Nov, 17 1958 11:00 a.m.

The SS Carl D. Bradley sat docked at the pier in Gary Indiana with the last of the limestone unloaded from her holds. She was a proud ship having set many tonnage records on the great lakes. Built in 1927 for the Bradley Transportation Company of Rodgers City Michigan she was one of the largest self unloading ore carriers to sail the great lakes.
Captain Roland Bryant was eager to set sail. The return run to Rodgers City was to be the last of the season and the ship was to return in ballast, but at the last minute a message was received from company headquarters to take on a load of unspecified material for the government to be unloaded at Mackinac City.
"Hey Captain. I thought we weren't taking on a load for this trip."
Captain Bryant turned to see Raymond Buehler his chief engineer.
"Last minute orders. It shouldn't delay us much."
By 2:00 p.m. the Carl D. Bradley released the last of her mooring lines and slowly slipped from her mooring. Her General Electric steam turbines softly whistling their exhaust through the ships funnels. Weather reports were coming in talking of stormy weather forming to the west.
November on the great lakes has seen more loss of ships than any other month with high winds and seas forming rapidly. Captain Bryant not wanting to take any chances hugged the coast of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Nov 18, 1958 2:00 p.m.

The Bradley made her turn for the straits of Mackinac an hour earlier with heavy seas forming from the west. The waves were now coming from the port aft quarter of the ship with a height of twenty five to thirty five feet. A gale of a wind at sixty knots and a heavy sea state made navigation extremely difficult.
Down in the boiler room rivets were starting to pop. Not an unusual event on the Bradley in heavy seas. Chief engineer Buehler walked his spaces and ordered his men to pick up the popped rivets less a man slip and fall.
Paul Horn came up to Buehler a while later carrying two large buckets of rivet heads.
"Hey Cheng." he started "What do you want us to do with all these?"
"Lash them down, We'll empty them when the seas calm."
"Can we dump them now? We need more buckets."
"How many more?" Buehler inquired.
"Well" Horn began "We've filled 10 buckets this size and they're still popping"
Buehler started to worry and called the bridge. First mate Elmer Fleming was on duty and took the call.
"Bridge." Fleming answered.
"This is Buehler, we're popping rivets like mad down here. I've never seen it this bad before."
"I'll let the captain know. When we make the straits we should be okay."
The Bradley continued on making way for the straits. At 4:00 p.m. the captain came on the bridge.
"How are we doing Fleming?" Bryant asked of his first mate.
"Well we're on coarse, Buehler called a while ago about a lot of rivet pops he sounded pretty concerned."
"Good God man!" the captain pratically bellowed "How long ago was this?"
"Around an hour ago."
"And you're just telling me now?! Get me the engine room!" captain Bryant ordered.
At 5:30 p.m. Fleming was still on the bridge with the captain when the helmsman cried out.
"The wheels gone slack."
At that moment an ominous thud sounded from the mid section of the ship. Fleming looked aft so see the stern start to sag. Alarm bells started to sound on the ship. Captain Bryant pulled the whistle cord, seven long blasts and one short, the signal for abandon ship. "Sound the alarm, abandon ship we're going down."
Fleming ran to the radio telephone "Mayday Mayday Mayday this is the Carl D. Bradley Mayday Mayday Mayday!!! We're 12 miles southwest of Gull Island. We're breaking up and going down."
At that moment the spar deck gave a mighty heave and all power went out. Fleming threw down the radiophone and went out on deck to prepare the liferafts. Suddenly the boat turned on it's side throwing Fleming and the boat into the water. Fleming grabbed hold of the raft in the icy water and turned to see the Bradley break in two and head for the bottom. Right next to the raft Frank Mayes a deckwatchman surfaced and grabbed hold of the raft. The two men looked at the spot the ship went down as an explosion from the icy water of Lake Michigan hit the boilers.
"Do you think we'll live?" Mayes asked.
"I sent a Mayday." Fleming answered. "I hope someone heard."

Very nice!!! I like it!! th: th: Reminds me vaguely of a CC opening, kind of like Cyclops. t: Can't wait for more!!

Wow, So far Fleming made it and Frank Mayes surfaced from the water..doesn't look good for the rest :unsure:

Waiting to read more :P

Nov 18, 1958 5:30 p.m.

The duty quatermaster on board the USGC Sundew had gone on the bridge to check the weather reports when he heard the mayday call from the Bradley. The quatermaster called Lieutenant Commander Muth the captain of the Sundew at home.
"Captain we've received a mayday from the Bradley. "Cleveland has ordered us to respond."
"Generate an emergency crew recall and make prepartions for sea." Muth ordered.
The Sundew rapidly sprung to life with crewman rushing in. The citizens of Charlevoix along with many crewmans wives watched as the Sundew headed off into the heavy waves of Lake Michigan. You have to go out, but you do not have to come back is an old coast guard saying, and many of the observers believed they would never see the stout ship again.
After reaching the reported location of the Bradley the Sundew initiated a search pattern. For hours the searchlight on the Sundew picked up flotsam and wreckage from the sunken ore carrier but no life rafts. At 4:00 a.m. on the 19th the captain sent HM2 Troussaint below to sick bay. It didn't look as if he would be needed.
At 8:15 a.m. Troussaint was awakened by a pounding on the sick bay door.
"Up on deck, We've sighted a raft."
Troussaint bounded up on deck to see a life raft 500 feet off the port side. Hanging on to the raft was two weary men, survivors from the Bradley.
At 9:15 a.m. the Sundew sent a message to the Charleviox station.
"Have recovered two survivors and are now recovering bodies."
At 4:00 p.m. LCDR Muth declared there was nothing more to do and the Sundew made way for port. Entering the channel an eerie silence came over the town of Charlevoix as the only sound heard was of the Sundew moving through the water. Her flags shredded and her bouy deck covered with the shrouded bodies of the dead. The USGC Sundew moored in Charlevoix harbor with only 2 survivors out of a crew of thirty five.

Your sure your name is Sean and not......

Told you you were good. th: Keep it up

th: Brilliant Sean, hate to say it.....but I told you so :lol:

Brilliant! th: Keep it coming beer:

March 28, 2007 Taiyun Space Facility (Southwest of Beijing)

The local time was 4:00 a.m. and the tension in the launch control room was thick. The countdown reached zero and a rumble was felt throughout the control room. The launch vehicle left the pad on a tongue of flame and streaked into the dark early morning sky. A textbook launch.
"We have first stage seperation." stated comrade Ming the launch controller "all readings are nominal."
"Excellent" exclaimed Yu Fang the minister of China's space ministry.
"Second stage ignition, speed approaching 5,000 miles per hour, altitude 375 miles." comrade Ming commented. "20 seconds to second stage burnout."
"Second stage burn complete, starting geosynchronous orbit insertion. Speed 7,000 miles per hour, altitude 615 miles." Ming continued. "Succesful geosync orbit achieved Minister after a sytems check we will bring the tracking hardware on line."
"Thank you Comrade Ming, you have performed a great service to the state." Yu Fang stated. "I will leave now, contact me when you have activated the tracking hardware. You are aware of our preliminary target?"
"Yes Minister Fang." Ming responded.

March 28, 2007 7:00 a.m. Hong Kong Harbor

Commander Heidi Denton stood at the top of the conning tower watching the harbor pilot as he manuevered her pride and joy out of the harbor. Cmdr Denton was the first woman in the U.S. Navy to be in command of a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine. Her command the USS Greenville SSN 771 was one of the last of the class and had the best equipment to be had in a Los Angeles class.
The pilot boat approached to offload the pilot.
"Safe journeys captain" the pilot said as he was leaving.
"Thank you pilot." Denton replied.
With the pilot off her boat (all submarines are called boats instead of ships) Cmdr Denton addressed her executive officer.
"As soon as we have 200 feet under us XO rig the boat for dive and make our depth 100 feet."
"Aye aye captain." responded Lieutenant Commander Will Sanders.
"I'll be in my cabin, once we're in international waters set the underway watch and come to my cabin so we can go over our orders."
"Aye aye captain." said the XO "I'm sure glad to be out of Hong Kong. It's just not the same under communist rule."
"XO" Denton started.
"Yes ma'am"
"Be sure to execute a sound check and clear our baffles. I don't want to pick up a tail."

beer: Keep it coming!

I'm enjoying this! more, please!

Hmmmmm..very good.I want more...NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

March 30, 2007 Washington D.C.

Admiral Richard Cranston entered his office and approached his desk. During the night various situation reports had accumulated on his desk for his review. Being the Chief of Naval Operations was more paperwork than command Cranston thought to himself.
Cranston booted his computer to check his e-mail. The last two days he had received an anonymous message with a string of numbers and letters.
"Well I wonder what my secret admirer will send me today?" Admiral Cranston muttered to himself.
"Ah I see I'm not to be dissapointed" Cranston stated opening the cryptic message.
The message read "17,27n116,12e0400"
Cranston had printed the other two messages and did the same with this one.
The Admiral picked up his phone and called his aide into his office.
"Yes Admiral?" questioned Lieutenant Marcus Croft entering the office of the CNO.
"Marcus, take these messages to the cryptology section. I'm curious if they can coax anything from them. Also have information systems put a trace on all my e-mails. I'm curious who my secret admirer is."
"Aye aye sir. I'll get right on it sir." Croft turned on his heels with the messages in his hand. He glanced down at the forms and had a thought.
"If you don't mind me mentioning sir these look like longitude and latitude readings."
Admiral Cranston slapped his forhead in disgust. "How could I have missed that? I've been conning a desk for too damn long. Good eye son."
"I believe that the last four numbers denotes a time. I'll run it by the operations department and see if they can make anything of it."
"Good thinking Croft. You're the type of man that makes this Navy run. They should put all us old goats out to pasture." Cranston added with a grin.

w: Great

Very good, keep them coming th:

EXCELLENT!!!! th: th: Seems like a cross between a Tom Clancy and a Clive Cussler. If it keeps going like this, maybe a bit of Dan Brown! I love it th: MORE MORE MORE!!!!

March 30, 2007 Somewhere in the South China Sea

The USS Greenville was rigged for silent running at a depth of 500 feet. Moving through the depths at a speed of 8 knots she was quieter than the sea around her. Stealth is a submarines main weapon and no one was better at building a silent submarine than the United States of America. Captain Heidi Denton was proud of her command and she treated the boat as her own child. A demanding commanding officer she expected and received excellence from her crew. Denton walked her command at random intervals and the moment found her entering the engine room. The nuclear powered steam turbines were whisper quiet and shock and vibration isolated from the decks, and to further insulate from transient noise the whole of the engineering spaces were acoustically isolated from the hull. At the main control panel Commander Denton saw Dave Troxclair the boats chief engineer commonly known as Cheng giving the afternoon watch a brief inspection.
"Cheng how's everything going? Are we preparing for anything special?" Denton asked Lieutenant Commander Troxclair.
"Well actually Captain I was giving the boys a rundown of what to expect when we pull into Subic Bay for a little liberty."
"I see, and what makes you think we're going to make a port of call in the Philippines?"
"I've been to see the navigator a few times, even a butter bar ensign can make out our course." the Cheng answered with a wide grin.
LCDR Troxclair was an outgoing individual and was truly liked in the boats wardroom and crews mess. Always one to trade a few jokes and stories with the men.
"Also" Troxclair continued "The XO kind of let the cat out of the bag at lunch."
"Well Cheng see that you continue to keep us moving smoothly and silent. I think I need to pay a visit to Mr. Sanders."
Denton strode out of the engine room heading forward.
"Gee Cheng," the petty officer of the watch said "I hope the XO don't get yelled at too bad."
"Don't worry about it. He still hasn't paid me the money he owes me from last weeks poker game. I figure he deserves a little grief." Troxclair chuckled.

th: Great just great!!!

March 30, 2007 Washington D.C.

Cranston was ready to pack it in for the day. Japan was resisting the renewal of the basing rights for U.S. Naval vessels at Yokosuka. After the closing of the Naval Base at Subic Bay, Philippines, maintaining a strong U.S Naval presence in the far east hinged upon keeping ships forward deployed in Japan. The Admiral picked up his hat and briefcase and headed for the door when his phone rang. Cranston hesitated than walked back to his desk and picked up the phone.
"Admiral Cranston here."
"Yes Admiral I'm glad you're still here. This is Lieutenant Abadilla in operations"
"Okay Lieutenant what is it now? I'm hoping that for a change someone's got a solution for me instead of a problem."
"Well sir it's in regards to the email messages brought to us this morning from your office." Abadilla answered and contiued to explain "The numbers were latitude and longitude readings and followed with a time stamp."
"So any clue as to the signifigance?" the CNO asked.
"Yes sir we do. A rather disturbing correlation. The latitudes and longitudes along with the time stamp mark the exact posisition of one of our vessels at that time."
"Hmmm, it sounds like someones taken an active interest in one of our ships." Cranston grumbled.
"Admiral." Abadilla added "It's not a surface ship."
"What are you telling me Lieutenant?" Cranston asked with a sharp tone in his voice.
"It's one of our subs. The USS Greenville."
"Do you have any idea how this is possible? If I'm not mistaken all of our subs make their transits submerged. Are you telling me that someones put a tail on one of our subs?"
"It sure looks that way sir." Abadilla responded
"Contact COMSUBPAC Pearl Harbor and have him message the Greenville that she has a tail."
Cranston hung up the phone and called Lieutenant Croft into his office.
"Has informaton services called with any information on those email's yet?" Cranston inquired of his aide.
"Not yet sir." Croft answered.
"Well call their department head and light a fire under them. This has become a matter of National Security." Cranston said.

:o just keeps getting better!

I agree! This is getting good, and I'm eager to see where it's going!

I am awaiting with baited breath wondering how this is going to turn out!!!!...Keep it coming!!!!..A very well written tale :) t:

March 30, 2007 Aboard USS Greenville

Commander Denton was in her cabin writing in her captains logbook when someone knocked on her door.
"Enter." Denton said and looked towards her door waiting to see who disturbed her nightly ritual.
RM2 Rimmel opened the captains door and entered the stateroom.
"Captain, we've received a message via ELF to come to antenna depth to receive a sattelite burst transmission."
ELF stood for extremely low frequency was the way that the US Navy signalled it's submarines operating submerged. Communicating via ELF was a tedious and slow procedure and therefore only used for short messages usually giving instructions for a sub to raise it's antenna's to receive more detailed instructions.
"Very well RM2, thank you."
Commander Denton got up from her desk and wondered what was so important that she had to risk detection by coming near the surface. Commander Denton exited her stateroom and made her way to the Greenville's control room.
"Captain's in the control room" the navigator announced.
"As you were. This is Captain Denton I have the Conn."
"Captain has the conn" replied the Officer of the Deck.
"Helmsman, 10° up bubble, maintain heading, make your depth three zero feet."
"Aye aye captain 10° up bubble, maintaing heading, my new depth is three zero feet." repeated the helmsman.
After a few minutes the Greenville had risen from the depths of the South China Sea and was prowling at five knots at a depth of thirty feet. Captain Denton strode over to the attack periscope.
"Up periscope and raise all detection gear." Denton ordered.
The attack periscope rose and Denton did a quick 360° sweep seeing no surface traffic asked for a contact report.
"All clear captain we are receiving no signals on the threat detection equipment."
"Very well. Raise the burst antenna and send the ready signal."
Within seconds the radioshack contacted the control room and reported message received marked eyes only Commander Denton.
"Officer of the Deck you have the conn. Return to previous depth, coarse and speed."
"Aye aye captain, I have the conn."
Denton made her way to the radioshack and retrieved the message and signed the message logbook acknowledging the receipt of the message. Denton returned to her cabin and read the message. A look of shock came across her face as she read.
"Inconceivable" Denton whispered to herself
Denton picked up the phone from her desk and dialed her executive officer.
"XO I want a meeting of all department heads in the wardroom in five minutes."

Excellent my friend th:

Very nice!! This is definetly one of the best stories on the site. th: Keep it coming!! th:

March 31, 2007 Washington D.C.

Cranston strode into his office and shook his head seeing the large amount of paperwork that had accumulated in his in box overnight.
"It never ends. God how I miss being at sea." the old salt commented to himself.
"Well let's see what email we have today."
The CNO booted up his computer and proceeded to check his email.
"Yep my secret admirer hasn't let me down. A little different in the format though."
The email read 15,47N;118,30E 0400 speed 6 depth 450.
"This is worse than I thought." Cranston exclaimed picking up his phone. "Marcus see if operations can give me a posistion report on the Greenville at 0400 along with speed and depth?"
Cranston set down the phone shaking his head. Picking up the phone once again Cranston dialed the number he was wishing he wouldn't have to. After three rings the person on the other end aswered the phone.
"Yes Richard what do you want?" Rob Pryor asked.
Rob Pryor was the National Security Advisor for the President and when his direct line rang he knew it couldn't be good news.
"I need to have a talk with you and I think the President should listen in. Could you get me on his calendar?"
"I'll have to check with Tony." Pryor said mentioning the Presidents chief of staff "But I think he'll find a way to get you in. I'll call you back when we have a time. What's it about anyway?"
"One of my subs is being tracked and I want to know how."
"In that case we should probably get the CIA in here also." Pryor added.

th: th: Oh yeah, keep it coming ;)

March 31, 2007 Washington D.C.

On the outskirts of Ronald Reagan International airport sits a hangar that looks as if it was condemed in the 1940's. If one were to examine the structure closely though they would realize that the dilapadation was merely camoflage. Inside the immense structure is a sight to make any collector of classic automobiles drool. Examples of custom coachwork from Duesenberg, Packard and numerous others covered the white epoxy floor. Suspended from the ceiling is a Messershmidt ME-262 the first jet propelled fighter to be used in combat. Hanging nearby is a Ford Tri-Motor airplane. Over to one side of the hangar is a Pullman railcar from the turn of the 20th century. Some of the more peculiar items include a cast iron bathtub with an outboard motor attached and an outrigger raft that looks as if it was made by a tribe of drunken monkeys. On the second floor of the hangar was an comfortable apartment open to below with a railing to look down upon the hangar floor.
"Hey bro, breakfast's ready!" Summer called down.
"Be right up." young Dirk Pitt answered putting down the cloth he was using to polish one of the cars.
Dirk and Summer Pitt were fraternal twins of Dirk Pitt, Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency unfortunately their mother had passed away two years ago. Dirk senior had recently married long time friend and lover Loren Smith and had taken up residence in a home in the Virginia countryside. Young Dirk and Summer had taken over their fathers former residence in the hangar and helped to maintain the family collection of automobiles.
Dirk climbed the stairs to the upstairs apartment and walked over to the sink to wash his hands.
"What's for breakfast sis?"
"Blueberry pancakes and your favorite bacon." Summer responded. "Tommorows your turn to cook and it had better be edible this time."
"Hey if you don't like the way I cook you can always cook all the time."
"You'd like that. That's probably why you always screw up the meals to try and trick me into cooking all the time. Well guess what, I'm not going to fall for it." Summer said sticking her tongue out.
"We'd better eat quick" Dirk said drying his hands "I have to be at NUMA in an hour"
"What's going on in your department?" Summer asked her brother.
"We're preparing to do a salinity study in the Pacific. With the slight increase in temperatures worldwide there is more ice melt which could lower salinity in the worlds oceans. We have a lunch meeting with dad to go over the paticulars."
"Well brother" Summer laughed "Looks like were working together again. I'll be at the same meeting. Now eat your breakfast and get ready. We have to leave in thirty minutes."

March 31, 2007 Washington D.C.

Admiral Cranston sat at his desk dutifully working his way through the endless barage of paperwork that comes with life at the top of the Naval ladder. Finishing looking over a fitness report for his destroyer force stationed in Yokuska, Japan Cranton leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The ringing of the phone disturbed his moments reverie.
"Cranston here." he answered the phone.
"Yes Richard this is Tony Krome the Presidents Chief of Staff. I understand you'd like an appoinment with us."
"I sure would along with Rob Pryor and Tom Parsons over at CIA."
"Can you tell me what this is all about?" Krome asked.
"Let's just say it concerns underwater surveillance."
"The Secretary of Defense is out of country at the moment. Can this wait until he returns?"
"I'd prefer not to. It's a matter of security and safety." Cranston answered.
"Well I have an opening at 12:30 p.m. for a half hour. I had to bump a group of congressmen off the schedule to do it so make sure you're merry group is here on time."
"We'll be there but, I'm not so sure about the merry part."

*************************************************

Dirk easily wove the Chevrolet Yukon through the traffic of D.C. it was a beautiful early spring day. The sun was shining and and the temperature's were supposed to be in the low fifties by mid-afternoon. Things had been rather peaceful since his wedding to Loren. After returning from their honeymoon Dirk had assumed the reigns at NUMA after Admiral Sandecker left to take the job as Vice President of the United States. Rudi Gunn handled most the day to day operations leaving Dirk to work with NUMA team leaders to come up with useful projects. Today was the kickoff meeting for one of those projects. The salinity study of the Pacific would be a good use of NUMA manpower and funds Dirk thought to himself. An added benefit would be getting young Dirk and Summer involved. Pitt smiled to himself his children reminded him at a younger age, especially Dirk. Dirk pulled into his parking spot and looked up at the thirty story reflective glass building that houses NUMA. Not paying attention to where he was going Dirk bumped into someone.
"Watch where you're going you nitwit." an angry voice said.
"Now Al is that anyway to talk to your boss?" Dirk said with a grin.
Dirk had run into Al Giordino his lifelong friend and companion on numerous adventures for NUMA.
"I heard the boss is a wimp around here." Al chuckled.
Dirk punched his buddy on the arm and the two walked in to the building together.
"Are you coming to the luncheon meeting today Al?"
"Depends on what's for lunch." Al quipped.
"Let me put it this way. You're coming to the luncheon meeting today Al."
"Jeez, give a guy a little power and it goes to his head." Al remarked with a sly grin. "Actually we've got a few things in my department that should make things easier on this project."
"Okay old pal I'll see you there."
"Better watch who you're calling old mister. You're the one who went off and got married." Al chuckled as the two got in the elevator and headed for their respective offices.
"Your point being?" Dirk questioned.
"You don't see any grey on my head now do you?" Al said pointing to the thick mass of curly black hair on his head.
"Nope. I sure don't. Looking at that I do believe I'll buy some stock in Grecian Formula you must go through a ton." Dirk boomed out laughing seeing the injured look on his stocky freinds face. "I'll see you in a couple hours. Bring your appetite."
"That's one thing I'm never without." Al grinned.

WOW Sean this story is good...Looks like you found you niche in life.
I am Impressed.

Whos got the movie rights to this ;)

Coming soon to Theatre near you:

:) The biggest blockbuster of the summer!! :)

th: Brilliant Sean

March 31, 2007 Washington D.C.

Cranston pulled his vehicle up to the White House gates and showed his I.D. After a thorough inspection of both himself and the vehicle the CNO was directed to drive through and park in the vistors section. Entering the White House Cranton made his way to the west wing. Waiting at his desk outside the Oval Office Tony Krome greeted the Admiral.
"You're five minutes early Richard. Rob and Tom are here also. They are in the reception room getting some coffee. If you want to join them I'll come get you when the President's ready."
"If it's okay I'll just wait here. I don't feel like coffee at the moment."
At that moment the door to the Oval Office opened and Congressmen Cusslermen walked out.
"Hi Richard, here to see the President I take it." Cusslermen said on his way by.
"The President will be with you in a couple minutes." Tony said to the CNO.
Tony walked into the Oval Office to announce the next appoinment was ready. Behind the large mahogony desk Admiral(ret) James Sandecker sat and looked out the thick bulletproof windows. Having accepted the job as Vice President a few months earlier he never invisioned himself here. Last month the former President suffered a massive stroke which left him unable to perform his job. Now Sandecker was the President.
"You know Tony, if I had any clue that I would have been stuck with this job I would have never accpeted the offer for Vice President."
"Well sir." Tony said with a smile "I do believe you are aware of the order of sucession."
"You're right as usual. All right what's next?"
"We have Tom Parsons from CIA, Rob Pryor and, Admiral Richard Cranston in the waiting room."
"Well send them in and let's get this over with."
As the three walked into the Oval Office Sandecker rose and walked around from behind his desk.
"Richard, great to see you. We must get out fishing some time."
"That would be nice Mr. President." the CNO replied.
"Oh drop the fancy titles. In here just call me Jim. So what brings you men here to see me?"
"Well Mr. Pres I mean Jim" Cranston started seeing the warning look on Sandeckers face. "A few days ago I started receiving anonymous emails giving latitude and longitudes along with times. After the third one I ran them by my operations department. Turns out the posistions correlate with one of our submarines the USS Greenville operating in the South China Sea."
"That is a problem. Have you messaged the Greenville?" Sandecker asked of his CNO.
"First thing I did sir. Commander Denton is operating silent and has changed course. The Greenville is scheduled to meet up with the USS Curtis Wilbur tonight."
"That's one of the Burke class destroyers isn't it?" asked Pryor.
"Yes it is. DDG-54 based out of Yokuska." the CNO answered "She has a towed array sonar and with her powerful Aegis radar suite she'll be able to detect any surface or air targets that are tracking my sub."
"What if it's another sub?" Parson's asked.
"The Greenville has some of the best passive sonar ever invented. If it were another submarine tracking her she would know."
"So what do you need from the CIA?" Parsons asked.
"We haven't been able to get a lock on where the emails are coming from. I was hoping that you could give us a hand with that." Cranston answered.
"Well Richard it sounds like you have a plan of action. What do you need from me?" Sandecker asked.
"I need you permission to employ full defensive measures sir."
"All our units know they have the right to defend themselves. What are you really after?"
"I want your permission and assurance that I can blow the hell out of who ever is tracking my sub." The CNO fumed.
"Whoa now." Tony Krome said "No matter who it is that is an act of war. There's an election coming up soon and that's the kind of thing that makes any sitting President look bad."
"Tony's right Richard." Sandecker said lighting one of his cigars "Once we find out who's following us we'll make a decision. Until then you know you're authorized for defense. Just make sure that before any munitions leaves a US vessel that it's been attacked first. Is that understood."
"Yes Mister President. Completely understood." Cranston fumed and strode out of the oval office.

April 01, 2007 South China Sea

The bow split the sea with ease as the USS Curtis Wilbur arrived at the rendevous point. An hour earlier the captain set condition 3 throughout the ship. At condition 3 the ship was at wartime readiness with all weapon systems in standby condition and every watch station fully manned. For the men and women it equaled tedious routine. With most crewmembers standing watch twelve hours on and twelve hours off, the days blended one into the other. In the sonar suite two men monitored the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array SONAR. Towed one mile behind the ship the AN/SQR-19 (TACTAS) was able to detect most any submerged vessel.

"Okay let's keep a close listen we should be able to detect the Greenville soon." the sonar watch supervisor stated.

On the bridge the Officer of the Deck ordered the helmsman to begin the ASW search routine at a speed of five knots. After an agonizing two and a half hours the call came from the sonar suite.

"Bridge this is sonar we have a submerged contact that reads as an LA class sub."
"Bridge aye. Notify CIC and maintain contact if possible. Listen out for another submarine. There should be another contact." the OOD ordered.
"We haven't heard anything else but biologics. We'll keep our ears peeled though."

In CIC the watch supervisor ordered the Aegis SPY-1D radar to radiate mode. Pumping out nearly three million watts of energy not even a bird could hide from detection. The plasma displays in the Combat Information Center sprung to life with all the returns generated from the awesome capabilities of the phased array radar. The operation specialists began logging all the surface and air targets.

"Well OOD what's the word?" Asked Captain Jake Morris.
"We've got the Greenville on TACTAS sir and combat is currently developing all surface and air tracks."
"Good, I'll be in CIC. I want to let COMSURFPAC Yokosuka when we get a handle on the Greenville's shadow.

snor: doing great, keep it up!

April 01, 2007 Washington D.C.

"Cranston." the CNO grumbled answering his phone.
"Richard, this is Tom Parsons at CIA. We've managed to trace your emails to the space ministry in Beijing."
"WHAT!? China? Are you sure Tom?" Cranston asked with shock.
"We're positive. The only thing that has us stumped is why is it coming through the space ministry."
"Is there any chance that you might have some human assets available to check it out?" the CNO inquired.
"I'm sorry but no. We've had an incredibly hard time managing to get deep penetration agents in China. The Chinese are highly suspicious plus the ethnicity factor just about makes it impossible for us."
"So where does this leave us?" Cranston questioned.
"One of our men is very adept at penetrating computer systems. He's currently trying to gain access to the space ministry databases to find out how the posistion reports on the Greenville are being determined."
"Well keep me informed." Cranston said dissapointment evident in his voice.

"Loren, I'm home." Dirk called out entering the door of the roomy two story home he and Loren occupied.
"Hey loverboy." Loren said wrapping her arms around Dirk and kissing him full on the lips.
"I'm happy to see you too. I hope you feel like going out for dinner."
"Give me an hour to get ready. What's the occasion?"
"Dirk and Summer leave tommorow morning to start the preliminary work on the Pacific salinity study. I figured it's as good an excuse as any to have an evening out."
"You've mentioned that project before but, I think that someone beat you to the punch."
"What do you mean by that?" Dirk said with a questioning gaze.
"They had a story on the news earlier about a report the Chinese just released for the scientific community. They just finished analyzing the data from a salinity study they had performed in the Pacific. It must have been a priority project because the report stated that the ships performing the study just returned to port a month ago."
"That's odd. I never heard about that. I wonder why the Chinese would keep something like that quiet until now. They usually love trying to get all the international support they can."
"Well maybe you can ask your good friend the President." Loren said with a wink. "He called about ten minutes before you got home. He said he wants to meet with you at 9:00 a.m. tommorow."
"I wonder what the old goat wants with me now?" Dirk mused.

This just keeps getting better and better! th:

April 02, 2007 Washington D.C.

Dirk thumbed the unlock button on the key fob for the Ford Expedition. Painted in NUMA's traditional turquoise the Expedition served well as comfortable transportation in D.C.'s congested roadways. The early spring sky was starting to lighten as Dirk headed to the hanger to see Dirk jr. and Summer off to California. As he approached the hangar Dirk pressed a button on a remote control to disable the hangar's security system. As the Expedition came to a stop the side door to the hangar flew open.
"Dad" Dirk jr. cried out "It's about time you showed up. Our flight leaves in two hours."
"I'm right on time" said the senior Pitt glancing at his Doxa wrist watch. "Are you two ready?"
"I'm all set." young Dirk said "but I'm not so sure about Summer. I think she's still putting on her face."
At that moment Summer Pitt strode out of the hangar carrying a large luggage bag in one hand and a garmet bag over her shoulder.
"As you can see brother dear not only am I ready but, I'm the only one out here with luggage." Summer said with a grin only a sibling would understand.
Young Dirk Pitt ran into the hangar and grabbed his luggage. As he dashed out the door Summer couldn't resist adding another jab.
"I hope you remembered your toothbrush this time. Last time we went out you didn't brush for a week.
"Allright you two let's get going. After I see you off I have to get over to the White House for a meeting with the President."
"How is Admiral Sandecker doing now that he's the President?" Summer asked.
"I think he's a bit overwhelmed with the job but, he's got a good staff to help him. I still have no idea what he want's to see me about though."
"Well give him our best. He probably wants to know how Uncle Al always gets a hold of his smelly old cigars." Dirk jr. said with a grin.

Very good writing Sandecker!!!! Keep it coming!!!! Can't wait to see how this turns out w:

Sandecker as President? <_< I have a hard time imagining that. Still a great story!! th: More more!!