85. Submarine Warfare

"Captain, we've established communication with Admiral Marco."

Admiral Marco appeared on the monitor atop the desk.

"Maria, thank you.

This is Keiichi Yamada from Agirakana. Congratulations on your promotion and elevation to noble rank."

"Representative Yamada, thank you. You already know about my personal affairs? So, what is it you require?"

"As you're aware, there exists a star system within your nation—Harumaine. We've detected signs of large-scale civil unrest there. Uprising appears imminent. We believe it's no longer possible to prevent it."

"Is that true?"

"Our assessment, based on the intelligence we've gathered, is virtually certain."

"I've heard Harumaine is destabilizing, but I never imagined the situation had deteriorated so severely."

"According to our projections, the civil war is expected to stabilize approximately one year after full-scale intervention by the Alze side."

"One year?"

"Timeframe aside, it appears both parties will suffer substantial losses. As Agirakana, we can only say we possess the means to mediate this conflict. We’ll be sending you data and simulation results on the matter shortly—please verify them on your end first. This line will remain open at all times; do contact us if anything arises."

With that, he ended the conversation, leaving the implication hanging. The bait was cast. Now, all that remained was waiting for their response.

At that moment, in the North Pacific, off the Aleutian Islands.

If an unidentified submarine approached within dangerous proximity—specifically, within fifty kilometers, the range of long-range torpedoes—to a guarded strategic ballistic missile submarine, the escort attack submarine would, of course, initiate the prescribed course of action against the unknown vessel.

Following the pre-established strategic ballistic missile submarine escort protocol at DEFCON Level 3, the Virginia-class attack submarine SSN-26 *Pompeo* initiated its course of action.

"Captain, sonar contact confirmed. Three vessels—first to third ships of the continental China Type 097."

"Considering we don’t have precise underwater temperature maps, it’s impressive we managed to track you all the way to the Sanctuary *Sanctuary*. I’ll grant you that much—but no further toward Colombia.副長, confirm and log the engagement rules."

"Sir, yes. … Engagement regulations under DEFCON Level 3: currently all clear. Logged."

Only that nation could generate such a racket underwater, yet it’s convenient that even without emitting active sonar—without “pinging”—we can still pinpoint their positions.

"Good work. Now, gentlemen,实战. Don't worry—opponents are just the China Boats. If it's simpler than training, I'll take responsibility."

The captain's earnest joke failed to land in the command room. Naturally, it wasn't an order, so no one repeated it.

Regaining composure, he said,

"Prepare for anti-submarine torpedo engagement. Use tubes one through three."

The fourth torpedo tube, one of four, was always kept on standby, ready to fire at any moment—so he deliberately omitted it.

"Tube room. Aye. Propellant injection initiated... propellant injection complete. Mk 48s loaded into tubes one through three... tube flooding complete."

"Torpedo launch readiness confirmed for tubes one through three."

"Open forward hatch."

"Forward hatch released. Confirmed."

"Launch one. Launch two. Launch three."

"Launch complete. … All torpedoes en route—confirmed."

"Proceeding with rapid descent to the thermocline."

"Sir, yes. Main ballast tanks flooding—rapid descent."

Ping…, ping…, ping…

At that moment, the enemy submarine’s sonar pings echoed through the hull—three times. Another twenty seconds, and they’d be deep enough within the thermocline. Once submerged past the thermocline, the torpedoes’ seekers would no longer lock onto the target. Given the time required for descent and the distance from the enemy vessel, they were now safely out of range.

"Torpedo one—target acquired. Cutting wire."

"Torpedo two—target acquired. Cutting wire."

"Torpedo three—target acquired. Cutting wire."

The torpedoes tracked the enemy sub with mechanical precision.

"Enemy flagship one—appears to have deployed a decoy and altered course."

"What do you expect by turning without stopping the propellers? In the end, you're just a third-rate navy."

"Enemy vessel two—torpedoes launched. Two of them.... Executing a wide turn, veering off course. Enemy torpedoes—abnormally close to enemy sub. Enemy torpedoes—self-destructed."

"Enemy vessel three—deployed decoy, engines stopped. Appears to have begun rapid descent."

"Our vessel has entered the thermocline. Passive sonar sensitivity will drop."

"Horizontal forward, minimal speed."

"Horizontal forward, minimal speed—descent has ceased."

With the torpedoes already locked onto the enemy sub, sinking was now inevitable.

Ten seconds passed. The first impact reached the ship.

"First torpedo—hit.... Explosion sound continuing, multiple bubble sounds, flooding confirmed. Enemy vessel sinking naturally. Sinking confirmed."

And then, the second impact.

"Third hit confirmed.... Explosion sound confirmed,... bubble sounds, flooding confirmed. Enemy vessel sinking naturally. Sinking confirmed."

The final impact passed harmlessly through the ship.

"Second hit confirmed.... Explosion sound, bubble sounds, flooding confirmed. Enemy vessel sinking naturally. Sinking confirmed."

"First real combat opponent we've faced, but those guys were something else. Only the enemy's third vessel seemed to be handling things properly. If they'd reacted a little faster, even a Mark 48 might've escaped."

"Captain, does a ship count as sunk in the tally if it's destroyed by our own torpedo?"

"Never learned that at Annapolis. But we don't need to know."

Having concluded his discussion with Admiral Marko, and taking a moment to smoke at his station, Ain arrived. Curious, he listened to what she had to say.

"Captain, it appears a submarine engagement has occurred in the northwestern Pacific. A confrontation between attack submarines of the United States and continental China—no loss on the U.S. side, nine vessels lost on China’s, and it seems China has now lost all ships it recently deployed into the Pacific."

"Indeed, quite extreme."

"I, too, was surprised by the extent of the disparity in equipment and training."

"Why do you suppose China pushed so hard into the Pacific?"

"Perhaps due to some provocation by the United States, or intentional leakage of information through Japan?"

"Through Japan?"

"Given the recent data acquisition by the United States, I suspect they contacted key figures in China—individuals embedded within Japan—and struck some sort of arrangement. To increase certainty, shall we re-examine electronic data, including from the United States?"

"Ah, I see. Understood. No need for further investigation, then. The data handed to Ichijō must have served as some kind of trigger."

"Though the timing of the data transfer and the strategic submarine’s movement doesn’t align directly, it’s highly likely the data was leveraged retrospectively, in the manner we discussed earlier."

"The United States is quite the performer. The mainland China naval force took a serious hit in this incident, I assume—but realizing just how vast the disparity in actual capability truly is might, for once, temper their ambitions a little."

"Still, their expansionist tendencies are structurally unavoidable. Hard to say what’ll come of it."

"True enough. Like swimming with sharks—stop moving, and you suffocate. So, how’s the situation inside mainland China, following this incident?"

"The coastal navy faction’s influence will likely diminish, but the impact on the party’s overall power structure appears to be limited."

“If only something big doesn’t happen. Or, better yet, let it happen and crush it all at once?”

“Captain, your thoughts are a bit extreme.”

“Mm, I’ve never had much interest in meddling with other nations, but if the leash were to snap, well, that’d be something of a relief too.”

[Afterword]

The submarine battle is speculative. Since the timing of propellant injection was unclear, I assumed it was injected first and then loaded into the launch tube.

I just felt like firing a torpedo from a submarine, so I tried a torpedo duel?