USS MISSOURI (SSN-780)

“Conn—sonar—we have a possible disturbance under the shelf.”

“What have you got exactly?” Jefferson asked, nodding for his sonar officer to rejoin his department.

“Possibly the same water-release noise picked up in the Bering Strait. Leviathan may be moving out from under the shelf, Captain.”

Jefferson thought a moment. His boat was as ready as it could be. All hands were at battle stations-torpedo, and Missouri was as quiet as they could make her.

“Keep tracking her and calling out the position of the target,” he said, then hung up.

“What are you thinking, Captain?” Izzeringhausen asked.

The captain continued to study the chart. “We do nothing but sit and let that big bitch come to us.” He tapped the chart of the Ross Ice Shelf. “The shortest distance to the sea is the way they came in—to the north—and that’s exactly where we’ll be waiting, Izzy.”

“Good plan.”

“Hell, it’s the only plan. Send an ELF message to National Command Authority.”

Izzeringhausen removed a pen from his coverall and waited for his captain to speak.

“Inform the president: Missouri is preparing to engage Leviathan.”