“Everything is ready for the first salvo,” Dmolysti answered. “Alpha cruise missiles are loaded in torpedo tubes one through four for the first salvo. We will reload immediately for the second salvo. All missiles have their target packages entered.”

The SS-N-27 Novator Alpha was the latest in Russian cruise missile technology. It had replaced the older SS-N-21 Granat. The Alpha used geographic positioning satellite information and an advanced inertial navigation system to find its target. That eliminated the need for the Granat’s questionable terrain-mapping system. The superaccurate Alpha missile was ideal for this mission. The increased accuracy allowed the Russian designers to replace the Granat’s two-hundred-kiloton nuclear warhead with the Alpha’s four-hundred-kilogram conventional warhead.

“Very good,” Vivilav answered.

It would have been much easier if all the Alpha missiles could be loaded and fired in one salvo, but the Vipr’s fire control system only allowed the land attack missiles to be fired from four of the submarine’s ten torpedo tubes. The design weakness would mean having to wait at least ten minutes between salvos while Vivilav’s crew reloaded the torpedo tubes and checked the missiles. Vipr would be exposed during that time. They would also have four smoky missile exhaust trails pointing right back to them. There was no other choice. They had to fight with the systems they had.

“And self-defense?” the captain asked.

The first officer glanced at the torpedo tube status board to verify what he was reporting. “Tubes five through eight have torpedoes loaded. ET-80-A antisubmarine torpedoes. Tubes nine and ten have RPK-2 Viyuga antiship missiles loaded.”

He looked over at the evasion and antiair panel. Green lights indicated all systems ready there as well. Two tubes mounted in the top of the sail housed Strela heat-seeking antiaircraft missiles. The four evasion device tubes, mounted back in the aftermost compartment, would shoot noisemakers into Vipr’s wake to hide the sub from any incoming torpedoes.

“All self-defense systems armed and ready,” Dmolysti reported.

Vivilav nodded. At least he had weapons to defend his ship and devices to confuse the enemy. Not that there was much chance that anyone would be in a position to attack Vipr. As far as he could tell, they had made the run down from the Barents undetected. Still, it was better to be prepared.

He stepped over to the periscope and pushed the button to raise it. The silvery metal tube rose as he crouched and waited for the eyepiece to emerge from the well. When it did, he slapped down the handles and put his eye to the eyepiece. He saw the black darkness of the deep. As he stood straighter, following the scope up, he could make out the rushing flashes of white foam breaking over the lens. Then he saw the gray overcast night sky.