Brad moved on to the entrance or to the end of the tunnel overlooking the surf. Three SEALs defended this tunnel. Once the door was slid shut, slits were used for shooting. It was much like an old castle with the same kind of opening to use a weapon with the protection of a heavy door. In this case, a two inch steel door on wheels with tracks would keep the defenders safe.
Brad went back outside. It was turning colder so Brad put on a windbreaker. He'd put on some black to cover his white face and hands. Brad passed by several bunkers where mortars were set up to defend the high ground. As soon the invaders were visible or about 50 yards from the beach, they mortars would begin. After that the lights would come on lighting up the whole area.
All looked well to Brad. He went back to the house to change clothes and chose weapons. Brad chose a desert uniform to blend in with the sand color that surrounds the Round House. Next he clipped on some frag grenades on one side and some phosphorus grenades on the other side. Two knives: one next to the small of the back and the other in his combat boots.
In a side pocket went some throwing stars and the other pocket a Mag Lite. The last thing he did before total concentration of the enemy took over his mind was to think of the Master. Even Brad wondered how he would get from Fish Rock to the sub.
Brad looked at his watch; it was time for action. He took his place on the front lines. At exactly 10:30 Brad shot off a flare to light up the surf. All saw black rubber boats with men paddling like hell for the shore. Mike dropped the first mortar and five more followed suit. The range was right on as five shells upended at least three boats. Another round was fired off with about the same results. Brad hollered for the floods to come on and the beach was lit up blinding the terrorist dressed in black.
The terrorist attempted to set up their own mortars, but only one actually sent a shell that landed in Park's garden. Brad let the SEALs meet the head on terrorists as he scanned the north side of the surf and Mike did the same to the south. Brad didn't see any attackers to the north, but he did notice more boats were coming behind the first wave.
Some SEALs saw the very same thing and five more mortars were sent to greet the newcomers. It appeared that about fifty terrorist were running to the safety of the bottom of the cliff. Others fanned out and took some shelter behind some giant driftwood trees. It was obvious these guys were good fighters due the fact they didn't just challenge the defenders head on.
After a short period of time, the beach was littered with enemy dead. However, many still were pouring gun fire into the bunkers. Brad hadn't fired a shot yet. Rocky was lying down with him not moving. Sandy was with Sujin and Brian.
Brad looked to his left and saw Blaze and two other men slither down the hill to the beach to take them on one by one. The flood lights still showed the empty black boats bobbing in the surf. Suddenly Park came up on his hands and knees. He said, "A mortar hit my garden. I'm going down the cliff so please don't shoot me. I'm going to kill the bastard who blew up part of my garden. I'll use him for fertilizer." Brad grinned and wished him well.
Brad guessed there were still at least twenty terrorist out there. Sporadic firing was going on. He again saw three more SEALs slip down the steep cliff to meet the invaders. Brad thought it was about time for him to get a firsthand look at who was still left alive. He said, "Come Rocky, let's finish this off before one of us gets hurt.
Brad left his rifle and drew his 9mm Glock. He and Rocky first went north along the cliff edge and then slid down the steep bank to the soft sand above the high water mark. Slowly they moved south taking cover behind the driftwood the littered the beach from storms. Rocky let out a low growl and Brad rubbed his head. A terrorist was crouched down behind a low pile of rocks. Brad, under the cover of the noise of the surf and gun fire slipped up behind him and cut his throat.
The next one must have sensed Brad coming because he turned around and thought he'd squeezed the trigger of his AK-47, but instead he reached for his throat where Brad had placed two 9mm bullets. The rifle fell and so did the terrorist.
Brad and Rocky moved on cautiously. Rocky wagged his tail and Brad saw it was Park just cleaning his knife on the back of a slain terrorist. Brad whispered, "Park, it's me and Rocky."
Park said, "There're two more behind that big rock. What or how do we get them both?"
Brad leaned into his ear and said, "If you scurry over there and hide behind that big log, they will hear you and I'll take them from behind. Rocky will get one and me the other."
"I got it and see you later," he said while running and diving behind the logs drawing fire from the rock. Brad and Rocky silently moved around the rock. Brad pointed to his right and Rocky took off at a run. Brad bounded after him arriving just a few seconds behind Rocky. Brad had his man down and out while Rocky tore the throat out the bad guy. Brad rubbed his head and run crouching down over to Park. Park motioned that another guy was climbing the cliff. He'd found a place where he could climb all the way to the top. Brad thought this was a job for Rocky. He told Rocky to go get him. Rocky was off like a flash. The poor guy didn't know what hit him as Rocky jumped on his back. The guy rolled over and fell back down the cliff. Park did the honors and quickly dispatched the enemy.
Both Brad and Park looked around and saw or heard no more shots. The password was 'Run Silent, Run Deep'. Brad heard the password coming for about twenty feet away. He returned the password and walked down to meet the SEAL. Five minutes later all who had gone down the cliff met to discuss the situation. Mike came up saying, "No one down my way alive."
All was quiet. Blaze said, "Let's make sure and double check each one to make sure no one is alive."
Brad said to Mike. "Take a couple guys and move that rubber boat to the surf. Make sure we have some strong batter powered lights."
Brad sent Park up to the house to inform the house people that the battle was over.
The tide had turned as Mike and Brad with two other SEALs launched the raft. Mike took the helm and headed out to sea crashing through the waves. A few minutes later Brad saw the dim lights of a submarine. The wind was calm and only slow rollers were felt. The SEALs scrambled up the side of the sub and ropes thrown, quickly tied up the raft. Brad grabbed a rope climbing rapidly onto the deck followed by Mike.
Brad was first down the hatch into the control center. It was there that Brad found the Master and his captives. All the captives had a bewildered look upon their faces. Brad grinned and then said, "Do any of you speak English?"
The captain said, "I do, but you will not get any information out of me."
"We'll see about that. Mike take a look through the captain's cabin. Ron and Eric take a tour of the sub and see who is left aboard." Brad turned his attention back to the captain. "Okay captain, I'll ask again who you are and where do you come from?"
The Master leaned over the captain and touched his neck sending bolts of pain through his body. The captain, who had been sitting on the floor or deck, screamed in pain and shook violently from head to foot. The other captives, the XO, navigator and helmsmen sat with mouths open and bulging eyes at the scene in front of them. A full minute went by. The captain came back to his senses. "I'll only ask one more time captain. Who are you and where do you come from?"
The captain said, "I'm Abdual Iniz from Iran. My orders were to storm the home of Brad Pratt killing everyone. You've a bounty of 25 million dollars on your head. I'm presuming you're Brad Pratt."
"What I want to know is how many subs are attacking the USA?
"The total is six that I know of," said the captain.
The two SEALs came back to report. They told Brad that 12 sailors were all crammed into the small mess hall area. All were afraid of the 'Dragon Man', the said laughing. One of them wore a uniform that denotes some higher rank. He spoke a little English. What are your orders sir?"
"We'll sail this sub up to Bandon and dock it. You guys will have to guard it in shifts until we decided what to do with it. In the meantime, we'll wait until daylig
ht to sail to Bandon."
"Do you want us to stay onboard," asked Ron.
"Yes, please stay here and I'll send some guys out to relieve you soon."
Mike said, "I'll stay too. I'm curious to look around. Once we turn this tub over to the higher ups, we'll never get another look. I think the captain will talk to me now. If he doesn't he can take a swim with a rope around his ankle."
Back on the beach, flood lights still on, a pile of bodies lie in a row. Blaze said, "We counted an even 50 Brad. Not one of us has a scratch. I'd say job well done."
Brad shook his hand and addressed all of the SEALs. He said, "Like when Osama bin Laden was taken, a video showed the White House the assault. I'll send Billy down with a video camera and we'll take a group photo session. Also when it gets daylight we'll take some video of the sub and the beach at the same time. I want to send a copy of the video to a few enemy countries that are responsible. I'd say let this be warning to any and all enemies of America."
His next stop was the Round House. As he walked up the side trail he thought about Billy. At the top he saw Billy playing with Sandy with one hand and smoking with the other. The AK-47 was nowhere to be seen. Brad told him about a video camera and went inside to see his wife and son.
Sujin was downstairs in their bedroom with Brian. Brad stripped down and took a shower to wash off the scum of battle. He returned to a sleeping boy and a wife who looked calm and collected. He briefed her and then called his father who was still in Charleston.
He relayed the facts and that was when his father brought up the thought that the Panama Canal might be in danger. Brad told his father he had a good idea going there and that the captain of this sub sitting off his shoreline said there were a total of six subs. Brad said, "If that's the case father, then we have an enemy sub at both ends of the Canal."
"I fear so son. I also think our security is good in the LA Port region and San Francisco too. I'm still a little worried about the Bay Area though."
"I think Wade's father small flattop is somewhere near Frisco. All is well here so I'm thinking about hitching a ride down to the Canal on his ship. With the slow speed of the sub, we can be a couple days ahead of the enemy sub."
"Good luck son. I'll take care of that sub in Bandon. The crew will be transferred to Guantanamo Bay for questioning. Don't forget to call your mother son."
Brad went upstairs to make something to eat for the Master. It didn't take much to satisfy the Chinese Master. Some rice and noodles with a smattering of veggies were more than enough. Billy was back and Brad asked him to bring up the two bars of gold. In addition he asked Billy for a map showing the Panama Canal.
Billy came huffing and puffing from a gold bar in each hand. A rope was used for a handle for carrying. One bar weights about 25 pounds. Bill set the two bars down gently by the Master. Billy said later he thought he saw a twinkle in the old Master's eye.
Brad said to the Master, "Master if you have time and would like to sail on a Navy carrier I would like for you to go with me. We think another enemy submarine is going to torpedo a ship in the Panama Canal." Billy laid a map on the table where the Master had just finished his dinner. Brad used his chop stick for a pointer showing the Master where they were going.
The Master reached out with a bony hand to fondle the two gold bars. Then to Billy's absolute amazement, the Master with one hand, easily picked a gold bar up and smelled it. Brad said, "Billy your mouth is catching flies."
Brad then said, "If you think that is amazing how about this one. The Master was on Fish Rock when the submarine arrived. He was about a quarter mile away. How did he get from Fish Rock to the submarine without a boat and he never got wet?"
The three, along with Rocky, flew to San Francisco to meet Wade's father, Captain John Jenkins. A helicopter was waiting for Brad at Oakland International. The small carrier was anchored just inside the Golden Gate Bridge. In a short time all three were onboard and anchors up for sailing south.
Captain Jenkins, better known to his friends as JJ, was an older version of his son Wade. Brad knew where Wade received his broad smile from as Captain Jenkins welcomed them aboard. He bowed to the Master and the Master gave him a neck bow back.
As they sailed for the open sea, JJ asked about having some tea or coffee in the galley. Brad gratefully said yes as they had not eaten since breakfast.
Billy lagged behind to take a smoke break and the Master disappeared. Nobody worried about the Chinese old man. He was harmless and would never interfere with the operation of the ship.
Brad said, while sitting down across from JJ, "From the looks of it flying over the Bay area, security is good. Our Intel from the captured submarine captain said the Panama Canal is on their list of targets."
Brad sipped the green tea and ate a ham and cheese sandwich. Billy came in and drooled over the food. In no time another two ham and cheese sandwiches arrived. Billy ate one and gave one to Rocky.
JJ asked, "Brad how do you want to cover this Panama Canal mission?"
"You might find this difficult to accept JJ, but our Chinese Master has a sense of knowing what is coming and when. Your job is very easy. Just anchor near the entrance and let him do his job. We'll not take any chances with this sub. Our job is to blow it to hell. My father is on the opposite side doing the same thing, but he doesn't have a Chinese Master. He has to do it the old fashion way, seek and destroy."
JJ chuckled and so did Brad. Billy said, "Captain, is it okay for me to wander around a little. I brought my computers but I'm on furlough for a few hours."
Brad said, "Where did you get that work 'furlough' from?"
I was reading some military history books and came across some guy wanting a furlough to see his girlfriend."
JJ answered, "Billy, a furlough is an unpaid leave of absence. A few hours is not a furlough its gold bricking time." Brad never laughed so hard for a long time. When he caught his breath, he said,
"Every time you take a smoke break Billy, you're gold bricking."
"What is gold bricking boss?"
"It means to shirk one's duty or assignment."
"I never do that boss. You know me; always on the job," said a happy Billy.
They stopped in Coronado and picked up Wade. Brad could tell that Wade and his father were very close. Brad left them to chat about family things and went to his cabin. Rocky stayed with Billy as Billy was his food source it would seem.
Brad's father and Nancy were aboard the USS George Washington sailing hard to the east side of the Panama Canal. Two Tridents and two score or more of ships filled out the sailing armada.
When they arrived at their destination, Brad would fly over the fifty miles of Canal to see his father. He would also take the Master with him. Meanwhile he called his wife.
Sujin told him the SEALs were cleaning up and had a giant bonfire on the beach. That meant they cremated the terrorist. Park was busy in his garden still mumbling about a mortar attack. Mike was still in the process of taking care of the sub. He'd already transferred the sailors to a military plane for a long trip to Cuba. Blaze told her the President called him with a big hearty thank you; job well done. The she told him Brian vomited all over the bed. She laughed. And lastly she told him his mother called and she didn't care if the terrorist were blowing up the east coast, but to call her or she was calling the President and complain. Brad really did crack up on that comment. He said, "Can you imagine the President calling father and saying you wife needs a phone call from you and her son."
Brad was worn out. He crashed hard and spent the next nine hours in a dreamless state. The sailing distance was just less than three thousand miles. He guessed about four days sailing time.
For the Romeo sub, it would refuel again just off of Mexico. The small tanker was waiting at a scheduled set position. After refueling it would take a week or so for the sub to reach the Canal. However, the captain was in no hurry as this was the last target and after that head for Venezuela.
It was seve
n days later when Brad and the Master flew to see his father on board the USS George Washington. It was assumed they were ahead of the remaining east submarine. In fact they were way ahead of the sub as it had to stop over in Cuba for refueling.
Before they left Brad and the Master sat on the bridge of the carrier. The Master sat in Captain JJ's chair. He starred hard to the northwest. After awhile he looked at Brad and gave a slight shake of the head. Brad realized it would be a few days yet before an action would take place.
The Master was impressed by the many ships that were stationed about one hundred miles from the Canal. The two Trident subs were lurking just off the side of the Canal.
They landed on the flight deck of the USS George Washington. Brad delighted in the nice tropical breeze blowing. The Master was visibly happy. This carrier was twice the size of the one they just left. However, the Master frowned at the Commander who was anything but friendly to the Chinese Master with the dragon dress.
Secretary Pratt saw the look and whispered into the admiral's ear. The admiral broke a smile and gave the Master a slight bow. However, the slight would never be forgotten. The admiral never did figure out how his finger got broken in a door. He told his wife that ever since that Chinese man came aboard it seemed like there were ghosts aboard. The Master enjoyed his stay aboard the big carrier.
Back to business, Brad asked the Master to look towards Cuba, due north to see if he felt anything. They went to the bridge and Brad asked the commander if he would vacate his chair so the Master could view the ocean. Secretary Pratt and Nancy both had to cover their mouths from smiling. The admiral reluctantly agreed. The Master jumped up and sat Indian style. He never moved a muscle. Nancy never saw him blink. She tried to not blink and it was impossible. It was fully ten minutes and then the Master motioned Brad over. Brad listened as he whispered into his ear. The Master left to prowl around before leaving.
Under Water Secret Page 11