“I think you’re good, sir.” The diver retreated into the tunnel and closed the door.
Fifteen minutes later, Causey examined the fruits of the labors of several technicians. Suction cups held induction units to the window, a USB cable connected a unit to a laptop balanced on an inverted garbage can, and custom software enabled the communications. “So, what do I do?”
The burly lieutenant’s thick arm brushed his shoulder. “Let me try this.” He unmuted the laptop.
An Australian accent rose from the computer. “Hello, Indiana? Hello, Indiana?”
Causey aimed his voice at the laptop. “Indiana, here.”
The Australian accent continued. “Hello, Indiana?”
“They can’t hear me.”
Lieutenant Hansen frowned. “Shit. We need a microphone.” Again, he bumped the Indiana’s commanding officer while reaching for the computer to mute the Australian voice.
Looking over his shoulder, Causey found a petty officer and tasked him with finding a microphone. The young sailor ran off.
After a five-minute search, the sailor returned with the headset belonging to an engineer lab technician.
Causey made a mental note to acquire a laptop with an internal microphone as he donned the gear and unmuted the connection. “This is the Indiana. Can you hear me?”
After a pause, an enthusiastic Australian accent filled his ears. “Good to hear from you, mate. Terry Cahill, here. Commanding officer of the RMF Goliath, at your service.”
“RMF?”
“Renard’s Mercenary Fleet. It’s an unofficial title we use when we try to sound official, named for the man you’ll hopefully be lifting a pint with later this week.”
“It’s encouraging to know that the RMF Goliath is nearby, Mister Cahill.”
“Indeed, I am mate. Ready and waiting to help you out. Let’s get your arses home.”
CHAPTER 11
Hearing the foreigner’s voice lifted Causey’s spirits. “I’m Commander Andrew Causey, commanding officer of the USS Indiana. I’m pleased to meet you, Mister Cahill.”
“Same to you, commander.”
“I trust you have the details of an egress plan?”
“I do, but that’ll have to wait. I have some news. The Iranians are using dolphins to find our ships. Your colleagues at your fleet headquarters saw them surfaced through a Predator drone, and they think that’s how those mongrels targeted the Wraith. Your fleet wants you to send divers outside your hull to watch for them.”
“Watch for them?”
The Australian paused before answering. “Kill them.”
Causey tucked away his inherent pity for animals being used as tools of warfare. “Sure. If we can find them.”
“Right. You’ve got men who can handle it?”
Studying the muscular lieutenant, Causey thought the young officer could strangle a dolphin with one hand, but he sought a definitive answer. “I need to ask my divers.”
A young sailor appeared with a new laptop. “I installed the communications software. It’s got a microphone so you won’t need the headset anymore.”
The Indiana’s commander reached for the first laptop’s mute button. “Hold on, Mister Cahill. I’m switching laptops.”
“Right. I’ll wait.”
The young sailor mounted the new laptop next to the first, swapped out the USB connection to the circuit, and then yelled into it. “Hello?”
An Australian accent rose from the new laptop. “Hello.”
Causey removed his headset, angled his jaw downward, and raised his voice. “Can you hear me, Mister Cahill?”
“It’s fine, commander.”
“Standing next to me are my divers, Lieutenant Hansen and Senior Chief Spencer.”
“Terry Cahill at your service, gents.”
The burly officer bent towards the laptop. “We’ve got underwater rifles. They shoot barbs and will get the job done. The challenge against dolphins will be seeing them. They’ll see us long before we see them.”
“Right, mate. But we think they need to take pictures before their owners shoot weapons, which means they’ll need to circle around to get an image that allows them to identify us. I imagine they’ve trained the dolphins to get some sort of broadside view from a known range. That might level the playing field, and they’re also probably not trained in anti-swimmer attacks.”
“Probably not. But they might be. This could become a battle.” Lieutenant Hansen turned to his senior chief. “You’ll have to run things in here. I’m going out there.”
Senior Chief Spencer snorted. “Don’t be a hero, sir. This isn’t about power and size. It’s going to be about reaction time. Our guys can handle it.”
The young officer glared at the enlisted diver.
Unfazed, the senior chief held the glare.
Causey broke the stalemate. “Part of being an officer is knowing when to get out in front but knowing when to step back and keep the big picture.”
Lieutenant Hansen relented. “Maybe you’re right, sir, but who wants to stay behind when their guys are going into combat?”
“Let it go, lieutenant. Your guys are already suited up, and time is of the essence.”
Senior Chief Spencer gave a sly grin. “I don’t like it either, sir. I want to be out there, too, but the skipper’s right. It’s probably going to amount to nothing anyway. It’s a big chunk of water for the dolphins to cover.”
The officer flicked his fingers backwards. “Alright, senior chief. Send them out in port and starboard pairs.”
Causey preempted the enlisted man’s response. “Don’t commit to that yet. I need to take in seawater from at least one side of the engine room.”
The lieutenant faced the Indiana’s commander. “Right, captain. I’ve already given the guys a depth floor. I don’t want them going deeper than the decks of our upper level compartments.”
Convinced the divers would remain safely above the water intakes, Causey spoke into the laptop. “Mister Cahill, did you catch all that?”
“It sounds like you’re sending out four divers.”
“That’s correct. We’ve got one on his way back from your ship, and we’ll have three men join him for a total of two pairs patrolling port and starboard.”
“Send them as soon as you can. Dolphins are dangerous, and these Iranians know how to use them.”
“I’m on it.”
“While you do that, I’ll move into position behind you.”
The Indiana’s commander frowned. “Aren’t you already in position?”
“No, commander. I mean right behind you. I’ll have me forward crossbeam three meters behind your propulsor.”
Causey’s internal insanity alarms blared, but he reminded himself the Goliath could handle operations he considered extreme. “That’s asking for a collision.”
The Australian’s tone remained confident, indicating a businesslike approach to a situation Causey considered dire. “We are going to collide. That’s what I’m here for. The only two concerns are making sure we’re in the correct relative positions and making sure it’s gentle and quiet when it happens.”
The Indiana’s commander sighed through his nostrils. “I have no choice but to trust you.”
“Don’t worry, commander. I know it’s strange to you, but I load submarines into me cargo bed for a living. Maybe it’ll help if you can watch what’s going on. I have cameras covering the outside of me hulls. Can you see anything on video yet?”