Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

264 JEFF EDWARDS
He was interrupted by a half-shouted voice over the speaker. “CCS—
Flying Squad. The line shaft bearing is smoking! I say again, the main
line shaft bearing in AMR #3 is smoking. It’s so hot that it whited out my
Nifty. Recommend we rig a fire hose to attempt seawater cooling.”
Sebring keyed his mike. “Flying Squad—CCS. Negative. Do not
attempt to cool the bearing. Evacuate the space and wait for orders.”
“Good call,” the DCA said. “If that bearing is hot enough to zap the
Nifty, it’ll explode when cold water hits it.”
Sebring switched circuits and keyed up again. “Repair Three—CCS.
Set primary fire boundaries around Auxiliary Machinery Room #3.”
The repair locker phone talker acknowledged and repeated back his
order.
The groaning sound was a roar now, and the entire ship was rattling
like an old car on a dirt road.
Sebring pulled off his headset and handed it to the DCA. “You’ve got
to talk to the captain, sir. He won’t listen to me.”
Lieutenant (jg) Wu pulled the headset on and keyed the mike.
“Captain—DCA. The main line shaft bearing in AMR #3 is burning.
Recommend we stop engines and lock the shaft immediately to prevent
serious damage to the engineering plant.”
The CO’s voice came back immediately. “DCA—Captain. Negative.
We are in pursuit of a hostile submarine. You are ordered to maintain
speed.”
The DCA keyed his mike again. “Captain—DCA. If that bearing
locks up while the shaft is still turning …”
The captain cut him off. “I know we can wreck the plant, Mark. I also
know what can happen if we don’t sink this damned sub. Two minutes,
Mark. That’s all I need to get within firing range. You give me two more
minutes of speed, and then you can trash the whole plant.”
Wu keyed his mike. “DCA, aye.”
He looked down at Sebring. “What do you think? Will that bearing
hold together for another two minutes?”
Sebring shrugged. “I have no idea, sir. I’ve never even heard of
anyone running flank speed with a burned line shaft bearing. I’m amazed
that it’s held this long.”
For a little while, it seemed as if the captain might actually get his two
minutes. But suddenly, there was a brief but harsh metallic scraping
sound, followed immediately by the shriek of tearing metal.