Silent Thunder

"He can't be far behind." Kirov was beside her by the time they reached the blue iron gate that now cordoned off the submarine exhibit's loading ramp.

A ruddy-faced guard held up his hands. "Whoa there. Let's stop and-"

"I'm Ha

"Uh, no." He frowned. "Ms. Bryson, I didn't know you were scheduled to-"

"Change of plans. Are you the only guard on duty?"

"No. James is taking a walk-around in the museum."

"Give me the key to the gate leading to the gangplank." Kirov took two walkie-talkies from the security station next to him and tossed one to Ha

The guard handed the key to him. "I could unlock it for-"

"No, I'm keeping the key." Kirov unlocked the gate, pushed Ha

"Take cover? Sir, we're armed. No one is getting on the sub who we don't want to get on."

"There may be a lot of firepower coming this way," Ha

The guard spoke into his walkie-talkie. "James, I need you at the Silent Thunder loading ramp ASAP."

"Copy that. I'm on my way."

"The aft hatch, Ha

Kirov stared at the dark instrument plates. "There's no power." He glanced around. "But the lights are on."

Ha

"Well, they haven't. We're literally dead in the water."

"Not for long." Ha

"Is there fuel?"

"The tanks were almost full when it arrived."

"Hurry." His gaze lifted to the video monitor focusing on the pier. "I'll keep an eye on things here."

Ha

She flipped the conductor and ignition switches. A low rumbling shook the sub. After another moment, sharp diesel fumes wafted up to her.

She grabbed the red boot handle and pushed it upward, activating the main power generator.

The engineering plates lit up!

"All systems go, Ha

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God. I'm on my way back."

Ha

"It's still booting up. Remember, this system probably has only a tenth of the power as a child's modern PlayStation console." Kirov stiffened as he glanced at the security monitor. "He's here."

"What?"

"Pavski."

Ha

"That fool," Kirov muttered. "I told him-" He spoke into the walkie-talkie. "Take cover, dammit."

No answer from the guard.

The van bore down on the guard, showing no sign of slowing down.

"It's too late," Kirov said.

They watched, speechless, as the guard raised his gun. Before he could fire a single shot, the van struck him. His lifeless body crumpled against the fence.

Ha

"Are all hatches secured?" Kirov asked.

"My God…"

"I need you here, Ha

She nodded. "Yes."

Kirov turned back to the monitor. Four men jumped from the van and rushed toward the iron gate that led to the sub's gangplank. "Pavski and three others." He asked curtly, "Do you really think you can trick this computer into believing the Silent Thunder has traveled to the coordinates on those plates?"

Ha

"We don't have time."

Ha

Kirov pulled out his automatic and checked the magazine. "He'll be through that gate in two minutes and through the hatch five minutes after that."

"There's got to be a way that-" Ha

Not so crazy. But, Jesus, could it work?

Kirov's gaze was narrowed on her face. "What?"

"Let's take her out."

Kirov went still. "By out, you mean…"

"Out. Out to sea. It'll buy me the time I need with the computer."

"This is a fifteen-thousand-ton attack submarine. You think that just the two of us can-"

"Yes!" She punched the security-camera switch, which offered a view of the bow, the exterior fence, at the harbor beyond. "You take the co

"You know Pavski will come after us."

"I'm counting on it." She smiled into his eyes. "Aren't you?"

He nodded slowly. "One last mission…"

"We can do it."

"Once more into the breach, old girl?" Kirov said softly as he glanced around the command room.

The commander was back, Ha

He didn't answer.

"She deserves one last voyage. Doesn't she, Captain?"

Kirov nodded. "Aye. She deserves it."

Watch out!"

Pavski pulled Koppel down as the second guard's bullets pinged against the iron gate. Pavski whirled around with his AK-47, but one of his other men blew the guard away before he could even line up his shot.

Koppel shrugged off Pavski's hands and swung the blowtorch away from his midsection. "Be careful, dammit. You almost roasted my nuts off." He adjusted his goggles and continued cutting through the gate.

The Silent Thunder's diesel engines rumbled louder. The water off its stern churned and foamed.

Koppel froze and looked up. "What the hell's happening?"

Pavski began to curse in disbelief.

The steel cables snapped, whipping ferociously around Pavski and the men on the pier.

The iron mooring posts exploded from the concrete.

Then, as if awakening from a long slumber, the Silent Thunder groaned and slowly moved toward the fence separating it from the harbor.