“Captain, Ramage says another underwater explosion detected! They have regained Seawolf on their sonar and report her safe. It’s the enemy submarine taking hits, Captain!”
“Outstanding! Tell Seawolf well done!” Holman yelled.
A minute passed as Stennis continued her approach toward the Strait of Gibraltar. The afternoon sun baked the ship and those topside. Holman could see several cases of sunburn already. The strong smell of fuel exhaust enveloped the carrier as the summer sun created mirage like heat waves over the top of the flight deck.
“Captain, Seawolfis at periscope depth and in com ms with Ramage. She reports she broke off her attack against the submarine because of torpedoes in the water. She did not fire at the enemy submarine.
Seawolf recommends against entering the strait. Charlie Oscar believes torpedo mines attacked the enemy submarine.”
“XO, bring us down to six knots!”
“Yes, sir, Captain.” He stuck his head inside the bridge and relayed the orders to the OOD. It would take the Stennis two miles to slow.
The strait was ten miles away.
The master chief continued. “Seawolf says they were three miles from enemy submarine with firing solution when the first explosion hit the target. It appears the target either tried to surface, or the first explosion sent it upward and the second explosion down. Seawolf showed no enemy target when it passed the layer. They are leaving the immediate area and await further instructions.”
“One instruction is make sure everyone knows the Seawolf is coming back out and not to attack it.” Holman knew that USS Ramage and USS Hue City would be paying close attention to the American submarine’s presence. His order was unnecessary, but not without value.
The carrier’s forward momentum eventually slowed to six knots.
Throughout the next hour the USS Stennis maneuvered outside the strait to recover its aircraft. The ASW surface action group continued to lay sonobuoy barriers and scan the undersea environment. The Royal Navy helicopters hovered as they refueled in flight from the three surface ships: USS Ramage, USS Hue City, and the HMS Boxer. Then, they turned toward the western horizon and the HMS Invincible and its small battle group, the remnant Navy of a once-great maritime power.
“Captain, we’ve recovered the Vikings and John Rodgers’ helicopter.
Combat requests to recover the Sea Kings before nightfall and secure from the SAR operations of the USS John Rodgers.
HMS Invincible reports ready to recovery the Royal Navy helicopters.
Admiral Sir Leddermanthompson sends his compliments and says they are taking station twenty-five miles behind us. He asks to be kept informed of our intentions and offers any assistance that the Royal Navy can provide.”
“Roger, send my personal respects and thanks to the admiral for his assistance, and tell Combat to keep the Royal Navy up to date on our status. Call Ramage and tell it to detach the Sea Kings for return to home plate before nightfall.” Captain Holman took the stub of the Cuban cigar and tossed the butt overboard. Best thing America ever did was lifting the embargo with Cuba once Castro died.
“Well, XO, it’s time to figure out how to get through the Strait of Gibraltar since it’s mined.”
“I don’t see how we can, sir.”
“Have you been watching the merchant traffic?”
“Not really, sir, except for those who were coming too close and we ordered them away.”
“Well, XO, seems they’re still going through the strait, and not a single one of them has been attacked, or hit a mine.”
“Yes, sir, but now that we know it’s mined, it explains what happened to that supertanker a few days ago.”
“Could be, XO. I don’t think so, but it’s a good point to consider.”
“So, what do we do, Captain?” “Glad you asked, XO,” Holman replied, pulling another Cuban cigar from his shirt pocket. “We’re going to take the old girl through a minefield and we’re going to do it without hitting any of them.” He pulled another cigar from his shirt pocket. “Secure from General Quarters. Give the crew a chance to stretch their legs. Later I’ll go on fleet television and explain today’s events. I know a lot of questions are out there.”
“Yes, sir, will do. As for the mines, Captain, how do you intend to get us through the strait?”
“Watch and learn, XO. Look at those transiting unharmed and you have your answer. Round up the department heads and have them meet me in the operations conference room in ten minutes. No one is going to stop the United States Navy from sailing any goddamn place it wants to sail.”
He stepped inside the bridge and stopped abruptly. The XO bumped into him. “XO, have Ramage and Hue City rejoin. We’ll need Ramage’s power for what we’re going to do. Also, call USNS Concord and tell her to quit lolly gagging back there and get her tail up here with us. I want the ships topped off before morning, so Concord has a busy night ahead of her. That means, XO, Concord needs to start refueling operations now.”
CHAPTER 10
The rifle butt hit the charging Algerian rebel on the underside of the chin. The impact of the CAR-15 broke the jaw, teeth rocketing out to bounce off Duncan shirt. The attacker’s feet folded neatly to a momentary kneeling position before he fell forward.
His head bounced off Duncan’s boots. Eyes glazed and face bloody, he lay motionless at Duncan’s feet.
“I told you I’ve got a headache!” Duncan growled through clenched teeth.
“Shit, Boss! If it’s a migraine, they don’t stand a chance,” Beau said, breathing heavily. He glanced at the unconscious Arab before he picked himself up off the ground and brushed the dirt from his cammies.
Shouts came from around the building. Beau leaned around the corner.
“Shit!” He fired a burst down the street and jumped back. An avalanche of return fire tore off parts of the white-walled house.
Stinging fragments of plaster peppered them.
A “whoosh” sound filled the air. A quick, wide-eyed, knowing look at each other, and the two men dove away just as a rocket-propelled grenade shattered the side of the house. Debris showered them, followed by a rolling cloud of choking dust.
“Damn, Beau. I guess you showed them,” Duncan said, wiping his eyes.
“Look, you told me to go! Ergo, I went. Next time don’t send me.”
“Next time, don’t bring back half the insurgent devils in the world with you.” He touched Beau on the shoulder. “Let’s get out of here!”
They ran down the narrow street, Duncan several feet in front of Beau.
Duncan scanned the windows and doors ahead, while Beau tried to watch the intersection behind them.
“Faster, Duncan,” said Beau. “Must go faster.”
“I’m going as fast as I can. I ain’t the Flash, you know.”
A figure stepped from a doorway ahead. Without slowing, Duncan raised his gun even as he recognized Colonel Yosef. He relaxed the pressure of his trigger finger and lowered the carbine slightly as he veered toward the Algerian officer. All along the street Algerian Palace Guards pressed against doorways or crouched behind abandoned cars and furniture.
Duncan and Beau shoved themselves into the wide doorway with Yosef.
“We’ve got company, Colonel,” Duncan said.
“Yes, I heard,” Yosef replied. “The others are still at the petrol station, Captain. Go down this alley.” He pointed to a narrower passage a few yards further down. “We’ll try to hold them for ten minutes and then fight a retreat. Have the truck ready, okay?”
“Good luck, Colonel. They have an RPG launcher.”
“I know. I saw it hit. You were very lucky, Captain.”