Straits of Hell

Into the Storm

Crusade

Maelstrom

Distant Thunders

Rising Tides

Firestorm

Iron Gray Sea

Storm Surge

Deadly Shores

ROC

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First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,

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Copyright © Taylor Anderson, 2015

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REGISTERED TRADEMARK
—MARCA REGISTRADA

LI
BRARY OF CONGRESS CA
TALOGING-IN-PUBLICAT
ION DATA:

Anderson, Taylor, 1963–

Straits of hell / Taylor Anderson.

pages cm.—(Destroyermen)

“A ROC BOOK.”

ISBN 978-0-698-16296-9

I. Title.

PS3601.N5475S73 2015

813'.6—dc23 2014043672

PUBLISHER'
S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

 

 

 

To: Silvia—for everything.

For: “Taffy-3.” Whenever anyone says something to the effect that “nobody would ever go up against odds that long,” I just shake my head and say, “Taffy-3.” If they know what I'm talking about, they say “Oh. Oh, yeah.” If they don't, they should definitely educate themselves. When they do, they will know why no imaginary scenario I could ever conjure up can truly equal the “long odds” some very real young Americans once actually
faced.

Thanks again to Russell Galen, a great friend and the best agent anybody could ever have. Thanks particularly to Anne Sowards, who graciously agreed to jump into the middle of all this and become my new editor. I can't begin to say how great she's been or how much I appreciate her. Fred Feidler did the first read once (or twice or thrice) over again, and kept me from making more dopey mistakes than usual. Mark Wheeler and Col. Dave Leedom, USAFR, still help me “keep 'em flying.” Electronic and comm tech advice still flows freely from my dad, Dr. Don Anderson. Dennis Petty, Mark Beck, Eric Holland, Gordon Frye, Lynn Kosminski, Kate Baker, Pete Hodges, Ron Harris, Robin Clay, and many more continue to support me with their friendship, contribute their time, or inspire me with memories and . . . anecdotes. (Jim Goodrich, in particular, keeps the amusing anecdotes coming. A certain “swarm” of wildly selfish little piggies that demonstrated amazingly Grik-like behavior springs to mind.) Matthieu Buisine has recently joined my “bullpen” of advisors, and his input, along with that of all the great folks who visit my Web site (taylorandersonauthor.com) will be increasingly crucial as the tale steams into even stranger waters. Last, but absolutely not least, I would also like to thank Jane Steele, who hands down is the best copy editor it has ever been my pleasure to work
with.

(The following does not necessarily reflect initial or even final deployments, but only those most pertinent to the events described.)

See index for details of ships and equipment specifications.

Note:

(L)—
Lemurians, or Mi-Anakka (People) are bipedal, somewhat felinoid folk with large eyes, fur, and expressive but nonprehensile tails. They are highly intelligent, social, and dexterous. It has been proposed that they are descended from the giant lemurs of Madagascar.

(G)—
Grik, or Ghaarrichk'k, are bipedal reptilians reminiscent of various Mesozoic dromaeosaurids. Covered with fine downy fur, males develop bristly crests and tail plumage, and retain formidable teeth and claws. Grik society consists of two distinct classes, the ruling or industrious Hij, and the worker-warrior Uul. The basic Grik-like form is ubiquitous, and serves as a foundation for numerous unassociated races and species.

At “Grik City” Madagascar

USS
Walker
(DD-163)

Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Patrick Reddy, USNR
—Commanding. CINCAF—(Commander in Chief of All Allied Forces).

Cmdr. Brad “Spanky” McFarlane
—Exec. Minister of Naval Engineering.

Cmdr. Bernard Sandison
—Torpedo Officer and Minister of Experimental Ordnance.

Lt. Tab-At, “Tabby” (L)
—Engineering Officer.

Lt. Sonny Campeti
—Gunnery Officer.

Lt. Ed Palmer
—Signals.

Surgeon Lieutenant Pam Cross

Cmdr. Simon Herring
—Office of Strategic Intelligence (OSI).

Ensign Laar-Baa-Ra (L)
—PB-1B “Nancy” pilot.

Chief Quartermaster Patrick “Paddy” Rosen
—Acting First Officer.

Chief Boatswain's Mate Jeek (L)
—Former Crew Chief, “Special Air Division.”

Chief Engineer Isak Reuben
—One of the “original” Mice.

Gunner's Mate Pak-Ras-Ar, “Pack Rat” (L)

Earl Lanier
—Cook.

Johnny Parks
—Machinist's Mate.

Juan Marcos
—Officer's Steward.

Wallace Fairchild
—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).

Min-Sakir, “Minnie”(L)
—Bridge Talker.

Leftenant Doocy Meek
—British sailor and former POW (WWI). Now liaison for the Republic of Real People.

Corporal Neely
—Imperial Marine Bugler.

Salissa
Battle Group

USNRS
Salissa
“Big Sal” (CV-1)

Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)

Atlaan-Fas (L)
—Commanding.

Lt. Sandy Newman
—Exec.

1st Naval Air Wing

Captain Jis-Tikkar, “Tikker” (L)
—“COFO” (Commander of Flight Operations); 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Squadron, and 1st and 2nd Pursuit Squadrons aboard
Salissa
(CV-1).

Lt. Araa-Faan (L)
—Tikker's Aryaalan Exec.

Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 6)

USS
Haakar-Faask
**

Lt. Cmdr. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat (L)
—Commanding.

USS
Tassat
**

Captain Jarrik-Fas (L)
—Commanding.

Lt. Stanly Raj
—“Impie” Exec.

USS
Scott
***

Cmdr. Muraak-Saanga (L)
—Commanding. (Former
Donaghey
Exec and sailing master).

USS
Nakja-Mur
*

Lt. Naala-Araan
[Cmdr. Cablaas-Rag-Laan (L) has been reassigned].

MTB-Ron-1 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron #1)
—5xMTBs (#s 4, 7, 13, 15, 16).

Aef-M (Allied Expeditionary Force—Madagascar).

II Corps

General Queen Safir Maraan (L)
—Commanding.

3rd Division

General Mersaak (L)
—Commanding. “The 600” (B'mbaado Regiment composed of Silver and Black battalions), Exec 3rd Baalkpan, 3rd, 10th B'mbaado, 5th Sular, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Sular.

6th Division

General Grisa
—Commanding.

5th, 6th B'mbaado, 1st, 2nd, 9th Aryaal, 3rd Sular

1st Allied Raider Brigade (“Chack's Raiders,” or “Chack's Brigade”)

Lt. Col Chack-Sab-At (L)
—Commanding—bosun's mate (Marine Lt. Colonel).

21st (combined) Allied Regiment

Major Alistair Jindal—
Commanding—Imperial Marine, and Chack's nominal Exec.

1st and 2nd battalions of the 9th Maa-Ni-Laa, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Respite

7th (combined) Allied Regiment

Captain Risa Sab-At (L)—
Commanding—(Chack's sister).

2nd and 3rd battalions of the 19th Baalkpan, 1st Battalion of the 11th Imperial Marines

1st Cavalry Brigade

Lt. Colonel Saachic (L)—
Commanding.

3rd and 6th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry

SMS
Amerika

Kapitan Adler Von Melhausen
—Commanding.

Kapitan Leutnant Becker Lange
—Von Melhausen's Exec.

Adar (L)—
Chairman of the Grand Alliance (COTGA), and High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan.

Surgeon Commander Sandra Tucker Reddy—
Minister of Medicine, and wife of Captain Reddy.

Diania—
Steward's Assistant
and Sandra's friend and bodyguard.

Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn—USMC
—formerly of the 4th Marines (US).

Lieutenant Toryu Miyata—
formerly of
Amagi
.

M
ISSION
TO
MEET
“A
NCESTRAL
” L
EMUR
IANS
:

Ensign Nathaniel Hardee
—Commanding PT-7.

Courtney Bradford—
Australian naturalist and engineer. Minister of Science for the Grand Alliance and Plenipotentiary at Large.

Chief Gunner's Mate Dennis Silva

Lawrence “Larry the Lizard”
—orange and brown tiger-striped Grik-like ex-Tagranesi (Sa'aaran).

Corporal Ian Miles—
Formerly in 2nd of the 4th Marines.

The “Republic of Real People”

Caesar (Kaiser) Nig-Taak

General Marcus Kim—
Military High Command.

TFG-2 (Task Force Garrett-2)
(Long-Range Reconnaissance and Exploration)

USS
Donaghey
(DD-2)

Cmdr. Greg Garrett
—Commanding.

Lt. Saama-Kera, “Sammy” (L)
—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Wendel “Smitty” Smith
—Gunnery Officer.

Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At
—Commanding Marines.

Chief Bosun's Mate Jenaar-Laan

Inquisitor Kon-Choon
—Director of Spies for the Republic of Real People.

In Indiaa

Allied Expeditionary Force (North)

General of the Army and Marines Pete Alden
—Commanding. Former sergeant in USS
Houston
Marine contingent.

I Corps

General Lord Muln-Rolak (L)—
Commanding.

Hij Geerki
—Rolak's “pet” Grik, captured at Rangoon.

1st (Galla) Division

General Taa-leen (L)—
Commanding.

Colonel Enaak (L)
(5th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry)—Exec.

1st Marines, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Baalkpan

2nd Division

General Rin-Taaka-Ar (L)—
Commanding.

Major Simon “Simy” Gutfeld (3rd Marines)—
Exec.

1st, 2nd Maa-Ni-Laa, 4th, 6th, 7th Aryaal

III Corps

General Faan-Ma-Mar (L)—
Commanding
.

9th & 11th Divisions composed of the 2nd, 3rd Maa-ni-laa, 8th Baalkpan, 7th & 8th Maa-ni-la, 10th Aryaal

VI Corps

General Linnaa-Fas-Ra—
Commanding.

The “Czech Legion”—Colonel Dalibor SVEC
—Commanding. A near-division-level “cavalry” force of aging Czechs and Slovaks, and their continental Lemurian allies. They are militarily, if not politically, bound to the Grand Alliance.

Flynn Field
—Primary Army/Navy air base in Indiaa, on the north shore of Lake Flynn, west of Madraas.

Colonel Ben Mallory
—Commanding.

Lt. Cmdr. Mark Leedom—
Exec.

4th 5th, 7th, 8th Bomb Squadrons (PB-1B Nancys), and 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Pursuit Squadrons (P-1C Mosquito Hawks “Fleashooters”). The 3rd Pursuit Squadron is composed of 9 Army Air Corps P-40Es.

Lt. Walt “Jumbo” Fisher

Lt. (jg) Suaak-Pas-Ra “Soupy” (L)

Lt. Conrad Diebel

2nd Lt. Niaa-Saa “Shirley” (L)

S. Sergeant Cecil Dixon

At Madras (Indiaa)

First Fleet North

USS
Santa Catalina
(CAP-1)

Lt. Cmdr. Russ Chappelle
—Commanding.

Lt. Michael “Mikey” Monk
—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Dean Laney
—Engineering Officer.

Surgeon Cmdr. Kathy McCoy

Stanley “Dobbin” Dobson
—Chief Bosun's Mate.

USS
Mahan
(DD-102)

Cmdr. Perry Brister
—Commanding. Minister of Defensive and Industrial Works.

Lt. (jg) Jeff Brooks
—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).

Lt. (jg) Rolando “Ronson” Rodriguez
—Chief Electrician.

Taarba-Kaar, “Tabasco
” (L)—Cook.

Chief Bosun's Mate Carl Bashear

Ensign Johnny Parks—
Engineering Officer.

Ensign Paul Stites—
Gunnery Officer.

Arracca
Battle Group

USNRS
Arracca
(CV-3)

Tassanna-Ay-Arracca (L), High Chief
—Commanding.

5th Naval Air Wing

Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 9)

USS
Kas-Ra-Ar
**
—Captain Mescus-Ricum (L)—Commanding.

USS
Ramic
-Sa-Ar*

USS
Felts
**

USS
Naga
***

USS
Bowles
***

USS
Saak-Fas
***

USS
Clark
**

At Baalkpan

Cmdr. Alan Letts
—Chief of Staff, Minister of Industry and the Division of Strategic Logistics. Acting “Chairman” of the Grand Alliance.

Cmdr. Steve “Sparks”
Riggs
—Minister of Communications and Electrical Contrivances.

Lord Bolton Forester
—Imperial Ambassador.

Lt. Bachman
—Forester's aide.

Surgeon Cmdr. Karen Theimer Letts
—Assistant Minister of Medicine.

“Pepper” (L)
—Black-and-white Lemurian keeper of the “Castaway Cook,” (Busted Screw).

Leading Seaman Henry Stokes, HMAS
Perth
—Assistant Director of Office of Strategic Intelligence—(OSI).

Among the Khonashi (North Borno)

“King” Tony Scott

“Captain” I'joorka—
Respected warrior and Scott's friend.

Ensign Abel Cook—
Commanding Allied Mission.

Imperial Midshipman Stuart Brassey

Moe the Hunter

Pokey—
“Pet” Grik brass-picker.

Eastern Sea Campaign

High Admiral Harvey Jenks (CINCEAST)

Enchanted Isles

Sir Thomas Humphries—
Imperial Governor at Albermarl.

Colonel Alexander—
Garrison commander.

Second Fleet

USS
Maaka-Kakja
(CV-4)

Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan (L)
—Commanding.

Lieutenant Tex Sheider
(Sparks)—Exec.

Gilbert Yeager
—Engineer; one of the “original” Mice.

3rd Naval Air Wing

(9th, 11th, 12th Bomb Squadrons & 7th, 10th Pursuit Squadrons.) (30 planes assembled, 30 unassembled)

2nd Lt. Orrin Reddy
—COFO.

Sgt. Kuaar-Ran-Taak “Seepy” (L)
—Reddy's “backseater.”

Line of Battle

24 Imperial Ships of the Line Including:

HIMSs
Mars
*,
Centurion
*,
Mithra

*
Attached to TF-11 commanded by Imperial
Admiral E. B. Hibbs

DDs (of note)

USS
Mertz
***