Firestorm (59 page)
Authors: Taylor Anderson
“Warn
Mertz
to prepare for air attack,” Matt instructed. “Looks like fifty or sixty of the devils are inbound for her position, if she hasn’t seen them yet. We’ll need to let them get right on her before we make our move, but holler if they manage to do worse than chew ropes or dent the deck!” For this part of the action,
Mertz
’s crew would have to abandon their exposed guns and take what the dragons dished out for a while.
Mertz
to prepare for air attack,” Matt instructed. “Looks like fifty or sixty of the devils are inbound for her position, if she hasn’t seen them yet. We’ll need to let them get right on her before we make our move, but holler if they manage to do worse than chew ropes or dent the deck!” For this part of the action,
Mertz
’s crew would have to abandon their exposed guns and take what the dragons dished out for a while.
“Ay, ay!”
For some time, nothing changed except the weather, which continued to worsen. The sea developed a genuine chop, and the wind rose, shifting several degrees back and forth. Matt was afraid the enemy would be forced to tack and that would change his initial deployment plan, but it shouldn’t make that much difference.
“
Mertz
says draa-gons are attacking now, much as before with round- shot, but the wind makes them drop too low to do bad damage,” Minnie reported.
Mertz
says draa-gons are attacking now, much as before with round- shot, but the wind makes them drop too low to do bad damage,” Minnie reported.
“Very well,” Matt replied, almost distractedly. “All units will increase speed,
Mertz
too. Make the damn things work to keep up with her!”
Mertz
’s top speed under steam in seas like this was probably only ten knots, but every little bit helped, and the dragons were flying into a twenty-knot headwind. That ought to wear them out. “Achilles will join the Imperial squadron and lead it up on the enemy rear.
Simms
will take her place as our screen. As soon as the Doms get wise,
Simms
and
Tindal
are on the loose—weapons free—and we’ll pull our little stunt!”
Mertz
too. Make the damn things work to keep up with her!”
Mertz
’s top speed under steam in seas like this was probably only ten knots, but every little bit helped, and the dragons were flying into a twenty-knot headwind. That ought to wear them out. “Achilles will join the Imperial squadron and lead it up on the enemy rear.
Simms
will take her place as our screen. As soon as the Doms get wise,
Simms
and
Tindal
are on the loose—weapons free—and we’ll pull our little stunt!”
Someone in the Dominion fleet apparently caught on fairly quickly, most likely when they saw what appeared to be two steamers overhauling their starboard flank considerably faster than any transport should be able. Signal flags raced up halyards on several of the closest ships, and when there was no response, they fired a few guns for emphasis. Matt didn’t see the flags or hear the shots. The screening ships blocked his view and
Walker
’s blower, pounding hull and rumbling machinery more than absorbed the distant reports, but a signal from
Simms
’s Morse lamp was sufficient.
Walker
’s blower, pounding hull and rumbling machinery more than absorbed the distant reports, but a signal from
Simms
’s Morse lamp was sufficient.
“Execute,” he said simply, and the word was passed to every Allied ship by wireless or signal flag. “All ahead full,” he added a few moments later. “Main battery will stand by for surface action port, explosive shells. Inform Mr. Campeti he may fire when ready. Somebody hoist the battle flag, if you please.”
The vibration in the deck strakes beneath their feet intensified, and the blower roared.
Walker
went from plodding through the swells, to a virtual leap forward, and the sea boomed across her fo’c’sle. ’Cats on
Simms
and
Tindal
cheered lustily as she left them behind, her twin screws churning the sea behind her fantail. Their cheers redoubled when they saw the oversize ensign rise to the top of the old destroyer’s foremast, standing out straight and taught in the stiff wind, her many battles embroidered on the red and white stripes. Those on
Walker
cheered their consorts in return when other large flags broke and streamed above them, and
Simms
and
Tindal
altered course to close the range to the enemy. The old Japanese alarm bell, turned salvo buzzer, jarred loudly against the bulkhead, and three bright flashes lit the drab day, illuminating the expectant faces of the gun’s crews stationed around a 4-inch-50roi fo’c’sle, another on the amidships gun platform, and a 4.7-inch dual purpose on the aft deckhouse. Their line of sight was clear now, and Matt moved to port and stared through his binoculars at the enemy still more than two miles away. Campeti had been drilling his crews remorselessly and now that they had the tables of fire adjusted for black powder, the guns were actually more accurate, if shorter-legged, since velocity variations were less extreme. Of course, regardless of the ammunition,
Walker
still had her single, greatest combat advantage: gyro-stabilized fire control that allowed a pitching, rolling, racing ship to hit an equally lively target.
Walker
went from plodding through the swells, to a virtual leap forward, and the sea boomed across her fo’c’sle. ’Cats on
Simms
and
Tindal
cheered lustily as she left them behind, her twin screws churning the sea behind her fantail. Their cheers redoubled when they saw the oversize ensign rise to the top of the old destroyer’s foremast, standing out straight and taught in the stiff wind, her many battles embroidered on the red and white stripes. Those on
Walker
cheered their consorts in return when other large flags broke and streamed above them, and
Simms
and
Tindal
altered course to close the range to the enemy. The old Japanese alarm bell, turned salvo buzzer, jarred loudly against the bulkhead, and three bright flashes lit the drab day, illuminating the expectant faces of the gun’s crews stationed around a 4-inch-50roi fo’c’sle, another on the amidships gun platform, and a 4.7-inch dual purpose on the aft deckhouse. Their line of sight was clear now, and Matt moved to port and stared through his binoculars at the enemy still more than two miles away. Campeti had been drilling his crews remorselessly and now that they had the tables of fire adjusted for black powder, the guns were actually more accurate, if shorter-legged, since velocity variations were less extreme. Of course, regardless of the ammunition,
Walker
still had her single, greatest combat advantage: gyro-stabilized fire control that allowed a pitching, rolling, racing ship to hit an equally lively target.
Matt grunted in satisfaction when two of the three shells struck a battleship on their first salvo. The explosions of the bursting charges weren’t very big and wouldn’t have caused much damage against a modern warship, but they blew quite satisfactory holes in wooden ships, little matter how stout and thick, because they naturally penetrated
while
exploding. Of course, the enemy also relied on bringing large quantities of bagged powder from their magazines to the guns. Powder that was immune to the passage of solid shot, splinters, or virtually any hazard they might face in battle—except random and energetic flashes of fire. What began as something resembling fireworks going off within the distant ship, even as her gunports began to rise, rapidly accelerated into a catastrophic detonation that
everyone
heard over the wind, distance, and sounds of their ship. In an instant, all that remained of a once-mighty vessel—and possibly five or six hundred human beings—was an expanding cloud of smoke and falling debris.
while
exploding. Of course, the enemy also relied on bringing large quantities of bagged powder from their magazines to the guns. Powder that was immune to the passage of solid shot, splinters, or virtually any hazard they might face in battle—except random and energetic flashes of fire. What began as something resembling fireworks going off within the distant ship, even as her gunports began to rise, rapidly accelerated into a catastrophic detonation that
everyone
heard over the wind, distance, and sounds of their ship. In an instant, all that remained of a once-mighty vessel—and possibly five or six hundred human beings—was an expanding cloud of smoke and falling debris.
Those on the bridge stood almost stunned for a moment, but Campeti’s roar of “Next target, next target! Match pointers, goddamn it!” on the fire control platform above snapped them out of it. They’d blown up enemy ships before, but rarely before they were fully immersed in the fight—and never with so many
humans
aboard.
humans
aboard.
Matt turned to the bridge watch, his face hard. “They started this, so they asked for it,” he grated. “I’m not happy about it either, but I’m
satisfied
, and I’ll stay that way if we blow every one of ’em out of the water!”
satisfied
, and I’ll stay that way if we blow every one of ’em out of the water!”
The salvo buzzer rang again, and three more tongues of fire snarled at the enemy and jolted the ship as
Walker
continued her dash to get around in front of the Dom fleet.
Walker
continued her dash to get around in front of the Dom fleet.
“Hello the bridge!” came a cry from aft. “May I come up there, please?”
“Courtney! I thought you stayed in Saint Francis!” Matt said, surprised.
“Well, I didn’t. I may have made an extra effort to stay out of sight, so you wouldn’t force me to, but I am, indeed, here! I’m the acting surgeon after all, and I have my duty,” he reminded him piously. “May I join you?”
“Yeah, I suppose. But since you’re here, I expect you to do your duty without whining. If we take a hit, you’re off to the wardroom!”
“I shall vanish instantly, sir! Vanish!” He peered out at the Doms. Another salvo boomed, and he worked his jaw to pop his ears. “So we’re engaged in yet another unequal fight,” he observed cheerfully. “How exciting! Shall we see more of those dreadful but fascinating flying creatures?”
“I think you can count on it,” Matt said, watching another salvo launch water spouts around one of the lead “cruisers.” Only one shell hit the ship and it didn’t explode, but it must have struck somewhere near the wheel, because the ship suddenly fell off, beam on to the wind. It did manage a stuttering broadside in
Walker
’s direction, but every shot fell randomly short.
Walker
’s direction, but every shot fell randomly short.
The whole right side of the enemy formation suddenly erupted fire and smoke at
Simms
and
Tindal
as they eased ever closer, but that fire had no greater effect. The two Allied DDs held their fire.
Simms
and
Tindal
as they eased ever closer, but that fire had no greater effect. The two Allied DDs held their fire.
“It must be terribly frustrating for them,” Bradford commiserated. “I mean, I doubt any of those men over there had ever heard of
Walker
before we waylaid them at Guadalupe, and there they stand, directly into her fire with no hope of a meaningful reply. You can despise what they represent, but you must honor their courage.”
Walker
before we waylaid them at Guadalupe, and there they stand, directly into her fire with no hope of a meaningful reply. You can despise what they represent, but you must honor their courage.”
“Theirs is the courage of the Grik, Courtney,” Matt snapped.
“It’s not! They’re . . . misguided. Criminally so. They’re doubtless coerced by their faith, and by our standards, even evil. But they must sense fear and understand their danger.” He shook his head. “Their courage is real.”
“I don’t know. After meeting that weird ‘Blood Cardinal’ bastard, Don Hernan, I wonder if it’s only that they’re less afraid of us than they are of him and his kind.”
“Perhaps. Pity we never caught him. I suspect he now sits happily at the feet of his ‘pope’ . . . perhaps as a footrest?”
Matt barked a laugh. “That would be a sight, with all his puffed-up dignity!” He shook his head. “I doubt it, though. He’s probably on New Ireland. Maybe Chack’s already killed him!”
“A happy thought!”
The salvo buzzer rang.
Walker
finally passed around in front of the Dom fleet, still keeping her distance on a course of two, eight, zero, mauling its ships practically at will. Roundshot, probably fired by heavy bow chasers, moaned by or plunked into the sea close aboard, shrouded in massive splashes. Courtney was as good as his word and promptly left the bridge when a pair of lucky shots staggered the ship. At this range they didn’t penetrate, but they did open seams and cause leaks.
Mertz
reported that the dragons had all dropped their loads, causing some damage to her decking and a few gun carriages, but little more. As Matt had predicted, they’d started shredding her rigging. The ship and her swarm of attackers were visible from the crow’s nest now, and the report said the distant struggle looked like a flock of “regular” lizard birds picking at a floating fish.
finally passed around in front of the Dom fleet, still keeping her distance on a course of two, eight, zero, mauling its ships practically at will. Roundshot, probably fired by heavy bow chasers, moaned by or plunked into the sea close aboard, shrouded in massive splashes. Courtney was as good as his word and promptly left the bridge when a pair of lucky shots staggered the ship. At this range they didn’t penetrate, but they did open seams and cause leaks.
Mertz
reported that the dragons had all dropped their loads, causing some damage to her decking and a few gun carriages, but little more. As Matt had predicted, they’d started shredding her rigging. The ship and her swarm of attackers were visible from the crow’s nest now, and the report said the distant struggle looked like a flock of “regular” lizard birds picking at a floating fish.
“Make your course three, three, zero, Mr. Kutas,” Matt said. “I hope those flying Grik remember what we did to them the other day and still hold a grudge. Let’s see if we can get their attention.” The salvos still flew hot and heavy to port, and the enemy van was losing its cohesion. Two more ships had been utterly destroyed by
Walker
’s fire, and gouts of smoke billowed southward on the landward side of the fleet as the firing between it and the two Allied DDs grew more furious.
Achilles
signaled that she and her consorts were finally bringing the Dom rear under fire. Matt began to grow concerned that the enemy might wear and turn on the Imperial squadron. He didn’t think they would, not yet anyway, but if they did,
Achilles
and the other Imperial frigates wouldn’t last long. He had to be ready to respond quickly if that occurred.
Walker
’s fire, and gouts of smoke billowed southward on the landward side of the fleet as the firing between it and the two Allied DDs grew more furious.
Achilles
signaled that she and her consorts were finally bringing the Dom rear under fire. Matt began to grow concerned that the enemy might wear and turn on the Imperial squadron. He didn’t think they would, not yet anyway, but if they did,
Achilles
and the other Imperial frigates wouldn’t last long. He had to be ready to respond quickly if that occurred.
“Cap-i-taan!” Minnie cried. “Commodore Jenks signals on small wireless we left him that the Dom Army is attacking in force! They is a lot of them, maybe five thousands. They not have much artillery, though, and Jenks does. Artillery has kept them at arm’s reach for now, so Bosun an’ his rifle militia can kill them well! He holding. He ask how we do?”
“Tell him we’re holding too.”
“That all?”
“That’s all. For now.”
More splashes rose around
Walker
, falling ever shorter as she steamed farther from the Dominion fleet—toward
Mertz
.
Walker
, falling ever shorter as she steamed farther from the Dominion fleet—toward
Mertz
.
Bradford clomped back up the stairs aft, waving away questioning faces. “No injuries. Nothing
serious
, anyway. Just the usual cuts and scrapes, bumps and bruises you always see whenever large numbers of people scamper about on a vessel this small, handling heavy shells and manipulating large objects designed to pinch hell out of anyone coming near.” His bushy eyebrows rose as he stared off the port quarter. Several ships had begun to burn, and a number of warships had turned toward
Simms
and
Tindal
, regardless of the risk. The pounding they’d been taking simply couldn’t be borne any longer. “Can’t say the same for those poor buggers, I’m sad to say.”
serious
, anyway. Just the usual cuts and scrapes, bumps and bruises you always see whenever large numbers of people scamper about on a vessel this small, handling heavy shells and manipulating large objects designed to pinch hell out of anyone coming near.” His bushy eyebrows rose as he stared off the port quarter. Several ships had begun to burn, and a number of warships had turned toward
Simms
and
Tindal
, regardless of the risk. The pounding they’d been taking simply couldn’t be borne any longer. “Can’t say the same for those poor buggers, I’m sad to say.”
“No,” Matt said, “but our guys are about to get it if they don’t pull ahead. Signal
Simms
and
Tindal
, ‘Full ahead, remain to windward of the enemy.’ ”
Simms
and
Tindal
, ‘Full ahead, remain to windward of the enemy.’ ”
“Ay, ay . . . Cap-i-taan!” Minnie passed the word, then paused, listening to her earpiece. “Lookout says, ‘Draagons come!’ Signal from
Mertz
says they leave her be now.” Minnie cocked her head. “Says some real tired draagons roost on ship! They shooting them!”
Mertz
says they leave her be now.” Minnie cocked her head. “Says some real tired draagons roost on ship! They shooting them!”
“Swell,” Matt replied. “Have
Mertz
rejoin
Tindal
and
Simms
at her best possible speed! She’s finished playing bait, and I think her sisters are going to need her!”
Mertz
rejoin
Tindal
and
Simms
at her best possible speed! She’s finished playing bait, and I think her sisters are going to need her!”
“Here they come!” Kutas said, peering up through the windows.
“Secure from ‘surface action port’!” Matt cried. “Stand by for air action, aft! Helm, give us a gradual turn to course two, four, zero! Reduce speed to two-thirds.”
“What exactly are you planning?” Bradford asked.
“I’m playing a hunch you gave me. Those devils have
got
to be getting tired, all of them. At the same time, they’re going to hate giving up chasing something. If they really are like Grik, they can’t help it! So . . . we let ’em chase us, farther and farther away from their ‘base’ ships, hopefully staying just out of reach as long as we can. Shooting at ’em the whole time ought to keep them stirred up. . . .”
got
to be getting tired, all of them. At the same time, they’re going to hate giving up chasing something. If they really are like Grik, they can’t help it! So . . . we let ’em chase us, farther and farther away from their ‘base’ ships, hopefully staying just out of reach as long as we can. Shooting at ’em the whole time ought to keep them stirred up. . . .”
“But what happens when they catch us? They might, you know. Then we’ll have half a hundred of those vicious things romping all over the ship! We won’t be able to man the guns, and go back and assist our friends!”
“You let me worry about that. I have a surprise for them based on something else you said.”
“Oh dear,” Courtney mumbled. “I certainly hope, whatever it was, I was right!”
Staring astern, Spanky stood on the aft deckhouse, striking his signature pose, hands on his skinny hips.
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