THE BRINK - OPERATION DEEP FLIGHT

by Marshall Huffman

  “The honest answer is that we still can’t say for certain that we can shave a year off the project, but we do have a recommendation to maximize effort in the minimum amount of time.”

  “Let’s have it.”

  “We all need to be under one roof or at least in the same general vicinity.”

  “Yikes. I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned the money, he said smiling.

  “Your error Admiral,” Peter joked back, “Really, that’s about the best we can come up with. We realize the enormity of the project but if you want the type of results you’re talking about, that’s our best suggestion.”

  “What facility?”

  “Ah. The sixty-four thousand dollar question. It needs to be near the DSV and the, ‘what facility’ is your problem. We have drawn up a quick list of the necessary items each member requires. I’m sure it’s not totally accurate but it will give you a good starting point,” Peter said passing the papers to Marcus.

  He looked them over and put his head in his hands.

  “Man that’s some list. Obviously I’m going to have to work on this some.”

  “Hey, you asked the hard question. We’re just returning the favor,” Dr. Morgan added.

  “Okay, I’ll go to work on it. If you’re all in agreement, I’ll inform the Secretary that while we can’t put an exact date on it, this is our best shot at getting it done ahead of schedule.”

  They all acknowledged that they were in agreement.

  “All right Ladies and Gentlemen. I’ll tell him. Would you mind waiting while I call and tell him?”

  “Please. That would save time for all of us if knew what to expect when we left,” Peter confirmed.

  “I’ll return shortly,” he said.

  He returned a few minutes later. They were surprised when he came back so quickly.

  “In a word. GO. Whatever it takes. He has given me a green light to make it happen.”

  They all looked at each other in mild shock.

  “What’s the big push?” Dr. Morgan asked.

  “I honestly don’t know. I’m sure at some point they will tell me, but for now my orders are to get this thing completed as quickly and as safely as possible.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  - WASHINGTON DC -

  After the Admiral left they continued to talk among themselves. Something big was up and they were dying to find out what it was. They finally started to drift off to catch their flights back. Peter and Susan stayed and talked a little longer.

  “How’s it going?” Susan asked, “I mean really?”

  “Not bad. I expected the breathing system to give us a little more trouble.”

  “It’s the navigation system. You said that was going to be a handful.”

  “Yeah. We have made some progress but the system is too slow in responding. By the time we get the signal back you’re over the spot. Boosting the signal only allows the signature to be detected by a listening post. We must have tried fifty different things and none have shown much promise.”

  “You’ll get it. I know you will,” she said encouragingly.

  “Susan. I bet I’ve picked up the phone a dozen times to call you but I could never think of a good enough excuse for doing it without looking like a jerk.”

  She laughed, “So have I. I’ve even gone so far as to actually dial but I always chicken out and hang up at the last minute.”

  “Boy, do I feel like a high school kid.”

  “I know the feeling. Look, Peter, I would be delighted to have you call. Anytime you want.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  They both wanted the relationship to develop further but they were each trying also to balance it with the professional aspects. If things went too far it could cause problems, especially with some of the other members of the team.

  It was time for Susan to go when an aid came in and asked if Dr. Ferris would proceed to Admiral Marcus’s office. He said goodbye to Susan, resisting the urge to kiss her. If she was disappointed, it didn’t show. Peter followed the aid to the Admiral’s office.

  “Come in Peter. So tell me, what do you really think?”

  “I honestly don’t know. It seems logical. I don’t see how it can hurt.”

  “I agree. The logistics will be a nightmare that’s for certain.”

  “Hey, that’s why they pay you the big bucks,” Peter joked.

  “I know this is unfair, but.....I need your help with this, location thing. Here,” he said spreading out a huge map.

  “This is the DSV construction location,” he said, pointing to a small island just off Newport, Rhode Island.

  “No roads? How would we get all the equipment there once it is ready to be installed?”

  “Let’s just say we have ways and leave it at that for now. It won’t be a problem, I assure you.”

  “It's certainly located in the boonies,” Peter said.

  “Cold, damp, boonies,” Marcus agreed, “Not much around there. I don’t like the place much.”

  He had spent a considerable amount of time there the past few months.

  “I don’t see where we would all stay when we started the installation phase. There are no facilities on the island.”

  “Right here,” the Admiral said pointing to a spot just west of the island.

  “Gooseneck Cove. We have a complex there.”

  “We would have to travel back and forth by boat?”

  “Probably. It’s a little cold for swimming,” Marcus Said, smiling, “We would run a shuttle for the workers just like we do now. It won’t be a problem really.”

  “Except for the lost time,” Peter added.

  They continued to study the map, going over the logical locations one by one. Nothing was really jumping right off the page at them. They considered moving the DSV to a new location for finishing but it was out of the question. The propulsion system was being installed as the hull was finished. Peter was fascinated by how it operated. It would be a revolutionary system if it actually worked.

  “Hey. What about an air force base?” Peter asked.

  “Air Force Base? What do you have in mind?”

  “Look,” he said pointing to the map, “Here is Portsmouth, and just down here is Otis Air Force Base. By helicopter it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away. They will have a LOX plant, all of the power we would need and large hanger space. All you have to do is to procure their cooperation.”

  “Peter that’s a great idea. The infrastructure is pretty good in that area as well,” Marcus added.

  “Can you get them to go along?”

  “I can assure you from the tone of the conversations I’ve had with the Secretary of Navy that it won’t be too hard to get muscle if I need it.”

  “You really don’t know what all of the rush is suddenly about, do you?”

  “Honestly, I don’t. I fought and fought to get this program off dead center and now all of a sudden, no one can wait for it to get finished. Something really big must of come up for them to just open the vaults with no strings attached.”

  Peter looked at his watch, “I guess I had better get going or I’ll miss my flight. I need to check in with

  DigiLabs on the navigation system. Good to see you again Ray.”

  “Same goes for me Peter.”

  The two men shook hands and Peter left for the airport.

  * * *

  - DigiLabs INC. –

  “So why the urgent push?” Anderson asked Peter upon his return.

  “I don’t know. Even Marcus doesn’t know.”

  “Or won’t say.”

  “No. I really think he is just as much in the dark as I am.”

  “So you will be out there pretty much full time then.”

  “Unless you say different.”

  “No. No. By all means that’s what you should do. Things are really running smoothly since you have taken on the entire research department. For that, I am grateful. We will get along just fine. If we need
you, we know where to find you.”

  “All right. I guess I had better get things organized and break it to my staff. It will mean a lot of displaced people. Some of them won’t be too happy I’m sure.”

  “Give them a big bonus. It’s a way for me to recuperate some of my tax dollars,” Arthur joked.

  “That will ease the pain for some of them,” Peter agreed.

  He held a staff meeting later in the day and went over the plans and what it would mean if they got the go ahead to relocate. Most were unfazed by the temporary relocation. A couple of people said that they would have to check with their spouses before committing. That was to be expected.

  He had estimated that he would lose at least fifteen percent of the current crew. He had already made plans for such an eventuality.

  Later in the afternoon he got a call from Admiral Marcus. It was a go. He had already talked to several of the other team members and had received no dissention so far. The base had been scaling back operations for several years and they had plenty of room to spare.

  Marcus would be headed out to Otis Air Force Base in the morning to work out the logistics and to start to work on setting up the production areas for the various departments.

  Peter let his staff know that he had received confirmation that the move was going to take place. He would give them more details as soon as he had the ‘when’ and ‘how’.

  He decided to call Susan and see what she thought about all of this.

  “You couldn’t have found a place in Florida?” she joked.

  “Well, then you would have been running around scantily dressed and I wouldn’t have been able to work,” he replied quickly.

  “Shame on you.”

  “Me? You’re the one running around with very little on.”

  “It should be fine. At least it’s going to be mostly in the summer. Listen, Peter, I want to ask you a question.”

  “Ask away.”

  “Do I have bad breath or something?”

  “Heavens no. Why?”

  “Do I smell bad?”

  “What kind of question is that? You smell great. What gives?”

  “Well, when we were leaving, you acted like I had the plague or something.”

  “Truthfully, I was just fighting off the urge to kiss you.”

  “So why didn’t you?”

  “I was worried about what it would do to our relationship. Professional relationship, I mean. I didn’t want the other members to start talking. At least not quite so fast.”

  “I appreciate your taking that into consideration. I’m glad to hear at least you wanted to.”

  “Believe me I did.”

  “Good.”

  They talked for several more minutes. Then it was time for both of them to get cracking. They each had a million details to work out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  - OTIS AIR FORCE BASE -

  It took just over a month for the bulk of the various teams involved with the Deep Flight program to relocate and settle in. Considering the size of the move, it had gone amazingly smoothly.

  Otis Air Force Base offered everything they needed. They were given as many of the abandoned hanger bays as they could use. Several of the smaller system teams were able to locate in the same hanger. The liquid oxygen plant was put on notice that they would be supplying their needs.

  Once the procurements and space assignments were made, progress began picking up noticeably. Admiral Marcus was clearly impressed by Peter’s ability to get the most out of each individual. By talking, teaching, coaching, or if the need arose, badgering, he was able to get each team on track and interconnected within a very short period of time.

  Immediate changes were noticeable on the Deep Flight project as well, once they all started to pull together. The biggest immediate benefit was that they could go right to the person they needed to talk to and get answers.

  It was a hectic and nonstop schedule for Peter. One fire after another had to be put out but he was pleased with the overall progress.

  His own team was one of his biggest worries. Not the people, but their ability to find the breakthrough they need to make the topographical navigational system work at a rate that would allow the DSV to avoid underwater obstacles. Several of the scientists had offered suggestions but nothing had worked out so far. He was starting to feel the pressure. It would be ironic if he got everyone else to complete their work on time and his own people fell short.

  The air handlers, as anticipated, had proven to be of little difficulty. They had devised a simple, yet ingenious, method of extracting the submarine's air and regenerating it. Before the sub would leave for a mission they would top off the two, one hundred gallon LOX tanks. The liquid oxygen would be able to last for up to three weeks with little or no loss. It was more for backup in the event that the main system failed but it could be used if necessary. This was especially important if the full contingent of people that the maximum design specifications called for were on board.

  The air in the ship would be extracted though the filtering system, analyzed and then compressed to 3000 psi. It would then be forced through a series of needle valves.

  When air is forced through a small opening it expands rapidly giving up energy. The result is a rapid drop in temperature. The process would be repeated four times until the temperature would drop to minus 160 degrees. At that temperature the oxygen will turn into a liquid, as will the nitrogen. Bubbler trays then collect the liquid air and separate it. Most of the impurities are captured as well.

  An analyzer monitors the DSV’s monoxide levels. The computer then actuates the valves that re-mix the two liquids. The slightly oxygen enriched air is then introduced back into the DSV and the cycle goes on. The storage tanks can be used if the generating system can’t keep up or fails. The remaining liquid nitrogen would be stored in a separate tank for purging hydraulic systems.

  Almost every part of the DSV had unique and groundbreaking new technology. One of the most exciting, from the military point of view, was the development of the propulsion system. General Dynamics had invented a method of bringing in water, ionizing it and then directing it through a series of compression passages. It was then expelled at great force from the vessel. They were calling it an expulsion system, rather than propulsion system. By baffling the exit, they suppressed the noise.

  Detection of the sound vortex, or signature, was impossible. The exiting water could be directed out the top or bottom of the sub, thereby aiding in diving and surfacing, as well as the movement through the water. The only drawback that they had found so far was that upon start up, from a stopped position, it would cavitate for a few seconds until forward thrust could be obtained. Once the vessel was moving it became detection free. In many ways it made it like a shark. It had to keep moving to work effectively.

  The Chameleon looked evil just sitting in the dry dock. Except for its rounded leading edges, it resembled more of an aircraft than a submarine. Teardrop openings were located on either side of the forward edge of the hull. It looked like a cross between a giant manta ray and a garfish. A raised dive plane, much like a spoiler on a racecar, ran from one side of the hull to the other at the stern. A small, raised vertical fin housed the rudder. Rounded winglet dive planes protruded from the sides. They were swept back at a 35 degree angle. Its outer hull features were nearing completion and the tedious and time consuming job of attaching the outer ‘skin’ was in progress.

  Dr. Morgan was the team leader for this portion and his people had devised a method of covering the hull with a material that would not only aid in its stealth characteristics, but would allow the DSV to blend into is natural surroundings. Large semi-rigid bladders, or pods, as they were commonly called, of synthetic plasma were being attached. Under each pod was an electrical stimulation probe that would allow an impulse to heat the plasma. The varying amount of current from the isotope thermoelectric generators would determine the pod's color change.

  When no frequen
cy modulation was taking place they were translucent and the black hull of the DSV was visible. They also acted as a sonar beam absorber. This, along with its composite Kevlar covered outer hull and honeycombed inner hull, would make it virtually undetectable.

  Sensors had to be attached to the ship as well so that the sea temperature and hull temperature could be monitored. This information would be fed into the computer and the correct frequency would be transmitted to each pod to allow for the artificial shift in color. They had developed their own stimulation system and the computer hardware but it would have to tie into the main computer system. A great deal of time was spent in coordinating the two computer systems to integrate shared information.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  - New Port, RI -

  Admiral Marcus would fly up to New Port at least once a week to check on progress. It was much less disrupting to the project for him to come to them rather than trying to drag all of them down to Washington.

  “Dr. Ferris. Nice you see you,” Marcus said, stepping off the helicopter.

  “Nice to see you again too. How was the trip?”

  “Same as always. I hate those things,” he said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the departing chopper.

  “I take one every morning from Otis to here. You get used to it.”

  “Never. Navy men are supposed to be on ships, not in the air.”

  They got into the car and Peter drove them to the shipyard. They cleared security and drove to the dry dock. It was covered so that no spy satellite could snoop to see what they were up to down here.

  “Man oh man. I can’t believe how far along this thing is. This is just tremendous. Peter you have really got these guys cranked up.”

  “Don’t get too excited Ray. It’s just like a building.

  This is only the outside. We have tons of work to do yet.”

  “I don’t care what you say Peter, it’s a miracle what you have been able to get done in such a short time.”

  “Ray, we haven’t even begun the computer controlled areas. Dr. Long and her staff will not be on site for almost another month.”