Authors: Taylor Anderson
Firestorm (5 page)
Clancy ran up the companionway. “Skipper,” he cried, “something hit
Revenge
! She’s taking water aft!”
Revenge
! She’s taking water aft!”
“What?
What hit her?” Greg demanded.
What hit her?” Greg demanded.
“I don’t know. I don’t think they do yet. That’s all I got so far.”
“Well . . . get back down there and find out!”
“Aye, aye, sir!”
Garrett could see
Revenge
now, as
Donaghey
eased past
Tolson
. The steamer looked odd, dead in the water, and low by the stern. Before long, the tow cable grew taut, and
Donaghey
began to turn to starboard, pulled around by her attachment to
Tolson
. To Greg’s amazement, he saw boats starting to slide down
Revenge’
s quarter davits into the sea. “What . . . ?”
Revenge
now, as
Donaghey
eased past
Tolson
. The steamer looked odd, dead in the water, and low by the stern. Before long, the tow cable grew taut, and
Donaghey
began to turn to starboard, pulled around by her attachment to
Tolson
. To Greg’s amazement, he saw boats starting to slide down
Revenge’
s quarter davits into the sea. “What . . . ?”
Clancy ran back on deck. “Skipper!” he said, shock in his voice. “Cap’n Barry has broadcast a
distress
signal! He says something
ate
his ship’s screw! With it all new and shiny, he thinks something hit it like a Heddon Zig Wag lure! His words. They didn’t see what did it, but there’s blood in the water aft. Anyway, her shaft is warped all to hell, and the packing and all the support timbers were shattered before they managed to secure! He—he says whatever happened, it couldn’t have been much worse if they’d taken a Jap torpedo in the ass, and they can’t stop the flooding!”
distress
signal! He says something
ate
his ship’s screw! With it all new and shiny, he thinks something hit it like a Heddon Zig Wag lure! His words. They didn’t see what did it, but there’s blood in the water aft. Anyway, her shaft is warped all to hell, and the packing and all the support timbers were shattered before they managed to secure! He—he says whatever happened, it couldn’t have been much worse if they’d taken a Jap torpedo in the ass, and they can’t stop the flooding!”
With a tight chest, Garrett suddenly remembered the huge shark he’d seen. He’d often wondered what some giant denizen might think of a ship’s turning propeller—especially when it hadn’t yet turned dingy and green.... “What can we do?” he asked.
“Well, Pruit—I mean Cap’n Barry—asks if we can stand by to take his crew aboard—us and
Tolson
.”
Tolson
.”
“My God. We’re going to lose
Revenge
? He’s sure?”
Revenge
? He’s sure?”
“I’m afraid so, sir.”
Greg thought fast, considering the wind and current. The tightness in his chest became a vise around his heart. “Tell
Revenge
we’ll stand by and any boats we have in one piece’ll be over as soon as we can send them.” He paused. “Tell him also that we’re going to need every musket and every last round of ammunition they have time to save. Make sure he understands that. Bring every single weapon he can grab! Make sure HQ knows what’s going on”
Revenge
we’ll stand by and any boats we have in one piece’ll be over as soon as we can send them.” He paused. “Tell him also that we’re going to need every musket and every last round of ammunition they have time to save. Make sure he understands that. Bring every single weapon he can grab! Make sure HQ knows what’s going on”
“Aye, sir,” replied Clancy, looking at him strangely.
Garrett pointed at the distant coast of Ceylon. “Don’t you get it?” He laughed, the slightest hint of hysteria in his voice. “If we can’t get enough sail on this wreck, this ship and
Tolson
both are going to wind up on the beach . . .
over there
! It looks like the invasion of Ceylon may start a little early.” He turned to Saaran. “Of course,
our
invasion’ll be like dropping a bug with no legs right in the middle of an ant mound!”
Tolson
both are going to wind up on the beach . . .
over there
! It looks like the invasion of Ceylon may start a little early.” He turned to Saaran. “Of course,
our
invasion’ll be like dropping a bug with no legs right in the middle of an ant mound!”
Not a soul was lost when
Revenge
finally went down. The semiwater-tight, compartmentalized design kept her afloat longer than anyone had a right to expect, and not only was the entire crew saved and distributed between the other two ships, but all the small arms, ammunition, and a large percentage of her other supplies were salvaged as well. Captain Barry came aboard
Donaghey
with a little less than half his crew—
Tolson
needed the extra hands more—and he was horrified by the loss of his brand-new, beautiful ship. All he could do was stand by the quarterdeck rail, knuckles clenched white, and watch while
Revenge
slid under the sea by the stern.
Revenge
finally went down. The semiwater-tight, compartmentalized design kept her afloat longer than anyone had a right to expect, and not only was the entire crew saved and distributed between the other two ships, but all the small arms, ammunition, and a large percentage of her other supplies were salvaged as well. Captain Barry came aboard
Donaghey
with a little less than half his crew—
Tolson
needed the extra hands more—and he was horrified by the loss of his brand-new, beautiful ship. All he could do was stand by the quarterdeck rail, knuckles clenched white, and watch while
Revenge
slid under the sea by the stern.
“God!” he gasped when the waves closed over the stars and stripes still fluttering at the masthead, and he burst into tears.
“I’m awful sorry, Pruit,” Garrett said, a little uncomfortably. He could imagine how the other man felt, but couldn’t stand to see him bawling like that. “Come on, pull yourself together. We’ve got to sort out this mess and get your guys working with mine to bend as much canvas as we can. The current’s running strong and the wind’s picking up out of the southwest. We’ll lose everything and everybody if we can’t claw away from that shore.” He pointed at the coast of Ceylon, growing noticeably closer. Barry wiped his face on his sleeve and nodded.
“You bet,” he said roughly. “I’ll do whatever I can. So will my guys.”
“Thanks, Pruit. Let’s see if we can get them helping out with the divisions they’re accustomed to.” He nodded toward
Tolson
, wallowing aft. “And not only do we have to save this ship, but we’ve got to save her too. She doesn’t even have anything left to jury-rig.”
Tolson
, wallowing aft. “And not only do we have to save this ship, but we’ve got to save her too. She doesn’t even have anything left to jury-rig.”
Barry nodded, looking at the repairs already completed. So far,
Donaghey
had close to a full spread on her mizzen, a course on the main, and a pair of staysails rigged to the bowsprit. Alone, it wasn’t enough to keep
Donaghey
off the beach. “Okay,” he said. “My exec went to
Tolson
, but I’ve got my bosun and a lieutenant. How can we help?”
Donaghey
had close to a full spread on her mizzen, a course on the main, and a pair of staysails rigged to the bowsprit. Alone, it wasn’t enough to keep
Donaghey
off the beach. “Okay,” he said. “My exec went to
Tolson
, but I’ve got my bosun and a lieutenant. How can we help?”
By nightfall,
Donaghey
had a new main-topmast, a topsail, and another staysail rigged. The repairs had been unbelievably perilous, with the ship pitching and wallowing in the mounting seas. There’d been injuries, but amazingly, no one was killed or lost over the side. Still, their last glimpse of Ceylon before it was swallowed by the gloom showed it disconcertingly close—less than ten miles away, according to Smitty’s best guess. Garrett’s long experience at estimating ranges as a gunnery officer put it at just over eight. The wind continued stiffening, and the sea grew more determined to break the battered ships. On
Tolson
, Chapelle was pushing his crew to the breaking point, rigging a pair of short masts out of spare topmasts, but the only canvas she had yet was a shortened course and a couple of staysails. It took a little strain off
Donaghey
, but the staysails on both ships, while necessary, were pushing them farther to leeward—ever closer to shore.
Donaghey
had a new main-topmast, a topsail, and another staysail rigged. The repairs had been unbelievably perilous, with the ship pitching and wallowing in the mounting seas. There’d been injuries, but amazingly, no one was killed or lost over the side. Still, their last glimpse of Ceylon before it was swallowed by the gloom showed it disconcertingly close—less than ten miles away, according to Smitty’s best guess. Garrett’s long experience at estimating ranges as a gunnery officer put it at just over eight. The wind continued stiffening, and the sea grew more determined to break the battered ships. On
Tolson
, Chapelle was pushing his crew to the breaking point, rigging a pair of short masts out of spare topmasts, but the only canvas she had yet was a shortened course and a couple of staysails. It took a little strain off
Donaghey
, but the staysails on both ships, while necessary, were pushing them farther to leeward—ever closer to shore.
Together in the wardroom, beneath the light of a swaying lantern, Garrett and Saaran scrutinized the charts they’d worked so hard on, throughout their deployment. With sinking hearts, they realized that no matter how they calculated it,
Donaghey
couldn’t clear the southern coast of Ceylon with
Tolson
in tow. Realistically, it was almost certainly too late for
Donaghey
to make it alone.
Donaghey
couldn’t clear the southern coast of Ceylon with
Tolson
in tow. Realistically, it was almost certainly too late for
Donaghey
to make it alone.
“So that’s it,” Garrett said as quietly as he could over the wind, the tumult of labor on deck, and the increasing noises of the working ship. He took a deep breath and looked at Saaran almost helplessly. “What now?”
Saaran scratched the fur on his forehead. “The sea is rising, and so is the tide. If we have no choice but to run ashore, perhaps we can choose where we do it.”
“What difference will that make?”
“If we are not
forced
ashore among jagged rocks, but
drive
ashore at high tide, on a soft, sandy beach . . .”
forced
ashore among jagged rocks, but
drive
ashore at high tide, on a soft, sandy beach . . .”
“We let the wind and heavy sea carry us as far up on the beach as it can,” Garrett interrupted with dawning hope.
“Yes,” Saaran continued, “and the flashies will not be active in the nighttime shallows, particularly with the sea running high.”
Greg nodded. “If the ships don’t break, and we make it until low tide, we off-load the ship’s guns, supplies . . . If we fort up, maybe make it to some better ground . . . we might have a chance.”
“A slim chance,” Saaran agreed, “if we can hold until rescued.” He met Garrett’s eyes and blinked determination. “And if we can’t hold that long . . . at least we will die killing Grik.” Saaran coughed a laugh. “We may be a bug with no legs falling in an ant mound, but we do still have our teeth!”
Greg blinked back in the Lemurian way. “Pass the word. We’ll have to coordinate with Russ on
Tolson
; keep our ships as close together as we can, when we make our run in.” He sighed. “I’d better get Clancy to inform HQ.” He smiled and shook his head. “God help us.”
Tolson
; keep our ships as close together as we can, when we make our run in.” He sighed. “I’d better get Clancy to inform HQ.” He smiled and shook his head. “God help us.”
CHAPTER 2
Aboard USNRS (United States Naval Reserve Ship)
Salissa
(CV-1) First Fleet HQ, Andaman Island
Salissa
(CV-1) First Fleet HQ, Andaman Island
P
ete Alden, once a sergeant in doomed USS
Houston’
s Marine contingent on another earth, and now General of the Marines and All Allied Armies, looked at the message form in his hand with a sick, sinking feeling. It had been given him by an intensely staring, silver-shot, brownish red Lemurian, who sat perched on a decorative stool like a brooding bear, his long tail swishing in agitation behind him. The Lemurian was “Ahd-mi-raal” Keje-Fris-Ar, overall commander of First Fleet, and all Allied forces in the West, or CINCWEST. Keje had grown more (outwardly, at least) unflappable as the war went on, but he was clearly concerned about the contents of the message.
ete Alden, once a sergeant in doomed USS
Houston’
s Marine contingent on another earth, and now General of the Marines and All Allied Armies, looked at the message form in his hand with a sick, sinking feeling. It had been given him by an intensely staring, silver-shot, brownish red Lemurian, who sat perched on a decorative stool like a brooding bear, his long tail swishing in agitation behind him. The Lemurian was “Ahd-mi-raal” Keje-Fris-Ar, overall commander of First Fleet, and all Allied forces in the West, or CINCWEST. Keje had grown more (outwardly, at least) unflappable as the war went on, but he was clearly concerned about the contents of the message.
Alden spent several moments reading it, absorbing the implications. Keje’s unease was well founded. “Goddamn,” he said flatly.
“Tolson
,
Donaghey
, and
Revenge
all survive a giant Grik bomb, then
Revenge
gets sunk by a
fish
!” He shook his head. “I swear, every time we try to throw a normal war around here, and it looks like something might finally be going our way, it all drops in the pot.”
“Tolson
,
Donaghey
, and
Revenge
all survive a giant Grik bomb, then
Revenge
gets sunk by a
fish
!” He shook his head. “I swear, every time we try to throw a normal war around here, and it looks like something might finally be going our way, it all drops in the pot.”
Keje scratche his reddish brown furry ears, and nodded grimly. “So it seems. So it
always
seems. But bad as that is, the implication of Mr. Garrett’s report is even more troubling than it first appears. Without coming right out and saying so, his evaluation of the current, tide, and prevailing winds, coupled with his position, suggests a real possibility
Donaghey
and
Tolson
might well be driven upon enemy shores! By the Heavens above! With the crew of
Revenge
aboard, there are more than a thousand souls on those ships! Somehow we must assist them!”
always
seems. But bad as that is, the implication of Mr. Garrett’s report is even more troubling than it first appears. Without coming right out and saying so, his evaluation of the current, tide, and prevailing winds, coupled with his position, suggests a real possibility
Donaghey
and
Tolson
might well be driven upon enemy shores! By the Heavens above! With the crew of
Revenge
aboard, there are more than a thousand souls on those ships! Somehow we must assist them!”
“Do you think they’ll go ashore?” Alden asked.
Keje held out his hands. He’d taken on many human mannerisms, just as humans had reciprocated. “Much depends on the damage to
Donaghey
, and whether it can be repaired in time. Honestly, I’m not hopeful. By the description,
Tolson
is helpless, and I cannot imagine Mr. Garrett abandoning her even if he could.”
Donaghey
, and whether it can be repaired in time. Honestly, I’m not hopeful. By the description,
Tolson
is helpless, and I cannot imagine Mr. Garrett abandoning her even if he could.”
Pete was shaking his head. “Greg won’t deliberately sacrifice his ship and crew. He’ll take as many off as he can and cut
Tolson
loose if he has to. He knows the stakes, and they all knew the risk of blockade duty in those seas. They volunteered.”
Tolson
loose if he has to. He knows the stakes, and they all knew the risk of blockade duty in those seas. They volunteered.”
Keje blinked. “I agree Mr. Garrett would not deliberately sacrifice his people, but I know the man’s character as well as you, I think. He’ll do everything in his power to save
Tolson
, and he might try too hard, too long. With much of the crew of
Revenge
aboard already, he’ll be hard-pressed to get everyone off
Tolson
. If he takes any, he will feel compelled to take them all.” Keje shook his head. “I fear they will go ashore. We must plan as if they will, regardless.”
Tolson
, and he might try too hard, too long. With much of the crew of
Revenge
aboard already, he’ll be hard-pressed to get everyone off
Tolson
. If he takes any, he will feel compelled to take them all.” Keje shook his head. “I fear they will go ashore. We must plan as if they will, regardless.”
An insistent knocking in the passageway interrupted them. “Enter,” Keje said distractedly. Marine Captain Risa-Sab-At, commander of
Salissa’
s Marine contingent, led General Lord Muln Rolak and GeneralQueen Protector Safir Maraan into the compartment.
Salissa’
s Marine contingent, led General Lord Muln Rolak and GeneralQueen Protector Safir Maraan into the compartment.
“Is it true?” asked the old, scarred General Rolak. “We hear
Revenge
has sunk and the rest of Gaarrett’s squadron is in distress!”
Revenge
has sunk and the rest of Gaarrett’s squadron is in distress!”
“Word sure travels fast,” Pete observed.
“It does,” confirmed Safir Maraan. As usual, she was resplendent in her silver-washed armor that contrasted so strikingly with her almost blue-black fur, but so complemented her flashing silver eyes. “Every ship in the fleet has a receiver after all, and besides, as large as
Salissa
Home is, she is not nearly large enough to frustrate anything so powerful as the ‘scuttlebutt,’ as Amer-i-caans say.”
Salissa
Home is, she is not nearly large enough to frustrate anything so powerful as the ‘scuttlebutt,’ as Amer-i-caans say.”
“I asked you here to tell you this news myself,” Keje said, “but as usual, I suppose the scuttlebutt has its place—so long as it does not distort. I dislike keeping secrets from our people. I doubt the general nature of the information you received could have fully conveyed the implications of this tragedy, however.”
“The blockade is broken,” Rolak said, “and surely we must extend whatever assistance we can.”
“Surely,” Keje agreed, “but USS
Tassat
is already nearly back
here
from mapping potential points of attack. We have absolutely nothing close by to send.”
Tassat
is already nearly back
here
from mapping potential points of attack. We have absolutely nothing close by to send.”
“Dreadful news indeed,” Queen Maraan said. “Is there nothing we can do?”
“We’re obliged to think of something,” Keje said. “Obviously, we
must
rescue them from the terrible end they face at the hands of the Grik, but also, honestly, they know too much to be taken. anguage barrier might once have provided some protection for us and our plans—if not for our poor people the Grik might capture. But now we know many Grik ‘Hij,’ their ‘elevated’ class, at least read and write the ‘scientific tongue’—and the Jaaps have told them we use it. There may even be Jaaps on Saa-lon and . . . well, we know they communicate with the enemy—and some speak ‘Amer-i-caan.’ ”
must
rescue them from the terrible end they face at the hands of the Grik, but also, honestly, they know too much to be taken. anguage barrier might once have provided some protection for us and our plans—if not for our poor people the Grik might capture. But now we know many Grik ‘Hij,’ their ‘elevated’ class, at least read and write the ‘scientific tongue’—and the Jaaps have told them we use it. There may even be Jaaps on Saa-lon and . . . well, we know they communicate with the enemy—and some speak ‘Amer-i-caan.’ ”
“We
must
rescue them!” Rolak agreed.
must
rescue them!” Rolak agreed.
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