Sea of Shadows eBook - Navy Thriller.com

USS TOWERS (DDG-103)
SOUTHERN ARABIAN GULF
SUNDAY; 20 MAY
2140 hours (9:40 PM)
TIME ZONE +4 ‘DELTA’
CHAPTER 42
Captain Bowie addressed the small group of men and women gathered
around the wardroom table. “I apologize for calling this meeting at such a
late hour, but we may very well be in combat again by tomorrow morning,
and that means we have to make our preparations tonight.” His eyes lit on
the commanding officer of USS Benfold, and he nodded in her direction.
“I’d like to thank Commander Vargas, and her USW Officer, Lieutenant
(junior grade) Sherman, for accepting my invitation to join us tonight. I
know that they have personnel casualties and damage-control issues to
deal with back on their own ship, and I can appreciate how difficult it must
have been to tear themselves away.”
Commander Vargas nodded. “I’m glad to be here, Captain. This really
isn’t an easy time to leave my ship, and I have to confess that I was
tempted to send Lieutenant (jg) Sherman by himself. But I have a topnotch
exec, and I’m certain that my ship is in the best of hands. Still, I had
to do some soul searching before deciding to come. Here’s what made up
my mind … Our SAU is down to two ships now, both of which are
damaged. We have a tremendous amount of firepower at our command,
but very little of it can be brought to bear against a submerged submarine,
which tells me that we probably can’t outrun this guy, and we certainly
don’t outgun him. If we’re going to sink that submarine, we’re going to
have to out-think him.” She looked around the table. “And since this is
where most of that thinking is going to take place, this is where I need to
be tonight.”
Captain Bowie nodded. “Well said, Commander. Well said.” He
looked at the XO. “I’ve asked my executive officer, Lieutenant
Commander Tyler, to kick us off with an outline of our current status.
Pete?”
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