[SC ONLY] Pobeda Submarine Disaster (IC) (Semi-closed)

[Greater Slavacia]

Excerpt from Izvestiya newspaper

Izvestiya
Official News Agency of the Federal Republic of Greater Slavacia

---

Breaking News: Submarine Disaster in the Southern Sea

RS-85 Pobeda in port, shortly after commissioning

The Ministry of Defense has announced in a statement today, that a brand-new nuclear powered cruise missile submarine armed with four nuclear warheads, the Project 899-class RS-85 Pobeda, has sunk during exercises, 100 kilometers South-East of the Slavacian coast. The Ministry has officially reported the loss of the vessel, along with casualty numbers. According to the MOD they are: 4 men killed, 14 men missing and 53 men injured. The Captain of the Submarine is reported to have not survived. The remaining crew members successfully evacuated the submarine, and were recovered by other vessels in the area. The purported reason for the sinking is a malfunctioning cruise missile launch, that destroyed 5 vertical launch tubes, causing flooding and loss of buoyancy. The Ministry has reported that a reactor containment breach is not likely, however, nuclear material from the damaged missiles could have leaked into the water.

The Project 899 submarines are relatively new, and have been in service with the Slavacian Navy for only 13 years, with the first submarine (RS-79) being launched on the 7th of August 2005. The submarine in question, the RS-85, was only launched in July last year and had just finished its trials, officially being commissioned on the 7th of December. This comes as a shock to the Naval community, as the submarine was designed for safety and had passed sea trials with little difficulty.

The spokesperson for the Ministry expressed his condolences to the families of the dead and wounded sailors and said that: "... a thorough investigation shall be carried out..." and that "...all responsible for this terrible tragedy will be punished in accordance to the laws of Greater Slavacia.". This event comes as international tensions are at an all time high, with possible border provocations expected at the Skjoldur-Slavacian border, and the deployment of ABM systems to the Southern Islands by The Realm of Nocturnalis.

---

Headquarters of the Southern Navy, Novosergeevsk,
— Comrade Admiral, we have sent the order to the crew of the BMZ-52, they are preparing for immediate departure — the adjutant looked worried, more pale in the face than usual.
— Have them get there as soon as possible. They must complete the mission in the span of one night! I don't care what they do as long as they do their job
Suddenly, the tablet on the admiral's table beeped, and displayed a message. He glanced through it and his face reddened with anger as he got up from his chair shaking — Can you tell me why the naval aviation still has not surveyed the radiological effect of the submarine sinking?!
— C...c..comrade admiral, they have had trouble with the weather and equipment - we usually do not have radiological reconnaissance aircraft on standby, we had to import them from the air force — the young adjutant stuttered and became as white as a sheet.
— WHAT, THE WEATHER? GET ME THE CHIEF OF THE SOUTHERN FLEET AIR ARM, LIEUTENANT! — he took a breath to calm himself — and while you are at it, call together the staff for a meeting.
— Yes comrade admiral, permission to begin?
— Go ahead...
The lieutenant ran out of the office, leaving the admiral alone. He looked through the window overlooking the bay and thought: "This is the end, isn't it? But not just for me, for the whole Southern fleet. No, it's not right, I alone created the problem and I alone must fix it."
He decidedly got up from the table and walked over to a map on the wall, self reflection had to wait.

BMZ-52, 70km from the Wreck
— Navigation, what is our distance to target?
— 71km comrade captain 3rd rank
— Understood, maintain course and speed — he turned to the chief mine officer — Status of the mines?
— Ready for deployment comrade captain 3rd rank, I have studied the hydrological map of the wreck site and have determined the optimal place for the mine bank installation. — he gestured over to the map — Would you like like to view them?
— Of course — the captain got up from his chair and approached the map
— I propose to install two mine banks here — he gestured to the map — based on the course predictions gained by our intelligence following the broadcast made by the The Harrenian Authority for Nautical Exploration and Exploitation, they should pass through this minefield, but as a reserve, another mine field should be placed directly above the wreck. It will make our trawling work harder, but it would mean that the Harennites will not be able to send down a bathyscaphe to survey the area.
— Thank you comrade Krivosheenko, these plans will be adequate, give your recommendations to the navigator, tell them I have approved them.
— Exactly so, comrade Captain!
— Oh, and one more thing, when deploying the mine field, do it in a pseudo random pattern, with several of the mines being above surface, so that our navy can say they were drifting mines accidental deployed by the submarine during sinking.
— Will be done!

[Harren Island]

A lot of this is rehashed from my factbook (the factbook was written before the thread was up) but I'm reposting it here and adding to it to have an easily accessible coherent story

Fig. The Kefalos en route south to the wreck of RS-85

Ever since the creation of the Republic, multitudes of ideas, offers and demands crossed Maria's desk. Most she simply ignored. However, a couple had been combined into a project proposal supported by a some of the other Mayors and endorsed by economic advisers. The Proposal covered the creation of a National Agency focused on identifying and exploiting resources at sea and recovering other valuables or properties lost in international waters. This would cover everything from mining for oil and mineral reserves, to salvaging and shipwreck recovery.

It was a good proposal and Maria Otome had intended to eventually put it into action, however she'd had other more important matters to attend to and she wanted to focus on rebuilding the Republic's primary economy first before investing into such an expensive undertaking. Things changed when a Nuclear armed submarine, RS-85 belonging to Greater Slavacia, sunk in international waters. Instantly, Maria green-lit the project and channeled a significant percentage of the Republic's budget into it, knowing that time was of the essence.

In the immediate aftermath of RS-85's sinking and the sudden birth of HANEE, a desperate search for an adequate vessel was underway. Within hours, one was found available in the islands of Serlea and so an official offer was made to the United Maritime Kingdom of Frezko Islands. The offer was accepted. The ship was swiftly renamed the 'Kefalos' and staffed with a new crew that was flown over from Galatea the very next day. In less than 48 hours since Maria had given the order, a HANEE submarine salvage vessel was sailing southwest at full speed towards Greater Slavacia and the prize sitting on the seafloor.

A broadcast was sent to Greater Slavacia.

+++
This is Captain Gin of the Kefalos, we're from the Harrenian Authority for Nautical Exploration and Exploitation and we are on our way to help you with your humanitarian emergency. We understand you have fourteen missing men who may still be trapped on board and we have the capability to rescue them. Please send us the exact coordinates of the wreck.
+++

Awaiting an answer, the Kefalos steamed onward, a day or two out from the approximate location of the sinking. Their orders were to recover the missiles but if that wasn't possible, recover weapons grade materials and the submarine itself. Use whatever means necessary.

[Greater Slavacia]

BMZ-52, Wreck site, Later that night
It was a cold and dark night, the clouds covered the sky and only a faint silvery glow gave away the presence of the moon. The cold southern wind was relentless, causing large waves to periodically spill over the low fencing, and straight onto the deck of the vessel. The captain stood outside the bridge on the left side, smoking and thinking. He extinguished his cigarette, threw the butt of the side of the ship and turned to the chief mine officer:
—How long until we install this bank?
— We are almost finished, comrade captain, but there is a problem, one of the mines got stuck on the launch shoot. The munitions handling team is deactivating it so give them 45 minutes to do it, another 20 to finish laying this bank, and we should be done.
—Acknowledged, thank you lieutenant — he stood for a while, looking out to sea — Do you think we are doing the right thing, lieutenant? The men might still be down there, this Haren ship might save them!
—I don't think it's a matter for us to think about comrade captain
—Very well, I guess you are right. Finish the mine laying, and inform me when done.

Headquarters of the Southern Navy, Novosergeevsk
— Comrade Admiral, we have received a message from the Harrenite vessel here is the transcript:

Code: Select all

This is Captain Gin of the Kefalos, we're from the Harrenian Authority for Nautical Exploration and Exploitation and we are on our way to help you with your humanitarian emergency. We understand you have fourteen missing men who may still be trapped on board and we have the capability to rescue them. Please send us the exact coordinates of the wreck.

— They claim that they are here to assist us, and are requesting the coordinates, as a precaution, the commander of the Varyag has ordered that a reconnaissance aircraft be dispatched. It is currently on standby, awaiting your sanction.
Very well, Captain 1st Rank Sidorenko showed commendable initiative, order the aircraft to immediately depart. — the admiral took the printed paper into his hands and studied it closely — Now, as for the message, I don't entirely trust the Harrenites, not well enough to give them the location of the wreck - not that it's possible now, it's been mined. However, we could dispatch a combat vessel to intercept the Kefalos and guide it to the correct location, while another one of our vessels deactivates the mines. In fact, why not send the Varyag since Sidorenko showed so much initiative, the Neustrahimyy and Rezkiyy can escort it, while one of our anti-mine ships dismantles the mine field.
— I'll prepare the order, comrade Admiral
— Yes thank you, and I will compose a response to the message. Bring the order to me when done.
The adjutant turned around to exit when the admiral stopped him
— Oh, and one more thing, the superiors need not know about the message, get me the chief of fleet counter intelligence here, he should solve that problem for us.
— Will be done.

Code: Select all

To: Captain Gin of the Kefalos, Harrenian Authority for Nautical Exploration and Exploitation
From: Command of the South Fleet, Federal Republic of Greater Slavacia
We accept your proposal, naturally, open communications are not safe enough for the transmission of sensitive data. We have sent out a cruiser and two frigates, they have orders to escort your ship to the area of the sinking. Also, it has come to our attention, that during sinking, the RS-85 released naval mines as a last ditch effort to surface. Thus, there is now a threat of drifting mines in the area. In order to prevent any accident, you must cut all power to the engines, and wait until the Slavacian fleet intercepts your vessel, by then, we should have enough time to trawl the area and deactivate any rogue floating mines.
Kindest Regards,
Admiral Sergei Alekseeivich Krapov,
Southern Fleet


[Harren Island]

Something was off about the Slavacian story regarding the mines. Gin couldn't exactly pinpoint which part of the story was untrue or even if it all was. He didn't think RS-85 would have launched mines whilst sinking but hey, it could have happened. Perhaps this story was simply meant to delay his expedition to give them time to try and recover the missiles before he arrived.


Fig. Captain Gin aboard the Kefalos.

Then another, more darker thought, occurred to him. They might be planning to seize the Kefalos and use it to salvage RS-85 themselves. Ordering a vessel to heave-to with military vessels en route generally means boarding. If only he could determine whether or not their mine story was true.

Damn and blast it. If he turned away now, the Slavacians would know that the humanitarian bullshit was in fact bullshit and they'd lose their opportunity to take the sub. If he steamed on, they would also know his intentions weren't honourable and intercept him. No, the only course of action he had to maintain the ruse was to stop all engines and wait for the escort to arrive. He gave the order.

Then he ensured that the orders handed to them from Maria were destroyed and told the entirety of the crew to stick to the humanitarian story if they were boarded and questioned.

After that, Gin sent two transmissions, the first to the Slavacians and the second to the Republic.

+++
This is Captain Gin of the Kefalos, HANEE, sending to Admiral Sergei Alekseeivich Krapov of the southern Slavacian fleet.
We appreciate your warning about drifting mines and have stopped all engines and are awaiting your escort.
Please impress upon your minesweepers that time is of the essence when submarine rescues need to be attempted.
+++

+++
Captain Gin of the Kefalos to HANEE HQ. Rescue paused until Slavacian vessels are able to clear mines accidentally launched by RS-85 during the sinking. Slavacian vessels en route to escort the Kefalos to the wreck site. Hopefully we'll still be able to save the men on board.
+++

Gin smiled at the last line, he knew the Slavacians would be listening to his communications and he thought it was a nice touch.

[Journey Collective]

Vertmont, Islo

News of the maritime disaster reaches the ears of the Collective, as they continually listen to the broadcasts that stream across the Charter. Murmurs of actions and reactions to the disaster float through the minds of many, which leads to silent discussions, and quiet arguments over the best way to proceed. Many didn’t particularly care about the disaster, some cared deeply, most cared to some degree and that was mostly because of the people who were hurt by the event. After a brief long discussion the Collective decided the best course of action.

Above the Southern Sea, near Great Slavacia


A dark helicopter-sized splotch silently slips through the wispy clouds which dot the night sky. The movements of the blur are direct and intentional, and it appears to be approaching the general area of the wreck. As it gets closer to the site it begins to dip low, seeming to kiss the top of the water as it glides swiftly across. After it seems to receive some sort of notification it stops and simply rests on the water’s top.

Headquarters of the Southern Navy, Novosergeevsk

There’s a roll of static that washes over the comm, computer, and video systems of the Slavacian navy. The isn’t any sort of disruption other than the temporary static, which strangely even affects non-networked devices. After a few seconds the wave stops at the office of the Comrade Admiral. There's a strange moment of silence that rests in the office. A few moments later a similar roll of static washes over nearby radio frequencies, radios and televisions flicker and after the static settles a man can be seen speaking towards the screen. His voice is of a million voices at once.

“Greetings Comrade Admiral, we are Journey Collective.
We wish to assist you with finding your missing men.
Please allow us to access a private frequency to speak with you directly.”

[Greater Slavacia]

Admiralty of the Slavacian Navy, Novosergeevsk*
— What is the status of the expeditionary fleet? Have all of the ships arrived?
— Yes, Comrade Fleet Admiral, however, the supply ships and troop transports are still in the process of loading.
— Comrade Admiral, I know your fleet was stripped the most to make the expeditionary fleet, as a compensation, I am assigning you command of the expeditionary fleet, and temporarily relieving you of command of the southern fleet.
The admiral snapped to attention and exclaimed
— Proud to serve Greater Slavacia!
— We promised an escort to the Harrenian ship, but with the expeditionary fleet forming the Varyag is busy.
— The frigate and the destroyer should be more than enough comrade fleet admiral.
— Thank you Sergei, you may go and take command of the Expeditionary fleet now.

Headquarters of the Southern Fleet, Novosergeevsk
— Comrades, the unexplained static issue has still not have been resolved and now that Admiral Krapov has been temporarily unasigned from this fleet, the resolution of the problem falls to our shoulders. Before any of you say anything, I informed the MGB representative of this occurrence, they are investigating it on their own end. We have strict orders to maintain secrecy and I quote "forget this ever happened". Is this clear?
The rest of the naval council replied in unison:
— Yes comrade Vice-Admiral!


Neustrahimyy, course towards HANEE vessel
Captain Lastochkin was called to the telephone, on the other end was Fleet Admiral Grischevskyy the most renowned commander in the entire Slavacian Fleet.
— Comrade Captain 2nd Rank, I know you have been briefed, but the situation is very sensitive these are your orders: escort the HANEE vessel to the wreck site, it should be cleared of mines at that point, then, oversee the recovery operation, if anything is perceived as hostile or suspicious, you must immediately destrpoy the HANEE vessel and use depth charges to destroy the wreckage of the submarine. Is that clear?
— Exactly so, comrade Fleet Admiral
— Very well.

*Novosergeyvsk is home to both the Admiralty of the entire Slavacian Naval force, as well as the headquarters of the Southern fleet.

[Harren Island]

After carefully following the Slavacian navy's every instruction, the Kefalos was finally escorted into position over the wreckage of RS-85. Captain Gin picked out three of his crew at random and ordered them to man the rescue submarine and prepare to be deployed.

A short yet robust fellow looked up in surprise, "What was that sir?", Hackett gruffly asked.

Captain Gin glared down at him, not used to repeating himself, "You will be joining Wade and Cadence in the rescue submarine.".

"No, I bloody well won't," Hackett's voice was low and passionate, "I wasn't trained to use one of those contraptions and I certainly haven't been paid to go underwater in one!".

Gin's voice grew louder as he stepped forward, addressing the man eye to eye, "None of us have been trained to use this equipment. We just have to get on and make do. You're the strongest engineer we have and therefore one of our best choices to go down in the sub. You have been given your orders.". Expecting that to be the end of it, Captain Gin turned away, picking up the radio handset to broadcast to the Slavacians.

Shaking his head, Hackett followed the Captain, loudly protesting, "I didn't sign up to be sent down into Davy Jones' Locker in a tin can!"

"Mr. Hackett," turning back with fury in his eyes, "I've made the decision, I'm Captain of this boat," Gin's voice rose to a deep roar that forced Hackett to back down in stunned silence, "now shut the fuck up!".

Swallowing his rage, Hackett nodded and turned away, hearing the Captain's broadcast fade away as he left the room and clanged along the metal decking with his steel shod boots. It wasn't natural, going underwater, at least you could still breathe the environment whilst flying. The thought of sinking under that water threatened to choke him but he hurried on, trying not to think about it too much.


Fig. Captain Gin ordering his non-compliant crewman.

+++
This is Captain Gin of the Kefalos to our Slavacian escort.
We are over the coordinates you've given us and we're holding our position against the current with our water jets, we will not jeopardize the wreck by dropping an anchor. Do you believe there is anything more we should know about the wreck before our rescue submarine is ready to depart? We will be deploying it shortly.
Captain Gin, out.
+++


Hackett swore as he clambered atop the miniature submarine, not believing that he'd be entrusting his life to such a tiny vehicle. He pulled the hatch open, expecting more resistance but surprised by how light it felt and the smoothness of the hinges as it folded open. It didn't feel like it could hold back a bathtub of water let alone tons of the stuff.

Looking down into the dark maw, yawning up at him as if to swallow him forever, he gulped and then closed his eyes before putting his feet on the rungs inside and clanking down. Even with his eyes closed he felt the moment when he past beyond the boundary due to the sudden lack of the sun's warmth. It felt cold inside, too cold. Unnaturally cold. He wanted to get out. He had to get out. He froze on the ladder.

Then a boot thumped into his head and he reeled backwards into the metal at his back. The hit hadn't even really hurt him but it made him feel trapped in the metal confines of the submarine and he thrashed instinctively, punching upwards and screaming to be let out. The boot receded upwards.

"Hey, hey," Wade called down gently before offering an arm down to pull Hackett back up into the shining sunlight, "it's okay man, it's okay.". Wade helped Hackett up onto the metal lip at the top. Cadence rolled her eyes disparagingly and then disappeared down the shaft to take up position as the pilot. "See? She can do it and don't worry, we're in a rescue sub, they only ever get deployed in emergencies so they're tougher and don't see a lot of wear and tear. Hell, as an engineer you'd know more than me about why it's safe.".

Hackett's mind shifted into a different gear. Instead of his primal instincts, he was analyzing the submarine and the scenario. His muscles relaxed and he was able to start thinking rationally. He nodded before reaching out and squeezing Wade's arm, "Thank you, that helped.". Then he slipped back down the shaft and took up position in the engineer's seat. Focusing entirely on his job and not looking out the bubble at the front.


Fig. Kefalos' Rescue submarine, Sotiras, being deployed

With a whine and a bouncing sway the rescue submarine, the Sotiras, was hoisted off the deck at the rear of the Kefalos and carried backwards out and over the water with metallic clicks that reverberated through the hull. Hackett felt the vibrations in his feet and the rigid gyrations as the sub came to a halt. He knew he was over water now and so he started taking deep breaths to calm his nerves. Wade looked back at him, "We got this man!". Cadence only sighed.

The wait stretched on and on but the submarine just hung there like a christmas bauble. Cadence thumbed the radio button.

+++ Kefalos, what's the hold up? Over. +++
+++ Standby Sotiras, we're experiencing, technical, difficulties. Over. +++

Cadence snorted and turned to the other two, "That just means they don't know how to even launch us!", she shook her head in disbelief, "This mission is so fucked.". Before anyone could respond, the submarine simply dropped from the gantry. They weren't lowered gently into the water as expected, they were simply dropped from a height of about three to four metres.

Hackett screamed as his stomach rose up in his chest and his eyes opened to see the water rushing up to meet him. He felt sure they would plunge all the way to the bottom of the ocean and it was all over. Then with a shuddering crash, they hit the surface and bobbed back up in a geyser of white, frothing water. Hackett was crying and he tasted warm, metallic liquid in his mouth. He'd bitten his tongue.

[Journey Collective]

Southern Sea, near Greater Slavacia

The craft remains relatively motionless for fifteen minutes, continuing to attempt to make contact with the Admiral. The face on the displays changes every few moments, as if someone were changing channels on a television. After pleading for several minutes the airwaves return to their regularly scheduled programming. The vessel remains in place for a few minutes after the broadcasts stop. With a rush of silence the craft departs, following a somewhat spiraling path, radiating outwards from its original resting spot. As the craft travels a silent signal begins to reach out. The Collectivists try to locate anyone who seems to be crying out, they're utilizing the network to search for waves associated with higher function brain activity. In particular they are searching under the water and on any floating debris or islands. Should they find anyone who seems to fit the bill for a survivor from a disaster they head towards the person. . .Otherwise they continue to quietly search for several hours.

[Greater Slavacia]

Slavacian Frigate Neustrashimyy, Southern Ocean

The crew were watching the preparations on the Harrennite ship, it was always great to watch professionals work. However, as the bathyscaphe fell from the hoisting crane with loud yells from the crew of the Kefalos it became clear that the Harrenites did not know what they were doing. On the bridge, the captain was pacing from one end to the other with a worried look on his face. When he saw what had happened to the bathyscaphe his patience ran out.

— Your mother! — the captain turned to his first officer — Ivashenko, take a launch and three men and get inside that bathyscaphe at any cost, take this — he handed him a heavy bound book — the plans for the RS-85 and introduce yourself as a submarine specialist who has been authorized to join the rescue operation from the inside. But, if they for any reason, do anything that can be perceived as attempt to capture our technology — he paused and stared intently at Ivashenko — you will shoot them all, direct the bathyscaphe towards our vessel and surface. That will be our sign to begin the attack against the Kefalos.
— Yes Comrade captain 3rd rank, only, they are civilians! I can't shoot civilians!
— I hate this as much as you do, but we have no other choice. That submarine has nuclear weapons onboard, we can not let them fall into the wrong hands.
Ivashenko looked at his captain one more time, then saluted, turned around and walked out onto the deck. Minutes later, a small motorboat set course towards the bobbing bathyscaphe. Ivashenko was clutching the book to his chest with his right hand and holding his hat with the left soon enough they neared the mini submarine. Ivashenko grabbed an emergency oar from the bottom of the boat and knocked on the bathyscathe's wall.

[Journey Collective]

After several attempts to establish contact, and spending several hours scanning and turning up nothing, the Collective darts off in their splotch of an aircraft.

[Harren Island]

“CAPTAIN!”, a lookout, with jet black hair and glasses so loose that he had to keep pushing them up his nose, ran into the command centre, “The Slavacians have sent a launch over, it looks like they want to board Sotiras.”


Fig. Captain Gin, considering his options.

Gin stood there, breathing heavily through his nose and not responding, holding his Captain’s log open and thinking how best to handle things. It was pretty obvious that they wanted to monitor the salvage… no, he corrected himself… the rescue mission. He would do the same in their position. No, the real issue was figuring out how to accommodate their desires whilst not revealing anything potentially compromising. He briefly considered sending a broadcast to invite the launch aboard to watch from his command station instead but perhaps the precariousness of the rescue itself on the sea floor might provide enough distraction for them.

A female voice crackled into being over the radio.
+++ Sotiras to Kefalos, we have Slavacians requesting to board and join the rescue mission. One of them is a submarine specialist. What are your orders regarding their request? Over. +++

Gin licked his lips and took the black handset off a hook on the wall, stretching the cord towards himself whilst massaging the back of his neck. He clicked the transmit button.
+++ Kefalos to Sotiras. Naturally a submarine specialist is useful for the rescue effort, especially since he’ll be familiar with the class. However, you can only accommodate the specialist because you need to reserve capacity for the fourteen missing men down below. Please extend my invitation to the other Slavacians to join me on the Kefalos. Over. +++

Cadence, in the Sofiras, swore, "Fucking hellfire, now we're gonna have to take an observer aboard. As if we needed that.". She turned in her seat to look at Wade and Hackett, "So, pop the damn hatch then!" gesturing up at the ceiling with an exasperated hand wave.

[Greater Slavacia]

South Sea, several days prior
“Heading? Speed? Depth”
“Comrade Captain 1st Rank, we are heading, magnetic bearing 78, at 9.5 km/h, depth 95m, we are below the thermocline.”

“Understood, sonar, targets?”
“Comrade captain, no strong contacts at this time we need to breach the thermocline”
“Time?”
“1339 comrade captain”
“That means that in one minute the BS-107 should begin its attack, maneuvering, set depth 40m, head bearing 90, BCh-2, prepare for missile launch, ready two land attack for coordinates Az-1 and Az-2”
The first officer relayed the orders through the intercom, just then, the sonar operator spoke up:
“Detected two new contacts, bearing 58 and 43, beginning target motion analysis.”
“Understood.”
“Launch transient from contact 3, presumably the BS-107, 3 torpedoes launch”
“Understood.” The captain stiffened and looked towards the helmsman “Helm, take us to depth 10, standby cruise missiles. Once they are away, set depth 450m, course bearing 276 full speed ahead.”
“Understood comrade captain!”
“BCh-2, standby for missile launch, targets as specified”
“Exactly so, comrade captain 1st rank!”
“Comrade Captain, depth 10 aye”
“BCh-2, launch confirm, maneuvering, emergency dive”
“Missile 1 away, cleared water” the intercom stated, “Missile 2 away, cleare…”
The submarine was violently thrown downwards, lights flickered before returning to normal
“What the hell, are we…”
Suddenly, a larger, more violent explosion shook the sub, knocking the command staff off of their feet. The submarine began to vibrate violently.
“First officer, status! Helm report! Acoustics, what hit us!?” the captain yelled at the dazed crew, to his credit, the first officer regained his focus almost immediately and began checking reports from the compartments.
“No contact with compartment 5, compartment 6 reports heavy flooding and limitted coolant leakage, they have sealed themselves off in the reactor space and have begun reactor shut down”
“Reactor shutdown? Helm, what’s our speed and heading?”
“Heading is 276, we are at full speed ahead and slowing, descent speed is 67 meters a minute, depth is 120m and rising”
“Helm, emergency blow, flank speed, we should have enough power in the batteries, or help us god.” after giving the order the captain looked around, panic had not yet set in, but all the men knew that something awful had happened in the submarine “Release the emergency buoy, seal all compartments and begin damage control.”
“Comrade captain” the first officer turned away from the intercom “Pumps in Compartment 6 are inoperative, still no contact with compartment 5, all other compartments are beginning damage control operations”
“Helm, depth?”
“100m comrade captain!”
“Still?!” the captain began to look more and more worried “All torpedo and acoustics crew report to the escape capsule, standby for launch. Same goes for all men in compartment 4.”
“Comrade captain, but what about us, what about the guys in the other compartments!” a young sailor spoke up, completely ignoring him the captain continued: “Get all men from compartments 7 and 8 to gather in compartment eight, save the senior engineer and a sailor to start the backup diesel-electric generator and one repair party, to standby for evacuation through emergency hatch once we surface!”
“Understood comrade captain!”
“Comrade captain, the buoy is picking up a radio signal, putting it through:”
“Pobeda, we have dete..ed your ma..day and are steaming at f..nk speed, what i… the n..ure of the em..gency”
“What the hell is that?”

“Interference from ECM stations aboard the aircraft sir, looks like they still haven’t got the message.”
“Captain, we are breaching surface!”
“Understood” the captain looked around the bridge and realised that his crew forgot the single most important thing of damage control operations, none were wearing gas masks “What the hell? Crew, gas masks on! What is this, kindergarten?”
“Captain, engineering reports that the diesel generator is online, we have full system power!”
“Thank god.” He looked around the bridge once more before locking eyes with his XO “Comrade Captain 2nd Rank Nikolaenko, I am placing you in command of the sailors abandoning this ship. Now listen carefully. We will all exit the submarine through the main hatch, rendezvous with the sailors from compartments seven and eight and those sitting in the escape pod, you and everyone else will board rafts, while the senor engineer, a damage control team and I will stay on board to oversee the damage control efforts.”
The XO hesitated. He even opened his mouth as if to refute but then, snapped back: “Exactly so comrade 1st rank, it has been an honour serving under your command.”
Soon, the submarine was approached by a frigate, which picked up the survivors and began to attach a towing line, onboard, the damage control crews had managed to make contact with the trapped reactor operators – they had opened up emergency oxygen converters which would allow them to breathe for another couple of days. The repair teams also made progress in pumping out water out of the reactor compartment. All was going well.
“Captain, something strange is going on!”
“Clarify damage control?”
“There is flooding in the habitation compartment!”
The captain jumped up from his chair – he with the help of another crewmember was attempting to restore pumps to open the sixth compartment. What separated him from the control room in the first ompartment were two compartments filled with water and three more non flooded ones, that could change their status at a moments notice. He ran over to the intercom to attempt to oversee the situation, which began a long and unfortunate chain of events.
“It must have gotten through the ventilation system, close the vents!”
“Understood comrade captain, beginning vent shutdown”
Suddenly, another explosion rocked the stricken sub and the captain felt that the submarine had changed it’s angle.
“What’s going on?” he yelled into the intercom
“It seems that our attempt to close the ventilation triggered the release of compressed air into the ballast tanks, which triggered a structural collapse of the outer hull. By our estimates we are now taking on several tonnes of water a minute – the ship is lost captain!”
“Understood, get to the escape pod, and launch yourselves out, we will try and make it to the 8th compartment and escape through the hatch there.”
“Good luck captain”
“Same to you.”
The captain looked at the sailor who was intently listening to the conversation and without saying a word to each other, both sprinted towards the rear of the submarine, to the 8th compartment. Unfortunately for them, the eight compartment was already submerged, as the hatch was only able to be opened when the submarine was surfaced, both realised that they were trapped. Just like the reactor crewmen.
Several minutes later, the submarine gently settled onto the seabed. Only a miracle could save those men now.

Present day
Ivashenko climbed aboard the, took a last look at his ship and descended into the dimly lit bathyscaphe. It was cramped and smelled faintly of ozone. He introduced himself to the other three, and sat down at the seat directly behind the pilot. This was going to be a long day.

[Harren Island]

The craft sank slowly into the depths, trailing bubbles as its thrusters squirted powerful jets of water sideways from its boxy hull, directing its plunge as it disappeared down into the swallowing darkness. Halogen floodlights flicked on, multiple cones of hazy blue light spearing out into the frigid water from underneath and above the reinforced bubble viewport. Shapes flickered almost imperceptibly at the edge of the diffused light’s reach as denizens of the sea turned tail and fled from the mechanical monstrosity that now whirred into their habitat from above.

Taking it cautiously, gentling coaxing out each metre of descent with pulses from thrusters or a gentle easing of ballast, the minutes crawled by whilst those strapped into their chairs within stared out into the midnight blue that pressed oppressingly against their transparent, acrylic cockpit. Hackett trembled in his seat, eyes held tightly shut, breath rapid, face and hair slick with sweat. Each creak of the hull or engine thrum worsened his state, causing him to shake and shrink in his seat.

“There!”, Cadence pointed ahead with her left hand before tilting the joystick forward in her right, angling the nose of the bathyscaphe down to bathe the metallic hulk of a shadowy mass below them. Manhandling the controls with a lack of finesse that made Wade wince, she halted the descent and yanked the nose around, thrusting horizontally to carry them along the length of the stricken submarine to assess its external damage. Cadence thumbed the transmit button.

+++ Sotiras to Kefalos. We have located the Pobeda and are activating our cameras now. Over. +++


Fig. The forward hull of the Pobeda as viewed from the Sotiras.

Back on board the Kefalos, observing the video feeds alongside the Slavacians who had accepted his offer to join him in the command station, Captain Gin marvelled at the damage that was readily apparent on screen. The submarine had suffered multiple internal explosions but had luckily settled upright upon the seafloor, making the effort to gain access the easiest it could possibly be, given the situation. Despite that, a few mangled bodies were visible in torn and wrecked sections, picked out in harsh, white light. He doubted that any could possibly be alive on board, especially given the time it had taken to arrive on scene but maintaining appearances, he moved forward and clapped one of the Slavacians on the back, “Do not despair, if any yet live, we will save them.”. In the same movement, he yanked his handset down, held it up to his mouth and depressed the button.

+++ Kefalos to Sotiras. Your priority is the rear compartment and the docking hatch there. You must make a seal, ASAP, time is of the essence for those men. Over. +++

With a whine of propellers spinning up, the rescue submarine glided down the length of its sunken cousin, searching for the hatch with lights that frantically scoured across the surface of the hull like eyes searching for any signs of life. Locating it a few, long minutes later, Cadence began the arduous process of gently aligning hatches and settling upon the craft underneath them despite the current that threatened to push them away, learning swiftly through trial and error under the judging gaze of their onboard Slavacian observer. Finally, the seal was made with a hiss and the external engines shut down, leaving only the faint sound of the sea current washing against the hull outside.