"The plan he submitted to Norfolk puts you on the right flank.  He wants Kennedy inshore to handle the threat from their surface force.  He wants your force farther out.  You see, Painter thinks there's the chance that Ramius will come straight south from the G-I-U.K. gap into the Atlantic basin and just sit for a while.  The odds favor his not being detected there, and if the Soviets send the fleet after him, he's got the time and supplies to sit out there longer than they can maintain a force off our coast—both for technical and political reasons.  Additionally, he wants your striking power out here to threaten their flank.  It has to be approved by the commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet, and a lot of details, remain to be worked out.  For example, Painter requested some E-3 Sentries to support you out here."

"A month in the middle of the North Atlantic in winter?" Carstairs winced.  He had been the Invincible's executive officer during the war around the Falklands and had ridden in the violent South Atlantic for endless weeks.

"Be happy for the E-3s."  The admiral smiled.  "Hunter, I want to see plans for using all these ships the Yanks are giving us, and how we can cover a maximum area.  Barclay, I want to see your evaluation of what our friend Ramius will do.  Assume he's still the clever bastard we've come to know and love."

"Aye aye, sir."  Barclay stood with the others.

"Jack, how long will you be with us?"

"I don't know, Admiral.  Until they recall me to the Kennedy, I guess.  From where I sit, this operation was laid on too fast.  Nobody really knows what the hell we're supposed to do."

"Well, why don't you let us see to this for a while?  You look exhausted.  Get some sleep."

"True enough, Admiral."  Ryan was beginning to feel the brandy.

"There's a cot in the locker over there.  I'll have someone set it up for you, and you can sleep in here for the time being.  If anything comes in for you, we'll get you up."

"That's kind of you, sir."  Admiral White was a good guy, Jack thought, and his wife was something very special.  In ten minutes, Ryan was on the cot and asleep.

The Red October