28
LOCATED IN THE SOUTHERN tip of Kavaratti Island in the Lakshadweep Archipelago, INS Dweeprakshak was a newly built military base for the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command. Considered to be a quiet backwater, recent events had suddenly transformed this small naval station into a hive of incoming ships and activity, as the US Navy requested that the installation serve as the coordinating headquarters for a multinational search and rescue operation to find their missing submarine. Within hours, the Indian government had acquiesced, and no less than a half dozen ships from three countries were either docked or anchored nearby.
After the Wanderer had docked on the newly built concrete pier at the northeastern most part of the base, Chloe and Ethan were greeted by a liaison officer from the Indian Navy, Lieutenant Manootj Banerjee, and were promptly driven by military jeep towards the headquarters building.
Still wearing a short-sleeved, button-down work shirt and dirty cargo pants, Chloe slid out from the side of the Mahindra jeep the moment it stopped in front of the driveway overlooking the main building. The early morning sun’s rays had begun to blaze over the horizon, further straining her already tired eyes.
Ethan stood beside her, glancing at the steady stream of helicopters heading towards the landing strip a few dozen meters to the south. “Looks like we’re going to be part of a very big group.”
Chloe looked down in shame at the grease-stained clothes she wore. She had been doing maintenance work on the Sedna while they were at sea, and she had forgotten to change. “I look like a mess. I don’t think I’d want to go in there with you wearing this.”
Ethan grinned while taking a few steps sideways. Unlike her, he had been able to freshen up just before their vessel docked. “I’ll say. You haven’t taken a bath either.”
“Watch it, mister.”
Lieutenant Banerjee had gotten out of the vehicle’s driver seat and made his way over to them. Although his accent was thick, his English was fine. “The American naval officers who are coordinating the search group are in the main conference room. I shall take you to them.”
Chloe tapped Ethan’s elbow. “I think you’d better do the talking since you know them. I’ll just stay out here.”
“Okay,” Ethan said to her before turning his attention to their liaison. “Do you know who we can talk to in order to get our ship refueled, sir?”
The lieutenant nodded. “Yes, I can direct you to our supply and logistics group. They are on the second floor of this building. Since your ship is part of the search and rescue taskforce, I’m sure we can accommodate you.”
Chloe raised her hand. “I can do that, Lieutenant.”
Banerjee nodded a second time. “Alright. You may speak with Chief Petty Officer Varinder Singh. Just go in through the main foyer and up the stairs. Room 202.”
“Thank you,” Chloe said as she followed them through the entryway before turning to go up the stairs.
“I’ll meet up with you outside,” Ethan said to her before he disappeared with the lieutenant around a bend in an adjoining corridor.
Chloe made her way up the steps, ignoring the curious looks of two Indian Navy seamen who passed her on their way down.
Being aware of her own body odor, Chloe spotted what looked to be the entrance of a washroom on the second floor and quickly ducked inside. The interior consisted of a row of lacquered brown wooden stalls, with half a dozen sinks and wall mirrors at the opposite end. High windows situated on the ceiling brought in a slight, salty breeze of rapidly warming air from the outside.
Chloe walked over to one of the sinks and turned on the faucet. There was a slight sucking sound followed by a gurgle, before a tepid stream of water came out from under the spout. The frothy liquid seemed unfiltered, and there were bits of fine sand settling in the bottom of the dusty sink.
Better than nothing, Chloe thought as she scooped up some water into her hands and began washing her face and rinsing her sweaty underarms.
At that moment, one of the closed stalls creaked to life, and the door gave way, revealing a uniformed junior naval officer standing behind her, with a trimmed beard and a Sikh turban covering the top of his head.
Chloe shrieked while turning around. “Oh my god, this is the men’s room? I’m so sorry.”
The man’s dour demeanor didn’t change. “Well, considering that this is a unisex bathroom, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Miss.”
Chloe gave a big sigh of relief as she made her way towards the exit. “Oh, thank you. I guess I’ll be going now.”
“Do you need any help, Miss?”
“Actually… yes,” she said. “I need to speak to a Chief Petty Officer Singh about some fuel for our research vessel, but I forgot the room number. My name is Chloe Gietz, and we’re here to help find the missing submarine.”
“You are speaking to him,” Singh said. “So it looks like you came into the right room after all.”
Chloe couldn’t help but giggle as she opened the door. “I guess luck is with me.”
Singh followed her out into the passageway. “I assume you are part of the American Navy’s Military Sealift Command?”
“Sort of,” Chloe said. “We have yet to sign the paperwork, but that ought to happen in a few hours’ time.”
Singh pointed to the other end of the corridor. “The Americans said they will reimburse all expenses, so we already have several oilers from Kochi City heading over here. Please, follow me.”
Chloe began walking side by side with him along the deserted corridor. “Has there been any news?”
Singh continued to stare straight ahead. “Unfortunately not. My country’s own navy is contributing what we can, but the search area is very big, and a lot of time has passed.”
“I understand,” Chloe said. “Finding the missing sub is half the battle.”
One of the doors along the corridor beside them opened, and a young man wearing a radio headset around his neck called out to the chief petty officer. After making an abrupt stop, Singh turned and both men began speaking in rapid-fire Hindi.
As Chloe stood there patiently, she heard the words Skandi and Aurora being mentioned by the younger enlisted man. The fine hairs on her forearms stood up straight and her breathing sped up. No, they can’t be talking about my brother’s ship, can they?
Singh had a perturbed look on his face as he waved his hands around. Based on his expressions and tone of voice, Chloe sensed something was amiss, and the subject matter seemed different from the missing submarine they were all looking for.
Finally, the chief petty officer said something in a low tone and hissed. The youthful radio operator merely nodded his head and began to turn around and close the door behind him. Chloe quickly stepped into the slight opening and held it open. Both men looked towards her in shocked surprise.
Singh pointed towards another door down the hall. “Please, madam. Our radio men need to get back to work. My office is that way.”
Chloe was out of breath, but she had to know. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but hear him say Skandi Aurora. That’s what he said, right?”
Singh made a dismissive gesture. “It is… nothing. Just some… rumors he intercepted in another area. Our search is for that missing submarine.”
Chloe looked deep into the other man’s dark brown eyes. “My brother is working on the Skandi Aurora, and I know that ship is also somewhere to the south of us. Is everything alright?”