A serial killer?
Russell Grant felt a cold chill. He had never experienced anything like this at sea before. It was unprecedented. His mind raced. How best to combat the problem?
He wasn't for turning back. It wasn't in his nature.
He sighed and fixed his peaked hat firmly onto his head. Come what may, this patrol would go on. He issued instructions for Hobbs to continue her crime scene processing and he retired to his private cabin.
He needed time alone.
To reflect.
To pray.
To think.
CHAPTER 10
New tensions had surfaced on the Obama since the slaying of Agent Helena Price. Waters was apoplectic with rage over the captain's stubborn refusal to allow another forensics expert rendezvous with the Obama. A heated debate took place in the control room. The captain was sticking to his guns.
"It's out of the question," he was insisting to Waters. The Obama is on a war footing, and we can't compromise our position any further by taking more people aboard."
"Do I have to remind you captain that a federal agent has been killed here? he stated caustically.
Russell nodded his head in acknowledgement. "I understand your grief, Agent Waters. We've lost somebody too, but you'll just have to carry on as best you can. I've instructed the CWO to afford you all the assistance she can. I can't be any more positive than that at this moment in time."
And with that Waters had to be content. He stormed out of the control room. "Bloody navy," he was heard saying. "Bullshit regulations."
Russell turned and returned Pirman's smile. "XO, let's get back to our bloody duties, shall we?"
The navy men within the control room were all smiling. It was true what they said.
The navy were always as one.
CHAPTER 11
The murder weapon had been found.
Paddy the plumber stood hopping from foot to foot. He'd been ruled out early in the investigation as a suspect, because he'd been on duty at the time of Mahon's murder. He hadn't been the only one ruled out. At any given time, at least a third of the crew are on duty or watch and in the presence of others when carrying out those duties. There aren't many hiding places on a submarine, and there can be no shirking of duty. In the old days, men could slink off to the engineering plant to sneak a quick smoke, but those days were long gone. Most submariners were now non-smokers.
Paddy had discovered the crude device hidden in the engineering section of the boat. The wicked looking device had been sharpened and honed to a lethal edge.
Waters looked at it, and then brought his eyes up to meet those of the captain. "How many of the crew would have metal fabrication experience?" he queried.
Russell scowled. "All our teams aboard have cross-functionality experience," he explained. "It's what we do."
Waters seemed to be over his earlier tantrum. In fact, he seemed hyped up by the fact that the murder weapon had been found.
Russell would have been happier if the murderer himself had been unmasked, but he was thankful for small mercies.
Maybe now, the killings would stop.
Maybe?
CHAPTER 12
Russell couldn't believe yet another murder had taken place aboard, having assumed with the discovery of the offending weapon, that the killer no longer had the means to continue his murderous spree. Despair hit him like a sponge in the face, and for the first time he contemplated seriously cutting their losses and returning to base, perhaps Hawaii, until this matter could be straightened out.
Just as this thought was forming however, the whole situation aboard changed. Lieutenant Rawlings approached him clutching an EAM.
"Thanks, Jim," Russell said, taking the paper from the lanky lieutenant.
Russell read the EAM, a new frown deepening his countenance. He turned to his XO, and showed him the transmission.
"Take over here, Stephen, will you. I'm going to the Conn to address the crew."
Pirman threw his captain a salute. Moments later, the strained voice of Russell came over the loudspeaker system. "Crew of the Obama," he announced. "We have been ordered by command to assume DEFCON 2. I expect your total commitment and dedication. I have received word that at 0800 this morning, North Korea launched an all out invasion on its southern counterpart. I'm sorry to have to inform you that this action has resulted in American casualties at the 38th Parallel. War is imminent. I wish to further advise that Petty Officer Wayne Peddigrew has been found murdered in the same circumstances as the others. From this point on, all movements throughout the boat are curtailed unless absolutely necessary. Form yourselves into two man security teams. Anyone found to be in breach of these conditions will be severely reprimanded and will face charges. Out."
CHAPTER 13
Numerous contacts were now being reported by the radar and sonar operators, and the boat was ready for treachery from any quarter. The Archipelago was buzzing with contacts, and the computer screens aboard the Obama were awash with information.
Russell picked up the radio, and issued fresh instructions. "Man battle stations missiles. Silent running." The XO repeated the order.
Hone suddenly spoke. "Conn, sonar. Surface contact closing."
Russell issued fresh instructions to the pilots. "Right, full rudder. All ahead standard."
"Right, full rudder. All ahead standard, aye."
Russell eyed his sonarman. "Are they coming around?"
"Negative, captain. They're continuing straight ahead."
Russell nodded. "They can't hear us, so."
He suddenly grinned and Hone instinctively knew what he was going to say next. His captain was a true submariner with a daring sense of adventure. "Let's shadow them for awhile," he ordered. He relayed orders to maneuvering.
"Simulated attack, sir?" Hone whispered.
"Aye. What have we got up there, Hone?"
Hone had been busy with his manuals and NATO briefs and was still listening through his headphones as he monitored the activity above. "Sovremennyy Class destroyer, captain. Designation by the Russians as the buzzard."
Russell remembered reading about that class; they carried one anti-submarine helicopter."
Hone must have read his mind. "The helix," he reminded his captain using the NATO classification. The Kamov KA-27."
He'd have to be careful, Russell decided. The helix was equipped with sonobuoys and torpedoes. A submarine's worst nightmare.
CHAPTER 14
The Spratly Islands were now behind them, and they were continuing their mission towards the Yellow Sea. Russell's new security procedures seemed to be progressing well; there had been no further untoward incidents aboard the Obama. The numerous Chinese contacts around the Spratly Islands had died away, and they had resumed normal patrol operations.
The normality didn't last for long.
"Launch bluefin," Russell ordered. The bluefin could search the surrounding waters for targets that the Obama hadn't picked up on.
It was a tactical weapon.
CHAPTER 15
They were now in distinctly unfriendly and hostile waters. The crew were in a heightened state of alert, with each crew member on edge. They had to be very careful here, and it wasn't just down to the Korean and Chinese presence, but the shallow nature of much of the inlet.
The area was also known as Hwang Hai, and it derived its name from the storm particles washed down the Yellow River from the Gobi desert. The maximum depth of the water was 152 meters, but could go as low as 44 meters, and encompassed an area of 380,000 sq km, extending 960 km from north to south, and 700 km from east to west. The navigator, in particular, aboard the Obama had to be on his toes. He was constantly taking soundings and poring over his charts. Larsen had never looked so much under pressure.