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DRAGONFIRE
THEBATTLEFORTHE
FALKLANDS
ByPetervon
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Bleichert
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Copyright2015.Peter
vonBleichert
Registered:Libraryof
Congress;and,WritersGuild
ofAmerica
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ProofreadbyJosephP.
Bogo
ExceptingCapitánde
FragataAugustoMoreno,
pilotfortheArgentineNavy
duringthe1982Guerradel
AtlánticoSurandparticipant
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intheaerialattackuponHMS
Sheffield,allothercharacters
appearinginthisworkare
fictitious.Anyresemblance
torealpersons,livingor
dead,ispurelycoincidental.
Nopartofthis
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publicationmaybe
reproducedortransmittedin
anyformorbyanymeans,
electronicormechanical,
including:photocopy,
recording,oranyinformation
andretrievalsystem,without
permissioninwritingfrom
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thecopyright
holder/publisher,exceptin
thecaseofbriefquotations
embodiedincritical
articles/reviews.
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BooksbyPetervonBleichert
Fiction
CrownJewel:TheBattlefortheFalklands
FourthCrisis:TheBattleforTaiwan
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Non-Fiction
Bleichert’sWireRopeways
Blitz!StormingtheMaginotLine
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thankstomyteachers:
JonathanE.;BruceH.;Paul
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M.;KarenS.;and,Panayiotis
Z.
And,aspecialthanks
to:RobertN.(UK).
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DEDICATION
MichaelMuxie,III(in
memoriam).
And,tothoseloston
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bothsidesofthereal
FalklandsWar:‘Sleepwell
youBonnieLads/Duerme
bienvalientesmuchachos.’
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TABLEOF
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
DEDICATIONCHARACTERS
NOTES
BRIEFING
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PROLOGUE:FLYINGFISH
1:NAVIS2:ABISMO
3:DUKESUP
4:SHIPWRECK5:CATANDMOUSE
6:ABRAZO
7:JOUST8:CALOR
9:VIEWHOLLOA
10:ELPARTIDOEPILOGUE:WARIAN
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CHARACTERS
ARGENTINEREPUBLIC:
CaboSegundo(CorporalSecondClass)Gaston‘Raton’Bersa
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TenientedeFragata(FirstLieutenant)SantiagoLedesma
CapitándeNavío(Captain)JaimeMatias
…and,DoctorWaldemarAmsel;MinistrodeDefensa(MinisterofDefense)JuanCruzGomez;&CapitándeFragata(LieutenantCommander)AugustoMoreno.
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UNITEDKINGDOM:CaptainLawrence
FryattLeadingSeamanJohn
McelaneyLieutenantCommander
NigelWilliams…and,Ordinary
SeamanRodiDando;LieutenantAngusLowry;&LieutenantSeamus
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McLaughlin.
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NOTES
ABritishOverseas
Territory,theFalkland
Islandsareastark,wind-
rippedSouthAtlantic
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archipelagosome400miles
eastofArgentina’s
Patagoniancoast,and850
milesnorthoftheAntarctic
Circle.ComprisingEast
Falkland,WestFalkland,and
778smallerislands,the
FalklandIslandsareroughly
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thesizeoftheAmericanState
ofConnecticut—abouthalf
thesizeofthecountryof
Wales—andthecapitalisin
theportcityofStanleyon
EastFalkland.Falklanders
areprimarilyofBritish,
Chilean,andSt.Helenian
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descent.
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BRIEFING
TheArgentineRepublic
claimssovereigntyoverthe
FalklandIslands.
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CalledLasIslas
MalvinasbyArgentinians,
thearchipelagoisviewedas
partoftheSouthAtlantic
DepartmentoftheProvince
ofTierradelFuego.
TheUnitedKingdom
hasneverrecognizedthis
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claim.
AlthoughFalklanders
haveexpressedaclear
preferencetoremainunder
Britishrule,inhopesof
easingtensionsduringthe
1960s,Londonengagedin
talkswithArgentineforeign
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missions.Thetalks,
however,failedtoreachany
meaningfulconclusion.
Intheearly1980s,a
ruthlessdictatorshipruled
Argentina.Accordingly,it
sufferedacripplingeconomic
crisis.Inanattemptto
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distractandunifyitsrestive
populace,Argentinainitiated
OperaciónRosarioonApril
2,1982,andinvadedthe
Falklands.
Argentineforces
outnumberedtheBritish
garrison10-to-1.Resistance
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wasrapidlysubdued,and
withinhours,Argentine
forcesoccupiedGovernment
HouseinStanley—the
Falklands’capital—andflew
theirflagoverthissymbolof
Britishhegemony.
BritishPrimeMinister
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Thatcher—dubbedthe‘Iron
Lady’bytheSoviets—
immediatelydenouncedthe
invasion.Sherousedher
military,organizedand
commencedOperation
Corporate,anddispatcheda
TaskGrouptoretakethe
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islands.
Afterfierceairand
navalbattles,Britishforces
landedonEastFalkland.By
mid-Juneof1982,British
marinesandsoldiersheldthe
highgroundaroundthe
capitalcity.Soonthereafter,
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theroutedArgentine
occupationforces
surrendered.
Despitethisclear-cut
defeat,Argentinahas
continuedtoclaimtheSouth
Atlanticarchipelagoasher
own.In1994,the
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TransitionalProvisionsofthe
ConstitutionoftheArgentine
Nationwereamended,
therebyalleging‘legitimate
andeverlastingsovereignty’
overLasIslasMalvinas,
SouthGeorgia,andthe
SandwichIslands,aswellas
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thecorrespondingmaritime
andinsularareas.
Withthislegislation,
thecaptureofsaidterritories
becameapermanentand
unswayableobjectiveofthe
Argentinepeople…
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PROLOGUE:
FLYINGFISH
“Whohearsthefishes
whentheycry?”—Henry
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DavidThoreau
4May1982
HerMajesty’sShip
Sheffieldwastheleadhullof
theRoyalNavy’spremiere
Type42guided-missile
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destroyers.Christenedby
QueenElizabethIIin1971,
Sheffieldwaslocatedsouth-
eastoftheFalklands,
patrollingtheTotalExclusion
Zone,anareawithinwhich
GreatBritainhadpromisedto
destroyanyintruding
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Argentinianvessels.
Sheffieldwasaccompaniedby
HMSCoventryandGlasgow
—alsoType42s—sailingto
hernorth.Together,thethree
shipsranaradarpicketfor
theTaskGroup.Asidefrom
thesethreeships,theTask
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Groupwascomposedofthe
aircraftcarriersHermesand
Invincible,thelanding
platformdocksFearlessand
Intrepid,severalother
destroyers,aswellasvarious
containerships,ferries,
freighters,frigates,liners,
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logisticships,patrolvessels,
submarines,supplyships,
tankers,trawlers,andtugs.
Evenanicepatrolship—
HMSEndurance—hadbeen
thrownintothemix.The
groupwason‘defensewatch’
routineandat‘airwarning
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yellow’as,twodaysprior,a
Britishnuclearattack
submarinehadsunk
Argentina’scruiser,the
GeneralBelgrano.
Retaliationwasexpected.
HermesandInvincible
hadlaunchedSeaHarrierson
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combatairpatrol,andahead
ofthesteaminggroup,
GlasgowandSheffieldswept
theskieswiththeirlong-
distanceradars(Coventrywas
experiencingdifficultieswith
hers).
◊◊◊◊
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At9:45thatmorning,
twoArgentineNavySuper
ÉtendardshaddepartedRio
Grande,TierradelFuego.
EachoftheFrench-built
strikeaircraftcarriedasingle
ExocetAM39anti-ship
missileattherightwinghard
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point,withthelong,heavy
weaponcounter-balancedby
afueltankontheotherside.
Vectoredouttosea,theSuper
ÉtendardsmetaHercules
tankerandtopped-offtheir
fuel.Thentheyheadedfor
thelastreportedpositionof
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theBritishTaskGroup.
TheArgentinesalso
includedType42sintheir
inventory,andhadusedthem
topracticemissileruns.
UsingtheBritish-made
destroyers,theirpilotshad
learnedto‘pickthelobes’of
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theType42’selderlyair-
searchradar.Theywouldfly
inlowandlistenfortheir
cockpitradarwarningto
sound.Wheneveritdid,they
wouldshedmorealtitude,and
thuslybecameproficientat
sneakinginwithout
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detection.Thiswashowthe
twoSuperÉtendardsgot
within40milesoftheRoyal
Navy’sTaskGroupthisday.
Glasgowgotthefirst
inklingthatsomethingwas
amisswhenshegotabrief,
fleetingradarcontact.She
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immediatelyputupchaff—a
radar-deceivingcloudof
aluminumneedles—and
reportedintothegroup’s
flagship,Hermes.Notlong
thereafter,thecarrier
Invinciblegotherownradar
hitandvectoredherairborne
![Page 50: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
SeaHarriers—affectionately
called‘Shars’—to
investigate.WhentheShars
foundnothing,thecontacts
weredeclared‘spurious’by
thegroup’santi-airwarfare
commander.Meanwhile,
withSheffieldontheirnose,
![Page 51: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
thetwoArgentineSuperÉs
spedinatnearwave-top.
Sheffield’sOperations
Roomwasnestleddeepinthe
destroyer’shull.Thisis
wheretheAirWarfare
Officer—theAWO—manned
aradardisplay.Likethe
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othershuddledinthedimly-
litandcoldroom,hewore
anti-flashgearcomposedofa
whitefire-resistanthoodand
elbow-lengthgloves.The
AWO’spartiallymaskedface
glowedyellowinthescreen
lightashewatchedtheline
![Page 53: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
sweeparoundthescreen.
Whentheradar’sbeamof
radiowavesstrucksomething
airborneandsolid,it
backscatteredand
boomerangedback,tobe
collectedbytheantenna
mountedhighonSheffield’s
![Page 54: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
superstructure.Onthe
screen,thelinecamearound
again.Thistime,itrevealed
threeblips.
TheAWOknewthat
twooftheblipsrepresented
friendlySeaHarriers,andthe
otheraSeaKinghelicopter
![Page 55: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
onasupplyrun.TheAWO
hadbeenondutyforseveral
hours,andhiseyesblurred
anditched.Hetookthemoff
thescreen,anddughis
fingersinforagoodscratch.
ThetwoArgentine
aircrafthadclosedtoabout
![Page 56: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
25milesfromtheBritish
warship.BothSuperÉs
climbedandturnedontheir
Agaveradars.Thesystem
energized,andfoundand
lockedontoSheffield.
“Blanco,”Lieutenant
CommanderAugusto
![Page 57: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
Moreno,thepilotofthelead
SuperÉtendardyelledashe
usedahandsignalto
communicatewithhis
wingman.Bothmenfedthe
dataintotheirExocet
missiles.
Sheffield’sAWO’s
![Page 58: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
radarlinelefttwomoreblips
onthescreen.Theywere
milesoutandinadifferent
quadrantthanthoseknownto
representfriendlyaircraft.
WhentheAWO’stiredfocus
returned,theblipshad
disappeared;thisfirstchance
![Page 59: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
forSheffieldtodetectthe
stalkingaircrafthadbeen
missedinamomentofhuman
fatigue.Unfortunatelyforthe
RoyalNavydestroyerandher
company,asecond
opportunitywasmissed,as
well.
![Page 60: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
Atthesamemoment
theArgentineshadclimbedto
getaradarfixonSheffield,
theship’scaptaincontacted
Londonbysatellite.Perched
highintheship’smastwas
locatedanemitterwarning
antennathatwouldhave
![Page 61: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
detectedtheenemy’senergy
emission.However,
Sheffield’ssatellite
communicationsystem
happenedtousethesame
frequencybandasthatofthe
SuperÉtendards’radar.
Therefore,asthedestroyer’s
![Page 62: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
captainsenthisreportshome,
theemitterwarningantenna
wasdeafened.Withtheir
Exocetslocked-onand
warmedup,theArgentinejets
continuedtochargeonthe
obliviousBritishwarship.
TheSuperÉsagainflew
![Page 63: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
belowthelobesofSheffield’s
radar.
“Fuego,”Morenosaid
ashesignaledbyhand.Both
pilotstoggledtheirfiring
switches,andasthehalf-ton
missilesdroppedintothe
slipstream,bothpilots
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counteractedthejarringforce
usingailerons.
Thesolid-propellant
motorsofbothoftheanti-
shipmissilesignited,fire
torchingfromtheirtailends.
TheExocetsthensettledin12
feetabovethecalm,bluesea.
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Withinseconds,theywere
movingatjustbeneaththe
speedofsound.Duetotheir
cruisealtitudeandthe
curvatureoftheEarth,
Sheffieldremainedblindedto
theirapproach.
WhentheArgentine
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missileswerejustsixmiles
fromSheffield—lessthan50
secondsfromimpact—the
destroyer’sAWOspottedthe
returnsandannounced:
“Interimradarcontact.”The
OperationsDirectorstrolled
overandaskedtheAWO:
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“What’veyougot,then?”
Onthescreen,whathad
previouslybeenasmudgeof
light,becametwodistinct
blips.TheExocetswerenow
30secondsawayfrom
Sheffield.
“Probabletargets,”the
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AWOshouted.
TheOperations
DirectorinformedtheMissile
Directorofthecontact.
Twenty-fiveseconds…
TheMissileDirector
queriedtheship’sSeaDart
surface-to-airmissilefire
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controlsystem.
Twentyseconds…
Alongwiththecaptain,
theofficers-of-the-watchand
therestofSheffield’sbridge
personnel,Sub-Lieutenant
LawrenceFryattkeptawary
eyeonthesea.Aterrible
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feelingcreptoverFryattashe
scannedhisassignedquadrant
ofseawithbinoculars.He
spottedsomething,apuffof
smokeonthehorizon.Fryatt
focusedhisbinocularsthere.
Thesea’ssurfaceshimmered
withintheblack-edgedcircle
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ofhisview.
Torpedo?Fryatt
wondered.Hescrutinizedthe
pictureagainandshiftedhis
viewupward.There,just
abovethediamondsof
reflectedsunlight,anairborne
whitecylinderskimmed
![Page 72: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
abovethewaves.Itwas
pointedrightathim.
“Missile;terminal,”
Fryattyelledattheverysame
momenttheAction
InformationCenter—the
‘AIC,’or‘OpRoom’—
announced‘airwarningred’
![Page 73: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
overthebridgespeaker.The
captainraisedhisown
binocularsandsaid,
“Exocets,”usingthenameas
acurse.
Fryattraisedhis
binocularsagainandfound
thesecondmissile.Heknew
![Page 74: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/74.jpg)
thattheweaponswere
alreadyinsidethe
engagementenvelopeof
Sheffield’sSeaDarts.
Anyway,hethought,Sea
Dartsarenearlyuseless
againstsea-skimmers.
Sheffield’scaptain
![Page 75: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
initiatedaturn.Thenheused
theaddresssystemtoorder
theship’scompanytobrace
formissileimpactbefore
callingfor‘damagecontrol
state1.’Withtheship
alreadyon‘defensewatch,
secondreadiness,’all
![Page 76: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
watertightcompartmentshad
beensealed,andwithless
thanfivesecondstoimpact,
therewasnotimetogetchaff
upandproperlybloomed.
Fryattlookedaround.Most
ofthepeoplewerealreadyon
thefloorandhuddled
![Page 77: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/77.jpg)
together.Fryattpressedthe
captain’sshouldertourge
himtogetdown,butthe
captainpushedback.So,
bothmenstoodthere,
transfixed,andwatchedasthe
Exocetsstreakedin.
OneExocet
![Page 78: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/78.jpg)
malfunctioned.Itwobbled,
dipped,andslammedintothe
sea.ThecaptainandFryatt
lookedatoneanotherand
smiled.Theirchancesof
survivinghadjustdoubled.
Thesmilesfadedfast,
however;astheremaining
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Exocetcontinuedtohomein.
TimeslowedforFryatt.He
evencountedinhishead:
Three,two,one…
Therewasablurred
whitestreak,andthen
Sheffieldlurchedhard.The
Exocethadpiercedher
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amidships,justabovethe
waterline,tearingajagged
gashinherside.Themissile
penetrated‘2-Deck’atthe
Galley,killingseveralsailors
instantly.Themissile’s
momentumdroveitintothe
ForwardAuxiliaryMachinery
![Page 81: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/81.jpg)
RoomandtheForward
EngineRoom.Theimpact’s
shockwavebuckleddoors
andcollapsedladders,and
shrapneltorethehigh-
pressurefiremainandignited
thedieseloilintheengine
roomreadytanks.The
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unspentmissilepropellant
contributedthickblacktoxic
smokethatsuffocated
personnelasitmarched
throughcompartmentafter
compartment.Sheffield
burned.
Fryatthadbeen
![Page 83: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/83.jpg)
knockedtothedeck.He
strainedtorise.Achingly,he
managedtodosoand
checkedonthecaptainand
theothersthathadbeen
stationedaroundhim.Fryatt
thenwenttothefire-fighting
system’scontrolpanel.
![Page 84: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/84.jpg)
Waterpressure
warningsflashed.Fryatt
manipulatedswitchesashe
trieddesperatelytorestartthe
pumps.Tohisdismay,and
despitenumerousattempts,
eachsection’spumpsfailed
torestart.Thenthepanel
![Page 85: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/85.jpg)
flickeredandwentblackas
thebridgelostpower.Fryatt
openedtheouterhatchand
thebridgewasinstantly
inundatedwithpungent
smoke.Hebegantomakehis
wayaft.
Fryatt’sfeetfeltwarm.
![Page 86: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/86.jpg)
Helookeddownathisheavy
standard-issuebootsandsaw
theirthickrubbersoles
sizzlingonthedeck.He
lookedaround.Theship’s
greypainthadbeguntopeel
fromthesuperstructureasthe
steelwarped.There’san
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infernoinside.Fryattleaned
overSheffield’sgunwale.
Heatsmackedhiminthe
face.Instinctively,he
recoiledandraisedhishands
toprotecthimself.Fryatt’s
eyesstungfromtheacrid
fumescreatedbyburningfuel
![Page 88: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/88.jpg)
andplastics.Tears
streaming,heblinkeditoff.
Thenhetookadeepbreath
andheldit,shieldedhiseyes
withahand,andleanedover
theside.Heagainfeltthe
hightemperature.Thoughhe
couldsmellandfeelthe
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singingofhiseyelashesand
brows,heopenedhiseyes,
andresistingtheurgetoclose
themandretreat,hemanaged
tosurveythedamage.
Hehadseentheholein
Sheffield’sfreeboard,and
determinedittobeaboutfour
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by15feet.Itsjaggededges
glowedwhitehotandhissed
steameverytimethecoldsea
sloshedagainstit.Inthat
moment,Fryattconcludedthe
Exocethadnotdetonated.He
retreatedandexhaledhisheld
breathbeforegaspingfor
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coolerair.
“Damn,”hesaid,and
consideredthat,iftheship’s
companywasabletocontrol
andextinguishthefires,
Sheffieldmightjustbesaved.
Heturned,reachedahand
out,andhesitantlytestedthe
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temperatureofahatch’s
latch.Itwaswarmand
tolerable.Heclaspedhis
handaboutitandopenedthe
portal.Inside,hefoundonly
heatandthick,choking
smoke.Hepushedoninto
theblackenedpassageway.It
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wasjustseveralmetersbefore
hislungsdemandedair.He
triedtotakeabreath.The
biteonhisairwaywas
harshlyacridandhot.His
throatclosedandhegrabbed
atit,tryingagaintobreathe.
Hisbodydeniedhiseffort,
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andinsteaditfoldedoverand
sliddownawall.Afellow
sailorwearingarespirator
grabbedandpulledFryatt
backoutsideandintothe
openair.Fryattimmediately
coughedandsuckedingreat
breathsofair.
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Whenhisgreedy
breathingslowedagain,and
hewasabletolookupand
concentrate,Fryattsawa
greatgreywallbeside
Sheffield.Itwasthefrigate
Yarmouth.Shehadcome
alongside.Herhoses
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providedboundarycooling,
andhersailorsandsmall
boatsprovidedrescue.
ThoughFryattrepeatedly
coughedandcontinued
strugglingtobreathe,he
managedtoreturnasalute
thrownfromasailoron
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Yarmouth’sdeck.
Fivehourslater,
Sheffieldwasabandonedto
thefire.Hersurvivingcrew
hadbeentransferred,andthe
proudwarship’ssmoking,
steaminghulkwaslefttoroll
andpitchonthecold,frothy
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sea.Twohoursafterthat,
flameroaredfromeveryone
ofSheffield’sopenings,and
hersteelbentandturned
blackwithchar.Sheffield
foughtherlastbattlethere,
upontheSouthAtlantic,and
resistedtherotofflamefor
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somesixdays.Then,withall
thedignityshecouldmuster,
Sheffieldsuccumbed,rolled
ontoherside,andwent
down.Anhourlater,she
restedonthebottombeing
inspectedbyfish.Nineteen
ofherdeadremainedwith
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her.
FromHermesflight
deck,yetanotherof
Sheffield’sdeadwastipped
overthedeck.Hehad
perished,andwascommitted
tothesea,insureandcertain
hopeoftheResurrectionunto
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eternallife.Twenty-sixmore
ofSheffield’swounded
sufferedinthecarrier’ssick
wardwithburns,shock,and
smokeinhalation.Sub-
LieutenantLawrenceFryatt
wasamongthem.
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Severaldecadeslater…
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1:NAVIS
“Fourhoarseblastsof
aship'swhistlestillraisethe
haironmyneckandsetmy
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feettotapping.”—John
Steinbeck
TheNorwegianSea,a
vast,blackflatness,shivered
inthecold,clearnight.
Pricksofbrightlightfilled
theskyandreflectedinthe
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calmwater.Thesestarsmade
ithardtotellwherethe
heavensendedandthesea
began.Theyseemedtobe
aliveandspoketoone
anotherwithstaccato
flickers.Alonewarship
madewayuponthesea,
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disturbingtheblackdiamond-
sprinkledtapestry,cleaving
andpushingasidethe
reflectedstarsinawavethat
undulatedacrosstheocean’s
surface.
ThiswarshipwasHis
Majesty’sShipDragon,the
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RoyalNavy’slatestguided-
missiledestroyer.Ofthe
Daring-class,otherwise
knownastheType45,
Dragonwassome500feet-
longandcrownedbya
toweringpyramidalmast
toppedbyaradardome.Like
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hernamesake,Dragonhad
deadlysharpclawsandteeth.
Afloatingfortress,
Dragon’sarcherswere
missiles;hercatapults:guns;
andaMerlinlivedinacave
atherstern.Dragonworean
invisibilitycloakofsorts,
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withfacetedsidesthat
scatteredenemyradarwaves
fromherdeceptivegrey
form.Everybittheagile
slipperywyrm,ordragon,
thisproudshipcouldexamine
air,sea,andspaceincrystal
screens,andwhencornered
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orwheninthemood,she
couldbreatheveryhotfire.
Likemostcastlesofold,just
onemanruledthisfloating
realm.
Dragon’sbridgeserved
asCaptainLawrenceFryatt’s
throneroom.Surroundedby
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loyalandobedientlieges,
Fryattexercisedwell-earned
authorityfromabarely
cushionedcoldmetalchair.
Thoughhisvoicewasoften
soft,sometimeseven
whispered,itthundered
nonetheless.Hisvoice
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broughtimmediate
compliance,drivingactions
thatwerefrequentlyamatter
oflifeordeath.
LikemostintheRoyal
Navy,Fryattwasasimple
man;hebelievedincountry,
duty,monarch,andnavy.He
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alsobelievedthattheType
45s,withtheirSeaViper
primaryanti-airmissile
system,stoodaloneasthe
world’spremiereanti-air
warfaresurfacevessels.The
Americanscouldkeeptheir
Aegiscruisers,Fryatt
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thought;theChinesecould
paradetheirType054A
frigatesalltheywanted;and,
theRussianscouldstufftheir
Project21956destroyers.
FryattwasproudofDragon,
proudofthosehe
commanded,andhe
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possessedanunwavering
commitmenttodefenseofthe
realm.CaptainFryatt
adjustedhiscollarandshifted
inhischair.
It’stoohot,Fryatt
thought.Eversincefighting
theblazeboardSheffield,ever
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sinceseeingtheburnedmen,
Fryatthadhatedexcessive
heat.Eventhoughtheship’s
environmentalsystemwas
doingitsjobofkeepingthe
bridgeanditscompanysnug,
thewarm,drybreezemade
Fryattfidgety.Hestood,
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drawingaconcernedlook
fromtheofficer-of-the-watch,
amanwhotriedtoanticipate
hiscaptain’severyneed.
Fryattmadehiswaytoan
exteriorhatch.Heswung
opentheheavyportal,and
utteredasinglewordto
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whomevercouldhear:“Tea.”
Hesteppedouttothebridge
wing.
Fryattclangedthehatch
shut.Althoughthesteeldoor
couldwardoffbiological
agents,chemicals,and
radiation,heusedittokeep
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hiscompanyatbay—tosteal
amomentinaplacethat
otherwisedidnotallowmuch
privacy.Whileheaccepted
thestrongsteamingmugof
lemon-tingedEarlGreythat
arrivedwithinmoments,
Fryattwouldtoleratenoother
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disturbances.Hewenttothe
railandleaneduponit.It
proppeduphistiredbody.
Therailalsotransmittedthe
ship’sharmonictoFryatt’s
bones.
Dragon’sbowgently
roseandfellassheplowed
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throughthesea,kickingupa
spraythatturnedfrostyand
sparkledinthestarlight.
Fryattdrewasharp,frigid
breaththatstunghislungs.
Heexhaleditasacloud,
watcheditgetcaughtinthe
breeze,andrecalledhis
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grandfather.
Fryatt’sgrandfatherhad
sailedtheMurmanskRun
duringtheSecondWorld
War,therunthatbrought
suppliestoachokedSoviet
Union.Themanhadsailed
anoldsteammerchantover
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theseverywaters,hadskirted
U-boatsandthefeared
convoyraiderTirpitz,aswell
asicebergsthatcalvedfrom
thejaggedshoresof
Greenlandandbecamecaught
upintheEasternIcelandic
current.Fryattsippedhistea
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andponderedthethrobbing
starsblanketingthedark
night.
Fryatthadgrownupin
thewest-endofLondon,a
placewherethenightskyhad
forcenturiesbeenpolluted
withartificiallight,lightthat
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subduedtheglowingribbon
oftheMilkyWay,dullingits
wonder.Tonight,however,
farfromtheinfluenceof
man’scityscapes,Earthand
skywerebeheldastheywere
meanttobe:avisionthat
beggedquestionsandforced
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fundamentalthingstobe
asked,privatethoughtslike:
‘WhoamI?’and‘WhyamI
here?’Despitesuch
existentialconsiderations,
Fryattknewwhyhe,his
comrades,andHisMajesty’s
warshipwerehere,atthetop
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oftheworld.
Russiahadreawakened;
thebearrousedbyaleader
longingforempire.This
leaderhadturnedbacktime
andprogress,backtowhen
eastandweststoodeye-to-
eyeandtoe-to-toe.Flush
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withoilycash,theRussian
hadclaimedmostofthe
Arctic,and,insupportof
theseaspirations,theRussian
Federationhadbuiltnew
attacksubsandmissileboats.
Thesemachinesandtheir
menstretchedtheirlegsand
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madetheGreenland-Iceland-
UKGapcomealiveagain.
Furthermore,resurrected
strategicbombers—Backfires
andBears—onceagainflew
outoftheKolaPeninsulato
buzztheFinns,Swedesand
Norwegians,andplay
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chickenwiththeUnited
Kingdom’snorthernair
defenseidentificationzone.
WhiletheRoyalAir
Forcegaveitsownunique
brandofhelltosuch
unwelcomevisitors,Dragon
andhersistersalsoreminded
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theRussianbombersthat,like
duringtheColdWar,they
werenotwantedinthispart
oftheneighborhood.
Intelligence,aswellasover-
the-horizonradarstationsin
Scotland,toldtheRoyalNavy
whatwasheadedtheirway.
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ThiswashowFryattknewhe
couldexpectairborne
companytonight,infact
withinthehour.Inthe
meantime,however,hewas
contenttocherishthestar-lit
Arcticnight.
Fryattraisedhis
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dominanthandtothesky.It
wastheleftone.Hewaved
thesquareofhispalmabout,
half-expectingthe
protuberancesofhisfingers
todisplacethestars,topush
themalongintostreaksof
lights,towashthemaround
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likeglitterthatfloatedin
blackink.Despitethegrinon
hisfaceandthismomentof
suspendedreality,Fryatt
failedtoinfluencethecanvas
ofnight,andintheend,
remainedasinconsequential
ashehadexpectedtobe.
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However,whenasailorburst
throughthebridgehatchand
announcedthattheship’s
ActionInformationCenter
hadanairborneradarcontact,
Fryattknewthat,atthevery
least,hecouldaffect
terrestrialevents.Hecould
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influencethebehaviorofhis
fellowhumans.Hetookone
lastdrawofthesharpair.It
remindedhimhewasalive,
and,itremindedhimhe
wantedtostaythatway.
“Captainonthe
bridge,”wasannouncedas
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Fryattre-enteredthewarm
enclosure.Fryattalways
lovedthesoundofthosefour
words.Justaladfrom
Hounslow,hestillfeltarush
ashighly-qualifieduniformed
peopleacknowledgedhis
presence,straightenedtheir
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stance,andraisedtheirchins.
Histhoughtsturnedtothatof
hischarge—hisship.
Thevibrationof
Dragon’sbridgedeckspoke
tohim.Itsaidthattheship
wasslicingthroughthewater
atsome25knots.Deepin
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thehull,Dragon’stwingas
turbinesanddieselgenerators
thumpedaway.Fryattfelt
themprovidepowertothe
electricmotors,whichinturn
sent27,000horsepowertothe
shafts.Twopropellers
translatedthispowertothe
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water,cuttingit,grabbingit,
andpushingitaway.Going
tohischair,Fryattranhis
handsoverthebridgecontrol
panel.Hedraggedeach
fingeracrossthehardknobs
andsoftrubber-covered
buttons.Ashipislikea
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familiarlover,hepondered.
Ashertremblewasfelt,one
adjustedtouchtoachieve
harmoniousvibration,totake
herintherightdirection,to
bringherwhereshewanted,
whereshelonged,togo.
Fryattsatdowninhischair.
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It,too,vibrated.Hesmiledas
Dragonhummedhappily
along.
Lieutenant-Commander
NigelWilliams—Dragon’s
second-in-commandandone
of190soulsaboard—peered
ataterminal.Bathedinits
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greenglow,Williams’eyes
squinted,hisjawset.Then
heturnedtothecaptain.
“Sir,theshipisat‘air
warningyellow,’”tellingthe
captainthathismenand
womenwerereadyfor
trouble.
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“Lovelynight,”the
captainresponded,
acknowledgingthe
informationwhile
maintaininghisfaçadeof
unflappability.
“Itis.”
Abellrang.Williams
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spunaroundagaintocheck
anotherscreen.
“Flash.OpRoom
reportsairbornecontacts,”
Williamsannounced.
“Right,”thecaptain
saidwithaglancetothe
clock.“OurRussianfriends
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arerightontime.Bringthe
shipto‘airwarningred.’
Maintainspeedandcourse.”
Williamsacknowledged
andbroughttheshiptoaction
stations.
Dragon’sdimlylitOp
Roomwascold.Despitethe
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heaters,theicyNorwegian
Seareachedthroughthehull
andchilledthebonesofthe
sailorsmanningrowsof
computerterminalsandradar
screens.Oneofthesesailors
energizedtheSAMPSON3-
Dmultifunctionphased-array
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radarperchedhighatop
Dragon’sforwardmast.It
firedbeamsthroughthe
atmosphereandfoundtwo
low-altitudetargets,
populatingtheOpRoom’s
screenswithblipsand
numbers.
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“Flag,AWO,probable
targets.Twotracksinbound
attwo-seven-fivedegrees.
Altitude:3,000feet.Speed:
Machzero-point-nine.”The
numbersbesidetheradar
blipschanged.“Trackshave
accelerated.NowatMach
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one-point-one.They’vegone
supersonic.Flightprofile
suggestsRussianBackfire
bombers.”
TheTu-22MBackfire
wasaswing-wing,long-range
strategicandmaritimestrike
bomber.Itstwogiant
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KuznetsovNK-25turbofans
pushedthebigbomberto
Mach1.88.Whennoton
nuclearpatrol,Backfires
usuallyleftbasewithaload
oflong-rangeanti-ship
missiles;likelytheolder,
thougheffective,AS-4
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Kitchens;orworsefor
Dragon,newerSS-N-22
Sunburns.
“Radarwarning,”a
sailoryelledout.The
Backfireshadenergizedtheir
DownBeatmissiletargeting
radarandpaintedDragon
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withenergy.Though
Dragon’sslopedsides,
facetedmastandradar-
absorbentmaterialinhibited
theBackfire’sabilitytolock
on,theclosertheairplanes
got,thehighertheirchanceof
asuccessfulmissilelaunch.
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TheRussianbombersdrove
inhardandfast.
“Jamtheirsignal,”
CaptainFryattordered.
ThoughheknewtheRussians
wereunlikelytofire,he
wouldplaythegamebythe
rulesanywayandtrytosend
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themhomewithbruised
egos.Fromthetopof
Dragon’smainmast,the
integratedinterceptand
jammersuite’santennabegan
totransmitatthesame
wavelengthastheBackfires’
radar.Ifallwentas
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advertised,anelectronicfog
hadspreadacrossthe
Backfire’scockpitscreen,
temporarilyconcealing
Dragon’smovements.Fryatt
orderedahardturntoport.
Theship’scompanybraced
againsttheleanofthedeck.
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“Shootthemdown,”Fryatt
toldWilliamswithacheeky
grin.
Williamssmiledback.
Astheyhaddiscussed
previously,Dragonwould
usetheintruderstoconduct
anexercise.Williamspicked
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uptheVUU—theship’s
VoiceUserUnit—andtold
theAICtorunanAster
missiledrill.Theship’s
phased-arrayradarfireda
targetingbeamintotheface
ofthetwoBackfires.A
Klaxonsoundedaboard
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Dragon.Itwarnedtheship’s
companytostayawayfrom
theSylverA-50vertical
launchsystem,anarrayof48
missilecellssunkintothe
ship’sforwarddeck.Inside
eachcellhidadart-shaped
Astersurface-to-airmissile.
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TheAsterseriescould
engageandtakedown
aircraft,cruisemissilesand
ballisticmissiles.Rightnow,
theRussian’scockpitwarning
panelsmustbelituplikea
Christmastree,Fryatt
thought.Theyknowthatthe
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tableshavebeenturned,that
theyhadbeendetected,were
beingtargeted,andshouldI
sodesire,supersonicmissiles
wouldsoonbeonthewayto
ripintotheirfuselageand
wings.Fryattstood,wentto
thewindscreen,andpeered
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outatDragon’sforward
deck.
Hadthecaptain
authorizedreleaseof
weapons,twoAsterswould
haveblastedopentheir
frangiblecellcovers,erupted
fromthedeckinafountainof
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fire,andracedofftomeetthe
Backfires.OpRoom
announcedtheradarcontacts
hadclimbed,slowed,and
turnedaround.
“Well,thatwasfun,”
Fryattsaidtothebridge
crew.Theyallchuckledand
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nodded.“Bringusbackto
patrolcourseandreduce
speedto18knots.Stand
downfromairwarningred
andreverttoyellow.”
Severalminuteslater
CaptainFryattwasinhis
cabinreadingandeatinga
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sandwich.Heheardaknock
atthedoor.
“Come,”Fryattsaid.
Thewood-paneleddoorslid
open.ItwasLieutenant-
CommanderWilliams,
carryingaprint-out.He
askedforgivenessforthe
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disturbance,handedhis
Captainthepaper,and
retreatedagaintothe
passageway.Fryattrubbed
hiseyes,unfoldedthe
decryptedmessage,and
begantoread:
PROTECTIVELYMARKED
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INFORMATION
ENCRYPTIONKEY:
ATD3GW
FR:NAVYCOMMAND
HEADQUARTERS
TO:HMSDRAGON
REPUBLICOF
ARGENTINA(ROA)HAS
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INVADED/HOLDSSOUTH
ATLANTICOVERSEAS
TERRITORYOF
FALKLANDISLANDS.
STATEOFWAREXISTS
WITHROA.
ORDERS:
RENDEVOUSWITHHMS
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IRONDUKEAT8S14W
PROCEEDINUNISONAT
BESTSPEEDTO51S54W
ANDRENDEVOUSWITH
HMSAMBUSH
RULESOFENGAGEMENT
ULTRA—ENGAGEAND
DESTROYALLENEMY
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CONTACTS.PROVIDE
THEATRE–WIDEANTI-
AIRWARFARE
UMBRELLAFOR
FRIENDLYFORCES
ENDTRANSMISSION
Fryattremembered
havingreadthattheCrown
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Princehadbeenheadedtothe
Falklandsforatour.He
thoughtofhisoldship,
Sheffield,andremembered
theagonizedgroansofthe
badlyburnedmanthathad
lainbesidehiminHermes’
sickward.Hethoughtabout
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theAM39Exocet.
Duringthe1982
FalklandsWar,otherthan
sinkingSheffield,Exocethad
damagedthemerchantship
AtlanticConveyor,andsetthe
destroyerGlamorganablaze.
FryattknewthatArgentina
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nowhadover200Exocetsin
inventory,includingthelatest
MM40Block3version.
WhileheknewthatDragon
wasfarbetterequippedto
handlethismenacethan
Sheffieldhadbeen,healso
knewthattheseweapons
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wouldbetheirgreatest
nightmare.Whathadnot
crossedhismind,however,
wasthefactofArgentina’s
newsubmarines.
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2:ABISMO
“Theysaytheseais
cold,buttheseacontainsthe
hottestbloodofall…”—D.H.
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Lawrence
Therewerestrange
snaps,clicks,andhaunting
songs.Thetrioofsoundwas
layeredoverabasssectionof
low-frequencygroans.This
orchestraoflifebelongedto
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theAtlanticOcean,and,from
themurkbeneaththewaves,
anothersoundgrewlouder,
rhythmicandunnatural.A
shadowapproached.Itwas
blackerthantheblackness.
Argentinesubmarine
ARASanLuisIIwasa
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Project877EKMPaltus
diesel-electricattack
submarine,betterknownby
theNATOdesignationof
Kilo.PaltusmeantHalibut,
and,likethelargebottom-
dwellingflatfish,SanLuisII
couldblendin,conceal
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herself,andlayinwaitto
snapupunwaryprey.Built
inNizhniyNovgorod,Russia,
likemostthingsmadethere,
thesubmarinehadbeensold
likeadruginadarkalley.
Coldcashhadsealedthe
deal.Yes,tosomeon
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Argentina’sCabinetof
Ministers,asubmarinewas
justasteelholeinthewater
thatdidnotfeedpeople,plow
fields,sowseeds,norprovide
sheltertothepoor.Butto
others,SanLuisII
representedameanstoan
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end,andexisted,therefore,as
abeautifulthing.
SanLuisII—called,
simply,NumeroDos
(NumberTwo)byhercrew—
featuredahemisphericbow
thathousedsonarandsixbig
weapontubesformines,
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missiles,andtorpedoes.She
borediveplanesjustforward
ofalargesailemblazoned
withthebigwhitepennant
number‘S-44.’Antennae,
twoperiscopesandasnorkel
throughwhichthediesels
breathed,juttedfromthe
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sail’stop.Thesubmarine’s
fatandstubby,stretched
teardrop-shaped,hullended
withalowerstabilizer
fin/rudderandasinglebig
six-bladedpropeller.Astoa
blindman,soundwasSan
LuisII’seyes.
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Shetowedbehindhera
microphone-coveredwire
and,mountedhull-side,was
theRubikonpassivesonar
array.These‘eyes’collected
soundsfromthewater,and
allowedSanLuisIItoseein
thedark.Herspeed
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increased,andthenshereeled
inhertowedarray.Within
thepressurehull,beyondthe
reachofthegreatcrushof
ocean,iswhereSanLuisII’s
humanoperatorsexisted.
Theydweltinatangled
thicketofpipesandvalves
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thatlinedaclaustrophobes’
nightmareofartificialcaves,
grottoes,hatches,andtubular
tunnels.Thesonarstation
occupiedasmallspacejust
offthemainControlRoom.
Thisiswheresounds
werefilteredandanalyzedby
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computersandtheir
sophisticatedsoftware.The
computersthenpresentedthe
soundstotechnicians.A
glowingscreen,oneofmany,
displayedgraphicalbarsthat
cascadedlikeawaterfall.
Eachbarrepresentedbearing,
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frequency,andtherangeof
sonarcontacts.Thesonar
technicianpointedtoone
suchbarandaskedwhathe
waslisteningto:“¿Quees
eso?”
“Whalesscrewing,”the
seniorsonartechnician
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answered.Theaccent
revealedayouthspentinthe
mountainousnorth-western
Argentinianprovinceof
Catamarca.
“Andthatbackground
noise?”thesubordinate
added.
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“That,myfriend,is
fromtectonicplates;theMid-
AtlanticRidge.Thecrackle
youhear,justlikeyour
breakfastcereal?”
“Yes.”
“Thatislavaflash-
coolinginseawater.”
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Thetechnodded
understanding,buthis
slackenedjawrevealed
lingeringconfusioncoupled
withfascination.
Theseniorsonar
technicianpressedhis
headphonestightertohisears
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andstated:“Wearenever
goingtohearanythingatthis
speed.”SanLuisII’sdiesel
generatorscontinued
throbbingaway,maskingthe
subtlesoundsthatcould
representanothersubmarine.
SanLuisIIwasona
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north-easterlyspeedcourse,
herdepthnowtenmeters
beneaththesurfaceofthe
ocean,thatundulating
membranebetweenairand
water.Thesub’sdiesels
breathedthroughasnorkel
thatrippedthewaterlikea
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shark’sfin,suckingvital
oxygenthatallEarth-bound
creaturesneed,eventhose
madeofmetal.Theinvasion
oftheFalklands—Operación
Maza—wasunderway,and
SanLuisIIwoulddoher
part.Shearrivedonstation
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just40minutesbehind
schedule.
CaptainJaimeMatias,
SanLuisII’scommander,sat
atthesmallfold-downdesk
shoehornedintoacornerof
hisquarters.Unliketherest
oftheboat’slime-green
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paintedmetalwalls,thistiny
roomwaswood-paneledand
offeredaprivatebed.San
LuisII’sothercrewmenhad
tosharebunks,withoneman
wakingtogoonduty,andthe
otherjumpinginashecame
offit.CaptainMatias’bed
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wasnotquiteaslongashe
wastall,itsmattresswas
cracker-thin,anditwas
tuckedagainsttheslopeof
thehull.Althoughitfeltlike
crawlingintoacoffin,itwas
neverthelesscoolandclean.
Evenbetter,itwasallhis.
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Matiaslookedtothe
threesmall,framedportraits
hangingonthecabinwall.
Theyhadbeenaffixedthere
intheyard,forcingthe
commandertobearthe
unblinkinggazesofPresident
Alonso,AdmiralCorrea,and
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MinisterofDefenseGomez.
Matiassighed,stood,and
hungatoweloverthe
portraits.Hesatagainand
pulledacozyoffasmallpot
thathadbeendeliveredbythe
cookandpouredhimselfa
mugofyerbamaté—abitter,
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earthygreentea.Thenhe
pickedupthesmallpictureof
hiswifeandsonfromhis
desk.
Matiassippedthetea
andlookedcloselyathis
boy.He,too,worethe
uniformoftheArgentine
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Navy,andhadhelived,he
wouldbeanofficerbynow.
Therewasaknockatthe
door.
“Come.”
ItwasFirstLieutenant
SantiagoLedesma,SanLuis
II’sexecutiveofficer.
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“Pardonthe
interruption,sir,”Ledesma
saidashepeekedin.
“Enter,Santiago,”the
captaininvited.“Sit.”
Ledesmasqueezedin,saton
thebed,andacceptedamug
whichMatiasfilledwithtea.
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“Thankyou,sir.”
Ledesmablewatthe
steamingbrewandtooka
sip.“Sir,weareat13south
17west,theedgeofour
patrolsector.”
“Verywell,”Matias
said.SanLuisII’sendurance
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hadbeenpushedasshe
steamedsome3,000miles
frombaseatMardelPlata,
andnowitwastimefor
Matiastotaketheconn.With
limitedfreshwateraboard
andtheextendeddurationof
SanLuisII’smission,the
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boat’sshowerhadbeen
padlockedshut,andthe
combinedodorofsweatand
dieseloilrecirculatedthrough
theventilators.Feelingripe,
Matiaschangedhis
disposableshirtandsplashed
wateronhisfacefromthe
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soupbowl-sizedcabinbasin.
Hepulledthetoweldownto
dryhimself,andthen
replaceditoverthefacesof
hisleaders.Ledesma
chuckled.
“Thatisalltheyare
goodfor,Santiago:Atowel
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hook,”Matiasdeclared,and
studiedhisexecutive’sface.
“Doesthisbotheryou?”
“Thisisyourcabin.
Andwearefriends.”
“Thenyoucantellme
howyoureallyfeel.”
“Verywell.Sometimes
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Iamafraidofyou.
SometimesIdonot
understandyou.And
sometimes,Iamunsureifwe
reallyarefriends.”
“Oh,isthatall?”Matias
chuckled,butheappreciated
theeasyforthrightnessof
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Ledesma.Thiswasoneof
thereasonshehad
recommendedthemanas
second-in-command.
Ledesmasippedathisteaand
peeredatthecaptainthrough
thewispsofsteamrising
fromthemug.
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“Wearefriends,
Santiago.And,becauseof
this,Iwilltellyousomething:
Thiswarisamistake.”
ThoughLedesma
harboredsuchforbidden
thoughtsaswell,hewasnot
preparedtodiscussthem,so
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hechangedthesubject.
“Thatisyourson?”he
asked.
“Once,Iwenttosea
withafreshheart.Thatwas
longago,”Matiasadded,
studyingLedesma.Then
Matiastookthenewpathof
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conversationLedesmahad
initiated:“Yes,thatismy
son.Itaughthimtobea
goodwarrior:country,duty,
asknoquestions.Nowhe’s
atthebottomofthesea.”
Ledesmahadheardthe
story.WhenArgentinahad
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hastilyannouncedanuclear
submarineprogramand
cobbledtogetheraprototype
basedonaGermanTR-1700
hull,youngsubmarinershad
paidtheprice.Theprogram
wasabandonedwhenthe
contaminatedboatandthe
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radiation-burnedbodies
trappedwithinhadbeen
committedtothedeep.
“Youngandwith
faith...Thatisthewayfora
warriortodie,Santiago.I
havelivedtoolong.”Matias
couldseehehadsaidtoo
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much.“Don’tworry,my
friend.Iamtoowelltrained
forsuchthoughtstointerfere
withmydutytoyou,our
crew,andthiswonderful
boat.”Matiastouchedacold
steelpipeoverhishead.”
Ledesmanodded,
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forcedasmile,andstood.
“Thankyouforthetea,”he
said.“Ishallreturntomy
postnow.”
“Iamrightbehind
you,”Matiassaidwitha
smile.HewatchedLedesma
leavetheconfinesofthe
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cabin,andasthedoorshut,
hisforcedsmilequickly
faded.
◊◊◊◊
CaptainMatiasducked
intothesubmarine’scramped
ControlRoom.Liketherest
ofthesub,theControlRoom
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wasatangleofanalogdials,
computers,electricalpanels,
levers,pipes,valves,andwire
conduitcoveredbytoomany
layersofpaint.Redlight
illuminatedtheroom,because
exceptforclocks,interior
lightingwastheonly
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indicationofthetimeofday.
Redlightingmeantitwas
nighttimetopside.Despite
thedimness,Matiasknewthe
locationofeveryhead-
knockinglowpipeand
maneuveredaccordingly.He
passeddivecontrolwithits
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bankofvalvesandglowing
controlpanels.
“Goodevening,men,”
Matiassaidtotheshadows
hunchedallalongthe
compartment’swall.He
quicklysurveyedvarious
analoganddigitalinstruments
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arrayedaroundtheControl
Room.“Batteries?”
“Areat100percent,
sir,”Ledesmareported.They
hadbeenondieselpowerfor
sometime,chargingthe
submarine’stwobanksof
120-celllead-acidbatteries.
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“Excellent,”Matias
said.“Shutdownthe
generators,stowthesnorkel,
andengagetheelectric
motor.”
“Si,señor,”Ledesma
responded,andthen
repeatedtheordertothe
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chief-of-the-boat.The
slightlyoverweightchief
madeitallhappen.The
racketthathadfilled
theirearsfordayswent
quiet,replacedbythe
soundofwaterinpipes,
theoccasionalcoughor
sniffle,themanipulation
ofswitches,andthe
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gentlehumofelectric
propulsion.AsMatias
watchedhiscrewatwork,
hehopedanaircraft,
satellite,orsurface
vesselhadnotspotted
thewakeofSanLuisII’s
snorkel.Herationalized
thattheroughsea-state
topsidehadlikely
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obscuredthesnorkel’s
telltalesignature.He
foundcomfortinthefact
that,onbatteriesagain,
SanLuisIIwasnearly
silentandinvisible.
“Makeyourdepth125
meters,”Matiasannounced.
Ledesma,andthenthechief-
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of-the-boat,repeatedthe
order.Valveswereopened,
panelindicatorschanged
colors,andtherewasthe
soundofrushingwater.The
ControlRoomdeckpitched
forwardasthesubmarine
anglednosedown,piercing
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thedeep,darkdepths.
Thehullgroanedand
poppedasitshigh-tensile
steeladjustedtoincreased
pressure.Thegreener
submarinerslookedabout
nervouslyasthishappened,
whileMatiasandtheControl
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Room’sotherexperienced
crewpaidthesoundsno
mind.Adrawnoutcreak
madeonemanwriggle.
MatiassmiledatLedesma
whoturnedawaytochecka
display.Aloudbang
announcedthehull’s
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adjustmenttothesqueezeof
theAtlantic.
“Youknow...”Matias
saidtoLedesma,thoughhe
wasreallyaddressingall
thosepresent.“Theseboats
arebetterthantheoldS-boats
weusedtoridetosea.”
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Matiasspokeofthedated
Type209’s,thediesel
submarinesonwhichhehad
cuthisteeth.“Thoseboats,
likethefirstSanLuis,madea
racketlikethewholeocean
wasrushingin.Theseare
better.”Thoughheknew
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Russianwelderswereknown
tocutcorners,andthat
qualitycontrolonexported
hullswasscantatbest,he
suppressedhisownlingering
doubtsaboutthemachinethat
had,sofar,keptthemalive.
Matiasputonabraveface
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androckedonhisheels.
“Onehundredtwenty-
fivemeters,sir,”Ledesma
reported.
“Planestozero
degrees.Levelusoff.”
Inasmallalcoveoffthe
ControlRoom,aband
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appearedonamonitor’s
sonarwaterfall.
“Contact,”thesonar
technicianannounced.
“Distant.Onthesurface.It’s
closing.”
“Classify,”Matias
orderedinresponse.
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“Range:fourmiles.
Bearing:one-nine-zero
degrees.Speed:20knots.I
heartwopropellers.High
speedshafts.Nota
merchantman.Computeris
workingon--”Theclatterof
aprinterinterruptedasit
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begantospitoutareport.
Thesonarsupervisorripped
offthepaperitproducedand
readitaloud:
“Type23frigate.
UnitedKingdom.Duke-
class.”
“Good.Ourfirstcatch
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oftheday,”Matiassaidwith
agreedysmile.Reassuredby
hiscaptain’slustforthehunt,
Ledesmagrinnedback.Then
heopenedabinderandbegan
toread:
“Type23.Thirty-six
hundredtons.Atopspeedof
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28knots.ThalesType
2050NEbow-mountedsonar
operatinginthe4.5-7.5
kilohertzrange,andaDowty
Type2087verylow
frequencytowedarray.”
“Anti-submarine
armaments?”
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“Stingraytorpedoesand
aMerlinhelicopter.
Dependingonherhull
number,shecouldbe
carryingtheSSTDtorpedo
countermeasuressystem.”
Ledesmascannedtherestof
thebinder’spage.“Thetype
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isdecommissioning;being
replacedwithanewclass,the
GlobalCombatShip.”
Matiaslookedtothe
weaponsstatusboard.San
LuisIIhadwire-guided
torpedoesinthetwoouter
tubes,andwake-followers—
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53-65KEs—intheotherfour.
“Whatdoyouthink,
Santiago?”Matiasasked
Ledesmainanearwhisper.
“TheBritishwould
neverexpectustobethisfar
north.”
Matiasnodded
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agreement.WhenAdmiral
Correahadassembledhistop
navalofficerstoreviewplans,
itwasMatiaswhohadargued
againstdeployingArgentina’s
bestsubmarinesinthewaters
surroundingLasIslas
Malvinas.Instead,he
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pressed,theyshouldbeused
totakethefighttotheBritish,
andnotwaitforthemtocome
tothefight.Furthermore,he
argued,thehighly-capable
anddeeply-fearedBritish
nuclearsubmarineswould
likelydeploytoandroamthe
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warzone,makingitthelast
placewheretheArgentine
Navyshouldconcentratetheir
valuableboats.
“Thatfrigateisrunning
toofasttohavehertowed
arrayinthewater.Iwould
saysheissprintingsouth,and
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hercaptainisnotexpecting
anyinterferencejustyet,”
Ledesmaadded.Matias
smiled.
“Yes,Santiago.I
concur.Creepusabeamof
her.Andbringustobattle
stations.”
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3:DUKESUP
“Theartofwaris
simpleenough:Findout
wheretheenemyis;Getat
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himassoonasyoucan;
Strikeathimashardasyou
canandasoftenasyoucan,
andkeepmovingon.”—
UlyssesS.Grant
Thestormpushedthe
seaintotallwind-whipped
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peaks,cliffsofwaterthat
droppedoffsharplyintodeep
troughs.Thewaterwasdark,
adeeppurple,andraftsof
frothroseandfellwiththe
sloshingsurface.Atorrentof
rainpeltedHMSIronDukeas
herlong,thin,greyhullrose
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andslammedbackdown,her
sterncorkscrewingand
exposingherredunderbelly
andthetipsofhershiny
propellers.Asthewaterpiled
upandfoldedover,the
frigate’sbridgecrewstabbed
thewarship’sbowthrough
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thewaves’whitecrownsat
theproperangle,thereby
allowingmaintenanceofa
decentspeed.
“Fivedegrees
starboard,”theofficer-of-the-
watchyelledabovethe
screamingwindandsplashing
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water.IronDuketurnedto
therightabitmore,rose
steeply,rolledsome,andthen
slammedbackdownina
surgeofwaterandseaspray,
momentarilysubmergingthe
bridge.Thewindshield’s
clearviewscreens—small
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rounddiscsthatspunto
rapidlyshedwater—threw
thewaterawayastheship’s
bowcamebackupandthe
coldseawaterrushedawayin
amassofgreenfoam.The
bow,supplementedbythe
buoyancyofthebulbousstem
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thatcontainedthesonar,
climbedagainandscaledthe
nextoceanichill.Though
IronDuke’sArtisan3Dradar
sweptthearea,thescreensin
theOperationsRoomwereso
fullofclutterfromwave
creststhattheradaroperator
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couldnotdiscerntheblack
pipepeekingfromthedepths.
SanLuisII’speriscope
piercedthesurface.Itslens
surveyedtheareabeforeit
disappearedagain,swallowed
bytherhythmicriseandfall
ofwaves.Twentyfeetbelow
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thisprotuberance,theblack
shadowoftheArgentine
submarinehoveredsteadily
belowthesquall-battered
surface.Intheredglowof
SanLuisII’sControlRoom’s
nighttimelighting,Captain
Matiaslookedthroughthe
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periscope’smonocular
eyepiece.
Matiasspottedthe
greenglowofIronDuke’s
bankofbridgewindowsand
thepowerfulflashlightofa
deckhandscurryingalongthe
rail,checkingforstorm
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damage.Matiaswaitedfor
thenextwavetopass.
Bubblesclearedfromthe
periscopelensandheturned
andfixedtheapparatuson
theselights.Hecentered
theminthereticle,increased
magnification,andthenswept
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hisviewtowardtheship’s
prow.
“Iseethepennant
number:Foxtrottwo-three-
four,”Matiasread.
Ledesmaflippedpages
inhisbinder,repeated:
“F234,”andthendeclared:
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“IronDuke.Thatisthe
frigatethatdepartedLasIslas
Malvinasrightbefore
operationscommenced.They
musthaveturnedherright
around.”
Matiasleanedintothe
periscopeagainandsquinted
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intoitseyepiece.“Update:
targetnowattwo-six-three
degrees.Speed,11knots.
Bearing,one-seven-zero.
Readytubestwoandfive.
Warmuptheweapons.”
Ledesmapassedthe
ordertothechief-of-the-
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boat.Thechiefwenttothe
weaponstechnician,ordered
thefirecontrolsystemtobe
updated,andsentordersto
thetorpedoroom.
Intheboat’sforward-
mostcompartments,two
sweatingmenduckedunder
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racksfullofreloadtorpedoes.
Theyspunvalvesand
checkedindicators.One
submarinerthenclickeda
switchtotalktotheControl
Center.Heinformedthe
chiefthatpowerwasflowing
tothetwotelephonepole-
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sizedweaponsnestledinthe
tubes.Thechief,inturn,
informedtheexecutive
officer,whopassed
confirmationtothecaptain.
“Powerisflowingto
tubestwoandfive.Fire
controlupdatesarebeing
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transferred,”Ledesma
reported.
“Floodtubestwoand
five,”Matiasordered.
Inthetorpedoroom,a
leverwaslowered,andthe
respectivetubeswerepumped
fullofseawater,airwas
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vented,andpressure
equalizedwiththatoutside
thesubmarine.
“Openouterdoors.”
Twomuzzledoors
openedonSanLuisII’s
roundedbow.
Standingbehindthe
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ControlRoom’sweapon
station,Ledesmaconfirmed
thedoorswereopen.
Matiassighed,breaking
theanticipatorysilenceofthe
compartment.Thenhe
ordered:“Fire.”
Theweaponstechnician
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pushedabuttononhispanel.
Inthetorpedotubes,a
valveslidopenandthewater
ramoperated.Thisplugof
high-pressurewaterpushed
bothtorpedoesfromtheir
tubes.Powercablessevered,
andwithsafetiesnow
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disengaged,bothtorpedoes
activatedtheironboard
kerosene-oxygenturbines.
Batteriesthatpoweredthe
torpedoes’guidancesystems
andwarheadfusescameon.
BothofSanLuisII’s
weaponsbegantheirrun.
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Followingtheirprogrammed
course,theheavytorpedoes
turnedtowardIronDuke’s
stern.
Thetorpedoroom
techniciansimmediatelywent
aboutclosingthemuzzle
doorsanddrainingthetubes
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ofwater.Whenemptyand
equalizedwiththe
submarine’sinterior,the
breecheswerereopenedand
thereloadingprocedure
began.
“Takeusdownto500,
putusonaparallelcourse
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withthetarget,anddropback
4,000meters,”Matias
ordered.
Whenonelectric
motors,thesubmarinewas
incapableofkeepingpace
withIronDuke’scurrent
speed,andrunningthediesels
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wascertaintoexposeSan
LuisIItocounter-attack.
MatiastoldLedesmathat,
shouldthefirstvolleyof
torpedoesfailtohit,hewould
thenfireawire-guided
weaponanduseitshigh
speedtoclosewithandstrike
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theBritishfrigate.
“Verywell,sir,”
Ledesmasaidashelookedto
alightontheweapons
console.“Torpedoroom
reportstubestwoandfive
reloaded.”Matiaschecked
hiswatch.
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“Excellent,”Matias
said,impressed.Thecaptain
hadsweatedthecrewin
countlessdrills.Althoughhe
heardwhispersand
grumblingeachtime,hehad
remindedhissubmariners:
‘Bettertosweatinpeacetime
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thanbleedinwartime.’
Thousandsofyardsaway,
SanLuisII’storpedoesbegan
tosnakebackandforth
withintheveeofIronDuke’s
wake.
TheRoyalNavyfrigate
slowedandchangedcourseto
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takealargewave.Asshe
rodeupandoverthe
building-tallupsurge,her
sterncameup.Onetorpedo
losttrackofthefrigate’s
wakeandwentwide.
However,asthesternagain
displacedwater,thesecond
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weapondetecteditssteeland
turnedtowardit.Thetorpedo
struckthebottomofthe
rollingshipanddetonatedits
678-poundwarheadbeneath
IronDuke’smainengine
room.
Theshipshookfrom
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stemtosternasitwaslifted
bytheblastanddropped
againintothebubblejet
createdbytheexplosion.
Thekeelsnappedand
superhotgasespuncheda
holethroughthehull,
crackingandcurlingitssteel.
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Afireballrosethroughthe
ship,ventingthroughthe
ship’sstackandrippingthe
deckingsurroundingit.The
shockwavefromtheblastwas
amplifiedunderwater.
Amilebehindand500
feetbelowIronDuke,San
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LuisIIfelttherumble.A
cheerwentup,butitwas
quicklystifledbytheofficers
andthemoredisciplined.
Matiasclosedhiseyesfora
moment,knowingthataboard
IronDuke,sailorswere
confrontingahelloftwisted
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metal,smashedmachinery,
flame,andwater.
OnIronDuke’sbridge,
theshoutsofmenandthe
noiseofequipmentbeing
draggedfromrepairlockers
andhoserackscouldbeheard
innearbyareas.Temperature
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readingsfromthegas
turbinesshotup.
“Fireinthemain
engineroom,”someone
shouted.
TheHalonflame-
suppressionsystemwas
startedjustastheship’s
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electricalpowerbeganto
brownout.Generatorsbegan
toshutdownfromdamage,
andthesoleremainingone
couldnothandlethedemand.
Itwouldsoonshutdownas
well.IronDuke’scaptain
believedhehadstrucka
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mine.Certainthe
Argentinianswereincapable
ofoperatingthisfarnorth,he
disagreedwithanofficer’s
contentionthattheyhadbeen
stalkedandattackedbya
submarine.Despitethis
contraryconclusion,the
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captainorderedthattheactive
sonarbepoweredup.
“Negativeavailability,
sir,”hissecond-in-command
informedhim.Therewasno
powerforasonarpulse,let
aloneweapons.
IronDukestoppedand
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bobbed.Thewarshiprolled
inthestormandshudderedas
shetookwaveafterwaveto
herbroadside.Thedamaged
shipletoutanunearthly
metallicgroan.Thesailors
didalltheycouldtosaveher.
Amachinistmanaged
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torestarttheundamaged
generatorandselectivelygot
powerflowingtothefire-
fightingpumpsandinterior
lighting.Sailorspounded
woodenwedgesinto
bulkheadleakswithmallets.
Clothing,mattresses,and
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pillowswerealsobrought
intoplaytoslowdownthe
leaks.Portableeductor
pumpsbegantosuckwater
fromthenow-floodedmain
engineandauxiliarymachine
rooms.Thepumps
dispatchedwateroverboard
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fromventsandhosessnaking
fromotherhullopenings.
Butdespitevaliantefforts,
IronDukebegantoridelower
andlower.Afterleaning
overboardtocheckthe
waterline,anofficerrandown
adarkenedpassageway.
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Hepassedaburnedand
bloodiedman,nakedsavefor
theblanketdrapedoverhis
shiveringshoulders.The
officerstoppedand,gasping,
pointedthewaytotriagethat
hadbeensetupinthemess.
Hethencontinuedontothe
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bridge,wherehewenttothe
officer-of-the-watchand
reported:“Sir,wearesinking
ourselves.”
Thereasonwas
firefightershadsprayedtons
ofwaterintotheship’sskin,
andthepumpswerebeing
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overwhelmedbythe
accumulatingwater.This
spurredacounter-intuitive
orderthatcrackledoverthe
ship’spublicannouncement
system:“Ceaseall
firefightingefforts.”The
captainorderedadamage
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report.
Insideandout,sailors
wentaboutinspections.On
theupperdeck,therain,even
thoughlighternow,sizzled
onhotmetal.Firesflashed,
sparkedbythehot
superstructure,anddeck
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cracksopenedeverywhere.
Smokebillowedfromthe
strickenship.Noneofthe
sailorscrawlingoverIron
Duke’spitchinghulksawthe
enemyperiscopepeeking
frombetweenwaves.
EveryoneinSanLuis
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II’sControlRoomstaredat
CaptainMatias,silently
willinghimtogivetheorder
tolaunchanothertorpedo—to
deliverthecoupdegrâceon
theBritishvessel.He
scannedtheirfaces.
“¿Señor?”Ledesma
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proddedhiscaptain.
“Takeusdownto95
meters;coursezero-four-
zero.Maketurnsforfive
knots,”Matiasordered.
Severalsubmariners
turnedbacktotheirpanels,
hidingtheirdisgust.Ledesma
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didnotrespondatfirstand
simplystaredathiscaptain.
Matiashadreasonedthatthe
Britishfrigatewascombat-
ineffectiveandherefusedto
slaughtermenfornoreason.
AflameflickeredinMatias’
eyes.Thenheseemedto
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growtallerandhisgaze
becamestern.Ledesmasaw
this.Finally,he
acknowledgedandrepeated
theorder.
Thesubmarine’sbow
planestilteddownwards.San
LuisIIdivedandleanedinto
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herturn.TheBritish
survivorshadbeengranteda
chancetoreturnhometotheir
families.
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4:SHIPWRECK
“Pretendinferiorityand
encouragehisarrogance.”—
SunTzu
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Ominousblack
thundercapsblanketedthe
horizon,awallofflashing,
billowingmoisturemarking
theedgeofthemassive
storm.Theweatherradar
displayonHMSDragon’s
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bridgeshowedaswirling
massofgreens,yellowsand
reds,withpatchesofblue
indicatinghailstones.
Lightningcrackled,fizzled,
andrippedacrosstheflashing
sky.Rainpatteredtheship’s
windows,andthunder
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arrived,arollingboomthat
trembledtheship.Though
gustsstillhowledoutsideand
thesleekgreyhullroseand
fellwiththechurningsea,the
tempestmovedoff.Dragon
followedacoursetoskirtthe
fury’speripheryanddeliver
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thewarshiptoherrendezvous
withIronDuke.
“Holdontosomething,”
LieutenantCommander
Williamsshouted.Hisvoice
betrayedthefunofitall.The
bridgecrewleanedonwalls
andclutchedfixturesasthe
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shiprodeupasurge,tipped
downagainanddoveintoa
deeptrough.Theship’sprow
duginandheeledbefore
poppinguptopointskyward
again.Someonelaughedwith
glee.
“Dragon…”Fryatt
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whisperedhername.Hewas
aproudman.
Dragon,too,was
happy.Shewasinher
elementanddoingthatfor
whichshewasbuilt.The
sharptriangleofherbow
burieditselfagaininthe
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greenwashofcoldAtlantic
water.Theship’sbones
vibrated.Thenthebowcame
upagain,aclawed,snarling,
winged,whip-tailedred
wyrmpainteduponhergrey
skin.Anallusionto
figureheads-of-old,theship’s
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sigilchargedthroughthe
sea’sicygreenfoaming
fingers,wardedoffevilspirits
andseacreatures,and
trembledenemiesbyits
ferocity.Whitespraywashed
overthewyrmandhissed.
Heavywithfuelprovisions
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fromherstopoverat
AscensionIsland,Dragon
steamedsouthbywesttoward
herrendezvouspoint.
Therevolvingspiked
ballatoptheship’sfaceted
maintowerscannedthe
airspaceforhostiles.Aftof
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thisarrayandtheship’s
stack,justforwardofthe
large,flatearlywarning
radar,thecommunication
mastreceivedaflash
transmissionfromNavy
CommandHeadquarters.
◊◊◊◊
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“Whatamess,”Fryatt
saidtoWilliamsasheread
thereport.IronDukehad
beenseverelydamagedby
whatwasreportedasan
accidentaldetonationofher
magazine.Whilesheawaited
tugstotowherbackto
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Ascension,Dragonwas
taskedtoprovidethestricken
frigatecoverbefore
continuingontothewarzone.
“Detonation?”Williams
asked.
“Thestorm…A
missilemusthavebroken
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looseofitsrackandits
propellantignited.Youknow
howunstableammonium
perchlorateis.Itprobablyset
offachainreactioninthe
magazine,”Fryattposited.
“Wearetocontinueon
withoutafrigate?”Williams
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addedglumly.
“Argyllwilljoinusin
fivedays.Howlonguntilwe
gettoIronDuke’sposition?”
Williamscheckedtheir
owncoordinates,andsaid:
“Withinthehour.”
◊◊◊◊
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BythetimeDragon
cameuponIronDuke,the
sea-statewasdown,thewater
swellinggentlyintorounded
hills.IronDukerodelowby
thesternandwallowedinthe
gentleundulationlappingat
herfreeboard.Aslick
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surroundedher.Fumes
gatheredandburnedthe
throatsofthoseonDragon’s
deckswholeanedagainstthe
railstogawkandoffersalutes
toanyofthefrigate’shard-
workingcrewthatstolea
gazeatthepassingdestroyer.
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Onthebridge,CaptainFryatt
raisedhisbinoculars.
HescannedIronDuke’s
hull.Hesawsomecharring,
andthepumpsbusysending
wateroverboardthrough
multipleopenings.Fryatt
lookedtoIronDuke’smast.
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Thecolorsflewathalf
height.Hismagnifiedview
blurredasitshiftedtoward
thefrigate’sflightdeckwhere
anhonorguardwentaboutits
solemnduty.
Headswerebowedasa
prayerwasrecited.The
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headsthenraisedandsalutes
werethrown.Abodyslid
fromaflag-drapedboardinto
thesea.Theflagwasclosed
upandencased,andtheguard
brokeupandreturnedto
dutiestokeeptheshipafloat,
andtoprepareherforatow.
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Accidentaldetonation.
Thesewordsstuckuneasilyin
Fryatt’smind,andthelittle
hairsatthebackofhisneck
stoodonend.Hesurveyed
thevastopenocean.
“Power-upthesonar,”
heordered.“Andgetthe
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Merlinup.Coldpattern.”
Dragon’sMFS-7000
sonararraybroadcasta
powerfulactivepulse.Steam
bubblesformedaroundthe
bow’sbulbousprotuberance,
andadeafeningWHOMP
emerged.Themedium
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frequencywavespropagated
throughthewaterforseveral
miles.
InDragon’sOpRoom
amidshipmanstudiedhis
sonarscreens.Heawaited
thereturnofreflectedsound
waves,awaitedthe
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computer’sanalysis,and
lookedforablipthatwould
allowhimtoyellout:
‘Contact.’Hewascertain
that,ifanythingwas
submergedwithinfivemiles,
hewouldfindit.Heclicked
awayathiskeyboardand
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scrutinizedtheresults.
Nothing,hethought,
disappointed.
“Thermoclineat400
feetdeep,”Dragon’s
sonarmanunenthusiastically
toldtheOperationsDirector.
Thismeantthatwarmerwater
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satatopthecolderdepths,
andthuscreatedaninversion
layerwherethetwovarying
watermassesconverged.
Thislayerwasimpermeable
tosoundwaves,andacted
likeafalsebottomthat
bouncedDragon’ssonarright
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backather,providing
protectiontoanythingthat
lurkedbeneathit.
“Otherwise,sir,thescopeis
clear,”thesonarmanadded.
“Helo’slaunching,”the
directorresponded.The
ship’shelicopterwoulduse
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itsdippingsonarand
sonobuoystopenetratethis
layerandexpandDragon’s
viewofthesubsurfaceworld.
◊◊◊◊
SanLuisIIsteamed
along,doingfourknotsat500
feet,some100feetbeneath
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thethermocline.The
Argentinesubmarinerskept
theirdistancefromwhere
theyhadprosecutedIron
Duke,andlistenedasanew
targetenteredthearea.After
twentyminutesofanalyzing
thescrewandpowerplant
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noisethatthepassivesonar
hadcollected,SanLuisII’s
sonartechniciansdetermined
theywerehearingaDaring-
classguided-missile
destroyer.Theydesignated
thesurfacecontactas‘Delta
1.’
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“Report,”Captain
Matiasordered.
“Weheardamedium-
frequencyactivesonar.Its
transmitterwasabouteight
milesoffatone-nine-seven.”
Thesonarman’sface
shriveledashelistened
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close.“Señor,Delta1is
slowing.”
Matiaslookedto
Ledesma.
“IfIwastheircaptain,”
Ledesmaoffered,“Iwouldbe
launchingmyhelicopter.”
“Yes,Santiago,”Matias
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confirmed,proudofhis
protégé.
“Sir,theD-classhasthe
Merlin,”Ledesmaaddedwith
aworriedlook.
Bothmenhadahealthy
respectforthisparticulartype
ofanti-submarinewarfare
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helicopter.
“Takeusdeeper,
Santiago.Twohundredfifty
meters.”
“Sí,señor.”
◊◊◊◊
TheMerlinHM2
helicopteremergedfromits
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hangarandtraversedonto
Dragon’ssternflightdeck.A
haze-greymachine,the
Merlinworearadomeonits
chinandwasconfiguredfor
anti-submarinewarfarewith
twoStingraylightweight
torpedoesandtwoMark11
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depthchargesslungbeneath
itsparallelogram-shaped
fuselage.Emblazonedonthe
helicopter’ssidewas
‘ROYALNAVY’andared,
whiteandblueroundel.
TheFlightDeckOfficer
salutedtothehelicopter’s
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pilot,indicatingtheflight
deckchiefhadthewheel
chocksinplaceandtherewas
nosignofforeignobjectsthat
theMerlin’senginesorrotors
couldsuckin.TheMerlin’s
pilot—LieutenantSeamus
McLaughlinfrom
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Enniskillen,NorthernIreland
—lovedtofly.Beneathhis
flighthelmet,Seamusthe
pilothadfireredhairanda
‘fullset’—RoyalNavy-speak
forabeardandmustache.
Seamusmovedacontrol
panellever,andthe
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helicopter’sfivemainrotor
bladesunfoldedfromtheir
ship-stowedpositionand
lockedinplace.Withanod
fromtheMerlin’ssecondary
pilot,Seamusstartedthe
helicopter’sthreeturboshaft
engines.Theengines
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coughedblacksmokeasthey
ignitedandthenwhinedas
theyspunup.Seamus
performedhispre-departure
radiochecks.
“Draig,Kingfisher21,
radiocheck,over,”Seamus
saidintohisheadset.Dueto
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histhickIrishaccent,hehad
learnedtospeakslowlyand
clearlywhenusingtheradio.
“Kingfishertwo-one,
Draig,loudandclear,over,”
Dragon’sairtrafficcontroller
responded.
Thehelicopterpilots
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wentthroughpre-flight
checklistsinthefrontofthe
machine,andinitsrearcabin,
theMerlin’sobserverand
aircrewmanwentabouttheir
owntasks.Theobserverwas
OrdinarySeamanRodi
Dandowhomhailedfrom
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DockyardontheSpanish
PointofBermudaandwasthe
descendantofanAfrican
privateer.Alsooperatingin
therearcabinwasMerlin’s
aircrewman,LeadingSeaman
JohnMcelaney.
AircrewmanJohn
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Mcelaneywasawide-
shoulderedladfrom
Liverpool.Hehadgrownup
inNewBrightononthe
WirralPeninsulawheresandy
beachesoverlookedtheRiver
MerseyandtheIrishSea.
Workingthesewaterways,
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Johnhadhauledincrabtraps
andfishingnetsforhisfather
anduncle,ajobthatbuilthis
upper-bodystrengthandlog-
likearms.Whenthewaters
hadbecomeoverfishedand
theill-maintainedfamily
boatsleakedmorethan
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floated,Johnsoughttosee
moreoftheworld.With
collegefundsscant,itwasa
RoyalMarinerecruiterwho
hadboughthimapintinthe
pubandseducedhimwith
talesofadventureandtravel.
Johnsignedonthedotted
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line.Heawoketoa
headache,sourstomachanda
lecturefromhismumand
dad,buthesoonembarkedto
CommandoTrainingCentre
RoyalMarinesinLympstone,
Devon.Thirty-twoweeksof
hellfollowed.
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AtLympstone,John
learnedcombatskills—to
marchandlookafterhiskit
andweapons—andheearned
thevauntedgreenberet.Fit
andassharpasasword,John
volunteeredfortransfer,and
aftergradingatanairforce
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base,hewassentontoanti-
submarinetraining.Ten
weeksat824NavalAir
Squadron’sBasicAcoustic
Coursefollowed.
Johnseemedtohavean
innatetalentforthefineartof
sonarandsensoroperation,
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andthiswasrecognizedand
nurturedbyinstructors.High
marksandperformance
reportsdroveadvancementto
anoperationalconversion
unit.
AttheOCU,Johnmet
theloveofhislife—the
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MerlinHM2—andworked
alongsideapairofpilotsand
anobserver.Hehadlearned
theartofactiveandpassive
anti-submarinewarfare,as
wellassearchand
prosecutiontechniques.It
wasnotlongafterwardthat
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hewashonoredwith
assignmenttoHMSDragon.
Johnpowered-upand
thencheckedthehelicopter’s
variousdefensiveand
offensivesystems,including
chaff,flares,andtheFLASH
dippingsonar.TheFLASH
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—FoldingLightAcoustic
SystemforHelicopters—
couldlowerbycableatube-
shapedlow-frequencysonar
transducerdownto700
metersbeneaththesea.
TheMerlin’scockpit
screensflashedandbecame
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populatedwithbrightly-
coloreddataasthecomputer
examinedthehelicopter
thousandsoftimespersecond
anddeliveredthediagnoses
toitshumanoperators.With
allindicatorsinthegreen,
Seamusengagedtherotors
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andstartedthemspinning.
“Sir,”John’svoice
crackledontheintercom,
“Allsystemsarego.”
Witha“Ready,”from
hissecondary,Seamus
clickedthetransmitter:
“Kingfisher21,ready
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fordeparture.”
Clearancewasreceived
andbladerevolutionscame
uptotake-offpower.The
FlightDeckChiefindicated
chockswereoutandthatno
tie-downswereinuse.Then
theFlightDeckOfficer
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salutedand,slowlyflapping
hisarms,marshaledthe
Merlinoffthedeck.Seamus
raisedthecollective.The
mainrotortiltedandbitinto
theair,wherevorticesformed
atitsshovelblade-shaped
tips.TheMerlinroseover
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Dragon’sstern.
Thehelicopterhovered
overtheflightdeckand
swiveledintotherelative
wind.Itthenflewsideways
toahoverpositionalongside
theship.Clearofdeck
hazards—thehangar,the
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masts,andradararrays—the
Merlinbeganastraightclimb
andfellbackasDragon
continuedonwardatseven
knots.Holdingahoverat
300feet,Seamussurveyed
theinstruments,switchedto
thehigh-frequencyradio,and
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confirmedtheirmachinewas
healthyandunderpositive
control.Herequested
permissiontodepartthe
pattern.
“Kingfishertwo-one,
Draig,roger,commenceyour
turnoncourse,”theship’sair
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trafficcontrolresponded.
Seamuspushedhisboot
againstapedalandpointed
theMerlin’snoseinthe
desireddirection,nudgingthe
cyclic.Thebighelicopter
leanedforwardandheaded
awayfromthechurned,light-
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bluewakeofthedestroyer.
Inthedistance,wherethelast
oftheraindarkenedthe
horizonline,acloud
dischargedandsentaforked
boltsnakingfromtheseato
highinthesky.Seamus
starteddownthefirstlegof
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hispattern.Intherearcabin,
Johnpreparedtolowerthe
dippingsonarwhilethe
observer,Rodi,peeredoutthe
window.
DragoncircledIron
Dukeinamile-widecircle.
Faronthehorizon,thesmoke
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trailoftheRoyalNavy
tugboatbecamevisible.
ThetugwasCapable,
anAdept-classlargeharbor
tugbasedinGibraltar.
Dragonhadheronradar,and
Lieutenant-Commander
Williamswastalkingtoher
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byradio.Asaharbortugnot
idealforthemissionof
gettingIronDuketosafe
waters—especiallyallbyher
lonesome—Capablehad
adequatepower.Ifonlythe
weatherheld,shealsohadthe
seaworthinesstodepartthe
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near-shoreenvironmentfor
theopensea.Ifallwentwell,
CapablewouldpullIron
DukebacktoAscensionfor
temporaryrepairs,freeing
Dragontoracetothe
Falklands.Itwouldbehours
untilCapablecouldarrive
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on-scene,however.Several
long,dangeroushours.
CaptainFryattpacedthe
bridge.
Fryattfeltthegentle
rolloftheshipinhisearsand
madeapictureofthe
battlespaceinhismind’seye:
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IronDukewasatthecenter
asDragonsweptaroundher;
theMerlinwasoffdoingits
task,droppingsonobuoysand
listeningtotheocean,making
surenosubmarinescould
sneakintothreateneither
vessel.ThenFryatt’smind’s
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eyedovebeneaththewaves.
Hepicturedthethermocline
thatshroudedthedeeps,and
hesawwhatheknewofthe
bottomatthispartofthe
Atlantic:mudflatsandrocky
foothillsthatclimbedto
becomethecraggypeaksof
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theMid-AtlanticRidge,
Earth’slongestmountain
range,the‘spineofthe
world.’
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5:CATAND
MOUSE
“Whenthemouse
laughsatthecat,there’sa
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holenearby.”—Nigerian
proverb
Theycalledhim
‘Raton.’Not,mindyou,
becauseofanyinherenttrait,
norforanyphysical
resemblancetothelittlefurry,
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whisker-twitchingmammal.
ForRaton’sfacewasflat,
almostindented,andlacked
therat’ssnout-likestructure.
Thoughhisfirstnamewas
Gaston—aconvenientand
almostlyricalrhymewithhis
nickname—CorporalSecond
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ClassBersaearnedhis
monikerbythestyleoflifehe
livedaboardSanLuisII.
GastonBersacame
fromSalta,asmallfarming
townintheLermavalleyof
Argentina'snorthwest.His
familyfarmwouldbedesert
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dryifnotforthewater
deliveredbycanalandpipe
fromthesnow-capped
mountainsthattoweredabove
it.Withthisprecious
moisture,lemonsandoranges
grewwhereonlydustdevils
andbrownbrushshould
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flourish.Daysofhardwork
werebrokenbyreadinginthe
shade,momentswherehe
wouldtakeouthistattered
Cuban-translatedcopyof
Hemingway’s‘TheOldMan
andtheSea,’digestingitfor
thehundredthtimeand
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recitingeachwordasifby
memory.Anddreamingof
theblueopenseaandthe
freedomitimparted.
Asustaineddrought
hadcome,causingthe
governmenttodivertwaterto
thethirstycities.Soonthe
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grovesbrownedanddiedand
Gaston’sfatherhadtakento
doingoddconstructionand
repairjobsintown,leaving
himtowatchhissmallsister
andhisbroken-downmother.
Onedaythepagesofhis
novelhadfinallyfallenout
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andbeentakenbythewind.
Theyscatteredoverthebones
ofthecitrustrees.Thatday,
Gastonhaddroppedhis
shovelandwalkedthesix
milestotown.Hedidnot
evenknowwhyhemadethe
trek,andhecouldnotargue
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withthesensationofbeing
drawnthatway.Onceamong
thetown’ssquatbuildings
anddust-chokedstreets,he
trudgedpastout-of-work
farmhandsandrightintoa
governmentoffice.
Gastonhadmeantto
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yellandcurseatwhoeverwas
there.Hewouldlecturethe
bureaucratsonwaterand
farmsandhowcropswere
moreimportantthankeeping
thefountainsgoinginBuenos
Aires.Beforehebeganhis
tirade,however,hebecame
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transfixedbyapictureofa
navyshipthatrodeupasea-
swell.Thelocalrecruitersaw
thelookinGaston’seyeand
smiled.
“¿Hermosa,no?”he
askedtheentrancedyouth.
“Yes.Verybeautiful.”
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“Thereisnothinglike
beingaboardship,sailingthe
seasanddoingsoforyour
country.”Therecruitersetthe
hook,knowingfullwellit
wassubmarinersthenavy
wascurrentlyinneedof.
“Yes,”Gastonrepeated.
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Hissignatureand
acceptanceofasmallcash
bonusmeantthatGaston
Bersanowbelongedto
ComandodelaFuerzade
Submarinos—thesubmarine
branchoftheArgentine
Navy.
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Thatnightwasthelast
timeGastonhadseenhis
motherandfather,orthestars
thathungabovetheLerma
valley.Almosttwoyears
sincehadpassedinrigorous
basicandsubmarinetraining,
andthenSanLuisIIbecame
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Gaston’snewhome.
Likeeveryoneaboard
NumeroDos,Ratonwas
condemnedtonear-darkness
andhot,stuffybreaths.
However,unliketheothers,
Raton’sdutieswere
especiallyrodential,the
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natureofwhichimpartedhis
newnickname.
Chosenforhis
diminutivestature,wiry
frame,andseemingimmunity
toclaustrophobia,Raton
spentmostofhistimeatthe
bottomofSanLuisII’s
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pressurehullwherehelay
uponhisbellyandslidarail-
bornesledoverthe
submarine’stwobattery
banks.
SanLuisII’sbattery
deckentailedathicketof
powercables,leads,and
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ventilationtubesthatgrew
fromrow-after-rowoffoot
locker-sizedtwo-tonbattery
cells.Itstankofbatteryacid,
diesel,andsalt.Itwasan
underworldwherethe
footfallsoffellowcrewmates
reverberatedthroughthelow
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ceiling.ThiswasRaton’s
nest.Despitethedrawbacks,
itwasaplaceofprivacyina
bigunprivate,aplacewhere
technicalknowledgemade
himruler.Hescurriedalong
onhissledmaintaininghis
batteries.
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Ratoncheckedeachfor
corrosion,repairedventilation
nipples,andtoppedthecells
offwithdistilledwater.In
thisdimlonelinesshid
Raton’sthoughts,his
hummedfolksongs,and
largelyunnoticedbythe
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boat’sofficers,intermittent
naps.Withaflashlight
headbandtoseehiswork,and
withaheartyyawn,Raton
checkedthecompartment’s
hydrogenmeter.
Themeterindicated
thattheodorless,tasteless,
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andhighlyflammablegas—
producedwhenthewater
portionofthebatterywas
convertedduringcharging—
remainedwithinsafelimits.
Ratoncheckedasmallflow
meteronacell’sventilation
ductheader.Thenumber
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indicatedthattheventilators
weredoingtheirjobof
shuntingthehydrogento
holdingtanks,tobeblown
overboard.BeforeRaton
wiggledandtightenedan
inter-cellconnectorwire,he
checkedthevoltmeterand
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mutteredaprayer.
Hedidthiswhenever
hetouchedanythingdown
here.Eventhoughheknew
hisjobinsideout,everything
aroundhimwasbuiltbywhat
hecalled‘Vodka-infused
Russiandockworkers,’and
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wasreallyjustupdatedCold
Wartechnology.Itdidnot
helphisnervesor
superstitionsthatamanwas
killedonthebatterydeck
duringtheboat’sshakedown
cruise.
SanLuisIIhadbeen
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builtfortheIndianNavy.
NamedVarunafortheHindu
GodoftheOcean,acontract
spatbetweenMoscowand
NewDehlimeantthe
submarinewasinstead
counter-tradedwithBuenos
Airesforcopper.Shewas
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thenrenamedand,likeall
Argentinesubmarines,
receivedthenameofan
Argentineprovincethat
beganwithan‘S,’andthus
becamethesecondArgentine
submarinenamedSanLuis.
ThefirstSanLuishad
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performedacentralrolein
commandoactionsduringthe
1982conflictoverLasIslas
Malvinas.WhenNumero
Doshadsailedonits
shakedowncruise,acell’s
ventvalvefailedandburst.
Coveredwithacidandburned
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byheat,Raton’spredecessor
haddieddownhereonthe
batterydeck.
Ratonhadseenhim
once,hewouldswear.Itwas
aghostlyheadthatstared
backathimandsmiled.So,
Ratonwasalwaysthankful
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whenhisjobdidnotkillhim.
Ashepulledhishandaway
fromthebattery,heknewthat
God,fornow,haddecidedto
keephimalive.
“Amén,”Raton
mumbled.Hegrabbedat
handholdsandslidthesleda
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fewmorefeettochecka
cablejunction.Likehis
fellowsubmariners,Raton
hadheardthereverberationof
theactivesonarping,andfelt
itvibratethroughhisprone
body.Heignoredsuch
things,however,andtrusted
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inhiscaptainandcrewmates
tokeephimalive,justasthey
allreliedonhimtokeepSan
LuisII’sairblowing,motor
running,andkeepthelights
on.WheneverRaton’smind
turnedtodarkerdoubts,he
wouldslidealongonhissled
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andfindsomethingelseto
checkorrepair.Whenthe
nextsonarping—higherin
frequencythistime—echoed
throughSanLuisII’sbilges,
Ratonpausedandsuddenly
feltthetightconfinesand
helplessvulnerabilityofhis
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situation.Asmuchashe
lovedthesea,downhere
beneathit,theseahad
becomehisenemy.Heknew
itsembracewouldnotbe
warmandgentle,butcold
andhard.
InSanLuisII’sControl
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Room,Ledesmareportedto
Matias:“Dippingsonarat
two-three-six.Range:five
miles.”Anotherpingand
everyonecringed.“It’sthe
helicopter,sir…TheMerlin.”
◊◊◊◊
TheMerlin’srotor
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choppedattheair.The
30,000-poundmachine
hoveredandperformeda
delicatebalancingactof
physicsandthrust.Therotor
washsentwhite-capped
wavesoffinawidecircle,
whileasteelcableunwound
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frombeneaththeMerlin’s
fuselage.TheFLASH
dippingsonarsplashed
throughthesurfaceand
continueddownwardintothe
depths.IntheMerlin’s
computer-filledcabin,John
turnedhisdialtostopits
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descent.Hehitaredbutton.
At100feetbeneaththe
surface,theFLASHsentout
ahigh-frequencypulse.Then
itlistenedforareturn.John
announcedwhateveryone
alreadyknew:“Significant
layerat410feet.”He
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adjustedadialtounreelmore
cable,dippingtheFLASH
beneaththethermocline.
“Cablenowat500
feet.Hammer.”
Anotherping.The
soundwavetraveledinall
directions,reachingforthe
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bottomoftheAtlantic.As
thecomputeranalyzed
returns,animagebegan
fillingthedisplayinthe
helicopter’srearcabin.It
showedtheundulatingsea
bottom,thefalse‘ceiling’of
thethermocline,aclustered
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schooloffishand…anovoid
shadow.Aredlightflashed
abovethescreen.
“Submergedcontact,”
Johnannounced.“Depth:
600feet.Bearing:zero-six-
zero.Range:fivemiles.
Designate‘Possub.’”A
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possiblesubmarine.The
FLASHwasreeledinsothe
Merlincouldmoveagain.
Ascontactdatawas
relayedtoDragon’sAction
InformationCenter,Seamus
tippedthehelicopter’snose
downandbeganasprint
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towardthecontact’s
coordinates.CaptainFryatt
wouldplaceDragonbetween
thecontactandIronDuke,
buttheMerlin’smissionwas
tolocalizeandattackany
target.TheMerlincontinued
itscharge,sprintingatjust
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over180miles-per-hour.It
coveredseveralmilesinjust
minutes.Rodileanedhis
headintothecabinwindow
andraisedhisbinoculars.
“Alotofwater,”Rodi
saidwithhisBermudianlilt.
Thegreyshapesof
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DragonandIronDukewere
nowfaronthehorizon.A
high-pressurefronthad
pushedthestormaway,
dryingandheatingtheairand
creatingashimmeringhaze
whereseametsky.Itmade
thegreyoutlineofthe
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warshipshardtosee.
Furthermore,Dragon’srather
significantbutwhite
superstructureblendeditinto
thebrightsky.IntheMerlin,
JohnalertedSeamusoftheir
proximitytotheirfirstdrop.
Thefirstsonarbuoy
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shotfreeoftheaircraft’s
fuselage.Pushedfromits
tubebyhigh-pressureair,the
cylindricalsensorsplashedin
andthenbobbedatthe
surface.Itdeployeditswhip
antennaandunfoldedits
transducers.Thebuoyfound
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aglobalpositioningsatellite
andloggeditslocation,and
thenmadecontactwiththe
Merlin’scomputer.Thefirst
ofmanytobedeployedina
diamond-shapedpattern,this
sonobuoywasofthe
bathythermographtype,
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designedtoascertainlocal
density,salinityand
temperatureconditions.The
nextsonobuoystheMerlin
deployedwouldbeDIFAR
andHIDARtypes.The
DIFARswouldprovide
directiontoanyparticular
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producerofsound,andthe
HIFARswould
instantaneouslyprovidethe
target’srange.TheMerlin
sprintedanddropped,
sprintedanddropped,
repeatingthisprocess,
surroundingtheoriginal
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contactwithlistening
devices.Whenthepattern
wascomplete,Seamus
shovedhisstickover.
TheMerlinscreamed
towardthecenterofthe
pattern,wheretheFLASH
hadfirstdiscoveredthe
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anomalouscontactamongthe
sonarreturnsfromtherocky
bottom,theswimmingfish,
andhauntingwhalesongs.
TheMerlinraiseditsnoseto
rapidlyshedairspeeduntilit
virtuallystoodstill,Seamus
levelinghisaircraftand
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nursingthehover.He
balancedthecollectiveand
cyclicsticksandengine
poweraswell,untilhe
becameintunewithevery
breezeandpullofgravity,
keepinghismachinesteady
andfloatinginplaceabove
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thesparklingocean.When
hefeltready,hegave
clearancetothecabincrew.
Fromthehelicoptersbelly,
thedippingsonardescended.
TheFLASHunreeled
againandpenetratedthe
water’ssurface,fallingto
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breachthatproblematic
thermocline.Itwouldpeek
beneaththislayertoverify
andfirmupdataonthe
previouscontact.Asthe
FLASHdiditsjob,John
monitoredthesonobuoysthat
listenedforanypossible
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transitorysignals.Kingfisher
21—Dragon’sMerlin—had
castitsnetwide.Now,it
begantocinchitandhaulit
in.
◊◊◊◊
Thepassivearraythat
ranthelengthofSanLuisII’s
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hullheardthethump-thump-
thumpofanapproaching
helicopter,andthenthe
splashesofsonobuoys.
Indoctrinatedandtrainedby
Argentines,eachsubmariner
hadnonethelessstudiedand
heldasecretadmirationfor
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theirBritishenemy.Afterall,
thebritánicoshadovercome
theGermanU-boatthreatby
developingtacticsand
technologythathadturned
thetableonthegreatest
underwatermariners
humankindhadeverknown.
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Theythenhadjoinedthe
Americansincorrallingthe
Sovietthreat,whose
machinesandmenthreatened
toruletheworld.Thissecret
admirationoftheBritishby
theArgentinesalsoindicated
anunconsciousfear,andfear
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alwaysmeanthesitation.As
muchasitwasCaptain
Matias’jobtokeephisboat
fromgoingtothebottom,it
wasalsohisjobtoinspirethe
crewtobelievetheywere
betterthanthoseBritish,who
seemedtothinktheyhada
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God-givenrighttodominate
affairs.AsmuchasCaptain
MatiasbelievedLasIslas
Malvinaswerenotworththe
risk,hewouldfightforhis
flag,andforthoseplaced
underhiscommand.His
thoughtswereinterruptedby
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asoundfromoutside.
CaptainMatiasknew
thathissubmarinecreated
hydrodynamicnoiseresulting
fromtheflowofwaterover
itshull.Anyprotrusionsand
orificessuchasbollardsand
free-floodholes,accentuated
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thisnoise.Eventhoughthe
Russianbuildershadtried
theirbesttominimizesuch
sources,thepropeller
remainedaninsurmountable
acousticproblemforany
submarine.
Whenonbatteries,
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diesel-electricboatslikeSan
LuisIIenjoyedadvantages
overtheiratom-smashing
counterparts,becausethere
werenounbalancedturbine
gears,bladesandcooling
pumpstomakearacketand
revealtheirposition.
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However,liketheirnuclear
cousins,diesel-electricshad
totransferpropulsivepower
fromanenginetothewater,
makingthepropellerthe
acousticweaklinkinthe
wholenearlysilentsystem.
InSanLuisII’scase,itwasa
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singlegiantsix-bladedprop
thatdidthejob.
Atthetipsofthis
carefully-machinedwonder,
vortexcavitationtookplace,
wherebyairbubblesformed
andcollapsedundersea
pressure,producingahissing
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soundthatcarriedformiles
underwater.Thisnoise
travelledhorizontallyfrom
thepropeller,increasedwith
themomentumoftheblades,
andbecamemostpronounced
athighspeed,especially
duringaccelerationand
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maneuvers.Atlowerspeeds,
thenaturalfrequencyofthe
bladesproduceda
characteristic‘beat’thatan
enemycouldusetoidentify
thespecificclassofhis
adversary.Sometimes,
uniqueacoustic‘fingerprints’
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wouldevenallowaskilled
sonarmantoidentifya
submarinebyname.Such
noisewastheveryclue
CaptainMatiassoughtto
deprivehisenemy,thevery
reasonhehadordered:‘All
stop.’Despitehiseffortsto
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silenceSanLuisII,there
remainedtheissueofher
physicality.Shewas,after
all,asteelholeinthewater,
anddespiteprecautions
againstdetectionbypassive
systems,activesonar,suchas
thatcarriedbytheenemy
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helicopter,constituted
anothermatteraltogether.
“Getusclosertothe
bottom,Santiago,”Matias
ordered.Thecaptainhoped
theseamountofftostarboard
wouldscreenhisboatand
spoilanyacousticreflection
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thatwouldallowtheBritish
aircrewtodiscernthehullof
SanLuisIIfromamongthe
boulders,cliffs,andpeaksof
theMid-AtlanticRidge.
Alreadyneartheir
recommendedmaximum
depth,Ledesmashotthe
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captainaconcernedglance.
“Down,”Matiasreiterated.
Ledesmahesitatedfora
moment,andMatiaswaveda
handathimthatsaid,‘Geton
withit.’
“Muybienseñor,”
Ledesmafinally
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acknowledged,andordered
negativebuoyancy.Ventson
theouterhullwereopened,
andmoreseawaterflowed
intoSanLuisII’smainballast
tanks.Alreadystationary,the
boatdroppedstraightdown
intothepitchblackdeep.
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ThemenintheControlRoom
watchedthedepthgauge
needlemovefromtheyellow
zone,intothered.Thesteel
hullprotestedwithclicks,
groans,andtorturedsnaps.
Ledesmaswallowedhardand
begantoreadoffthedepth:
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“Threehundredtwenty;330;
340…”Theboatprotested
withaloudbang.
TheoceantestedSan
LuisII.Itwantedin,andit
searchedforthepathofleast
resistance.Thousandsof
poundspressedonthe
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submarine.Anotherbang,
andeveryonelookedto
CaptainMatias.Helooked
upthemainladderatthe
ControlRoomhatch.
BANG.Thethinnersteelof
thesubmarine’ssailhad
flexedunderextremepressure
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anddeformed,stretching
betweenitslatticed
framework.
“Deeper,”thecaptain
ordered.
SanLuisIIletouta
prolongednoiselikethesong
ofamelancholywhale.One
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submarinerbegantobreathe
heavily,andthenhe
whimpered.
“Tomaloconsoda,”
Ledesmacalmedthe
neophytesubmarinerwithan
Argentineexpression.Then
heturnedtoMatias.“Señor,
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estamosa360metros.”Then
cameanunholycreakfrom
SanLuisII.“Idon’tthink
shecanstandmuchmore,”
Ledesmapleaded.
“Bien,Santiago,”
Matiasconceded,“Holdus
here.”
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“Neutralbuoyancy,”
Ledesmasaid,pointingatthe
ventlevers.“Holdyour
depthat380meters.”
Theboatquietedasthe
depthgaugesteadiedand
stopped,justafewhash
marksshortof‘400,’the
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highestnumberthedial
showed.Someonesighed
withrelief,followedbya
momentofsilence,ofcalm.
Thensuddenly,awaterpipe
runningalongthetopofthe
ControlCenterwhinedand
burst.
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Watersprayedfroma
valveandranalongthepipe,
rainingdown.
“Damagecontrol,”
Ledesmayelled.
Thevalveshotoffand
bouncedtwice.Thedeck
plateithitrangfantastically
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loud.Themetalwheel
wobbledforamomentand
thenstopped.Everyonein
theControlRoomlookedat
it,hatedit,andknewwhatit
haddone.
Onesailorimmediately
tookawrenchtothevalve
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andinstantlybecamesoaked
bytheleak,yethetightened
theconnection.Thewater
slowed,butstillitcascaded
downapanel.
Sparksflashedandthe
panel’sdisplaylights
extinguished.However,
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back-upanalogdisplays
confirmedthetankventshad
infactclosed.Valveswere
openedandclosedalongthe
pipeinordertoisolatethe
leak.Everyonelookedtothe
curvedceiling.Theyall
wonderediftheenemyhad
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heardthecommotion.
“Señor,theleakhas
beenisolated,”Ledesma
whispered.
“Verywell,”Captain
Matiasacknowledged.
PING.
“Sir,active--”
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PING.
“Yes,Santiago,”Matias
puthishandonhisfriend’s
shoulder,“Ihearit.”
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6:ABRAZO
“Letmeembracethee,
souradversity,forwisemen
sayitisthewisestcourse.”—
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WilliamShakespeare
Kingfisher21hovered.
TheMerlin’sdippingsonar
dangledinthewater,fishing
foranythingthathappenedto
bebiting.Amongthemiles-
widesonobuoyfield
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Dragon’shelicopterhad
sown,onepassivetype—
buoy‘PapaThree’—had
registeredananomalous
sound.Ittransmittedtothe
helicopterthecontact’s
generaldepth,heading,and
range.Kingfisher21,inturn,
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bouncedthedatabackto
Dragon.
IntheOpRoom’scool
darkness,Dragon’santi-
submarinewarfareofficer
adjustedhisflashhoodand
glovesandsurveyedhis
screen.ItshowedtheGPS
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plotofeachsonobuoy,and
representedbyagreen‘H,’
theradarpositionofthe
helicopter.
TheMerlinhadracedto
sonobuoyPapaThree’s
positionandhurriedly
lowereditsdippingsonar
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belowthethermocline.John
firedoffanactiveping.The
soundwavesmovedthrough
theliquidmedium,where
theybouncedoffshoalsof
fish,offrock,andoffsand,
andoffanythingelseinthe
oceanicwatercolumn.Then
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thesoundwaves
boomerangedandreturnedto,
andwerecollectedby,the
FLASH’scylindrical
transmitter/receiver.Tied
intothebuoys,thecomputers
intheMerlin’srearcabin
analyzedthedataand
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presenteditona
monochromescreen.
Anobjectdiffering
fromthecontoursofthesea
bottomimmediatelycaught
John’shighlytrainedeye.
Johntappedthedisplay’s
glassinrecognition.
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“Whathavewehere?”
hemumbledtohimself,and
thenpushedthetransmit
buttonforhisheadset.
“DraigTACCO,thisis
Kingfisher21.PROBSUB,
PROBSUB,”Johnreportedto
Dragon’stactical
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coordinator.Hethen
switchedfromtheradiotothe
intercom.“Dropping
smoke,”hetoldtheMerlin’s
pilot.
Asmallcartridgewas
firedfromthehelicopter’s
wheel-wellsthatsplashedin,
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stainedthewateraglowing
green,andsentupaplumeof
redsmoke.Thismarker
wouldhelpSeamusmaintain
positionoverthecontact,and
alsomarkthecontactposition
forthedestroyer.Onthe
horizon,Dragonturned.
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◊◊◊◊
CaptainFryattpeered
throughbinoculars.Hefound
theredsmokecloud,glanced
atthecompass,andordereda
heading:“Makeyourcourse
two-five-five.”Itwasthe
captain’sintenttokeepthe
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destroyer’ssharpbowand
toweringsuperstructure
betweenIronDukeand
‘Master1,’thetactical
coordinator’sdesignationfor
theprobablesubmerged
submarine.
“Aheadfull,”Fryatt
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ordered.Dragon’stwoRolls-
Roycegasturbinesrevvedup
anddrovetheship’selectric
motors.Thebowrose,and
Dragon’ssleek,greyhull
planed,churningthedark
wateraswhiteasmilk.
Dragonbecamean8,000ton
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speedboat.Aminutelater,
27,000shafthorsepowerhad
shotthedestroyertoover30
knots.Sheturnedtohernew
heading,leanedin,andthrew
sprayupinagreatfan.Fryatt
intended,onceatthecontact
coordinate,touseDragon’s
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powerfulbowsonarto
localizeMaster1.Dragon
droveawindbeforeher,and
asifpushedbyit,theMerlin
bankedoff.
TheMerlinwasguided
byDragon’sOpRoomtoher
nexthuntingposition.The
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helicopterdroppeditsnose
andracedoff,todipitssonar
againandaddavertexangle
tothetriangulationofthe
contact.
◊◊◊◊
Thesoundofthe
droppedvalvewheelbounced
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itswaydowntotheconfines
ofRaton’sdomain.The
repeatingclangreverberated
throughthebatterydeckand
whentheechoessubsided,
Ratonlookedtothe
submarine’scoldinnersteel
hull.Despiteitsthickness
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andstrength,thehullwasan
idealtransmitterofsound.
Thiswasthereason
internalmachinerywas
isolatedfromtheboat’sskin
whereverpossible,Raton
ponderedashefingereda
rubbercylinderthatsupported
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hisownsled’strack.Hefelt
thetrack’smetaland
recognizedthevibrationfrom
SanLuisII’sdiesels.
They,too,were
dampened,mountedonbig
rubberraftsthatkepttheir
reverberationsfrom
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transmittingtoSanLuisII’s
casing.Theseefforts,
however,couldbeundoneby
ahatchclosedtoohard,a
fallentool,orinthiscase,a
droppedwheelvalve.Allof
thesecouldprovide
potentiallylethalresults.
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Thatpieceofironshit,Raton
postulated.Itwasforgedin
someoldMurmanskfurnace.
Thenoiseitmadewassurely
heardbytheclamsandfish
andthosemalditobritánicos.
Ratoncaughthisbreathand
heldtheairinhislungsashe
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heardatrickleofwater.
Thesoundwasdifferent
fromthatcreatedbytheflow
ofwateraroundSanLuisII’s
hull,anddifferentfromthe
bubblesoftrappedairthat
occasionallyescapedthe
casing’sfree-floodareas.
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Thesound,Ratonrealized,
hadcomefrominside.
Thewaterthathad
escapedtheControlRoom
pipevalvehadthenfoundits
waydowntheperiscope
well.Tuggedbygravity,it
soughtthemostdirectpath
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possibletothelowestpointin
theboat,thebilge.However,
betweentheControlRoom
andbilgewasthebattery
deckwhere,craninghisneck,
Ratonsawthefirstsignsof
thewater.
Heldfastbysurface
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tension,thewaterclungtothe
steelroofandsquirmedand
squiggledalonginastreamer
thatsplitandmergedagain.
Ratonwatchedandkept
pace.Hescootedhissled
alongthecompartmentrails,
hisbellyjustoverthetangle
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ofleadsandwirethatgrew
fromthebatterycells.The
waterranintoasmall
protuberancewhere,no
longerabletodefygravity,it
stretchedintoalongdrop
overanelectricalshuntand
disconnectswitch.Raton
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hurriedtoputhisglovedhand
ontheswitch.Hewatched
thedropelongate.
Theliquidorbreflected
thelightsandmachineryof
theconfinedspace.Raton
sawhimselfthere,too,a
stretchedfacewithwideeyes
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andasweat-coveredbrow.
Hecursedthewater.Thenhe
thoughtofthecoolsummer
thunderstormsthatvisitedhis
farminSalta,wheretherains
wouldbreakthehumidityand
drenchthecroplands.Before
theycalledhim‘Raton,’he
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wasGastonBersa,asimple
farmer,amanwhostood
amongtherowsofcitrustrees
andletthedownpourwash
awaytheday’sdirtand
sweat.
Ratonhadfalleninlove
withtheseaatfirst.Ithad
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helpedhimescapethe
workadaylife,andoffered
himaperfumed,salty-sweet
smellandavastopennesshe
hadneverbefore
experienced.Butsoonhe
cametoconsiderthewhole
otherworld,beneaththe
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undulatingplaneofthesea’s
surface.
Submarineschool
impartedahealthyfearof,
andrespectfor,thatdomain.
High-pressurewaterhad
sprayedRatonandhis
classmates,fillingthetraining
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compartmentfast.Hethen
learnedthattheoceanwasthe
enemy,somethingtobe
resistedandfought.When
mechanicalaptitudeanda
slightframehadgottenhim
assignedtothebatterydeck,
hequicklylearnedthat,
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shouldsaltwatercontactthe
electrolytewithinthe
imperfectlysealedbattery
cells,aplumeoflethal
chlorinegaswouldfloodthe
compartment,andpotentially
theentiresubmarine.Raton
snappedthedisconnect
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switchover,andisolateda
blockofbatteries.
Thewaterseemedto
fallallatonce,abriefrain
thatsplatteredacrossthe
squaretopsofthebattery
cells.Ilovemyjob,Raton
thoughtironically.Hebegan
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tohum;hisusualremedyfor
doubtorfear.Thenhistight
littleworldwasshatteredby
anothersonarping.Thisone
waslowerinfrequencyand
clearlymorepowerful,forit
shooktheveryskinofSan
LuisII.
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◊◊◊◊
“Activesonar…and
propellernoises,”SanLuis
II’ssonartechnician
announced.“Twinscrews,”
headded.“ItisDelta1,sir.
Thedestroyer.Shehas
turnedinourdirection,andis
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closingfast.”‘Destroyer.’
Thewordboresomuch
weighttosubmariners.
Throughouthistory,such
shipswerebothrespectedand
cursedbythosethatlurked
andsneakedaboutbeneath
thesea.CaptainMatias
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lookedtoLedesma,who
rolledhiseyes,agesturethat
communicatedmuch.
“Sir,airbornecontact,”
thesonartechniciansaid.
Withthethermocline
breakingup,SanLuisII’s
sonarcouldnowdiscernthe
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highrpmturbineand
thumpingrotorsofthe
hoveringMerlin.“Designate:
‘Hotel1.’”
TheMerlin—that
vexatioushelicopterthat
seemedtoappearand
disappeartoaggravatethe
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verycaptainwhohadkept
themalivesofar—nowhada
designation,aneatpacketto
containthevenomtheyfelt
forthiscontraption.Matias
lookedattheclock.1930.
It’sgettingdarktop-side.
ThentheControlRoomlights
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flickered.
“Report,”heordered.
Ledesmalookedtothe
ControlRoom’sengineering
panelandthebatteryread-
outs,andthenhisgazeshifted
totheelectrician’smate
whosejobitwastomonitor
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theboat’ssystems.Grasping
forananswer,the
electrician’smatethrew
switches,pushedbuttons,and
readgauges.
“Sir,voltagedrop,”he
reported.“Ishowamanual
trippingof‘primary
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disconnectone.’Available
powernowdownto22
percent.”
Ledesmawenttothe
growler,liftedthereceiver,
andselectedthebatterydeck.
Afterhemadeinquiries,
Ledesmahungupandturned
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tothecaptain.
“Batterydeckreports
banktwoisolateddueto
water.CorporalBersais
tryingtogetanothereight
percentwithcablebridging.”
“Goddamnit.”Matias
knewthat,withbattery
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reservessolow,hewould
soonneedtorunthediesels,
andthedieselsneededair.
“Captain,wemust
decreaseourdepth,”Ledesma
beseeched.Justthen,in
seemingsupportofhis
recommendation,beggingfor
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relieffromtheblackcrush,
SanLuisIIletoutashudder
andaprolongedgroan.
“Verywell,”Matias
addedwiththecalmof
someonewithnothingto
lose.IfIamforcedtothe
surface,thecaptainthought,I
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willputmybootrightuptheir
ass.AlthoughMatiashad
alreadymadeuphismindon
acourseofaction,heasked
Ledesmaforadvice
nonetheless:“Options?”
“Well,sir,therearenot
many.Justonereally,”
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Ledesmaraisedhiseyebrows
intoablackarch.Matias
nodded.
“Malditobritánicos,”
someonemumbled.Theyhad
eavesdroppedontheofficer’s
conversation—nothardinside
asteelpipethatamplified
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merewhispersandbounced
theminalldirections.
Matias’sbowedheadlifted.
Hestrolledthecompartment
andsurveyedthemenunder
hiscommand.Hecouldhave
asked,‘Whosaidthis?Who
wasundisciplinedenoughto
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offersuchastatement?’
Though,inthiscase,he
wouldnotmakeanexample
forthesakeofdiscipline.
Why?Fatiguemainly,and
becauseCaptainMatias
agreedwiththecomment.
Yes,damntheBritish.
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“Señor,”Ledesma
soughthiscaptain’sattention
onceagain.
“¿Si,Santiago?”
“Captain,wemust
attack.”
CaptainMatiasstudied
hisexecutiveofficer,liking
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whatheheard,andthelook
ofdeterminationinhis
subordinate’seyes.
“Whatisthemoonlike
thisevening?”thecaptain
inquired.
Ledesmaconsulteda
table.
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“Waningcrescent.”
Good,Matiasthought
andnodded,thelightofthe
moonwillnotbeontheir
side.Matiasclosedhiseyes
andpicturedthesilvery
surface.Helongedfora
lungfuloffresh,salt-laden
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seaair.Hethoughtof
submarinersofoldwhoused
tobringtheirboattothe
surface,popthehatch,and
climboutontotheconning
towertolineupanattackas
seaspraydrenchedtheirstink
away,andfreshbreezes
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carriedawaytheircares.
Yes,hethought,damn
theBritish,anddamnitallto
hell.Afterall,anythingwas
betterthanhidingdownhere
intheblackness.
“Okay,mydarling,”
Matiaswhisperedashe
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strokedthenearestpieceof
thesubmarine’smetalthathis
shakinghandcouldfind.
Thenhisvoiceboomed:“Ten
degreesriseonthebow.”
“Yes,mycaptain.”
“Loadtubesoneandsix
withKlubs,andputSqualls
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intwoandfive,”Matiashad
orderedanti-shipcruise
missilesandrocket-propelled
torpedoes.
Ledesmagrinned.
“Keep‘53s’inthree
andfour,”Matiasadded,
wantingthewake-homing
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torpedoesavailableaswell.
“Aye,sir.”Ledesma
wasre-energizedbythenew
order,anditwassoon
repeatedandtransmittedto
thebowcompartment.
Techniciansinthe
weaponsroomscurriedabout
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astheirsupervisorshouted
instructions.Inawell-
practiceddance,sixmen
unloadedwake-homing
torpedoesfromfourtubes,
winchedthembackonto
storageracks,andthenloaded
theencapsulatedmissilesand
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cone-shapedrocket-propelled
torpedoes.Theirsupervisor
smiledathispantingmen,
thankfulforthefrequent
skill-sharpeningdrills.He
crankedthegrowler.
“Sir,”Ledesmasaidas
heputdownthegrowlerin
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theControlCenter.“Bow
compartmentreportsalltubes
loadedandreadyinall
respects.”
“Excellent,”Captain
Matiaslookedathiswatch.
“Recordtime.”
Thesubmarineseemed
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excitedbythenewaction.
Withnosepointedtowardthe
waves,SanLuisIIrosefast,
likeaswimmerwhohadgone
toodeepfortoolongandfelt
thatinsatiableurgetosuckair
again.
“Mindyourrise,”
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Matiassaid,andwatchedas
thebowanglewaschecked
andadjusted.Theindicator
bubblemovedfrom12
degreestotheproper10he
hadordered.Creaks,
bubbling,andthesoundof
rushingwatersounded,as
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thoughataphadbeen
opened.
“Delta1andHotel1
continuetoclose,”thesonar
technician’sraspyvoice
addedtothesounds.
◊◊◊◊
CaptainFryattgrabbed
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oneofthebridgehandholds
thatthegeniusengineersat
BAESystemshadhadthe
foresighttoinstall.Hewas
amazedthatsomeoneseated
atacubiclefarfromthefury
oftheAtlanticcouldlook
beyondtheirdesk,beyondthe
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flatscreenthatdisplayedthe
ship’sthree-dimensional
design,andtranspose
themselvesintotherealityof
afightingshipatsea.Fryatt
peeredoutthroughthespray-
soakedbridgewindow.The
colorfulsunsetmadeit
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difficulttoseethemarker
smokedroppedbythe
Merlin.Thenhespottedthe
ribbonthatrosefromthe
water.
Fryattorderedaslight
coursecorrection,“Come
threedegreestoport.”When
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hewashappywiththebow’s
alignment,hesaid:“Steadyas
shegoes.”CaptainFryatt
smiled.Hedidnotneedradar
orsonar,noranyofthe
glowing,digitalreadoutshis
amazingshipoffered.‘Imust
godowntotheseasagain,to
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thevagrantgypsylife.’The
quotewasdisplacedbyan
electronicbeepingandhis
firstofficer’sreport:
“SonarreportsMaster1
isatzero-nine-five.Depth:
330metersandrising.
Bearing:zero-one-eight.She
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ismakingturnsforeight
knots.”
“ClearKingfisherto
prosecute.”
“Aye,sir,”Williams
turnedandnodded.The
simplegesturewouldforward
authorizationtotheMerlinto
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attackthecontact.
“Bowarray.Hammer,”
Fryattadded.Thesonarin
Dragon’sbulbousbow
powered-uptosendsound
wavesintothedeep.
WHOMP.
SanLuisII’smetalhull
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shookasthesoundwaveshit
her.Onlytheenemy
destroyercouldputsuch
powerbehinditssensor.
“Getustomissile
launchdepthquickly.They
willbeshittingalloverusin
asecond,”Ledesmabarkedto
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theControlCenterpersonnel.
“Bowup20,”thechief
saidasherestedhishandon
theplanesman’sshoulder.
SanLuisIIpitchedup.The
floorofthesubmarine’s
ControlCenterbecamea
steephill.Thosestanding
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bracedthemselves,while
thoseseatedsecured
seatbelts.Thefloortilted
towardstarboard.“Watch
yourtrim,damnit;watch
yourtrim.”thechiefbarked.
Thehelmsmanand
planesmanusedalltheir
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abilityandskilltoarriveat
themissilefiringdepth
smartly.
JustforwardofSan
LuisII’ssail,the
maneuveringplanes
articulatedtosteadythe
speedinghullaswaterwas
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pumpedintoaport-sidetank.
SanLuisII’srollleveledout.
CaptainMatiassmiled,
confidentthatSanLuisIIwas
ingoodhands.Hesaid:
“Maketubesthreeandfour
readyinallrespects,
includingopeningouter
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doors.”
Ledesmarepeatedthe
orders,andsecondslater,
reportedtheyhadbeen
carriedout.
“Verywell.Firing
pointprocedures,tubesthree
andfour,surfacetarget:Delta
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1.Fire.”
SanLuisIIshuddered
asthetwoheavywake-
homingtorpedoesshotfrom
herhull.
“Torpedoesaway,tubes
threeandfour,”Ledesmasaid
withasmile.“Mydepthis
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180metersheadedfor30.”
“Closeouterdoorsand
reloadtubesthreeandfour
with‘53s.Slowascentat100
metersandopenouterdoors,
tubesone,two,five,andsix.
At30meters,snapshotthose
tubes.Startwithtwoand
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five,thenoneandsix,all
targetingDelta1.”
“Aye,sir,”Ledesma
acknowledgedwitha
clenchedjaw,andprecisely
repeatedthecomplexorders
tosubordinates.“Sir,bow
compartmentreportstubes
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threeandfourreloadedand
readyinallrespects.
Matiasnodded.Silence
hungintheControlRoom,
andtensionamongthecrew
wasasheavyasthe
recirculatedair.
“Splashesandhigh-
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pitchscrew;torpedointhe
water,”thesonarsupervisor
announced.“Range:1,000
yards;bearingandcourse
changingrapidly,”theyoung
man’svoicecracked.
“Hotel1,”Ledesma
mumbled.TheMerlinhad
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droppedoneofitsStingray
lightweighthoming
torpedoes,nowdescendingin
ahelicalpattern.
“Torpedoisactiveand
searching.”TheStingray’s
activesonarhadenergized,
andwaslookingfor
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somethingtokill.
“Rigboatfordepth
charges.Launch
noisemaker,”Matiasbarked,
hisordersnowclippedasthe
stressoftheencounter
increased.EachofSanLuis
II’scompartmentsprepared
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fordamagecontrol.The
torpedoroomfeda
cylindricalnoisemakerinto
tubeseven,asmallvertical
ejectorthatprotrudedfrom
thecompartment’sceiling.
Thenoisemakercontained
chemicalsthatreactedwith
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saltwaterandthus
effervesced,creatingan
ensonifiedareathatwould
appearonenemysonar.
“Señor,bow
compartmentreports
‘noisemakerisaway,’”
Ledesmainformedthe
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captain.ReadingMatias’
mind,headded:“Mydepthis
70metersheadedfor30.Our
torpedoesarebearing:zero-
nine-seven.Course:zero-
one-fivedegrees.Bothare
runningstraightandnormal.”
Heglancedatthedepth
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gauge.“We’reat50meters.”
“Slowtheascent,trim
theboat,andopenouter
doors,tubesone,two,five,
andsix,”Matiaswas
squintingandfocused.The
captaingrabbedceilingpipes
andwirewaystosteady
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himselfashewalkedtoward
thefirecontrolpanel.AsSan
LuisIIcameshallow,themen
couldheartherhythmic
whooshingofDragon’s
propellersthroughthehull.
Downinthebatterydeck,
Ratonlikenedthenoiseto
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thatofcicadaeonahot
summer’snight.
Ledesmaspunaround
toinformMatias,“Outer
doorsopen.We’reat30
meters,”
Matiastookadeep
breathandgavetheorder:
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“Firingpointprocedureson
Delta1.Snapshot,tubesone,
two,five,andsix.”
Afteraloudhissofair,
SanLuisIIshimmiedfor
severalseconds.
“Weaponsareaway,”
Ledesmaannounced.
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“Closeouterdoors,all
tubes.Crashdive.Make
yourdepth300meters.
Reloadtubesone,two,five,
andsixwith‘53s.”
“Crashdive.Crash
dive,”Ledesmayelled.A
bellrang.SanLuisIIpitched
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down.Herpropellerchurned,
knifingthesubmarine
throughthewaterandtoward
thedeep.
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7:JOUST
“NolancehaveI,in
joustorfight,Tosplinterin
mylady'ssight;But,ather
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feet,howblestwereI,For
anyneedofherstodie.”—
JohnGreenleafWhittier
TheSouthAtlantic
lookedlikemoltengoldasthe
lastraysofthesunset
illuminateditsgentlyrolling
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surface.Abubblerose,
disturbingthetranquility.
Andthenthebubblepopped;
foameruptedinitsplace.
Fromwithintheeruption,a
greycylinderwasspat.It
leapttotheair,peeledapart,
andopenedlikeaflower.
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InsidehidaKlubanti-ship
missile,anexportversionof
theRussianNovator3M-54,
generallyknownbyits
NATOdesignation:SS-N-27
Sizzler.
Releasedfromits
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watertightcontainer,the
Klub’sboosterignitedand
pusheditintothesky.Small
wingsunfoldedandcontrol
surfacesadjusted.TheKlub
nosedover,leveled,and
begantoraceacrossthesea.
Nearwhereithadsprung,
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spranganothersuchbloom.
It,too,leftthepetalsofits
water-tightcanisterafloat.
Theylingeredforamoment
andthen,suckedunder,
disappeared.Asthecanister
petalsfelltowardthebottom,
theypassedtworopesof
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bubbleswhereSanLuisII’s
super-cavitatingtorpedoes
hadsped.
Torpedoesarenamed
for‘torpor’—astateof
lassitudeimpartedbymarine
electricrays—andthese
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Russian-madeweaponswere
readytodeliversuchastate
priortoconsumingtheir
prey.TheSquallshadbeen
spitfromthesubmarine’s
hull.Theirmid-bodyfins
snappedopenandwithapop,
rocketmotorsignited.Gases
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emergedfromtheconical
cavitatorsattheweapons’
tipsandbubblesformed
aroundthecasings,reducing
dragandturningtheSqualls
intounderwaterrockets.The
weaponsthencharged
throughthewaterasthoughit
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wereair,quicklyreaching
200knotsastheyraced
towardDragon.Swaddledin
theirself-createdgaseous
atmosphereandpractically
tastingthecomingkill,the
Squallsanxiouslyscreamed
throughthewater.
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Some150metersbelow
theSqualls,twoType53-
65KEheavywake-homing
torpedoessnakedtheirway
throughthedarkness.They
hadbeenreleasedfirst,
pushedfromtheSanLuisII’s
tubesbyhighpressureairand
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spatintotheocean.The
exportversionoftheType53
heavytorpedousedHTP—a
concentratedsolutionof
hydrogenperoxide.Oncea
catalystwasintroduced,HTP
decomposedintoahigh-
temperaturemixtureof
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oxygenandsteam.The
oxygenallowedtheweapon’s
keroseneturbinetobreathe,
withthesteamventedoutside
theweapon’scasing.This
madethe‘53ahigh-speed
threat,andaddedtothe
torpedoeswakeofbubbles,
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createdlotsofnoise.(Italso
madetheweaponvery
dangerousshoulditstart-up
inthesubmarine’stube.)
Westernnavieshad
abandonedHTPasa
propellantforthisvery
reason.Despitethese
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worries,however,SanLuis
II’s‘53sworkedasthey
should,andtheircontra-
rotatingpropellersaccelerated
themtosome44knots.All
thewhile,thesensorsinthe
torpedoes’nosesgottowork.
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Designedtosnakeback
andforthwithinthevee
presentedbythewakeofan
enemyship,the‘53swould
approachatarget,andwhen
proximate,explode.SanLuis
II’s‘53shuntedasdesigned,
runningstraightandtrue
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towardthehunkofsteelthey
wereprogrammedtohuntand
kill:HMSDragon.Theyfell
inbehindthedestroyerand
begantheirmeanderupher
wake.
Inthepitchblack
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beneaththeruckusofmissile
andtorpedolaunches,San
LuisIIwaspointeddownina
crashdive.Shehadreleased
asecondnoisemakerand
wouldsoonpass180meters,
thedepthatwhichSanLuisII
hadreleasedherwake-
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homingtorpedoes.
“Enemytorpedoat
three-zero-zerodegrees.
Bearing:one-zero-three
degrees.Weaponisdiving.
Rapidchangeinbearingand
depthindicativeofahelical
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searchpattern,”SanLuisII’s
sonartechnicianreported.
“Screwpitchsuggestsit’sa
Stingrayacoustichoming
light-weighttorpedo.”
“Hotel1,”Ledesma
added.“TheMerlin…”
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“Bowplanesat20
degrees,”avoicecamefrom
theshadowsoftheControl
Center.
“Twohundredfifty
meters.Iamheadedfor300
meters,”anotheradded.
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“Sir,batteriesnowat
ninepercent.”
“Mierda,”Captain
Matiasmumbled.Three
decksdown,intheconfines
ofthebatterydeck,Raton
scurriedaboutonhissled.
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Usingthehull’sdownangle,
heslidalongoverthetopsof
thebatterycells,brakedover
thebankthathadbeensoaked
bysaltwater,andlockedhis
sledinplace.Thelastofthe
waterhaddrainedintothe
bilgeandthenintooneofthe
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boat’sstarboardtanks.He
madehiswaytotheshunt
and,swallowinghard,
snappedthedisconnect
switch.
“Sir,batteriesbackat
17percent”shoutedavoice
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fromabove.
“Bravo,Raton,”
Ledesmastated,withapump
ofhisfist.
BANG,SanLuisII
complained.
“Approachingthree
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hundredmeters.”
“Planestofive
degrees.”
“Aye,sir,myplanesare
atfivedegreesdown,”the
planesmanreported.
THUNK.CRACK.
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EveryoneexceptLedesma
andMatiassquirmedasSan
LuisII’shigh-tensilesteel
shelladjustedtothesqueeze
oftheocean.
“Adeadlyhug,”Matias
quippedwithacrookedsmile.
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“Threehundred.”
“Planestozero.All
stop,bothturbines,”The
captainordered.Ledesma
echoedthewords.
“Answersallstop,sir,”
saidthehelmsman.
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CaptainMatiaslooked
aroundtheconfinesofSan
LuisII’sControlCenter.Our
tomb.Hestudiedthered-lit
tangleofwires,pipes,dials,
andlights.Matiascursedthe
narcissismofthosewho
believedtheyhadallthe
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answers.Hesworeatthe
sociopathictendenciesofhis
leaders—theleadersthathad
orderedhimtoengageinthis
folly—andhecursedthose
whohadsenthissonto
death.Asthesethoughts
playedoutinhismind,his
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outwardappearanceremained
oneofsteadfastnessand
professionalism.SanLuis
II’sforwardmomentum
stalled,andtheboathungin
thepitch-blackstillness.The
soundoftricklingwater
confirmedthatballastwas
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pumpedintoasterntrim
tank.Matiasglancedatthe
bubble:Theboatstayedlevel
inbothpitchandyaw.
“Sonar?”heasked.
“Sir,Delta1isatzero-
two-zero.Bearing:two-zero-
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zeroandturning.Range:500
meters.Delta1hasreduced
speed,makingturnsforabout
sevenknots.Enemytorpedo
isapproachingour
noisemaker.”Amuffled
thumpsoundedsomewhere
overtheirheads.“Enemy
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torpedohasdetonated.”
“Yes,”washissedby
severalofthesubmariners.
Atandbelowthe
surface,thesub’sweapons
approachedtheBritish
guided-missiledestroyer.
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◊◊◊◊
TheKlubsdartedin
lowandfast,skimmingjust
abovethewater.Kingfisher
21’spilothadspottedtheir
tail-fireontherippledwater.
SeamuscontactedDragon,
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reportinghisownposition
lesthe,too,beengagedby
thedestroyer.Thehelicopter
wasorderedtogainaltitude
andhold,soSeamusbrought
hisaircraftuphighand
bankedofftoadesignated
blockofairspace.Inthe
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meantime,Dragon’sair
defenseradarhadalready
detectedtheKlubs’
cylindricalbodies.TheAWO
reacted.
“Radarcontact.
Probabletargets,”theOp
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Roomhadannouncedover
thebridge’sVoiceUserUnit.
“Fastmoversattwo-zero-
zerodegrees.Bearing:zero-
two-zero.”Lieutenant
CommanderWilliams
soundedanalarmbelland,
withanodfromCaptain
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Fryatt,orderedthewheelhard
oversoDragon’sbow
pointeddownthemissiles’
flight-path,presenting
minimumaspect.Dragon
slowedaswell,reducingthe
turnofhershafts,andthus
reducedherself-generated
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noise.
Thecaptainorderedup
theSurfaceShipTorpedo
DefenseSystem,“Deploy
SSTDS.”FromDragon’s
transom,adrumwinchpaid
outatowedarray.
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CaptainFryattclosed
hiseyesforamoment,andin
theblacknessfelttheheatand
burningsmokefromthat
terribledayaboardSheffield.
Herememberedthewindin
thedarkpassagewayasthe
firesuckedair,gobblingthe
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airasthefiregrewin
intensity,chokingmenwith
fumes,smokeandoxygen
starvation.Fryattopenedhis
eyesagain,butstillsawthe
bigroundeyesofthesailorin
therespiratorwhohadsaved
himfromasphyxiation.He
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blinkedtheimagesawayand
focusedagainonthehereand
now.
Twocellcoverspopped
openamongDragon’s
forwardverticallaunching
system.
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“T-markforfunction,”
WilliamsspoketotheOp
RoombyVUU.
“Electricfiring
selected,”OpRoom
responded.
“Firinggranted,”Fryatt
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authorizedandWilliams
repeated.
“Standby.”
Adeafeningbanganda
plumeofeffluxexitedthe
chimney.AnAster15leapt
fromitslaunchercell.The
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dart-shapedmissileroseona
fountainoffirethatbathed
thebridgeinaneerieorange
glow.
“Goodaway,one”
Williamssaidasthebridge
crewwatchedthemissile
![Page 598: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/598.jpg)
climbout.
BANG.WHOOSH.
AsecondAster
departed.
“Goodaway,two.”
Bothmissilesclimbed
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briefly,turnedover,shaped
theirtrajectory,discardedthe
boosterstage,anddove
towardthewater.
Nearlysimultaneous
withthefirstshot,Dragon’s
SeagnatControlSystemhad
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scrutinizedwinddirection
andspeed,threatdirection,
threatrange,threattypeand
theship’sdirectionand
changeofheading.Itthen
selectedlaunchertwo,and
sentthreeMark214
seductionchaffcanisters
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skyward.Pushedawaybya
low-grocket,thecanisters
burstanddispersedcloudsof
metallizedplasticstrips.
InDragon’sOpRoom,
aredlightblinkedonthe
sonarstationconsole.The
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SSTDS’spassivetowedarray
hadsniffedsomethingand
presentedittoa
midshipman’sscreeninthe
OpRoom.
Dragon’ssonar
technicianleanedinand
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scrutinizedhisdisplay.The
midshipmandonnedhis
earphonesandheardahiss
likesteaksjustturnedona
hotgrill.
“Bloodyhell,”he
bouncedinhisseat,and,
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turnedtothedirector,
proclaiming:“Torpedo,
torpedo,torpedo.”Asthose
aroundhimshiftedtheirfocus
fromtheradar’splanposition
indicatortosonarreadouts,
thesonartechnicianbegan
theclassificationand
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identificationroutine.
Withinseconds,hehad
weapontypestohelpthe
directorandcaptaindefend
theship:“VA-111Shkval
super-cavitators.Two
inbound,bearingzero-two-
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fivedegrees.”Twomore
frequencylinesappearedon
thesonardisplay.The
midshipmansquirmedinhis
seatagainandbegantoanalyze
bearing,frequency,andrange
ofthethreats.
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TheAstersdoveonthe
anti-shipmissiles.OneAster
detonatedaboveaKluband
sprayeditwithsteelcubes.
ThedamagedArgentinesea-
skimmerwobbledandthen
toreitselfapartbydynamic
pressure.ThesecondAster
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detonatedproximatetothe
secondKlubanti-ship
missile,butitswarhead’s
shotguneffectmissedthe
target.ThissecondKlub
acceleratedandbrokethe
soundbarrierwithacrackas
itcarriedontowardDragon.
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“ASMinsideouter
fence,”Williamsnoted.
“Phalanxonline.Thenthe
lieutenantcommander
reiterated:“Allweapons
free.”
Fryatt’sonlyresponse
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wasaclenchingofhisteeth
thatmadehischeekspoke
out.Helookedtotheclouds
ofchaffthatfloateddown
towardthesea.
Theanti-shipmissile
screamedoverthewaterand
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flewattheshapeitsnose
radarsaidwasanenemy
target.However,Dragon’s
chaffmadethisshapelarger
thanhertruemass
represented,andthemissile’s
computerizedbraincontinued
toadjustitspathatwhatit
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believedtobetheenemy’s
centerofmass.Thiscenter,
however,wasnowofftothe
starboardoftheBritish
guided-missiledestroyer.
Mountedtoitssponson
wasDragon’sclose-in
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weaponssystem.Withits
distinctiveradome—
nicknamed‘Dalek’afterthe
aliensinDoctorWho—the
Phalanxscannedtheseawith
itssearchsubsystem.When
ithadfoundatargetand
providedaltitude,bearing,
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heading,range,andvelocity
informationtoitscomputer,
thecomputeranalyzedthe
target’srange,speedand
direction.Amillisecond
later,thePhalanxswiveledon
itsmountandraisedits
Vulcansix-barreledGatling
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cannon.Itstrackantennaand
subsystemscrutinizedthe
target,observingituntilit
determinedtheprobabilityof
ahitwasworthfiring.On
automatic,thecomputer
pressedthetrigger,andwitha
rippingsoundthePhalanx
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spat75tungstenbulletsper
second,walkingthemintothe
radarreturnithaddeemed
threatening.
Toocloseforcomfort,
theremainingKlubanti-ship
missileblewupinaflashof
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orange,black,andred.Its
turbojetengine,themost
robustpartofitsstructure,
splashedinandcartwheeled
foramomentbeforeit
stoppedwithaslamandthen
abruptlysank.
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Fryattsighedand
exhaledabreathhehadheld
forminutes.Hisbluedair-
deprivedfaceturnedpink
again,andheturnedhis
attentiontothereportof
underwatercontacts.The
enemyhadreachedupto
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assaultthemfromtheair,and
nowstabbedfrombeneaththe
waves.Hisenemywouldtry
tosticktheknifein,twistit,
andlookintohisveryeyesas
hespilledFryatt’sguts.
Fryatt,inthatmomentand
withoutknowinghimby
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name,respectedArgentine
NavyCaptainMatias.He
was,afterall,justapatriot
doingeverythingwithinhis
powertowin.Fryatt
nodded.Asheacknowledged
theexistenceandpurposeof
hisfoe,Fryattdecidedhe
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wouldwin,andthathewould
damnhisenemy’sshadowto
adeep,cold,blackgrave.
Buthewoulddosowitha
saluteandamemoryhe
wouldholdaslongashe
lived.
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Ifmylifeistobealong
one,Fryattponderedashe
lookedaroundattheyoung
peoplemanninghisship’s
bridge.Helovedeveryone
ofthem.Hewouldnevertell
themthisdirectly,buthad
anyonebeenlooking,his
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usuallycoldblueeyeswould
havebetrayedthefeeling.
Fryattrefocused.
“Williams.Squall.”
“Sir,”Williamsturned
andasthoughinatrance,
roboticallyrattledoffallhe
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knewabouttheRussianfish:
“VA-111.High-speed.
Straightrunner.GOLIS
navigationsystem.Preset
targetinformation.”Thislast
bitwasenoughforCaptain
Fryatttorelax.
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“Cometoheadingone-
eight-zero.Increasespeed:
20knots,”heordered.
ThoughtheSquallwas
afearsomelyfastweapon,it
raninalineandwas
thereforeameredistractionto
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ahighlymaneuverablevessel
likeDragon.
Distractionfromwhat?
“Torpedo,torpedo,
torpedo,”wastheOpRoom’s
answertohisquery.
Fryattraisedhis
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binocularstowatchthelines
ofsurfacebubblesasthe
Squallsspedalong.When
certaintheywouldcome
nowherenear,heshiftedhis
attention.
“Whathaveyougot,
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Charlie?”Fryattaskedover
thebridgephone.
TheOpRoomsonar
technicianhadlocalizedthe
otherslowertorpedoes,and
matchedtheiracoustic
signaturetoType53-65
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heavies.MoreGoddamn
Russianfish.Hereportedto
thedirector,whointurn
answeredthecaptain.
Williams’bigeyes
askedthequestionasFryatt
hungup.
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“Wakehomers,”the
captainsaid.Everyoneonthe
bridgeturnedandpeered
asternasiftheycouldlook
throughsteelbulkheads.
PartofDragon’s
SurfaceShipTorpedo
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DefenseSystem,astern-
mountedreel,paidoutafloat
andline.Thefloatcreateda
secondwakebehindthe
destroyerandbegantoemit
soundslikethosegenerated
byan8,000-tonshippowered
byloudengines.
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SanLuisII’sheavy
torpedoeshadalreadyturned
intotheveeofDragon’s
foamedwake,andhadbegun
tosnakebackandforth
withinit.Dragonincreased
speedandstartedaturn.As
shedidso,thetowedfloat
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slowed.Thisallowedoneof
thetorpedoestocatchup.
Theweaponarmedits700-
poundwarhead.Justafew
morefeetoftravelandthe
torpedoexploded.Ageyser
ofwhitewaterrosefromthe
ocean,andtheexplosion’s
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pressurewavesmackedthe
shipontheass.Thesecond
torpedocontinuedits
advance.
Theweaponnibbledat
theedgeofDragon’swake,
andnolongerswimming
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side-to-side,accelerated.In
theOpRoom,thetechnician
heardtheinsect-likebuzzof
itshigh-speedpropellers
drawingnearer.Heinformed
thedirectorleaningoverhis
station.Thedirectorrangthe
bridge.
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“Increasetoflank.
Hardrightrudder,”Fryatt
ordered.
Dragon’sbowroseas
shehastenedandleanedhard
intheturn.Fryattwatchedas
thebowswungaroundand
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pointedbackattheship’s
wake.
“Meether,”thecaptain
ordered.
“Verywell,”answered
theconningofficerasheused
oppositerudderangletostop
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theturn.
“And,rudder
amidships.”
Theshipcutacrossthe
wake’sconsecutivewaves
andfrothycenter,slicing
throughwithoutsomuchasa
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bounce.AssoonasDragon
hadcutthroughthecalm
lather,Fryattyappedanother
command:“Hardleftrudder.”
Thebowswungagain,
andthehullleanedhard.
Sailorsgrabbedholdof
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bulkheadsandconsolesto
steadytheirstance.Witha
smacking,theshipcrossed
thewakeagainandfinished
thelastloopofalargefigure-
eightshehaddrawnuponthe
sea.Thetorpedohaddoneits
besttoturnwiththewake.It
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piercedtheouterwave
createdduringtheship’slast
turnanditsnosesensor
scannedtheareaahead,
findingnothingbutopen,
featurelessocean.Itwould
rununtilitskeroseneand
hydrogenperoxidewere
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expended.AsDragon
becameafleetingblackshape
onthestar-lithorizon,the
torpedosankintotheabyss.
Fryattleanedtoward
Williams.
“How’stheMerlin’s
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fuelstate?”
“Atleastanotherhour.”
“Loadout?”
“OneStingrayandtwo
Mark-11s.”
“Excellent.Getmea
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sonarfixonthisbastard.”
“Withpleasure,sir,”
Williamsrespondedand
poweredupDragon’sactive
sonar.
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8:CALOR
“Deathmakesmen
preciousandpathetic.They
aremovingbecauseoftheir
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phantomcondition;everyact
theyexecutemaybetheir
last;thereisnotafacethatis
notonthevergeofdissolving
likeafaceinadream.”—
JorgeLuisBorges
WHOMP.
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Thelashofsonarmeant
onething:theBritish
destroyerwasaliveandwell.
“Herewego,”Ledesma
muttered.
WHOMP.
SanLuisIIshivered.
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Matiasfelthertremorashe
leanedagainstapipe.He
wonderedifitwasheorthe
boatthatwasfulloffear.He
letgoofthepipe,feltthe
vibrationagainthroughhis
rubber-soledshoes,and
lookedathistremblinghand.
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It’sbothofus.
WHOMP.
“Splash,”thesonarman
stated.“High-pitched
screws.Torpedointhe
water.Itjustwentactive.”
“Mierda,”Matias
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mutteredtohimself.One
submarinermadethesignof
thecrossashigh-pitched
pingsreverberatedthrough
thewater.Thesonarman
squeezedhisheadphones
tightagainsthisears,and
added:“Highrpmturbine.”
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“Hotel1.TheBritish
helicopter,”Ledesma
breathedcontemptuously.
Matiasgrunted
acknowledgment,andrattled
off:“Planesupfivedegrees.
Makeyourdepth250meters,
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increasespeedtofiveknots.
Readynoisemaker.”The
captain’svoicehadbecome
gravelly,betrayinghis
fatigue.Ledesmawondered
aboutthelasttimethecaptain
hadslept,orforthatmatter,
eaten.Ledesmarubbedhis
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owngrowlingbelly.He
thoughtaboutasteakora
nicepieceoffish.Whenhe
rememberedthecannedand
frozenslopthatcameoutof
NumeroDos’galley,
Ledesmarefocused.
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“Fiveknots.Coming
upontwo-five-zero,”he
announcedtotheControl
Center.
Matiasnodded.
“Planestozero.”SanLuisII
leveledagain.The
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submarine’scasingcreaked
withthechangeinpressure.
“Power?”
Seekingananswerfor
hiscaptain,Ledesmawentto
theelectriciansmate.The
electriciansmatereadhis
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station’sgauges.Hethen
lookedatLedesma,shrugged,
andfrowned.Ledesma
checkedthebatteryread-out
forhimself,sighed,and
returnedtothecaptain.
“Sir,batteriesaredown
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toninepercent.”Ledesma
pausedandexhaledwith
worry.“Wearegoingto
haveto--”
Ratonheardtheprotests
fromthehull.Hethoughthe
evensawthesecondaryinner
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hullflexforamoment.He,
too,lackedsleepandfood,
andbegantodoubthisown
senses.Ratonhadnursedthe
batteriesasbesthecould;
shiftingleadsfromterminals,
whiffingozoneasthey
sparked,andtopping-offcells
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withdistilledwater.Despite
suchefforts,theavailable
chargewasfiniteand
fleeting.Likelife.Theboat
answeredhisthoughtswitha
sickeninggroan.
SanLuisIIhadbeen
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pushedtoherlimits.The
submarine’ssteelhadbeen
compacted,flexedand
stretched.Herenergywas
nearlyexpended.Heroxygen
generatorsandcarbondioxide
scrubberswerenearempty.
Raton’sthoughtsbecame
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cloudedandhisvision,wavy.
Ratonknewthepoisons
emittedbymachineryandthe
crew’sbreathsweregenerally
heavierthanmostgases,and
tendedtosettlewithinhispart
oftheboat.Ratonwas,in
![Page 662: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/662.jpg)
effect,SanLuisII’scanaryin
acoalmine,andthetroubles
hebegantoexperience
confirmedthattheyhadall
beenunderwaterfortoo
long.Raton’ssledhada
growlerthatcouldpluginat
multiplepointsalongthe
![Page 663: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/663.jpg)
batterycompartment’strack.
Heconsideredusingit.
Ratonwouldbeg
whomeveransweredtocome
totheirsensesandgettothe
surfaceforair,forthe
opportunitytorunthediesels
![Page 664: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/664.jpg)
andfeedhisbatteries.His
handtrembledashefeltthe
growler’sbox.Hetuggedat
itscoiledumbilical,fondled
itsplug,andconsideredthe
wordshewouldhaveforthe
idiots‘upstairs.’Thenhe
rememberedhistrainingand
![Page 665: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/665.jpg)
hisreverenceforCapitán
MatiasandTenientede
FragataLedesma;his
superiors.Aretheysuperior?
Ratonwondered,andthen
shookhisheadtoclearit.He
realizedhisheartwasracing.
Hisstudiesandtraining
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flashedintohismind:
Hypercapnia,fromthe
Greekhyper,for‘above,’and
kapnos,meaning‘smoke.’
Theconditionisoneof
abnormallyelevatedcarbon
dioxide—agaseousproduct
![Page 667: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/667.jpg)
ofthebody'smetabolism
normallyexpelledviathe
bloodandthroughthelungs.
Ratongiggled,andsaid:“It’s
true.It’strue.”Afloating
headappearedbeforehim.If
Ratoncouldhaverecognized
itsfeatures,hewouldknow
![Page 668: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/668.jpg)
thefacebelongedtoaboy
whohaddiedduringSanLuis
II’sshakedowncruise.The
facesmiledandsaid:“Yes,it
istrue.”Thenitssmilefaded
andthefacebecamegrimand
drainedofcolor.Itsdark
eyesbecamesad.Raton’s
![Page 669: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/669.jpg)
smilefaded,too.Thenhe
yelledinhorror.
Ratonshimmiedalong
toalockerdoor.Hefumbled
atitslatchandgotthelocker
open.Insidewasadiving
lung;abagandmouthpiece
![Page 670: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/670.jpg)
theRusoshaddesignedto
filterbadair.Ratonbitdown
onthefoultastingbit,slipped
thepieceonhisnosetopinch
hisnostrilsshut,andsuckeda
lungfulofrubber-tastingair.
Afewfilteredbreathslater,
hisheadbegantoclear.He
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movedalongtothegrowler.
Ratonliftedthe
oversizedtelephone’s
connectionwire,foundthe
plugatitsend,aimedforthe
receptaclelabeled‘Control
Center,’pluggeditin,and
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crankedthegrowler’sringer.
“¿Si?”cameoverthe
receiver.Ratonsobered
himself,asthoughhewere
dismissingtheeffectsofa
nightofdrinkingFernetand
Coca-Colas.
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“Señor,”Ratonsaid,
unsureofwithwhomhe
spoke.“Dióxidode
carbono…”
Ledesmaslammedthe
ControlRoomgrowlerdown.
Hefelthisownbalance
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momentarilywaverashe
movedtocheckthe
environmentcontrolpanel.
Thepanel’sgaugesconfirmed
Raton’sreport.
“Captain,scrubber
efficiencyreduced.Carbon
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dioxidelevelsareonthe
rise,”Ledesmastatedtothe
captain,whodisplayeda
blankanddistantlook.
Ledesmalookedaroundand
saweveryonewasbreathing
harder.Heturnedbacktothe
captain,gasped,andinsisted:
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“Sir…”
Matiasshookhishead
andblinkedhardandfast.
“Yes,Santiago…”
“Captain,wehaveto
gettoperiscopedepth.We
havetoventtheboat.”
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Everyonewithin
earshotturnedawayfrom
theirControlCenterstation
panelsandlookedat
Ledesma.Theyallknewthat
thesurfacewastoodangerous
withadestroyeranda
helicopteraround.Coming
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shallowtoextendthesnorkel
wouldbetantamountto
suicide.CaptainMatias
clenchedhisfistandstruckit
againststeel.Tohavea
nuclearboat,hewished
silently.Torunsilentand
rundeep;tobefreeofthe
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surfaceandair.Inthat
moment,CaptainMatias
understoodwhyhissonhad
died,whyBuenosAireshad
pushedtheboundariesofits
industrialandscientific
capabilitiestoacquiresucha
capability.Ascertainashe
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wasabouthistacticsand
boat,theinherentlimitation
ofthediesel-electric
submarinewerefatalifatin
canlikethisBritishguided-
missiledestroyerpersistedin
itspursuit.CaptainMatias
collectedhimself,clearedhis
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throat,andspokeout:
“Esundíadelealtad.”
“¡Sí,micapitán!”came
backfromthemeninyelled
unison.Foritwasadayof
loyalty,andtheywould
followtheircaptain,fight
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theirboat,andhonortheir
country,nomatterthecost.
“Verywell…”Captain
MatiasstrolledtheControl
Center.Helookedateach
submarinerattheirstation,
pattedtheshoulderofsome,
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andthenordered:“Diving
lungsforall.Thoseoffduty
totheirbunks.
“Aye,sir,”cameback,
andthemenreachedinto
stationlockerstopulloutand
dontheirmasks.Though
![Page 684: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/684.jpg)
Matiasstretchedhisoverhis
head,heleftitdanglingfrom
hisneck.
“Launchnoisemaker.
Planesup20degrees.Make
yourdepth100meters.
Readytubesonethroughsix
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forfiring,”Matiascontinued.
Withadeviouschild-
likegrin,Ledesmarepeated
hiscaptain’sorders.Witha
subtleswish,anoisemaker
wasreleasedtothewater.
Mostwouldhavepaidthe
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soundlittlemind,though
someaboarddiscernedand
recognizedthesmall
cylinder’sdin.Regardless,
theyallhopedtheenemy
torpedowouldbelured
away.SanLuisIIroseinthe
watercolumnand
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accelerated,leavingthe
noisemakerbetweenherlast
positionandtheBritish
helicopter-launchedweapon.
Matias’eyesrolledin
hishead.Hewasonthe
vergeofpassingout,he
![Page 688: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/688.jpg)
realized.Hepawedathis
mask,placeditoverhisnose
andmouth,andsuckedafew
breathsthroughitsround
filterelement.Loweringthe
maskagain,heexhaledand
asked:“Sonar,positionon
Delta1?”
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“Señor,IhaveDelta1
atthree-three-one;bearing:
one-three-two.Speed…”the
sonarmanpausedtoconfirm
hiscountofbladeandshaft
turns,“is11knots.”
“Weapons:firingpoint
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procedures,Delta1.
Snapshot,tubesonethrough
four.ReloadwithASMs.”
Menscurriedtomake
thecaptain’sordershappen.
Theylockedtheenemy’s
positionintofirecontrol,
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programmedtheheavywake-
homingtorpedoeswiththose
numbers,andpreparedfour
Klubanti-shipmissilesfor
loading.SanLuisIIangled
up,makingthesetasksan
urgentuphillcoordinated
dance.Thesubmarine
![Page 692: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/692.jpg)
shuddered,andwitha
continuouswhoosh,four
torpedoeswereloosedtothe
water.
“Santiago,bringusin
ascloseasyoucan.Slam
Klubsand‘53sdownthatmal
![Page 693: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/693.jpg)
parido’sthroat,”Matias
cursed.“Then,surfacethe
boat.”
Ledesmahesitated.His
usualreiterationoforders—a
seemingechoofthecaptain’s
voice—wasnotimmediately
![Page 694: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/694.jpg)
forthcoming.Then,hefinally
repeatedwhathadbeensaid.
Whenhedid,thecaptain
added:
“Prepareconningtower
teamforSAMdeployment.”
Ledesmastooderect
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andacknowledgedright
away:“Aye,sir.”
Despitethelackofneed
tosaluteaboardship,
Ledesmasnappedone
anyway.Thegesturewas
interruptedbyahigh-
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frequencypinging.
“Dippingsonaratzero-
nine-eight.”
WHOMP,camethelow
frequencyslapofDragon’s
bowsonar.
“Activesonar,”San
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LuisII’ssonarmanreported
theobvious.Thenhe
scrutinizedtheothersounds
inthewaterandreported:
“Enemytorpedoapproaching
thenoisemaker.”The
sonarmanfellsilentand
listenedhard,closinghiseyes
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todoso.Amomentlaterhe
added:“Torpedohasreached
noisemaker.”Thesonarman
rockedbackandforth,as
thoughthemotionwould
improvehishearingand
concentration.Heamended
hisreportbysaying:
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“Torpedohaspassed
noisemaker.Nodetonation.
Torpedocontinuestosearch
attwo-four-two;depth:285
meters.”
“Makeyourcourse--”
thecaptainstarted.
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“Splashes,”the
sonarmaninterrupted.His
reportdidnotcontinuewith
‘activesonar’or‘screws,’
whichmeant:
“Depthcharges,”
Ledesmaguessedoutloud.
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TwoMark11depth
chargeshaddroppedfromthe
hoveringhelicopter,splashed
in,andbegantofallthrough
thewater.Astheydid,the
thumpofKingfisher21’s
rotorsweremuffledbythe
waterastheweaponssank.
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ThecylindricalBritish
weaponsdescendedtoward
theirdetonationdepth:180
meters,thelastdepthat
whichMaster1—SanLuisII
—hadbeenlocalizedon
activesonar.
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Whenadepthcharge
detonates,thehighexplosive
undergoesarapidchemical
reaction.Averyhigh-
pressuregasbubbleexpands
rapidly,andcreatesaprimary
shockwavethatislethaltoman
andmachine,especiallyifthe
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weaponexplodesinclose
proximity.Then,asthe
weightofthesurrounding
waterforcesthebubbleto
contractagain,pressure
withinthebubblebuildsand
causesittore-expand,
propagatinganother
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shockwave.Thiscycle
continuesuntilthegasbubble
canventtotheatmosphere.It
wasthesecyclicalsecondary
shockwavesthatCaptain
Matiasandhiscrewfeared,
astheycouldbenda
submarine’shullbackand
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forthuntilacatastrophichull
breechoccurred.
“Makeyourcourseone-
eightzero,”Matiasordered.
Hisplanwastoturntheboat
inawidecircleandmoveher
tothesurface;allinhopesof
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avoidingthisnewperil.
“Enemytorpedo
circlingattwo-nine-zero
meters,”thesonarman
added.TheStingraywasin
anautomatedcircularsearch
pattern.Matiasusedthis
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informationtodeprioritizethe
threattheenemyweapon
presented.Knowingthe
Merlin’sweaponloadout,the
captainrationalized:Ifwecan
bleedthishelicopterdry,
haveitexpendallitsweapons
andsendithomesulking,
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thenthedestroyerwillbe
vulnerable.Afterthese
thoughts,CaptainMatias
spokeagain:
“Planestofivedegrees.
Slowyourrise.Cometonew
depth:eight-zerometers.”
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“Aye,sir,planestofive
degrees.Comingtonew
depth:eight-zero.Repeat:80
meters.Forward
compartmentreportstubes
onethroughfourloadedwith
ASMs.Tubesfiveandsix
loadedwithType53heavy
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torpedoes.”
“Verywell,Santiago.
Verywell.”
SanLuisIIleanedas
sheturnedagreatcircleand
spiraledupwardtothe
surface.Hercrewwaitedas
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thedepthchargesfellthrough
thewaterintheirdirection.
Despitethesubmarine’ssteel
skin,thecrew’seyesall
lookedupasiftheycouldsee
throughmetalandwaterand
seethedescendingdepth
charges.Perhapstheygazed
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totheHeavensandtoGod,
beggingforsalvationand
maintenanceoflife…Ifluck
waswiththem,theenemy
weaponswouldbefaroff
theirmark.Someprayed.
ButeventhoughGodhears
allprayers,sometimesthe
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answeris‘no.’
Adepthcharge
detonatedjustseveralmeters
behindandbelowthe
submarine.Theexplosion’s
high-pressuregascreateda
brightsphereintheblack
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ocean,asmallsunthat
momentarilyilluminatedthe
abyss,andthenshrankand
blackened.Thecircular
shockwaveitcreated
slammedintoSanLuisII,
shakingherviolently.Inside
thesubmarine,lights
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shattered,panelssparked,
fusesblew,andmen
screamed.
“Leftfullrudder.
Aheadfull,”Matiasshouted.
BLAM.Another
explosion.
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Thisexplosionwas
closeranditwasbig.The
primaryshockwavewas
bone-shaking,butthenit
mixedwiththesecondary
one.Bothwavesmerged,
conspired,andcrashedinto
SanLuisII.
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Thesubmarinequaked,
rockingbackandforth,and
wailedlikeatormented
ghost.Metaltoreandmen
screamed.Thosestanding
seemedtojumpinplace,and
thoseseatedinchairsrose
intotheairbeforefalling
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backupontheirbottoms.
Somementumbledoveras
theycrashedbackdown,and
theentireboatseemedtoflex
asthoughconstructedofa
greenspringtwig.
Thedepthcharge’sgas
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bubbleshrankandgrew
again.Itslammedagainst
SanLuisII’sstern.It
grabbedherandtwistedher.
TheexplosionliftedSanLuis
II,shovingherhard,and
pushedhernosedown.Then
occurredathirdexplosion.
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Thisonefeltasthoughitwas
rightupagainstthe
submarine’skeel.
Ratonwasliftedfrom
hissled.Hisbackslammed
againstthecompartment
roof.Heswore,“¡Estoesun
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quilombo!Therewasagush
asabatterycellcrackedopen
andspilleditscontentsina
wavethatsloshedalongthe
floorbeforedrainingtothe
bilge.ThelightsinRaton’s
littledungeonflickered.He
rememberedalullabyfrom
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childhood:‘Quélinda
manito’…
LittleGastonBersalay
snuggledinhisbed,beneath
thickblanketsandcool
comfortingsheets.Helooked
uponhisfather’scandle-lit,
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beardedface.Ratonheldhis
handup.Helookeduponthe
face.Itswirledinthecarbon
dioxide-poisonedhaze.
Despitetherespirator’s
mouthpiecebeingjammed
againsthistongue,hebegan
tohumthelyrics:
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Quélindamanitoque
tengoyo
LindaybonitaqueDios
meladio.
Hethrummedhis
fingersandthought:
WhatabeautifulhandI
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havethatGodgaveme.
Beigeblurs,Raton’s
movingfingerstrailed.He
laughed.Thelaughwashard
andgasping,andreverberated
upthroughthesteeldecks.
Someoneupstairsheardit,
![Page 727: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/727.jpg)
butdismisseditasanother
hallucination,likethefloating
faceRatonkeptseeing,and
thesoundsoftheoceantrying
toendhislife.Then,when
thefacereappeared,Raton
yelledout:“¡Dióxidode
carbon!”
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◊◊◊◊
Kingfisherhovered
nearwhereitslastdepth
chargehadsplashedin.Off
thehelicopter’snose,the
blackblanketofsearose,
boiled,anderupted,sending
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whitewaterairborne.The
upsurgefoldedoverandfell
backagainassurfacewaves
radiatedinconcentriccircles.
IntheMerlin’srearcabin,
Johnwatchedthespectacle
andknewthat,farbelow,
menweresuffering.Though
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thiswasJohn’sfirst
experiencewatchingweapons
beingusedinanger,hedid
notfeelangry.Instead,he
feltpityandrespectforthose
braveenoughtotraveland
fightbeneaththewaves,inan
environmentsoalienthey
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mayaswellhavebeenonthe
Moon.
◊◊◊◊
“Trimtheboat,”Matias
whisperedintothe
planesman’searashehelped
himoffthecoldsteelfloor.
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“Aye,sir,trimthe
boat,”theshakenplanesman
answeredsheepishly.
Leaningbackinhisseat,the
planesmanpusheda
mushroom-shapedbutton,
andthenagainwhenthe
indicatorshowedSanLuisII
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wasbackonanevenkeel.
Pattingthemanonthe
shoulders,thecaptainturned
andannounced:“Getmea
damagereport.Andswitch
toemergencylighting.”
Ledesmaacknowledged
![Page 734: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/734.jpg)
andturnedonthebackup
lightswhichilluminatedthe
compartmentinblueshadowy
tones.Hethenmadea
generalannouncement:“All
compartments,report
damage.”
![Page 735: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/735.jpg)
Thegrowlerrang.
Ledesma,hislegsshaking,
steadiedhimselfandreached
forit.Henodded.
“Forwardcompartment
reportstubefiveisleaking,”
hetoldthecaptain.“Repairs
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areunderway.”
“Starboardsternplane
stuckatpositiveseven
degrees,”theplanesman
addedafterunsuccessfully
manipulatinghiscontrols.
“Firecontrolcomputer
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isdown.Ineedfuses,”the
weaponsofficerpleaded.“I
needfuckingfuses.”
Someoneranofftogetthem.
“Okay.Thatpajero
helicoptercannotshitonus
anymore.Depth?”
![Page 738: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/738.jpg)
“Onehundredtwenty
meters,sir.”
“Señor,permissiontocheck
forwardcompartment?”
Ledesmawasalreadyonthe
waywhenthecaptainoffered,
“Yes,Santiago.Go.Go.I
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needthoseweaponsinfive
minutes.”
LedesmaenteredSan
LuisII’sforward
compartment.Atorrentof
seawaterwasgushingfrom
tubefive.Torpedomen
![Page 740: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/740.jpg)
struggledastheirsupervisor
screamedtheobvious:“Make
hatchcovertight.Turn,
boys.Turn.”
“Pushharder,”one
yelled.
“I’mpushing,”wasthe
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strain-filledresponsehegot.
Moregruntsasthementried
toturnthehand-wheel.
Ledesmascannedthe
compartmentwiththecone-
shapedbeamofaflashlight.
Thesoakedmen
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groanedandspatwateras
theyfoughttotightenthe
tube’sbreechvalvewheel
androtatethelockingring
thatheldthebreechclosed
whenthetubewasflooded.
Thebreech,aslugofsteel
thathadCyrillicletters
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embosseduponit,seemed
suchasmallbarrierbetween
theirsmallenvelopeof
breathableair,andthevast
oceansofullofcold,saline
death.Thechieftorpedoman
sawLedesmaand
instinctivelyreported:
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“Señor,tubeis
flooded.Muzzledoormust
bedamaged.Lockingringis
bent,”heshoutedinclipped
sentences.
Ledesmalookedatthe
smallredcardonthetube’s
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breechdoor.Itread:
‘LOADED.’Worried,
Ledesmajoinedthemenin
theirstruggletoreseatthe
breech’swedgesinthe
rotatinglockingring.He
grabbedacrowbarfroma
wallrackanddroveit
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betweenthewedgesandthe
lockingring’sgroove.He
slammedhisweightagainst
thebartobendtheringand
guidethemisalignedwedge
intotheindentation.The
crowbarcameunstuckin
failure.Ledesmaletoutacry
![Page 747: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/747.jpg)
ofpainasithithiminthe
chest.
“It’sthetrippinglatch
arm.It’sbent.Ineeda
hammer,”Ledesmasaid.The
word‘hammer’cameoutasa
strangegurgleaswater
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sprayedintohismouth.He
coughedhardassomeone
handedhimthetool.
CLANG.Ledesma
usedthehammertohitthe
metalarmthatalignedthe
breechdoorwiththetube’s
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barrel.CLANG.TheBrits
willhearthatforcertain.But
helandedyetanotherblow
againstthemetalarm.
CLANG.Theflowofwater
lessenedandthenstopped,
andthemenfelltothe
floodedfloor,exhaustedand
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soaked.Breathinghard,the
chieftorpedomanpatted
Ledesmahardontheback.
“Gracias,señor.”
Ledesmacoughed
again,smiled,andsetofffor
theControlCenter.
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SanLuisII’sbow
tippedupagainasherrise
towardthesurfacecontinued.
Ledesmagrabbedthetight
passageway’soverheadpipes
andwirebundlesasthefloor
slopedup.Hepracticallyfell
againstthefirstbulkhead
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beforehecroucheddownand
swungthroughitsopenhatch
andintotheControlCenter.
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9:VIEW
HOLLOA
“AsGodismywitness,
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Iwouldrathermybodywere
robedinthesameburning
blazeasmygold-giver'sbody
thangobackhomebearing
arms.”—Anonymous(from
‘Beowulf’).
Theelectriciansmate
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snappedinthelastfuseand
slidbackoutfromundera
circuitbreakerpanel.He
lookedacrossSanLuisII’s
ControlCentertothe
weaponsofficerwhostaredat
thedarkfirecontrolpanel.
Suddenly,thepanellituplike
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aChristmastree.
“Finalmente,”the
weaponsofficersaidashe
stood,andreportedtothe
captain:“Sir,firecontrol
computerisbackonline.”
“Excelente.”
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Theweaponsofficer
turnedbacktohispanel,
noticedaflashingredlight,
thumpeditwithhisfinger,
andspokeagain:“Sir,tube
fiveshowsasinoperative.”
Ledesmadriedhishair
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withagreytowelthathad
oncebeenwhite.Headded:
“Sir,thetube’sbreechdoor
wassecured.But...”
Matiasturned.
“But?”thecaptain
asked.
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“…There’sa‘53stillin
thetube.Itwaspoweredup
whenthefloodingstarted.I
thinktheumbilicalplug
shorted.”
“Carajo.”Nocaptain
wantedtohearthathehada
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weaponpowered-upand
stuckinatube,letalonean
HTP-propelledone.
“Fiftymeters,”avoice
penetratedthecaptain’s
thoughts.CaptainMatias
focused.
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“Snapshot,tubesix,
Delta1,”thecaptainordered.
“Síseñor.Snapshot:
tubesix;Delta1,”Ledesma
respondedandturnedtothe
weaponsofficer:“Doit.”
Theweapon’sofficerpushed
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abutton.Withawhoosh,
high-pressureairshovedthe
weaponfromthehull.“Tube
six,weaponaway.”The
officerstartedhisstopwatch.
“Leveltheboatat20
meters.Andthenfirethose
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missiles,”Matiasordered.
Ledesmanodded,
turnedtothedepthgauge,
andchanted:“Forty,30…
bowplanestozerodegrees,
sternplanestofive.Twenty-
five,20.Leveltheboat.Fire
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tubesonethroughfour,
target:Delta1.”Hissing
soundssignaledthatfour
Klubanti-shipmissile
canistershadejectedfromthe
hull.“Missilesaway.”
“¿Baterías?”the
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captainasked.
“Twopercentand
fallingfast,”theelectrician’s
matereported.
“Preparetoraisethe
snorkelandengagethe
diesels.Getusontonew
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heading:zero-nine-zero,three
knots,orbestpossiblespeed.
Andreloadtubesonethrough
sevenwithwhatever’sleftin
thecupboard.”
“Síseñor,”said
Ledesma.
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Thesubmarinepitched
andyawedintheturbulence
ofthesurfacezone.The
wateratthisdepthwas
disturbedandinfluencedby
theatmosphere,anddespite
herweight,SanLuisIIfelt
thepowerofEarth’s
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atmosphere.
“Everbeensailing?”
theCaptainaskedwitha
crookedgrin.
EveryoneinSanLuis
II’sControlRoomlookedat
him.Somehadblankstares;
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somelookedworried,others
wereperplexedbythe
question.
“Capitán,”oneman
spokeup,“Ihave.”
Matiassmiledwide.
“Where?”heasked.
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“OffPuertoMadryn,
señor.Abeautifulboat.She
was12meters.ACatalina.”
“Si,si,PuertoMadryn,”
Matiassighedandclosedhis
eyes.Hecouldseethe
mainsail,inflatedjib,the
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gentleriseandfallofthehull,
andthesmellandtasteof
cool,saltedair.“Oh,tobe
sailingrightnow.”
Thesubmariner
recognizedtheneedonhis
captain’sface,stoodathis
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stationandcontinued:“…She
wasnamedMamaQucha.
Shewasgoodandstrong.
Shehadgivenustherightof
passage,andprotectedour
way.Justlikeourboat,
señor.JustlikeNumero
Dos.”
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CaptainMatiasagain
openedhiseyes.Theman
whohadspokenwasjusta
shadowintheControl
Center’sredlighting.
“Gracias,”Matias
thankedhim.“Theseais
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indeedwondrous.Likeall
thosethatsailuponher.”
◊◊◊◊
Dragon’sbow-mounted
sonardetectedanother
submergedobject.The
multifunctionconsoleinthe
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OperationsRoomalertedthe
AssistantUnder-Water
WarfareOfficerandbeganto
trackandclassifythecontact.
“Torpedo,close
aboard,”thesailoryelledout.
Hescannedthedataonhis
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display,franticallyadding:
“Weaponisactiveand
terminal.”
“Brace,brace,bracefor
impact,”thePrincipal
WarfareOfficershoutedout
when…
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◊◊◊◊
Anexplosionshookthe
submarine’ssteelcasing.The
quakingtravelledupCaptain
Matias’splayedsealegsand
rockedhisverybones.A
cheerwentupintheControl
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Center.
“NumeroDoses
NumeroUno,”Matias
bellowed.SanLuisIIseemed
toriseinresponse,suckedup
byawaveatthesurfacethat
hadreacheddowntothe
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submarine’sdepthandpulled
herbulkalongfortheride.
“Report,”Captain
Matiasordered.Thepressing
ofbuttonsandwhispered
conversationswentsilent.
“Señor…”the
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sonarmaninhaleddeepand
hard.“Explosion.Soundis
atone-zero-two:Thelikely
positionofDelta1.”The
sonarmanpausedand
checkedhisreadouts.“Our
torpedo,”headdedwith
surety.SanLuisII’sType53
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hadactivatedontheoutskirts
ofDragon’swakeandturned
in,snakeditswayupthe
frothingline,andblewup
whenitthoughtitsmelled
somethingmetal.
Themetalthatthe
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torpedohaddetected
belongedtoDragon’shull,
specificallyrightatthe
portside5-Deckwherethe
ship’sgasturbineswere
located.Whentheweapon’s
simplecomputerbrainhad
thoughtitwasjustclose
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enough,theweaponhad
blown.Theexpandinggases
formedabubblejetthat
stabbedatDragon,piercing
andtearingintoher.
“Themissiles?”
CaptainMatiasqueried.
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Ledesmalookedathis
watch,andsaid:
“Almostthere…”
◊◊◊◊
Dragon’sbridge
shudderedwiththe
explosion.Fryattgrabbedthe
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armofhiscommanding
officer’schairtosteadyhis
stanceasDragonleanedto
starboard.Shesnappedback
toanevenkeelwhenthe
computeractuatedthehull-
mountedstabilizer.Red
lightsflashedontheofficer-
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of-the-watch’smultipurpose
console,aswellasthatwhich
belongedtothenavigation
position.Someoneswore.
“Sir,”theofficer-of-
the-watchspokeup,“RPMs
aredropping.”Hiswords
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wereaccentuatedbythe
suddenlurchofDragon’s
hull.Itwasasiftheshiphad
sailedintothick,soupywater
thatsappeditsmomentum.
“Captain,GasTurbineRoom
reportsdamageand
flooding.”
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TheVUUrang.
Williamsansweredandgota
report,passingthe
informationtothecaptain:
“Sir,wehavelostportgas
turbine.Portalternatorand
switchboarddown,aswell.”
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Dragonbegantoturn
towardtheleft.
“Reducerevolutions,
starboardshaft,”Fryatt
ordered.“Damagecontrol
teamsto5-Deck.”
IntheOpRoom,blips
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appearedontheAirWarfare
Officer’sconsole.Theywere
menacinglyclose.
“Bridge,Primary.
Missile,missile,missile,”
cameoverthebridge’s
speaker.Williamswentto
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thecombatsystemsconsole
andselectedtheradar
display.Fourmissiletracks
spedacrossthescreenlike
bonywhitefingers,reaching
forthechevronsymbol
representingDragon.
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“Missilesterminal,”
Williamsshouted.Fryatt
rememberedthelasttimehe
hadheardthat,andthoughtof
Sheffieldandhislost
shipmates.Hefeltananger
hehadnotfeltinalongtime.
Heswore,andthenscreamed:
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“Turnintothem.Get
both‘Qs’in-line.”
Thenavigatingofficer
turnedtheshiptominimize
theprofilepresentedtothe
missiles,andtoputthethreat
inthefiringarcsofboththe
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starboard-andport-side
Phalanxclose-inweapons
systems.
“Seagnat,”Williams
confirmeddecoyswerealso
up.“Activeanddistraction.”
Thesystemhadautomatically
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loftedajammerroundaswell
aschafftoeithersideofthe
ship.
Theportclose-in
weaponssystemcamealive.
Itsturretswiveledandthe
barrelrose.Acracklingroar
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andatongueofflamespata
whippedropeoftungsten
roundsattheapproaching
sea-skimmers.
Anexplosionclose-
aboard…
Thenanother…
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Dragonshook.
Fryattraisedhis
binocularsandwatchedone
Klubturnoffcenterand
towardwheretheMark251
activedecoyhungonits
parachute.
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Rippingandvibration
announcedthesecond
Phalanxlashingoutatthe
inboundKlubs,swatting
anotheroftheanti-ship
missilesinamassivefireball.
Thebrightflashfilled
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thebridge.Fryattwinced.
Everythinglookedlikean
overexposedphotograph.
Thencame-thepitter-patter
ofshrapnelimpactingthe
ship’smastsand
superstructure.Hiseyes
cleared,andfromtheredand
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orangeandblackwalloffire
andsmoke,awhiteshape
emerged.
“Brace,”Williams
shouted.
TheKlubslammedinto
Dragon’s02-Deckjust
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forwardoftheship’sfunnel
andrightabovethestarboard
small-calibergun’splatform.
Itpiercedthestructure’sthin
skinanddetonatedwithin.
Theblastrippedinto
theforwardup-take—the
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stackwhereexhaustgasses
fromtheship’spowerplants
vented.Theyexploded.The
shockwaveslammedintothe
armorof1-Deck,reflected,
andthesuperstructureburst
likeaballoon.Hotgasesand
overpressuretravelled
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forwardthrougha
passageway,rippedthrough
thenavigationofficer’scabin
andthecombinedchartroom,
andlikeanunwelcomeguest,
enteredthroughthebridge
hatch,twistingitfromits
frameandhinges.
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◊◊◊◊
“Blimey,”John
exclaimedashesawfireand
thickblacksmokefeatheroff
fromthestillmovingship.
TheMerlinorbitedata
distanceand—outof
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weapons,lowonfueland
unabletoland—was
relegatedtoreluctant
voyeurism.
◊◊◊◊
Fryattheardonlya
high-pitchedsqueal.Hetried
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tobreathe,buthisbody
refusedtolethiminhalethe
hottoxicgassesthathad
filledthebridge.Fryatt
coughedandspatoutthesoot
andbloodthathadfilledhis
mouth.Heheardgroansand,
barelyconscious,sawa
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bloodypilewhereWilliams
hadlastbeenstanding.Fryatt
triedtostand,buthefolded
againwhenheputweighton
hisbrokenleg.Hisheadspun
andablackshapefilledhis
vision.Foramoment,Fryatt
wonderedifhewasdead.
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“Captain.OhMy
God,”thenavigatorsaidashe
placedasmokehoodand
respiratoroverthecaptain’s
head.HegaveFryattagentle
shake.“Sir.”
“Helpmeup,Angus.”
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Withayelpofpain,
Fryattwasliftedanddropped
intohischair.Angusgrabbed
afireextinguisherand
sprayeditatseveralsmall
electricalandmaterialfires.
Heopenedthebridge’souter
door,whichsuckedmostof
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thesmokefromthespace.
“Firefighting?”Fryatt
askedwithacough.
Anguswenttoa
consoleandcheckedthatthe
ship’sfirefightingsystems
hadbeenactivated.They
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wereon,whichmeantthat
aqueousfoamwasbeing
sprayedintoburning
compartments.
CaptainFryattlifted
himself.Thepaininhisleg
madehisheadswim.
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However,hewasdetermined
tomakeittoWilliams.He
movedalongtheconsoleuntil
hegottotheseniorofficer’s
chairandthebloody,burnt
messbeforeit.
“Nigel…”hewhispered
![Page 813: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/813.jpg)
tohisfriend,andthenasked
thenavigatorforthedoctor:
“GettheQuackuphere.”
“Sir,Lieutenant
CommanderWilliamsis
dead.Thedoctorcannothelp
him.”Hehadalready
![Page 814: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/814.jpg)
checkedthefirstofficer,and
thenmovedtoeachcasualty
andfeltforpulsesor
respiration.Ateachmound
ofscorchedfleshand
clothing,heonlyshookhis
headindismay.Thenhe
cametothequartermaster,
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whogroanedwhenprodded.
Anguslaidhimoutflat.
“Ventilation…”the
quartermastergurgled,his
headstillfilledwithduty.
Thenavigatortookthecue
andwenttotherightconsole.
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Itwasstillenergizedand
working,sohepusheda
buttonthatisolated
ventilation.Hedidnotknow
thatdamagecontrolteams
hadalreadymanuallydone
thesamethingbyspinning
baffleandlouvrecontrols,all
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whiletheyfoughtfiresand
workedtorescuetheinjured.
Thenavigatorreturnedtothe
quartermasterandpropped
himagainstthebridge
consolearray.
Fighttheship,Fryatt’s
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subconsciousspokethrough
theconfusionofthesituation.
“Aye,fighttheship,”
Fryattmumbled.
“Sir?”thenavigatorand
quartermasteraskedin
unison.
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◊◊◊◊
Thesecondexplosion
hadbeenheardbythose
nestledinsideSanLuisII.A
briefcheerhadgoneup.
“Raiseperiscopeand
snorkel.Allstartondiesels,”
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CaptainMatiasbellowedwith
renewedenergyand
confidence.
Theperiscopeclimbed
fromitshullwell,pokedfrom
thesubmarine’ssail,and
piercedthesurface.Captain
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Matiasunfoldedthe
periscope’shandholdsand
leanedintoitsviewfinder.
Heshuffledaroundashe
spuntheperiscope.
Itwasearlymorning,
andtheskywaspainted
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purpleandorange.Theball
ofthesunhadjustpeeked
ontothissideoftheworld.
Theyhadbeenfightingall
night.Anotherfewstepsand
hespottedtheprofileofthat
whichhesought.
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“Theresheis,”the
captainhissedwithboth
contemptandbegrudging
respect.Hesettledhisview,
puttingthecrosshairsofthe
periscope’sreticlerighton
thetarget’scenterofmass.
“Theresheis.”
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10:EL
PARTIDO
“Wedidn'tlosethe
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game;wejustranoutof
time.”—VinceLombardi
Dragonfilledthe
periscopeviewfinder,though
itintermittentlydisappeared
behindwhite-toppedhillsof
water,reappearingagainasa
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troughpassed.Matiassaw
thick,billowingsmokethat
trailedbehindtheBritish
destroyer.Heclickedthe
periscope’sopticsto10times
magnificationandstudied
Dragon’sform.
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Atthisangle,Dragon
showedasanabstract
sculptureofanglesand
towers.Whenherhullrose
overawave,Matiassawthe
brightredanti-foulingpaint
ofherbottomandthecrisp,
starkblackofherwaterline.
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Thesharppointofherbow
climbeduntilMatias
discernedthebulboussonar
dome.Thebowfellanddug
inagain,sendingafanof
whitefoambeforetheBritish
destroyer.
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“HisMajesty’sShip,”
theCaptainhissed.Itwasthe
firsttimehehadseenhis
enemy.
“¿Señor?”Ledesmahad
heardhiscaptainsay
something,butno
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clarificationwasforthcoming.
Instead,Matias
centeredDragoninthe
targetingreticleand,withhis
handshaking,pusheda
switchthatlockedthe
enemy’sbearinganddistance
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intothefirecontrol
computer.SanLuisIIleaned
andthenrolledbacklevel.
Matiasspreadhislegsapart
toformamorestable
triangle.Hefeltthedeck
vibrateastheboat’sdiesels
spunup.Abreezetouched
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Matias’faceasaControl
Roomventblewinfreshair.
Hetookadeepbreaththat
tastedofsaltandseaweed,
andthenturnedtohispanting
men.They,too,reveledin
thesurfaceair,fillinglungs
andcoolingstickyfaces.As
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theboat’sstaleairwas
displaced,thecrew’sbreaths
slowedanddeepened.
CaptainMatiassmiled.
“Weapons?”heasked.
“Señor,‘53’sintubes
oneandsix.Tubefive’sstill
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jammed,”Ledesmareported
afterpeakingattheweapons
load-outpanel.
“Verywell.Surfacethe
boat.Prepareforasurface
shot.Andgettheconning
towerteamupwithIglas.I
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wantthatchupapija
helicopter,”Matiassnarled.
“Itistimetofinishthis…on
ourterms.”
Ratonhadheardand
feltthedieselsstartup.They
shooktheboathardand
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remindedhimofthetractor
heusedtorideinthefieldsat
Salta.Thetractorhadstunk
ofdieselfumesanditwas
hardtosteer,makinghisarms
acheandsoakinghisshirt
withsweatfromtheeffort.
Nonetheless,despitethese
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complaints,hehadlovedthat
‘viejoburro’—‘old
donkey’—dearly.Ratonlet
outachortlethatwasas
muchnostalgicpainas
amusementwiththe
memory.Hewatchedthe
batterychargegaugeclimb
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slowlyandrealizedhehad
doneit:Hehadgivenhis
boat,captain,andcrewmates
thelifetheyneededtostayin
thefight.Freshairreached
downintothebatterydeck.
Asitreachedintohislittle
world,ittickledhischeeks,
![Page 839: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/839.jpg)
driedhissweat,andfilledhis
bloodwithneededoxygen.
Raton’swearyheadcleared.
◊◊◊◊
Asquirtofwaterblown
bythemorningbreezeintoa
finemistreflectedthe
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sunrise’scolors.Aboutit,the
seaturnedfromdarktoa
lightbluelacedwithwhite
bubbles.Then,ablackshape
piercedthewavesandpoked
attheair.Itwasarectangular
monolith.Asitgrewfrom
thesurface,adarkand
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massiveshapecamefrom
below,washedbyfalling
water.Thelong,unnatural
islandbrokethechopupon
it.CaptainFryattimagined
hewasdreaming,buthesoon
realizedwhathewaslooking
at:
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“Submarineatthe
surface,”thenavigator
pointedandyelled.
Fryattwenttothe
shatteredwindscreenand
lookedatthewhale-like
shape.The‘whitewhale’to
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my‘CaptainAhab,’he
thought,thoughtheshape
wasinfactdeepblack.Like
avoid,ablackhole,an
alternateuniverse,ithad
intrudeduponhisworld.
Fryattquicklyscannedthe
Dragon’sconsoles.
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The114-millimeter
deckgunflashed
‘inoperative’redand,
accordingtothePlatform
ManagementSystem,most
othersystemswereofflineas
well.However,thanksto
damagecontrolteams,
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propulsion—specificallythe
starboardalternator,diesel,
gasturbine,andswitchboard
—showedgreen,asdid
steeringandstabilizers,
chilledwater,lubricatingoil,
andseveralothersubsystems.
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“Navigator,”Fryatt
bellowedashewenttorudder
control,“Whateveryoucan
muster,mister,allahead
full.”
“But,sir…”
“Makeitso,”Fryatt
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harshlyrestatedashe
wobbledonhisshatteredleg.
“Aye,captain.”The
navigatorleanedonthe
starboardthrottle.Despite
herinjuries,Dragonsurged,
raisedherbow,andplowed
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ahead.Fryattadjustedthe
stabilizersandrudders,and
didhisbesttokeepthe
surfacedsubmarinecentered
inthebow’sbreakwater.The
shippulledleft.Fryatt
counteredwithfullright
rudder.Dragonranstraight
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andtrueagain,slamming
throughthewavesand
breakinggreywateroverher
forwardquarter.
Tothelast,Igrapple
withthee…CaptainFryatt
quotedtohimself.
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“Sir,starboardturbine
temperaturerisingfast,”the
navigatorreported.
FromHell'sheart,I
stabatthee…
“Sir,Ihavetoback
off.”
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Fryattturnedand
scowledwithaburningfirein
hiseyes.
CaptainFryattexpertly
adjustedDragon’scontrols.
Herbow,likeaharpoon,flew
towardtheshadowthat
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floateduponthedarkgreen
waters.
“Forhate'ssake,Ispit
mylastbreathatthee…”
Fryattmuttered.Hesteered
hisshipatthesmooth
blacknessofthesurfaced
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Argentinesubmarine,andin
themoment,feltasobsessed
asAhab.Asqueakofa
chuckleescapedFryatt’s
clenchedteeth.
Thenavigatorlookedto
hiscaptainandwondered.
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Here-checkedtheredlined
turbinetemperatureindicator.
“Sir…”heinsisted.
Fryattdidnotrespond.
◊◊◊◊
“Whatthehellarethey
doing?”Johnaskedoverthe
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intercomashewatched
Dragonturnandspeedup.
“DamnedifIknow,”
Seamusrespondedashe
dippedtheMerlininthe
directionoftheenemy.
Despitebeingunarmedand
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practicallyflyingonfumes,
hesuccumbedtothesame
instinctsashiscaptain.
Bracingthemselvesagainst
themovementsoftheaircraft,
everyoneonboardKingfisher
21peeredthroughthe
windowsatthespearof
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Dragonasshenowraced
directlyatthefat,floating
cylinderofSanLuisII.
Johnraisedbinoculars
andscannedSanLuisII.He
watchedaswatersloshed,
broke,foamed,andrandown
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thesubmarine’ssteelcasing.
Hesawfree-floodholessuck
inandspitoutwater.He
discernedtheoutlineofhatch
openings,andasJohnpanned
forward,sawthesubmarine’s
massivediveplanesslapthe
surfaceandsinkinastormof
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bubblesbeforetheyrose
againandshedatorrentof
whitewater.Johnshiftedhis
viewbackagainandsettled
onthesubmarine’ssail.
Amongthestowedantennae
andperiscopesthatjutted
fromit,therewasanother
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discernibleshape;adecidedly
humanone.
◊◊◊◊
TheRussianKilo-class
submarinehadbeendesigned
tooperateinthefrozen
wastesoftheArcticnorth,so
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thesail’sconningstationwas
enclosedandwrappedin
Plexiglaswindows.Sincethe
stationfloodedwhentheboat
wassubmerged,ithad
becomecoldandwetand
slimy.MenofSanLuisII’s
conningstation’sdetailwere
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uptherescanningevery
quadrantwithbinoculars.
Johnalsosawasmall
platformwheretwomen
couldstandabreastandproud
ofthestationenclosure.This
iswhereRatonstoodforthe
moment,arewardfromthe
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captainforhisdiligenceand
asanescapefromtheextreme
confinesofthebatterydeck.
Thoughsmackedinthe
facebyathickcloudof
fumesthatemanatedfrom
SanLuisII’srunningdiesels,
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Ratonreveledinstanding
outside.Headjustedhis
personalfloatationdevicefor
comfort,scannedhisquadrant
oftheseawithbinoculars,
andsighedwithexhaustion.
Theyhadallfoughtthrough
thelongdarknight.Nowit
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wasdawn.Theskyloomed
asbigasever,andtherising
sunpainteditwithavast
paletteofcolor.Amongthe
crewontheconningstation
wasatwomanairdefense
team.
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Bothmenwore
protectivegoggles,though
one,the‘spotter’s,’wasin
factthethermalimaging
type.Theteam’s‘shooter’
removeda9K338Igla-Sfrom
thesail’swaterprooflocker.
TheIgla—Russianfor
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‘Needle’—wasaninfrared-
homingman-portable
surface-to-airmissile.The
shooterhurriedtoassemble
theweaponandtestand
engagetheweapon’sbattery.
Ratonfeltatugonhispant
leg.Hisbrieftimeinthecold
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windwasover.Hetookone
moredeepbreathandthen
climbeddownfromhisperch.
Theshooterascendedin
hisstead,andwashandedthe
Igla’stube-shapedlauncher,
whichherestedupona
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shoulder.Thenthespotter
joinedtheshooteronthe
sail’sperch.Theshooter
threwaswitchonthetube’s
foregrip,andtheweapon
camealivewithanominous
growl,allwhilethespotter
didaquicksweepofthe
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surroundingairspace.His
thermalimaginggoggles
foundasourceofheat.
Thewhiteglowingblob
hesawwasinfacttheMerlin,
itshotturbinesandexhaust
streamsstandingout,inthe
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infraredviewer,againstthe
blackcoldnessofthe
atmosphere.Thespotter
pointedwithasmallhand-
heldflagand,takinghiscue,
theshooterswungthemissile
tubeinthespecified
direction.TheIglashrilled
![Page 872: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/872.jpg)
whenitsownsensorfound
theheatsource.Theshooter
centeredthelaunchersight’s
illuminatedreddotonthe
inboundBritishaircraft.
◊◊◊◊
Rodisawthatoneof
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themenperchedatopthe
submarinehadapolerested
onhisshoulder.
“MANPAD;
MANPAD,”Rodiexclaimed.
Immediately,theaircraft
rolledrightandyawedhard.
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Thumpsannouncedthe
ejectionofflaresfromthe
helicopter’sfuselage.
Strainingtobracehimself,
Johnlookedoutthewindow.
Acorkscrewofwhitesmoke
reachedfortheMerlin.
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◊◊◊◊
Despitethelengthof
thetunnelthatleduptothe
sail’sconningstation,light,
sea-sprayandtheIgla’s
propellantsmokestillmade
theirwaydownintoSanLuis
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II’sControlCenter.Though
onesubmarinerwasgreen
fromtherise,fall,androllof
thesurfacedsubmarine,the
restseemedcontenttobe
breathingthecoldmorning
air.CaptainMatiasunfolded
theperiscope’shandholdsand
![Page 877: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/877.jpg)
leanedintoitsviewfinder.
Hespuntheperiscopeuntil
hefoundtheBritishdestroyer
again,andthensettledhis
view.
Dragonfilledhis
viewfinder.CaptainMatias
![Page 878: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/878.jpg)
clickedoverto10times
magnification.TheBritish
destroyer’shullrearedasshe
climbedamountainofwater.
WhenDragonsettledagain,
Matiassawthemenacing
wyrmpaintedonthesharp
pointofherbow.Despite
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thickblacksmokethat
belchedfromthejagged
wreckageofthedestroyer’s
superstructure,theshipwas
moving.NotascrippledasI
believed…
Thesubmarineleaned
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andthenrolledbacklevel.
Matiasstumbled,and
steadyinghimself,re-centered
Dragonintheperiscope’s
reticule.Thecaptainpushed
theswitchthatlockedthe
target’spositionintoSanLuis
II’sfirecontrolcomputer.
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Withouttakinghiseyefrom
theviewfinder,thecaptain
ordered:“Reporttubeload-
out.”
“Señor,tubeoneloaded
withaVA-111;tubetwo:
Type53heavytorpedo;tube
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three:KlubASM,tubefouris
empty;and,tubefive:
inoperativethoughstill
loadedwitha’53,”Ledesma
recited.
“Verywell,”Matias
saidwithahoarsevoice.He
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turnedtohisexecutiveofficer
andshouted:“Surfaceshot:
tubesone,two,andthree.Do
itnow.Finishher.”
“Firecontrol,targetis
Delta1.Range:1,000
meters.Bearing:two-zero-
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zero,”Ledesmacalledout.
Helookedatthebattery
chargeread-out.Thoughthe
indicatorsclimbed,sodid
Ledesma’sanxiety.The
surfaceisnoplacefora
submarine.Hepushedthe
thoughtanddoubtsaside.
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Dialswereturnedandbuttons
pushedastheattack
unfolded.Matiascontinued
tostudyhisadversary
throughtheperiscope.
HesawDragonsurge
forward.“Whatisshe
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doing?”thecaptainaskedto
nobodyinparticular.Dragon
sentupafanofwhitefoam
beforehercharge.Matias’
confidencewasreinvigorated
bytheshakeofweapons
beingspatfromSanLuisII’s
hull.
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“Señor,tubesone,two,
andthree:weaponsare
away,”Ledesmareported.
Theliltofhisvoicebetrayed
apprehensionandspoke
volumes,tellingthecaptainto
‘Pleasediveimmediately.’
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“Thankyou,Santiago,”
thecaptainsaidcalmlyashe
peeledhiseyefromthe
periscope’smonocle.Then,
leaningbackinandcupping
theviewfinderagaininthe
arcofhisbrow,Matias
peeredoutatthesloshing
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wavesandhisgreyfoe.
◊◊◊◊
AsSeamusputthe
helicopteronitssideandinto
atightturn,Johnwasthrown
againsttheaircraft’srear
cabinwall.Hecrawledtothe
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cabindoorandkneeledto
peeroutthroughthewindow.
Leavingasmokytrail,
andtrackingtheheatemitted
fromthehelicopter’sengine
cowlings,themissilesnaked
itswayfortheMerlin.
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“Christ,”Johnsaidas
hegothimselfbackinthe
seatandsecuredhisharness.
Thenhefelthischest,and
wasreassuredthathis
flotationvestwasinfacton.
Heknewthat,ifthey
survivedamissilehit,the
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helicopterwoulddroplikea
rock,andonceinthewater,
sinklikeoneaswell.He
thoughtbackonhisescape
training.
Theyhadbeenputina
mockhelicoptercabin
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suspendedoveracoldpool.
Itfellandflippedupside
downandfilledrapidlywith
thepoolwater.‘Checkyour
bubbles,’theyhadtoldthe
trainees.‘Bubblesalways
rise.Justfollowthemupand
out.’John’sharnesshad
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opened—apparently,
purposefully—andherolled
fromhisseatandhithis
head.Thecloudofbloodthat
gushedfromthewoundmade
ithardtoseebubbles,let
aloneanythingelse.The
othertraineeswereblinded
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byittoo,asonemanswam
rightintoJohn’sface,adding
tothethrobbingpain.Panic
threatenedtoovertakeJohn’s
rationalbrain.
Theairinhislungs
rapidlyranout,andthe
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organsbeggedtoberefilled.
Heexhaledthelastofthe
breathanyway,andwatched
thewobblingbubblesrise.
Despitehisgreyingvision,
Johndecidedthedirectionthe
bubblestravelledhadtobe
thetrueup.Hemadeforthe
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cabinwindowopeninginthe
upside-downmockcabin.
Theopeningwasalready
devoidofPlexiglas,a
conveniencethatareal-world
Merlincabinwouldnothave
offered.
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Anexplosiontorethe
remembranceofJohn’s
experienceat824NASaway,
andbroughthimbackto
Kingfisher21andits
precariousplaceintheair
overtheSouthAtlantic
Ocean.
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Shovedbythe
proximateexplosion,the
Merlindippedviolently.
AlthoughtheIglahadbeen
luredbyaflare,theenemy
missilehadexplodedclose
by,theforceofwhich
slammedintothehelicopter’s
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side.Johnsteadiedhimself
andsawthatthewindowhad
beenpittedbyfragments.
Luckily,theyhadnothadthe
energytoshatterthethick
Plexiglasandpenetratethe
cabin.Shakenbythedanger-
closeblast,Seamushadto
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assumethatmoremissiles
wereonthewayandturned
anddippedhisMerlinhard.
◊◊◊◊
Ratonwatchedthethree
trailsofbubblesthatraced
fromSanLuisII’sbow.One
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trail,theonethatbelongedto
theSquall,formedfastand
straight,andlefttheothertwo
behindit.Thesecondtrail
stoppedshort,boiledtothe
surface,andspataKlubanti-
shipmissileintotheair.It
jumpedfromtheseaand,
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withapuffofblacksmoke
andanunfoldingofwinglets,
leveledandscreamedoff.
Thethirdtrail—thatwhich
belongedtotheheavywake-
homingtorpedo—madea
relativelyslowandsteady
advancetowardtheir
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adversary.
◊◊◊◊
FromDragon’sbridge,
FryattsawtheKlubbroach,
ignite,andconfigurefor
flight.Hesaid:“Notthis
time.Youarejusttoo
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close.”Heknewnaval
weaponslikethebackofhis
hand,andrecognizedthat
Dragonwasalreadyinside
theeffectiveengagement
envelopeofthisparticular
typeofRussiananti-ship
missile.Fryattshiftedhis
![Page 906: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/906.jpg)
concentrationtothelineof
bubblesgeneratedbythe
underwaterrocketreaching
outforhisvessel.“Squall,”
heannunciatedwithderision,
andreducedtheship’s
rudders’angle.Dragon
swungoverobediently,and
![Page 907: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/907.jpg)
becameobliquetothethreat
vector.Fryattdismissedthe
Squallwithasnort,andthen
neithersawnorworriedabout
thetorpedothatstillmadeits
deviouswaybeneaththe
waves.Outofsight,outof
mind,Fryattchuckledatthe
![Page 908: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/908.jpg)
thought.Thoughdeadly,
torpedoeswereslowerthan
underwaterrocketsandanti-
shipmissiles,andFryatt
decidedhewoulddealwithit
onlyifhewasforcedto.He
refocusedattentiononthe
blackbobbingmassofthe
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Argentinesubmarine.
“Sir,starboardturbine
nowatredline,”criedthe
navigator.
“Steadyon,”wasall
Fryattsaidashisenemy
loomedeverlargerinthe
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bridge’swindows.
“Steady…”
Thenavigatortooka
deepbreathtofortifyhisown
confidence,andthentookit
uponhimselftoannounceto
thosebelowdecks:“Collision
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warning.Brace,brace,
brace.”
◊◊◊◊
Madrededios,Raton
thought.Hehadnever
consideredhewouldseesuch
things:Hissubmarinewasat
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thesurfaceandfiringona
Britishdestroyerthatalready
trailedblacksmokefromfatal
wounds.Ourcaptainhas
donewell.Ratonpattedthe
steelofSanLuisII’ssail.
Andyouhavealsodonewell,
too,mydear.Theairdefense
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crewwentaboutreloading
theirIglalauncher.Raton
lookedtoDragonagain.The
Britishdestroyerwasin
motion,andhadturned
straightatSanLuisII.
“Carajo,”Raton
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muttered.Heloweredthe
binoculars,andpickedupthe
growler.Hepushedthe
buttontosoundabellinthe
ControlRoom,andthen
wiggledthewireplugto
makesureitwasproperly
seatedintheconning
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station’sterminal.Fucking
Russianpieceofshit,he
complained,andspokealoud:
“Comeon,comeon.”Raton
lookeduptoseeDragonride
upawaveandthenslamback
downagain.“Comeon.”
Growinganxious,helooked
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upagain.Theshipwas
clearlyonacollisioncourse.
Judgingbythebowwave
shovedupbeforeher,shehad
increasedspeed,too.
“Answer,damnit,answer.”
Avoicefinallycame
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through.Itbelongedtothe
firstofficer.
“¿Sí,cuálessu
informe?”Ledesmaaskedfor
Raton’sreport.
Ratonyelledin
response:“Señor,theship…
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shehasturnedto.Sheis
charging.”
Theothermenonthe
sailheardRaton’sstatement,
too.First,theylookedat
Raton,then,turnedwith
swivelingheadstotheonly
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shapeonthelonelyplainof
ocean:Dragon.Theyhadall
beendistractedbythe
engagementwiththe
helicopter—nowjustablack
shapebuzzinglowonthe
horizon—andhadfailedto
recognizethethreatthat
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drawingevercloser.Theair
defenseteamshooterswore,
slidthereloadmissileand
launcherbackintothesail
locker,andanticipatinga
dive,clampedthelockerdoor
shut.
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WithinSanLuisII’s
ControlCenter,Ledesma
informedthecaptainofthe
lookout’swarning.Matias
tookaquickpeekthroughthe
periscope,andconcededthat
Dragon’scourseandspeed
werealarmingly
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uncharacteristicofafatally
crippledvessel.Therewasa
briefdebateregardingBritish
capabilitiesandintentions,
andthenMatiasreluctantly
barkedtheorder:“Emergency
dive.”Ledesmasoundedthe
alarmandorderedthesail
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teamtogetbelow.
Ratonhesitatedfora
moment.Allhadseemed
well.Victoryhadbeenat
hand,andtheveryreasonfor
hisserviceandsufferinghad
beenvindicated.Andnow,
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hewastoldtoscurryback
downahole.Iamtobearat
thatrunsforcover.Raton
scowled,unpluggedthe
growler,andtoldthemenof
thewatchtogetbelow.As
thepointofDragon’sbow
stabbedcloser,andthetower
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ofhersuperstructuremade
shadowswherenonehad
existedbefore,Raton’s
crewmatesscurriedtothe
sail’shatchandcircleditlike
confusedbirds.Theopening
wassosmall,andthe
pressurehull’saccesstube
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wassotight,thatprecious
momentswerespent
squeezinginsideand
shimmyingdown.Theladder
insidetheconfinesofthe
accesstubewascoatedwith
waterandsalt.Itwas
slipperyliketheslopeofthe
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sail’shull.
Ratonhuffed.
“¡Señores!¡Rápidamente!”
Ratonurgedhiscrewmatesto
hurry.Ifthemomenthadnot
beenurgent,Ratonwould
havelaughedashewatched
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thementrytoshove
themselvesinsideSanLuis
II’shull.Wearealljust
‘rats.’
Thelastofthesailteam
—arobustandrotundtype—
triedtosqueezeintothehole,
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butgotstuckastheringoffat
abouthismidsectioncaught
ontheportal’scircleofsteel.
Ratondirectedhimtoblow
outhisbreathandsqueezein,
andthesubmarinermanaged
toshimmyinside,
disappearinglikeadeep-
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watertubewormenteringhis
enclosure.Outofbreath
frompushingontheman’s
shoulders,RatonsawthatSan
LuisII’scylindricalhullhad
angleddown,andtheforward
deckwasawashwithcreamy
bright-greenwater.Raton
![Page 931: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/931.jpg)
lookedtoDragon.
Asharpknifeatthe
submarine’sthroat,the
Britishdestroyerwasnearly
uponSanLuisII.Raton
wondered,Couldsuch
determinationbedefeated?
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Wassuchloyaltyparalleled?
“Closethehatch,”was
theanswertosuchquestions.
Theorderhadtravelledupthe
accesstunnelandbeen
amplifiedbyitsconfines.It
wasLedesma’svoice,aman
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Ratonhadadmired.
However,now,thevoice
broughtabandonmentand
condemnation.
Severalmetersdown,
withintheunderworldofSan
LuisII’shull,theprimary
![Page 934: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/934.jpg)
hatchclangedshut.Its
lockingmechanism
articulatedandfinalizedthe
situation.Ratonfeltthe
submarinetipforward.He
wasalone.Hewasoutside.
SanLuisIIbegantodive.
![Page 935: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/935.jpg)
Raton’sbrainraced:
Hadtheyforgottenhim?Was
hebeingsacrificed?Raton
lookedup.Dragonwasjusta
wallofgreysteel.Theram
ofherprowcrossedthepatch
offoamthatSanLuisII’shull
hadjustoccupied,andRaton
![Page 936: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/936.jpg)
lookedtothesubmarine’s
outerhatch.Itwasstillopen,
aportaltoeithersalvationor
damnation.Whateverthe
reasonforhisbeingleft
topside,Ratonwoulddoone
lastthing.Itwouldnotbefor
Argentinaorhiscaptain,but
![Page 937: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/937.jpg)
insteadforhisboatand
fellowsubmariners.Raton
slammedtheouterhatch
shut.Thesoundreverberated
throughhissoulandimparted
finalverification.Hehad
beenlefttopside.
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Themenhehad
struggledtogivepowerto,to
keepalive,hadlefthim
there.Gratefulfortheairand
seaspray,hefelthebelonged
belowwheretheairwasdirty
andstaleandtastedofbattery
acid,farts,andsweat.He
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acceptedhisplaceandforced
thehatch’slockinglever,
confirminghispositionand
fatewiththemetallicringof
steel.
Thehatch’slever—half
rust,halfover-paintedmetal
![Page 940: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/940.jpg)
—brokethefingerbonesof
hisrighthandasitsnapped
intoposition.Ratonwas
unsurewhetherthescream
thatcamefromhismouthwas
oneofpainorresignationto
hisfate.Asprayofcold
waterrefreshedandstunghis
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cheeks,andthesensation
bothquietedandconfirmed
thereasonforhisshriek.It
alsoconfirmedthathewas
stillalive.Ratonlookedup
andsawthesharp,greyshape
ofDragonloomingever
larger.
![Page 942: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/942.jpg)
Hesawtheredwyrm
thatadornedDragon’sbow.
Themythicalcreaturehissed
andspatandthreatenedwith
razor-sharpclaws.Theshape
roseandfelldownalmost
uponhim.Therewasa
deafeningcrunchandabone-
![Page 943: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/943.jpg)
jarringtremorasRatonwas
knockedhardtotheconning
station’sdeckwherehehit
hishead.Theworldwent
black.
Ratontastedsaltwater
andthecopperytingeof
![Page 944: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/944.jpg)
bloodandrealizedhewas
underwater.Lightanddark
alternatedashetumbled.
Bubbleshissedallabouthim.
Hetriedtostruggletoward
thelight,butthestrobeeffect
continuedtheeddycreatedby
SanLuisII’ssinkingmass
![Page 945: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/945.jpg)
tossedhisbodylikeragdoll.
Despitehispredicament,
Ratonthoughtofthose
trappedinsidethesubmarine.
TheControlCenter
lightshadflashedoffandon,
thenoffagain,andstayedthat
![Page 946: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/946.jpg)
way.Ledesmareached
throughthedarknessfor
wherethecaptainhadbeen
standing.Hefeltonlycold,
wetmetal.Unsureofwhere
thefloorendedandthe
roundedwallsbegan,
Ledesmaprobedthedark.He
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heardgroansandcoughsand
heheardshoutedorders.
Ledesmaaddedhisowncry
tothecacophony:
“¡Capitán!”
“Santiago…”Matias
respondedweakly.
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Ledesmamadeforthe
voiceandcalledout:
“Someone…givemea
flashlight.”Hishandwas
smackedbyaflashlight,asa
surgeonreceivingan
instrumentfromanoperating
roomnurse.Hegraspedthe
![Page 949: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/949.jpg)
smallrubber-coveredcylinder
andofferedtotheshadowy
figure:“Gracias”Heclicked
ontheflashlight.Itsconeof
lightcuttheblacknesslikea
knife,anditsyelloweye
travelledoverthedripping
controlpanels,pipes,wires,
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andvalvesofSanLuisII’s
ControlCenter,andoverthe
fear-filledfacesofher
crewmen.
Asthoughattemptingto
passthrough,onemanheld
thecurvedwalloftheinner
![Page 951: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/951.jpg)
pressurehull.Another
submarinerwasathisstation,
hunchedbeforethedepth
gauge,dutifullywatchingas
itsneedleindicatedincreasing
depth.Heturnedvalvesand
clickedswitches.Despite
theseefforts,however,the
![Page 952: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/952.jpg)
submarinecontinuedtoroll
fartherontoherside,andshe
pitchedsteeperandsteeperas
sheslidbackwardtowardthe
bottom.
AsLedesma’slight
movedoverthesubmariner’s
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face,themanraisedahand—
notasasalute,butashield
fromtheblindingbeam—and
withhisfaceexpressing
resignation,shookhisheadin
thenegative.Hetriedto
speak,butinsteadcoughed
andspatoutthewaterthat
![Page 954: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/954.jpg)
hadflowedoffanoverhead
pipeanddrenchedhisface,
fillinghismouth.Thenhe
triedagain:“Sir,shewon’t
answer.She--”
SanLuisIIinterrupted
hercrewmanbyprotesting
![Page 955: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/955.jpg)
theabuseshehadendured
withabone-chillingmetallic
whine.Thecrewman’seyes
widenedashefinishedhis
thought.“Sir,NumeroDos…
sheisgoingdown.”Ledesma
exhaled,forhehadalready
knownthistruth.
![Page 956: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/956.jpg)
“Emergencysurface:
Blowmains;blowauxiliaries;
blowsafeties.Planesall
down;enginesaheadfull.”
Withtheseorders,which
weredutifullyrepeated,but
likelywithnorealhope,
Ledesmashiftedattentionto
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findinghiscaptain.
Thecircleoflight
continueditsscan,andit
finallyfoundMatias.His
facewassobloodiedthat
Ledesmawouldnothave
recognizedtheslumpedman
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ashissuperiorhadthe
flashlightnotcaughtsightof
theuniformshoulderboard’s
fourgold-braidstripesand
loopedtopstripe.
“CapitánMatias,”Ledesma
stuttered,“¿Estás
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bien?”—‘Areyouokay?’—
Ledesmaasked,hisvoice
betrayingthedeep
concernofamanwhoheld
hisdutytobe
protective,respectful,
andresponsible.Against
theleanofthedeck
plates,Ledesmascampered
tothecaptain.Despite
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ajarringrollfromthe
submarine,hestayedlow
andmadeittoCaptain
Matias.Hesupportedhis
superior’sslumpedweight
andcradledhisbowed
head.
“Señor…”
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“Santiago…”Captain
Matiascoughed,hocking
bloodysputum.“Myson…
hecallstome.Hewants
metocomehome.”
“Capitán...”
“Losientomucho.”—‘Iam
sorry’—CaptainMatias
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forcedfromhisclogged
windpipe.
“Sir…Youfoughtwell.
Youhavehonoredusall.
Youhavehonoredour
boat,ourcrewmates,all
ofus.Iamproudto
servewithyou,tohave
servedunderyou.You
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aremycaptain…always,”
Ledesmaranted,onthe
vergeoftears.
“TheBritish…”Matias
forced.“These
Englishmen…”
“¿Si,señor?”
“Donot--”
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CaptainMatiassuccumbed
tohisheadwound,and
diedinthearmsofhis
comrade.
SantiagoLedesmawas
certainthathiscaptain
hadtriedtosay:‘Donot
hatethem.Instead,
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respectthem.Forthey
arejustlikeyou:Of
Country,ofhonor,and,
ofDetermination.’
Ledesmathenremembereda
quotefromJorgeLuis
Borges.
TheArgentinianPoetand
Essayisthadchimedin
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regardingthefirst
conflictbetween
ArgentinaandtheUnited
Kingdom—twogreat,proud
nations—overbarren
rocks.Borgeshad
written:“TheFalklands
thingwasafightbetween
twobaldmenovera
comb.”
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Withtheblood-covered
bodyofhisdeadcaptain
nestledinhisarms,
Ledesmalaughedlikea
manunderstress,aman
whoquestionedhisgrasp
ontheworld,andwho
wonderedaboutthebounds
ofhisreality.
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“Eightymeters.Keel:30
degreesofflevel.Stern
down22degrees,”someone
shoutedfromthe
darkness.
“Maintankshaveblown.”
Andthen,“Machineroom
reportsheavyflooding.
![Page 969: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/969.jpg)
Damagecontrolteamisin
place.”
Redemergencylightscame
onjustasthegrowler
rang.Theelectrician’s
matestoodbefore
Ledesma,lookedtohis
deadcaptain,and
reported:“Sir,emergency
![Page 970: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/970.jpg)
lightingactivated.”The
growlercalledfor
attentionagain.Ledesma
gestured,the
electrician’smate
answeredit,andlistened
intently.Hisfacefell,
anexpressionof
desperationreplacedby
oneofhopelessness.He
![Page 971: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/971.jpg)
droppedthegrowler,
whichbouncedupanddown
onitscoiledlead.
“Forwardcompartment
reports,”hestuttered,
“thetorpedointube5…
itsmotorhasstarted.”
Ledesma bowed his
headandclosedhis eyes, for
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heknewtheinevitable. Less
than two minutes later, the
jammed torpedo’s HTP
motor,withitspropellerover-
speeding, and unable to vent
the high-pressure oxygen
generated by its chemical
reaction, exploded. This
![Page 973: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/973.jpg)
triggered the weapon’s high-
explosive warhead, fatally
bursting San Luis II’s
pressurehull.
◊◊◊◊
Dragonslowedand
stopped.Shewentlowat
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thebow,dippingherhead
beneaththeoncoming
waves.Thesonardome
andaportionofthestem
hadbeenrippedaway,and
theship’sforward
compartmentsnowlayopen
totheseaandwere
floodingfast.Onthe
bridge,bothCaptain
![Page 975: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/975.jpg)
Fryattandhisnavigator
hadgoneunconscious.
Fryatthadbeenthrown
intoapanelandagash
laytornacrosshis
forehead.Angushad
slammedintothewheel,
fracturinghisribcage
andfoldinghimover
![Page 976: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/976.jpg)
untilhistempleimpacted
amonitor.Hewasthrown
tothefloorasDragon
yawedhardatthe
impact.Helaywherehe
landed.Oneofthe
snappedribsstabbedinto
hisleftlung,digging
deeperwitheachshallow
breath.Aslifeslipped
![Page 977: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/977.jpg)
fromthenavigator,a
smashedcircuitbox
sparkedandsizzled,
kindlingafire.
◊◊◊◊
TheMerlinsweptin
whenthebrightredofa
personalfloatationdevice
![Page 978: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/978.jpg)
wasspottedcrestingawave.
FlyingtheMerlinintothe
wind,Seamusapproached
andslowedtheaircrafttoa
hover.
“Manfloatinginthe
water,”Rodiannounced,
![Page 979: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/979.jpg)
judginghimtobe
unconsciousordead.The
Merlin’srotorthrustairdown
ina70-knotblastthatformed
acircleofseafoam.Soon
thefloatingshapefloatedat
thecenterofthiscircle.
“Goodposition,”Rodi
![Page 980: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/980.jpg)
confirmed,andslidthe
helicopter’scargodooropen.
Johnwasshovedby
saltywind,andtheroarofthe
Merlin’sthreeturbines
floodedtherearcabin.Inhis
search-and-rescuecapacity,
![Page 981: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/981.jpg)
Johnsentpowertothecargo
door-mountedrescuehoist
justasSeamusactivatedthe
Merlin’shovertrim
controller.Hegavethumbs
uptoRodi.
Rodinoddedand
![Page 982: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/982.jpg)
clippedhissafetyharnessand
halyardontoacabinfloor
eyeletandthenleanedoutto
grabthehoistarm,slewingit
outintoalockedposition.
Whenitwasdeployed,the
winchpaidoutseveralyards
ofslackcable.Rodiclippeda
![Page 983: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/983.jpg)
liftharnesstotheswivel
hook,andthenpeekedout
anddown.Hesawtheman
inthewater.
◊◊◊◊
Ratoncametoand
lookedupatthehovering
![Page 984: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/984.jpg)
helicopter.Hisfacewas
blastedbywind-whippedsea
spraythatstunghisflesh,
keepinghimconscious.
Iamatthesurface,
Ratonthought.Hetriedto
yellout,buthismouthfilled
![Page 985: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/985.jpg)
withcoldsaltwaterthat
chokedhimandmadehim
coughandspasm.He
recoveredabreathandspat
theliquidoutastherotor-
generatedwindcontinuedto
smackhimintheface.Raton
againtumbledunder,tookin
![Page 986: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/986.jpg)
amouthfulofAtlanticOcean
andre-surfaced.Hewaved
hishandsand,despitehis
burningthroat,screamed:
“¡Ayuda!”Mostofthecry
becameanindiscernible
gurgle,notthatthoseinthe
hoveringMerlincouldhave
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heardRatonanyhow.
◊◊◊◊
“Survivorindistress,”
Rodisaidwhenhesawthe
irregularmotionofRaton’s
wavingarmswithinthe
surgingrhythmofdarkblue
![Page 988: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/988.jpg)
wavesandwhitecaps.Rodi
shoutedtheannouncementto
Johnwhointurnusedhis
headsetmicrophoneto
transmittheinformationto
thehelicopter’scockpit.
Seamuslookedagaintothe
sea’ssurface,lockedhiseyes
![Page 989: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/989.jpg)
onthebrightredpersonal
floatationdevicethatnow
stoodoutfromthedarker
background,anddroppedhis
hoveranotherseveralmeters
whileadjustingittobringthe
relativepositionofthecabin
hoistdirectlyabovethe
![Page 990: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/990.jpg)
survivor.RoditurnedtoJohn
andgaveathumb’sup.
“Goodhover,”John
conveyedtothecockpit.
“Roger,”Seamus
acknowledged,andthentold
John:“We’reatbingofuel,so
![Page 991: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/991.jpg)
makeitfast.”
“Understood,”John
responded.TheMerlinagain
slidinoverthesailor’s
position.
Rodiusedahandsignal
andJohnthrewaswitchona
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panel.Thehoistcablebegan
topayoutfromthewinch.
Rodiguidedthecabledown
throughacylinderheformed
withhisglovedhand.
Danglingbeneaththe
hoveringMerlin,theharness
andthecable’sweightedend
![Page 993: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/993.jpg)
swunginapendulumeffect,
loweringsteadilytoward
Raton.
Afewsecondsafter
Rodihadsignaledtostopthe
winch,andsteadiedthecable,
hespunhishandintheair.
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Johnreversedthewinch,
haulinginthecable.A
momentlater,Rodisignaled
thatthesurvivorwasclearof
thewater.
“Cleartobebanking
left,”Johntoldthecockpit.
![Page 995: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/995.jpg)
Rodislowlyspunonehandin
theairasheguidedthecable
withtheother.“Uploadingto
aircraftatthistime.”Wide-
eyed,soakedandhangingby
theharness,Ratonappeared
intheMerlin’scabindoor.
“Survivoroutsidecabindoor
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atthistime.”Rodipumpeda
fist.Johnstoppedthewinch
andlockedit.“Survivor
comingintocabinatthis
time.”RodihauledRaton
inboardand,whenhewas
firmlyonthecabinfloor,
unhookedtheliftcablefrom
![Page 997: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/997.jpg)
hisharness.
“Gracias,”Raton
sputteredandnoddedtoboth
hisrescuers.Rodihelped
Ratonintoafold-downjump
seat,securedthesafetybelt
abouthiswaist,andthen
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wrappedhiminablanket,
beingcarefultonotfurther
damagehisswollenand
obviouslybrokenhand.
“Survivoraboard,”
Johntoldthecockpit.As
Rodistowedthelift
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equipmentandslidthecabin
doorshut,Johnunhookedhis
belt,gotupfromhisseat,and
wenttotheman.Raton
coughedupwaterandJohn
thumpedhisback.
“Gracias,”Raton
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repeatedtoJohnandtheman
inthehelicopter’sdoorwho
didhisbesttobalanceagainst
thewindandstowthewinch.
Johnspottedtheflagonthe
man’sshoulders.
“Argentine?You’re
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Argentine?”
“Sí,soyargentino;un
submarinoargentino.Mi
nombreesRaton,”Raton
explainedhewasinfact
Argentine;anArgentine
submariner.
![Page 1002: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1002.jpg)
“Raton?”Johnasked
withapuzzledlookonhis
face,forherecognizedthe
Spanishwordforrat.Raton
thoughtforamomentand
thenofferedhisrealname;
thenamehismotherhad
givenhim,notthenickname
![Page 1003: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1003.jpg)
hehadbeengivenaboardSan
LuisII.
“No,no,yosoy
Gaston…CaboSegundo
GastonBersa.”
“Hello,Gaston,Iam
Juan,”Johnshovedhishand
![Page 1004: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1004.jpg)
out.“LeadingSeamanJohn
Mcelaney,RoyalNavy.”
Ratontooktheofferedhand
withhisunbrokenhandand
weaklyshookit.
Gastoncoughedone
moretime,expellingthelast
![Page 1005: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1005.jpg)
ofthesaltwaterinhislungs,
andspatintoasmallpuddle
ontheMerlin’scabinfloor.
Rodi,donestowingtherescue
winch,kneltdownandpatted
Gastonontheback.
“Gracias…Thank
![Page 1006: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1006.jpg)
you,”Gastonoffered.Rodi
smiled,hismouthawidearc
beneaththehelmet’sshade.
Gastoncollapsedagainsthis
seatbeltasthehelicopter—
flyingonmerevaporsfrom
itstanks—bankedhardand
racedbacktoDragon.
![Page 1007: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1007.jpg)
◊◊◊◊
Blacksmokebillowed
fromventsandopeningson
Dragon’ssuperstructureas
thestoppeddestroyer
corkscrewedinthechop.She
waslowinthewater,
![Page 1008: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1008.jpg)
especiallyatthebow,and
leanedheavilytostarboard.
AsSeamusbeganhisfinal
approach,henoticedthatone
ofDragon’stransomclosures
wasajar,ventingaplumeof
thickgreysmoke.
![Page 1009: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1009.jpg)
“Draig,Kingfisher21,
requestingclearancetoland,”
Seamustransmittedand
waitedforaresponse.
Withonlystaticon
Dragon’sairtrafficcontrol
channel,Seamusrepeatedhis
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call.Helookedtohisfuel
andconfirmedthatbothtank
indicatorshadbottomedin
thered.
“Sodit,”hesaid,and
thenchangedchannels,
stating:“Draig,Kingfisher
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21,wearelanding.FDO,
prepareflightdeckfor
landing.”Dragon’sflight
deckofficerdidnotanswer,
either.Seamuslookedtothe
ship’shelicoptervisual
approachsystem.Itssignal
lightsweredark.The
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advancedstabilizedglide
slopeindicatorwasalsooff.
However,thedeck’sline-up
lightswerestillilluminated,
whichmeanttheseemingly
wreckeddestroyerhadsome
poweravailable.Seamus
usedthelightstoguidehis
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machineoverDragon’s
stern.Thoughhehaddone
thishundredsoftimesbefore,
Seamussuddenlyrealized
thattolandamovingthingon
anothermovingthingwas
wholeheartedlyunnatural.
Despitesuchqualms,he
![Page 1014: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1014.jpg)
skillfullymanipulatedthe
pedalsandsticksandbegan
hisdescent.
Caughtbyabigwave
thattravelleddownher
strickenlength,Dragon
kickedhersternintotheair.
![Page 1015: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1015.jpg)
Seamusgotspooked.He
increasedcollectiveand
power,suddenlyandfully,
causingtheaircrafttorise
quickly,wobbling.Hefought
thecontrols,strugglingto
comelevelagain.Dragon’s
sternslammedbackdownin
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awhooshofwhitefoamand
spray.TheMerlinhad
avoidedbeingswattedfrom
theskyby8,500tonsofsteel.
BWUP;BWUP,an
alarmsoundedintheMerlin’s
cockpit.Itwasfollowedby
![Page 1017: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1017.jpg)
thecomputer’smonotone
syntheticvoicethatwarned:
“Fuel.”
“TellmesomethingI
don’tknow,”heshouted
abovethethumpofthe
rotors.Hemanipulatedthe
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cyclicbetweenhislegs,
jockeyingthestickleftand
rightandforwardandback.
Hisotherhandliftedand
loweredthecollective,while
hisfeetpushedandreleased
pedalsthatswungthetailleft
andright.TheMerlindrifted
![Page 1019: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1019.jpg)
overthelinespaintedon
Dragon’sflightdeck.When
hefelttheaircraftwas
centered,hetwistedthe
throttleonthecollective,and
featheredtheblades.The
Merlindroppedandslammed
intothedeck.Itslanding
![Page 1020: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1020.jpg)
gearabsorbedmostofthe
shock,buttherewasstill
plentyleftforthoseaboardto
feelitintheirbones.Once
certainhisaircraftwassafely
aboard,Seamusbeganshut-
downprocedures.Heordered
Roditosecurethetie-down
![Page 1021: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1021.jpg)
chainsandJohntocheckon
theship’sbridge.
“Ayesir,”John
respondedandthenrippedoff
hisheadset,unbuckledfrom
hisseat,andslidthecabin
dooropen.Hepatted
![Page 1022: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1022.jpg)
Gaston’sshoulder.
“Sorry,mate,butwe
willhavetoputyou
somewhere,”hetoldGaston,
wholookedconfuseduntil
Rodipointedtohisholstered
sidearm.Gastonnoddedand
![Page 1023: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1023.jpg)
offeredacrookedsmileof
understanding.Johnjumped
outontotheflightdeck.It
tookamomenttofindhissea
legs.Hebracedagainstthe
pitchandyawoftheshipand
then,lookingtowardthebow,
tookseveralwobblystepsin
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thatdirection.
Therewasnowayto
getforwardwithoutgoing
insideDragon’sfacetedhull.
Johnopeneda
gastight/watertightdoorway
thatallowedaccesstothe
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hangar.Hefoundno
personnelthere.Moving
throughanother1-Deck
doorway,heenteredanair
lockthatifmemoryserved,
aftertwoladdersand
hatchways,wouldallowhim
accesstotheship’smain
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passageway,known
informallyasthe‘Main
Drag.’JustasJohnfelt
confidenthewasmaking
progress,heopeneda2-Deck
hatchwayandablastofheat
andsmokesmackedhimin
theface.Addingtohis
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despair,hesawadeadsailor
ontheoppositeside.
Themanhadapparently
triedtoopenthedoorandhad
runoutofairandpossiblythe
willtolive.Hehadslid
downthecold,hardsteeland
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formedalumpthatseemedto
warn:‘GoNoFarther.’John
gentlyclosedtheman’seyes
andcontinuedon.
Thepassageway,
smallerthantheMainDrag,
wasdarkandsmoke-filled.
![Page 1029: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1029.jpg)
Inplaces,ventilationducts
andwaterpipeshadcracked
andfallenwhenthehullhad
flexedbeyondtheirlimits.
Johnshimmiedpastthem.
Hefelthiswayandtheheat
fromthewall.Beyondthe
steelwalllaythefunnel,
![Page 1030: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1030.jpg)
whichmeantthespacewhere
theenginesexhaustedwas
afireorwasdrawingheat
fromdeeperwithintheship.
Dragon,Johnthought,
mypoor,pooroldgirl.The
shipwasnowlistinghard,
![Page 1031: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1031.jpg)
andfeelinghewasmoving
downhill,itwasobviousthe
bowwasheavy.Hefocused.
Imustfindthecaptain.John
persistedtowardthebridge.
Hefoundthebridge
wrecked,aswasthecaptain,
![Page 1032: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1032.jpg)
“Sir,”Johnshookhim
gently.Theresponsivecough
wasblood-spewing,butit
signaledlife.“Sir,”he
repeated.Johncradledhis
captainandliftedhisweight,
proppingitagainstthecentral
console.CaptainFryatt
![Page 1033: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1033.jpg)
groanedandstruggledto
openaneye.“Easy,now,
captain.Easydoesit.Donot
speak.”Johnwenttothe
communicationpanel,donned
aheadset,andtriedtocontact
everycompartment.“Damn.”
![Page 1034: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1034.jpg)
Anexpendedfire
extinguishercrashedtothe
floorfromwhereithadbeen
leftonthecentralconsole.
Johnwatchedthecylinder
rollforward.Hestoodand
peeredthroughacracked
windscreenandoutoverthe
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foredeck.Itwasalmost
awash.Awavereachedup
andsmashedintothe
breakwater,dousingthedeck
gun.Hewatchedwhitefoam
cascadeoffthesidesasthe
bowtriedtocomebackup.It
wasobviousthattheA
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compartmentwasflooded,
perhapsashigh2-Deck.
“Damn.”
Infact,awatertight
doorseparatingAandB
compartmentshadbeen
comprised,twistedinits
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frame,andwaterwasnow
streamingintothearea
beneaththemissilesilos.
Despitevalianteffortsatboth
firefightinganddamage
controlbythelads,Dragon
wasgoingdown.Asifto
accentuatethedirenessofthe
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situation,thestressedhulllet
outagroan.
“WeyieldbuttoSaint
George,”Fryattmuttered.
“Yes,sir.‘Weyield
buttoSaintGeorge.”John
smiledforamoment,thenthe
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expressionfellintoafrown.
“I’llgetyouhelp,sir.”John
wenttotheouterhatch,
shoveditopen,andscreamed
forassistance.Whenhere-
entered,Fryatthadslumped
backtothefloor.Johngently
liftedthecaptain’sheadand
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felthisjugular.Thethumpof
bloodflowwasthere,though
weak.“Damn.Sir?Sir?”
Dragonshook,interrupting
John’sdoubts.Airrushed
fromoutsideasitwassucked
downthepassagewaytothe
sourceoftheexplosion.
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Then,barelyasecondlater,
theship’sinteriorexhaled
throughthebridge,and
broughtitsbreathofheatand
fireandsmoke.Johnwas
throwntothefloorand
CaptainFryatt’sbodyfolded
andhisheadsmashedagainst
![Page 1042: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1042.jpg)
thecoldsteeldeck.John’s
facehurtandhesmelled
singedhair.
“Abandonship,
abandonship,”afar-offvoice
screamed.Johncrawledto
thecaptain,reachedoutto
![Page 1043: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1043.jpg)
feelhisneckagain,andthen
sawtheseverityofFryatt’s
headwound.Heconcluded
thatthestrawberryjamupon
Fryatt’scrackedheadwas
brainmatter.Thecaptain’s
glazedopeneyesreinforced
whatJohnalreadyknew.As
![Page 1044: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1044.jpg)
iftoaffirmthesituation,
Dragonlurchedhard.
Abandonship…
Johngrabbeda
floatationdevicefroma
lockerandmadeforthe
exteriorhatch.Theship
![Page 1045: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1045.jpg)
rolled,andJohntookstepsto
getoutside.Hethenjumped
fromthebridgewingintothe
coldembraceofthesea.
Hesurfacedandspat
salty,sweetseawater.
Dragonwasslippingunder.
![Page 1046: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1046.jpg)
Thesuctiontuggedathis
legs.Johnswamaway,
escapingthedownwardpull.
Geyserseruptedfromhull
openingsasairwasforced
fromDragon’sinterior.It
hissedandhowledandrained
uponJohn.
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“Mypoorgirl,”he
whispered,whenhelookedto
theMerlinhelicopterchained
totheflightdeck.Asmuch
ashelovedhisship,tosee
theMerlinstrappedtoher
sinkingdeckswasevenmore
painful.Anaircraftatthe
![Page 1048: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1048.jpg)
bottomofthesea,he
contemplatedmorosely.Just
notbloodynaturalforasweet
birdtobecomeareefforfish
andslimythings.Hecould
notwatch.Hehadtoturn
away.Whenhedidhesawa
flashoforange.Alifeboat.
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Gastonleanedoverthe
boat’sgunwale,hesitatedfor
amomentwhenhesaw
John’sburnthair,missing
eyebrows,andthepatchof
singedfleshthathadsluffed
fromhisforehead,andthen
grabbedholdofhislifevest,
![Page 1050: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1050.jpg)
usinghisgoodhand.Another
shiveringsailorgrabbedhold
too,andtheyhauledJohn
aboard.
“Thankyou.Thank
you.”
“Denada,miamigo,”
![Page 1051: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1051.jpg)
Gastongrunted.Theeffort
wasnothingforhisnew
friend,forthemanthathad
helpedpullhimfromthe
cold,slowdeaththreatened
byvastopenocean.John
floppedontothelifeboat’s
bench.Assoonashewasup
![Page 1052: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1052.jpg)
againintherockingcraft,
JohnturnedtoviewDragon.
Therewasjusta
triangleofgreymetal
remaining,anditslipped
underquickly.Dragon
disappearedfast,andwason
![Page 1053: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1053.jpg)
herwaytothebottom.The
proudshipleftonlyaboilof
lightbluewaterandbobbing
flotsambehind.Allthe
sailorsinthelifeboatwere
silent.GastonthoughtofSan
LuisIIandhiscrewmates.
![Page 1054: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1054.jpg)
“Quépérdida,”Gaston
said.
“What’sthatthen,
Argie?”asailorasked
derisively.
Gastonthoughtfora
momentandmadethe
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attempt:“Awaste.”
Thesailorconsidered
thisforamoment.Thenhe
gruntedagreement.
◊◊◊◊
“Contact,”thesailor
withthebinocularsyelled
![Page 1056: Dragon Fire (The Battle for the Falklands Book 2)1.droppdf.com/...fire-the-battle-for-the-falklands-bleichert-peter-von.pdf · General Belgrano. Retaliation was expected. Hermes and](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022090607/605d6c166c0c4f456a283894/html5/thumbnails/1056.jpg)
out.“Shipsat…”hechecked
ahandheldcompassattached
tohislifevest,“north
northwest.”Thelifeboat
rockedasseveralmenstood
atonce.Johnroseslowlyand
lookedwhereeveryonewas
pointing.Hesquintedandon
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thehorizonsawtwogrey
outlines.Onewasclearly
largerthantheother.
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EPILOGUE:
WARIAN
“Onlythedeadhave
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seentheendofthewar.”—
GeorgeSantayana
TheAtlantic’smood
hadturned.Shehadcalmed
herself,andhersurface
reflectedthisnewinternal
peace.Thestarrynight
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reflectedinthewatery
blackness,andconfusedthe
demarcationbetweenrealms.
Manshipsdisturbedthis
newfoundstate.
HisMajesty’sShip
Dauntless—aType-45
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destroyerandsisterof
Dragon—aswellasthe
RoyalNavyfrigateMontrose,
cuttheirwaythroughthe
temporaryoceanicstillness.
Theystirredupacreamy
whitefromthedeepdark,and
reflectedtheheavens,which
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dancedandwhirledintheir
wakes.WithDragon’s
survivorsaboard,they
steamedsouthbywest,and
madewaytowarda
rendezvouswithanAmerican
nuclearattacksubmarineona
veryspecialmission.
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Dauntlesswasdirectedto
takeuppositionoffthe
Falklands,andtoprovidean
anti-airwarfareumbrellaover
StanleyandmuchofEast
Falkland.
◊◊◊◊
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TheEdificioLibertador
—‘LiberatorBuilding’—
imposedits20-storyshadow
uponBuenosAires’Avenida
PaseoColón.TheFrench
Renaissance-styleedifice
comprisedthreestaggered
sectionswithtwowings
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anchoredbyatallercentral
one.Argentina’sMinistryof
Defensecalledithome,and
connecteditselfbyatunnelto
thepresident’sexecutive
mansion,theCasaRosada.
FromEdificioLibertador’s
blackmansardroof,theflag
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oftherepublicsnappedina
stiffbreeze,andantennaeand
satellitedishespokedand
pointedatthesky.Onthe
building’slawn,beforeits
columnedportico,artillery
piecessatinlimbo,andan
immobiletankandastatueof
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achargingsoldier.Theyall
stoodvanguardamongthe
palmsandotherswaying
gardentrees.Deepbeneath
thestructure,belowlayersof
steel-reinforcedslabs
designedandbuilttostopthe
latestpiercingbombs,wasthe
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WarRoom.
Amanwiththeweight
oftheworlduponhim,
MinisterofDefenseJuan
CruzGomezscurriedfrom
consoletoconsole.Each
consolehadscreens
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displayingthedispositionof
Argentina’sforcesonthe
PatagoniancoastandtheLas
IslasMalvinastheaterof
operations.Computer-
generatediconsrepresented
aircraftatbasesandinthe
sky,shipsandsubmarines
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uponandbeneaththewater,
andvarioussymbols
representedgroundforces—
companies,brigades,
battalions,anddivisions.
Gomezstudiedeachscreen
andprojectedmovementsin
hishead,envisioningthe
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checkmateofhisenemy.His
thoughtsweredisturbedbyan
uneasyfeeling,andheturned
tomeetthepiercinggazeof
Dr.WaldemarAmsel.
Inhiswheelchair,
Amselwasperchedona
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concretebalconythatjutted
overtheWarRoom.Hewas,
ofcourse,smoking;hisusual
statewhenhisdaughter
Valeria,thepresident,was
otherwiseoccupied.
“WhereisHornero?”
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Amselyelledout,referringto
anoperative’scodename,
coughingfromtherespiratory
exertion.
MinisterofDefense
Gomezcranedhisneckto
lookupatAmsel’sperch.
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“HerrDoctor…”
Gomezacknowledged.He
leanedoverandchecked
anothercomputerscreen.
“WearewaitingforMajor
Vargastocheckin.”Gomez
knewthattheassassin’slast
communiquehadnotbeen
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confidence-inspiring,buthe
hadfailedtomentionthisin
anyreporttohissuperior.
Vargas’pursuitoftheBritish
CrownPrincehadbecome
disappointing,sofar
unsuccessful,andhadfar
exceededoperational
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schedules.Furthermore,
Vargashadfailedtoreportin
ontime.Notagoodsign,
Gomezthought.Itwouldbe
anotherdaybeforehe
receivedconfirmationthat
Vargashadfailedandbeen
killed,andthattheBritish
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CrownPrincehadescaped.
Gomezreturnedhisthoughts
tothecampaignandthebattle
thatragedonLasIslas
Malvinas.
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Twentyyearslater…
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JohnMcelaneystrolled
BuenosAires’Cementeriode
laRecoleta.Hepassed
gravesandtombs:thoseof
EvaPerón;pastpresidentsof
Argentina;NobelPrize
winners;thefounderofthe
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ArgentineNavy;and,a
granddaughterofNapoleon.
Johnkeptthebelltowerof
theChurchofOurLadyof
Pilarofftohisleftashe
followedthestonepath,
breathedinthefreshseaair,
andlistenedtothebirdsand
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thebreezerustlingtheleaves
ofshadetrees.Hepasseda
markercommemorating
1982’sGuerradelAtlántico
Sur.Turnrightatthe
marker,herememberedthe
directionshehadbeengiven.
Thepathsplitandhewent
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right.Emergingfrombehind
aclusteroffragrant,colorful
roses,Johnarrivedatthe
memorial.
There,beforetheblack
marblemonolith,beforethe
bronzeplaquewiththe
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outlineofthesubmarine
ARASanLuisIIandthe
namesofherdeadofficers
andcrew,hefoundGaston
Bersa.Hewascrouchedand
hadhiseyesclosedinprayer,
butwhenheheardJohn’s
footfalls,hestoodand
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turned.Asmilereplacedhis
dourexpression.
“Juan.”
“Hello,Gaston.”
“Bienvenidoa
Argentina.Welcome,my
friend,welcome.”John
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smiledbackandthetwomen
shookhands.Then,theyboth
turnedbacktothememorial.
Onlythebirdsandbreeze
brokethesilence.