Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

SEA OF SHADOWS 249
The water was shallow in the straits, and the shock wave of the
explosion was magnified, sending a base surge of displaced water
fountaining thirty feet into the air. Gremlin Zero Two was obliterated.
Anvil two didn’t meet with the same level of success. At the top of the
weapon’s ballistic arc, the second VLA’s airframe jammed and didn’t
separate properly. The torpedo couldn’t detach itself, and the entire
missile assembly fell out of the sky well down range of its target. Falling
ten thousand feet without a parachute, the faulty weapon disintegrated on
impact with the water.
USS Towers:
The Sonar Supervisor’s voice came over the 29-MC: “All Stations—
Sonar has multiple hydrophone effects off the starboard beam! Bearings
two-six-zero and two-six-five. Initial classification: hostile torpedoes!”
Ensign Cooper stabbed at the mike button. “USWE, aye! Break!
Bridge—USWE. Crack the whip! We have in-bound hostile torpedoes. I
say again—crack the whip!”
“Bridge, aye!”
The whine of the gas turbines increased in pitch and volume as the
engines wound up to maximum rpm.
The Officer of the Deck’s voice came over the 1-MC. “All hands stand
by for heavy rolls while performing high-speed evasive maneuvers.”
The deck tilted sharply to port as the ship veered into the first evasive
turn.
USS Benfold:
Captain Vargas punched the button that patched her comm-set into the
1MC. “This is the Captain speaking from CIC,” she said. “The bridge has
been knocked out by a missile hit. I need a damage control team and
medical personnel on the bridge now. CCS take rudder and engine
controls. Engineering Officer of the Watch, establish communications
with CIC on Net One Zero, and stand by for maneuvering orders. Get to it
people! That is all.” She released the mike button.