Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

CHAPTER 38
USS TOWERS (DDG-103)
NORTHERN STRAITS OF HORMUZ
SUNDAY; 20 MAY
2115 hours (9:15 PM)
TIME ZONE +4 ‘DELTA’
Chief McPherson swirled the last bit of coffee around the bottom of her
cup and glared at the dark liquid with accusatory eyes. She knew the
coffee was cold, and she could see the grounds in it. She thought for a
second about getting a fresh cup, but she would be going off watch in
about a half hour, and she didn’t want the caffeine kicking in just when she
was trying to catch a few winks. Not that she’d sleep for long anyway.
She’d be back in CIC in an hour or two. She was having a hard time
staying away, even when she wasn’t on watch. In fact, she probably
wouldn’t hit her rack at all. Maybe she’d just catch a catnap in a chair at
one of the unused consoles.
She was very careful not to actually do the math in her head. Because,
when she did, she’d have to admit to herself that she had been awake for
two days and counting. The logical part of her mind knew that dedication
and willpower only went so far. Her energy reserves were running low,
and she’d have to put in some major sack time in the not-too-distant future.
But she was all right for now. Or, rather, she would be after a little nap.
She looked up at the big red digits on the CIC battle clock. She and the
sonar watch teams were due for turnover at 2145—in a little less than
thirty minutes—and that nap was starting to look better all the time. With
any luck, the subs wouldn’t show up during the watch turnover, the way
they had the last time.
She slurped the last swallow of coffee and made a face when the cold,
sludge like liquid hit her taste buds. She was in the process of picking
stray grounds off the tip of her tongue when it hit her. She stared dumbly
at the CDRT for several seconds with her tongue still sticking out. Last
time, the subs had struck during the watch turnover. But what about the
time before that?
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