Grant grabbed the mike. “Alpha Tango. Go ahead Ageless Warrior. Over.”
“POTUS contacted. I say again. POTUS has been contacted. Do you copy? Over.”
Grant pounded a fist against nothing but air. “Copy that! Over.”
“Standing by for further instructions. Over.”
“Roger. Alpha Tango out.” Grant let go of the mike, letting it hang next to the bulkhead.
“That’s one in our favor, Boss!” James said over his shoulder, as he kept the glasses focused on the surrounding water.
Adler wanted an explanation of the previous conversation. “C’mon. Finish the story.”
Grant just started to respond when Novak shouted, “Bad news, Boss! I think we’re in trouble!” He continued looking through the scope.
Grant grabbed binoculars, then scooted near him. “Where?!”
“Off our six!”
“And our eight!” Slade shouted from the port side.
Two gunboats had been spotted. “There’s no way in hell they could know which boat we’re on!” Grant said under his breath. He moved the glasses, spotting another. “At our seven! They’ve already caught up to one. Christ! They’re boarding her!” He yelled at Adler, “Joe! Take the wheel!”
Adler rushed to the wheel, stepping in front of Kwan. “Got it!”
Kwan fell to his knees, crawling away, taking a position next to the starboard door. He drew his weapon from his back waistband.
Grant had to make a decision. “Dao! Back here!”
The agent ducked low and met up with Grant who was lying on his belly. “We need extra time! Those boats might have glasses on us. I want you on the stern. Just act like you’re getting gear together. Maybe it’ll slow them down, send them after another boat. Copy?”
“Understand,” Kwan answered with a quick nod, as he handed Grant his weapon. He stepped around Grant and Novak, then quickly rolled up his sleeves and pant legs. The boat pitched and yawed, as it encountered three foot swells. He held onto the door as he went out on deck. He positioned himself on the port side, allowing Grant and Novak a clear, unobstructed view.
Small nets were draped over blue barrels used to stow squid. All the fishing gear aboard this boat hadn’t been touched. He began his task of unraveling nets, moving the barrels. Every chance he got he tried to get a look at the gunboats. He tilted his head, trying to look overhead. No jets, no planes, no chopper. Nothing.
Diaz crawled to the starboard side, midships, raising his glasses. “Holy fuck! Another one at our four!”
“What distance?!” Grant shouted.
“Five hundred yards!”
“Time to kick it in the ass, Joe!” There weren’t too many choices: Stay at a slow speed or make a run for it. Either way, they were in a shitload of trouble.
Standing next to the helm, Lieutenant Mingli Wan looked out of the corner of his eye at Colonel Tao Chiu. With orders directly from Beijing, the colonel was in charge of finding those who caused the explosions in Shanghai, those who killed the enlisted men and officers. And now he was to search for Americans.
A loud, continuous rumble sounded from the stern, as the engine of the gunboat idled. The coxswain had one hand on the wheel, the other on the throttle, ready to continue with its pursuit of the next fishing boat.
Chiu watched intently as the men jumped onto the deck of still another vessel. They raced through the cabin, searching from bow to stern. Within no time, they headed back to the gunboat, shaking their heads.
Chiu pressed the binoculars against his eyes, moving the glasses constantly, looking for the next target. He put his arm out, bracing himself before nearly losing his balance as the gunboat’s engine roared to life. Immediately turning to starboard, the coxswain began his chase after another fishing boat.
Chiu was taking a huge risk chasing these vessels. He didn’t have any proof the Americans were out here. He was going entirely on instinct. There were still at least twenty boats to board, and none were in close proximity to one another. They all looked similar, but that made no difference. Every one had to be searched. The gunboats were fast. This one was already within a hundred yards of the next boat.
Adler pushed the throttle forward. The boat responded slowly, then picked up speed. It was gaining on two fishing boats directly ahead. But it wasn’t moving fast enough. “Come on! Come on!” he said through clenched teeth.
“Joe!”
“Doing the best I can, Skipper! She doesn’t have a helluva lot in her!”
Grant turned his attention again to the gunboats. For the time being, there wasn’t a helluva lot more he or the Team could do. “Doc!” he shouted. “Go forward! Look for any sign of the fleet or chopper!”
Stalley slung the strap of his Uzi over his head, then immediately took up a position near Adler. Placing the glasses against his eyes, he scanned the horizon. “Nothin’ yet!”
It didn’t take long for a gunboat to catch another slow-moving fishing boat. And it didn’t take long to determine Americans weren’t on board. Uniformed men with rifles balanced themselves along the port side of a fishing boat, reaching for rope ladders hanging from the gunboat. Once all men were aboard, the coxswain immediately hit the throttle, sending the vessel racing forward. Hardly clear of the small boat, he spun the wheel hard to port. A large wash of seawater sprayed out from under the craft as it took aim at another vessel.
“Dao! Get in here!” Grant shouted. Kwan hurried in, falling to the deck, scooting toward the starboard side.
Grant pushed himself up, then keeping low, he rushed forward, heading for the radio. He grabbed the mike. “Alpha Tango, calling Ageless Warrior! Come in Ageless Warrior! Over!”
“Ageless Warrior. Go ahead, Alpha Tango. Over!”
“Gunboats in pursuit! I say again! Gunboats in pursuit!” Grant kept the mike “open” for the radio operator to hear what the hell was happening.
Stalley leaned closer to the windshield, then shouted, “Ships at our one! And they’re ours!”
Without even waiting for Grant’s order, Adler immediately spun the wheel, setting a course for the fleet.
Grant called into the mike, “We have fleet in sight! I say again. We… ”
Gunfire made everyone’s blood run cold. The sound of a 25 mm gun. But the shots seemed to be warning shots, as rounds hit fifty yards off the port beam, then more whizzed by overhead.
Grant held the mike close to his mouth. “Taking fire! I say again. Taking fire! Over!”
“Copy that, Alpha Tango! Standby!”
Grant pulled the mike away, just staring at it. “What the fuck? Standby?!”
Stalley shouted, “Sir! I see a chopper! It’s just… it’s keeping present position! Hovering!”
Shit was happening fast and furious. But suddenly they realized how quiet it had become. Shots were no longer being fired.
Novak reported, “Boss! The gunboats seem to be holding positions, no longer advancing.”
Another voice sounded from the radio, but this time radio procedures were being tossed. “Alpha Tango, this is the Captain speaking. Over.”
Grant and Adler just looked at each other. They both stood up cautiously. Grant responded, “Alpha Tango here. Over.”
“Everyone has been ordered to stand down. Do you copy Alpha Tango? Over.”
Grant could only shake his head. “Request repeat. Over.”
“All parties are to stand down by order of President Carr and Chairman Xiaoping. Orders are being given to the gunboats as we speak. Do you copy? Over.”
“Copy that. Over.” Everyone inside the cabin began to get up off the deck, looking outside, seeing the gunboats holding their positions. The remaining fishing boats had hauled ass, and were nearly out of sight.