotera. Several at the table were more than surprised. “It’s all over CNN.”

“The news reports are vague,” Abrams countered. “They confirm a Russian submarine emergency, but only hint that a U.S. sub may have been involved. To my knowledge, nobody at the State Department has had any official or unofficial communication with any Russian national in any capacity.”

“Mr. Abrams is correct,” Gosport added. “The United States has not officially provided the time and location of the collision to Russia. Until we do, the news reports can be dismissed as speculation. Once we do give Russia the data, we confirm our presence in the area and more importantly, our part in the collision.”

“They’ll blame us,” Abrams stated.

“Of course. Nothing new there,” Winters replied. “But from Rudel’s report, it sounds like he was doing his level best to avoid a collision.”

“Didn’t do a very good job,” muttered Bronson, the DoD counsel. “I’m assuming we don’t put incompetents in command of nuclear submarines, but couldn’t Rudel have simply moved away from the other submarine?”

Gosport looked to Richardson for an answer. The captain explained, “The Russian was trying to drive Seawolf out of the area by making passes very close to her. Both navies have used the tactic in different times and places to make the other side feel ‘unwelcome.’ It’s a risky business. There have been collisions between U.S. and Russian boats before, although never one this severe. In none of those cases was the U.S. captain held culpable.” The last sentence was directed straight at the counsel.

Bronson nodded and made a notation. “Still, what do we know about this man? He’s screwed up this mission. What if he makes a hash of finding the Russian sub?”

Richardson bristled. “He didn’t fail at anything, sir. Seawolf’s survey was interrupted by the Russian. That’s certainly not his fault.”

“I’ve met Captain Rudel.” Patterson spoke up. She had to make Tom Rudel real to these people. “My husband served with him when they were both lieutenants. He’s an excellent officer, intelligent and a good leader.”

“Dr. Patterson, did you have a technological insight into this situation?” Branson’s attitude was almost hostile.

Patterson wasn’t deflected by his snide comment. “The two nuclear subs involved are over three hundred feet long and displace almost ten thousand tons. Depending on their speed, it can take three to four boat lengths to change course. Given a noncooperative partner, maneuvering in close proximity, collisions are more than likely.”

Sotera, the vice CNO, reminded the group, “Rudel’s competence, or responsibility for the collision, doesn’t affect the basic fact that we know where the Russian sub is.”

“Where it may be,” corrected Abrams.

“Where it probably is,” countered the admiral. “This is a search-and-rescue mission. Not sharing what we know borders on the criminal. Furthermore, need I remind everyone here that we supported the Russians in August 2005 when the AS-28 got tangled in fishing nets off the Kamchatka Peninsula. And they were participants in this year’s NATO Bold Monarch submarine rescue exercise in May.”

Gosport’s expression showed that she wasn’t pleased at the admiral’s inference. “Until we know what the effects will be, sharing the information would seem unwise.”

“There’s no rush,” Abrams suggested. “The weather’s rotten and will be for two or three more days. Let Seawolf investigate and we can pass the information on if there’s anyone to rescue.”

“Unsatisfactory,” Sotera answered firmly. “Just like us, the Russians need time to prepare assets and equipment, and knowing where to look means they can start moving it now. And what if the weather breaks sooner than predicted?”

Bronson added, “The legal implications are fairly clear. Even if the Russian was totally responsible for the collision, withholding the information would have a very adverse effect on our position. And the Admiral is correct: We have included the Russians in rescue exercises as well as participating in the international submarine rescue liaison office. The course of action the State Department is recommending is completely counter to the president’s present policy.”

Patterson smiled, but only on the inside. That “adverse effect” would be a firestorm of international condemnation.

Gosport was convinced. “Then the Secretary of State will pass the information immediately to the Russian ambassador here in Washington. After that has occurred, the Navy may relay the exact same data through the submarine liaison office.” She turned and spoke to an aide, who quickly left the room.

“The second question is whether we recall Seawolf or let her assist in the rescue operation.”

“Seawolf can’t be recalled, Ms. Gosport,” Admiral Sotera reminded her. “According to Rudel’s message, she’s submerged, so we can’t communicate with her again until she decides to surface.”

Richardson looked uncomfortable. He didn’t like correcting the aviator. “Sir, that’s not completely correct. She can still receive messages via the floating wire antenna. She just can’t talk to us without surfacing and using the satellite phone.”

Sotera nodded and smiled. “Thank you, Captain.” He turned to Gosport. “I still recommend letting Captain Rudel proceed with his search.”

“But what can he find?” Abrams asked. “According to the message, his bow sonar is destroyed.”

Patterson leaned over to Richardson. She whispered, “I can answer this one, if you want.” The captain nodded, and she spoke to the group.”Seawolf has three unmanned underwater vehicles fitted with high-resolution bottom-scanning sonar. Each can search a swath hundreds of yards wide at five knots…”

Gosport interrupted. “Then it sounds like Seawolf is very well equipped to find a downed submarine. But physically involving her in the search concerns me.”

Abrams agreed. “Informing the Russians of our role does not require her to be there. If Seawolf stays, they will have to work with the Russians. And questions will be raised about what we were doing there in the first place.”

“Describing her mission as oceanographic survey is both accurate and publicly acceptable,” Bronson stated. “Seawolf’s classified mission is not relevant and had nothing to do with the circumstances of the collision.”

“That’s simple, at least.” Gosport sounded relieved. “Dr. Russo, what do you think the Russians’ reaction will be?”

Russo didn’t hesitate. “Before the Kursk disaster, they’d probably ignore anything we said and conduct their own search. That would cost them days, but they’ve got their pride and always want to go it alone.

“Now they’re under a lot pressure from their own citizens to work with other nations. Most likely, they’ll use the information but not give us any of the credit.” After a pause, he added, “And they’ll say the whole thing is our fault, of course.”

“We’ll deal with that,” Parker stated. “After the meeting, I’d like to get copies of Captain Richardson’s brief, along with any other material you have on Rudel. Also, on the crew member that was killed, Rountree. I assume his next-of-kin’s been notified.”

Concern flashed up in Patterson, but she suppressed her urge to speak when she saw that Richardson,