DRAGONFIRE

THEBATTLEFORTHE

FALKLANDS

ByPetervon

Bleichert

Copyright2015.Peter

vonBleichert

Registered:Libraryof

Congress;and,WritersGuild

ofAmerica

ProofreadbyJosephP.

Bogo

ExceptingCapitánde

FragataAugustoMoreno,

pilotfortheArgentineNavy

duringthe1982Guerradel

AtlánticoSurandparticipant

intheaerialattackuponHMS

Sheffield,allothercharacters

appearinginthisworkare

fictitious.Anyresemblance

torealpersons,livingor

dead,ispurelycoincidental.

Nopartofthis

publicationmaybe

reproducedortransmittedin

anyformorbyanymeans,

electronicormechanical,

including:photocopy,

recording,oranyinformation

andretrievalsystem,without

permissioninwritingfrom

thecopyright

holder/publisher,exceptin

thecaseofbriefquotations

embodiedincritical

articles/reviews.

BooksbyPetervonBleichert

Fiction

CrownJewel:TheBattlefortheFalklands

FourthCrisis:TheBattleforTaiwan

Non-Fiction

Bleichert’sWireRopeways

Blitz!StormingtheMaginotLine

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thankstomyteachers:

JonathanE.;BruceH.;Paul

M.;KarenS.;and,Panayiotis

Z.

And,aspecialthanks

to:RobertN.(UK).

DEDICATION

MichaelMuxie,III(in

memoriam).

And,tothoseloston

bothsidesofthereal

FalklandsWar:‘Sleepwell

youBonnieLads/Duerme

bienvalientesmuchachos.’

TABLEOF

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

DEDICATIONCHARACTERS

NOTES

BRIEFING

PROLOGUE:FLYINGFISH

1:NAVIS2:ABISMO

3:DUKESUP

4:SHIPWRECK5:CATANDMOUSE

6:ABRAZO

7:JOUST8:CALOR

9:VIEWHOLLOA

10:ELPARTIDOEPILOGUE:WARIAN

CHARACTERS

ARGENTINEREPUBLIC:

CaboSegundo(CorporalSecondClass)Gaston‘Raton’Bersa

TenientedeFragata(FirstLieutenant)SantiagoLedesma

CapitándeNavío(Captain)JaimeMatias

…and,DoctorWaldemarAmsel;MinistrodeDefensa(MinisterofDefense)JuanCruzGomez;&CapitándeFragata(LieutenantCommander)AugustoMoreno.

UNITEDKINGDOM:CaptainLawrence

FryattLeadingSeamanJohn

McelaneyLieutenantCommander

NigelWilliams…and,Ordinary

SeamanRodiDando;LieutenantAngusLowry;&LieutenantSeamus

McLaughlin.

NOTES

ABritishOverseas

Territory,theFalkland

Islandsareastark,wind-

rippedSouthAtlantic

archipelagosome400miles

eastofArgentina’s

Patagoniancoast,and850

milesnorthoftheAntarctic

Circle.ComprisingEast

Falkland,WestFalkland,and

778smallerislands,the

FalklandIslandsareroughly

thesizeoftheAmericanState

ofConnecticut—abouthalf

thesizeofthecountryof

Wales—andthecapitalisin

theportcityofStanleyon

EastFalkland.Falklanders

areprimarilyofBritish,

Chilean,andSt.Helenian

descent.

BRIEFING

TheArgentineRepublic

claimssovereigntyoverthe

FalklandIslands.

CalledLasIslas

MalvinasbyArgentinians,

thearchipelagoisviewedas

partoftheSouthAtlantic

DepartmentoftheProvince

ofTierradelFuego.

TheUnitedKingdom

hasneverrecognizedthis

claim.

AlthoughFalklanders

haveexpressedaclear

preferencetoremainunder

Britishrule,inhopesof

easingtensionsduringthe

1960s,Londonengagedin

talkswithArgentineforeign

missions.Thetalks,

however,failedtoreachany

meaningfulconclusion.

Intheearly1980s,a

ruthlessdictatorshipruled

Argentina.Accordingly,it

sufferedacripplingeconomic

crisis.Inanattemptto

distractandunifyitsrestive

populace,Argentinainitiated

OperaciónRosarioonApril

2,1982,andinvadedthe

Falklands.

Argentineforces

outnumberedtheBritish

garrison10-to-1.Resistance

wasrapidlysubdued,and

withinhours,Argentine

forcesoccupiedGovernment

HouseinStanley—the

Falklands’capital—andflew

theirflagoverthissymbolof

Britishhegemony.

BritishPrimeMinister

Thatcher—dubbedthe‘Iron

Lady’bytheSoviets—

immediatelydenouncedthe

invasion.Sherousedher

military,organizedand

commencedOperation

Corporate,anddispatcheda

TaskGrouptoretakethe

islands.

Afterfierceairand

navalbattles,Britishforces

landedonEastFalkland.By

mid-Juneof1982,British

marinesandsoldiersheldthe

highgroundaroundthe

capitalcity.Soonthereafter,

theroutedArgentine

occupationforces

surrendered.

Despitethisclear-cut

defeat,Argentinahas

continuedtoclaimtheSouth

Atlanticarchipelagoasher

own.In1994,the

TransitionalProvisionsofthe

ConstitutionoftheArgentine

Nationwereamended,

therebyalleging‘legitimate

andeverlastingsovereignty’

overLasIslasMalvinas,

SouthGeorgia,andthe

SandwichIslands,aswellas

thecorrespondingmaritime

andinsularareas.

Withthislegislation,

thecaptureofsaidterritories

becameapermanentand

unswayableobjectiveofthe

Argentinepeople…

PROLOGUE:

FLYINGFISH

“Whohearsthefishes

whentheycry?”—Henry

DavidThoreau

4May1982

HerMajesty’sShip

Sheffieldwastheleadhullof

theRoyalNavy’spremiere

Type42guided-missile

destroyers.Christenedby

QueenElizabethIIin1971,

Sheffieldwaslocatedsouth-

eastoftheFalklands,

patrollingtheTotalExclusion

Zone,anareawithinwhich

GreatBritainhadpromisedto

destroyanyintruding

Argentinianvessels.

Sheffieldwasaccompaniedby

HMSCoventryandGlasgow

—alsoType42s—sailingto

hernorth.Together,thethree

shipsranaradarpicketfor

theTaskGroup.Asidefrom

thesethreeships,theTask

Groupwascomposedofthe

aircraftcarriersHermesand

Invincible,thelanding

platformdocksFearlessand

Intrepid,severalother

destroyers,aswellasvarious

containerships,ferries,

freighters,frigates,liners,

logisticships,patrolvessels,

submarines,supplyships,

tankers,trawlers,andtugs.

Evenanicepatrolship—

HMSEndurance—hadbeen

thrownintothemix.The

groupwason‘defensewatch’

routineandat‘airwarning

yellow’as,twodaysprior,a

Britishnuclearattack

submarinehadsunk

Argentina’scruiser,the

GeneralBelgrano.

Retaliationwasexpected.

HermesandInvincible

hadlaunchedSeaHarrierson

combatairpatrol,andahead

ofthesteaminggroup,

GlasgowandSheffieldswept

theskieswiththeirlong-

distanceradars(Coventrywas

experiencingdifficultieswith

hers).

◊◊◊◊

At9:45thatmorning,

twoArgentineNavySuper

ÉtendardshaddepartedRio

Grande,TierradelFuego.

EachoftheFrench-built

strikeaircraftcarriedasingle

ExocetAM39anti-ship

missileattherightwinghard

point,withthelong,heavy

weaponcounter-balancedby

afueltankontheotherside.

Vectoredouttosea,theSuper

ÉtendardsmetaHercules

tankerandtopped-offtheir

fuel.Thentheyheadedfor

thelastreportedpositionof

theBritishTaskGroup.

TheArgentinesalso

includedType42sintheir

inventory,andhadusedthem

topracticemissileruns.

UsingtheBritish-made

destroyers,theirpilotshad

learnedto‘pickthelobes’of

theType42’selderlyair-

searchradar.Theywouldfly

inlowandlistenfortheir

cockpitradarwarningto

sound.Wheneveritdid,they

wouldshedmorealtitude,and

thuslybecameproficientat

sneakinginwithout

detection.Thiswashowthe

twoSuperÉtendardsgot

within40milesoftheRoyal

Navy’sTaskGroupthisday.

Glasgowgotthefirst

inklingthatsomethingwas

amisswhenshegotabrief,

fleetingradarcontact.She

immediatelyputupchaff—a

radar-deceivingcloudof

aluminumneedles—and

reportedintothegroup’s

flagship,Hermes.Notlong

thereafter,thecarrier

Invinciblegotherownradar

hitandvectoredherairborne

SeaHarriers—affectionately

called‘Shars’—to

investigate.WhentheShars

foundnothing,thecontacts

weredeclared‘spurious’by

thegroup’santi-airwarfare

commander.Meanwhile,

withSheffieldontheirnose,

thetwoArgentineSuperÉs

spedinatnearwave-top.

Sheffield’sOperations

Roomwasnestleddeepinthe

destroyer’shull.Thisis

wheretheAirWarfare

Officer—theAWO—manned

aradardisplay.Likethe

othershuddledinthedimly-

litandcoldroom,hewore

anti-flashgearcomposedofa

whitefire-resistanthoodand

elbow-lengthgloves.The

AWO’spartiallymaskedface

glowedyellowinthescreen

lightashewatchedtheline

sweeparoundthescreen.

Whentheradar’sbeamof

radiowavesstrucksomething

airborneandsolid,it

backscatteredand

boomerangedback,tobe

collectedbytheantenna

mountedhighonSheffield’s

superstructure.Onthe

screen,thelinecamearound

again.Thistime,itrevealed

threeblips.

TheAWOknewthat

twooftheblipsrepresented

friendlySeaHarriers,andthe

otheraSeaKinghelicopter

onasupplyrun.TheAWO

hadbeenondutyforseveral

hours,andhiseyesblurred

anditched.Hetookthemoff

thescreen,anddughis

fingersinforagoodscratch.

ThetwoArgentine

aircrafthadclosedtoabout

25milesfromtheBritish

warship.BothSuperÉs

climbedandturnedontheir

Agaveradars.Thesystem

energized,andfoundand

lockedontoSheffield.

“Blanco,”Lieutenant

CommanderAugusto

Moreno,thepilotofthelead

SuperÉtendardyelledashe

usedahandsignalto

communicatewithhis

wingman.Bothmenfedthe

dataintotheirExocet

missiles.

Sheffield’sAWO’s

radarlinelefttwomoreblips

onthescreen.Theywere

milesoutandinadifferent

quadrantthanthoseknownto

representfriendlyaircraft.

WhentheAWO’stiredfocus

returned,theblipshad

disappeared;thisfirstchance

forSheffieldtodetectthe

stalkingaircrafthadbeen

missedinamomentofhuman

fatigue.Unfortunatelyforthe

RoyalNavydestroyerandher

company,asecond

opportunitywasmissed,as

well.

Atthesamemoment

theArgentineshadclimbedto

getaradarfixonSheffield,

theship’scaptaincontacted

Londonbysatellite.Perched

highintheship’smastwas

locatedanemitterwarning

antennathatwouldhave

detectedtheenemy’senergy

emission.However,

Sheffield’ssatellite

communicationsystem

happenedtousethesame

frequencybandasthatofthe

SuperÉtendards’radar.

Therefore,asthedestroyer’s

captainsenthisreportshome,

theemitterwarningantenna

wasdeafened.Withtheir

Exocetslocked-onand

warmedup,theArgentinejets

continuedtochargeonthe

obliviousBritishwarship.

TheSuperÉsagainflew

belowthelobesofSheffield’s

radar.

“Fuego,”Morenosaid

ashesignaledbyhand.Both

pilotstoggledtheirfiring

switches,andasthehalf-ton

missilesdroppedintothe

slipstream,bothpilots

counteractedthejarringforce

usingailerons.

Thesolid-propellant

motorsofbothoftheanti-

shipmissilesignited,fire

torchingfromtheirtailends.

TheExocetsthensettledin12

feetabovethecalm,bluesea.

Withinseconds,theywere

movingatjustbeneaththe

speedofsound.Duetotheir

cruisealtitudeandthe

curvatureoftheEarth,

Sheffieldremainedblindedto

theirapproach.

WhentheArgentine

missileswerejustsixmiles

fromSheffield—lessthan50

secondsfromimpact—the

destroyer’sAWOspottedthe

returnsandannounced:

“Interimradarcontact.”The

OperationsDirectorstrolled

overandaskedtheAWO:

“What’veyougot,then?”

Onthescreen,whathad

previouslybeenasmudgeof

light,becametwodistinct

blips.TheExocetswerenow

30secondsawayfrom

Sheffield.

“Probabletargets,”the

AWOshouted.

TheOperations

DirectorinformedtheMissile

Directorofthecontact.

Twenty-fiveseconds…

TheMissileDirector

queriedtheship’sSeaDart

surface-to-airmissilefire

controlsystem.

Twentyseconds…

Alongwiththecaptain,

theofficers-of-the-watchand

therestofSheffield’sbridge

personnel,Sub-Lieutenant

LawrenceFryattkeptawary

eyeonthesea.Aterrible

feelingcreptoverFryattashe

scannedhisassignedquadrant

ofseawithbinoculars.He

spottedsomething,apuffof

smokeonthehorizon.Fryatt

focusedhisbinocularsthere.

Thesea’ssurfaceshimmered

withintheblack-edgedcircle

ofhisview.

Torpedo?Fryatt

wondered.Hescrutinizedthe

pictureagainandshiftedhis

viewupward.There,just

abovethediamondsof

reflectedsunlight,anairborne

whitecylinderskimmed

abovethewaves.Itwas

pointedrightathim.

“Missile;terminal,”

Fryattyelledattheverysame

momenttheAction

InformationCenter—the

‘AIC,’or‘OpRoom’—

announced‘airwarningred’

overthebridgespeaker.The

captainraisedhisown

binocularsandsaid,

“Exocets,”usingthenameas

acurse.

Fryattraisedhis

binocularsagainandfound

thesecondmissile.Heknew

thattheweaponswere

alreadyinsidethe

engagementenvelopeof

Sheffield’sSeaDarts.

Anyway,hethought,Sea

Dartsarenearlyuseless

againstsea-skimmers.

Sheffield’scaptain

initiatedaturn.Thenheused

theaddresssystemtoorder

theship’scompanytobrace

formissileimpactbefore

callingfor‘damagecontrol

state1.’Withtheship

alreadyon‘defensewatch,

secondreadiness,’all

watertightcompartmentshad

beensealed,andwithless

thanfivesecondstoimpact,

therewasnotimetogetchaff

upandproperlybloomed.

Fryattlookedaround.Most

ofthepeoplewerealreadyon

thefloorandhuddled

together.Fryattpressedthe

captain’sshouldertourge

himtogetdown,butthe

captainpushedback.So,

bothmenstoodthere,

transfixed,andwatchedasthe

Exocetsstreakedin.

OneExocet

malfunctioned.Itwobbled,

dipped,andslammedintothe

sea.ThecaptainandFryatt

lookedatoneanotherand

smiled.Theirchancesof

survivinghadjustdoubled.

Thesmilesfadedfast,

however;astheremaining

Exocetcontinuedtohomein.

TimeslowedforFryatt.He

evencountedinhishead:

Three,two,one…

Therewasablurred

whitestreak,andthen

Sheffieldlurchedhard.The

Exocethadpiercedher

amidships,justabovethe

waterline,tearingajagged

gashinherside.Themissile

penetrated‘2-Deck’atthe

Galley,killingseveralsailors

instantly.Themissile’s

momentumdroveitintothe

ForwardAuxiliaryMachinery

RoomandtheForward

EngineRoom.Theimpact’s

shockwavebuckleddoors

andcollapsedladders,and

shrapneltorethehigh-

pressurefiremainandignited

thedieseloilintheengine

roomreadytanks.The

unspentmissilepropellant

contributedthickblacktoxic

smokethatsuffocated

personnelasitmarched

throughcompartmentafter

compartment.Sheffield

burned.

Fryatthadbeen

knockedtothedeck.He

strainedtorise.Achingly,he

managedtodosoand

checkedonthecaptainand

theothersthathadbeen

stationedaroundhim.Fryatt

thenwenttothefire-fighting

system’scontrolpanel.

Waterpressure

warningsflashed.Fryatt

manipulatedswitchesashe

trieddesperatelytorestartthe

pumps.Tohisdismay,and

despitenumerousattempts,

eachsection’spumpsfailed

torestart.Thenthepanel

flickeredandwentblackas

thebridgelostpower.Fryatt

openedtheouterhatchand

thebridgewasinstantly

inundatedwithpungent

smoke.Hebegantomakehis

wayaft.

Fryatt’sfeetfeltwarm.

Helookeddownathisheavy

standard-issuebootsandsaw

theirthickrubbersoles

sizzlingonthedeck.He

lookedaround.Theship’s

greypainthadbeguntopeel

fromthesuperstructureasthe

steelwarped.There’san

infernoinside.Fryattleaned

overSheffield’sgunwale.

Heatsmackedhiminthe

face.Instinctively,he

recoiledandraisedhishands

toprotecthimself.Fryatt’s

eyesstungfromtheacrid

fumescreatedbyburningfuel

andplastics.Tears

streaming,heblinkeditoff.

Thenhetookadeepbreath

andheldit,shieldedhiseyes

withahand,andleanedover

theside.Heagainfeltthe

hightemperature.Thoughhe

couldsmellandfeelthe

singingofhiseyelashesand

brows,heopenedhiseyes,

andresistingtheurgetoclose

themandretreat,hemanaged

tosurveythedamage.

Hehadseentheholein

Sheffield’sfreeboard,and

determinedittobeaboutfour

by15feet.Itsjaggededges

glowedwhitehotandhissed

steameverytimethecoldsea

sloshedagainstit.Inthat

moment,Fryattconcludedthe

Exocethadnotdetonated.He

retreatedandexhaledhisheld

breathbeforegaspingfor

coolerair.

“Damn,”hesaid,and

consideredthat,iftheship’s

companywasabletocontrol

andextinguishthefires,

Sheffieldmightjustbesaved.

Heturned,reachedahand

out,andhesitantlytestedthe

temperatureofahatch’s

latch.Itwaswarmand

tolerable.Heclaspedhis

handaboutitandopenedthe

portal.Inside,hefoundonly

heatandthick,choking

smoke.Hepushedoninto

theblackenedpassageway.It

wasjustseveralmetersbefore

hislungsdemandedair.He

triedtotakeabreath.The

biteonhisairwaywas

harshlyacridandhot.His

throatclosedandhegrabbed

atit,tryingagaintobreathe.

Hisbodydeniedhiseffort,

andinsteaditfoldedoverand

sliddownawall.Afellow

sailorwearingarespirator

grabbedandpulledFryatt

backoutsideandintothe

openair.Fryattimmediately

coughedandsuckedingreat

breathsofair.

Whenhisgreedy

breathingslowedagain,and

hewasabletolookupand

concentrate,Fryattsawa

greatgreywallbeside

Sheffield.Itwasthefrigate

Yarmouth.Shehadcome

alongside.Herhoses

providedboundarycooling,

andhersailorsandsmall

boatsprovidedrescue.

ThoughFryattrepeatedly

coughedandcontinued

strugglingtobreathe,he

managedtoreturnasalute

thrownfromasailoron

Yarmouth’sdeck.

Fivehourslater,

Sheffieldwasabandonedto

thefire.Hersurvivingcrew

hadbeentransferred,andthe

proudwarship’ssmoking,

steaminghulkwaslefttoroll

andpitchonthecold,frothy

sea.Twohoursafterthat,

flameroaredfromeveryone

ofSheffield’sopenings,and

hersteelbentandturned

blackwithchar.Sheffield

foughtherlastbattlethere,

upontheSouthAtlantic,and

resistedtherotofflamefor

somesixdays.Then,withall

thedignityshecouldmuster,

Sheffieldsuccumbed,rolled

ontoherside,andwent

down.Anhourlater,she

restedonthebottombeing

inspectedbyfish.Nineteen

ofherdeadremainedwith

her.

FromHermesflight

deck,yetanotherof

Sheffield’sdeadwastipped

overthedeck.Hehad

perished,andwascommitted

tothesea,insureandcertain

hopeoftheResurrectionunto

eternallife.Twenty-sixmore

ofSheffield’swounded

sufferedinthecarrier’ssick

wardwithburns,shock,and

smokeinhalation.Sub-

LieutenantLawrenceFryatt

wasamongthem.

Severaldecadeslater…

1:NAVIS

“Fourhoarseblastsof

aship'swhistlestillraisethe

haironmyneckandsetmy

feettotapping.”—John

Steinbeck

TheNorwegianSea,a

vast,blackflatness,shivered

inthecold,clearnight.

Pricksofbrightlightfilled

theskyandreflectedinthe

calmwater.Thesestarsmade

ithardtotellwherethe

heavensendedandthesea

began.Theyseemedtobe

aliveandspoketoone

anotherwithstaccato

flickers.Alonewarship

madewayuponthesea,

disturbingtheblackdiamond-

sprinkledtapestry,cleaving

andpushingasidethe

reflectedstarsinawavethat

undulatedacrosstheocean’s

surface.

ThiswarshipwasHis

Majesty’sShipDragon,the

RoyalNavy’slatestguided-

missiledestroyer.Ofthe

Daring-class,otherwise

knownastheType45,

Dragonwassome500feet-

longandcrownedbya

toweringpyramidalmast

toppedbyaradardome.Like

hernamesake,Dragonhad

deadlysharpclawsandteeth.

Afloatingfortress,

Dragon’sarcherswere

missiles;hercatapults:guns;

andaMerlinlivedinacave

atherstern.Dragonworean

invisibilitycloakofsorts,

withfacetedsidesthat

scatteredenemyradarwaves

fromherdeceptivegrey

form.Everybittheagile

slipperywyrm,ordragon,

thisproudshipcouldexamine

air,sea,andspaceincrystal

screens,andwhencornered

orwheninthemood,she

couldbreatheveryhotfire.

Likemostcastlesofold,just

onemanruledthisfloating

realm.

Dragon’sbridgeserved

asCaptainLawrenceFryatt’s

throneroom.Surroundedby

loyalandobedientlieges,

Fryattexercisedwell-earned

authorityfromabarely

cushionedcoldmetalchair.

Thoughhisvoicewasoften

soft,sometimeseven

whispered,itthundered

nonetheless.Hisvoice

broughtimmediate

compliance,drivingactions

thatwerefrequentlyamatter

oflifeordeath.

LikemostintheRoyal

Navy,Fryattwasasimple

man;hebelievedincountry,

duty,monarch,andnavy.He

alsobelievedthattheType

45s,withtheirSeaViper

primaryanti-airmissile

system,stoodaloneasthe

world’spremiereanti-air

warfaresurfacevessels.The

Americanscouldkeeptheir

Aegiscruisers,Fryatt

thought;theChinesecould

paradetheirType054A

frigatesalltheywanted;and,

theRussianscouldstufftheir

Project21956destroyers.

FryattwasproudofDragon,

proudofthosehe

commanded,andhe

possessedanunwavering

commitmenttodefenseofthe

realm.CaptainFryatt

adjustedhiscollarandshifted

inhischair.

It’stoohot,Fryatt

thought.Eversincefighting

theblazeboardSheffield,ever

sinceseeingtheburnedmen,

Fryatthadhatedexcessive

heat.Eventhoughtheship’s

environmentalsystemwas

doingitsjobofkeepingthe

bridgeanditscompanysnug,

thewarm,drybreezemade

Fryattfidgety.Hestood,

drawingaconcernedlook

fromtheofficer-of-the-watch,

amanwhotriedtoanticipate

hiscaptain’severyneed.

Fryattmadehiswaytoan

exteriorhatch.Heswung

opentheheavyportal,and

utteredasinglewordto

whomevercouldhear:“Tea.”

Hesteppedouttothebridge

wing.

Fryattclangedthehatch

shut.Althoughthesteeldoor

couldwardoffbiological

agents,chemicals,and

radiation,heusedittokeep

hiscompanyatbay—tosteal

amomentinaplacethat

otherwisedidnotallowmuch

privacy.Whileheaccepted

thestrongsteamingmugof

lemon-tingedEarlGreythat

arrivedwithinmoments,

Fryattwouldtoleratenoother

disturbances.Hewenttothe

railandleaneduponit.It

proppeduphistiredbody.

Therailalsotransmittedthe

ship’sharmonictoFryatt’s

bones.

Dragon’sbowgently

roseandfellassheplowed

throughthesea,kickingupa

spraythatturnedfrostyand

sparkledinthestarlight.

Fryattdrewasharp,frigid

breaththatstunghislungs.

Heexhaleditasacloud,

watcheditgetcaughtinthe

breeze,andrecalledhis

grandfather.

Fryatt’sgrandfatherhad

sailedtheMurmanskRun

duringtheSecondWorld

War,therunthatbrought

suppliestoachokedSoviet

Union.Themanhadsailed

anoldsteammerchantover

theseverywaters,hadskirted

U-boatsandthefeared

convoyraiderTirpitz,aswell

asicebergsthatcalvedfrom

thejaggedshoresof

Greenlandandbecamecaught

upintheEasternIcelandic

current.Fryattsippedhistea

andponderedthethrobbing

starsblanketingthedark

night.

Fryatthadgrownupin

thewest-endofLondon,a

placewherethenightskyhad

forcenturiesbeenpolluted

withartificiallight,lightthat

subduedtheglowingribbon

oftheMilkyWay,dullingits

wonder.Tonight,however,

farfromtheinfluenceof

man’scityscapes,Earthand

skywerebeheldastheywere

meanttobe:avisionthat

beggedquestionsandforced

fundamentalthingstobe

asked,privatethoughtslike:

‘WhoamI?’and‘WhyamI

here?’Despitesuch

existentialconsiderations,

Fryattknewwhyhe,his

comrades,andHisMajesty’s

warshipwerehere,atthetop

oftheworld.

Russiahadreawakened;

thebearrousedbyaleader

longingforempire.This

leaderhadturnedbacktime

andprogress,backtowhen

eastandweststoodeye-to-

eyeandtoe-to-toe.Flush

withoilycash,theRussian

hadclaimedmostofthe

Arctic,and,insupportof

theseaspirations,theRussian

Federationhadbuiltnew

attacksubsandmissileboats.

Thesemachinesandtheir

menstretchedtheirlegsand

madetheGreenland-Iceland-

UKGapcomealiveagain.

Furthermore,resurrected

strategicbombers—Backfires

andBears—onceagainflew

outoftheKolaPeninsulato

buzztheFinns,Swedesand

Norwegians,andplay

chickenwiththeUnited

Kingdom’snorthernair

defenseidentificationzone.

WhiletheRoyalAir

Forcegaveitsownunique

brandofhelltosuch

unwelcomevisitors,Dragon

andhersistersalsoreminded

theRussianbombersthat,like

duringtheColdWar,they

werenotwantedinthispart

oftheneighborhood.

Intelligence,aswellasover-

the-horizonradarstationsin

Scotland,toldtheRoyalNavy

whatwasheadedtheirway.

ThiswashowFryattknewhe

couldexpectairborne

companytonight,infact

withinthehour.Inthe

meantime,however,hewas

contenttocherishthestar-lit

Arcticnight.

Fryattraisedhis

dominanthandtothesky.It

wastheleftone.Hewaved

thesquareofhispalmabout,

half-expectingthe

protuberancesofhisfingers

todisplacethestars,topush

themalongintostreaksof

lights,towashthemaround

likeglitterthatfloatedin

blackink.Despitethegrinon

hisfaceandthismomentof

suspendedreality,Fryatt

failedtoinfluencethecanvas

ofnight,andintheend,

remainedasinconsequential

ashehadexpectedtobe.

However,whenasailorburst

throughthebridgehatchand

announcedthattheship’s

ActionInformationCenter

hadanairborneradarcontact,

Fryattknewthat,atthevery

least,hecouldaffect

terrestrialevents.Hecould

influencethebehaviorofhis

fellowhumans.Hetookone

lastdrawofthesharpair.It

remindedhimhewasalive,

and,itremindedhimhe

wantedtostaythatway.

“Captainonthe

bridge,”wasannouncedas

Fryattre-enteredthewarm

enclosure.Fryattalways

lovedthesoundofthosefour

words.Justaladfrom

Hounslow,hestillfeltarush

ashighly-qualifieduniformed

peopleacknowledgedhis

presence,straightenedtheir

stance,andraisedtheirchins.

Histhoughtsturnedtothatof

hischarge—hisship.

Thevibrationof

Dragon’sbridgedeckspoke

tohim.Itsaidthattheship

wasslicingthroughthewater

atsome25knots.Deepin

thehull,Dragon’stwingas

turbinesanddieselgenerators

thumpedaway.Fryattfelt

themprovidepowertothe

electricmotors,whichinturn

sent27,000horsepowertothe

shafts.Twopropellers

translatedthispowertothe

water,cuttingit,grabbingit,

andpushingitaway.Going

tohischair,Fryattranhis

handsoverthebridgecontrol

panel.Hedraggedeach

fingeracrossthehardknobs

andsoftrubber-covered

buttons.Ashipislikea

familiarlover,hepondered.

Ashertremblewasfelt,one

adjustedtouchtoachieve

harmoniousvibration,totake

herintherightdirection,to

bringherwhereshewanted,

whereshelonged,togo.

Fryattsatdowninhischair.

It,too,vibrated.Hesmiledas

Dragonhummedhappily

along.

Lieutenant-Commander

NigelWilliams—Dragon’s

second-in-commandandone

of190soulsaboard—peered

ataterminal.Bathedinits

greenglow,Williams’eyes

squinted,hisjawset.Then

heturnedtothecaptain.

“Sir,theshipisat‘air

warningyellow,’”tellingthe

captainthathismenand

womenwerereadyfor

trouble.

“Lovelynight,”the

captainresponded,

acknowledgingthe

informationwhile

maintaininghisfaçadeof

unflappability.

“Itis.”

Abellrang.Williams

spunaroundagaintocheck

anotherscreen.

“Flash.OpRoom

reportsairbornecontacts,”

Williamsannounced.

“Right,”thecaptain

saidwithaglancetothe

clock.“OurRussianfriends

arerightontime.Bringthe

shipto‘airwarningred.’

Maintainspeedandcourse.”

Williamsacknowledged

andbroughttheshiptoaction

stations.

Dragon’sdimlylitOp

Roomwascold.Despitethe

heaters,theicyNorwegian

Seareachedthroughthehull

andchilledthebonesofthe

sailorsmanningrowsof

computerterminalsandradar

screens.Oneofthesesailors

energizedtheSAMPSON3-

Dmultifunctionphased-array

radarperchedhighatop

Dragon’sforwardmast.It

firedbeamsthroughthe

atmosphereandfoundtwo

low-altitudetargets,

populatingtheOpRoom’s

screenswithblipsand

numbers.

“Flag,AWO,probable

targets.Twotracksinbound

attwo-seven-fivedegrees.

Altitude:3,000feet.Speed:

Machzero-point-nine.”The

numbersbesidetheradar

blipschanged.“Trackshave

accelerated.NowatMach

one-point-one.They’vegone

supersonic.Flightprofile

suggestsRussianBackfire

bombers.”

TheTu-22MBackfire

wasaswing-wing,long-range

strategicandmaritimestrike

bomber.Itstwogiant

KuznetsovNK-25turbofans

pushedthebigbomberto

Mach1.88.Whennoton

nuclearpatrol,Backfires

usuallyleftbasewithaload

oflong-rangeanti-ship

missiles;likelytheolder,

thougheffective,AS-4

Kitchens;orworsefor

Dragon,newerSS-N-22

Sunburns.

“Radarwarning,”a

sailoryelledout.The

Backfireshadenergizedtheir

DownBeatmissiletargeting

radarandpaintedDragon

withenergy.Though

Dragon’sslopedsides,

facetedmastandradar-

absorbentmaterialinhibited

theBackfire’sabilitytolock

on,theclosertheairplanes

got,thehighertheirchanceof

asuccessfulmissilelaunch.

TheRussianbombersdrove

inhardandfast.

“Jamtheirsignal,”

CaptainFryattordered.

ThoughheknewtheRussians

wereunlikelytofire,he

wouldplaythegamebythe

rulesanywayandtrytosend

themhomewithbruised

egos.Fromthetopof

Dragon’smainmast,the

integratedinterceptand

jammersuite’santennabegan

totransmitatthesame

wavelengthastheBackfires’

radar.Ifallwentas

advertised,anelectronicfog

hadspreadacrossthe

Backfire’scockpitscreen,

temporarilyconcealing

Dragon’smovements.Fryatt

orderedahardturntoport.

Theship’scompanybraced

againsttheleanofthedeck.

“Shootthemdown,”Fryatt

toldWilliamswithacheeky

grin.

Williamssmiledback.

Astheyhaddiscussed

previously,Dragonwould

usetheintruderstoconduct

anexercise.Williamspicked

uptheVUU—theship’s

VoiceUserUnit—andtold

theAICtorunanAster

missiledrill.Theship’s

phased-arrayradarfireda

targetingbeamintotheface

ofthetwoBackfires.A

Klaxonsoundedaboard

Dragon.Itwarnedtheship’s

companytostayawayfrom

theSylverA-50vertical

launchsystem,anarrayof48

missilecellssunkintothe

ship’sforwarddeck.Inside

eachcellhidadart-shaped

Astersurface-to-airmissile.

TheAsterseriescould

engageandtakedown

aircraft,cruisemissilesand

ballisticmissiles.Rightnow,

theRussian’scockpitwarning

panelsmustbelituplikea

Christmastree,Fryatt

thought.Theyknowthatthe

tableshavebeenturned,that

theyhadbeendetected,were

beingtargeted,andshouldI

sodesire,supersonicmissiles

wouldsoonbeonthewayto

ripintotheirfuselageand

wings.Fryattstood,wentto

thewindscreen,andpeered

outatDragon’sforward

deck.

Hadthecaptain

authorizedreleaseof

weapons,twoAsterswould

haveblastedopentheir

frangiblecellcovers,erupted

fromthedeckinafountainof

fire,andracedofftomeetthe

Backfires.OpRoom

announcedtheradarcontacts

hadclimbed,slowed,and

turnedaround.

“Well,thatwasfun,”

Fryattsaidtothebridge

crew.Theyallchuckledand

nodded.“Bringusbackto

patrolcourseandreduce

speedto18knots.Stand

downfromairwarningred

andreverttoyellow.”

Severalminuteslater

CaptainFryattwasinhis

cabinreadingandeatinga

sandwich.Heheardaknock

atthedoor.

“Come,”Fryattsaid.

Thewood-paneleddoorslid

open.ItwasLieutenant-

CommanderWilliams,

carryingaprint-out.He

askedforgivenessforthe

disturbance,handedhis

Captainthepaper,and

retreatedagaintothe

passageway.Fryattrubbed

hiseyes,unfoldedthe

decryptedmessage,and

begantoread:

PROTECTIVELYMARKED

INFORMATION

ENCRYPTIONKEY:

ATD3GW

FR:NAVYCOMMAND

HEADQUARTERS

TO:HMSDRAGON

REPUBLICOF

ARGENTINA(ROA)HAS

INVADED/HOLDSSOUTH

ATLANTICOVERSEAS

TERRITORYOF

FALKLANDISLANDS.

STATEOFWAREXISTS

WITHROA.

ORDERS:

RENDEVOUSWITHHMS

IRONDUKEAT8S14W

PROCEEDINUNISONAT

BESTSPEEDTO51S54W

ANDRENDEVOUSWITH

HMSAMBUSH

RULESOFENGAGEMENT

ULTRA—ENGAGEAND

DESTROYALLENEMY

CONTACTS.PROVIDE

THEATRE–WIDEANTI-

AIRWARFARE

UMBRELLAFOR

FRIENDLYFORCES

ENDTRANSMISSION

Fryattremembered

havingreadthattheCrown

Princehadbeenheadedtothe

Falklandsforatour.He

thoughtofhisoldship,

Sheffield,andremembered

theagonizedgroansofthe

badlyburnedmanthathad

lainbesidehiminHermes’

sickward.Hethoughtabout

theAM39Exocet.

Duringthe1982

FalklandsWar,otherthan

sinkingSheffield,Exocethad

damagedthemerchantship

AtlanticConveyor,andsetthe

destroyerGlamorganablaze.

FryattknewthatArgentina

nowhadover200Exocetsin

inventory,includingthelatest

MM40Block3version.

WhileheknewthatDragon

wasfarbetterequippedto

handlethismenacethan

Sheffieldhadbeen,healso

knewthattheseweapons

wouldbetheirgreatest

nightmare.Whathadnot

crossedhismind,however,

wasthefactofArgentina’s

newsubmarines.

2:ABISMO

“Theysaytheseais

cold,buttheseacontainsthe

hottestbloodofall…”—D.H.

Lawrence

Therewerestrange

snaps,clicks,andhaunting

songs.Thetrioofsoundwas

layeredoverabasssectionof

low-frequencygroans.This

orchestraoflifebelongedto

theAtlanticOcean,and,from

themurkbeneaththewaves,

anothersoundgrewlouder,

rhythmicandunnatural.A

shadowapproached.Itwas

blackerthantheblackness.

Argentinesubmarine

ARASanLuisIIwasa

Project877EKMPaltus

diesel-electricattack

submarine,betterknownby

theNATOdesignationof

Kilo.PaltusmeantHalibut,

and,likethelargebottom-

dwellingflatfish,SanLuisII

couldblendin,conceal

herself,andlayinwaitto

snapupunwaryprey.Built

inNizhniyNovgorod,Russia,

likemostthingsmadethere,

thesubmarinehadbeensold

likeadruginadarkalley.

Coldcashhadsealedthe

deal.Yes,tosomeon

Argentina’sCabinetof

Ministers,asubmarinewas

justasteelholeinthewater

thatdidnotfeedpeople,plow

fields,sowseeds,norprovide

sheltertothepoor.Butto

others,SanLuisII

representedameanstoan

end,andexisted,therefore,as

abeautifulthing.

SanLuisII—called,

simply,NumeroDos

(NumberTwo)byhercrew—

featuredahemisphericbow

thathousedsonarandsixbig

weapontubesformines,

missiles,andtorpedoes.She

borediveplanesjustforward

ofalargesailemblazoned

withthebigwhitepennant

number‘S-44.’Antennae,

twoperiscopesandasnorkel

throughwhichthediesels

breathed,juttedfromthe

sail’stop.Thesubmarine’s

fatandstubby,stretched

teardrop-shaped,hullended

withalowerstabilizer

fin/rudderandasinglebig

six-bladedpropeller.Astoa

blindman,soundwasSan

LuisII’seyes.

Shetowedbehindhera

microphone-coveredwire

and,mountedhull-side,was

theRubikonpassivesonar

array.These‘eyes’collected

soundsfromthewater,and

allowedSanLuisIItoseein

thedark.Herspeed

increased,andthenshereeled

inhertowedarray.Within

thepressurehull,beyondthe

reachofthegreatcrushof

ocean,iswhereSanLuisII’s

humanoperatorsexisted.

Theydweltinatangled

thicketofpipesandvalves

thatlinedaclaustrophobes’

nightmareofartificialcaves,

grottoes,hatches,andtubular

tunnels.Thesonarstation

occupiedasmallspacejust

offthemainControlRoom.

Thisiswheresounds

werefilteredandanalyzedby

computersandtheir

sophisticatedsoftware.The

computersthenpresentedthe

soundstotechnicians.A

glowingscreen,oneofmany,

displayedgraphicalbarsthat

cascadedlikeawaterfall.

Eachbarrepresentedbearing,

frequency,andtherangeof

sonarcontacts.Thesonar

technicianpointedtoone

suchbarandaskedwhathe

waslisteningto:“¿Quees

eso?”

“Whalesscrewing,”the

seniorsonartechnician

answered.Theaccent

revealedayouthspentinthe

mountainousnorth-western

Argentinianprovinceof

Catamarca.

“Andthatbackground

noise?”thesubordinate

added.

“That,myfriend,is

fromtectonicplates;theMid-

AtlanticRidge.Thecrackle

youhear,justlikeyour

breakfastcereal?”

“Yes.”

“Thatislavaflash-

coolinginseawater.”

Thetechnodded

understanding,buthis

slackenedjawrevealed

lingeringconfusioncoupled

withfascination.

Theseniorsonar

technicianpressedhis

headphonestightertohisears

andstated:“Wearenever

goingtohearanythingatthis

speed.”SanLuisII’sdiesel

generatorscontinued

throbbingaway,maskingthe

subtlesoundsthatcould

representanothersubmarine.

SanLuisIIwasona

north-easterlyspeedcourse,

herdepthnowtenmeters

beneaththesurfaceofthe

ocean,thatundulating

membranebetweenairand

water.Thesub’sdiesels

breathedthroughasnorkel

thatrippedthewaterlikea

shark’sfin,suckingvital

oxygenthatallEarth-bound

creaturesneed,eventhose

madeofmetal.Theinvasion

oftheFalklands—Operación

Maza—wasunderway,and

SanLuisIIwoulddoher

part.Shearrivedonstation

just40minutesbehind

schedule.

CaptainJaimeMatias,

SanLuisII’scommander,sat

atthesmallfold-downdesk

shoehornedintoacornerof

hisquarters.Unliketherest

oftheboat’slime-green

paintedmetalwalls,thistiny

roomwaswood-paneledand

offeredaprivatebed.San

LuisII’sothercrewmenhad

tosharebunks,withoneman

wakingtogoonduty,andthe

otherjumpinginashecame

offit.CaptainMatias’bed

wasnotquiteaslongashe

wastall,itsmattresswas

cracker-thin,anditwas

tuckedagainsttheslopeof

thehull.Althoughitfeltlike

crawlingintoacoffin,itwas

neverthelesscoolandclean.

Evenbetter,itwasallhis.

Matiaslookedtothe

threesmall,framedportraits

hangingonthecabinwall.

Theyhadbeenaffixedthere

intheyard,forcingthe

commandertobearthe

unblinkinggazesofPresident

Alonso,AdmiralCorrea,and

MinisterofDefenseGomez.

Matiassighed,stood,and

hungatoweloverthe

portraits.Hesatagainand

pulledacozyoffasmallpot

thathadbeendeliveredbythe

cookandpouredhimselfa

mugofyerbamaté—abitter,

earthygreentea.Thenhe

pickedupthesmallpictureof

hiswifeandsonfromhis

desk.

Matiassippedthetea

andlookedcloselyathis

boy.He,too,worethe

uniformoftheArgentine

Navy,andhadhelived,he

wouldbeanofficerbynow.

Therewasaknockatthe

door.

“Come.”

ItwasFirstLieutenant

SantiagoLedesma,SanLuis

II’sexecutiveofficer.

“Pardonthe

interruption,sir,”Ledesma

saidashepeekedin.

“Enter,Santiago,”the

captaininvited.“Sit.”

Ledesmasqueezedin,saton

thebed,andacceptedamug

whichMatiasfilledwithtea.

“Thankyou,sir.”

Ledesmablewatthe

steamingbrewandtooka

sip.“Sir,weareat13south

17west,theedgeofour

patrolsector.”

“Verywell,”Matias

said.SanLuisII’sendurance

hadbeenpushedasshe

steamedsome3,000miles

frombaseatMardelPlata,

andnowitwastimefor

Matiastotaketheconn.With

limitedfreshwateraboard

andtheextendeddurationof

SanLuisII’smission,the

boat’sshowerhadbeen

padlockedshut,andthe

combinedodorofsweatand

dieseloilrecirculatedthrough

theventilators.Feelingripe,

Matiaschangedhis

disposableshirtandsplashed

wateronhisfacefromthe

soupbowl-sizedcabinbasin.

Hepulledthetoweldownto

dryhimself,andthen

replaceditoverthefacesof

hisleaders.Ledesma

chuckled.

“Thatisalltheyare

goodfor,Santiago:Atowel

hook,”Matiasdeclared,and

studiedhisexecutive’sface.

“Doesthisbotheryou?”

“Thisisyourcabin.

Andwearefriends.”

“Thenyoucantellme

howyoureallyfeel.”

“Verywell.Sometimes

Iamafraidofyou.

SometimesIdonot

understandyou.And

sometimes,Iamunsureifwe

reallyarefriends.”

“Oh,isthatall?”Matias

chuckled,butheappreciated

theeasyforthrightnessof

Ledesma.Thiswasoneof

thereasonshehad

recommendedthemanas

second-in-command.

Ledesmasippedathisteaand

peeredatthecaptainthrough

thewispsofsteamrising

fromthemug.

“Wearefriends,

Santiago.And,becauseof

this,Iwilltellyousomething:

Thiswarisamistake.”

ThoughLedesma

harboredsuchforbidden

thoughtsaswell,hewasnot

preparedtodiscussthem,so

hechangedthesubject.

“Thatisyourson?”he

asked.

“Once,Iwenttosea

withafreshheart.Thatwas

longago,”Matiasadded,

studyingLedesma.Then

Matiastookthenewpathof

conversationLedesmahad

initiated:“Yes,thatismy

son.Itaughthimtobea

goodwarrior:country,duty,

asknoquestions.Nowhe’s

atthebottomofthesea.”

Ledesmahadheardthe

story.WhenArgentinahad

hastilyannouncedanuclear

submarineprogramand

cobbledtogetheraprototype

basedonaGermanTR-1700

hull,youngsubmarinershad

paidtheprice.Theprogram

wasabandonedwhenthe

contaminatedboatandthe

radiation-burnedbodies

trappedwithinhadbeen

committedtothedeep.

“Youngandwith

faith...Thatisthewayfora

warriortodie,Santiago.I

havelivedtoolong.”Matias

couldseehehadsaidtoo

much.“Don’tworry,my

friend.Iamtoowelltrained

forsuchthoughtstointerfere

withmydutytoyou,our

crew,andthiswonderful

boat.”Matiastouchedacold

steelpipeoverhishead.”

Ledesmanodded,

forcedasmile,andstood.

“Thankyouforthetea,”he

said.“Ishallreturntomy

postnow.”

“Iamrightbehind

you,”Matiassaidwitha

smile.HewatchedLedesma

leavetheconfinesofthe

cabin,andasthedoorshut,

hisforcedsmilequickly

faded.

◊◊◊◊

CaptainMatiasducked

intothesubmarine’scramped

ControlRoom.Liketherest

ofthesub,theControlRoom

wasatangleofanalogdials,

computers,electricalpanels,

levers,pipes,valves,andwire

conduitcoveredbytoomany

layersofpaint.Redlight

illuminatedtheroom,because

exceptforclocks,interior

lightingwastheonly

indicationofthetimeofday.

Redlightingmeantitwas

nighttimetopside.Despite

thedimness,Matiasknewthe

locationofeveryhead-

knockinglowpipeand

maneuveredaccordingly.He

passeddivecontrolwithits

bankofvalvesandglowing

controlpanels.

“Goodevening,men,”

Matiassaidtotheshadows

hunchedallalongthe

compartment’swall.He

quicklysurveyedvarious

analoganddigitalinstruments

arrayedaroundtheControl

Room.“Batteries?”

“Areat100percent,

sir,”Ledesmareported.They

hadbeenondieselpowerfor

sometime,chargingthe

submarine’stwobanksof

120-celllead-acidbatteries.

“Excellent,”Matias

said.“Shutdownthe

generators,stowthesnorkel,

andengagetheelectric

motor.”

“Si,señor,”Ledesma

responded,andthen

repeatedtheordertothe

chief-of-the-boat.The

slightlyoverweightchief

madeitallhappen.The

racketthathadfilled

theirearsfordayswent

quiet,replacedbythe

soundofwaterinpipes,

theoccasionalcoughor

sniffle,themanipulation

ofswitches,andthe

gentlehumofelectric

propulsion.AsMatias

watchedhiscrewatwork,

hehopedanaircraft,

satellite,orsurface

vesselhadnotspotted

thewakeofSanLuisII’s

snorkel.Herationalized

thattheroughsea-state

topsidehadlikely

obscuredthesnorkel’s

telltalesignature.He

foundcomfortinthefact

that,onbatteriesagain,

SanLuisIIwasnearly

silentandinvisible.

“Makeyourdepth125

meters,”Matiasannounced.

Ledesma,andthenthechief-

of-the-boat,repeatedthe

order.Valveswereopened,

panelindicatorschanged

colors,andtherewasthe

soundofrushingwater.The

ControlRoomdeckpitched

forwardasthesubmarine

anglednosedown,piercing

thedeep,darkdepths.

Thehullgroanedand

poppedasitshigh-tensile

steeladjustedtoincreased

pressure.Thegreener

submarinerslookedabout

nervouslyasthishappened,

whileMatiasandtheControl

Room’sotherexperienced

crewpaidthesoundsno

mind.Adrawnoutcreak

madeonemanwriggle.

MatiassmiledatLedesma

whoturnedawaytochecka

display.Aloudbang

announcedthehull’s

adjustmenttothesqueezeof

theAtlantic.

“Youknow...”Matias

saidtoLedesma,thoughhe

wasreallyaddressingall

thosepresent.“Theseboats

arebetterthantheoldS-boats

weusedtoridetosea.”

Matiasspokeofthedated

Type209’s,thediesel

submarinesonwhichhehad

cuthisteeth.“Thoseboats,

likethefirstSanLuis,madea

racketlikethewholeocean

wasrushingin.Theseare

better.”Thoughheknew

Russianwelderswereknown

tocutcorners,andthat

qualitycontrolonexported

hullswasscantatbest,he

suppressedhisownlingering

doubtsaboutthemachinethat

had,sofar,keptthemalive.

Matiasputonabraveface

androckedonhisheels.

“Onehundredtwenty-

fivemeters,sir,”Ledesma

reported.

“Planestozero

degrees.Levelusoff.”

Inasmallalcoveoffthe

ControlRoom,aband

appearedonamonitor’s

sonarwaterfall.

“Contact,”thesonar

technicianannounced.

“Distant.Onthesurface.It’s

closing.”

“Classify,”Matias

orderedinresponse.

“Range:fourmiles.

Bearing:one-nine-zero

degrees.Speed:20knots.I

heartwopropellers.High

speedshafts.Nota

merchantman.Computeris

workingon--”Theclatterof

aprinterinterruptedasit

begantospitoutareport.

Thesonarsupervisorripped

offthepaperitproducedand

readitaloud:

“Type23frigate.

UnitedKingdom.Duke-

class.”

“Good.Ourfirstcatch

oftheday,”Matiassaidwith

agreedysmile.Reassuredby

hiscaptain’slustforthehunt,

Ledesmagrinnedback.Then

heopenedabinderandbegan

toread:

“Type23.Thirty-six

hundredtons.Atopspeedof

28knots.ThalesType

2050NEbow-mountedsonar

operatinginthe4.5-7.5

kilohertzrange,andaDowty

Type2087verylow

frequencytowedarray.”

“Anti-submarine

armaments?”

“Stingraytorpedoesand

aMerlinhelicopter.

Dependingonherhull

number,shecouldbe

carryingtheSSTDtorpedo

countermeasuressystem.”

Ledesmascannedtherestof

thebinder’spage.“Thetype

isdecommissioning;being

replacedwithanewclass,the

GlobalCombatShip.”

Matiaslookedtothe

weaponsstatusboard.San

LuisIIhadwire-guided

torpedoesinthetwoouter

tubes,andwake-followers—

53-65KEs—intheotherfour.

“Whatdoyouthink,

Santiago?”Matiasasked

Ledesmainanearwhisper.

“TheBritishwould

neverexpectustobethisfar

north.”

Matiasnodded

agreement.WhenAdmiral

Correahadassembledhistop

navalofficerstoreviewplans,

itwasMatiaswhohadargued

againstdeployingArgentina’s

bestsubmarinesinthewaters

surroundingLasIslas

Malvinas.Instead,he

pressed,theyshouldbeused

totakethefighttotheBritish,

andnotwaitforthemtocome

tothefight.Furthermore,he

argued,thehighly-capable

anddeeply-fearedBritish

nuclearsubmarineswould

likelydeploytoandroamthe

warzone,makingitthelast

placewheretheArgentine

Navyshouldconcentratetheir

valuableboats.

“Thatfrigateisrunning

toofasttohavehertowed

arrayinthewater.Iwould

saysheissprintingsouth,and

hercaptainisnotexpecting

anyinterferencejustyet,”

Ledesmaadded.Matias

smiled.

“Yes,Santiago.I

concur.Creepusabeamof

her.Andbringustobattle

stations.”

3:DUKESUP

“Theartofwaris

simpleenough:Findout

wheretheenemyis;Getat

himassoonasyoucan;

Strikeathimashardasyou

canandasoftenasyoucan,

andkeepmovingon.”—

UlyssesS.Grant

Thestormpushedthe

seaintotallwind-whipped

peaks,cliffsofwaterthat

droppedoffsharplyintodeep

troughs.Thewaterwasdark,

adeeppurple,andraftsof

frothroseandfellwiththe

sloshingsurface.Atorrentof

rainpeltedHMSIronDukeas

herlong,thin,greyhullrose

andslammedbackdown,her

sterncorkscrewingand

exposingherredunderbelly

andthetipsofhershiny

propellers.Asthewaterpiled

upandfoldedover,the

frigate’sbridgecrewstabbed

thewarship’sbowthrough

thewaves’whitecrownsat

theproperangle,thereby

allowingmaintenanceofa

decentspeed.

“Fivedegrees

starboard,”theofficer-of-the-

watchyelledabovethe

screamingwindandsplashing

water.IronDuketurnedto

therightabitmore,rose

steeply,rolledsome,andthen

slammedbackdownina

surgeofwaterandseaspray,

momentarilysubmergingthe

bridge.Thewindshield’s

clearviewscreens—small

rounddiscsthatspunto

rapidlyshedwater—threw

thewaterawayastheship’s

bowcamebackupandthe

coldseawaterrushedawayin

amassofgreenfoam.The

bow,supplementedbythe

buoyancyofthebulbousstem

thatcontainedthesonar,

climbedagainandscaledthe

nextoceanichill.Though

IronDuke’sArtisan3Dradar

sweptthearea,thescreensin

theOperationsRoomwereso

fullofclutterfromwave

creststhattheradaroperator

couldnotdiscerntheblack

pipepeekingfromthedepths.

SanLuisII’speriscope

piercedthesurface.Itslens

surveyedtheareabeforeit

disappearedagain,swallowed

bytherhythmicriseandfall

ofwaves.Twentyfeetbelow

thisprotuberance,theblack

shadowoftheArgentine

submarinehoveredsteadily

belowthesquall-battered

surface.Intheredglowof

SanLuisII’sControlRoom’s

nighttimelighting,Captain

Matiaslookedthroughthe

periscope’smonocular

eyepiece.

Matiasspottedthe

greenglowofIronDuke’s

bankofbridgewindowsand

thepowerfulflashlightofa

deckhandscurryingalongthe

rail,checkingforstorm

damage.Matiaswaitedfor

thenextwavetopass.

Bubblesclearedfromthe

periscopelensandheturned

andfixedtheapparatuson

theselights.Hecentered

theminthereticle,increased

magnification,andthenswept

hisviewtowardtheship’s

prow.

“Iseethepennant

number:Foxtrottwo-three-

four,”Matiasread.

Ledesmaflippedpages

inhisbinder,repeated:

“F234,”andthendeclared:

“IronDuke.Thatisthe

frigatethatdepartedLasIslas

Malvinasrightbefore

operationscommenced.They

musthaveturnedherright

around.”

Matiasleanedintothe

periscopeagainandsquinted

intoitseyepiece.“Update:

targetnowattwo-six-three

degrees.Speed,11knots.

Bearing,one-seven-zero.

Readytubestwoandfive.

Warmuptheweapons.”

Ledesmapassedthe

ordertothechief-of-the-

boat.Thechiefwenttothe

weaponstechnician,ordered

thefirecontrolsystemtobe

updated,andsentordersto

thetorpedoroom.

Intheboat’sforward-

mostcompartments,two

sweatingmenduckedunder

racksfullofreloadtorpedoes.

Theyspunvalvesand

checkedindicators.One

submarinerthenclickeda

switchtotalktotheControl

Center.Heinformedthe

chiefthatpowerwasflowing

tothetwotelephonepole-

sizedweaponsnestledinthe

tubes.Thechief,inturn,

informedtheexecutive

officer,whopassed

confirmationtothecaptain.

“Powerisflowingto

tubestwoandfive.Fire

controlupdatesarebeing

transferred,”Ledesma

reported.

“Floodtubestwoand

five,”Matiasordered.

Inthetorpedoroom,a

leverwaslowered,andthe

respectivetubeswerepumped

fullofseawater,airwas

vented,andpressure

equalizedwiththatoutside

thesubmarine.

“Openouterdoors.”

Twomuzzledoors

openedonSanLuisII’s

roundedbow.

Standingbehindthe

ControlRoom’sweapon

station,Ledesmaconfirmed

thedoorswereopen.

Matiassighed,breaking

theanticipatorysilenceofthe

compartment.Thenhe

ordered:“Fire.”

Theweaponstechnician

pushedabuttononhispanel.

Inthetorpedotubes,a

valveslidopenandthewater

ramoperated.Thisplugof

high-pressurewaterpushed

bothtorpedoesfromtheir

tubes.Powercablessevered,

andwithsafetiesnow

disengaged,bothtorpedoes

activatedtheironboard

kerosene-oxygenturbines.

Batteriesthatpoweredthe

torpedoes’guidancesystems

andwarheadfusescameon.

BothofSanLuisII’s

weaponsbegantheirrun.

Followingtheirprogrammed

course,theheavytorpedoes

turnedtowardIronDuke’s

stern.

Thetorpedoroom

techniciansimmediatelywent

aboutclosingthemuzzle

doorsanddrainingthetubes

ofwater.Whenemptyand

equalizedwiththe

submarine’sinterior,the

breecheswerereopenedand

thereloadingprocedure

began.

“Takeusdownto500,

putusonaparallelcourse

withthetarget,anddropback

4,000meters,”Matias

ordered.

Whenonelectric

motors,thesubmarinewas

incapableofkeepingpace

withIronDuke’scurrent

speed,andrunningthediesels

wascertaintoexposeSan

LuisIItocounter-attack.

MatiastoldLedesmathat,

shouldthefirstvolleyof

torpedoesfailtohit,hewould

thenfireawire-guided

weaponanduseitshigh

speedtoclosewithandstrike

theBritishfrigate.

“Verywell,sir,”

Ledesmasaidashelookedto

alightontheweapons

console.“Torpedoroom

reportstubestwoandfive

reloaded.”Matiaschecked

hiswatch.

“Excellent,”Matias

said,impressed.Thecaptain

hadsweatedthecrewin

countlessdrills.Althoughhe

heardwhispersand

grumblingeachtime,hehad

remindedhissubmariners:

‘Bettertosweatinpeacetime

thanbleedinwartime.’

Thousandsofyardsaway,

SanLuisII’storpedoesbegan

tosnakebackandforth

withintheveeofIronDuke’s

wake.

TheRoyalNavyfrigate

slowedandchangedcourseto

takealargewave.Asshe

rodeupandoverthe

building-tallupsurge,her

sterncameup.Onetorpedo

losttrackofthefrigate’s

wakeandwentwide.

However,asthesternagain

displacedwater,thesecond

weapondetecteditssteeland

turnedtowardit.Thetorpedo

struckthebottomofthe

rollingshipanddetonatedits

678-poundwarheadbeneath

IronDuke’smainengine

room.

Theshipshookfrom

stemtosternasitwaslifted

bytheblastanddropped

againintothebubblejet

createdbytheexplosion.

Thekeelsnappedand

superhotgasespuncheda

holethroughthehull,

crackingandcurlingitssteel.

Afireballrosethroughthe

ship,ventingthroughthe

ship’sstackandrippingthe

deckingsurroundingit.The

shockwavefromtheblastwas

amplifiedunderwater.

Amilebehindand500

feetbelowIronDuke,San

LuisIIfelttherumble.A

cheerwentup,butitwas

quicklystifledbytheofficers

andthemoredisciplined.

Matiasclosedhiseyesfora

moment,knowingthataboard

IronDuke,sailorswere

confrontingahelloftwisted

metal,smashedmachinery,

flame,andwater.

OnIronDuke’sbridge,

theshoutsofmenandthe

noiseofequipmentbeing

draggedfromrepairlockers

andhoserackscouldbeheard

innearbyareas.Temperature

readingsfromthegas

turbinesshotup.

“Fireinthemain

engineroom,”someone

shouted.

TheHalonflame-

suppressionsystemwas

startedjustastheship’s

electricalpowerbeganto

brownout.Generatorsbegan

toshutdownfromdamage,

andthesoleremainingone

couldnothandlethedemand.

Itwouldsoonshutdownas

well.IronDuke’scaptain

believedhehadstrucka

mine.Certainthe

Argentinianswereincapable

ofoperatingthisfarnorth,he

disagreedwithanofficer’s

contentionthattheyhadbeen

stalkedandattackedbya

submarine.Despitethis

contraryconclusion,the

captainorderedthattheactive

sonarbepoweredup.

“Negativeavailability,

sir,”hissecond-in-command

informedhim.Therewasno

powerforasonarpulse,let

aloneweapons.

IronDukestoppedand

bobbed.Thewarshiprolled

inthestormandshudderedas

shetookwaveafterwaveto

herbroadside.Thedamaged

shipletoutanunearthly

metallicgroan.Thesailors

didalltheycouldtosaveher.

Amachinistmanaged

torestarttheundamaged

generatorandselectivelygot

powerflowingtothefire-

fightingpumpsandinterior

lighting.Sailorspounded

woodenwedgesinto

bulkheadleakswithmallets.

Clothing,mattresses,and

pillowswerealsobrought

intoplaytoslowdownthe

leaks.Portableeductor

pumpsbegantosuckwater

fromthenow-floodedmain

engineandauxiliarymachine

rooms.Thepumps

dispatchedwateroverboard

fromventsandhosessnaking

fromotherhullopenings.

Butdespitevaliantefforts,

IronDukebegantoridelower

andlower.Afterleaning

overboardtocheckthe

waterline,anofficerrandown

adarkenedpassageway.

Hepassedaburnedand

bloodiedman,nakedsavefor

theblanketdrapedoverhis

shiveringshoulders.The

officerstoppedand,gasping,

pointedthewaytotriagethat

hadbeensetupinthemess.

Hethencontinuedontothe

bridge,wherehewenttothe

officer-of-the-watchand

reported:“Sir,wearesinking

ourselves.”

Thereasonwas

firefightershadsprayedtons

ofwaterintotheship’sskin,

andthepumpswerebeing

overwhelmedbythe

accumulatingwater.This

spurredacounter-intuitive

orderthatcrackledoverthe

ship’spublicannouncement

system:“Ceaseall

firefightingefforts.”The

captainorderedadamage

report.

Insideandout,sailors

wentaboutinspections.On

theupperdeck,therain,even

thoughlighternow,sizzled

onhotmetal.Firesflashed,

sparkedbythehot

superstructure,anddeck

cracksopenedeverywhere.

Smokebillowedfromthe

strickenship.Noneofthe

sailorscrawlingoverIron

Duke’spitchinghulksawthe

enemyperiscopepeeking

frombetweenwaves.

EveryoneinSanLuis

II’sControlRoomstaredat

CaptainMatias,silently

willinghimtogivetheorder

tolaunchanothertorpedo—to

deliverthecoupdegrâceon

theBritishvessel.He

scannedtheirfaces.

“¿Señor?”Ledesma

proddedhiscaptain.

“Takeusdownto95

meters;coursezero-four-

zero.Maketurnsforfive

knots,”Matiasordered.

Severalsubmariners

turnedbacktotheirpanels,

hidingtheirdisgust.Ledesma

didnotrespondatfirstand

simplystaredathiscaptain.

Matiashadreasonedthatthe

Britishfrigatewascombat-

ineffectiveandherefusedto

slaughtermenfornoreason.

AflameflickeredinMatias’

eyes.Thenheseemedto

growtallerandhisgaze

becamestern.Ledesmasaw

this.Finally,he

acknowledgedandrepeated

theorder.

Thesubmarine’sbow

planestilteddownwards.San

LuisIIdivedandleanedinto

herturn.TheBritish

survivorshadbeengranteda

chancetoreturnhometotheir

families.

4:SHIPWRECK

“Pretendinferiorityand

encouragehisarrogance.”—

SunTzu

Ominousblack

thundercapsblanketedthe

horizon,awallofflashing,

billowingmoisturemarking

theedgeofthemassive

storm.Theweatherradar

displayonHMSDragon’s

bridgeshowedaswirling

massofgreens,yellowsand

reds,withpatchesofblue

indicatinghailstones.

Lightningcrackled,fizzled,

andrippedacrosstheflashing

sky.Rainpatteredtheship’s

windows,andthunder

arrived,arollingboomthat

trembledtheship.Though

gustsstillhowledoutsideand

thesleekgreyhullroseand

fellwiththechurningsea,the

tempestmovedoff.Dragon

followedacoursetoskirtthe

fury’speripheryanddeliver

thewarshiptoherrendezvous

withIronDuke.

“Holdontosomething,”

LieutenantCommander

Williamsshouted.Hisvoice

betrayedthefunofitall.The

bridgecrewleanedonwalls

andclutchedfixturesasthe

shiprodeupasurge,tipped

downagainanddoveintoa

deeptrough.Theship’sprow

duginandheeledbefore

poppinguptopointskyward

again.Someonelaughedwith

glee.

“Dragon…”Fryatt

whisperedhername.Hewas

aproudman.

Dragon,too,was

happy.Shewasinher

elementanddoingthatfor

whichshewasbuilt.The

sharptriangleofherbow

burieditselfagaininthe

greenwashofcoldAtlantic

water.Theship’sbones

vibrated.Thenthebowcame

upagain,aclawed,snarling,

winged,whip-tailedred

wyrmpainteduponhergrey

skin.Anallusionto

figureheads-of-old,theship’s

sigilchargedthroughthe

sea’sicygreenfoaming

fingers,wardedoffevilspirits

andseacreatures,and

trembledenemiesbyits

ferocity.Whitespraywashed

overthewyrmandhissed.

Heavywithfuelprovisions

fromherstopoverat

AscensionIsland,Dragon

steamedsouthbywesttoward

herrendezvouspoint.

Therevolvingspiked

ballatoptheship’sfaceted

maintowerscannedthe

airspaceforhostiles.Aftof

thisarrayandtheship’s

stack,justforwardofthe

large,flatearlywarning

radar,thecommunication

mastreceivedaflash

transmissionfromNavy

CommandHeadquarters.

◊◊◊◊

“Whatamess,”Fryatt

saidtoWilliamsasheread

thereport.IronDukehad

beenseverelydamagedby

whatwasreportedasan

accidentaldetonationofher

magazine.Whilesheawaited

tugstotowherbackto

Ascension,Dragonwas

taskedtoprovidethestricken

frigatecoverbefore

continuingontothewarzone.

“Detonation?”Williams

asked.

“Thestorm…A

missilemusthavebroken

looseofitsrackandits

propellantignited.Youknow

howunstableammonium

perchlorateis.Itprobablyset

offachainreactioninthe

magazine,”Fryattposited.

“Wearetocontinueon

withoutafrigate?”Williams

addedglumly.

“Argyllwilljoinusin

fivedays.Howlonguntilwe

gettoIronDuke’sposition?”

Williamscheckedtheir

owncoordinates,andsaid:

“Withinthehour.”

◊◊◊◊

BythetimeDragon

cameuponIronDuke,the

sea-statewasdown,thewater

swellinggentlyintorounded

hills.IronDukerodelowby

thesternandwallowedinthe

gentleundulationlappingat

herfreeboard.Aslick

surroundedher.Fumes

gatheredandburnedthe

throatsofthoseonDragon’s

deckswholeanedagainstthe

railstogawkandoffersalutes

toanyofthefrigate’shard-

workingcrewthatstolea

gazeatthepassingdestroyer.

Onthebridge,CaptainFryatt

raisedhisbinoculars.

HescannedIronDuke’s

hull.Hesawsomecharring,

andthepumpsbusysending

wateroverboardthrough

multipleopenings.Fryatt

lookedtoIronDuke’smast.

Thecolorsflewathalf

height.Hismagnifiedview

blurredasitshiftedtoward

thefrigate’sflightdeckwhere

anhonorguardwentaboutits

solemnduty.

Headswerebowedasa

prayerwasrecited.The

headsthenraisedandsalutes

werethrown.Abodyslid

fromaflag-drapedboardinto

thesea.Theflagwasclosed

upandencased,andtheguard

brokeupandreturnedto

dutiestokeeptheshipafloat,

andtoprepareherforatow.

Accidentaldetonation.

Thesewordsstuckuneasilyin

Fryatt’smind,andthelittle

hairsatthebackofhisneck

stoodonend.Hesurveyed

thevastopenocean.

“Power-upthesonar,”

heordered.“Andgetthe

Merlinup.Coldpattern.”

Dragon’sMFS-7000

sonararraybroadcasta

powerfulactivepulse.Steam

bubblesformedaroundthe

bow’sbulbousprotuberance,

andadeafeningWHOMP

emerged.Themedium

frequencywavespropagated

throughthewaterforseveral

miles.

InDragon’sOpRoom

amidshipmanstudiedhis

sonarscreens.Heawaited

thereturnofreflectedsound

waves,awaitedthe

computer’sanalysis,and

lookedforablipthatwould

allowhimtoyellout:

‘Contact.’Hewascertain

that,ifanythingwas

submergedwithinfivemiles,

hewouldfindit.Heclicked

awayathiskeyboardand

scrutinizedtheresults.

Nothing,hethought,

disappointed.

“Thermoclineat400

feetdeep,”Dragon’s

sonarmanunenthusiastically

toldtheOperationsDirector.

Thismeantthatwarmerwater

satatopthecolderdepths,

andthuscreatedaninversion

layerwherethetwovarying

watermassesconverged.

Thislayerwasimpermeable

tosoundwaves,andacted

likeafalsebottomthat

bouncedDragon’ssonarright

backather,providing

protectiontoanythingthat

lurkedbeneathit.

“Otherwise,sir,thescopeis

clear,”thesonarmanadded.

“Helo’slaunching,”the

directorresponded.The

ship’shelicopterwoulduse

itsdippingsonarand

sonobuoystopenetratethis

layerandexpandDragon’s

viewofthesubsurfaceworld.

◊◊◊◊

SanLuisIIsteamed

along,doingfourknotsat500

feet,some100feetbeneath

thethermocline.The

Argentinesubmarinerskept

theirdistancefromwhere

theyhadprosecutedIron

Duke,andlistenedasanew

targetenteredthearea.After

twentyminutesofanalyzing

thescrewandpowerplant

noisethatthepassivesonar

hadcollected,SanLuisII’s

sonartechniciansdetermined

theywerehearingaDaring-

classguided-missile

destroyer.Theydesignated

thesurfacecontactas‘Delta

1.’

“Report,”Captain

Matiasordered.

“Weheardamedium-

frequencyactivesonar.Its

transmitterwasabouteight

milesoffatone-nine-seven.”

Thesonarman’sface

shriveledashelistened

close.“Señor,Delta1is

slowing.”

Matiaslookedto

Ledesma.

“IfIwastheircaptain,”

Ledesmaoffered,“Iwouldbe

launchingmyhelicopter.”

“Yes,Santiago,”Matias

confirmed,proudofhis

protégé.

“Sir,theD-classhasthe

Merlin,”Ledesmaaddedwith

aworriedlook.

Bothmenhadahealthy

respectforthisparticulartype

ofanti-submarinewarfare

helicopter.

“Takeusdeeper,

Santiago.Twohundredfifty

meters.”

“Sí,señor.”

◊◊◊◊

TheMerlinHM2

helicopteremergedfromits

hangarandtraversedonto

Dragon’ssternflightdeck.A

haze-greymachine,the

Merlinworearadomeonits

chinandwasconfiguredfor

anti-submarinewarfarewith

twoStingraylightweight

torpedoesandtwoMark11

depthchargesslungbeneath

itsparallelogram-shaped

fuselage.Emblazonedonthe

helicopter’ssidewas

‘ROYALNAVY’andared,

whiteandblueroundel.

TheFlightDeckOfficer

salutedtothehelicopter’s

pilot,indicatingtheflight

deckchiefhadthewheel

chocksinplaceandtherewas

nosignofforeignobjectsthat

theMerlin’senginesorrotors

couldsuckin.TheMerlin’s

pilot—LieutenantSeamus

McLaughlinfrom

Enniskillen,NorthernIreland

—lovedtofly.Beneathhis

flighthelmet,Seamusthe

pilothadfireredhairanda

‘fullset’—RoyalNavy-speak

forabeardandmustache.

Seamusmovedacontrol

panellever,andthe

helicopter’sfivemainrotor

bladesunfoldedfromtheir

ship-stowedpositionand

lockedinplace.Withanod

fromtheMerlin’ssecondary

pilot,Seamusstartedthe

helicopter’sthreeturboshaft

engines.Theengines

coughedblacksmokeasthey

ignitedandthenwhinedas

theyspunup.Seamus

performedhispre-departure

radiochecks.

“Draig,Kingfisher21,

radiocheck,over,”Seamus

saidintohisheadset.Dueto

histhickIrishaccent,hehad

learnedtospeakslowlyand

clearlywhenusingtheradio.

“Kingfishertwo-one,

Draig,loudandclear,over,”

Dragon’sairtrafficcontroller

responded.

Thehelicopterpilots

wentthroughpre-flight

checklistsinthefrontofthe

machine,andinitsrearcabin,

theMerlin’sobserverand

aircrewmanwentabouttheir

owntasks.Theobserverwas

OrdinarySeamanRodi

Dandowhomhailedfrom

DockyardontheSpanish

PointofBermudaandwasthe

descendantofanAfrican

privateer.Alsooperatingin

therearcabinwasMerlin’s

aircrewman,LeadingSeaman

JohnMcelaney.

AircrewmanJohn

Mcelaneywasawide-

shoulderedladfrom

Liverpool.Hehadgrownup

inNewBrightononthe

WirralPeninsulawheresandy

beachesoverlookedtheRiver

MerseyandtheIrishSea.

Workingthesewaterways,

Johnhadhauledincrabtraps

andfishingnetsforhisfather

anduncle,ajobthatbuilthis

upper-bodystrengthandlog-

likearms.Whenthewaters

hadbecomeoverfishedand

theill-maintainedfamily

boatsleakedmorethan

floated,Johnsoughttosee

moreoftheworld.With

collegefundsscant,itwasa

RoyalMarinerecruiterwho

hadboughthimapintinthe

pubandseducedhimwith

talesofadventureandtravel.

Johnsignedonthedotted

line.Heawoketoa

headache,sourstomachanda

lecturefromhismumand

dad,buthesoonembarkedto

CommandoTrainingCentre

RoyalMarinesinLympstone,

Devon.Thirty-twoweeksof

hellfollowed.

AtLympstone,John

learnedcombatskills—to

marchandlookafterhiskit

andweapons—andheearned

thevauntedgreenberet.Fit

andassharpasasword,John

volunteeredfortransfer,and

aftergradingatanairforce

base,hewassentontoanti-

submarinetraining.Ten

weeksat824NavalAir

Squadron’sBasicAcoustic

Coursefollowed.

Johnseemedtohavean

innatetalentforthefineartof

sonarandsensoroperation,

andthiswasrecognizedand

nurturedbyinstructors.High

marksandperformance

reportsdroveadvancementto

anoperationalconversion

unit.

AttheOCU,Johnmet

theloveofhislife—the

MerlinHM2—andworked

alongsideapairofpilotsand

anobserver.Hehadlearned

theartofactiveandpassive

anti-submarinewarfare,as

wellassearchand

prosecutiontechniques.It

wasnotlongafterwardthat

hewashonoredwith

assignmenttoHMSDragon.

Johnpowered-upand

thencheckedthehelicopter’s

variousdefensiveand

offensivesystems,including

chaff,flares,andtheFLASH

dippingsonar.TheFLASH

—FoldingLightAcoustic

SystemforHelicopters—

couldlowerbycableatube-

shapedlow-frequencysonar

transducerdownto700

metersbeneaththesea.

TheMerlin’scockpit

screensflashedandbecame

populatedwithbrightly-

coloreddataasthecomputer

examinedthehelicopter

thousandsoftimespersecond

anddeliveredthediagnoses

toitshumanoperators.With

allindicatorsinthegreen,

Seamusengagedtherotors

andstartedthemspinning.

“Sir,”John’svoice

crackledontheintercom,

“Allsystemsarego.”

Witha“Ready,”from

hissecondary,Seamus

clickedthetransmitter:

“Kingfisher21,ready

fordeparture.”

Clearancewasreceived

andbladerevolutionscame

uptotake-offpower.The

FlightDeckChiefindicated

chockswereoutandthatno

tie-downswereinuse.Then

theFlightDeckOfficer

salutedand,slowlyflapping

hisarms,marshaledthe

Merlinoffthedeck.Seamus

raisedthecollective.The

mainrotortiltedandbitinto

theair,wherevorticesformed

atitsshovelblade-shaped

tips.TheMerlinroseover

Dragon’sstern.

Thehelicopterhovered

overtheflightdeckand

swiveledintotherelative

wind.Itthenflewsideways

toahoverpositionalongside

theship.Clearofdeck

hazards—thehangar,the

masts,andradararrays—the

Merlinbeganastraightclimb

andfellbackasDragon

continuedonwardatseven

knots.Holdingahoverat

300feet,Seamussurveyed

theinstruments,switchedto

thehigh-frequencyradio,and

confirmedtheirmachinewas

healthyandunderpositive

control.Herequested

permissiontodepartthe

pattern.

“Kingfishertwo-one,

Draig,roger,commenceyour

turnoncourse,”theship’sair

trafficcontrolresponded.

Seamuspushedhisboot

againstapedalandpointed

theMerlin’snoseinthe

desireddirection,nudgingthe

cyclic.Thebighelicopter

leanedforwardandheaded

awayfromthechurned,light-

bluewakeofthedestroyer.

Inthedistance,wherethelast

oftheraindarkenedthe

horizonline,acloud

dischargedandsentaforked

boltsnakingfromtheseato

highinthesky.Seamus

starteddownthefirstlegof

hispattern.Intherearcabin,

Johnpreparedtolowerthe

dippingsonarwhilethe

observer,Rodi,peeredoutthe

window.

DragoncircledIron

Dukeinamile-widecircle.

Faronthehorizon,thesmoke

trailoftheRoyalNavy

tugboatbecamevisible.

ThetugwasCapable,

anAdept-classlargeharbor

tugbasedinGibraltar.

Dragonhadheronradar,and

Lieutenant-Commander

Williamswastalkingtoher

byradio.Asaharbortugnot

idealforthemissionof

gettingIronDuketosafe

waters—especiallyallbyher

lonesome—Capablehad

adequatepower.Ifonlythe

weatherheld,shealsohadthe

seaworthinesstodepartthe

near-shoreenvironmentfor

theopensea.Ifallwentwell,

CapablewouldpullIron

DukebacktoAscensionfor

temporaryrepairs,freeing

Dragontoracetothe

Falklands.Itwouldbehours

untilCapablecouldarrive

on-scene,however.Several

long,dangeroushours.

CaptainFryattpacedthe

bridge.

Fryattfeltthegentle

rolloftheshipinhisearsand

madeapictureofthe

battlespaceinhismind’seye:

IronDukewasatthecenter

asDragonsweptaroundher;

theMerlinwasoffdoingits

task,droppingsonobuoysand

listeningtotheocean,making

surenosubmarinescould

sneakintothreateneither

vessel.ThenFryatt’smind’s

eyedovebeneaththewaves.

Hepicturedthethermocline

thatshroudedthedeeps,and

hesawwhatheknewofthe

bottomatthispartofthe

Atlantic:mudflatsandrocky

foothillsthatclimbedto

becomethecraggypeaksof

theMid-AtlanticRidge,

Earth’slongestmountain

range,the‘spineofthe

world.’

5:CATAND

MOUSE

“Whenthemouse

laughsatthecat,there’sa

holenearby.”—Nigerian

proverb

Theycalledhim

‘Raton.’Not,mindyou,

becauseofanyinherenttrait,

norforanyphysical

resemblancetothelittlefurry,

whisker-twitchingmammal.

ForRaton’sfacewasflat,

almostindented,andlacked

therat’ssnout-likestructure.

Thoughhisfirstnamewas

Gaston—aconvenientand

almostlyricalrhymewithhis

nickname—CorporalSecond

ClassBersaearnedhis

monikerbythestyleoflifehe

livedaboardSanLuisII.

GastonBersacame

fromSalta,asmallfarming

townintheLermavalleyof

Argentina'snorthwest.His

familyfarmwouldbedesert

dryifnotforthewater

deliveredbycanalandpipe

fromthesnow-capped

mountainsthattoweredabove

it.Withthisprecious

moisture,lemonsandoranges

grewwhereonlydustdevils

andbrownbrushshould

flourish.Daysofhardwork

werebrokenbyreadinginthe

shade,momentswherehe

wouldtakeouthistattered

Cuban-translatedcopyof

Hemingway’s‘TheOldMan

andtheSea,’digestingitfor

thehundredthtimeand

recitingeachwordasifby

memory.Anddreamingof

theblueopenseaandthe

freedomitimparted.

Asustaineddrought

hadcome,causingthe

governmenttodivertwaterto

thethirstycities.Soonthe

grovesbrownedanddiedand

Gaston’sfatherhadtakento

doingoddconstructionand

repairjobsintown,leaving

himtowatchhissmallsister

andhisbroken-downmother.

Onedaythepagesofhis

novelhadfinallyfallenout

andbeentakenbythewind.

Theyscatteredoverthebones

ofthecitrustrees.Thatday,

Gastonhaddroppedhis

shovelandwalkedthesix

milestotown.Hedidnot

evenknowwhyhemadethe

trek,andhecouldnotargue

withthesensationofbeing

drawnthatway.Onceamong

thetown’ssquatbuildings

anddust-chokedstreets,he

trudgedpastout-of-work

farmhandsandrightintoa

governmentoffice.

Gastonhadmeantto

yellandcurseatwhoeverwas

there.Hewouldlecturethe

bureaucratsonwaterand

farmsandhowcropswere

moreimportantthankeeping

thefountainsgoinginBuenos

Aires.Beforehebeganhis

tirade,however,hebecame

transfixedbyapictureofa

navyshipthatrodeupasea-

swell.Thelocalrecruitersaw

thelookinGaston’seyeand

smiled.

“¿Hermosa,no?”he

askedtheentrancedyouth.

“Yes.Verybeautiful.”

“Thereisnothinglike

beingaboardship,sailingthe

seasanddoingsoforyour

country.”Therecruitersetthe

hook,knowingfullwellit

wassubmarinersthenavy

wascurrentlyinneedof.

“Yes,”Gastonrepeated.

Hissignatureand

acceptanceofasmallcash

bonusmeantthatGaston

Bersanowbelongedto

ComandodelaFuerzade

Submarinos—thesubmarine

branchoftheArgentine

Navy.

Thatnightwasthelast

timeGastonhadseenhis

motherandfather,orthestars

thathungabovetheLerma

valley.Almosttwoyears

sincehadpassedinrigorous

basicandsubmarinetraining,

andthenSanLuisIIbecame

Gaston’snewhome.

Likeeveryoneaboard

NumeroDos,Ratonwas

condemnedtonear-darkness

andhot,stuffybreaths.

However,unliketheothers,

Raton’sdutieswere

especiallyrodential,the

natureofwhichimpartedhis

newnickname.

Chosenforhis

diminutivestature,wiry

frame,andseemingimmunity

toclaustrophobia,Raton

spentmostofhistimeatthe

bottomofSanLuisII’s

pressurehullwherehelay

uponhisbellyandslidarail-

bornesledoverthe

submarine’stwobattery

banks.

SanLuisII’sbattery

deckentailedathicketof

powercables,leads,and

ventilationtubesthatgrew

fromrow-after-rowoffoot

locker-sizedtwo-tonbattery

cells.Itstankofbatteryacid,

diesel,andsalt.Itwasan

underworldwherethe

footfallsoffellowcrewmates

reverberatedthroughthelow

ceiling.ThiswasRaton’s

nest.Despitethedrawbacks,

itwasaplaceofprivacyina

bigunprivate,aplacewhere

technicalknowledgemade

himruler.Hescurriedalong

onhissledmaintaininghis

batteries.

Ratoncheckedeachfor

corrosion,repairedventilation

nipples,andtoppedthecells

offwithdistilledwater.In

thisdimlonelinesshid

Raton’sthoughts,his

hummedfolksongs,and

largelyunnoticedbythe

boat’sofficers,intermittent

naps.Withaflashlight

headbandtoseehiswork,and

withaheartyyawn,Raton

checkedthecompartment’s

hydrogenmeter.

Themeterindicated

thattheodorless,tasteless,

andhighlyflammablegas—

producedwhenthewater

portionofthebatterywas

convertedduringcharging—

remainedwithinsafelimits.

Ratoncheckedasmallflow

meteronacell’sventilation

ductheader.Thenumber

indicatedthattheventilators

weredoingtheirjobof

shuntingthehydrogento

holdingtanks,tobeblown

overboard.BeforeRaton

wiggledandtightenedan

inter-cellconnectorwire,he

checkedthevoltmeterand

mutteredaprayer.

Hedidthiswhenever

hetouchedanythingdown

here.Eventhoughheknew

hisjobinsideout,everything

aroundhimwasbuiltbywhat

hecalled‘Vodka-infused

Russiandockworkers,’and

wasreallyjustupdatedCold

Wartechnology.Itdidnot

helphisnervesor

superstitionsthatamanwas

killedonthebatterydeck

duringtheboat’sshakedown

cruise.

SanLuisIIhadbeen

builtfortheIndianNavy.

NamedVarunafortheHindu

GodoftheOcean,acontract

spatbetweenMoscowand

NewDehlimeantthe

submarinewasinstead

counter-tradedwithBuenos

Airesforcopper.Shewas

thenrenamedand,likeall

Argentinesubmarines,

receivedthenameofan

Argentineprovincethat

beganwithan‘S,’andthus

becamethesecondArgentine

submarinenamedSanLuis.

ThefirstSanLuishad

performedacentralrolein

commandoactionsduringthe

1982conflictoverLasIslas

Malvinas.WhenNumero

Doshadsailedonits

shakedowncruise,acell’s

ventvalvefailedandburst.

Coveredwithacidandburned

byheat,Raton’spredecessor

haddieddownhereonthe

batterydeck.

Ratonhadseenhim

once,hewouldswear.Itwas

aghostlyheadthatstared

backathimandsmiled.So,

Ratonwasalwaysthankful

whenhisjobdidnotkillhim.

Ashepulledhishandaway

fromthebattery,heknewthat

God,fornow,haddecidedto

keephimalive.

“Amén,”Raton

mumbled.Hegrabbedat

handholdsandslidthesleda

fewmorefeettochecka

cablejunction.Likehis

fellowsubmariners,Raton

hadheardthereverberationof

theactivesonarping,andfelt

itvibratethroughhisprone

body.Heignoredsuch

things,however,andtrusted

inhiscaptainandcrewmates

tokeephimalive,justasthey

allreliedonhimtokeepSan

LuisII’sairblowing,motor

running,andkeepthelights

on.WheneverRaton’smind

turnedtodarkerdoubts,he

wouldslidealongonhissled

andfindsomethingelseto

checkorrepair.Whenthe

nextsonarping—higherin

frequencythistime—echoed

throughSanLuisII’sbilges,

Ratonpausedandsuddenly

feltthetightconfinesand

helplessvulnerabilityofhis

situation.Asmuchashe

lovedthesea,downhere

beneathit,theseahad

becomehisenemy.Heknew

itsembracewouldnotbe

warmandgentle,butcold

andhard.

InSanLuisII’sControl

Room,Ledesmareportedto

Matias:“Dippingsonarat

two-three-six.Range:five

miles.”Anotherpingand

everyonecringed.“It’sthe

helicopter,sir…TheMerlin.”

◊◊◊◊

TheMerlin’srotor

choppedattheair.The

30,000-poundmachine

hoveredandperformeda

delicatebalancingactof

physicsandthrust.Therotor

washsentwhite-capped

wavesoffinawidecircle,

whileasteelcableunwound

frombeneaththeMerlin’s

fuselage.TheFLASH

dippingsonarsplashed

throughthesurfaceand

continueddownwardintothe

depths.IntheMerlin’s

computer-filledcabin,John

turnedhisdialtostopits

descent.Hehitaredbutton.

At100feetbeneaththe

surface,theFLASHsentout

ahigh-frequencypulse.Then

itlistenedforareturn.John

announcedwhateveryone

alreadyknew:“Significant

layerat410feet.”He

adjustedadialtounreelmore

cable,dippingtheFLASH

beneaththethermocline.

“Cablenowat500

feet.Hammer.”

Anotherping.The

soundwavetraveledinall

directions,reachingforthe

bottomoftheAtlantic.As

thecomputeranalyzed

returns,animagebegan

fillingthedisplayinthe

helicopter’srearcabin.It

showedtheundulatingsea

bottom,thefalse‘ceiling’of

thethermocline,aclustered

schooloffishand…anovoid

shadow.Aredlightflashed

abovethescreen.

“Submergedcontact,”

Johnannounced.“Depth:

600feet.Bearing:zero-six-

zero.Range:fivemiles.

Designate‘Possub.’”A

possiblesubmarine.The

FLASHwasreeledinsothe

Merlincouldmoveagain.

Ascontactdatawas

relayedtoDragon’sAction

InformationCenter,Seamus

tippedthehelicopter’snose

downandbeganasprint

towardthecontact’s

coordinates.CaptainFryatt

wouldplaceDragonbetween

thecontactandIronDuke,

buttheMerlin’smissionwas

tolocalizeandattackany

target.TheMerlincontinued

itscharge,sprintingatjust

over180miles-per-hour.It

coveredseveralmilesinjust

minutes.Rodileanedhis

headintothecabinwindow

andraisedhisbinoculars.

“Alotofwater,”Rodi

saidwithhisBermudianlilt.

Thegreyshapesof

DragonandIronDukewere

nowfaronthehorizon.A

high-pressurefronthad

pushedthestormaway,

dryingandheatingtheairand

creatingashimmeringhaze

whereseametsky.Itmade

thegreyoutlineofthe

warshipshardtosee.

Furthermore,Dragon’srather

significantbutwhite

superstructureblendeditinto

thebrightsky.IntheMerlin,

JohnalertedSeamusoftheir

proximitytotheirfirstdrop.

Thefirstsonarbuoy

shotfreeoftheaircraft’s

fuselage.Pushedfromits

tubebyhigh-pressureair,the

cylindricalsensorsplashedin

andthenbobbedatthe

surface.Itdeployeditswhip

antennaandunfoldedits

transducers.Thebuoyfound

aglobalpositioningsatellite

andloggeditslocation,and

thenmadecontactwiththe

Merlin’scomputer.Thefirst

ofmanytobedeployedina

diamond-shapedpattern,this

sonobuoywasofthe

bathythermographtype,

designedtoascertainlocal

density,salinityand

temperatureconditions.The

nextsonobuoystheMerlin

deployedwouldbeDIFAR

andHIDARtypes.The

DIFARswouldprovide

directiontoanyparticular

producerofsound,andthe

HIFARswould

instantaneouslyprovidethe

target’srange.TheMerlin

sprintedanddropped,

sprintedanddropped,

repeatingthisprocess,

surroundingtheoriginal

contactwithlistening

devices.Whenthepattern

wascomplete,Seamus

shovedhisstickover.

TheMerlinscreamed

towardthecenterofthe

pattern,wheretheFLASH

hadfirstdiscoveredthe

anomalouscontactamongthe

sonarreturnsfromtherocky

bottom,theswimmingfish,

andhauntingwhalesongs.

TheMerlinraiseditsnoseto

rapidlyshedairspeeduntilit

virtuallystoodstill,Seamus

levelinghisaircraftand

nursingthehover.He

balancedthecollectiveand

cyclicsticksandengine

poweraswell,untilhe

becameintunewithevery

breezeandpullofgravity,

keepinghismachinesteady

andfloatinginplaceabove

thesparklingocean.When

hefeltready,hegave

clearancetothecabincrew.

Fromthehelicoptersbelly,

thedippingsonardescended.

TheFLASHunreeled

againandpenetratedthe

water’ssurface,fallingto

breachthatproblematic

thermocline.Itwouldpeek

beneaththislayertoverify

andfirmupdataonthe

previouscontact.Asthe

FLASHdiditsjob,John

monitoredthesonobuoysthat

listenedforanypossible

transitorysignals.Kingfisher

21—Dragon’sMerlin—had

castitsnetwide.Now,it

begantocinchitandhaulit

in.

◊◊◊◊

Thepassivearraythat

ranthelengthofSanLuisII’s

hullheardthethump-thump-

thumpofanapproaching

helicopter,andthenthe

splashesofsonobuoys.

Indoctrinatedandtrainedby

Argentines,eachsubmariner

hadnonethelessstudiedand

heldasecretadmirationfor

theirBritishenemy.Afterall,

thebritánicoshadovercome

theGermanU-boatthreatby

developingtacticsand

technologythathadturned

thetableonthegreatest

underwatermariners

humankindhadeverknown.

Theythenhadjoinedthe

Americansincorrallingthe

Sovietthreat,whose

machinesandmenthreatened

toruletheworld.Thissecret

admirationoftheBritishby

theArgentinesalsoindicated

anunconsciousfear,andfear

alwaysmeanthesitation.As

muchasitwasCaptain

Matias’jobtokeephisboat

fromgoingtothebottom,it

wasalsohisjobtoinspirethe

crewtobelievetheywere

betterthanthoseBritish,who

seemedtothinktheyhada

God-givenrighttodominate

affairs.AsmuchasCaptain

MatiasbelievedLasIslas

Malvinaswerenotworththe

risk,hewouldfightforhis

flag,andforthoseplaced

underhiscommand.His

thoughtswereinterruptedby

asoundfromoutside.

CaptainMatiasknew

thathissubmarinecreated

hydrodynamicnoiseresulting

fromtheflowofwaterover

itshull.Anyprotrusionsand

orificessuchasbollardsand

free-floodholes,accentuated

thisnoise.Eventhoughthe

Russianbuildershadtried

theirbesttominimizesuch

sources,thepropeller

remainedaninsurmountable

acousticproblemforany

submarine.

Whenonbatteries,

diesel-electricboatslikeSan

LuisIIenjoyedadvantages

overtheiratom-smashing

counterparts,becausethere

werenounbalancedturbine

gears,bladesandcooling

pumpstomakearacketand

revealtheirposition.

However,liketheirnuclear

cousins,diesel-electricshad

totransferpropulsivepower

fromanenginetothewater,

makingthepropellerthe

acousticweaklinkinthe

wholenearlysilentsystem.

InSanLuisII’scase,itwasa

singlegiantsix-bladedprop

thatdidthejob.

Atthetipsofthis

carefully-machinedwonder,

vortexcavitationtookplace,

wherebyairbubblesformed

andcollapsedundersea

pressure,producingahissing

soundthatcarriedformiles

underwater.Thisnoise

travelledhorizontallyfrom

thepropeller,increasedwith

themomentumoftheblades,

andbecamemostpronounced

athighspeed,especially

duringaccelerationand

maneuvers.Atlowerspeeds,

thenaturalfrequencyofthe

bladesproduceda

characteristic‘beat’thatan

enemycouldusetoidentify

thespecificclassofhis

adversary.Sometimes,

uniqueacoustic‘fingerprints’

wouldevenallowaskilled

sonarmantoidentifya

submarinebyname.Such

noisewastheveryclue

CaptainMatiassoughtto

deprivehisenemy,thevery

reasonhehadordered:‘All

stop.’Despitehiseffortsto

silenceSanLuisII,there

remainedtheissueofher

physicality.Shewas,after

all,asteelholeinthewater,

anddespiteprecautions

againstdetectionbypassive

systems,activesonar,suchas

thatcarriedbytheenemy

helicopter,constituted

anothermatteraltogether.

“Getusclosertothe

bottom,Santiago,”Matias

ordered.Thecaptainhoped

theseamountofftostarboard

wouldscreenhisboatand

spoilanyacousticreflection

thatwouldallowtheBritish

aircrewtodiscernthehullof

SanLuisIIfromamongthe

boulders,cliffs,andpeaksof

theMid-AtlanticRidge.

Alreadyneartheir

recommendedmaximum

depth,Ledesmashotthe

captainaconcernedglance.

“Down,”Matiasreiterated.

Ledesmahesitatedfora

moment,andMatiaswaveda

handathimthatsaid,‘Geton

withit.’

“Muybienseñor,”

Ledesmafinally

acknowledged,andordered

negativebuoyancy.Ventson

theouterhullwereopened,

andmoreseawaterflowed

intoSanLuisII’smainballast

tanks.Alreadystationary,the

boatdroppedstraightdown

intothepitchblackdeep.

ThemenintheControlRoom

watchedthedepthgauge

needlemovefromtheyellow

zone,intothered.Thesteel

hullprotestedwithclicks,

groans,andtorturedsnaps.

Ledesmaswallowedhardand

begantoreadoffthedepth:

“Threehundredtwenty;330;

340…”Theboatprotested

withaloudbang.

TheoceantestedSan

LuisII.Itwantedin,andit

searchedforthepathofleast

resistance.Thousandsof

poundspressedonthe

submarine.Anotherbang,

andeveryonelookedto

CaptainMatias.Helooked

upthemainladderatthe

ControlRoomhatch.

BANG.Thethinnersteelof

thesubmarine’ssailhad

flexedunderextremepressure

anddeformed,stretching

betweenitslatticed

framework.

“Deeper,”thecaptain

ordered.

SanLuisIIletouta

prolongednoiselikethesong

ofamelancholywhale.One

submarinerbegantobreathe

heavily,andthenhe

whimpered.

“Tomaloconsoda,”

Ledesmacalmedthe

neophytesubmarinerwithan

Argentineexpression.Then

heturnedtoMatias.“Señor,

estamosa360metros.”Then

cameanunholycreakfrom

SanLuisII.“Idon’tthink

shecanstandmuchmore,”

Ledesmapleaded.

“Bien,Santiago,”

Matiasconceded,“Holdus

here.”

“Neutralbuoyancy,”

Ledesmasaid,pointingatthe

ventlevers.“Holdyour

depthat380meters.”

Theboatquietedasthe

depthgaugesteadiedand

stopped,justafewhash

marksshortof‘400,’the

highestnumberthedial

showed.Someonesighed

withrelief,followedbya

momentofsilence,ofcalm.

Thensuddenly,awaterpipe

runningalongthetopofthe

ControlCenterwhinedand

burst.

Watersprayedfroma

valveandranalongthepipe,

rainingdown.

“Damagecontrol,”

Ledesmayelled.

Thevalveshotoffand

bouncedtwice.Thedeck

plateithitrangfantastically

loud.Themetalwheel

wobbledforamomentand

thenstopped.Everyonein

theControlRoomlookedat

it,hatedit,andknewwhatit

haddone.

Onesailorimmediately

tookawrenchtothevalve

andinstantlybecamesoaked

bytheleak,yethetightened

theconnection.Thewater

slowed,butstillitcascaded

downapanel.

Sparksflashedandthe

panel’sdisplaylights

extinguished.However,

back-upanalogdisplays

confirmedthetankventshad

infactclosed.Valveswere

openedandclosedalongthe

pipeinordertoisolatethe

leak.Everyonelookedtothe

curvedceiling.Theyall

wonderediftheenemyhad

heardthecommotion.

“Señor,theleakhas

beenisolated,”Ledesma

whispered.

“Verywell,”Captain

Matiasacknowledged.

PING.

“Sir,active--”

PING.

“Yes,Santiago,”Matias

puthishandonhisfriend’s

shoulder,“Ihearit.”

6:ABRAZO

“Letmeembracethee,

souradversity,forwisemen

sayitisthewisestcourse.”—

WilliamShakespeare

Kingfisher21hovered.

TheMerlin’sdippingsonar

dangledinthewater,fishing

foranythingthathappenedto

bebiting.Amongthemiles-

widesonobuoyfield

Dragon’shelicopterhad

sown,onepassivetype—

buoy‘PapaThree’—had

registeredananomalous

sound.Ittransmittedtothe

helicopterthecontact’s

generaldepth,heading,and

range.Kingfisher21,inturn,

bouncedthedatabackto

Dragon.

IntheOpRoom’scool

darkness,Dragon’santi-

submarinewarfareofficer

adjustedhisflashhoodand

glovesandsurveyedhis

screen.ItshowedtheGPS

plotofeachsonobuoy,and

representedbyagreen‘H,’

theradarpositionofthe

helicopter.

TheMerlinhadracedto

sonobuoyPapaThree’s

positionandhurriedly

lowereditsdippingsonar

belowthethermocline.John

firedoffanactiveping.The

soundwavesmovedthrough

theliquidmedium,where

theybouncedoffshoalsof

fish,offrock,andoffsand,

andoffanythingelseinthe

oceanicwatercolumn.Then

thesoundwaves

boomerangedandreturnedto,

andwerecollectedby,the

FLASH’scylindrical

transmitter/receiver.Tied

intothebuoys,thecomputers

intheMerlin’srearcabin

analyzedthedataand

presenteditona

monochromescreen.

Anobjectdiffering

fromthecontoursofthesea

bottomimmediatelycaught

John’shighlytrainedeye.

Johntappedthedisplay’s

glassinrecognition.

“Whathavewehere?”

hemumbledtohimself,and

thenpushedthetransmit

buttonforhisheadset.

“DraigTACCO,thisis

Kingfisher21.PROBSUB,

PROBSUB,”Johnreportedto

Dragon’stactical

coordinator.Hethen

switchedfromtheradiotothe

intercom.“Dropping

smoke,”hetoldtheMerlin’s

pilot.

Asmallcartridgewas

firedfromthehelicopter’s

wheel-wellsthatsplashedin,

stainedthewateraglowing

green,andsentupaplumeof

redsmoke.Thismarker

wouldhelpSeamusmaintain

positionoverthecontact,and

alsomarkthecontactposition

forthedestroyer.Onthe

horizon,Dragonturned.

◊◊◊◊

CaptainFryattpeered

throughbinoculars.Hefound

theredsmokecloud,glanced

atthecompass,andordereda

heading:“Makeyourcourse

two-five-five.”Itwasthe

captain’sintenttokeepthe

destroyer’ssharpbowand

toweringsuperstructure

betweenIronDukeand

‘Master1,’thetactical

coordinator’sdesignationfor

theprobablesubmerged

submarine.

“Aheadfull,”Fryatt

ordered.Dragon’stwoRolls-

Roycegasturbinesrevvedup

anddrovetheship’selectric

motors.Thebowrose,and

Dragon’ssleek,greyhull

planed,churningthedark

wateraswhiteasmilk.

Dragonbecamean8,000ton

speedboat.Aminutelater,

27,000shafthorsepowerhad

shotthedestroyertoover30

knots.Sheturnedtohernew

heading,leanedin,andthrew

sprayupinagreatfan.Fryatt

intended,onceatthecontact

coordinate,touseDragon’s

powerfulbowsonarto

localizeMaster1.Dragon

droveawindbeforeher,and

asifpushedbyit,theMerlin

bankedoff.

TheMerlinwasguided

byDragon’sOpRoomtoher

nexthuntingposition.The

helicopterdroppeditsnose

andracedoff,todipitssonar

againandaddavertexangle

tothetriangulationofthe

contact.

◊◊◊◊

Thesoundofthe

droppedvalvewheelbounced

itswaydowntotheconfines

ofRaton’sdomain.The

repeatingclangreverberated

throughthebatterydeckand

whentheechoessubsided,

Ratonlookedtothe

submarine’scoldinnersteel

hull.Despiteitsthickness

andstrength,thehullwasan

idealtransmitterofsound.

Thiswasthereason

internalmachinerywas

isolatedfromtheboat’sskin

whereverpossible,Raton

ponderedashefingereda

rubbercylinderthatsupported

hisownsled’strack.Hefelt

thetrack’smetaland

recognizedthevibrationfrom

SanLuisII’sdiesels.

They,too,were

dampened,mountedonbig

rubberraftsthatkepttheir

reverberationsfrom

transmittingtoSanLuisII’s

casing.Theseefforts,

however,couldbeundoneby

ahatchclosedtoohard,a

fallentool,orinthiscase,a

droppedwheelvalve.Allof

thesecouldprovide

potentiallylethalresults.

Thatpieceofironshit,Raton

postulated.Itwasforgedin

someoldMurmanskfurnace.

Thenoiseitmadewassurely

heardbytheclamsandfish

andthosemalditobritánicos.

Ratoncaughthisbreathand

heldtheairinhislungsashe

heardatrickleofwater.

Thesoundwasdifferent

fromthatcreatedbytheflow

ofwateraroundSanLuisII’s

hull,anddifferentfromthe

bubblesoftrappedairthat

occasionallyescapedthe

casing’sfree-floodareas.

Thesound,Ratonrealized,

hadcomefrominside.

Thewaterthathad

escapedtheControlRoom

pipevalvehadthenfoundits

waydowntheperiscope

well.Tuggedbygravity,it

soughtthemostdirectpath

possibletothelowestpointin

theboat,thebilge.However,

betweentheControlRoom

andbilgewasthebattery

deckwhere,craninghisneck,

Ratonsawthefirstsignsof

thewater.

Heldfastbysurface

tension,thewaterclungtothe

steelroofandsquirmedand

squiggledalonginastreamer

thatsplitandmergedagain.

Ratonwatchedandkept

pace.Hescootedhissled

alongthecompartmentrails,

hisbellyjustoverthetangle

ofleadsandwirethatgrew

fromthebatterycells.The

waterranintoasmall

protuberancewhere,no

longerabletodefygravity,it

stretchedintoalongdrop

overanelectricalshuntand

disconnectswitch.Raton

hurriedtoputhisglovedhand

ontheswitch.Hewatched

thedropelongate.

Theliquidorbreflected

thelightsandmachineryof

theconfinedspace.Raton

sawhimselfthere,too,a

stretchedfacewithwideeyes

andasweat-coveredbrow.

Hecursedthewater.Thenhe

thoughtofthecoolsummer

thunderstormsthatvisitedhis

farminSalta,wheretherains

wouldbreakthehumidityand

drenchthecroplands.Before

theycalledhim‘Raton,’he

wasGastonBersa,asimple

farmer,amanwhostood

amongtherowsofcitrustrees

andletthedownpourwash

awaytheday’sdirtand

sweat.

Ratonhadfalleninlove

withtheseaatfirst.Ithad

helpedhimescapethe

workadaylife,andoffered

himaperfumed,salty-sweet

smellandavastopennesshe

hadneverbefore

experienced.Butsoonhe

cametoconsiderthewhole

otherworld,beneaththe

undulatingplaneofthesea’s

surface.

Submarineschool

impartedahealthyfearof,

andrespectfor,thatdomain.

High-pressurewaterhad

sprayedRatonandhis

classmates,fillingthetraining

compartmentfast.Hethen

learnedthattheoceanwasthe

enemy,somethingtobe

resistedandfought.When

mechanicalaptitudeanda

slightframehadgottenhim

assignedtothebatterydeck,

hequicklylearnedthat,

shouldsaltwatercontactthe

electrolytewithinthe

imperfectlysealedbattery

cells,aplumeoflethal

chlorinegaswouldfloodthe

compartment,andpotentially

theentiresubmarine.Raton

snappedthedisconnect

switchover,andisolateda

blockofbatteries.

Thewaterseemedto

fallallatonce,abriefrain

thatsplatteredacrossthe

squaretopsofthebattery

cells.Ilovemyjob,Raton

thoughtironically.Hebegan

tohum;hisusualremedyfor

doubtorfear.Thenhistight

littleworldwasshatteredby

anothersonarping.Thisone

waslowerinfrequencyand

clearlymorepowerful,forit

shooktheveryskinofSan

LuisII.

◊◊◊◊

“Activesonar…and

propellernoises,”SanLuis

II’ssonartechnician

announced.“Twinscrews,”

headded.“ItisDelta1,sir.

Thedestroyer.Shehas

turnedinourdirection,andis

closingfast.”‘Destroyer.’

Thewordboresomuch

weighttosubmariners.

Throughouthistory,such

shipswerebothrespectedand

cursedbythosethatlurked

andsneakedaboutbeneath

thesea.CaptainMatias

lookedtoLedesma,who

rolledhiseyes,agesturethat

communicatedmuch.

“Sir,airbornecontact,”

thesonartechniciansaid.

Withthethermocline

breakingup,SanLuisII’s

sonarcouldnowdiscernthe

highrpmturbineand

thumpingrotorsofthe

hoveringMerlin.“Designate:

‘Hotel1.’”

TheMerlin—that

vexatioushelicopterthat

seemedtoappearand

disappeartoaggravatethe

verycaptainwhohadkept

themalivesofar—nowhada

designation,aneatpacketto

containthevenomtheyfelt

forthiscontraption.Matias

lookedattheclock.1930.

It’sgettingdarktop-side.

ThentheControlRoomlights

flickered.

“Report,”heordered.

Ledesmalookedtothe

ControlRoom’sengineering

panelandthebatteryread-

outs,andthenhisgazeshifted

totheelectrician’smate

whosejobitwastomonitor

theboat’ssystems.Grasping

forananswer,the

electrician’smatethrew

switches,pushedbuttons,and

readgauges.

“Sir,voltagedrop,”he

reported.“Ishowamanual

trippingof‘primary

disconnectone.’Available

powernowdownto22

percent.”

Ledesmawenttothe

growler,liftedthereceiver,

andselectedthebatterydeck.

Afterhemadeinquiries,

Ledesmahungupandturned

tothecaptain.

“Batterydeckreports

banktwoisolateddueto

water.CorporalBersais

tryingtogetanothereight

percentwithcablebridging.”

“Goddamnit.”Matias

knewthat,withbattery

reservessolow,hewould

soonneedtorunthediesels,

andthedieselsneededair.

“Captain,wemust

decreaseourdepth,”Ledesma

beseeched.Justthen,in

seemingsupportofhis

recommendation,beggingfor

relieffromtheblackcrush,

SanLuisIIletoutashudder

andaprolongedgroan.

“Verywell,”Matias

addedwiththecalmof

someonewithnothingto

lose.IfIamforcedtothe

surface,thecaptainthought,I

willputmybootrightuptheir

ass.AlthoughMatiashad

alreadymadeuphismindon

acourseofaction,heasked

Ledesmaforadvice

nonetheless:“Options?”

“Well,sir,therearenot

many.Justonereally,”

Ledesmaraisedhiseyebrows

intoablackarch.Matias

nodded.

“Malditobritánicos,”

someonemumbled.Theyhad

eavesdroppedontheofficer’s

conversation—nothardinside

asteelpipethatamplified

merewhispersandbounced

theminalldirections.

Matias’sbowedheadlifted.

Hestrolledthecompartment

andsurveyedthemenunder

hiscommand.Hecouldhave

asked,‘Whosaidthis?Who

wasundisciplinedenoughto

offersuchastatement?’

Though,inthiscase,he

wouldnotmakeanexample

forthesakeofdiscipline.

Why?Fatiguemainly,and

becauseCaptainMatias

agreedwiththecomment.

Yes,damntheBritish.

“Señor,”Ledesma

soughthiscaptain’sattention

onceagain.

“¿Si,Santiago?”

“Captain,wemust

attack.”

CaptainMatiasstudied

hisexecutiveofficer,liking

whatheheard,andthelook

ofdeterminationinhis

subordinate’seyes.

“Whatisthemoonlike

thisevening?”thecaptain

inquired.

Ledesmaconsulteda

table.

“Waningcrescent.”

Good,Matiasthought

andnodded,thelightofthe

moonwillnotbeontheir

side.Matiasclosedhiseyes

andpicturedthesilvery

surface.Helongedfora

lungfuloffresh,salt-laden

seaair.Hethoughtof

submarinersofoldwhoused

tobringtheirboattothe

surface,popthehatch,and

climboutontotheconning

towertolineupanattackas

seaspraydrenchedtheirstink

away,andfreshbreezes

carriedawaytheircares.

Yes,hethought,damn

theBritish,anddamnitallto

hell.Afterall,anythingwas

betterthanhidingdownhere

intheblackness.

“Okay,mydarling,”

Matiaswhisperedashe

strokedthenearestpieceof

thesubmarine’smetalthathis

shakinghandcouldfind.

Thenhisvoiceboomed:“Ten

degreesriseonthebow.”

“Yes,mycaptain.”

“Loadtubesoneandsix

withKlubs,andputSqualls

intwoandfive,”Matiashad

orderedanti-shipcruise

missilesandrocket-propelled

torpedoes.

Ledesmagrinned.

“Keep‘53s’inthree

andfour,”Matiasadded,

wantingthewake-homing

torpedoesavailableaswell.

“Aye,sir.”Ledesma

wasre-energizedbythenew

order,anditwassoon

repeatedandtransmittedto

thebowcompartment.

Techniciansinthe

weaponsroomscurriedabout

astheirsupervisorshouted

instructions.Inawell-

practiceddance,sixmen

unloadedwake-homing

torpedoesfromfourtubes,

winchedthembackonto

storageracks,andthenloaded

theencapsulatedmissilesand

cone-shapedrocket-propelled

torpedoes.Theirsupervisor

smiledathispantingmen,

thankfulforthefrequent

skill-sharpeningdrills.He

crankedthegrowler.

“Sir,”Ledesmasaidas

heputdownthegrowlerin

theControlCenter.“Bow

compartmentreportsalltubes

loadedandreadyinall

respects.”

“Excellent,”Captain

Matiaslookedathiswatch.

“Recordtime.”

Thesubmarineseemed

excitedbythenewaction.

Withnosepointedtowardthe

waves,SanLuisIIrosefast,

likeaswimmerwhohadgone

toodeepfortoolongandfelt

thatinsatiableurgetosuckair

again.

“Mindyourrise,”

Matiassaid,andwatchedas

thebowanglewaschecked

andadjusted.Theindicator

bubblemovedfrom12

degreestotheproper10he

hadordered.Creaks,

bubbling,andthesoundof

rushingwatersounded,as

thoughataphadbeen

opened.

“Delta1andHotel1

continuetoclose,”thesonar

technician’sraspyvoice

addedtothesounds.

◊◊◊◊

CaptainFryattgrabbed

oneofthebridgehandholds

thatthegeniusengineersat

BAESystemshadhadthe

foresighttoinstall.Hewas

amazedthatsomeoneseated

atacubiclefarfromthefury

oftheAtlanticcouldlook

beyondtheirdesk,beyondthe

flatscreenthatdisplayedthe

ship’sthree-dimensional

design,andtranspose

themselvesintotherealityof

afightingshipatsea.Fryatt

peeredoutthroughthespray-

soakedbridgewindow.The

colorfulsunsetmadeit

difficulttoseethemarker

smokedroppedbythe

Merlin.Thenhespottedthe

ribbonthatrosefromthe

water.

Fryattorderedaslight

coursecorrection,“Come

threedegreestoport.”When

hewashappywiththebow’s

alignment,hesaid:“Steadyas

shegoes.”CaptainFryatt

smiled.Hedidnotneedradar

orsonar,noranyofthe

glowing,digitalreadoutshis

amazingshipoffered.‘Imust

godowntotheseasagain,to

thevagrantgypsylife.’The

quotewasdisplacedbyan

electronicbeepingandhis

firstofficer’sreport:

“SonarreportsMaster1

isatzero-nine-five.Depth:

330metersandrising.

Bearing:zero-one-eight.She

ismakingturnsforeight

knots.”

“ClearKingfisherto

prosecute.”

“Aye,sir,”Williams

turnedandnodded.The

simplegesturewouldforward

authorizationtotheMerlinto

attackthecontact.

“Bowarray.Hammer,”

Fryattadded.Thesonarin

Dragon’sbulbousbow

powered-uptosendsound

wavesintothedeep.

WHOMP.

SanLuisII’smetalhull

shookasthesoundwaveshit

her.Onlytheenemy

destroyercouldputsuch

powerbehinditssensor.

“Getustomissile

launchdepthquickly.They

willbeshittingalloverusin

asecond,”Ledesmabarkedto

theControlCenterpersonnel.

“Bowup20,”thechief

saidasherestedhishandon

theplanesman’sshoulder.

SanLuisIIpitchedup.The

floorofthesubmarine’s

ControlCenterbecamea

steephill.Thosestanding

bracedthemselves,while

thoseseatedsecured

seatbelts.Thefloortilted

towardstarboard.“Watch

yourtrim,damnit;watch

yourtrim.”thechiefbarked.

Thehelmsmanand

planesmanusedalltheir

abilityandskilltoarriveat

themissilefiringdepth

smartly.

JustforwardofSan

LuisII’ssail,the

maneuveringplanes

articulatedtosteadythe

speedinghullaswaterwas

pumpedintoaport-sidetank.

SanLuisII’srollleveledout.

CaptainMatiassmiled,

confidentthatSanLuisIIwas

ingoodhands.Hesaid:

“Maketubesthreeandfour

readyinallrespects,

includingopeningouter

doors.”

Ledesmarepeatedthe

orders,andsecondslater,

reportedtheyhadbeen

carriedout.

“Verywell.Firing

pointprocedures,tubesthree

andfour,surfacetarget:Delta

1.Fire.”

SanLuisIIshuddered

asthetwoheavywake-

homingtorpedoesshotfrom

herhull.

“Torpedoesaway,tubes

threeandfour,”Ledesmasaid

withasmile.“Mydepthis

180metersheadedfor30.”

“Closeouterdoorsand

reloadtubesthreeandfour

with‘53s.Slowascentat100

metersandopenouterdoors,

tubesone,two,five,andsix.

At30meters,snapshotthose

tubes.Startwithtwoand

five,thenoneandsix,all

targetingDelta1.”

“Aye,sir,”Ledesma

acknowledgedwitha

clenchedjaw,andprecisely

repeatedthecomplexorders

tosubordinates.“Sir,bow

compartmentreportstubes

threeandfourreloadedand

readyinallrespects.

Matiasnodded.Silence

hungintheControlRoom,

andtensionamongthecrew

wasasheavyasthe

recirculatedair.

“Splashesandhigh-

pitchscrew;torpedointhe

water,”thesonarsupervisor

announced.“Range:1,000

yards;bearingandcourse

changingrapidly,”theyoung

man’svoicecracked.

“Hotel1,”Ledesma

mumbled.TheMerlinhad

droppedoneofitsStingray

lightweighthoming

torpedoes,nowdescendingin

ahelicalpattern.

“Torpedoisactiveand

searching.”TheStingray’s

activesonarhadenergized,

andwaslookingfor

somethingtokill.

“Rigboatfordepth

charges.Launch

noisemaker,”Matiasbarked,

hisordersnowclippedasthe

stressoftheencounter

increased.EachofSanLuis

II’scompartmentsprepared

fordamagecontrol.The

torpedoroomfeda

cylindricalnoisemakerinto

tubeseven,asmallvertical

ejectorthatprotrudedfrom

thecompartment’sceiling.

Thenoisemakercontained

chemicalsthatreactedwith

saltwaterandthus

effervesced,creatingan

ensonifiedareathatwould

appearonenemysonar.

“Señor,bow

compartmentreports

‘noisemakerisaway,’”

Ledesmainformedthe

captain.ReadingMatias’

mind,headded:“Mydepthis

70metersheadedfor30.Our

torpedoesarebearing:zero-

nine-seven.Course:zero-

one-fivedegrees.Bothare

runningstraightandnormal.”

Heglancedatthedepth

gauge.“We’reat50meters.”

“Slowtheascent,trim

theboat,andopenouter

doors,tubesone,two,five,

andsix,”Matiaswas

squintingandfocused.The

captaingrabbedceilingpipes

andwirewaystosteady

himselfashewalkedtoward

thefirecontrolpanel.AsSan

LuisIIcameshallow,themen

couldheartherhythmic

whooshingofDragon’s

propellersthroughthehull.

Downinthebatterydeck,

Ratonlikenedthenoiseto

thatofcicadaeonahot

summer’snight.

Ledesmaspunaround

toinformMatias,“Outer

doorsopen.We’reat30

meters,”

Matiastookadeep

breathandgavetheorder:

“Firingpointprocedureson

Delta1.Snapshot,tubesone,

two,five,andsix.”

Afteraloudhissofair,

SanLuisIIshimmiedfor

severalseconds.

“Weaponsareaway,”

Ledesmaannounced.

“Closeouterdoors,all

tubes.Crashdive.Make

yourdepth300meters.

Reloadtubesone,two,five,

andsixwith‘53s.”

“Crashdive.Crash

dive,”Ledesmayelled.A

bellrang.SanLuisIIpitched

down.Herpropellerchurned,

knifingthesubmarine

throughthewaterandtoward

thedeep.

7:JOUST

“NolancehaveI,in

joustorfight,Tosplinterin

mylady'ssight;But,ather

feet,howblestwereI,For

anyneedofherstodie.”—

JohnGreenleafWhittier

TheSouthAtlantic

lookedlikemoltengoldasthe

lastraysofthesunset

illuminateditsgentlyrolling

surface.Abubblerose,

disturbingthetranquility.

Andthenthebubblepopped;

foameruptedinitsplace.

Fromwithintheeruption,a

greycylinderwasspat.It

leapttotheair,peeledapart,

andopenedlikeaflower.

InsidehidaKlubanti-ship

missile,anexportversionof

theRussianNovator3M-54,

generallyknownbyits

NATOdesignation:SS-N-27

Sizzler.

Releasedfromits

watertightcontainer,the

Klub’sboosterignitedand

pusheditintothesky.Small

wingsunfoldedandcontrol

surfacesadjusted.TheKlub

nosedover,leveled,and

begantoraceacrossthesea.

Nearwhereithadsprung,

spranganothersuchbloom.

It,too,leftthepetalsofits

water-tightcanisterafloat.

Theylingeredforamoment

andthen,suckedunder,

disappeared.Asthecanister

petalsfelltowardthebottom,

theypassedtworopesof

bubbleswhereSanLuisII’s

super-cavitatingtorpedoes

hadsped.

Torpedoesarenamed

for‘torpor’—astateof

lassitudeimpartedbymarine

electricrays—andthese

Russian-madeweaponswere

readytodeliversuchastate

priortoconsumingtheir

prey.TheSquallshadbeen

spitfromthesubmarine’s

hull.Theirmid-bodyfins

snappedopenandwithapop,

rocketmotorsignited.Gases

emergedfromtheconical

cavitatorsattheweapons’

tipsandbubblesformed

aroundthecasings,reducing

dragandturningtheSqualls

intounderwaterrockets.The

weaponsthencharged

throughthewaterasthoughit

wereair,quicklyreaching

200knotsastheyraced

towardDragon.Swaddledin

theirself-createdgaseous

atmosphereandpractically

tastingthecomingkill,the

Squallsanxiouslyscreamed

throughthewater.

Some150metersbelow

theSqualls,twoType53-

65KEheavywake-homing

torpedoessnakedtheirway

throughthedarkness.They

hadbeenreleasedfirst,

pushedfromtheSanLuisII’s

tubesbyhighpressureairand

spatintotheocean.The

exportversionoftheType53

heavytorpedousedHTP—a

concentratedsolutionof

hydrogenperoxide.Oncea

catalystwasintroduced,HTP

decomposedintoahigh-

temperaturemixtureof

oxygenandsteam.The

oxygenallowedtheweapon’s

keroseneturbinetobreathe,

withthesteamventedoutside

theweapon’scasing.This

madethe‘53ahigh-speed

threat,andaddedtothe

torpedoeswakeofbubbles,

createdlotsofnoise.(Italso

madetheweaponvery

dangerousshoulditstart-up

inthesubmarine’stube.)

Westernnavieshad

abandonedHTPasa

propellantforthisvery

reason.Despitethese

worries,however,SanLuis

II’s‘53sworkedasthey

should,andtheircontra-

rotatingpropellersaccelerated

themtosome44knots.All

thewhile,thesensorsinthe

torpedoes’nosesgottowork.

Designedtosnakeback

andforthwithinthevee

presentedbythewakeofan

enemyship,the‘53swould

approachatarget,andwhen

proximate,explode.SanLuis

II’s‘53shuntedasdesigned,

runningstraightandtrue

towardthehunkofsteelthey

wereprogrammedtohuntand

kill:HMSDragon.Theyfell

inbehindthedestroyerand

begantheirmeanderupher

wake.

Inthepitchblack

beneaththeruckusofmissile

andtorpedolaunches,San

LuisIIwaspointeddownina

crashdive.Shehadreleased

asecondnoisemakerand

wouldsoonpass180meters,

thedepthatwhichSanLuisII

hadreleasedherwake-

homingtorpedoes.

“Enemytorpedoat

three-zero-zerodegrees.

Bearing:one-zero-three

degrees.Weaponisdiving.

Rapidchangeinbearingand

depthindicativeofahelical

searchpattern,”SanLuisII’s

sonartechnicianreported.

“Screwpitchsuggestsit’sa

Stingrayacoustichoming

light-weighttorpedo.”

“Hotel1,”Ledesma

added.“TheMerlin…”

“Bowplanesat20

degrees,”avoicecamefrom

theshadowsoftheControl

Center.

“Twohundredfifty

meters.Iamheadedfor300

meters,”anotheradded.

“Sir,batteriesnowat

ninepercent.”

“Mierda,”Captain

Matiasmumbled.Three

decksdown,intheconfines

ofthebatterydeck,Raton

scurriedaboutonhissled.

Usingthehull’sdownangle,

heslidalongoverthetopsof

thebatterycells,brakedover

thebankthathadbeensoaked

bysaltwater,andlockedhis

sledinplace.Thelastofthe

waterhaddrainedintothe

bilgeandthenintooneofthe

boat’sstarboardtanks.He

madehiswaytotheshunt

and,swallowinghard,

snappedthedisconnect

switch.

“Sir,batteriesbackat

17percent”shoutedavoice

fromabove.

“Bravo,Raton,”

Ledesmastated,withapump

ofhisfist.

BANG,SanLuisII

complained.

“Approachingthree

hundredmeters.”

“Planestofive

degrees.”

“Aye,sir,myplanesare

atfivedegreesdown,”the

planesmanreported.

THUNK.CRACK.

EveryoneexceptLedesma

andMatiassquirmedasSan

LuisII’shigh-tensilesteel

shelladjustedtothesqueeze

oftheocean.

“Adeadlyhug,”Matias

quippedwithacrookedsmile.

“Threehundred.”

“Planestozero.All

stop,bothturbines,”The

captainordered.Ledesma

echoedthewords.

“Answersallstop,sir,”

saidthehelmsman.

CaptainMatiaslooked

aroundtheconfinesofSan

LuisII’sControlCenter.Our

tomb.Hestudiedthered-lit

tangleofwires,pipes,dials,

andlights.Matiascursedthe

narcissismofthosewho

believedtheyhadallthe

answers.Hesworeatthe

sociopathictendenciesofhis

leaders—theleadersthathad

orderedhimtoengageinthis

folly—andhecursedthose

whohadsenthissonto

death.Asthesethoughts

playedoutinhismind,his

outwardappearanceremained

oneofsteadfastnessand

professionalism.SanLuis

II’sforwardmomentum

stalled,andtheboathungin

thepitch-blackstillness.The

soundoftricklingwater

confirmedthatballastwas

pumpedintoasterntrim

tank.Matiasglancedatthe

bubble:Theboatstayedlevel

inbothpitchandyaw.

“Sonar?”heasked.

“Sir,Delta1isatzero-

two-zero.Bearing:two-zero-

zeroandturning.Range:500

meters.Delta1hasreduced

speed,makingturnsforabout

sevenknots.Enemytorpedo

isapproachingour

noisemaker.”Amuffled

thumpsoundedsomewhere

overtheirheads.“Enemy

torpedohasdetonated.”

“Yes,”washissedby

severalofthesubmariners.

Atandbelowthe

surface,thesub’sweapons

approachedtheBritish

guided-missiledestroyer.

◊◊◊◊

TheKlubsdartedin

lowandfast,skimmingjust

abovethewater.Kingfisher

21’spilothadspottedtheir

tail-fireontherippledwater.

SeamuscontactedDragon,

reportinghisownposition

lesthe,too,beengagedby

thedestroyer.Thehelicopter

wasorderedtogainaltitude

andhold,soSeamusbrought

hisaircraftuphighand

bankedofftoadesignated

blockofairspace.Inthe

meantime,Dragon’sair

defenseradarhadalready

detectedtheKlubs’

cylindricalbodies.TheAWO

reacted.

“Radarcontact.

Probabletargets,”theOp

Roomhadannouncedover

thebridge’sVoiceUserUnit.

“Fastmoversattwo-zero-

zerodegrees.Bearing:zero-

two-zero.”Lieutenant

CommanderWilliams

soundedanalarmbelland,

withanodfromCaptain

Fryatt,orderedthewheelhard

oversoDragon’sbow

pointeddownthemissiles’

flight-path,presenting

minimumaspect.Dragon

slowedaswell,reducingthe

turnofhershafts,andthus

reducedherself-generated

noise.

Thecaptainorderedup

theSurfaceShipTorpedo

DefenseSystem,“Deploy

SSTDS.”FromDragon’s

transom,adrumwinchpaid

outatowedarray.

CaptainFryattclosed

hiseyesforamoment,andin

theblacknessfelttheheatand

burningsmokefromthat

terribledayaboardSheffield.

Herememberedthewindin

thedarkpassagewayasthe

firesuckedair,gobblingthe

airasthefiregrewin

intensity,chokingmenwith

fumes,smokeandoxygen

starvation.Fryattopenedhis

eyesagain,butstillsawthe

bigroundeyesofthesailorin

therespiratorwhohadsaved

himfromasphyxiation.He

blinkedtheimagesawayand

focusedagainonthehereand

now.

Twocellcoverspopped

openamongDragon’s

forwardverticallaunching

system.

“T-markforfunction,”

WilliamsspoketotheOp

RoombyVUU.

“Electricfiring

selected,”OpRoom

responded.

“Firinggranted,”Fryatt

authorizedandWilliams

repeated.

“Standby.”

Adeafeningbanganda

plumeofeffluxexitedthe

chimney.AnAster15leapt

fromitslaunchercell.The

dart-shapedmissileroseona

fountainoffirethatbathed

thebridgeinaneerieorange

glow.

“Goodaway,one”

Williamssaidasthebridge

crewwatchedthemissile

climbout.

BANG.WHOOSH.

AsecondAster

departed.

“Goodaway,two.”

Bothmissilesclimbed

briefly,turnedover,shaped

theirtrajectory,discardedthe

boosterstage,anddove

towardthewater.

Nearlysimultaneous

withthefirstshot,Dragon’s

SeagnatControlSystemhad

scrutinizedwinddirection

andspeed,threatdirection,

threatrange,threattypeand

theship’sdirectionand

changeofheading.Itthen

selectedlaunchertwo,and

sentthreeMark214

seductionchaffcanisters

skyward.Pushedawaybya

low-grocket,thecanisters

burstanddispersedcloudsof

metallizedplasticstrips.

InDragon’sOpRoom,

aredlightblinkedonthe

sonarstationconsole.The

SSTDS’spassivetowedarray

hadsniffedsomethingand

presentedittoa

midshipman’sscreeninthe

OpRoom.

Dragon’ssonar

technicianleanedinand

scrutinizedhisdisplay.The

midshipmandonnedhis

earphonesandheardahiss

likesteaksjustturnedona

hotgrill.

“Bloodyhell,”he

bouncedinhisseat,and,

turnedtothedirector,

proclaiming:“Torpedo,

torpedo,torpedo.”Asthose

aroundhimshiftedtheirfocus

fromtheradar’splanposition

indicatortosonarreadouts,

thesonartechnicianbegan

theclassificationand

identificationroutine.

Withinseconds,hehad

weapontypestohelpthe

directorandcaptaindefend

theship:“VA-111Shkval

super-cavitators.Two

inbound,bearingzero-two-

fivedegrees.”Twomore

frequencylinesappearedon

thesonardisplay.The

midshipmansquirmedinhis

seatagainandbegantoanalyze

bearing,frequency,andrange

ofthethreats.

TheAstersdoveonthe

anti-shipmissiles.OneAster

detonatedaboveaKluband

sprayeditwithsteelcubes.

ThedamagedArgentinesea-

skimmerwobbledandthen

toreitselfapartbydynamic

pressure.ThesecondAster

detonatedproximatetothe

secondKlubanti-ship

missile,butitswarhead’s

shotguneffectmissedthe

target.ThissecondKlub

acceleratedandbrokethe

soundbarrierwithacrackas

itcarriedontowardDragon.

“ASMinsideouter

fence,”Williamsnoted.

“Phalanxonline.Thenthe

lieutenantcommander

reiterated:“Allweapons

free.”

Fryatt’sonlyresponse

wasaclenchingofhisteeth

thatmadehischeekspoke

out.Helookedtotheclouds

ofchaffthatfloateddown

towardthesea.

Theanti-shipmissile

screamedoverthewaterand

flewattheshapeitsnose

radarsaidwasanenemy

target.However,Dragon’s

chaffmadethisshapelarger

thanhertruemass

represented,andthemissile’s

computerizedbraincontinued

toadjustitspathatwhatit

believedtobetheenemy’s

centerofmass.Thiscenter,

however,wasnowofftothe

starboardoftheBritish

guided-missiledestroyer.

Mountedtoitssponson

wasDragon’sclose-in

weaponssystem.Withits

distinctiveradome—

nicknamed‘Dalek’afterthe

aliensinDoctorWho—the

Phalanxscannedtheseawith

itssearchsubsystem.When

ithadfoundatargetand

providedaltitude,bearing,

heading,range,andvelocity

informationtoitscomputer,

thecomputeranalyzedthe

target’srange,speedand

direction.Amillisecond

later,thePhalanxswiveledon

itsmountandraisedits

Vulcansix-barreledGatling

cannon.Itstrackantennaand

subsystemscrutinizedthe

target,observingituntilit

determinedtheprobabilityof

ahitwasworthfiring.On

automatic,thecomputer

pressedthetrigger,andwitha

rippingsoundthePhalanx

spat75tungstenbulletsper

second,walkingthemintothe

radarreturnithaddeemed

threatening.

Toocloseforcomfort,

theremainingKlubanti-ship

missileblewupinaflashof

orange,black,andred.Its

turbojetengine,themost

robustpartofitsstructure,

splashedinandcartwheeled

foramomentbeforeit

stoppedwithaslamandthen

abruptlysank.

Fryattsighedand

exhaledabreathhehadheld

forminutes.Hisbluedair-

deprivedfaceturnedpink

again,andheturnedhis

attentiontothereportof

underwatercontacts.The

enemyhadreachedupto

assaultthemfromtheair,and

nowstabbedfrombeneaththe

waves.Hisenemywouldtry

tosticktheknifein,twistit,

andlookintohisveryeyesas

hespilledFryatt’sguts.

Fryatt,inthatmomentand

withoutknowinghimby

name,respectedArgentine

NavyCaptainMatias.He

was,afterall,justapatriot

doingeverythingwithinhis

powertowin.Fryatt

nodded.Asheacknowledged

theexistenceandpurposeof

hisfoe,Fryattdecidedhe

wouldwin,andthathewould

damnhisenemy’sshadowto

adeep,cold,blackgrave.

Buthewoulddosowitha

saluteandamemoryhe

wouldholdaslongashe

lived.

Ifmylifeistobealong

one,Fryattponderedashe

lookedaroundattheyoung

peoplemanninghisship’s

bridge.Helovedeveryone

ofthem.Hewouldnevertell

themthisdirectly,buthad

anyonebeenlooking,his

usuallycoldblueeyeswould

havebetrayedthefeeling.

Fryattrefocused.

“Williams.Squall.”

“Sir,”Williamsturned

andasthoughinatrance,

roboticallyrattledoffallhe

knewabouttheRussianfish:

“VA-111.High-speed.

Straightrunner.GOLIS

navigationsystem.Preset

targetinformation.”Thislast

bitwasenoughforCaptain

Fryatttorelax.

“Cometoheadingone-

eight-zero.Increasespeed:

20knots,”heordered.

ThoughtheSquallwas

afearsomelyfastweapon,it

raninalineandwas

thereforeameredistractionto

ahighlymaneuverablevessel

likeDragon.

Distractionfromwhat?

“Torpedo,torpedo,

torpedo,”wastheOpRoom’s

answertohisquery.

Fryattraisedhis

binocularstowatchthelines

ofsurfacebubblesasthe

Squallsspedalong.When

certaintheywouldcome

nowherenear,heshiftedhis

attention.

“Whathaveyougot,

Charlie?”Fryattaskedover

thebridgephone.

TheOpRoomsonar

technicianhadlocalizedthe

otherslowertorpedoes,and

matchedtheiracoustic

signaturetoType53-65

heavies.MoreGoddamn

Russianfish.Hereportedto

thedirector,whointurn

answeredthecaptain.

Williams’bigeyes

askedthequestionasFryatt

hungup.

“Wakehomers,”the

captainsaid.Everyoneonthe

bridgeturnedandpeered

asternasiftheycouldlook

throughsteelbulkheads.

PartofDragon’s

SurfaceShipTorpedo

DefenseSystem,astern-

mountedreel,paidoutafloat

andline.Thefloatcreateda

secondwakebehindthe

destroyerandbegantoemit

soundslikethosegenerated

byan8,000-tonshippowered

byloudengines.

SanLuisII’sheavy

torpedoeshadalreadyturned

intotheveeofDragon’s

foamedwake,andhadbegun

tosnakebackandforth

withinit.Dragonincreased

speedandstartedaturn.As

shedidso,thetowedfloat

slowed.Thisallowedoneof

thetorpedoestocatchup.

Theweaponarmedits700-

poundwarhead.Justafew

morefeetoftravelandthe

torpedoexploded.Ageyser

ofwhitewaterrosefromthe

ocean,andtheexplosion’s

pressurewavesmackedthe

shipontheass.Thesecond

torpedocontinuedits

advance.

Theweaponnibbledat

theedgeofDragon’swake,

andnolongerswimming

side-to-side,accelerated.In

theOpRoom,thetechnician

heardtheinsect-likebuzzof

itshigh-speedpropellers

drawingnearer.Heinformed

thedirectorleaningoverhis

station.Thedirectorrangthe

bridge.

“Increasetoflank.

Hardrightrudder,”Fryatt

ordered.

Dragon’sbowroseas

shehastenedandleanedhard

intheturn.Fryattwatchedas

thebowswungaroundand

pointedbackattheship’s

wake.

“Meether,”thecaptain

ordered.

“Verywell,”answered

theconningofficerasheused

oppositerudderangletostop

theturn.

“And,rudder

amidships.”

Theshipcutacrossthe

wake’sconsecutivewaves

andfrothycenter,slicing

throughwithoutsomuchasa

bounce.AssoonasDragon

hadcutthroughthecalm

lather,Fryattyappedanother

command:“Hardleftrudder.”

Thebowswungagain,

andthehullleanedhard.

Sailorsgrabbedholdof

bulkheadsandconsolesto

steadytheirstance.Witha

smacking,theshipcrossed

thewakeagainandfinished

thelastloopofalargefigure-

eightshehaddrawnuponthe

sea.Thetorpedohaddoneits

besttoturnwiththewake.It

piercedtheouterwave

createdduringtheship’slast

turnanditsnosesensor

scannedtheareaahead,

findingnothingbutopen,

featurelessocean.Itwould

rununtilitskeroseneand

hydrogenperoxidewere

expended.AsDragon

becameafleetingblackshape

onthestar-lithorizon,the

torpedosankintotheabyss.

Fryattleanedtoward

Williams.

“How’stheMerlin’s

fuelstate?”

“Atleastanotherhour.”

“Loadout?”

“OneStingrayandtwo

Mark-11s.”

“Excellent.Getmea

sonarfixonthisbastard.”

“Withpleasure,sir,”

Williamsrespondedand

poweredupDragon’sactive

sonar.

8:CALOR

“Deathmakesmen

preciousandpathetic.They

aremovingbecauseoftheir

phantomcondition;everyact

theyexecutemaybetheir

last;thereisnotafacethatis

notonthevergeofdissolving

likeafaceinadream.”—

JorgeLuisBorges

WHOMP.

Thelashofsonarmeant

onething:theBritish

destroyerwasaliveandwell.

“Herewego,”Ledesma

muttered.

WHOMP.

SanLuisIIshivered.

Matiasfelthertremorashe

leanedagainstapipe.He

wonderedifitwasheorthe

boatthatwasfulloffear.He

letgoofthepipe,feltthe

vibrationagainthroughhis

rubber-soledshoes,and

lookedathistremblinghand.

It’sbothofus.

WHOMP.

“Splash,”thesonarman

stated.“High-pitched

screws.Torpedointhe

water.Itjustwentactive.”

“Mierda,”Matias

mutteredtohimself.One

submarinermadethesignof

thecrossashigh-pitched

pingsreverberatedthrough

thewater.Thesonarman

squeezedhisheadphones

tightagainsthisears,and

added:“Highrpmturbine.”

“Hotel1.TheBritish

helicopter,”Ledesma

breathedcontemptuously.

Matiasgrunted

acknowledgment,andrattled

off:“Planesupfivedegrees.

Makeyourdepth250meters,

increasespeedtofiveknots.

Readynoisemaker.”The

captain’svoicehadbecome

gravelly,betrayinghis

fatigue.Ledesmawondered

aboutthelasttimethecaptain

hadslept,orforthatmatter,

eaten.Ledesmarubbedhis

owngrowlingbelly.He

thoughtaboutasteakora

nicepieceoffish.Whenhe

rememberedthecannedand

frozenslopthatcameoutof

NumeroDos’galley,

Ledesmarefocused.

“Fiveknots.Coming

upontwo-five-zero,”he

announcedtotheControl

Center.

Matiasnodded.

“Planestozero.”SanLuisII

leveledagain.The

submarine’scasingcreaked

withthechangeinpressure.

“Power?”

Seekingananswerfor

hiscaptain,Ledesmawentto

theelectriciansmate.The

electriciansmatereadhis

station’sgauges.Hethen

lookedatLedesma,shrugged,

andfrowned.Ledesma

checkedthebatteryread-out

forhimself,sighed,and

returnedtothecaptain.

“Sir,batteriesaredown

toninepercent.”Ledesma

pausedandexhaledwith

worry.“Wearegoingto

haveto--”

Ratonheardtheprotests

fromthehull.Hethoughthe

evensawthesecondaryinner

hullflexforamoment.He,

too,lackedsleepandfood,

andbegantodoubthisown

senses.Ratonhadnursedthe

batteriesasbesthecould;

shiftingleadsfromterminals,

whiffingozoneasthey

sparked,andtopping-offcells

withdistilledwater.Despite

suchefforts,theavailable

chargewasfiniteand

fleeting.Likelife.Theboat

answeredhisthoughtswitha

sickeninggroan.

SanLuisIIhadbeen

pushedtoherlimits.The

submarine’ssteelhadbeen

compacted,flexedand

stretched.Herenergywas

nearlyexpended.Heroxygen

generatorsandcarbondioxide

scrubberswerenearempty.

Raton’sthoughtsbecame

cloudedandhisvision,wavy.

Ratonknewthepoisons

emittedbymachineryandthe

crew’sbreathsweregenerally

heavierthanmostgases,and

tendedtosettlewithinhispart

oftheboat.Ratonwas,in

effect,SanLuisII’scanaryin

acoalmine,andthetroubles

hebegantoexperience

confirmedthattheyhadall

beenunderwaterfortoo

long.Raton’ssledhada

growlerthatcouldpluginat

multiplepointsalongthe

batterycompartment’strack.

Heconsideredusingit.

Ratonwouldbeg

whomeveransweredtocome

totheirsensesandgettothe

surfaceforair,forthe

opportunitytorunthediesels

andfeedhisbatteries.His

handtrembledashefeltthe

growler’sbox.Hetuggedat

itscoiledumbilical,fondled

itsplug,andconsideredthe

wordshewouldhaveforthe

idiots‘upstairs.’Thenhe

rememberedhistrainingand

hisreverenceforCapitán

MatiasandTenientede

FragataLedesma;his

superiors.Aretheysuperior?

Ratonwondered,andthen

shookhisheadtoclearit.He

realizedhisheartwasracing.

Hisstudiesandtraining

flashedintohismind:

Hypercapnia,fromthe

Greekhyper,for‘above,’and

kapnos,meaning‘smoke.’

Theconditionisoneof

abnormallyelevatedcarbon

dioxide—agaseousproduct

ofthebody'smetabolism

normallyexpelledviathe

bloodandthroughthelungs.

Ratongiggled,andsaid:“It’s

true.It’strue.”Afloating

headappearedbeforehim.If

Ratoncouldhaverecognized

itsfeatures,hewouldknow

thefacebelongedtoaboy

whohaddiedduringSanLuis

II’sshakedowncruise.The

facesmiledandsaid:“Yes,it

istrue.”Thenitssmilefaded

andthefacebecamegrimand

drainedofcolor.Itsdark

eyesbecamesad.Raton’s

smilefaded,too.Thenhe

yelledinhorror.

Ratonshimmiedalong

toalockerdoor.Hefumbled

atitslatchandgotthelocker

open.Insidewasadiving

lung;abagandmouthpiece

theRusoshaddesignedto

filterbadair.Ratonbitdown

onthefoultastingbit,slipped

thepieceonhisnosetopinch

hisnostrilsshut,andsuckeda

lungfulofrubber-tastingair.

Afewfilteredbreathslater,

hisheadbegantoclear.He

movedalongtothegrowler.

Ratonliftedthe

oversizedtelephone’s

connectionwire,foundthe

plugatitsend,aimedforthe

receptaclelabeled‘Control

Center,’pluggeditin,and

crankedthegrowler’sringer.

“¿Si?”cameoverthe

receiver.Ratonsobered

himself,asthoughhewere

dismissingtheeffectsofa

nightofdrinkingFernetand

Coca-Colas.

“Señor,”Ratonsaid,

unsureofwithwhomhe

spoke.“Dióxidode

carbono…”

Ledesmaslammedthe

ControlRoomgrowlerdown.

Hefelthisownbalance

momentarilywaverashe

movedtocheckthe

environmentcontrolpanel.

Thepanel’sgaugesconfirmed

Raton’sreport.

“Captain,scrubber

efficiencyreduced.Carbon

dioxidelevelsareonthe

rise,”Ledesmastatedtothe

captain,whodisplayeda

blankanddistantlook.

Ledesmalookedaroundand

saweveryonewasbreathing

harder.Heturnedbacktothe

captain,gasped,andinsisted:

“Sir…”

Matiasshookhishead

andblinkedhardandfast.

“Yes,Santiago…”

“Captain,wehaveto

gettoperiscopedepth.We

havetoventtheboat.”

Everyonewithin

earshotturnedawayfrom

theirControlCenterstation

panelsandlookedat

Ledesma.Theyallknewthat

thesurfacewastoodangerous

withadestroyeranda

helicopteraround.Coming

shallowtoextendthesnorkel

wouldbetantamountto

suicide.CaptainMatias

clenchedhisfistandstruckit

againststeel.Tohavea

nuclearboat,hewished

silently.Torunsilentand

rundeep;tobefreeofthe

surfaceandair.Inthat

moment,CaptainMatias

understoodwhyhissonhad

died,whyBuenosAireshad

pushedtheboundariesofits

industrialandscientific

capabilitiestoacquiresucha

capability.Ascertainashe

wasabouthistacticsand

boat,theinherentlimitation

ofthediesel-electric

submarinewerefatalifatin

canlikethisBritishguided-

missiledestroyerpersistedin

itspursuit.CaptainMatias

collectedhimself,clearedhis

throat,andspokeout:

“Esundíadelealtad.”

“¡Sí,micapitán!”came

backfromthemeninyelled

unison.Foritwasadayof

loyalty,andtheywould

followtheircaptain,fight

theirboat,andhonortheir

country,nomatterthecost.

“Verywell…”Captain

MatiasstrolledtheControl

Center.Helookedateach

submarinerattheirstation,

pattedtheshoulderofsome,

andthenordered:“Diving

lungsforall.Thoseoffduty

totheirbunks.

“Aye,sir,”cameback,

andthemenreachedinto

stationlockerstopulloutand

dontheirmasks.Though

Matiasstretchedhisoverhis

head,heleftitdanglingfrom

hisneck.

“Launchnoisemaker.

Planesup20degrees.Make

yourdepth100meters.

Readytubesonethroughsix

forfiring,”Matiascontinued.

Withadeviouschild-

likegrin,Ledesmarepeated

hiscaptain’sorders.Witha

subtleswish,anoisemaker

wasreleasedtothewater.

Mostwouldhavepaidthe

soundlittlemind,though

someaboarddiscernedand

recognizedthesmall

cylinder’sdin.Regardless,

theyallhopedtheenemy

torpedowouldbelured

away.SanLuisIIroseinthe

watercolumnand

accelerated,leavingthe

noisemakerbetweenherlast

positionandtheBritish

helicopter-launchedweapon.

Matias’eyesrolledin

hishead.Hewasonthe

vergeofpassingout,he

realized.Hepawedathis

mask,placeditoverhisnose

andmouth,andsuckedafew

breathsthroughitsround

filterelement.Loweringthe

maskagain,heexhaledand

asked:“Sonar,positionon

Delta1?”

“Señor,IhaveDelta1

atthree-three-one;bearing:

one-three-two.Speed…”the

sonarmanpausedtoconfirm

hiscountofbladeandshaft

turns,“is11knots.”

“Weapons:firingpoint

procedures,Delta1.

Snapshot,tubesonethrough

four.ReloadwithASMs.”

Menscurriedtomake

thecaptain’sordershappen.

Theylockedtheenemy’s

positionintofirecontrol,

programmedtheheavywake-

homingtorpedoeswiththose

numbers,andpreparedfour

Klubanti-shipmissilesfor

loading.SanLuisIIangled

up,makingthesetasksan

urgentuphillcoordinated

dance.Thesubmarine

shuddered,andwitha

continuouswhoosh,four

torpedoeswereloosedtothe

water.

“Santiago,bringusin

ascloseasyoucan.Slam

Klubsand‘53sdownthatmal

parido’sthroat,”Matias

cursed.“Then,surfacethe

boat.”

Ledesmahesitated.His

usualreiterationoforders—a

seemingechoofthecaptain’s

voice—wasnotimmediately

forthcoming.Then,hefinally

repeatedwhathadbeensaid.

Whenhedid,thecaptain

added:

“Prepareconningtower

teamforSAMdeployment.”

Ledesmastooderect

andacknowledgedright

away:“Aye,sir.”

Despitethelackofneed

tosaluteaboardship,

Ledesmasnappedone

anyway.Thegesturewas

interruptedbyahigh-

frequencypinging.

“Dippingsonaratzero-

nine-eight.”

WHOMP,camethelow

frequencyslapofDragon’s

bowsonar.

“Activesonar,”San

LuisII’ssonarmanreported

theobvious.Thenhe

scrutinizedtheothersounds

inthewaterandreported:

“Enemytorpedoapproaching

thenoisemaker.”The

sonarmanfellsilentand

listenedhard,closinghiseyes

todoso.Amomentlaterhe

added:“Torpedohasreached

noisemaker.”Thesonarman

rockedbackandforth,as

thoughthemotionwould

improvehishearingand

concentration.Heamended

hisreportbysaying:

“Torpedohaspassed

noisemaker.Nodetonation.

Torpedocontinuestosearch

attwo-four-two;depth:285

meters.”

“Makeyourcourse--”

thecaptainstarted.

“Splashes,”the

sonarmaninterrupted.His

reportdidnotcontinuewith

‘activesonar’or‘screws,’

whichmeant:

“Depthcharges,”

Ledesmaguessedoutloud.

TwoMark11depth

chargeshaddroppedfromthe

hoveringhelicopter,splashed

in,andbegantofallthrough

thewater.Astheydid,the

thumpofKingfisher21’s

rotorsweremuffledbythe

waterastheweaponssank.

ThecylindricalBritish

weaponsdescendedtoward

theirdetonationdepth:180

meters,thelastdepthat

whichMaster1—SanLuisII

—hadbeenlocalizedon

activesonar.

Whenadepthcharge

detonates,thehighexplosive

undergoesarapidchemical

reaction.Averyhigh-

pressuregasbubbleexpands

rapidly,andcreatesaprimary

shockwavethatislethaltoman

andmachine,especiallyifthe

weaponexplodesinclose

proximity.Then,asthe

weightofthesurrounding

waterforcesthebubbleto

contractagain,pressure

withinthebubblebuildsand

causesittore-expand,

propagatinganother

shockwave.Thiscycle

continuesuntilthegasbubble

canventtotheatmosphere.It

wasthesecyclicalsecondary

shockwavesthatCaptain

Matiasandhiscrewfeared,

astheycouldbenda

submarine’shullbackand

forthuntilacatastrophichull

breechoccurred.

“Makeyourcourseone-

eightzero,”Matiasordered.

Hisplanwastoturntheboat

inawidecircleandmoveher

tothesurface;allinhopesof

avoidingthisnewperil.

“Enemytorpedo

circlingattwo-nine-zero

meters,”thesonarman

added.TheStingraywasin

anautomatedcircularsearch

pattern.Matiasusedthis

informationtodeprioritizethe

threattheenemyweapon

presented.Knowingthe

Merlin’sweaponloadout,the

captainrationalized:Ifwecan

bleedthishelicopterdry,

haveitexpendallitsweapons

andsendithomesulking,

thenthedestroyerwillbe

vulnerable.Afterthese

thoughts,CaptainMatias

spokeagain:

“Planestofivedegrees.

Slowyourrise.Cometonew

depth:eight-zerometers.”

“Aye,sir,planestofive

degrees.Comingtonew

depth:eight-zero.Repeat:80

meters.Forward

compartmentreportstubes

onethroughfourloadedwith

ASMs.Tubesfiveandsix

loadedwithType53heavy

torpedoes.”

“Verywell,Santiago.

Verywell.”

SanLuisIIleanedas

sheturnedagreatcircleand

spiraledupwardtothe

surface.Hercrewwaitedas

thedepthchargesfellthrough

thewaterintheirdirection.

Despitethesubmarine’ssteel

skin,thecrew’seyesall

lookedupasiftheycouldsee

throughmetalandwaterand

seethedescendingdepth

charges.Perhapstheygazed

totheHeavensandtoGod,

beggingforsalvationand

maintenanceoflife…Ifluck

waswiththem,theenemy

weaponswouldbefaroff

theirmark.Someprayed.

ButeventhoughGodhears

allprayers,sometimesthe

answeris‘no.’

Adepthcharge

detonatedjustseveralmeters

behindandbelowthe

submarine.Theexplosion’s

high-pressuregascreateda

brightsphereintheblack

ocean,asmallsunthat

momentarilyilluminatedthe

abyss,andthenshrankand

blackened.Thecircular

shockwaveitcreated

slammedintoSanLuisII,

shakingherviolently.Inside

thesubmarine,lights

shattered,panelssparked,

fusesblew,andmen

screamed.

“Leftfullrudder.

Aheadfull,”Matiasshouted.

BLAM.Another

explosion.

Thisexplosionwas

closeranditwasbig.The

primaryshockwavewas

bone-shaking,butthenit

mixedwiththesecondary

one.Bothwavesmerged,

conspired,andcrashedinto

SanLuisII.

Thesubmarinequaked,

rockingbackandforth,and

wailedlikeatormented

ghost.Metaltoreandmen

screamed.Thosestanding

seemedtojumpinplace,and

thoseseatedinchairsrose

intotheairbeforefalling

backupontheirbottoms.

Somementumbledoveras

theycrashedbackdown,and

theentireboatseemedtoflex

asthoughconstructedofa

greenspringtwig.

Thedepthcharge’sgas

bubbleshrankandgrew

again.Itslammedagainst

SanLuisII’sstern.It

grabbedherandtwistedher.

TheexplosionliftedSanLuis

II,shovingherhard,and

pushedhernosedown.Then

occurredathirdexplosion.

Thisonefeltasthoughitwas

rightupagainstthe

submarine’skeel.

Ratonwasliftedfrom

hissled.Hisbackslammed

againstthecompartment

roof.Heswore,“¡Estoesun

quilombo!Therewasagush

asabatterycellcrackedopen

andspilleditscontentsina

wavethatsloshedalongthe

floorbeforedrainingtothe

bilge.ThelightsinRaton’s

littledungeonflickered.He

rememberedalullabyfrom

childhood:‘Quélinda

manito’…

LittleGastonBersalay

snuggledinhisbed,beneath

thickblanketsandcool

comfortingsheets.Helooked

uponhisfather’scandle-lit,

beardedface.Ratonheldhis

handup.Helookeduponthe

face.Itswirledinthecarbon

dioxide-poisonedhaze.

Despitetherespirator’s

mouthpiecebeingjammed

againsthistongue,hebegan

tohumthelyrics:

Quélindamanitoque

tengoyo

LindaybonitaqueDios

meladio.

Hethrummedhis

fingersandthought:

WhatabeautifulhandI

havethatGodgaveme.

Beigeblurs,Raton’s

movingfingerstrailed.He

laughed.Thelaughwashard

andgasping,andreverberated

upthroughthesteeldecks.

Someoneupstairsheardit,

butdismisseditasanother

hallucination,likethefloating

faceRatonkeptseeing,and

thesoundsoftheoceantrying

toendhislife.Then,when

thefacereappeared,Raton

yelledout:“¡Dióxidode

carbon!”

◊◊◊◊

Kingfisherhovered

nearwhereitslastdepth

chargehadsplashedin.Off

thehelicopter’snose,the

blackblanketofsearose,

boiled,anderupted,sending

whitewaterairborne.The

upsurgefoldedoverandfell

backagainassurfacewaves

radiatedinconcentriccircles.

IntheMerlin’srearcabin,

Johnwatchedthespectacle

andknewthat,farbelow,

menweresuffering.Though

thiswasJohn’sfirst

experiencewatchingweapons

beingusedinanger,hedid

notfeelangry.Instead,he

feltpityandrespectforthose

braveenoughtotraveland

fightbeneaththewaves,inan

environmentsoalienthey

mayaswellhavebeenonthe

Moon.

◊◊◊◊

“Trimtheboat,”Matias

whisperedintothe

planesman’searashehelped

himoffthecoldsteelfloor.

“Aye,sir,trimthe

boat,”theshakenplanesman

answeredsheepishly.

Leaningbackinhisseat,the

planesmanpusheda

mushroom-shapedbutton,

andthenagainwhenthe

indicatorshowedSanLuisII

wasbackonanevenkeel.

Pattingthemanonthe

shoulders,thecaptainturned

andannounced:“Getmea

damagereport.Andswitch

toemergencylighting.”

Ledesmaacknowledged

andturnedonthebackup

lightswhichilluminatedthe

compartmentinblueshadowy

tones.Hethenmadea

generalannouncement:“All

compartments,report

damage.”

Thegrowlerrang.

Ledesma,hislegsshaking,

steadiedhimselfandreached

forit.Henodded.

“Forwardcompartment

reportstubefiveisleaking,”

hetoldthecaptain.“Repairs

areunderway.”

“Starboardsternplane

stuckatpositiveseven

degrees,”theplanesman

addedafterunsuccessfully

manipulatinghiscontrols.

“Firecontrolcomputer

isdown.Ineedfuses,”the

weaponsofficerpleaded.“I

needfuckingfuses.”

Someoneranofftogetthem.

“Okay.Thatpajero

helicoptercannotshitonus

anymore.Depth?”

“Onehundredtwenty

meters,sir.”

“Señor,permissiontocheck

forwardcompartment?”

Ledesmawasalreadyonthe

waywhenthecaptainoffered,

“Yes,Santiago.Go.Go.I

needthoseweaponsinfive

minutes.”

LedesmaenteredSan

LuisII’sforward

compartment.Atorrentof

seawaterwasgushingfrom

tubefive.Torpedomen

struggledastheirsupervisor

screamedtheobvious:“Make

hatchcovertight.Turn,

boys.Turn.”

“Pushharder,”one

yelled.

“I’mpushing,”wasthe

strain-filledresponsehegot.

Moregruntsasthementried

toturnthehand-wheel.

Ledesmascannedthe

compartmentwiththecone-

shapedbeamofaflashlight.

Thesoakedmen

groanedandspatwateras

theyfoughttotightenthe

tube’sbreechvalvewheel

androtatethelockingring

thatheldthebreechclosed

whenthetubewasflooded.

Thebreech,aslugofsteel

thathadCyrillicletters

embosseduponit,seemed

suchasmallbarrierbetween

theirsmallenvelopeof

breathableair,andthevast

oceansofullofcold,saline

death.Thechieftorpedoman

sawLedesmaand

instinctivelyreported:

“Señor,tubeis

flooded.Muzzledoormust

bedamaged.Lockingringis

bent,”heshoutedinclipped

sentences.

Ledesmalookedatthe

smallredcardonthetube’s

breechdoor.Itread:

‘LOADED.’Worried,

Ledesmajoinedthemenin

theirstruggletoreseatthe

breech’swedgesinthe

rotatinglockingring.He

grabbedacrowbarfroma

wallrackanddroveit

betweenthewedgesandthe

lockingring’sgroove.He

slammedhisweightagainst

thebartobendtheringand

guidethemisalignedwedge

intotheindentation.The

crowbarcameunstuckin

failure.Ledesmaletoutacry

ofpainasithithiminthe

chest.

“It’sthetrippinglatch

arm.It’sbent.Ineeda

hammer,”Ledesmasaid.The

word‘hammer’cameoutasa

strangegurgleaswater

sprayedintohismouth.He

coughedhardassomeone

handedhimthetool.

CLANG.Ledesma

usedthehammertohitthe

metalarmthatalignedthe

breechdoorwiththetube’s

barrel.CLANG.TheBrits

willhearthatforcertain.But

helandedyetanotherblow

againstthemetalarm.

CLANG.Theflowofwater

lessenedandthenstopped,

andthemenfelltothe

floodedfloor,exhaustedand

soaked.Breathinghard,the

chieftorpedomanpatted

Ledesmahardontheback.

“Gracias,señor.”

Ledesmacoughed

again,smiled,andsetofffor

theControlCenter.

SanLuisII’sbow

tippedupagainasherrise

towardthesurfacecontinued.

Ledesmagrabbedthetight

passageway’soverheadpipes

andwirebundlesasthefloor

slopedup.Hepracticallyfell

againstthefirstbulkhead

beforehecroucheddownand

swungthroughitsopenhatch

andintotheControlCenter.

9:VIEW

HOLLOA

“AsGodismywitness,

Iwouldrathermybodywere

robedinthesameburning

blazeasmygold-giver'sbody

thangobackhomebearing

arms.”—Anonymous(from

‘Beowulf’).

Theelectriciansmate

snappedinthelastfuseand

slidbackoutfromundera

circuitbreakerpanel.He

lookedacrossSanLuisII’s

ControlCentertothe

weaponsofficerwhostaredat

thedarkfirecontrolpanel.

Suddenly,thepanellituplike

aChristmastree.

“Finalmente,”the

weaponsofficersaidashe

stood,andreportedtothe

captain:“Sir,firecontrol

computerisbackonline.”

“Excelente.”

Theweaponsofficer

turnedbacktohispanel,

noticedaflashingredlight,

thumpeditwithhisfinger,

andspokeagain:“Sir,tube

fiveshowsasinoperative.”

Ledesmadriedhishair

withagreytowelthathad

oncebeenwhite.Headded:

“Sir,thetube’sbreechdoor

wassecured.But...”

Matiasturned.

“But?”thecaptain

asked.

“…There’sa‘53stillin

thetube.Itwaspoweredup

whenthefloodingstarted.I

thinktheumbilicalplug

shorted.”

“Carajo.”Nocaptain

wantedtohearthathehada

weaponpowered-upand

stuckinatube,letalonean

HTP-propelledone.

“Fiftymeters,”avoice

penetratedthecaptain’s

thoughts.CaptainMatias

focused.

“Snapshot,tubesix,

Delta1,”thecaptainordered.

“Síseñor.Snapshot:

tubesix;Delta1,”Ledesma

respondedandturnedtothe

weaponsofficer:“Doit.”

Theweapon’sofficerpushed

abutton.Withawhoosh,

high-pressureairshovedthe

weaponfromthehull.“Tube

six,weaponaway.”The

officerstartedhisstopwatch.

“Leveltheboatat20

meters.Andthenfirethose

missiles,”Matiasordered.

Ledesmanodded,

turnedtothedepthgauge,

andchanted:“Forty,30…

bowplanestozerodegrees,

sternplanestofive.Twenty-

five,20.Leveltheboat.Fire

tubesonethroughfour,

target:Delta1.”Hissing

soundssignaledthatfour

Klubanti-shipmissile

canistershadejectedfromthe

hull.“Missilesaway.”

“¿Baterías?”the

captainasked.

“Twopercentand

fallingfast,”theelectrician’s

matereported.

“Preparetoraisethe

snorkelandengagethe

diesels.Getusontonew

heading:zero-nine-zero,three

knots,orbestpossiblespeed.

Andreloadtubesonethrough

sevenwithwhatever’sleftin

thecupboard.”

“Síseñor,”said

Ledesma.

Thesubmarinepitched

andyawedintheturbulence

ofthesurfacezone.The

wateratthisdepthwas

disturbedandinfluencedby

theatmosphere,anddespite

herweight,SanLuisIIfelt

thepowerofEarth’s

atmosphere.

“Everbeensailing?”

theCaptainaskedwitha

crookedgrin.

EveryoneinSanLuis

II’sControlRoomlookedat

him.Somehadblankstares;

somelookedworried,others

wereperplexedbythe

question.

“Capitán,”oneman

spokeup,“Ihave.”

Matiassmiledwide.

“Where?”heasked.

“OffPuertoMadryn,

señor.Abeautifulboat.She

was12meters.ACatalina.”

“Si,si,PuertoMadryn,”

Matiassighedandclosedhis

eyes.Hecouldseethe

mainsail,inflatedjib,the

gentleriseandfallofthehull,

andthesmellandtasteof

cool,saltedair.“Oh,tobe

sailingrightnow.”

Thesubmariner

recognizedtheneedonhis

captain’sface,stoodathis

stationandcontinued:“…She

wasnamedMamaQucha.

Shewasgoodandstrong.

Shehadgivenustherightof

passage,andprotectedour

way.Justlikeourboat,

señor.JustlikeNumero

Dos.”

CaptainMatiasagain

openedhiseyes.Theman

whohadspokenwasjusta

shadowintheControl

Center’sredlighting.

“Gracias,”Matias

thankedhim.“Theseais

indeedwondrous.Likeall

thosethatsailuponher.”

◊◊◊◊

Dragon’sbow-mounted

sonardetectedanother

submergedobject.The

multifunctionconsoleinthe

OperationsRoomalertedthe

AssistantUnder-Water

WarfareOfficerandbeganto

trackandclassifythecontact.

“Torpedo,close

aboard,”thesailoryelledout.

Hescannedthedataonhis

display,franticallyadding:

“Weaponisactiveand

terminal.”

“Brace,brace,bracefor

impact,”thePrincipal

WarfareOfficershoutedout

when…

◊◊◊◊

Anexplosionshookthe

submarine’ssteelcasing.The

quakingtravelledupCaptain

Matias’splayedsealegsand

rockedhisverybones.A

cheerwentupintheControl

Center.

“NumeroDoses

NumeroUno,”Matias

bellowed.SanLuisIIseemed

toriseinresponse,suckedup

byawaveatthesurfacethat

hadreacheddowntothe

submarine’sdepthandpulled

herbulkalongfortheride.

“Report,”Captain

Matiasordered.Thepressing

ofbuttonsandwhispered

conversationswentsilent.

“Señor…”the

sonarmaninhaleddeepand

hard.“Explosion.Soundis

atone-zero-two:Thelikely

positionofDelta1.”The

sonarmanpausedand

checkedhisreadouts.“Our

torpedo,”headdedwith

surety.SanLuisII’sType53

hadactivatedontheoutskirts

ofDragon’swakeandturned

in,snakeditswayupthe

frothingline,andblewup

whenitthoughtitsmelled

somethingmetal.

Themetalthatthe

torpedohaddetected

belongedtoDragon’shull,

specificallyrightatthe

portside5-Deckwherethe

ship’sgasturbineswere

located.Whentheweapon’s

simplecomputerbrainhad

thoughtitwasjustclose

enough,theweaponhad

blown.Theexpandinggases

formedabubblejetthat

stabbedatDragon,piercing

andtearingintoher.

“Themissiles?”

CaptainMatiasqueried.

Ledesmalookedathis

watch,andsaid:

“Almostthere…”

◊◊◊◊

Dragon’sbridge

shudderedwiththe

explosion.Fryattgrabbedthe

armofhiscommanding

officer’schairtosteadyhis

stanceasDragonleanedto

starboard.Shesnappedback

toanevenkeelwhenthe

computeractuatedthehull-

mountedstabilizer.Red

lightsflashedontheofficer-

of-the-watch’smultipurpose

console,aswellasthatwhich

belongedtothenavigation

position.Someoneswore.

“Sir,”theofficer-of-

the-watchspokeup,“RPMs

aredropping.”Hiswords

wereaccentuatedbythe

suddenlurchofDragon’s

hull.Itwasasiftheshiphad

sailedintothick,soupywater

thatsappeditsmomentum.

“Captain,GasTurbineRoom

reportsdamageand

flooding.”

TheVUUrang.

Williamsansweredandgota

report,passingthe

informationtothecaptain:

“Sir,wehavelostportgas

turbine.Portalternatorand

switchboarddown,aswell.”

Dragonbegantoturn

towardtheleft.

“Reducerevolutions,

starboardshaft,”Fryatt

ordered.“Damagecontrol

teamsto5-Deck.”

IntheOpRoom,blips

appearedontheAirWarfare

Officer’sconsole.Theywere

menacinglyclose.

“Bridge,Primary.

Missile,missile,missile,”

cameoverthebridge’s

speaker.Williamswentto

thecombatsystemsconsole

andselectedtheradar

display.Fourmissiletracks

spedacrossthescreenlike

bonywhitefingers,reaching

forthechevronsymbol

representingDragon.

“Missilesterminal,”

Williamsshouted.Fryatt

rememberedthelasttimehe

hadheardthat,andthoughtof

Sheffieldandhislost

shipmates.Hefeltananger

hehadnotfeltinalongtime.

Heswore,andthenscreamed:

“Turnintothem.Get

both‘Qs’in-line.”

Thenavigatingofficer

turnedtheshiptominimize

theprofilepresentedtothe

missiles,andtoputthethreat

inthefiringarcsofboththe

starboard-andport-side

Phalanxclose-inweapons

systems.

“Seagnat,”Williams

confirmeddecoyswerealso

up.“Activeanddistraction.”

Thesystemhadautomatically

loftedajammerroundaswell

aschafftoeithersideofthe

ship.

Theportclose-in

weaponssystemcamealive.

Itsturretswiveledandthe

barrelrose.Acracklingroar

andatongueofflamespata

whippedropeoftungsten

roundsattheapproaching

sea-skimmers.

Anexplosionclose-

aboard…

Thenanother…

Dragonshook.

Fryattraisedhis

binocularsandwatchedone

Klubturnoffcenterand

towardwheretheMark251

activedecoyhungonits

parachute.

Rippingandvibration

announcedthesecond

Phalanxlashingoutatthe

inboundKlubs,swatting

anotheroftheanti-ship

missilesinamassivefireball.

Thebrightflashfilled

thebridge.Fryattwinced.

Everythinglookedlikean

overexposedphotograph.

Thencame-thepitter-patter

ofshrapnelimpactingthe

ship’smastsand

superstructure.Hiseyes

cleared,andfromtheredand

orangeandblackwalloffire

andsmoke,awhiteshape

emerged.

“Brace,”Williams

shouted.

TheKlubslammedinto

Dragon’s02-Deckjust

forwardoftheship’sfunnel

andrightabovethestarboard

small-calibergun’splatform.

Itpiercedthestructure’sthin

skinanddetonatedwithin.

Theblastrippedinto

theforwardup-take—the

stackwhereexhaustgasses

fromtheship’spowerplants

vented.Theyexploded.The

shockwaveslammedintothe

armorof1-Deck,reflected,

andthesuperstructureburst

likeaballoon.Hotgasesand

overpressuretravelled

forwardthrougha

passageway,rippedthrough

thenavigationofficer’scabin

andthecombinedchartroom,

andlikeanunwelcomeguest,

enteredthroughthebridge

hatch,twistingitfromits

frameandhinges.

◊◊◊◊

“Blimey,”John

exclaimedashesawfireand

thickblacksmokefeatheroff

fromthestillmovingship.

TheMerlinorbitedata

distanceand—outof

weapons,lowonfueland

unabletoland—was

relegatedtoreluctant

voyeurism.

◊◊◊◊

Fryattheardonlya

high-pitchedsqueal.Hetried

tobreathe,buthisbody

refusedtolethiminhalethe

hottoxicgassesthathad

filledthebridge.Fryatt

coughedandspatoutthesoot

andbloodthathadfilledhis

mouth.Heheardgroansand,

barelyconscious,sawa

bloodypilewhereWilliams

hadlastbeenstanding.Fryatt

triedtostand,buthefolded

againwhenheputweighton

hisbrokenleg.Hisheadspun

andablackshapefilledhis

vision.Foramoment,Fryatt

wonderedifhewasdead.

“Captain.OhMy

God,”thenavigatorsaidashe

placedasmokehoodand

respiratoroverthecaptain’s

head.HegaveFryattagentle

shake.“Sir.”

“Helpmeup,Angus.”

Withayelpofpain,

Fryattwasliftedanddropped

intohischair.Angusgrabbed

afireextinguisherand

sprayeditatseveralsmall

electricalandmaterialfires.

Heopenedthebridge’souter

door,whichsuckedmostof

thesmokefromthespace.

“Firefighting?”Fryatt

askedwithacough.

Anguswenttoa

consoleandcheckedthatthe

ship’sfirefightingsystems

hadbeenactivated.They

wereon,whichmeantthat

aqueousfoamwasbeing

sprayedintoburning

compartments.

CaptainFryattlifted

himself.Thepaininhisleg

madehisheadswim.

However,hewasdetermined

tomakeittoWilliams.He

movedalongtheconsoleuntil

hegottotheseniorofficer’s

chairandthebloody,burnt

messbeforeit.

“Nigel…”hewhispered

tohisfriend,andthenasked

thenavigatorforthedoctor:

“GettheQuackuphere.”

“Sir,Lieutenant

CommanderWilliamsis

dead.Thedoctorcannothelp

him.”Hehadalready

checkedthefirstofficer,and

thenmovedtoeachcasualty

andfeltforpulsesor

respiration.Ateachmound

ofscorchedfleshand

clothing,heonlyshookhis

headindismay.Thenhe

cametothequartermaster,

whogroanedwhenprodded.

Anguslaidhimoutflat.

“Ventilation…”the

quartermastergurgled,his

headstillfilledwithduty.

Thenavigatortookthecue

andwenttotherightconsole.

Itwasstillenergizedand

working,sohepusheda

buttonthatisolated

ventilation.Hedidnotknow

thatdamagecontrolteams

hadalreadymanuallydone

thesamethingbyspinning

baffleandlouvrecontrols,all

whiletheyfoughtfiresand

workedtorescuetheinjured.

Thenavigatorreturnedtothe

quartermasterandpropped

himagainstthebridge

consolearray.

Fighttheship,Fryatt’s

subconsciousspokethrough

theconfusionofthesituation.

“Aye,fighttheship,”

Fryattmumbled.

“Sir?”thenavigatorand

quartermasteraskedin

unison.

◊◊◊◊

Thesecondexplosion

hadbeenheardbythose

nestledinsideSanLuisII.A

briefcheerhadgoneup.

“Raiseperiscopeand

snorkel.Allstartondiesels,”

CaptainMatiasbellowedwith

renewedenergyand

confidence.

Theperiscopeclimbed

fromitshullwell,pokedfrom

thesubmarine’ssail,and

piercedthesurface.Captain

Matiasunfoldedthe

periscope’shandholdsand

leanedintoitsviewfinder.

Heshuffledaroundashe

spuntheperiscope.

Itwasearlymorning,

andtheskywaspainted

purpleandorange.Theball

ofthesunhadjustpeeked

ontothissideoftheworld.

Theyhadbeenfightingall

night.Anotherfewstepsand

hespottedtheprofileofthat

whichhesought.

“Theresheis,”the

captainhissedwithboth

contemptandbegrudging

respect.Hesettledhisview,

puttingthecrosshairsofthe

periscope’sreticlerighton

thetarget’scenterofmass.

“Theresheis.”

10:EL

PARTIDO

“Wedidn'tlosethe

game;wejustranoutof

time.”—VinceLombardi

Dragonfilledthe

periscopeviewfinder,though

itintermittentlydisappeared

behindwhite-toppedhillsof

water,reappearingagainasa

troughpassed.Matiassaw

thick,billowingsmokethat

trailedbehindtheBritish

destroyer.Heclickedthe

periscope’sopticsto10times

magnificationandstudied

Dragon’sform.

Atthisangle,Dragon

showedasanabstract

sculptureofanglesand

towers.Whenherhullrose

overawave,Matiassawthe

brightredanti-foulingpaint

ofherbottomandthecrisp,

starkblackofherwaterline.

Thesharppointofherbow

climbeduntilMatias

discernedthebulboussonar

dome.Thebowfellanddug

inagain,sendingafanof

whitefoambeforetheBritish

destroyer.

“HisMajesty’sShip,”

theCaptainhissed.Itwasthe

firsttimehehadseenhis

enemy.

“¿Señor?”Ledesmahad

heardhiscaptainsay

something,butno

clarificationwasforthcoming.

Instead,Matias

centeredDragoninthe

targetingreticleand,withhis

handshaking,pusheda

switchthatlockedthe

enemy’sbearinganddistance

intothefirecontrol

computer.SanLuisIIleaned

andthenrolledbacklevel.

Matiasspreadhislegsapart

toformamorestable

triangle.Hefeltthedeck

vibrateastheboat’sdiesels

spunup.Abreezetouched

Matias’faceasaControl

Roomventblewinfreshair.

Hetookadeepbreaththat

tastedofsaltandseaweed,

andthenturnedtohispanting

men.They,too,reveledin

thesurfaceair,fillinglungs

andcoolingstickyfaces.As

theboat’sstaleairwas

displaced,thecrew’sbreaths

slowedanddeepened.

CaptainMatiassmiled.

“Weapons?”heasked.

“Señor,‘53’sintubes

oneandsix.Tubefive’sstill

jammed,”Ledesmareported

afterpeakingattheweapons

load-outpanel.

“Verywell.Surfacethe

boat.Prepareforasurface

shot.Andgettheconning

towerteamupwithIglas.I

wantthatchupapija

helicopter,”Matiassnarled.

“Itistimetofinishthis…on

ourterms.”

Ratonhadheardand

feltthedieselsstartup.They

shooktheboathardand

remindedhimofthetractor

heusedtorideinthefieldsat

Salta.Thetractorhadstunk

ofdieselfumesanditwas

hardtosteer,makinghisarms

acheandsoakinghisshirt

withsweatfromtheeffort.

Nonetheless,despitethese

complaints,hehadlovedthat

‘viejoburro’—‘old

donkey’—dearly.Ratonlet

outachortlethatwasas

muchnostalgicpainas

amusementwiththe

memory.Hewatchedthe

batterychargegaugeclimb

slowlyandrealizedhehad

doneit:Hehadgivenhis

boat,captain,andcrewmates

thelifetheyneededtostayin

thefight.Freshairreached

downintothebatterydeck.

Asitreachedintohislittle

world,ittickledhischeeks,

driedhissweat,andfilledhis

bloodwithneededoxygen.

Raton’swearyheadcleared.

◊◊◊◊

Asquirtofwaterblown

bythemorningbreezeintoa

finemistreflectedthe

sunrise’scolors.Aboutit,the

seaturnedfromdarktoa

lightbluelacedwithwhite

bubbles.Then,ablackshape

piercedthewavesandpoked

attheair.Itwasarectangular

monolith.Asitgrewfrom

thesurface,adarkand

massiveshapecamefrom

below,washedbyfalling

water.Thelong,unnatural

islandbrokethechopupon

it.CaptainFryattimagined

hewasdreaming,buthesoon

realizedwhathewaslooking

at:

“Submarineatthe

surface,”thenavigator

pointedandyelled.

Fryattwenttothe

shatteredwindscreenand

lookedatthewhale-like

shape.The‘whitewhale’to

my‘CaptainAhab,’he

thought,thoughtheshape

wasinfactdeepblack.Like

avoid,ablackhole,an

alternateuniverse,ithad

intrudeduponhisworld.

Fryattquicklyscannedthe

Dragon’sconsoles.

The114-millimeter

deckgunflashed

‘inoperative’redand,

accordingtothePlatform

ManagementSystem,most

othersystemswereofflineas

well.However,thanksto

damagecontrolteams,

propulsion—specificallythe

starboardalternator,diesel,

gasturbine,andswitchboard

—showedgreen,asdid

steeringandstabilizers,

chilledwater,lubricatingoil,

andseveralothersubsystems.

“Navigator,”Fryatt

bellowedashewenttorudder

control,“Whateveryoucan

muster,mister,allahead

full.”

“But,sir…”

“Makeitso,”Fryatt

harshlyrestatedashe

wobbledonhisshatteredleg.

“Aye,captain.”The

navigatorleanedonthe

starboardthrottle.Despite

herinjuries,Dragonsurged,

raisedherbow,andplowed

ahead.Fryattadjustedthe

stabilizersandrudders,and

didhisbesttokeepthe

surfacedsubmarinecentered

inthebow’sbreakwater.The

shippulledleft.Fryatt

counteredwithfullright

rudder.Dragonranstraight

andtrueagain,slamming

throughthewavesand

breakinggreywateroverher

forwardquarter.

Tothelast,Igrapple

withthee…CaptainFryatt

quotedtohimself.

“Sir,starboardturbine

temperaturerisingfast,”the

navigatorreported.

FromHell'sheart,I

stabatthee…

“Sir,Ihavetoback

off.”

Fryattturnedand

scowledwithaburningfirein

hiseyes.

CaptainFryattexpertly

adjustedDragon’scontrols.

Herbow,likeaharpoon,flew

towardtheshadowthat

floateduponthedarkgreen

waters.

“Forhate'ssake,Ispit

mylastbreathatthee…”

Fryattmuttered.Hesteered

hisshipatthesmooth

blacknessofthesurfaced

Argentinesubmarine,andin

themoment,feltasobsessed

asAhab.Asqueakofa

chuckleescapedFryatt’s

clenchedteeth.

Thenavigatorlookedto

hiscaptainandwondered.

Here-checkedtheredlined

turbinetemperatureindicator.

“Sir…”heinsisted.

Fryattdidnotrespond.

◊◊◊◊

“Whatthehellarethey

doing?”Johnaskedoverthe

intercomashewatched

Dragonturnandspeedup.

“DamnedifIknow,”

Seamusrespondedashe

dippedtheMerlininthe

directionoftheenemy.

Despitebeingunarmedand

practicallyflyingonfumes,

hesuccumbedtothesame

instinctsashiscaptain.

Bracingthemselvesagainst

themovementsoftheaircraft,

everyoneonboardKingfisher

21peeredthroughthe

windowsatthespearof

Dragonasshenowraced

directlyatthefat,floating

cylinderofSanLuisII.

Johnraisedbinoculars

andscannedSanLuisII.He

watchedaswatersloshed,

broke,foamed,andrandown

thesubmarine’ssteelcasing.

Hesawfree-floodholessuck

inandspitoutwater.He

discernedtheoutlineofhatch

openings,andasJohnpanned

forward,sawthesubmarine’s

massivediveplanesslapthe

surfaceandsinkinastormof

bubblesbeforetheyrose

againandshedatorrentof

whitewater.Johnshiftedhis

viewbackagainandsettled

onthesubmarine’ssail.

Amongthestowedantennae

andperiscopesthatjutted

fromit,therewasanother

discernibleshape;adecidedly

humanone.

◊◊◊◊

TheRussianKilo-class

submarinehadbeendesigned

tooperateinthefrozen

wastesoftheArcticnorth,so

thesail’sconningstationwas

enclosedandwrappedin

Plexiglaswindows.Sincethe

stationfloodedwhentheboat

wassubmerged,ithad

becomecoldandwetand

slimy.MenofSanLuisII’s

conningstation’sdetailwere

uptherescanningevery

quadrantwithbinoculars.

Johnalsosawasmall

platformwheretwomen

couldstandabreastandproud

ofthestationenclosure.This

iswhereRatonstoodforthe

moment,arewardfromthe

captainforhisdiligenceand

asanescapefromtheextreme

confinesofthebatterydeck.

Thoughsmackedinthe

facebyathickcloudof

fumesthatemanatedfrom

SanLuisII’srunningdiesels,

Ratonreveledinstanding

outside.Headjustedhis

personalfloatationdevicefor

comfort,scannedhisquadrant

oftheseawithbinoculars,

andsighedwithexhaustion.

Theyhadallfoughtthrough

thelongdarknight.Nowit

wasdawn.Theskyloomed

asbigasever,andtherising

sunpainteditwithavast

paletteofcolor.Amongthe

crewontheconningstation

wasatwomanairdefense

team.

Bothmenwore

protectivegoggles,though

one,the‘spotter’s,’wasin

factthethermalimaging

type.Theteam’s‘shooter’

removeda9K338Igla-Sfrom

thesail’swaterprooflocker.

TheIgla—Russianfor

‘Needle’—wasaninfrared-

homingman-portable

surface-to-airmissile.The

shooterhurriedtoassemble

theweaponandtestand

engagetheweapon’sbattery.

Ratonfeltatugonhispant

leg.Hisbrieftimeinthecold

windwasover.Hetookone

moredeepbreathandthen

climbeddownfromhisperch.

Theshooterascendedin

hisstead,andwashandedthe

Igla’stube-shapedlauncher,

whichherestedupona

shoulder.Thenthespotter

joinedtheshooteronthe

sail’sperch.Theshooter

threwaswitchonthetube’s

foregrip,andtheweapon

camealivewithanominous

growl,allwhilethespotter

didaquicksweepofthe

surroundingairspace.His

thermalimaginggoggles

foundasourceofheat.

Thewhiteglowingblob

hesawwasinfacttheMerlin,

itshotturbinesandexhaust

streamsstandingout,inthe

infraredviewer,againstthe

blackcoldnessofthe

atmosphere.Thespotter

pointedwithasmallhand-

heldflagand,takinghiscue,

theshooterswungthemissile

tubeinthespecified

direction.TheIglashrilled

whenitsownsensorfound

theheatsource.Theshooter

centeredthelaunchersight’s

illuminatedreddotonthe

inboundBritishaircraft.

◊◊◊◊

Rodisawthatoneof

themenperchedatopthe

submarinehadapolerested

onhisshoulder.

“MANPAD;

MANPAD,”Rodiexclaimed.

Immediately,theaircraft

rolledrightandyawedhard.

Thumpsannouncedthe

ejectionofflaresfromthe

helicopter’sfuselage.

Strainingtobracehimself,

Johnlookedoutthewindow.

Acorkscrewofwhitesmoke

reachedfortheMerlin.

◊◊◊◊

Despitethelengthof

thetunnelthatleduptothe

sail’sconningstation,light,

sea-sprayandtheIgla’s

propellantsmokestillmade

theirwaydownintoSanLuis

II’sControlCenter.Though

onesubmarinerwasgreen

fromtherise,fall,androllof

thesurfacedsubmarine,the

restseemedcontenttobe

breathingthecoldmorning

air.CaptainMatiasunfolded

theperiscope’shandholdsand

leanedintoitsviewfinder.

Hespuntheperiscopeuntil

hefoundtheBritishdestroyer

again,andthensettledhis

view.

Dragonfilledhis

viewfinder.CaptainMatias

clickedoverto10times

magnification.TheBritish

destroyer’shullrearedasshe

climbedamountainofwater.

WhenDragonsettledagain,

Matiassawthemenacing

wyrmpaintedonthesharp

pointofherbow.Despite

thickblacksmokethat

belchedfromthejagged

wreckageofthedestroyer’s

superstructure,theshipwas

moving.NotascrippledasI

believed…

Thesubmarineleaned

andthenrolledbacklevel.

Matiasstumbled,and

steadyinghimself,re-centered

Dragonintheperiscope’s

reticule.Thecaptainpushed

theswitchthatlockedthe

target’spositionintoSanLuis

II’sfirecontrolcomputer.

Withouttakinghiseyefrom

theviewfinder,thecaptain

ordered:“Reporttubeload-

out.”

“Señor,tubeoneloaded

withaVA-111;tubetwo:

Type53heavytorpedo;tube

three:KlubASM,tubefouris

empty;and,tubefive:

inoperativethoughstill

loadedwitha’53,”Ledesma

recited.

“Verywell,”Matias

saidwithahoarsevoice.He

turnedtohisexecutiveofficer

andshouted:“Surfaceshot:

tubesone,two,andthree.Do

itnow.Finishher.”

“Firecontrol,targetis

Delta1.Range:1,000

meters.Bearing:two-zero-

zero,”Ledesmacalledout.

Helookedatthebattery

chargeread-out.Thoughthe

indicatorsclimbed,sodid

Ledesma’sanxiety.The

surfaceisnoplacefora

submarine.Hepushedthe

thoughtanddoubtsaside.

Dialswereturnedandbuttons

pushedastheattack

unfolded.Matiascontinued

tostudyhisadversary

throughtheperiscope.

HesawDragonsurge

forward.“Whatisshe

doing?”thecaptainaskedto

nobodyinparticular.Dragon

sentupafanofwhitefoam

beforehercharge.Matias’

confidencewasreinvigorated

bytheshakeofweapons

beingspatfromSanLuisII’s

hull.

“Señor,tubesone,two,

andthree:weaponsare

away,”Ledesmareported.

Theliltofhisvoicebetrayed

apprehensionandspoke

volumes,tellingthecaptainto

‘Pleasediveimmediately.’

“Thankyou,Santiago,”

thecaptainsaidcalmlyashe

peeledhiseyefromthe

periscope’smonocle.Then,

leaningbackinandcupping

theviewfinderagaininthe

arcofhisbrow,Matias

peeredoutatthesloshing

wavesandhisgreyfoe.

◊◊◊◊

AsSeamusputthe

helicopteronitssideandinto

atightturn,Johnwasthrown

againsttheaircraft’srear

cabinwall.Hecrawledtothe

cabindoorandkneeledto

peeroutthroughthewindow.

Leavingasmokytrail,

andtrackingtheheatemitted

fromthehelicopter’sengine

cowlings,themissilesnaked

itswayfortheMerlin.

“Christ,”Johnsaidas

hegothimselfbackinthe

seatandsecuredhisharness.

Thenhefelthischest,and

wasreassuredthathis

flotationvestwasinfacton.

Heknewthat,ifthey

survivedamissilehit,the

helicopterwoulddroplikea

rock,andonceinthewater,

sinklikeoneaswell.He

thoughtbackonhisescape

training.

Theyhadbeenputina

mockhelicoptercabin

suspendedoveracoldpool.

Itfellandflippedupside

downandfilledrapidlywith

thepoolwater.‘Checkyour

bubbles,’theyhadtoldthe

trainees.‘Bubblesalways

rise.Justfollowthemupand

out.’John’sharnesshad

opened—apparently,

purposefully—andherolled

fromhisseatandhithis

head.Thecloudofbloodthat

gushedfromthewoundmade

ithardtoseebubbles,let

aloneanythingelse.The

othertraineeswereblinded

byittoo,asonemanswam

rightintoJohn’sface,adding

tothethrobbingpain.Panic

threatenedtoovertakeJohn’s

rationalbrain.

Theairinhislungs

rapidlyranout,andthe

organsbeggedtoberefilled.

Heexhaledthelastofthe

breathanyway,andwatched

thewobblingbubblesrise.

Despitehisgreyingvision,

Johndecidedthedirectionthe

bubblestravelledhadtobe

thetrueup.Hemadeforthe

cabinwindowopeninginthe

upside-downmockcabin.

Theopeningwasalready

devoidofPlexiglas,a

conveniencethatareal-world

Merlincabinwouldnothave

offered.

Anexplosiontorethe

remembranceofJohn’s

experienceat824NASaway,

andbroughthimbackto

Kingfisher21andits

precariousplaceintheair

overtheSouthAtlantic

Ocean.

Shovedbythe

proximateexplosion,the

Merlindippedviolently.

AlthoughtheIglahadbeen

luredbyaflare,theenemy

missilehadexplodedclose

by,theforceofwhich

slammedintothehelicopter’s

side.Johnsteadiedhimself

andsawthatthewindowhad

beenpittedbyfragments.

Luckily,theyhadnothadthe

energytoshatterthethick

Plexiglasandpenetratethe

cabin.Shakenbythedanger-

closeblast,Seamushadto

assumethatmoremissiles

wereonthewayandturned

anddippedhisMerlinhard.

◊◊◊◊

Ratonwatchedthethree

trailsofbubblesthatraced

fromSanLuisII’sbow.One

trail,theonethatbelongedto

theSquall,formedfastand

straight,andlefttheothertwo

behindit.Thesecondtrail

stoppedshort,boiledtothe

surface,andspataKlubanti-

shipmissileintotheair.It

jumpedfromtheseaand,

withapuffofblacksmoke

andanunfoldingofwinglets,

leveledandscreamedoff.

Thethirdtrail—thatwhich

belongedtotheheavywake-

homingtorpedo—madea

relativelyslowandsteady

advancetowardtheir

adversary.

◊◊◊◊

FromDragon’sbridge,

FryattsawtheKlubbroach,

ignite,andconfigurefor

flight.Hesaid:“Notthis

time.Youarejusttoo

close.”Heknewnaval

weaponslikethebackofhis

hand,andrecognizedthat

Dragonwasalreadyinside

theeffectiveengagement

envelopeofthisparticular

typeofRussiananti-ship

missile.Fryattshiftedhis

concentrationtothelineof

bubblesgeneratedbythe

underwaterrocketreaching

outforhisvessel.“Squall,”

heannunciatedwithderision,

andreducedtheship’s

rudders’angle.Dragon

swungoverobediently,and

becameobliquetothethreat

vector.Fryattdismissedthe

Squallwithasnort,andthen

neithersawnorworriedabout

thetorpedothatstillmadeits

deviouswaybeneaththe

waves.Outofsight,outof

mind,Fryattchuckledatthe

thought.Thoughdeadly,

torpedoeswereslowerthan

underwaterrocketsandanti-

shipmissiles,andFryatt

decidedhewoulddealwithit

onlyifhewasforcedto.He

refocusedattentiononthe

blackbobbingmassofthe

Argentinesubmarine.

“Sir,starboardturbine

nowatredline,”criedthe

navigator.

“Steadyon,”wasall

Fryattsaidashisenemy

loomedeverlargerinthe

bridge’swindows.

“Steady…”

Thenavigatortooka

deepbreathtofortifyhisown

confidence,andthentookit

uponhimselftoannounceto

thosebelowdecks:“Collision

warning.Brace,brace,

brace.”

◊◊◊◊

Madrededios,Raton

thought.Hehadnever

consideredhewouldseesuch

things:Hissubmarinewasat

thesurfaceandfiringona

Britishdestroyerthatalready

trailedblacksmokefromfatal

wounds.Ourcaptainhas

donewell.Ratonpattedthe

steelofSanLuisII’ssail.

Andyouhavealsodonewell,

too,mydear.Theairdefense

crewwentaboutreloading

theirIglalauncher.Raton

lookedtoDragonagain.The

Britishdestroyerwasin

motion,andhadturned

straightatSanLuisII.

“Carajo,”Raton

muttered.Heloweredthe

binoculars,andpickedupthe

growler.Hepushedthe

buttontosoundabellinthe

ControlRoom,andthen

wiggledthewireplugto

makesureitwasproperly

seatedintheconning

station’sterminal.Fucking

Russianpieceofshit,he

complained,andspokealoud:

“Comeon,comeon.”Raton

lookeduptoseeDragonride

upawaveandthenslamback

downagain.“Comeon.”

Growinganxious,helooked

upagain.Theshipwas

clearlyonacollisioncourse.

Judgingbythebowwave

shovedupbeforeher,shehad

increasedspeed,too.

“Answer,damnit,answer.”

Avoicefinallycame

through.Itbelongedtothe

firstofficer.

“¿Sí,cuálessu

informe?”Ledesmaaskedfor

Raton’sreport.

Ratonyelledin

response:“Señor,theship…

shehasturnedto.Sheis

charging.”

Theothermenonthe

sailheardRaton’sstatement,

too.First,theylookedat

Raton,then,turnedwith

swivelingheadstotheonly

shapeonthelonelyplainof

ocean:Dragon.Theyhadall

beendistractedbythe

engagementwiththe

helicopter—nowjustablack

shapebuzzinglowonthe

horizon—andhadfailedto

recognizethethreatthat

drawingevercloser.Theair

defenseteamshooterswore,

slidthereloadmissileand

launcherbackintothesail

locker,andanticipatinga

dive,clampedthelockerdoor

shut.

WithinSanLuisII’s

ControlCenter,Ledesma

informedthecaptainofthe

lookout’swarning.Matias

tookaquickpeekthroughthe

periscope,andconcededthat

Dragon’scourseandspeed

werealarmingly

uncharacteristicofafatally

crippledvessel.Therewasa

briefdebateregardingBritish

capabilitiesandintentions,

andthenMatiasreluctantly

barkedtheorder:“Emergency

dive.”Ledesmasoundedthe

alarmandorderedthesail

teamtogetbelow.

Ratonhesitatedfora

moment.Allhadseemed

well.Victoryhadbeenat

hand,andtheveryreasonfor

hisserviceandsufferinghad

beenvindicated.Andnow,

hewastoldtoscurryback

downahole.Iamtobearat

thatrunsforcover.Raton

scowled,unpluggedthe

growler,andtoldthemenof

thewatchtogetbelow.As

thepointofDragon’sbow

stabbedcloser,andthetower

ofhersuperstructuremade

shadowswherenonehad

existedbefore,Raton’s

crewmatesscurriedtothe

sail’shatchandcircleditlike

confusedbirds.Theopening

wassosmall,andthe

pressurehull’saccesstube

wassotight,thatprecious

momentswerespent

squeezinginsideand

shimmyingdown.Theladder

insidetheconfinesofthe

accesstubewascoatedwith

waterandsalt.Itwas

slipperyliketheslopeofthe

sail’shull.

Ratonhuffed.

“¡Señores!¡Rápidamente!”

Ratonurgedhiscrewmatesto

hurry.Ifthemomenthadnot

beenurgent,Ratonwould

havelaughedashewatched

thementrytoshove

themselvesinsideSanLuis

II’shull.Wearealljust

‘rats.’

Thelastofthesailteam

—arobustandrotundtype—

triedtosqueezeintothehole,

butgotstuckastheringoffat

abouthismidsectioncaught

ontheportal’scircleofsteel.

Ratondirectedhimtoblow

outhisbreathandsqueezein,

andthesubmarinermanaged

toshimmyinside,

disappearinglikeadeep-

watertubewormenteringhis

enclosure.Outofbreath

frompushingontheman’s

shoulders,RatonsawthatSan

LuisII’scylindricalhullhad

angleddown,andtheforward

deckwasawashwithcreamy

bright-greenwater.Raton

lookedtoDragon.

Asharpknifeatthe

submarine’sthroat,the

Britishdestroyerwasnearly

uponSanLuisII.Raton

wondered,Couldsuch

determinationbedefeated?

Wassuchloyaltyparalleled?

“Closethehatch,”was

theanswertosuchquestions.

Theorderhadtravelledupthe

accesstunnelandbeen

amplifiedbyitsconfines.It

wasLedesma’svoice,aman

Ratonhadadmired.

However,now,thevoice

broughtabandonmentand

condemnation.

Severalmetersdown,

withintheunderworldofSan

LuisII’shull,theprimary

hatchclangedshut.Its

lockingmechanism

articulatedandfinalizedthe

situation.Ratonfeltthe

submarinetipforward.He

wasalone.Hewasoutside.

SanLuisIIbegantodive.

Raton’sbrainraced:

Hadtheyforgottenhim?Was

hebeingsacrificed?Raton

lookedup.Dragonwasjusta

wallofgreysteel.Theram

ofherprowcrossedthepatch

offoamthatSanLuisII’shull

hadjustoccupied,andRaton

lookedtothesubmarine’s

outerhatch.Itwasstillopen,

aportaltoeithersalvationor

damnation.Whateverthe

reasonforhisbeingleft

topside,Ratonwoulddoone

lastthing.Itwouldnotbefor

Argentinaorhiscaptain,but

insteadforhisboatand

fellowsubmariners.Raton

slammedtheouterhatch

shut.Thesoundreverberated

throughhissoulandimparted

finalverification.Hehad

beenlefttopside.

Themenhehad

struggledtogivepowerto,to

keepalive,hadlefthim

there.Gratefulfortheairand

seaspray,hefelthebelonged

belowwheretheairwasdirty

andstaleandtastedofbattery

acid,farts,andsweat.He

acceptedhisplaceandforced

thehatch’slockinglever,

confirminghispositionand

fatewiththemetallicringof

steel.

Thehatch’slever—half

rust,halfover-paintedmetal

—brokethefingerbonesof

hisrighthandasitsnapped

intoposition.Ratonwas

unsurewhetherthescream

thatcamefromhismouthwas

oneofpainorresignationto

hisfate.Asprayofcold

waterrefreshedandstunghis

cheeks,andthesensation

bothquietedandconfirmed

thereasonforhisshriek.It

alsoconfirmedthathewas

stillalive.Ratonlookedup

andsawthesharp,greyshape

ofDragonloomingever

larger.

Hesawtheredwyrm

thatadornedDragon’sbow.

Themythicalcreaturehissed

andspatandthreatenedwith

razor-sharpclaws.Theshape

roseandfelldownalmost

uponhim.Therewasa

deafeningcrunchandabone-

jarringtremorasRatonwas

knockedhardtotheconning

station’sdeckwherehehit

hishead.Theworldwent

black.

Ratontastedsaltwater

andthecopperytingeof

bloodandrealizedhewas

underwater.Lightanddark

alternatedashetumbled.

Bubbleshissedallabouthim.

Hetriedtostruggletoward

thelight,butthestrobeeffect

continuedtheeddycreatedby

SanLuisII’ssinkingmass

tossedhisbodylikeragdoll.

Despitehispredicament,

Ratonthoughtofthose

trappedinsidethesubmarine.

TheControlCenter

lightshadflashedoffandon,

thenoffagain,andstayedthat

way.Ledesmareached

throughthedarknessfor

wherethecaptainhadbeen

standing.Hefeltonlycold,

wetmetal.Unsureofwhere

thefloorendedandthe

roundedwallsbegan,

Ledesmaprobedthedark.He

heardgroansandcoughsand

heheardshoutedorders.

Ledesmaaddedhisowncry

tothecacophony:

“¡Capitán!”

“Santiago…”Matias

respondedweakly.

Ledesmamadeforthe

voiceandcalledout:

“Someone…givemea

flashlight.”Hishandwas

smackedbyaflashlight,asa

surgeonreceivingan

instrumentfromanoperating

roomnurse.Hegraspedthe

smallrubber-coveredcylinder

andofferedtotheshadowy

figure:“Gracias”Heclicked

ontheflashlight.Itsconeof

lightcuttheblacknesslikea

knife,anditsyelloweye

travelledoverthedripping

controlpanels,pipes,wires,

andvalvesofSanLuisII’s

ControlCenter,andoverthe

fear-filledfacesofher

crewmen.

Asthoughattemptingto

passthrough,onemanheld

thecurvedwalloftheinner

pressurehull.Another

submarinerwasathisstation,

hunchedbeforethedepth

gauge,dutifullywatchingas

itsneedleindicatedincreasing

depth.Heturnedvalvesand

clickedswitches.Despite

theseefforts,however,the

submarinecontinuedtoroll

fartherontoherside,andshe

pitchedsteeperandsteeperas

sheslidbackwardtowardthe

bottom.

AsLedesma’slight

movedoverthesubmariner’s

face,themanraisedahand—

notasasalute,butashield

fromtheblindingbeam—and

withhisfaceexpressing

resignation,shookhisheadin

thenegative.Hetriedto

speak,butinsteadcoughed

andspatoutthewaterthat

hadflowedoffanoverhead

pipeanddrenchedhisface,

fillinghismouth.Thenhe

triedagain:“Sir,shewon’t

answer.She--”

SanLuisIIinterrupted

hercrewmanbyprotesting

theabuseshehadendured

withabone-chillingmetallic

whine.Thecrewman’seyes

widenedashefinishedhis

thought.“Sir,NumeroDos…

sheisgoingdown.”Ledesma

exhaled,forhehadalready

knownthistruth.

“Emergencysurface:

Blowmains;blowauxiliaries;

blowsafeties.Planesall

down;enginesaheadfull.”

Withtheseorders,which

weredutifullyrepeated,but

likelywithnorealhope,

Ledesmashiftedattentionto

findinghiscaptain.

Thecircleoflight

continueditsscan,andit

finallyfoundMatias.His

facewassobloodiedthat

Ledesmawouldnothave

recognizedtheslumpedman

ashissuperiorhadthe

flashlightnotcaughtsightof

theuniformshoulderboard’s

fourgold-braidstripesand

loopedtopstripe.

“CapitánMatias,”Ledesma

stuttered,“¿Estás

bien?”—‘Areyouokay?’—

Ledesmaasked,hisvoice

betrayingthedeep

concernofamanwhoheld

hisdutytobe

protective,respectful,

andresponsible.Against

theleanofthedeck

plates,Ledesmascampered

tothecaptain.Despite

ajarringrollfromthe

submarine,hestayedlow

andmadeittoCaptain

Matias.Hesupportedhis

superior’sslumpedweight

andcradledhisbowed

head.

“Señor…”

“Santiago…”Captain

Matiascoughed,hocking

bloodysputum.“Myson…

hecallstome.Hewants

metocomehome.”

“Capitán...”

“Losientomucho.”—‘Iam

sorry’—CaptainMatias

forcedfromhisclogged

windpipe.

“Sir…Youfoughtwell.

Youhavehonoredusall.

Youhavehonoredour

boat,ourcrewmates,all

ofus.Iamproudto

servewithyou,tohave

servedunderyou.You

aremycaptain…always,”

Ledesmaranted,onthe

vergeoftears.

“TheBritish…”Matias

forced.“These

Englishmen…”

“¿Si,señor?”

“Donot--”

CaptainMatiassuccumbed

tohisheadwound,and

diedinthearmsofhis

comrade.

SantiagoLedesmawas

certainthathiscaptain

hadtriedtosay:‘Donot

hatethem.Instead,

respectthem.Forthey

arejustlikeyou:Of

Country,ofhonor,and,

ofDetermination.’

Ledesmathenremembereda

quotefromJorgeLuis

Borges.

TheArgentinianPoetand

Essayisthadchimedin

regardingthefirst

conflictbetween

ArgentinaandtheUnited

Kingdom—twogreat,proud

nations—overbarren

rocks.Borgeshad

written:“TheFalklands

thingwasafightbetween

twobaldmenovera

comb.”

Withtheblood-covered

bodyofhisdeadcaptain

nestledinhisarms,

Ledesmalaughedlikea

manunderstress,aman

whoquestionedhisgrasp

ontheworld,andwho

wonderedaboutthebounds

ofhisreality.

“Eightymeters.Keel:30

degreesofflevel.Stern

down22degrees,”someone

shoutedfromthe

darkness.

“Maintankshaveblown.”

Andthen,“Machineroom

reportsheavyflooding.

Damagecontrolteamisin

place.”

Redemergencylightscame

onjustasthegrowler

rang.Theelectrician’s

matestoodbefore

Ledesma,lookedtohis

deadcaptain,and

reported:“Sir,emergency

lightingactivated.”The

growlercalledfor

attentionagain.Ledesma

gestured,the

electrician’smate

answeredit,andlistened

intently.Hisfacefell,

anexpressionof

desperationreplacedby

oneofhopelessness.He

droppedthegrowler,

whichbouncedupanddown

onitscoiledlead.

“Forwardcompartment

reports,”hestuttered,

“thetorpedointube5…

itsmotorhasstarted.”

Ledesma bowed his

headandclosedhis eyes, for

heknewtheinevitable. Less

than two minutes later, the

jammed torpedo’s HTP

motor,withitspropellerover-

speeding, and unable to vent

the high-pressure oxygen

generated by its chemical

reaction, exploded. This

triggered the weapon’s high-

explosive warhead, fatally

bursting San Luis II’s

pressurehull.

◊◊◊◊

Dragonslowedand

stopped.Shewentlowat

thebow,dippingherhead

beneaththeoncoming

waves.Thesonardome

andaportionofthestem

hadbeenrippedaway,and

theship’sforward

compartmentsnowlayopen

totheseaandwere

floodingfast.Onthe

bridge,bothCaptain

Fryattandhisnavigator

hadgoneunconscious.

Fryatthadbeenthrown

intoapanelandagash

laytornacrosshis

forehead.Angushad

slammedintothewheel,

fracturinghisribcage

andfoldinghimover

untilhistempleimpacted

amonitor.Hewasthrown

tothefloorasDragon

yawedhardatthe

impact.Helaywherehe

landed.Oneofthe

snappedribsstabbedinto

hisleftlung,digging

deeperwitheachshallow

breath.Aslifeslipped

fromthenavigator,a

smashedcircuitbox

sparkedandsizzled,

kindlingafire.

◊◊◊◊

TheMerlinsweptin

whenthebrightredofa

personalfloatationdevice

wasspottedcrestingawave.

FlyingtheMerlinintothe

wind,Seamusapproached

andslowedtheaircrafttoa

hover.

“Manfloatinginthe

water,”Rodiannounced,

judginghimtobe

unconsciousordead.The

Merlin’srotorthrustairdown

ina70-knotblastthatformed

acircleofseafoam.Soon

thefloatingshapefloatedat

thecenterofthiscircle.

“Goodposition,”Rodi

confirmed,andslidthe

helicopter’scargodooropen.

Johnwasshovedby

saltywind,andtheroarofthe

Merlin’sthreeturbines

floodedtherearcabin.Inhis

search-and-rescuecapacity,

Johnsentpowertothecargo

door-mountedrescuehoist

justasSeamusactivatedthe

Merlin’shovertrim

controller.Hegavethumbs

uptoRodi.

Rodinoddedand

clippedhissafetyharnessand

halyardontoacabinfloor

eyeletandthenleanedoutto

grabthehoistarm,slewingit

outintoalockedposition.

Whenitwasdeployed,the

winchpaidoutseveralyards

ofslackcable.Rodiclippeda

liftharnesstotheswivel

hook,andthenpeekedout

anddown.Hesawtheman

inthewater.

◊◊◊◊

Ratoncametoand

lookedupatthehovering

helicopter.Hisfacewas

blastedbywind-whippedsea

spraythatstunghisflesh,

keepinghimconscious.

Iamatthesurface,

Ratonthought.Hetriedto

yellout,buthismouthfilled

withcoldsaltwaterthat

chokedhimandmadehim

coughandspasm.He

recoveredabreathandspat

theliquidoutastherotor-

generatedwindcontinuedto

smackhimintheface.Raton

againtumbledunder,tookin

amouthfulofAtlanticOcean

andre-surfaced.Hewaved

hishandsand,despitehis

burningthroat,screamed:

“¡Ayuda!”Mostofthecry

becameanindiscernible

gurgle,notthatthoseinthe

hoveringMerlincouldhave

heardRatonanyhow.

◊◊◊◊

“Survivorindistress,”

Rodisaidwhenhesawthe

irregularmotionofRaton’s

wavingarmswithinthe

surgingrhythmofdarkblue

wavesandwhitecaps.Rodi

shoutedtheannouncementto

Johnwhointurnusedhis

headsetmicrophoneto

transmittheinformationto

thehelicopter’scockpit.

Seamuslookedagaintothe

sea’ssurface,lockedhiseyes

onthebrightredpersonal

floatationdevicethatnow

stoodoutfromthedarker

background,anddroppedhis

hoveranotherseveralmeters

whileadjustingittobringthe

relativepositionofthecabin

hoistdirectlyabovethe

survivor.RoditurnedtoJohn

andgaveathumb’sup.

“Goodhover,”John

conveyedtothecockpit.

“Roger,”Seamus

acknowledged,andthentold

John:“We’reatbingofuel,so

makeitfast.”

“Understood,”John

responded.TheMerlinagain

slidinoverthesailor’s

position.

Rodiusedahandsignal

andJohnthrewaswitchona

panel.Thehoistcablebegan

topayoutfromthewinch.

Rodiguidedthecabledown

throughacylinderheformed

withhisglovedhand.

Danglingbeneaththe

hoveringMerlin,theharness

andthecable’sweightedend

swunginapendulumeffect,

loweringsteadilytoward

Raton.

Afewsecondsafter

Rodihadsignaledtostopthe

winch,andsteadiedthecable,

hespunhishandintheair.

Johnreversedthewinch,

haulinginthecable.A

momentlater,Rodisignaled

thatthesurvivorwasclearof

thewater.

“Cleartobebanking

left,”Johntoldthecockpit.

Rodislowlyspunonehandin

theairasheguidedthecable

withtheother.“Uploadingto

aircraftatthistime.”Wide-

eyed,soakedandhangingby

theharness,Ratonappeared

intheMerlin’scabindoor.

“Survivoroutsidecabindoor

atthistime.”Rodipumpeda

fist.Johnstoppedthewinch

andlockedit.“Survivor

comingintocabinatthis

time.”RodihauledRaton

inboardand,whenhewas

firmlyonthecabinfloor,

unhookedtheliftcablefrom

hisharness.

“Gracias,”Raton

sputteredandnoddedtoboth

hisrescuers.Rodihelped

Ratonintoafold-downjump

seat,securedthesafetybelt

abouthiswaist,andthen

wrappedhiminablanket,

beingcarefultonotfurther

damagehisswollenand

obviouslybrokenhand.

“Survivoraboard,”

Johntoldthecockpit.As

Rodistowedthelift

equipmentandslidthecabin

doorshut,Johnunhookedhis

belt,gotupfromhisseat,and

wenttotheman.Raton

coughedupwaterandJohn

thumpedhisback.

“Gracias,”Raton

repeatedtoJohnandtheman

inthehelicopter’sdoorwho

didhisbesttobalanceagainst

thewindandstowthewinch.

Johnspottedtheflagonthe

man’sshoulders.

“Argentine?You’re

Argentine?”

“Sí,soyargentino;un

submarinoargentino.Mi

nombreesRaton,”Raton

explainedhewasinfact

Argentine;anArgentine

submariner.

“Raton?”Johnasked

withapuzzledlookonhis

face,forherecognizedthe

Spanishwordforrat.Raton

thoughtforamomentand

thenofferedhisrealname;

thenamehismotherhad

givenhim,notthenickname

hehadbeengivenaboardSan

LuisII.

“No,no,yosoy

Gaston…CaboSegundo

GastonBersa.”

“Hello,Gaston,Iam

Juan,”Johnshovedhishand

out.“LeadingSeamanJohn

Mcelaney,RoyalNavy.”

Ratontooktheofferedhand

withhisunbrokenhandand

weaklyshookit.

Gastoncoughedone

moretime,expellingthelast

ofthesaltwaterinhislungs,

andspatintoasmallpuddle

ontheMerlin’scabinfloor.

Rodi,donestowingtherescue

winch,kneltdownandpatted

Gastonontheback.

“Gracias…Thank

you,”Gastonoffered.Rodi

smiled,hismouthawidearc

beneaththehelmet’sshade.

Gastoncollapsedagainsthis

seatbeltasthehelicopter—

flyingonmerevaporsfrom

itstanks—bankedhardand

racedbacktoDragon.

◊◊◊◊

Blacksmokebillowed

fromventsandopeningson

Dragon’ssuperstructureas

thestoppeddestroyer

corkscrewedinthechop.She

waslowinthewater,

especiallyatthebow,and

leanedheavilytostarboard.

AsSeamusbeganhisfinal

approach,henoticedthatone

ofDragon’stransomclosures

wasajar,ventingaplumeof

thickgreysmoke.

“Draig,Kingfisher21,

requestingclearancetoland,”

Seamustransmittedand

waitedforaresponse.

Withonlystaticon

Dragon’sairtrafficcontrol

channel,Seamusrepeatedhis

call.Helookedtohisfuel

andconfirmedthatbothtank

indicatorshadbottomedin

thered.

“Sodit,”hesaid,and

thenchangedchannels,

stating:“Draig,Kingfisher

21,wearelanding.FDO,

prepareflightdeckfor

landing.”Dragon’sflight

deckofficerdidnotanswer,

either.Seamuslookedtothe

ship’shelicoptervisual

approachsystem.Itssignal

lightsweredark.The

advancedstabilizedglide

slopeindicatorwasalsooff.

However,thedeck’sline-up

lightswerestillilluminated,

whichmeanttheseemingly

wreckeddestroyerhadsome

poweravailable.Seamus

usedthelightstoguidehis

machineoverDragon’s

stern.Thoughhehaddone

thishundredsoftimesbefore,

Seamussuddenlyrealized

thattolandamovingthingon

anothermovingthingwas

wholeheartedlyunnatural.

Despitesuchqualms,he

skillfullymanipulatedthe

pedalsandsticksandbegan

hisdescent.

Caughtbyabigwave

thattravelleddownher

strickenlength,Dragon

kickedhersternintotheair.

Seamusgotspooked.He

increasedcollectiveand

power,suddenlyandfully,

causingtheaircrafttorise

quickly,wobbling.Hefought

thecontrols,strugglingto

comelevelagain.Dragon’s

sternslammedbackdownin

awhooshofwhitefoamand

spray.TheMerlinhad

avoidedbeingswattedfrom

theskyby8,500tonsofsteel.

BWUP;BWUP,an

alarmsoundedintheMerlin’s

cockpit.Itwasfollowedby

thecomputer’smonotone

syntheticvoicethatwarned:

“Fuel.”

“TellmesomethingI

don’tknow,”heshouted

abovethethumpofthe

rotors.Hemanipulatedthe

cyclicbetweenhislegs,

jockeyingthestickleftand

rightandforwardandback.

Hisotherhandliftedand

loweredthecollective,while

hisfeetpushedandreleased

pedalsthatswungthetailleft

andright.TheMerlindrifted

overthelinespaintedon

Dragon’sflightdeck.When

hefelttheaircraftwas

centered,hetwistedthe

throttleonthecollective,and

featheredtheblades.The

Merlindroppedandslammed

intothedeck.Itslanding

gearabsorbedmostofthe

shock,buttherewasstill

plentyleftforthoseaboardto

feelitintheirbones.Once

certainhisaircraftwassafely

aboard,Seamusbeganshut-

downprocedures.Heordered

Roditosecurethetie-down

chainsandJohntocheckon

theship’sbridge.

“Ayesir,”John

respondedandthenrippedoff

hisheadset,unbuckledfrom

hisseat,andslidthecabin

dooropen.Hepatted

Gaston’sshoulder.

“Sorry,mate,butwe

willhavetoputyou

somewhere,”hetoldGaston,

wholookedconfuseduntil

Rodipointedtohisholstered

sidearm.Gastonnoddedand

offeredacrookedsmileof

understanding.Johnjumped

outontotheflightdeck.It

tookamomenttofindhissea

legs.Hebracedagainstthe

pitchandyawoftheshipand

then,lookingtowardthebow,

tookseveralwobblystepsin

thatdirection.

Therewasnowayto

getforwardwithoutgoing

insideDragon’sfacetedhull.

Johnopeneda

gastight/watertightdoorway

thatallowedaccesstothe

hangar.Hefoundno

personnelthere.Moving

throughanother1-Deck

doorway,heenteredanair

lockthatifmemoryserved,

aftertwoladdersand

hatchways,wouldallowhim

accesstotheship’smain

passageway,known

informallyasthe‘Main

Drag.’JustasJohnfelt

confidenthewasmaking

progress,heopeneda2-Deck

hatchwayandablastofheat

andsmokesmackedhimin

theface.Addingtohis

despair,hesawadeadsailor

ontheoppositeside.

Themanhadapparently

triedtoopenthedoorandhad

runoutofairandpossiblythe

willtolive.Hehadslid

downthecold,hardsteeland

formedalumpthatseemedto

warn:‘GoNoFarther.’John

gentlyclosedtheman’seyes

andcontinuedon.

Thepassageway,

smallerthantheMainDrag,

wasdarkandsmoke-filled.

Inplaces,ventilationducts

andwaterpipeshadcracked

andfallenwhenthehullhad

flexedbeyondtheirlimits.

Johnshimmiedpastthem.

Hefelthiswayandtheheat

fromthewall.Beyondthe

steelwalllaythefunnel,

whichmeantthespacewhere

theenginesexhaustedwas

afireorwasdrawingheat

fromdeeperwithintheship.

Dragon,Johnthought,

mypoor,pooroldgirl.The

shipwasnowlistinghard,

andfeelinghewasmoving

downhill,itwasobviousthe

bowwasheavy.Hefocused.

Imustfindthecaptain.John

persistedtowardthebridge.

Hefoundthebridge

wrecked,aswasthecaptain,

“Sir,”Johnshookhim

gently.Theresponsivecough

wasblood-spewing,butit

signaledlife.“Sir,”he

repeated.Johncradledhis

captainandliftedhisweight,

proppingitagainstthecentral

console.CaptainFryatt

groanedandstruggledto

openaneye.“Easy,now,

captain.Easydoesit.Donot

speak.”Johnwenttothe

communicationpanel,donned

aheadset,andtriedtocontact

everycompartment.“Damn.”

Anexpendedfire

extinguishercrashedtothe

floorfromwhereithadbeen

leftonthecentralconsole.

Johnwatchedthecylinder

rollforward.Hestoodand

peeredthroughacracked

windscreenandoutoverthe

foredeck.Itwasalmost

awash.Awavereachedup

andsmashedintothe

breakwater,dousingthedeck

gun.Hewatchedwhitefoam

cascadeoffthesidesasthe

bowtriedtocomebackup.It

wasobviousthattheA

compartmentwasflooded,

perhapsashigh2-Deck.

“Damn.”

Infact,awatertight

doorseparatingAandB

compartmentshadbeen

comprised,twistedinits

frame,andwaterwasnow

streamingintothearea

beneaththemissilesilos.

Despitevalianteffortsatboth

firefightinganddamage

controlbythelads,Dragon

wasgoingdown.Asifto

accentuatethedirenessofthe

situation,thestressedhulllet

outagroan.

“WeyieldbuttoSaint

George,”Fryattmuttered.

“Yes,sir.‘Weyield

buttoSaintGeorge.”John

smiledforamoment,thenthe

expressionfellintoafrown.

“I’llgetyouhelp,sir.”John

wenttotheouterhatch,

shoveditopen,andscreamed

forassistance.Whenhere-

entered,Fryatthadslumped

backtothefloor.Johngently

liftedthecaptain’sheadand

felthisjugular.Thethumpof

bloodflowwasthere,though

weak.“Damn.Sir?Sir?”

Dragonshook,interrupting

John’sdoubts.Airrushed

fromoutsideasitwassucked

downthepassagewaytothe

sourceoftheexplosion.

Then,barelyasecondlater,

theship’sinteriorexhaled

throughthebridge,and

broughtitsbreathofheatand

fireandsmoke.Johnwas

throwntothefloorand

CaptainFryatt’sbodyfolded

andhisheadsmashedagainst

thecoldsteeldeck.John’s

facehurtandhesmelled

singedhair.

“Abandonship,

abandonship,”afar-offvoice

screamed.Johncrawledto

thecaptain,reachedoutto

feelhisneckagain,andthen

sawtheseverityofFryatt’s

headwound.Heconcluded

thatthestrawberryjamupon

Fryatt’scrackedheadwas

brainmatter.Thecaptain’s

glazedopeneyesreinforced

whatJohnalreadyknew.As

iftoaffirmthesituation,

Dragonlurchedhard.

Abandonship…

Johngrabbeda

floatationdevicefroma

lockerandmadeforthe

exteriorhatch.Theship

rolled,andJohntookstepsto

getoutside.Hethenjumped

fromthebridgewingintothe

coldembraceofthesea.

Hesurfacedandspat

salty,sweetseawater.

Dragonwasslippingunder.

Thesuctiontuggedathis

legs.Johnswamaway,

escapingthedownwardpull.

Geyserseruptedfromhull

openingsasairwasforced

fromDragon’sinterior.It

hissedandhowledandrained

uponJohn.

“Mypoorgirl,”he

whispered,whenhelookedto

theMerlinhelicopterchained

totheflightdeck.Asmuch

ashelovedhisship,tosee

theMerlinstrappedtoher

sinkingdeckswasevenmore

painful.Anaircraftatthe

bottomofthesea,he

contemplatedmorosely.Just

notbloodynaturalforasweet

birdtobecomeareefforfish

andslimythings.Hecould

notwatch.Hehadtoturn

away.Whenhedidhesawa

flashoforange.Alifeboat.

Gastonleanedoverthe

boat’sgunwale,hesitatedfor

amomentwhenhesaw

John’sburnthair,missing

eyebrows,andthepatchof

singedfleshthathadsluffed

fromhisforehead,andthen

grabbedholdofhislifevest,

usinghisgoodhand.Another

shiveringsailorgrabbedhold

too,andtheyhauledJohn

aboard.

“Thankyou.Thank

you.”

“Denada,miamigo,”

Gastongrunted.Theeffort

wasnothingforhisnew

friend,forthemanthathad

helpedpullhimfromthe

cold,slowdeaththreatened

byvastopenocean.John

floppedontothelifeboat’s

bench.Assoonashewasup

againintherockingcraft,

JohnturnedtoviewDragon.

Therewasjusta

triangleofgreymetal

remaining,anditslipped

underquickly.Dragon

disappearedfast,andwason

herwaytothebottom.The

proudshipleftonlyaboilof

lightbluewaterandbobbing

flotsambehind.Allthe

sailorsinthelifeboatwere

silent.GastonthoughtofSan

LuisIIandhiscrewmates.

“Quépérdida,”Gaston

said.

“What’sthatthen,

Argie?”asailorasked

derisively.

Gastonthoughtfora

momentandmadethe

attempt:“Awaste.”

Thesailorconsidered

thisforamoment.Thenhe

gruntedagreement.

◊◊◊◊

“Contact,”thesailor

withthebinocularsyelled

out.“Shipsat…”hechecked

ahandheldcompassattached

tohislifevest,“north

northwest.”Thelifeboat

rockedasseveralmenstood

atonce.Johnroseslowlyand

lookedwhereeveryonewas

pointing.Hesquintedandon

thehorizonsawtwogrey

outlines.Onewasclearly

largerthantheother.

EPILOGUE:

WARIAN

“Onlythedeadhave

seentheendofthewar.”—

GeorgeSantayana

TheAtlantic’smood

hadturned.Shehadcalmed

herself,andhersurface

reflectedthisnewinternal

peace.Thestarrynight

reflectedinthewatery

blackness,andconfusedthe

demarcationbetweenrealms.

Manshipsdisturbedthis

newfoundstate.

HisMajesty’sShip

Dauntless—aType-45

destroyerandsisterof

Dragon—aswellasthe

RoyalNavyfrigateMontrose,

cuttheirwaythroughthe

temporaryoceanicstillness.

Theystirredupacreamy

whitefromthedeepdark,and

reflectedtheheavens,which

dancedandwhirledintheir

wakes.WithDragon’s

survivorsaboard,they

steamedsouthbywest,and

madewaytowarda

rendezvouswithanAmerican

nuclearattacksubmarineona

veryspecialmission.

Dauntlesswasdirectedto

takeuppositionoffthe

Falklands,andtoprovidean

anti-airwarfareumbrellaover

StanleyandmuchofEast

Falkland.

◊◊◊◊

TheEdificioLibertador

—‘LiberatorBuilding’—

imposedits20-storyshadow

uponBuenosAires’Avenida

PaseoColón.TheFrench

Renaissance-styleedifice

comprisedthreestaggered

sectionswithtwowings

anchoredbyatallercentral

one.Argentina’sMinistryof

Defensecalledithome,and

connecteditselfbyatunnelto

thepresident’sexecutive

mansion,theCasaRosada.

FromEdificioLibertador’s

blackmansardroof,theflag

oftherepublicsnappedina

stiffbreeze,andantennaeand

satellitedishespokedand

pointedatthesky.Onthe

building’slawn,beforeits

columnedportico,artillery

piecessatinlimbo,andan

immobiletankandastatueof

achargingsoldier.Theyall

stoodvanguardamongthe

palmsandotherswaying

gardentrees.Deepbeneath

thestructure,belowlayersof

steel-reinforcedslabs

designedandbuilttostopthe

latestpiercingbombs,wasthe

WarRoom.

Amanwiththeweight

oftheworlduponhim,

MinisterofDefenseJuan

CruzGomezscurriedfrom

consoletoconsole.Each

consolehadscreens

displayingthedispositionof

Argentina’sforcesonthe

PatagoniancoastandtheLas

IslasMalvinastheaterof

operations.Computer-

generatediconsrepresented

aircraftatbasesandinthe

sky,shipsandsubmarines

uponandbeneaththewater,

andvarioussymbols

representedgroundforces—

companies,brigades,

battalions,anddivisions.

Gomezstudiedeachscreen

andprojectedmovementsin

hishead,envisioningthe

checkmateofhisenemy.His

thoughtsweredisturbedbyan

uneasyfeeling,andheturned

tomeetthepiercinggazeof

Dr.WaldemarAmsel.

Inhiswheelchair,

Amselwasperchedona

concretebalconythatjutted

overtheWarRoom.Hewas,

ofcourse,smoking;hisusual

statewhenhisdaughter

Valeria,thepresident,was

otherwiseoccupied.

“WhereisHornero?”

Amselyelledout,referringto

anoperative’scodename,

coughingfromtherespiratory

exertion.

MinisterofDefense

Gomezcranedhisneckto

lookupatAmsel’sperch.

“HerrDoctor…”

Gomezacknowledged.He

leanedoverandchecked

anothercomputerscreen.

“WearewaitingforMajor

Vargastocheckin.”Gomez

knewthattheassassin’slast

communiquehadnotbeen

confidence-inspiring,buthe

hadfailedtomentionthisin

anyreporttohissuperior.

Vargas’pursuitoftheBritish

CrownPrincehadbecome

disappointing,sofar

unsuccessful,andhadfar

exceededoperational

schedules.Furthermore,

Vargashadfailedtoreportin

ontime.Notagoodsign,

Gomezthought.Itwouldbe

anotherdaybeforehe

receivedconfirmationthat

Vargashadfailedandbeen

killed,andthattheBritish

CrownPrincehadescaped.

Gomezreturnedhisthoughts

tothecampaignandthebattle

thatragedonLasIslas

Malvinas.

Twentyyearslater…

JohnMcelaneystrolled

BuenosAires’Cementeriode

laRecoleta.Hepassed

gravesandtombs:thoseof

EvaPerón;pastpresidentsof

Argentina;NobelPrize

winners;thefounderofthe

ArgentineNavy;and,a

granddaughterofNapoleon.

Johnkeptthebelltowerof

theChurchofOurLadyof

Pilarofftohisleftashe

followedthestonepath,

breathedinthefreshseaair,

andlistenedtothebirdsand

thebreezerustlingtheleaves

ofshadetrees.Hepasseda

markercommemorating

1982’sGuerradelAtlántico

Sur.Turnrightatthe

marker,herememberedthe

directionshehadbeengiven.

Thepathsplitandhewent

right.Emergingfrombehind

aclusteroffragrant,colorful

roses,Johnarrivedatthe

memorial.

There,beforetheblack

marblemonolith,beforethe

bronzeplaquewiththe

outlineofthesubmarine

ARASanLuisIIandthe

namesofherdeadofficers

andcrew,hefoundGaston

Bersa.Hewascrouchedand

hadhiseyesclosedinprayer,

butwhenheheardJohn’s

footfalls,hestoodand

turned.Asmilereplacedhis

dourexpression.

“Juan.”

“Hello,Gaston.”

“Bienvenidoa

Argentina.Welcome,my

friend,welcome.”John

smiledbackandthetwomen

shookhands.Then,theyboth

turnedbacktothememorial.

Onlythebirdsandbreeze

brokethesilence.