Chapter One.
"I'll be glad to get back home to see my girls,"
"Indeed, being in a submarine for four months and barely seeing the surface is not what I had in mind for being a Navy sailor, even if I did volunteered as a member of a sub,"
"Oh sure, have fun in the Navy, see the sights, enjoy having women on your arms, but nothing about where you have four months at sea and being about three miles deep under the surface of the water with about hundred and forty-nine other men," Another sailor replied, as they walked towards the bridge to relieve the three sailors whose roles they took over.
"But I'll say this, we sure do look good in dress uniform and that gets the chicks," the other replied with a chuckle.
The sub's Admiral looked at the three men as they gave him a nod before relieving the sonar, radio and the navigator of their posts. The Admiral Harrison Paddy was a forty year old Navy and it was his last time serving as Admiral to the US Harrison ballistic submarine before he retired from service. "We're about seventy miles away from our home base in San Diego. The end of this sub's time in these waters will be coming to an end very soon. I am proud to have commanded you and hope that you will take on another volunteer job on another sub."
Pederson who had the sonar noticed something odd about the shape that was approaching their area. It was silent and by the sound of the echos it was a very large sub or possibly a whale but he knew what the whales sounded like. He turned his equipment over to the band where he had listened to the whales sing their haunted songs on to find that the ocean marine life was very silent. He swung around to the Admiral. "Admiral, we have problems, sir!"
Admiral Harrison went to his side. "What problems, Pederson?"
"I noticed a large shape coming our way and figured it might be a whale but when I switched over the frequency to the whales, I heard absolutely nothing as in their songs. This is either another sub or something else," Pederson replied.
"Collins, open a channel to the unknown sub! We need to find out who or what they're doing in our patrol area," Admiral barked off. "Flood torpedo room one and ready to launch if they don't reply."
Collins started to open a channel when the alarms went off as everyone started to silence the alarms as Pederson yelled out, "They're going to ram us!"
"Brace for impact everyone! Collins, send out a distress call! State unknown sub attacking USS Harrison, now!" Admiral Harrison barked off as everyone started to brace for the impact.
But the impact never happened as Admiral looked at Pederson. "Why didn't we get hit?"
"The attacking sub dove down. I think it is a whale . . . " Pederson spoke, as he looked at the screen but then he saw the blip show up but below them. "Oh shit, its under us sir and its rising up fast!"
"Full speed ahead!"
The next thing they felt was a hard slam and the sub felt like it was being pushed upwards fast as everyone felt the pressure on their persons. It was not long for it felt like another impact happened as the sub rolled several times.
"Damage report!" Yelled Harrison over the alarms.
"Engine room is offline sir, we have leaks in several compartments!" Yelled Bank. The emergency lights shone red as the sparks from the damaged consoles shone in the darkness.
"Injuries!" Yelled Harrison, his hand was to his head as he knew he struck his head on the ceiling before being slammed back down.
"Some spinal and head injuries, Admiral." Spoke Banks as he hurried to his side and placed some gauze on his forehead. "We need to get away from here."
"We need to get the engine back online!" Yelled the sonar.
Just as he yelled that comment out, the command center went bright with lights as everything started to come to life.
The cry of 'Thank God' were heard through out the center, as everyone turned to look at the Admiral.
"Lets get this bird moving. Banks, send radio waves stating we have sustained massive damage and serious injuries, we're coming to port in Toadega Bay, its the only place I can think of where the sub can be checked out safely. I cannot risk having a leak happen on the way to San Diego." Admiral Harrison replied. He knew that the port in Toadega Bay was deep enough for the sub to dock at and be pulled from the bay itself. He turned to look at the medic who was tending to his bleeding head, he looked at the navigator. "How long till we get there?"
"About four days at this speed, sir, any faster and we will be dead in the water." The navigator replied.
The Admiral slammed his fist down hard. He knew his crew was seriously injured but if he pushed the sub any faster, his crew would either die or suffer more. He knew his medics on board were good, he just prayed that they make it to Toadega Bay before a member of his crew died.
The medic came and told him that he needed to rest. Even though he didn't want to, he did follow the medic's order as he retired to his berth. As he laid on it the last thing that did remain on his mind was what attacked them.
Yes, I know, what attacked the sub and would we find out what attacked it.
It will be learned later on what attacked it as one of the sailors will have a connection to one of my main characters that I have in my story.
