Range to central ship, carrier based on periscope range marks at four kilometers. Carrier approach angle negative. The carrier is steaming away from this unit. Range can be made more accurate with use of laser periscope range. Will be done before launch of Nagasaki torpedoes nominated for carrier. To determine range now using laser range finder could give this unit away, and a destroyer would come and attack this unit. Not a satisfactory way to begin attack. Orders received by this unit on the UHF antenna. JDA has ordered this unit attack task force with primary target identified as aircraft carrier. If aircraft carrier sinks, this unit authorized to use remaining torpedoes on the other ships of carrier task force. Other Destiny I’ll-class submarines have been assigned those targets, so this unit will wait to see reaction of task group when coordinated attack begins. Coordinated attack to begin at time twenty-one thirty hours Tokyo time. Event clock being reset for coordinated attack, now reading episode time minus four minutes. Time to apply power to torpedoes. Nagasaki large bore torpedoes in tubes one through twelve are warmed up, power applied to computer power supplies now. All twelve computers have satisfactorily turned on and now executing self checks. While self checks are in progress this unit is lowering periscope. Tubes being flooded so that outer doors can be opened. All twelve torpedoes report water in tubes is not causing power supply or signal feed shorts. All tubes report flooded. This unit now risks noisiest maneuver, opening of outer doors of torpedo tubes. Outer tube doors coming open. Unit risks look at task force. The periscope comes out of water. Water washes off lens. Unit sees task force, which continues steaming east away from this unit, range approximate at six kilometers. Not a problem. Nagasakis can run at 100 clicks, can pursue a wake for an hour putting effective range at 100 kilometers. This unit able to shoot using over the horizon targeting data from overhead Galaxy satellite. Odd thing that Americans have not shot down satellites. The carrier looks different. It is turning to its right. It is coming around, to try to attack this unit? This unit watches, puts torpedo attack on hold as new course and speed of carrier are predicted. No torpedoes to be launched if target is wiggling or zig zagging, according to tactics files. This unit lowers the periscope and checks status of torpedo tube outer doors. All now open, all torpedo units reading back nominal, self checks all back showing satisfactory units, gyros on all twelve units spinning at full revolutions. At event time minus two minutes all torpedo fuel tanks are pressurized. At minus one minute fifty seconds gas generators on all tubes are armed, mechanical interlocks removed to allow tubes to fire torpedoes as soon as this unit’s software decides to shoot. Torpedoes now fully ready to fire. All that remains is to wait for event clock to come down to time zero and to ensure that carrier, the target, is on its new course so its position at future time can be calculated. The point is that torpedoes are not aimed at target. They are aimed at point in space where carrier will be in future when torpedoes and target occupy same space at same time. Episode elapsed time minus one minute. This unit extends periscope and finds target steadied up on course southwest. Approach angle shows carrier approaching this unit. This unit watches and determines that carrier’s course remains steady. Weapon control unit is calculating torpedo launch courses and speeds and presenting to this unit’s upper functions for check This unit reviews calculations. They are acceptable. Episode elapsed time minus thirty seconds and this unit decides to confirm the range to the carrier with brief pulse of laser light. Light bounces back and shows carrier to be 6756 meters away. Light confirms weapon controller’s estimate of target speed. Episode elapsed time minus ten seconds. Calculations to target are sent to each torpedo and locked in.

Torpedoes know where they are going. They no longer need this unit.

Signal and power feeds to units now disconnect. All twelve units now independent of this unit. Episode elapsed time minus five seconds.

Initial torpedo launch will commence with tube one’s gas generator ignition in three point five seconds. Tube two will be next after ten seconds, then three and so forth. Episode elapsed time minus one second.

Tube one’s gas generator ignition sequence is started. Gas generator lights off, pressure at aft end of tube rises to ten atmospheres, continues to rise, pressure pushes on aft end of torpedo. Fifteen atmospheres in tube, now eighteen. Pressure in tube declines hack to seawater pressure. Torpedo unit one is away.

USS RONALD REAGAN

Pacino found Admiral Donner on the bridge in his customary starboard wing V.I.P chair.

“Sir, you called.”