Well, Sue had gotten in touch with Iceland's office of the President, and they were very much interested in a casual private party on the Yacht. They did mention the newly crowned Norwegian King and Queen, would be visiting at that time and Sue was all about inviting them as well, figuring to save us a stop on our NATO familiarization trip.
Sue did mention the Embassy was an optional clothing and free use with permission Yacht and both the President of Iceland and the King of Norway were comfortable with those revelations.
0o0
About halfway through the trip to Iceland, general quarters was sounded for no known reason. Up on the Bridge, Red was on watch when coms announced, "XO! The AI software has detected a potentially hostile submerged craft. It is suggesting we slow down and put out the towed array to analyze it."
"Roger that, Coms, approve the suggestion."
10 minutes later the AI came back with the diagnosis: "XO, the AI is stating it is a new Chinese hǎiyāo (pronounced HayYow') or Kraken and it is taking an aggressive posture. The AI is asking for rules of engagement for this scenario."
"Coms, sound general quarters. Call the Captain, and the Ambassador to the Bridge. Have the AI program two VLWT torpedoes and open outer doors. Do not engage unless fired upon at this time."
Roger, XO. Scenario loaded." General Quarters sounded and Coms got on the horn, "Captain Barnes and Ambassador Walker to the Bridge. This is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill, Captain Barnes and Ambassador Walker to the Bridge." Coms then announced, "XO VLWTs in tubes one and two are programmed and outer doors are open."
"Comms, Does the AI think we need to keep the towed array out?"
"Negative, XO. It suggests retrieving it to free the ship for evasive maneuvers."
"Very well, retrieve the towed array."
"Eye XO, retrieving the towed array."
Captain Barnes and I got to the Bridge within seconds of each other. The two LTs not far behind: "XO, sitrep!"
"Captain, we have an underwater contact which the sonar AI has identified as a new Chinese hǎiyāo or Kraken and it is taking an aggressive posture. We have two VLWT torpedoes programmed, and outer doors opened. The towed array was deployed and is being recalled as we speak to allow for defensive maneuvering."
I asked, "Kraken?"
Barnes relayed, "It is a fully autonomous, unmanned submarine drone. Capabilities unknown but it does carry anti-ship and anti-sub torpedoes. It may be trying to get a type on us, being something not in its list of known ships."
I responded, Yeah, given all the shit we have dealt with lately, I am not comfortable with this thing. XO, you said it is taking a hostile approach?"
"That is the AI's assessment, Ambassador. It launched from its station on the seabed as we passed and is pulsing sonar. I suspect if it is trying to fire a torpedo at us it is having trouble getting a lock with our current speed."
Coms called out, "Captain, towed array is secured."
Barnes nodded, "If it opens an outer door or launches anything at us, take it out and go to flank speed."
"Eye eye Captain." Red articulated, "I have already had the AI load that scenario and it is operating autonomously at this point."
"Good, XO. I fully approve of your anticipating my command. This can get dicey really quick..."
Just then we felt the slight motion of torpedoes launching. I looked at Barnes, "What the hell?"
"Captain! The AI is announcing a torpedo launch from the drone! Sonar confirms!"
Barnes yelled, "All ahead flank! Put that fish directly behind us!" Coms! Advise on the fish with all updates!"
Coms replied, "Helm should adjust to 94 degrees true, Captain!"
"Helm! Turn to 94 degrees true!"
"94 degrees true, Eye Eye Captain! Ship is accelerating to all ahead flank!"
"Captain, the Chinese torpedo is a Yu-4B traveling at a speed of forty-five knots! The two VLWTs, one is CAV one is CRAW are reaching 200 knots. CAV intercept in 5 seconds, CRAW in 15 seconds. The Kraken has gone defensive."
"Helm! Current speed?"
"Captain, the ship is passing through 45 knots and climbing, Sir!"
Barnes smiled, "Even if we miss, there is no way the torpedo can catch us. We just have to maintain speed until it runs out of fuel."
Just then there was a muffled explosion, "Captain, the CAT torpedo has eliminated the Yu-4B torpedo. CRAM torpedo is tracking and ignoring countermeasures. Impact in 4, 3, 2, 1..." Another muffled explosion.
"Captain, direct hit on the Kraken! She is sinking."
"Coms, have the AI mark its range and bearing and calculate its landing place as well as the location of its base. When that is done, get me COMSUBLANT, the State Department, and the Joint Chiefs on a secure satellite feed. Any more fish in the water?"
"No more contacts, Captain. AI is chewing the numbers, Sir. Contacting COMSUBLANT."
"Very well. Helm, bring our speed back to 35 knots and resume prior heading. Coms, Secure from General Quarters in 5 minutes if no other contacts are recognized."
"Eye, Sir! COMSUBLANT, the Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs are on the line, Captain."
"Put us on speaker, Coms."
"COMSUBLANT, Mr. Secretary, Mr. Chairman: this is Captain Barnes aboard the Embassy Afloat. We have just been fully engaged by a Chinese Kraken. Unprovoked, it fired a Yu-4B torpedo at us. We took out the torpedo and the Kraken which is now sinking to the floor of the Atlantic at location..." Barns looked at coms who gave out the predicted landing spot and the location of the base which Barnes repeated.
"If we act fast we can likely get to the wreckage and base before the Chinese even know what happened."
The Joint Chief said, "Get a group together immediately and send them. I will get the President and rest of the Joint Chiefs together and have them confirm those orders to you. Make this happen yesterday!"
"Eye, Sir! We have some assets in proximity including a Seawolf returning from its latest mission. We can be there in less than 12 hours."
Barnes asked, "It is all recorded, who gets the file?"
The Chairman said, "Send it to Homeland under need to know, I will advise them it is coming. Give me five minutes."
"Eye Eye Sir. Transmitting in 5 tics."
When it was just the Secretary still on the line he chuckled, "Damn if you boys don't keep our asses on our toes. Just try and not start World War Three while you are in Europe. We will be in touch."
Barnes hung up and looked at me with a smile, "Still leery of the AI, Harry?"
"Yes, but it just earned major brownie points. We likely would not have had time to react without it."
Red nodded, "Roger that."
0o0
Barnes and I headed to the auditorium. "Coms, release from GQ and let everyone know there will be a debrief in the auditorium in 5."
"Roger that, Ambassador. I will be sending the file to Homeland in 4. Want a copy?"
"Affirmative. Hand it directly to me when you get a disk burnt. Barnes, Red, it will be in my office if you want to review it for your AAR's which I will want a copy of as well."
0o0
The auditorium was packed... including the reporters.
Barnes began the meeting, "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we were attacked by an underwater drone of Chinese manufacture working in isolation as an AI empowered device. At this time we believe the machine malfunctioned and attacked us without provocation or instruction to do so."
"Our AI controlled defensive suite responded faster than would have been humanly possible and defeated a torpedo launched at us, which we would have just outrun if ours had missed, and also disabled the launching platform or drone that initiated the attack. The proper authorities have been notified and are seeking all the answers as we speak. Ambassador?"
"Yes, well, while it is a serious situation, none of us was really in imminent danger. Our speed would have allowed us to both outrun the drone as well as the torpedo it shot at us. Our AI detected and identified the stealth drone prior to hostilities, and everything was under control from the outset."