Operation Barracuda (2005)

"That it is. The entire thing can be collapsed to fit into a 3.6-by-3.6-by-12-meter box and transported on deck or in a cargo hold. Think of it like an attack helicopter, only it's in the water on a high-speed platform that uses SWATH, or Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull, technology. It's small and stealthy and is plated with bulletproof material. It can attack on a moment's notice using an array of Hellfire missiles, twenty-millimeter guns, forty-millimeter grenade launchers, and torpedoes. We added drop-mines that will sink to the bottom of the sea and knock out anything in their paths. The navy will use it to loiter, patrol, and attack in shallow littoral waters. What's really nice is that it sits low in the water for long periods and can then pop up and dash to suspected threats when speed is needed. And it's fast, too."

I run my hand along the side of it. "Very nice," I say.

"Now here's where it gets interesting," Lambert says. "The designers installed several intelligence-gathering tools that are helpful to us. For one thing it has mine-hunting capability--it'll sniff out and destroy mines as it encounters them in shallow water. By the same token it can detect other objects and zero in on radiation. The Geiger counter and sonar equipment will let the rider know when he's on top of dangerous material or even vehicles."

"So it'll find the MRUUVs."

"Precisely. Another cool feature is the homing beacon. The pilot wears it in his belt, so if he leaves the CHARC for any reason, such as a dive, the CHARC will follow him along the surface on automatic."

"Damn, it's like a loyal dog. Great, let me at 'em," I say. "You have the owner's manual handy?"

"Whoa, hold on, Sam. You're not well enough to do this. I was just showing you--"

"What do you mean I'm not well enough? Are you out of your mind?" He can't keep me out of the fight. Not now. Not after what I've been through.

"Sam, we have some Navy SEALS aboard. They're going to pilot the CHARCs."

"I'm a Navy SEAL, too, Colonel. You know damn well that I have to do this. I needto do this."

"It's been more than twenty years since you were a Navy SEAL, Sam. And you just got up from a hospital bed. Be realistic! We're going to have to launch these things at sunrise. That's only four hours from now."

"Oh, come on, Colonel! You know I can do this. I'm fine. I feel great. You know me." I didn't feel great but I wasn't about to let someone else do this job.

"Sam, if we find the MRUUVs, it's going to take someone to dive down there and disarm the bomb. That means scuba gear and the works. You're just not up for it. You're not healed. The mission is too important. I'm sorry, Sam."

I don't know what to say. I'm so angry I could slug the guy but of course I'm not going to do that. Deep down I know he's right. If I were in his shoes I'd make the same call. With a sigh I simply nod my head and walk away.

"Sam . . ."

"It's okay, Colonel. Just have someone show me to my quarters, if I have any."

Aloud knock on my compartment door disturbs my sleep. At first I think the bulkhead is collapsing but then my senses spin me back to reality. I turn on the overhead light above my bunk and say, "Come." The digital clock tells me I've been asleep for two hours.

Colonel Lambert takes a step into the small quarters and says, "Sorry to disturb you, Sam. May I come in?"

"Sure." I sit up and rub my eyes. "What's up?"

Lambert sits on the end of the bunk and replies, "I've come to eat crow. And apologize."

I wait for him to go on.

"One of our Navy SEALS . . . he . . . well, hell, he's got goddamned food poisoning. Or something. He's throwing up every half hour and is ru

I'm suddenly wide awake. "Are you telling me . . . ?"

"The job's yours if you still want it, Sam."

"Of course I still want it!"

"Get dressed and meet me on the same deck where we were earlier. You'll suit up in diving gear and we'll run you through the basics on how to operate the CHARC. We're an hour outside of Los Angeles so we'll be launching as soon as we can." He stands and goes for the door. "I just hope I don't regret this."

"Don't worry, Colonel," I say. "And thanks."

THEtwo Navy SEALS are young guys--well, young compared to me--named Lieutenant Junior Grade Max Carlson and Ensign Ben Stanley. When I walk onto the deck I can feel the skepticism oozing from them. They look at me as if to say, "Who the hell is this old guy?" I introduce myself and shake hands with both of them and they reply politely, but I can tell they are not happy about me joining the team.

Colonel Lambert stands on the sidelines trying to be as unobtrusive as possible while the commanding officer, Lieutenant Don Van Fleet, welcomes me and then addresses the three of us.

"Men, we don't have much time. I just received word that Taiwan has been attacked. Our forces are holding back until we find that nuke and neutralize it. So for every minute that goes by, more Taiwanese are dying. I understand that General Tun's forces bombed Taipei with a warning volley to get the Taiwan government to surrender. Of course they refused. A sea assault followed and now Tun's armies are storming the island's beaches. It's not pretty, especially with our navy sitting there with thumbs up their asses. Lieutenant Carlson, I'm giving you five minutes to teach Mr. Fisher everything he needs to know about the CHARC. We launch two minutes after that. Before I turn over the floor to Colonel Lambert, are there any questions?"

We shake our heads. Lambert steps forward and says, "You've been supplied with schematics of the MRUUVs. The CHARCs' reco

"Once you've located a possible MRUUV, you'll have to put the CHARC on automatic standby and take a dive to confirm. Make sure your homing beacons are working. Once you've confirmed you have an MRUUV, you report in and we'll give you further instructions. Any questions?"

Carlson speaks up. "Sir, is it possible this bomb will go off while we're there?"

Lambert replies, "General Tun has said that he'll detonate the nuke only if his forces are attacked by anyone outside of Taiwan. But you never know. There's always that risk."

Stanley asks, "Will we have to disarm the bomb?"

"My team in Washington is working on that. What we do when we find the bomb will depend on a number of factors. Just report in when you've found it."