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When the message arrived, Kauai was nearing the turning point at the end of the radar sensor range. Ben had the OOD watch with Zuccaro monitoring navigation and sensors and, by default, the message center on the FC3 console. “XO, incoming operational immediate message.”
“Right, standby.” Ben waited another minute to clear the southernmost buoy, then turned to the helmsman. “Left ten degrees rudder, steady on three-five-three, belay passing headings.”
“Left ten degrees rudder, steady on three-five-three, belay passing headings, aye, sir.”
Kauai listed slightly to the right in the gentle left turn, and Ben took one last scan to port as a final safety check, then strode to the FC3 console to read the message. Sent by the Seventh District Commander in Miami, it immediately ended the testing operation and transferred Kauai’s operational control to JIATF-South. If that were not surprising enough, they were to return to port at AUTEC at once and meet Admiral Pennington himself at the AUTEC Command Building and transport him to Key West. With raised eyebrows, he lifted the telephone and called Sam. “Captain, we received incoming immediate tasking you will not believe. Could you come to the Bridge, please, sir?”
“On the way,” Sam replied. He arrived on the Bridge a minute later and walked straight over to the console.
“Captain on the Bridge,” Ben announced.
“Thank you, carry on, please.” Sam sat at the console to read the message as Ben resumed his OOD duties. When Sam finished, he walked over to Ben for a quiet conversation. “The DARPA guys won’t like this one bit.”
“From the tone of that message, I don’t think we’ll be high-fiving either, sir.”
“Well, it is what it is. Let’s set the Special Sea Detail and return to port. Now that we’re suspending testing, who’s in the rotation for the mooring?”
“Bondurant, sir. He was planning to let Lee try with him over-the-shoulder.”
“Sorry, but not today,” Sam said as he glanced back at the console. “Get things rolling while I break the news to the head geek.” As he strode aft, he stopped and turned with a smile. “And when you contact Harbor Control, be sure to say please.”
Ben smiled back as he picked up the microphone for the 1MC public address system. “It’s what I live for, Captain!” He keyed the microphone. “Now, discontinue all testing and secure test gear. Set the Special Sea Detail for entering port.”
*******************
An hour-and-a-half later, Sam, Ben, and Hopkins were hurrying toward the Command Building in fresh, tropical blue uniforms. If it hadn’t left them disheveled and sweaty, they would have been running—junior officers and chiefs do not keep admirals waiting longer than necessary.
There was no question Pennington had arrived. An army helicopter made several orbits of Kauai on her way in, and there was a two-star admiral’s flag flying on the flagpole near the building. Hopkins had left Lee and Zuccaro rummaging through Kauai’s flag locker to rig a similar display once the admiral came aboard. The three quickly passed through the reception desk to the center’s sensitive compartmented information facility and were ushered in by a navy sailor. They stood at attention as Pennington came around the table to greet them.
“Carry on, please. Hoppy, is that you?” Pennington asked with a smile. “My God, what a terrific surprise. How are you?” He stepped up and shook her hand.
“I’m fine, thank you, Admiral.”
Pennington turned to Sam and held out his hand. “I hope you’ll forgive the breach of protocol, Lieutenant. But Hoppy and I were shipmates on the Escanaba. Do you go by Sam or Samuel?”
Sam shook Pennington’s hand. “Sam, sir. May I present my XO, Ben Wyporek?”
Pennington shook Ben’s hand, “Pleased to meet you, Ben. I’ve heard some pretty amazing things about both of you guys.”
“Likewise, sir,” Ben said.
“Come over here and sit down, please.” Pennington beckoned to the table. “Before we start, I will be talking at the Top Secret level.” He directed a glance toward Hopkins.
“We are all cleared and read in, sir,” Sam said.
“Outstanding. Well, your old friends, the 252 Syndicate, have been very naughty. They have been employing a converted offshore petroleum supply vessel as a lab to create chemical weapons. They were doing a good job keeping a low profile until a couple of days ago. Then they got themselves in a jam—landed in the middle of a drug war, and now the boat and their lead chemist are hostages. The boat is being held in Barbello, just north of Roatan.” He pulled a high-resolution chart from a leather case on the table, and they all stood to look at it. “The island is an ancient volcanic caldera, with the remaining topography roughly crescent-shaped. It has an almost enclosed lagoon, with the buildings and quay here.” He pointed at the center of the interior shoreline. “It’s all shoal water except for a channel leading into the lagoon, passing a quarter-mile south of this point.”
Sam looked at the chart in deep thought. “Yes, sir, I remember. When I was assigned to Spencer, we staked it out for a few days. Good harbor, not much else. We thought it was a drug transshipment point, but nothing came of it.” He looked at Pennington again. “Who grabbed them, sir?”
“An outfit called the Salinas Cartel.”
“Are they new, sir? I don’t remember hearing that name.”
“Yes, they’re oozing up to the top in Honduras and Guatemala. They’re really bad news. Think of a gang of a hundred guys too sadistic for MS-13 standing up a drug-funded death cult. Anyway, they are about to get some genuine experience in total war. The 252s don’t take insults or prisoners.”
“Sir, why us?” Sam asked. “I mean, Delta Force or the SEALs would be the right choice for a rescue mission.”
“It’s not a rescue, Sam. I wouldn’t lift a finger to save those bastards, much less risk your lives. The problem is they have come up with a particularly nasty nerve agent, and we can’t let that loose. We are sending you in there to tow it to deep water and scuttle it. What happens to any 252 scientists is incidental.”
“I don’t understand, sir. Surely, the 252s have everything now. What would it accomplish if we succeeded?”
“Great question.” Pennington nodded. “They don’t have it, according to the defector that brought us the news. They had run afoul of the Russians earlier, using knock-offs of their Novichok agents for assassinations. To keep the development a secret from them, they confined everything to the boat, even air-gapping the computers.”
“Excuse me, Admiral,” Sam interrupted. “Why not bomb the boat?”
“No, Sam, it’s in Honduras territory. We can’t launch an airstrike against a Central American country without provocation. Neither can we run a search and destroy commando raid that leaves a sunken ship at the dockside. And if that agent got loose and slimed the island, we would really be in trouble, even if we could prove we didn’t create it.”
“Sir, stealing a ship violates sovereignty too.”
“Only if we’re caught, Sam. The Hondurans ceded that island to the cartel—they have no presence there. We go in at night, steal the ship from a criminal organization who stole it from another criminal organization and dispose of it. We’ll claim it held a classified weapon of mass destruction if called on it, which is perfectly true. Even if the Hondurans figure out it was us, a nasty problem is solved, and they still have plausible deniability. The 252s will hit that place and leave no one alive, anyway.”
“Admiral, I suppose we could get in there undetected if we waited until moonset and used the batteries. But as soon as we hit that ship, all hell will break loose. We’ll have a running fight from the moment we board until we clear the harbor. Assuming we aren’t sunk before then.”
“Sam, you think I would send you in alone?” Pennington shook his head. “There’s a SEAL team en route to Key West as we speak. As you guys glide in there, they’ll have taken the ship and discreetly knocked out any lighting on the quay. A Rivet Joint plane is heading in tonight and tomorrow night to read the pattern of life, patrols, and radio comms. During your penetration, they’ll be there to control the ground force and keep you advised of any hostile activity. Your biggest challenge will be running the gauntlet of this point of land here.” He pointed at the chart. “It’s fortified and has an armed watch. But if you clear it before first light, there’s a good chance you can slip by unseen and unheard.” Pennington paused and scanned the faces across the table. They all focused on the chart before them and were long with worry. “Anything else?”
After a second, Sam looked up with a stony expression. “Yes, sir. What about casualties? It will be a miracle if no one is wounded. Given what you’ve told us, we can hardly cruise into a nearby port to put them in the hospital, and it’s seven hundred miles easy to a US facility.”
“You’ll be taking an army combat surgeon and two medics on Kauai. I’m pre-positioning Thetis with a Clearwater H-60 twenty miles away and Northland off Cozumel as a lily pad. It’s five hours of flying from Barbello to the nearest trauma center in Miami, but the surgeon will stabilize any casualties before they’re lifted.”
“Yes, sir.” Sam nodded, then continued. “Admiral, suppose the worst case happens, and they pop open our hull with a couple of RPGs. What’s the contingency plan? I need to know my crew won’t be sacrificed for nothing.”
Pennington gave a solemn look. “In Key West, you will also take on board a pair of DIA agents who will destroy the agent precursors with thermite charges.”
Sam scowled. “One of those DIA agents wouldn’t be Peter Simmons, would it, sir?”
“Yes, I understand he was with you on the Resolution mission.”
“That he was, sir,” Sam continued. “He damn near got Ben killed twice. The second time I had to drive Kauai at flank speed through fog and shoal water to save Ben’s and his asses and shoot up two civilian SUVs on U.S. soil to do it! He’s not my number one favorite guy, sir.”
Pennington nodded. “I understand, Sam. I assume I can rely on your professionalism to overcome your personal feelings regarding Dr. Simmons. Am I in error?”
“No, sir, I can do the job. I just need you to be aware of the nature of our relationship.” He glanced at the others and then continued. “Admiral, can we take these charts out of the SCIF? We’ll need them to devise approach and departure strategies.”
“Yes, they’re unclassified. But you need to keep them out of sight until you leave Key West.”
“Yes, sir. Admiral, I would like a chance to discuss the op with Ben and Chief Hopkins, so they can begin planning. Could we keep the SCIF for half an hour?”
A sad smile spread across Pennington’s face. He knew Sam’s question was a politely coded request to get the hell out so they could talk openly about the load of crap just dumped on them. “Not a problem, Sam. It’s mine for as long as I need it. I’ll just have a chat with the CO while you’re working. When you’re done, send someone to fetch me.”
“Yes, sir. You still want to ride with us to Key West?”
“Definitely.” Pennington nodded. “I’m interested in a hands-on tour of your new setup.”
“Sir,” Sam said as he, Ben, and Hopkins stood at attention.
“Carry on, please. Thank you,” Pennington said as he walked out and closed the door.
Sam turned to the others, who gazed back in silence. “Folks, things just got very, very real. Comments before we start?” Ben and Hopkins both shook their heads. “OK. We need to develop an approach doable in complete darkness using GPS and night-vision goggles only. Then we need an egress plan with a one-hundred-fifty-ton vessel in tow. Chief, that’s yours.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“It handicaps us not knowing exactly where the ship is moored or its orientation, so have alternatives for both north and south.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sam turned to Ben. “Number One, your job will be planning the actual assault. We’ll put that combat training to use now. I want you to pick your boarding team with the assumption that your guys will have to handle getting the tow rigged and casting off all mooring lines and shore ties. You might get help from the SEALs, but I wouldn’t plan on it.”
“Yes, sir. Should I bring an engineer to try lighting off the mains?” Ben asked.
“You can, as long as it’s Brown. You’ll need a lot of muscle to pull up the towing hawser. The engines can’t be started anyway until we clear the harbor—can’t take a chance on them being heard. They probably won’t be available even then. If I were one of the cartel guys, I would sabotage the mains or remove a critical part so that the crew couldn’t try anything.
“Yes, sir. It will be hard to plan anything before getting a sense of the boat’s size and layout and its orientation on the quay. Maybe the admiral can help?”
“Definitely. I’ll tell him we can’t plan without it. Now, here’s the deal as far as the rest of the crew goes. I’ll pull COB aside and give him the bones of the plan so he can help us squelch any rumors. I know it’s not our usual way, but I don’t want any discussion of our destination or mission until after we leave Key West. We need to determine what everyone else will do before we finalize our role, and I don’t want the crew to work themselves up on speculation. I expect a full mission briefing at JIATF-South, and it will be at least a day to Barbello, so we have plenty of time to fill everyone in en route. One benefit of hauling a flag officer around is everyone will focus on that rather than why we are hauling ass to Key West.” He smiled as he looked at them. “Questions?”
“No, sir,” both Ben and Hopkins said in reply.
“OK. I’ll grab the admiral and meet you guys by the flagpole.” He then turned and left.
Ben looked at Hopkins with a smile. “You continue to surprise, Escanaba shipmate!”
“Hey, I know people too, XO.” She smiled back as she stuffed the charts into the leather case on the table.
The Coast Guard party left the Command Building in a brisk walk toward the piers, with Sam and Pennington side-by-side in the lead and Ben and Hopkins behind them. When they reached Kauai, Pennington was piped aboard with proper ceremony by Drake and Bondurant. After a brief tour of the new engineering plant, he settled into the captain’s chair on the Bridge. After an uneventful departure, the cutter set a north-northeast track toward the Northeast Providence Channel. They would follow it and then the Northwest Providence Channel into the Florida Straits off Fort Lauderdale. It was a lengthy roundabout route, but the only way available because of the vast shoals of the Great Bahama Bank west and north of Andros Island.
As soon as they cleared the harbor and set the regular watch, Sam took Pennington around the Bridge to point out the recent overhaul upgrades. He left the FC3 station’s presentation to Williams, who provided a proud, hands-on demonstration of its capabilities. Finally, Sam ordered the diesel engines to shut down to show the electric motors using only battery power. As Kauai glided along at twelve knots, the only sound being a very slight hiss of the passing water, Pennington shook his head and turned to Sam.
“Amazing. It gives me the shivers scooting along like this without a sound or any vibration.”
Sam chuckled. “Yes, sir. That was the common feeling for us the first couple of times.” He then ordered up the full battery speed of twenty knots. Kauai was no longer silent as the intensity of the propeller thrumming sound and vibration increased.
“Full speed is definitely audible, but still pretty quiet. How far away can it be heard, Captain?” Pennington asked.
“On the surface, it’s audible to the unaided ear at a maximum of one-hundred-fifty yards, sir,” Sam said. “With an enhanced audio sensor, about five times that. Underwater, the blade beat carries much further, but we’re still about as stealthy as you can be for a powered vessel.”
“Remarkable. Can we adjourn to the cabin for a private chat? I’m interested in hearing a firsthand account of your adventure at Resolution.”
“Yes, sir. Can you excuse me for a moment, please?”
“Of course.”
Sam stepped over to Bondurant, who had the OOD watch, gave some last instructions, and returned. “Could you follow me, please, sir?”
“Right behind you.”
After reaching the cabin, Sam shut the door, and they sat down facing each other. Sam led the discussion. “Sorry, sir. I’m sure we’re more cramped than what you are used to.”
“Nonsense. My first command was a PB.”
“Really, sir? Which boat?”
“The good ship Kauai. I was the old girl’s first CO.” He paused as Sam’s jaw dropped in silence. “No way I was passing up the chance for another ride.”
“That’s incredible, sir. I did not know. Is it bringing back memories?”
“Some. Mostly good ones, although a pre-commissioning detail has plenty of headaches.”
“Yes, sir.” Sam paused in thought. “Is there anything in particular you wanted to discuss, sir?”
“Yes. I wanted to avoid putting you on the spot in front of Ben and Hoppy, but I’m interested in your assessment of the mission and chances of success.”
“Um, is this one of those ‘tell truth to power’ moments, sir, or would you prefer the rainbows and unicorns version?”
Pennington rocked his head back in a hearty laugh. “I guess I had that coming, Captain. I hope you can trust me enough to give me the former.”
“Very good, sir.” Sam nodded. “A lot depends on where that ship is, exactly, and the defense measures the cartel guys are using. My sense is that they aren’t military geniuses, so they probably just have armed guards and a roving watch. If I were them, I’d put down an anchor. That would be game over for what we’re planning—we wouldn’t have time to weigh it or cut the chain before they swarmed us. But they’re not seamen, and they’re expecting either a payoff or a gunfight from the 252s, not a smash and grab. We’ll need up-to-date intel with visuals ASAP, sir.”
“We’re working that as we speak. Please continue.”
“Yes, sir. Then it depends on the SEALs. They must take out any cartel guys in the immediate area without raising the alarm. I don’t know how in hell they’ll do that, but I’ll take it on faith they’ll find a way. My guys can’t help. They’ll have their hands full for the first fifteen minutes, rigging the tow and unmooring the ship. A lot can happen in fifteen minutes, sir.
“So, assuming everything goes right, it will be about ninety minutes from ingress to egress. That is cutting it close on my battery charge life at full power, sir. Just saying.”
“I hear you, Captain. Do you think it might be prudent to light off at least one of your diesels after clearing the quay?”
“No, sir. I think I’ll push my luck. Anyone awake in that harbor would hear our starters, given the topography. I can light them all off quickly enough if things go south. We have drilled this pretty hard to knock down the time needed, and our last trial had it down to thirty-three seconds.”
“I see. So, what’s the bottom line here?”
“Sir, if we can work up to full speed on the tow without detection, we should get through, even if we have to shoot it out with that sentry post.”
“And if you’re detected before that?”
“In that case, I think the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance will make a pretty big payout this month, sir,” Sam replied with a crooked smile. “But we’ll buy enough time to torch that lab.”
Pennington looked down for a moment. Then he looked up, leaned forward, and rested his right hand lightly on Sam’s shoulder. “Thank you, Captain.”
