Prologue 7 Death Game

What does it mean

What does it mean? Lu Chengwen is still a bit uneasy

Intuition also told Hua Jianfeng that the "Houston" was nearby, and was waiting for the "Gun Squid" to make an appearance.

"What is the problem?" Hua Jianfeng's gaze shifted from Le Jiacheng to Lu Chengwen

The information capacity of the communication buoy is very limited, and it can only float on the sea for about half an hour before its shell dissolves in seawater and sinks. If the USS Houston wants to send the collected digital information of the characteristic noise back to the base, it must at least rise to periscope depth and extend the satellite communication antenna above the water. Did you not say that this mission is extremely important? At this very moment, there are certainly several electronic reconnaissance satellites monitoring this maritime area. If the USS Houston emits a communication signal, it will definitely be detected by our reconnaissance satellites, and its location will be exposed. We have already received relevant information, have we not?

The USS Houston will certainly not back down, and it is highly likely that after the situation deteriorates, it will take the initiative to strike and sink the USS Gun Squid

Hua Jianfeng and Le Jiacheng appeared even more surprised

After hearing this explanation, Lu Chengwen finally felt at ease

What does it mean

Generally speaking, the sonar chief is the only experienced sonar operator on the submarine, while the other two sonar personnel serve merely as his assistants. In order for a sonar operator to become a sonar chief, they must possess not only an innate keen sense of hearing but also at least five years of training on the submarine. Therefore, the sonar chief is not only the sole E-7 rank non-commissioned officer on the submarine but also holds an equal status and treatment as other officers

I will go with you. Lu Cheng also stood up, saying, "My intuition tells me that the 'Houston' has already arrived. Trust me, my intuition has always been very accurate"

Do not overthink it; in twelve hours, we will know whether the 'Houston' intends to fight us to the bitter end

The question is, where exactly is the "Houston" located

Major, why didn't you say anything earlier

Hua Jianfeng smiled faintly, left the living quarters, and went directly to the command center

Then we cannot let the USS Houston slip away. Hua Jianfeng stopped being verbose and pulled out a nautical chart marked with all the ocean currents. After examining it carefully for a while, he called Le Jiacheng over. "There is a shallow warm current flowing westward to the north. Following this warm current, we can move approximately twenty-five nautical miles in a northwest direction. If the USS Houston remains on standby to the northwest, we will be able to quietly reach its southwest position. You need to replan the route, aiming to reach the attack position quietly, and then strike.

The sonar operator was intently listening to the surrounding situation, while two sonar technicians assisted him in operating the three passive sonar systems on the submarine

Indeed, many times we can only rely on intuition. Lu Chengwen took a cigarette from the box placed on the table. Ever since he moved into the captain's cabin, he had become the second privileged person on the submarine

Hua Jianfeng and Lu Chengwen slipped into a corner of the command center, both feeling somewhat anxious. Hua Jianfeng was worried about falling into the opponent's trap, while Lu Chengwen was concerned whether the "Houston" had already sent out the information

Inside the sailor's cabin, a soldier made a slight noise while opening a can of sardines, which immediately attracted the angry glares of others. The sailor quickly made a face and shrank back to his bunk. Hua Jianfeng inspected four sailor cabins in succession before returning to the captain's room

According to Old Hua, previously you encountered the USS Houston mainly at Diego Garcia and in the northern Arabian Sea, and you have never encountered the USS Houston here. Furthermore, the primary mission of the USS Houston is to patrol the Arabian Sea and deal with the few Kilo-class submarines of the Iranian Navy; it would not come here aimlessly without any reason.

I just thought of that as well. Lu Chengwen raised his shoulders in response to Le Jiacheng's question and said, "In this case, the 'Houston' must know that the cargo is on the 'Gunner Squid', and therefore will not easily let the 'Gunner Squid' go. When we turned southeast, the captain of the 'Houston' guessed our intentions, understood that we had chosen this place as the battlefield, and knew that we would resort to force in extreme circumstances. Thus, he did not pursue us at full speed, but merely followed us from a distance. If they cannot obtain the cargo, they will not allow us to have it either. For both sides, the five thousand meters of seabed serves as a suitable grave."

Old Hua, there is a question I would like to clarify

Such an important item. If the United States cannot obtain it, it will not allow it to fall into the hands of other countries

Hearing the captain's voice, the sonar operator tucked the right headphone behind his ear and then shook his head. "There were a few faint contacts, but they were too distant to determine whether it was a submarine or a passing whale"

What does your intuition tell you? Through several days of interaction, Hua Jianfeng learned many things about special forces from Lu Chengwen, especially regarding the secret battles they had participated in, which further deepened his admiration for these special forces.

Are you concerned that the "Houston" will send messages using the communication buoy

At a depth of three hundred and fifty meters beneath the sea surface, the submarine "Gun Squid" is slowly drifting northeast under the influence of a deep-water current, moving at less than two knots. Inside the submarine, the natural circulation pressurized water reactor is operating at idle speed, driving the propulsion shaft to rotate slowly at five revolutions per minute. The crew members move about with great care, fearing to make even the slightest noise. For three consecutive days, the cooks have had nothing to do, as cooking requires making noise. The crew members move about with great care, fearing to make even the slightest noise. For three consecutive days, the cooks have had nothing to do, as cooking requires making noise.

Although Lu Chengwen has never disclosed what they seized from the East African Rift Valley, in light of the orders from above and the U.S. military's corresponding actions, Hua Jianfeng has every reason to believe that this mysterious object is related to the fate of the nation and the people. The United States has long been aware of the existence of this mysterious object and was even the first to discover it, only to have it taken away by Lu Chengwen and his team.

How much information can a communication buoy on a submarine transmit at one time

Lu Chengwen nodded; this was precisely the question he wanted to ask

Hua Jianfeng stroked his chin and then nodded. "If I shorten the distance a bit, can you determine the nature of the target?"

We have been here five times and have never encountered a whale. Furthermore, based on the global distribution of whale populations that we have obtained, the waters off Somalia are not a breeding or feeding ground for large whales. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that whales might pass through here during their migration, but what are the odds of that happening

Northwest. The sonar long retrieved the previously recorded files from the computer, then pointed out several prominent peaks on the screen. "This was received two hours ago, and the result analyzed by the computer is the sound emitted by a whale. I have listened to it dozens of times, and I still feel there is something amiss"

Rest assured, unless the captain of the 'Houston' is an idiot, he would not send out any messages in the next few days

The sonar chief is the most important and the only senior non-commissioned officer on the submarine who cannot be replaced by anyone

How is the situation

"Which direction?" Hua Jianfeng bent down, placing his right hand on the sonar control panel

After taking a couple of puffs from his cigarette, Lu Cheng rubbed his forehead and said, "My intuition tells me that the enemy is nearby, waiting for us to reveal our vulnerabilities before delivering a fatal blow. I believe that the submarine is the sniper of the sea"

Hua Jianfeng nodded. "Let's get started immediately; you take the lead."

Intuition?" Hua Jianfeng took out a cigarette; he had been smoking particularly heavily these past few days. "Sometimes I believe it, and sometimes I don't. I heard Colonel Xiang Tinghui say that you special forces soldiers really trust your intuition.

In the northwest of the Amilante Islands, the storm that had persisted for several days finally subsided

Are you saying that the USS Houston also has a mission at hand?" Hua Jianfeng immediately followed up with a question

When Lu Chengwen finished smoking, Hua Jianfeng stood up. "I will go out for a moment; you can continue to sleep."

Are there any whale activities in this area

Like Hua Jianfeng, Le Jiacheng also considers the faint noise source in the northwest direction to be highly suspicious

Hua Jianfeng immediately displayed a look of suspicion

Lu Chengwen nodded and said: "We encountered a group of mercenaries during our operation, but it now seems very likely that they are U.S. special forces. If that is the case, the mission of the 'Houston' is the same as that of the 'hetushu.com.com Gun Squid', which is to pick up the cargo"

"How would I know?" Lu Chengwen glanced at Hua Jianfeng and got up from the floor. "Old Hua, do you believe in intuition?"

Due to one-third of the sailors needing to sleep in the "hot bunk," there are no extra berths available on the submarine for the three special forces soldiers who "cut in line." Therefore, Lu Chengwen can only sleep on the floor of the captain's cabin, while the other two special forces soldiers can only share with the first officer and the chief engineer.

Fortunately, everyone's emotions are quite stable. Hua Jianfeng sat down on the edge of the bed. Ever since he started "cohabiting" with Lu Chengwen, the already cramped captain's cabin had become exceptionally crowded. "Do you think the 'Houston' has already given up on the pursuit and turned back?"

There should be no problem, I will do my best

If that is indeed the USS Houston, its speed must be below 2 knots; otherwise, we would have already heard the noise it produces. Le Jiacheng drew a straight line on the chart. The direction of the noise source is also not an issue. However, why would the USS Houston keep its speed below 2 knots? If it is pursuing us, it should increase its speed rather than linger and wait for an opportunity

Then it depends on you! After saying this, Hua Jianfeng patted the shoulder of the sonar chief and instructed the on-duty officer to call Le Jiacheng over

Ambush set. Patiently wait for the enemy to appear. Then take them out with a single shot. How does that sound? Quite similar, isn't it

Have you made any discoveries

It will take approximately twelve hours

Upon hearing Lu Chengwen's words, Hua Jianfeng and Le Jia in Chengdu turned their gaze towards him

Hua Jianfeng smiled faintly. He extinguished the remaining half of the cigarette.

It must have guessed that we would come to this sea area

Lejia began planning new routes upon its establishment and issued a directive for a shift in direction in advance