BENEATH - A Novel (54 page)

As King wrapped his scarf over his face once more, he headed for the exit with Queen and Rook. He popped a flare and tossed it into the container, then quickly closed and latched the metal doors. The Thermate would quickly suck the oxygen out of the small container space, but the flames would not be smothered. The powdered hell contained its own oxygen source and could burn just as easily at the bottom of the ocean or in the vacuum of space. Once lit, nothing could put it out.
 

Outside the container, Knight pointed to the sky. A black Zhi-11 gunship was approaching low over sea, headed straight for them. As bursts of yellow flashed from the helicopter's twin 12.7mm machine guns, King shouted, "Go! Go! Go!"

The Chess Team darted down a side alley, hiding them from view as rounds chewed up the deck where they had stood only moments before. Hidden from the chopper, they ran without fear of being cut down from the sky, but they ran with weapons out in case the crew still lingered about. As they reached the port rail it was clear that the crew had hid with the chopper's arrival. They knew enough to not get caught in the cross fire.

The gunship roared above and out to sea, turning in a tight circle. It would be back in seconds.

The team hitched themselves onto their cables, still tethered to the cargo container, holstered their guns and slid over the side of the ship, rappelling with large leaps down to the small white, and defenseless motor boat. Once aboard the small craft, they disengaged the magnets, which automatically reeled in. Without looking up, King gunned the engine, which looked old, but was actually top of the line U.S. Military. The small boat shot forward just as a line of 12.7mm rounds traced across the waves and ripped into the side of the Volgaeft.

King steered the small boat out and away from the cargo ship as the helicopter swung around for another pass. But the helicopter didn't return. It just circled at a distance.

Too easy, King thought.

"King," Deep Blue's voice returned. "Cut hard to starboard."

King glanced to port. Closing in was an ominous Chinese destroyer, its cannons swinging towards them. "They can't be serious."

"The Chinese have been in the
Gulf of Aden
for a year without any major conflicts," Deep Blue said. "They're eager to test their metal. I think they—"

BOOM!

The ocean in front of the small boat burst skyward as a 100mm cannon round struck the water. The small boat launched off the resulting wave and cut through the mist, landing on the other side. King cut to starboard, but with the Volgaeft moving away they were exposed. If not for the boat's small size and speed they would be an easy target.

"You're on target," Deep Blue said. "Keep your current course for thirty seconds."

"Easier said than done," King replied."

BOOM!

The second round struck just behind them, pitching the boat up and forward, bringing the engine out of the water. If not for the quick thinking of Rook and Bishop, the team's two giants, who threw themselves to the stern deck, knocking the back end back down, the bow would have caught water and flipped them too soon.

"Wait for the next round," King shouted. "Then—"

BOOM!

The round struck just off the port side. The small boat became lost in a plume of sea water. When it cleared the boat appeared—capsized and immobilized.

Rather than apprehend the pirates involved, the Chinese destroyer tested its aim on a still target.

BOOM!

The small boat shattered and burst as the massive round, powerful enough to sink the multi-hulled Volgaeft struck home.

Thirty feet below the explosion, five bodies descended, unmoving after the shockwave struck. Then a hand flashed up.

Hold position.

A dark shape loomed below. Waiting. Listening.

King gave the crewman monitoring the hydrophone inside the submarine a moment to recover from the impact and explosion above. Then he shouted, expelling the last of his air, "Open the damn door." The message garbled by the bubbles escaping King's mouth, but the message was received. The side dry-dock of the still classified HMS
Wolverton
opened. All five swam inside. The doors closed as the small cabin pressurized and filled with air.

The Chinese searched for the remains of the pirates they'd wiped out, but found only debris of the small boat. Regardless, the front page of China's most popular newspaper, the Southern Metropolis Daily, heralded the encounter as a bold Chinese naval victory. And despite the pirate's best efforts, the only losses were minimal damage to the Volgaeft and the total destruction of one container destined for
Iran
, reported full of toys donated by a charitable Russian organization.

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