Read Online D. M. Ulmer 01 - Silent Battleground by D. M. Ulmer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: D. M. Ulmer
Tags: Fiction
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fire drill. Hopefully, he won’t suspect anything.”
Relieving his chair of its load Dutch left. Though ordered in soft tones, he knew this to be the most complex and important assignment of his career. He also recognized omissions of specific instructions by Danis to be a vote of confidence. Another tough task lay ahead. It made no sense to pull half repaired submarines from the yard without the right people to finish the job. He’d personally pick key individuals to survive and spare his commodore this weighty chore.
The old mustang pulled a notepad from his pocket and began a list of yard workers.
SHOP # NEEDED SKILL
X11 3 Shipfitters
X26 5 Welders
X38 3 Outside Machinists
X51 2 Electricians
X56 2 Pipe Fitters
X67 2 Electronics
X72 4 Riggers
Dutch would ask the shipyard commander for his best men. And he’d requisition the team that had successfullyinstalled an auxiliary saltwater pump at the remote ballistic missile submarine base at Guam. Their recent experience conducting repair operations in the field would round out Dutch’s ragtag repair crew. He’d order ships in dry dock to have plates welded over nonessential underwater openings. There’d be time for onlyone welding pass, violating the rules, but better than nothing. These would hold out seawater but onlyat shallow depths. Non-propulsive ships would be towed to shallow water in the Sound, submerged to sit on the bottom till whatever might happen blows over.
A myriad of things required attention. Provide Danis with a copy of local ferry schedules so the sortie could be completed before they started running. Passengers might notice the abrupt flurry of Naval activity and become suspicious.
Commodore Danis picked up the phone and dialed after Dutch left the room. It rang only once at the other end.
“Dave Zane speaking.”
The commodore greeted his old friend, “Should’ve known you’d be in the cockpit. Damn, I’m looking forward to retirement.”
Dave Zane kept his instruments, the phone, TV and VCR remotes within easy reach of his lazy boy recliner, hence the term cockpit.
Dave replied, “Depending whether you get two or just one term as Chief of Naval Operations, I’d say you’ll be retired in eight years minimum.”
“I’d retire today if you could fix me up as commodore of the local yacht club. That’d be a lot more exciting.”
“We’ll talk about it over the weekend, old Buddy. Why don’t you ride home with Bea after work tomorrow? We’ll drive to the peninsula together in my car. Don’t show up in that damn Navy vehicle. The neighbors worry about their taxes when they see that thing in the driveway.”
“Sorry, Dave, but I gotta beg off. Navy’s gone all to hell since you left it. Us old guys are supposed to sit around and drink coffee and watch the youngsters. We’re not supposed to work, but that’s what they’re making me do. Better get you back on active duty to straighten things out.”
“You’re kidding. We can put it off a day and leave Saturday.”
“No, Dave, I’m afraid not this time. I’ll be at sea.” Danis offered no further explanation and Dave pressed for none.
“You and Bea will go ahead without me, won’t you? I don’t want to be a total wet blanket.” Danis resisted the urge to warn Dave to leave the area.
“We’ll go. Some stuff we have to take care of up there. We’ll miss you, though. Next time I won’t take no for an answer … understand?”
“Understand. I’ll come by and see you before I leave for Dago, and you can tell me about all the fun I missed. See ya, Dave.”
“See ya, Eric. Don’t get seasick out there.”
After hanging up, Danis felt a great sense of relief that his friend planned to be away from Bremerton for the near term. He
Relieving his chair of its load Dutch left. Though ordered in soft tones, he knew this to be the most complex and important assignment of his career. He also recognized omissions of specific instructions by Danis to be a vote of confidence. Another tough task lay ahead. It made no sense to pull half repaired submarines from the yard without the right people to finish the job. He’d personally pick key individuals to survive and spare his commodore this weighty chore.
The old mustang pulled a notepad from his pocket and began a list of yard workers.
SHOP # NEEDED SKILL
X11 3 Shipfitters
X26 5 Welders
X38 3 Outside Machinists
X51 2 Electricians
X56 2 Pipe Fitters
X67 2 Electronics
X72 4 Riggers
Dutch would ask the shipyard commander for his best men. And he’d requisition the team that had successfullyinstalled an auxiliary saltwater pump at the remote ballistic missile submarine base at Guam. Their recent experience conducting repair operations in the field would round out Dutch’s ragtag repair crew. He’d order ships in dry dock to have plates welded over nonessential underwater openings. There’d be time for onlyone welding pass, violating the rules, but better than nothing. These would hold out seawater but onlyat shallow depths. Non-propulsive ships would be towed to shallow water in the Sound, submerged to sit on the bottom till whatever might happen blows over.
A myriad of things required attention. Provide Danis with a copy of local ferry schedules so the sortie could be completed before they started running. Passengers might notice the abrupt flurry of Naval activity and become suspicious.
Commodore Danis picked up the phone and dialed after Dutch left the room. It rang only once at the other end.
“Dave Zane speaking.”
The commodore greeted his old friend, “Should’ve known you’d be in the cockpit. Damn, I’m looking forward to retirement.”
Dave Zane kept his instruments, the phone, TV and VCR remotes within easy reach of his lazy boy recliner, hence the term cockpit.
Dave replied, “Depending whether you get two or just one term as Chief of Naval Operations, I’d say you’ll be retired in eight years minimum.”
“I’d retire today if you could fix me up as commodore of the local yacht club. That’d be a lot more exciting.”
“We’ll talk about it over the weekend, old Buddy. Why don’t you ride home with Bea after work tomorrow? We’ll drive to the peninsula together in my car. Don’t show up in that damn Navy vehicle. The neighbors worry about their taxes when they see that thing in the driveway.”
“Sorry, Dave, but I gotta beg off. Navy’s gone all to hell since you left it. Us old guys are supposed to sit around and drink coffee and watch the youngsters. We’re not supposed to work, but that’s what they’re making me do. Better get you back on active duty to straighten things out.”
“You’re kidding. We can put it off a day and leave Saturday.”
“No, Dave, I’m afraid not this time. I’ll be at sea.” Danis offered no further explanation and Dave pressed for none.
“You and Bea will go ahead without me, won’t you? I don’t want to be a total wet blanket.” Danis resisted the urge to warn Dave to leave the area.
“We’ll go. Some stuff we have to take care of up there. We’ll miss you, though. Next time I won’t take no for an answer … understand?”
“Understand. I’ll come by and see you before I leave for Dago, and you can tell me about all the fun I missed. See ya, Dave.”
“See ya, Eric. Don’t get seasick out there.”
After hanging up, Danis felt a great sense of relief that his friend planned to be away from Bremerton for the near term. He
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