“Sir, casting off all lines.”
“Very well.” Captain CJ Berger acknowledged the Officer of the Deck’s report as he reviewed the status of his aircraft carrier from Auxiliary Conn on the starboard side of the Island. Night had settled over Oahu, and the deck lights illuminated the large warship floating in Dry Dock One of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Along the dry dock wharves and on each side of the ship, personnel were casting off the mooring lines, and inside the ship, the Sea and Anchor Detail was set, the crew ready to get Reagan underway. Whether the ship itself was ready was another question altogether.
The last seven days had been a nightmare. After receiving the order to get underway in a week, Berger had met with his department heads, concluding their pre-underway checklists were useless. The ship was still in pieces with many systems inoperable, preventing the completion of pre-underway checks on what was usually considered essential equipment. Berger decided instead to wing it, tossing the checklists into the recycle bin and ordering his department heads to rely on the crew’s experience, especially on their seasoned Chief Petty Officers. Tell each division Chief to be ready to get underway in seven days and leave it at that.
One crisis after another had reared its ugly head, each one presenting a seemingly impossible problem to surmount. But his crew and shipyard personnel resolved each issue until only one remained. One that Captain Berger was staring at, midway down the aircraft carrier’s starboard side. Both nuclear reactors were up and Electrical Division was in the process of disconnecting shore power. From the look of things, however, the long list of problems plaguing their underway preparations hadn’t reached an end. The ship was due to get underway in two minutes and shore power was still connected.
The ship’s Chief Engineer entered the Bridge wearing an unpleasant expression. Stopping next to Berger, Commander Andrew Fellows explained. “We’re having a problem disconnecting shore power. The pierside relay has failed and the shore power cables are still energized. The shipyard estimates it will take four hours to replace the relay.”
Based on the orders hand-delivered to Berger the previous day, getting Reagan underway on time was crucial. They had already been delayed twelve hours due to complications, consuming what leeway existed, and they couldn’t afford another four-hour delay.
Berger asked his Chief Engineer, “Are all personnel clear of the shore power connections?”
“Yes, sir,” Fellows replied.
Returning his gaze aft, Berger noted the dry dock caisson had been removed, providing egress into the channel where four tugs waited, their white masthead lights reflecting off the black water, ready to twist Reagan onto its outbound trajectory. Turning to his Officer of the Deck, Berger ordered, “Get the ship underway, Lieutenant.”
Fellows blurted out, “Sir! Shore Power is still connected.”
“Not for long,” Berger replied, failing to keep a grin from creeping across his face. “We won’t need shore power anytime soon. Besides, I’ve got two dozen shipyard Tiger Teams aboard, and I’m sure there are a few electricians who can repair the damage.”
Commander Fellows nodded slowly as the Officer of the Deck complied with Berger’s order. “Helm, all back, one-third.”
Berger felt the subtle vibration in the deck as the aircraft carrier’s four propellers began churning the water. Slowly, the hundred-thousand-ton carrier started moving aft, pulling the shore power cables taut as the ship eased out of Dry Dock One. As Reagan continued aft, the shore power cables ripped from the ship in a brilliant shower of yellow sparks.
A grin settled on Commander Fellows’s face. “Sir, shore power has been disconnected.”
Seconds later, the Officer of the Deck reported, “Shifting colors, Sir. The ship is underway.”
“Very well, men,” Berger replied.
Very well, indeed.