The command center was positioned amidships, and all below deck, making her comfortable to control in any weather. The hull was made from high tensile and high strength composite materials, and incorporated the same camouflaging technology employed on the USS Omega Deep, making the hull capable of becoming translucent from the inside out.
The entire system was autonomous, with the capability of being manually controlled with a wheel from the skipper’s chair. The command center even had the feel of a submarine, with stations for the entire crew within close proximity, including an array of sonar, radar, bathymetric, and other high-tech oceanography equipment, satellite communications and navigation, weather station, and a not so small array of hidden weaponry and counter weapons, in the event this vessel was ever met by a similar attack.
Behind the command center was a large rooftop helipad, which could be retracted during rough seas via an internal elevator, allowing the helicopter to be housed internally within the hull, while also making room for a second helicopter to land if need be. The aft deck was flat, and capable of towing large vessels.
Below decks, an internal dive room housed two Atmospheric Dive Suits designed specifically to Sam and Tom’s body shapes, a new Triton 36,000/3 submarine, and multiple dive lockers with SCUBA equipment for all of the crew. Unlike the Maria Helena, she didn’t boast a moonpool that could rival something from an old James Bond film. Instead, the submarine could be launched via a large mechanical lockout locker in the keel. Alternatively, the forward keel used a small lockout locker, similar to those used on nuclear submarines, from which the Atmospheric Dive Suits, SCUBA divers, or ROV remote operated underwater vehicles could be deployed.
She was powered by twin Rolls Royce 28,000hp MTU diesel engines, and twin ZF gearboxes that projected the force of the combined 56,000 hp into four HT1000 HamiltonJet waterjets. Marrying this power to her unique hull shape, she was able to lift out of the water onto the aquaplane at speeds of 60 knots — making her the fastest motor yacht of her size in the world.
A unique system of hydraulic manipulators, allowed the exterior hull shape to be constantly autonomously changed in order to meet the sea conditions. In calm waters, it would force water outward, leaving only a narrow section of the hull to skim across the surface as it aquaplaned. In turbulent seas, the same system could be reversed, digging more of the hull beneath the water, riding very low and safe in the waves.
Across her gunmetal gray hull was the ship’s name –
Tahila
The secretary of defense stood quietly in her dress suit. She was tall, with short-cropped, dark red hair and intelligent emerald green eyes, which registered displeasure.
“Good God!” she said, turning to face Sam directly. With her jaw set firm, she took a deep breath. It was a practiced state of serenity, without which she probably would have resigned her position years ago. “Mr. Reilly, when I said the Department of Defense would foot the bill for your replacement ship, I didn’t expect you to take advantage of the offer by building something like this. No wonder Defense ran over budget.”
Sam frowned. “I’m very sorry, Madam Secretary.”
She sighed. “It’s all right. I’ll make sure the government that paid for it gets the most value out of your use of it.”
“Yes, ma’am. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The Commander of the Navy, John Alsop, a sixty-two year old man in his full military dress uniform, approached. “Madam Secretary. We’re ready to begin.”
“Very good, Commander.”
She turned to Sam. “Mark my words. I will see that you pay for every penny we’ve spent on this ship, in service to your country.”
Sam suppressed his smirk. “Yes, ma’am. Understood.”
With that, she turned and followed the Commander to take part in the launching ceremony.
Sam watched with pleasure as the Secretary of Defense gave a short speech before striking a bottle of 2008 vintage, Dom Pérignon Rosé on the hull for good luck. A moment later, the Commander nodded his head, and a Petty Officer removed the slipway’s lock.
A moment later, the Tahila began its sideways journey down the slipway before landing in San Diego Bay — sending an eight-foot wave racing across the bay.
Three hours later, Sam and his crew had run through a series of safety checks on the vessel, and Matthew Sutherland — his skipper — officially took command of the ship. As part of the official launch, Sam, Tom, Genevieve, Elise, Veyron, and Matthew were to take a small group of engineers, military dignities, and representatives from the Department of Defense, out of the bay for a short demonstration of the ship’s capabilities.
Sam met Matthew’s eye. The man was grinning as he gripped the small, wooden wheel, taking the Tahila out of the harbor.
“Well…” Sam said. “What do you think?”
“I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed my enforced vacation these past six months, but it’s good to be back — and I think you’ve found a fair replacement for the Maria Helena.”
Sam grinned. “I’m glad you approve. We went to some effort to have her built.”
“Sure,” Matthew said, steering under the Coronado Bridge. “She’s a beautiful ship, a technological marvel, but the Maria Helena had real class.”
Sam expelled a breath. “Yeah, she sure, did.”
The Tahila approached one of the wealthy marinas out from the Seaport Village. A large luxury motor cruiser by the name of Carpe Diem was in the process of motoring into the outside finger of the marina.
It was moving quicker than Sam would have expected given its size.
Sam raised his eyebrow. “What’s the skipper trying to do?”
Matthew shook his head in disgust, shifting the throttles into reverse, to leave more room for the incoming vessel. “Beats me. Probably some rich kid playing with his family’s yacht.”
Sam’s lips hardened. “Yeah, probably.”
“No offense, Sam.”
Sam shrugged. “None taken.”
A moment later, the Carpe Diem struck the wall of the jetty hard.
The speed was low, and the ship appeared unscathed, although the owner would no doubt end up paying a fortune in repairs bills to the marina.
Sam stared at the ship that now simply floundered next to the remains of the splintered jetty. His eyes narrowed.
Despite the destruction, nobody came out on deck.
Matthew said, “Where is everybody?”
Sam scanned the bridge. It looked barren.
He turned to Matthew. “You’d better take us a little closer.”
Chapter Twenty
Matthew brought the bow of Tahila up to the aft deck of Carpe Diem and pulled the throttles back until both ships rested mere inches apart from one another.
Sam and Tom stepped across the gap and onboard Carpe Diem. Only the sound of the ship’s diesel powerplant idling could be heard.
“Hello,” Sam shouted. “Is anyone aboard?”
No response.
“Hello?” Sam repeated. “Is everyone all right?”
He and Tom exchanged glances.
Tom said, “I’ll take the forward section.”
“All right,” Sam gripped the external ladder to the upper deck that housed the bridge. “I’ll try the bridge.”
He gripped the metal rungs of the ladder and climbed into the narrow space between the bridge and the steel balustrade.
Sam rapped his knuckles on the side of the glass door that led to the bridge. “Hey, is anyone in there?”
He cupped his hands over his eyes so that he could see through the reflective glare of the forward windshield.