by M. L. Maki
Mary smiles, “Just a little unseemly.”
Greg smiles at Catherine’s mom, “Seems seemly to me. Shall we go?”
Mary, “Yes, indeed.”
Lt JG Jim Giblin kisses Ann Lochlin. She is in her constable uniform. She wraps her arms around Jim and kisses him back.
When they come up for air, Jim, “Your working. When do you get off?”
“I called my superintendent. He gave me the rest of the shift off.”
“Good. Way better than my plan of getting arrested so we could be together.”
“Not necessary, my love.”
NAVY PIER, SECURITY OFFICE
Alone in an office, Morrison dials the phone. “It’s early there. She said she wouldn’t mind.”
Liz says a sleepy, “Hello?”
“Hi love. It’s John.”
“Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
“We just pulled back in. It was a hard underway.”
“What can you share?”
“As I told the guys, we just did the craziest thing ever that no one will ever know about.”
“I understand.”
“No details, but we had passengers on board. We lost one of them. An amazing young man, gone.” He takes a ragged breath. “The whole thing felt like the whole war, and our life or death, hinged on every single decision. Even the little ones. I mean, scrambled or fried eggs. Better make the right choice because the wrong one will end it all.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Did you hate it?”
“Losing a person. Yes. The rest, I didn’t hate. It might be weird. It is, in a way, what I hoped submarine service was, instead of the boring, repetitive drills it really is.”
“Can you say who was lost?”
“ET2 Monahan. I was there. He asked Triage and me to tell his folks. I saw him go.”
“I know you’re hurting love. I trust his sacrifice was worth it.”
“It was, love. We made a difference. We really made a difference.”
Liz, “I have no doubt, and I accept that I can’t know. It’s the deal.”
“Yeah. What happened in England? I spoke to Samantha and she was actually short with me.”
“I only know the publicly released bits. Rommel landed at New Castle with five divisions of armor. They supported it with over two hundred aircraft. At that point, she was down to just a handful of Tomcats. I don’t know how many aircraft and pilots she lost, but I know the losses were significant. Friends died. The German onslaught was unrelenting. They put the aerial defense of Britain on her. Every fighter. Every bomber. Every US warship worked for her. I would give her a pass if she was short.”
“I wasn’t complaining. I just knew it was unusual for her, so I was concerned. As hard as my underway was, I got the easy deal.”
“Did you hear that the Russians crossed the border?”
He’s quiet, then, “Um, yeah. I heard something about that.”
“Okay. Can we talk about the wedding?”
“Yeah. It’s a turn toward real life. I need that.”
“My grandma and yours are setting it up. I’ll be in a dress. Dress uniform works for you. You have grandma’s permission.”
He chuckles, “Well, that’s good to know.”
“Now, grandma is already warming up arguments for grandchildren.”
“I thought you didn’t want kids?”
Liz, “Grandma is going to lose on that one.”
“No problem.”
“Oh, another thing, grandma is plural for you. Internment is gone and your mother and grandmother are living with the Morrisons. I sent them some money from you when I found out.”
John takes a deep breath, “They’re out of the hell hole. Thank God.”
“Love, what you said in the White House likely brought that about.”
“I played a small part. Admiral Lee, Admiral Klindt. They’re the ones who got it done.”
“Don’t diminish your part. It mattered.”
“I love you, Liz.”
“I love you, too. And I’m really proud of you.”
USS BEAVER
The debrief ends and the SEALs file out. Samantha stays, taking notes. She looks up to see Jeremiah Buford still in his seat. He asks, “How bad was it?”
She looks at him, “I’m sorry about your swim buddy.”
Buford takes a breath, making eye contact, “How was it?”
“You know about the first part. We stopped them in the outskirts of London.”
Buford, “I’m going to be out of line. You’re on your last thread of strength and keeping it together. I want you to talk about it.”
She holds eye contact, “You’ve been out there. Did you take a life?”
“Yes. I did.”
“How did it feel?”
“At the time, I was just servicing targets. Training took over and I did what I had to. After, I wanted to throw up. Everything I thought I knew about it was a lie. Everything Triage and others tried to tell me made no sense until afterward.”
She nods her head. “I’ve heard some say it gets easier. That’s a trap. To make it easier, you must give up a part of your humanity. You must become the monster you fear you are.”
He does not break eye contact, “You are not a monster.”
Samantha looks away, “You don’t know me.”
“I know you better than you think.”
“We’ve only met a few times.”
Jerimiah, “Short, consequential, meaningful times.”
“What are you saying?” She looks back, meeting his eyes.
Jerimiah, “I have a call sign now.”
“What? What is it?”
Still looking into her eyes, “I’m Romeo. One half of an impossible love.”
“No. Don’t. Don’t love me. You can’t.” She looks away.
“Samantha Hunt, I love you, and there’s not one thing you can do about it.”
“Why? Why me?”
“Because you need me, and I need you. Because my world would be as empty and barren as the moon without you. Without at least the chance of you.”
“I’m a killer.”
“So am I. You have denied the monster. I have too. You help me do that. You do.”
She shakes her head, “I don’t always. I wish I did.”
“You mean when you’re out there. Out there you have to let the monster out. It’s the thing that makes you effective. When you land, you put him back in the cage.”
She nods her head, “Don’t you want some sweet girl next door who’ll fetch your beer and marvel at your stories? That isn’t who I am.”
“I know that. I told you. I understand you.”
“Then who am I?” She meets his eyes.
“You are, foremost, a protector, not a hunter. What you do is to protect those who serve under you. You take personal risks to protect everyone else. When one of your people falls, you take it personally, like you failed them. You are emotionally strong and resilient, but there’s a brittle edge that scares you. You present an amazing front of strength and confidence, but deep down you fear it’s all a lie. You fear love and believe you do not deserve love. You do. I want you to trust me.”
She catches her breath, feeling the threat of tears, “How can I ever deserve love?”
“Because we all deserve love. Sparrows know love. Geese know love. Dogs know nothing else. How could a God who grants love to all of these deny it for you?”
“How do you know me?”
“Because I have committed every moment I have been in your presence to memory, and I run the tape on repeat. I love you. Can you give my love a chance?”
THE END
COMING SOON
BOOK FIVE
OF
THE FIGHTING TOMCATS
ROCKS AND SHOALS
BOOK FOUR
OF
THE FIGHTING TOMCATS / HUNTER KILLER
SOUTH BY NORTH
OTHER BOOKS BY
M. L. MAKI
THE FIGHTING TOMCAT SERIES
Fighting Her Father’s War
Divided We Stand
We So Few
Should England Fall
THE FIGHTING TOMCATS HUNTER/KILLER SERIES
Shark Among the Minnows
To Hunt and Protect
Glossary
When starting a novel of this type it is necessary to decide at the outset how to tackle a number of issues. The Navy uses a great deal of jargon, technical terms, and acronyms in speech. Eliminating this techno-speak from dialog would remove the character of the whole story. We also recognize that leaving the jargon in could be confusing to readers not familiar with the military. It was decided to include a glossary and leave the language as it would be spoken with a few exceptions. When ships communicate over radio each ship has a code name that is used in place of the actual ship’s name. As this would be confusing, we opted to use the ship’s name. We simplify many complex procedures to keep the story flowing and reduce confusion. Aircraft numbers are generally based on the bureau (serial) number of the plane regardless who the pilot is. The exception is the commanding officer whose number is always one. Though this may be confusing generally the reader should be able to follow the dialog without the number cue. Where events occur simultaneously, yet in different time zones the author chose to adopt Greenwich Mean Time for clarity. In all other sections, local time is used. A number of other technical details were changed to prevent revealing classified information.
A note on naval rank structure. In other services an enlisted person is addressed by rank, “Corporal, Sargent,” etc. In the Navy sailors are addressed with rate and rank. An E-6 is not normally addressed as, “Petty Officer First Class.” He or she is addressed as, “MM1, BT1, BM1” etc. The rate is the job classification of the sailor, be that machinist mate (engine room equipment operator), or mess specialist (cook). A more comprehensive list of rates can be found in the glossary or online. The rank of enlisted sailors is in three groups of three ranks. E-1 through E-3 sailors are non-petty officers. These are new sailors who may or may not yet have a rate. E-4 through E-6 sailors are petty officers. These sailors are the technical experts and watch-standers who keep the navy running. E-4’s are third class, E-5’s are second class, and E-6 are first class petty officers. E-7 through E-9 sailors are middle managers. They are Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief. Chiefs are system experts who train, lead and guide instead of operating equipment. The colloquial for E-7 is, “Chief.” For E-8’s it is, “Senior.” No one calls a Master Chief, “Master.” Calling a senior or master chief, “Chief,” is not an insult. There are essentially two types of officer. Line officers can command vessels and aircraft. Non-line, or limited duty officers are doctors, dentists, chaplains, civil engineer corps, or have other specific duties.
16: VHF channel 16 is the international emergency channel. It is also, generally the channel used to communicate in the open, or non-encrypted communications.
1MC: General announcing system. Ship wide loudspeaker system.
2nd Lt.: Second Lieutenant. Army and USMC rank. (O-1)
(Number)K: Fuel state. K for thousand pounds.
AA: Navy rank. Airman Apprentice (E-2).
AB: Navy enlisted rate. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate. They do many duties on the flight and hanger decks and maintain other aviation equipment. ABAA through ABMC.
AD: Naval aviation rating. Aviation Machinist. ADAA through ADCM. AD’s maintain aircraft structural components, flight surfaces, and engines.
ADM: Admiral. Naval Officer rank (O-10). Also used colloquially for Rear Admirals Lower and Upper, and Vice Admirals (O-7 through 9).
AE: Navy rate. Aviation Electrician. They maintain the electrical generation, conversion and distribution systems associated with jet aircraft. AEA through AECM
AGL: Above Ground Level.
Ahead (Bell): The standard bells, or speeds of a ship are ahead 1/3, ahead 2/3, ahead Standard, Ahead full, and Ahead Flank. The number is the amount of revolutions per minute of the shaft.
Ahead Flank Emergency: Order to come to the fastest ahead speed as fast as possible. See Bell.
Air Boss: The ship’s force air department head. The air boss commands all operations on the flight deck and hanger deck.
Air Chief Marshall: Royal Air Force Officer rank. Equivalent to Vice Admiral or Lieutenant General.
Air Commodore: Royal Air Force Officer rank. Equivalent to Captain or Colonel.
Air Marshall: Royal Air Force Officer rank. Equivalent to Rear Admiral or the current Rear Adm Upper Half or Major General.
Air Vice-Marshall: Royal Air Force Officer rank. Equivalent to Commodore or the current Rear Adm Lower Half or Brigadier General.
Amphenol: Multi-prong electronic or electrical connection.
AN: Naval Enlisted non-designated aviation rank. Airman (E-3).
AO: Enlisted rate. Aviation Ordinanceman. AOAA through AOCM. They inspect, care for and handle air delivered ordinance.
Arco: When an aircraft flies as a refueler they have a special call sign. Usually the name of a gas station chain.
ASROC: Anti-submarine rocket. A torpedo delivered by a rocket.
ASW: Anti-submarine warfare.
AT: Navy rate. Aviation Electronics Technician. They maintain the complex electronic equipment associated with jet aircraft. ATA through ATCM
Auto-gyro: An emergency landing technique that uses the wind blowing through the helicopter rotors to keep them spinning, then uses the collective to slow the bird’s descent at the last moment.
(AW): Naval specialist Badge. Air Warfare Specialist. Placed after rate such as AD1(AW).
Back (Bell): Astern bells for a marine engine. Back 1/3, Back 2/3, and Back Full.
Back Full Emergency: Astern bell to be answered as fast as possible.
Bandit: NATO code for enemy aircraft.
Battalion: Army/USMC tactical unit smaller than a brigade or regiment but larger than a company. Smallest unit designed to function independently. Generally commanded by a LT Colonel.
BDU: Battle Dress, Utility. The basic Army and Marine uniform.
Bell: The speed a ship is traveling at: Ahead bells: Ahead 1/3, Ahead 2/3, Ahead Standard, Ahead Full, and Ahead Flank. Astern bells: Back 1/3, Back 2/3, and Back full. In an emergency the order given is ahead flank emergency, or back full emergency which is a command to go as fast as possible.
Bearing: Compass or relative bearing in degrees from 0 to 360. Compass is true north, not magnetic north. Relative bearing puts 000 as straight in front of the bow of the ship and clocks degrees clockwise around the ship.
Bingo Fuel: Near the minimum to safely return to base.
Binnacle List: List of people sick or injured. Every unit and division maintain the Binnacle List and turns it in daily.
Blow: Submarines use ballast tanks to surface or submerge. By blowing high pressure air into the tanks water can be displaced and the vessel surfaces.
Blue Tails: Nick name for the VAW-122 Griffins. VAW-122 flies the E-2C Hawkeye radar plane.
Blue Water Ops: Carrier operations beyond reach of alternative airfields. You land on the carrier or swim.
Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch (BMOW): In charge of all the lookouts, the helm and lee helm. The BMOW pipes (whistles) required ships announcements.
Bogey: An unidentified aircraft.
Boiler: Boilers generate the steam for propulsion, electrical generation, water distillation, and other uses.
Bolter: An aircraft missing the arresting wire.
Bridge: The ship’s navigational control center. Where we drive the ship. The Officer of the Deck (OOD) is in charge except when the CO or XO are present. The Conning Officer directs the ship’s coarse and speed. The Boatswains Mate of the Watch (BMOW), Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW), Helm and Lee Helm are stationed here.
Brigade: Army/ Marine Tactical unit smaller than a Division and larger than a Battalion. Sometimes called a Regiment. Generally co
mmanded by a Colonel or Brigadier General. They are usually armor, infantry, or airborne focused for the Army but still contain other units to permit independent operations.
Brigadeführer: Paramilitary Nazi rank. It is equivalent to a General major or American Brigadier General.
BTOW: Boiler Technician of the watch. Senior watch in a boiler room.
BT: Navy Enlisted rate. Boiler Technician. BTFA through BTCM. Currently the BT rate is merged with the MM rate. Boiler Technicians operate and maintain marine boilers.
CAG: Commander Air Group. The CAG is in charge of all the air squadrons attached to the ship. The CAG is the counterpart to the ship’s commanding officer. The carrier CO is always the senior.
Call the Ball: The Landing Signal Officer asks the pilot if they can see the Fresnel lens that shows the correct glide slope for landing.
Control: In a submarine Control is a room and watch station equivalent to both the bridge and combat control center on a surface ship.
Calico: NATO brevity code for an intruder on the radio net.
CAP: Combat Air Patrol. A fighter mission to circle an area ready to defend the fleet.
CAPT: Captain: Army and USMC rank. (O-3)
CAPT: Captain: Naval Officer rank (O-6).
CATCC: Carrier Air Traffic Control Center. This center controls all aircraft within 50 miles of the ship and manages take offs and landings.
CAV or Cavalry: Specialized Army Unit: These are units historically used for reconnaissance for larger units. They can be Armor, Airmobile, or Airborne. By WW2 the CAV distinctions were somewhat less than in wars past. Today the distinction is more historical than practical.
CDR: Naval Officer rank. Commander (O-5).
CHENG: Chief Engineer. Engineering department head.
CMAA: Chief Master at arms. A senior cop on a Navy ship.
COL: Army and USMC rank. (O-6)
Combat: Sometimes Combat control center. Weapon’s and communications control center on a naval ship. The CO generally goes to combat during battle stations (General Quarters).
Combat Engineer: Specialized Army or USMC person who is trained to support combat operations by destroying obstacles. Structural engineers build things. Combat engineers blow them up.