USS COLUMBIA (SSN 771)
125 KILOMETERS EAST OF VENEZUELAN
COASTAL WATERS

The United States fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Columbia was shallow as she attempted to gather readings from the air and water surrounding the boat. Then the large sub went back into deep water to evaluate their readings.

The Los Angeles class submarine had been on maneuvers with one of the newest Ohio-class missile boats, USS Maine (SSBN 741) while they conducted DSEM (Deep Submergence Evasive Maneuvering), a new drill thought up by COMSUBLANT (Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet).

The Columbia, normally based in Hawaii, had recently finished a scheduled refit at Newport News, Virginia, at the general dynamics facility. From there she was ordered to conduct operations with Maine on her return trip back around the Horn of South America. The drill suddenly halted when the waters fifty kilometers to the south erupted in sound. While the Maine went deep and evacuated the area for security reasons, the Columbia went south at flank speed to investigate the war noises emanating somewhere off the coastline of Venezuela.

Captain John Lofgren watched the readings on the infrared detectors and frowned. He turned to his first officer, Lt. Commander Richard Green, and shook his head.

“Whatever happened up there, it was hot as hell. The water temperature is twenty degrees above normal. Moreover, what were those strange noises prior to all hell breaking loose? They weren’t any torpedo sounds I’ve ever heard before.”

“We have confirmation, Captain,” the chief of the boat called out. “We have elevated but still low radiation readings on the surface. Computers still say nuclear detonation, probably light in yield.”

“We’re also picking up elevated levels of airborne contaminate coming in from the west,” a second tech called from his station.

“What in the hell is going on?” Lofgren asked as he returned to control. “Dick, we have to get this off to COMSUBLANT—let’s get Columbia up to periscope depth.”