“That’s it,” he said. “Let’s position ourselves behind Terry and drive a straight line behind him.”
When Remy announced the explosion from the direction of Master Ten, the walls behind which Jake had stuffed his killing crumbled, and he fell back into his chair, exhausted.
CHAPTER 24
Cahill watched droplets splash against the windows.
“I still can’t believe Jake took out four ships,” he said. “And only one was a submarine. He was on a rampage, killing anything and everything. He even took out a fishing trawler.”
“He was just following Pierre’s orders. I don’t know that you can blame him.”
“But still, it’s not like him. I expected him to be more — what’s the word I’m looking for?”
“Merciful.”
“Right.”
Indulging himself in another look over his shoulder, he admired the view of the Kim riding in his cargo bay. Its steel plates bowing inward between its ribs, it appeared like an inverted caterpillar. He judged that the surviving crew’s proximity to death had been razor sharp.
He then returned his attention to the threatening warships. Based upon his organic phased array radar and the surveillance that the entire South Korean military provided him, nothing stood between him and a successful return to a friendly port.
Submarines still concerned him, but Jake’s torpedoes raced ahead to bridge the gap between his position and the boundary of safe waters.
“It’s weird being escorted by torpedoes,” he said.
“Weird isn’t the word. I’d say crazy. But somehow it seems to make sense.”
“Okay, that’s enough.”
“Sorry?”
“I mean the cannons. We’ve shot everything we needed to shoot. I’ll keep them and the lasers readied as a precaution, but I’ll conserve me ammunition.”
“For what target? We’re practically home.”
Cahill considered reminding Walker to refrain from jinxing the mission, but no predictable threats remained. He let the comment float unanswered.
“I can’t wait to get onto dry land and breathe dry air.”
“Agreed, mate,” Walker said. “It hasn’t let up in days.”
Cahill tapped his screen to overlay weather radar information over his tactical scene. A storm loomed ahead.
“Well that explains the rough seas.”
“We should be able to beat it, though,” Walker said. “I think we can cut around its eastern edge and avoid having to drive through a torrential downpour.”
“Yes, if the storm holds its shape, course, and speed.”
After several minutes of silent railguns, Cahill noticed a human form appear atop the Kim’s sail.
“There’s our first sign of life,” he said. “Get Doctor Tan up here.”
Cahill glared at the man on the Kim until the sailor made eye contact. He waved, smiled, and held up his palms to compel the man to stay where he was. Somehow, the crewman understood and waited, hunched over in the rain.
When Doctor Tan reached the bridge, Cahill handed him a microphone.
“The exterior loudspeakers will reach the Kim, but he obviously has no way to speak back to us. Just let him know that we’ve been employed by his government to rescue him and that he can check all his facts with his command via radio.”
Tan rattled off the message in Korean, and then the man raised a thumb before disappearing into the submarine.
Moments later, Renard’s voice filled the cabin.
“That’s a very cautious crew you’ve saved. They were listening to all the broadcasts, but since they could hear the cannon fire, they decided against transmitting to avoid any confirmation of their identity to the enemy. But now, you’ve got an open channel. You can say whatever you want to the Kim’s acting commanding officer, a Lieutenant Yoon. You’ll need your translator, though, since he speaks no English.”
“Right. How should I identify meself?”
“He knows who you are. Just tell him you’re Terry Cahill.”
“First things first. How’s his crew? Does anyone need medical attention?”
“Yes. Him. But he refused evacuation by helicopter when offered. He wants to stay with his men all the way to home port.”
“Admirable. Doctor Tan, please tell Lieutenant Yoon that Terry Cahill is honored to have him and his ship aboard the Goliath as me guest and that I promise to get him home safe.”
The doctor translated, and Cahill heard a response from the Kim’s young de facto captain. Tan rendered the translation.
“He says that he’s most grateful and looks forward to meeting you in person. He and his crew cannot adequately express their appreciation for your courage and your support.”
“Alright. Let’s not make this a group hug.”
Tan lifted the microphone.
“No, don’t translate that. Just tell him that I’m at his service and that I’ll keep the line of communication open.”
Ten minutes later, the rainstorm morphed in the direction least favorable for Cahill’s avoiding it.
“Well, shit, Liam. Get ready to be tossed about.”
Binoculars at his face, Walker ignored him.
“What’s got your attention, Liam?”
“That storm. The leading edge. It doesn’t look right.”
“How can a storm be wrong, or right for that matter?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. The edge closest to us doesn’t look nearly as dark as the rest.”
Wanting to dismiss the issue, Cahill instead offered advice.
“Have a look through infrared on an exterior camera, then.”
“Right. I’ll call it up.”
Cahill wondered if he should submerge below the storm and enjoy a quiet return trip, but then he opted to maintain speed and deal with the discomfort, deciding that everyone on his ship and the Kim wanted to get home in time for a late dinner.
“That’s a ship, Terry! That’s an accursed warship. I think it’s North Korean.”
“Shit! Doctor Tan, hail it. Warn it that I’m going to blow it out of the water if it doesn’t contact fleet headquarters immediately and prove that it’s friendly.”
While the doctor spoke, Cahill warmed up his torpedoes and had Walker ready the railguns.
“I’ve locked on with our phased array. It took concentrated power because that bastard’s hiding under chaff. Range nine miles.”
“Chaff? Damn. It’s hostile. Open fire.”
“Starting with the engineering spaces?”
“No. Start with any torpedo launchers you can hit. Set the rounds to splinter. Now!”
The railguns erupted.
“Based on dimensions and visual analysis, that’s a Taechong class patrol boat,” Walker said. “They normally don’t carry anti-ship missiles. The main armament is an eighty-five-millimeter cannon and six lightweight torpedoes, three per side, no reloads.”
“Lightweight or not, I’m assuming there’s a few coming our way. I’m coming hard left to open range.”
A whistle traced an arc above the windows, and an explosion erupted on the Kim’s conning tower.
“Holy shit, it hit us!” Cahill said.
“We’re barely within its cannon range.”
“Not for long.”
The Goliath lurched into the crashing waves. Cahill and Walker braced themselves while Doctor Tan toppled against a bulkhead. Another round hit the Kim’s tower, followed by a third before the Goliath’s evasive maneuvers forced the rounds to fall wide.
“Preparing tube one in surface mode,” Cahill said. “It’s warming. It’s ready. Shooting tube one.”