Shranski nodded. “Damage Control?”
“PQS is perfect. PMS on the gear is the same,” said Commander Sharpe. “They are constantly running drills and the repair parties know their stuff top to bottom. They responded within thirty seconds of the hits with the proper gear and got the job done very quickly. I took a look at where the missiles hit. The wooden deck both forward and aft is filled with shrapnel from the missiles. We all saw the funnel. There is a little deep scoring on turret one from the missile hit and there was paint scraping. The same was found on the barbette on three. Hot damn these things can take a beating. Knowing what this ship can take, I think Captain Hammond could take the missiles on without much fear of losing either the ship or crew. It’s one of the best trained crews I have ever seen.”
“I’ll second that,” said Commander Parsons, an engineering duty officer. “Every crewman I talked to is knowledgeable and highly motivated. They think Hammond is the best thing since sliced bread. He shares information with them and is fair all round. Even the old guys like this captain. I found out he makes rounds every day and stops by to talk to nearly every crewman he sees. Even the guys he’s nailed at Captain’s Mast like the guy. The engineers usually just get their job done and sleep, but he comes down and talks to the snipes. The Chiefs like him coming down and just asking one of the younger guys to tell him how his equipment works. Hammond already knows, but it gives him a good idea of what training needs to be done and makes the snipes feel better about themselves. If you let me, Admiral, I’ll stay and do top watches again,” he said.
Shranski sat back in his seat. “So you guys are telling me Hammond is a saint.”
“By act of Congress,” Bass said. “Admiral, I don’t see a thing that this guy or this crew did wrong. Sure, there are a few minor problems, like a partial gundeck of a PMS card, but he has procedures to catch and correct things like that, and he acts on them. The ship is as solid as I have ever seen. We laid out our recommendations for medals as we see them. There are 22 major and 34 minor in all. We can look deeper, but I almost guarantee you won’t find anything.”
Shranski smiled at the men. “No, I don’t think you will either. I haven’t told you this, but I met the guy the day old Granger got canned. We were the ones who got these old battleships recommissioned. Making Hammond the CO of this ship was probably the best thing the Navy ever did,” he said. “OK, write it up. Let’s get a message out tomorrow via the satellite. Make it short and sweet. We can take the entire report with us when we go back. Until then, be as helpful as we can and stay out of the way. It may be a few days before we can leave, but that’s okay. You gentlemen helped me out a lot. I appreciate it. Is there anything else?”
“I don’t think so, Admiral,” said Bass.
“Then good night everyone,” Shranski said. The men stood and gathered the reams of paper they had been using. Shranski walked over to the small opening into the galley and knocked on the door.
The door opened and his mess specialist looked in. “Can I help you, Admiral?”
“We’re done, Harris. Could you come get this stuff and bring me some kind of snack? I feel hungry,” Shranski said.
“Harris broke into a wide grin. “No problem, Admiral. I’ll be right in,” he said.
Shranski walked out of his office and looked at the captain’s cabin door. The sentry was not there. He glanced at his watch. It was after 9 pm. Hammond would be on the bridge. He stuck his head in the pantry. “Harris, hold that snack for me a few minutes, I’m going up to see the Captain. If you could, please bring it in when I get back,” he said.
Hammond was sitting in his chair on the bridge reading message traffic when Shranski came up.
“Any news from home?” Shranski asked.
Hammond got up out of his seat. “The usual, sir. Is everything going okay from your end?” he asked.
“Just wanted to let you know our investigation is over. You and your guys did an amazing job. I hated to be the one to come over and do this, but it had to be done.”
“I know, sir. I wasn’t really worried and it gave us some time to talk again. Do you need for me to arrange some kind of helo to come pick you guys up?”
“Give us a couple of days so we can see what happens in the schedule. If push comes to shove, I can get the helo from the carrier to come in and get us. With all that’s going on ashore, I’m not too sure I want to go that way,” Shranski said. “Let’s get some fresh air.”
Hammond followed Shranski to the open bridge wing. The cool wind felt good after being cooped up inside for a few days. A half moon lit up the night sky. “Just so you know, I am recommending over fifty medals for the crew. My whole staff was impressed.”
“That’s great, sir. They deserve a lot. I appreciate it.”
“We’re alone, Roger. Relax a little. I hadn’t really planned on finding much anyway. I knew you had done good.”
“Thanks, Mike, but don’t worry about me. Give it all to the guys. They had this ship pretty well trained up before I even got here.”
“Yeah, I take it the older guys had things together.”
“Three bags full. It’s almost as if they never left the ship. I really like all these guys. When I go on my tours, they are more open and focused than the younger guys. They don’t mind telling me if something is messed up. Makes my job a lot easier.”
“Yeah, I’ve taken a few tours around. Even the snipes talk to me about their jobs. They’re not afraid of these admiral’s stars.”
“Take some time and explore while you’re on here. Go up to Spot One sometime and talk to Skelly. That man can talk your ears off. Plus it’s the best panoramic view of the ship!”
“I may do that. Any problems with the repairs?”
“Only that the stack looks newer than anything else on the ship. The engineers aren’t complaining and the stack gasses aren’t being drawn back down into engineering like they had been. We appreciate you getting the plans out here so the shipyard could fix us.”
“Well, there’s more to it. I got a call from the Hyundai people when the word came out about your damage. That shipyard performed the repairs at no charge,” Shranski said.
Hammond looked in disbelief. “I would have sworn something like that might cost a couple million dollars. They did it for nothing?” he asked.
“Yep. And when your band was playing as you came in, the guys got really excited. If I asked them to build a whole new ship, they would have. See? Some of the small things you do pay off,” Shranski said. He looked up toward Spot One. “You think Skelly is up there?”
Hammond grunted. “Probably. Either way it’s a great view.”
Shranski thought a moment. “Maybe I’ll wait till tomorrow while the sun is out. I think I’ll turn in instead,” he said.
‘Thanks for the update, Mike. Have a good evening,” Hammond said.
Shranski left the bridge wing and went back to his cabin. Harris brought in some hot peach pie and coffee. Shranski sat back on the couch and ate his snack while propping up his feet. When he was done, he passed the empty plate and cup through the pantry door and turned in. Tomorrow he would take himself a good tour of the ship.
“Comrade Chairman, I am happy to announce we have met the goals you set out for us,” the new Defense Minister said to the assembled group of leaders. “We have crossed the border as directed and our troops are already at their assigned progress points. Despite the Americans’ best efforts, they have not been able to deal with our forces or your leadership,” he said.