thousand feet above the surface of the ocean, and waited. The forward
portion of the hull was completely gone. The aft part stayed afloat for a
few minutes, even bobbing up to the surface for a moment as the men inside
it evidently blew all their air tanks. A hatch on the back popped open,
and three figures struggled out, turning to haul a large package out with
them. A life raft, Bird Dog surmised, although whether or not they would
have time to open it and still survive the air temperature clad only in
their thin submariner overalls was open for debate. Evidently the impact
from the Rockeye had cracked the hull in too many critical spots. Bird Dog
saw huge gouts of air bubbles stream out of the hull, and the stern half
sank appreciably in the water. Thirty seconds later, it was completely
awash. The three men who’d exited the submarine still struggled with the
life boat package, their movements now noticeably slower and lethargic.
The poor bastards, he thought, still trying to stay focused on what the
Oscar had intended to do to Jefferson. At least they’ll go fast–and
they’re not trapped inside the hull, waiting for the water to leak into
their compartment. I’d rather freeze than drown any day, he concluded.
Four minutes after the first Rockeye had hit near the submarine, it
was all over. The men were floating on the surface of the water, their
abandoned life raft, only partially inflated, bobbing gently among them.
The remaining portions of the submarine’s hull slipped quietly beneath the
sea, although air bubbles and occasional gouts of water still rippled up.
The two aviators, as though by silent agreement, watched the submarine
die before turning to consider their own situation. Finally, when there
had been no air bubbles for several minutes, Bird Dog said, “Let’s call
Mother and let her know.”
“Okay. I’ll do the honors.”
Bird Dog heard Gator’s voice going out over Tactical, advising the air
boss–temporary commander of the carrier battle group–of what had
occurred. He listened to the brief conversation, patiently orbiting in a
standard marshall pattern, albeit at a lower altitude than he normally
would have done had there been other aircraft in the pattern. Finally, he
heard the air boss say, “Bring her on home, gentlemen. We’ve still got a
few problems, but I think we’d best get you on deck.”
“Sounds good to me,” Bird Dog said wearily. “And this time, boss,
we’re getting out of the cockpit right away.”
1410 Local
TFCC, USS Jefferson
“We’ve lost communications with our submarine,” Rogov said heavily.
He glared at Tombstone Magruder. “I warned you what the consequences would
be if you interfered.” He raised his 9mm slowly, and held it against the
side of Tombstone’s neck.
“No!” Tomboy shouted. She started to stand up.
Rogov turned to face her, training the weapon on her. “Even better.
You first.”
A movement in the corner of the room caught Tombstone’s eye,
momentarily distracting him from the life-and-death scenario being played
out in front of him. He glanced up, saw a black form move through an
escape shuttle located behind the JOTS terminal, and a hand with a dully
gleaming black shape pointed at Rogov. There was a short, quiet bark, too
soft to seem like gunfire.
The bullet caught Rogov in the throat, slamming him across the small
compartment and into the far bulkhead. Before he fell, his head rolled
back, ending up resting along his spine, held to his body by only a few
thin strips of skin and sinew. From chest to chin, his throat was almost
completely gone.
The gruesome, decapitated corpse slid slowly down the wall, catching
for a moment on a yellow emergency lighting battle lantern before hitting
the deck. Blood poured out of the shattered neck at a tremendous rate,
stopping only when his heart gave up the struggle to keep it circulating
through the body.
The black-clad figure climbed the rest of the way through the escape
hatch, and then stood and stretched. “I couldn’t wait any longer,” Sikes
said simply, looking back and forth between the two. “It was a chance,
with him so close to you, but I couldn’t wait. You know that.”