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The control
room heaved! Loose papers, cups and other smegma flew around, along
with it's four occupants. Sparks exploded from the electronic consoles
as the equipment shorted out. Above the chaos, angry growning
metal squealed from the ship as the entire room shifted downward.
From a far vantage, the recovery ship seemed to be pulled
down from it's stern...By the sonar sled cable. This dive
became so extream, that water broke over the fantail. Then came
a sharp report. After which, the striken vessel settled back to
it's waterline.
Max picked himself
up from the floor of the room, quickly checking on the female
Nav-tech who landed on top of him. Aside from some bruising,
she seemed none the worse. Murphy was also dusting himself
off, as the other Nav-tech looked for the exit door in the
dark. Upon opening it, all were blinded by the strong afternoon
sunlight. Shaking this off, the four exited to the ship's damaged
stern. "That's one hell of a whale, sir." stated the male
Nav-tech as they went. "Yeah, it's one...Really pissed off whale..."
Max added. Damage control officers were already giving the fantail
the once-over, as the two scientist's joined them. "We lost the
sled!" came the first report from the shaken officers. Max thought
on this "...A reallly, really pissed off whale! It snapped the
cable, then?" "Looks that way." the Navy man said. Max adressed Murphy
over his sholder. "What kind of whale, could pull a ship this
size down...and snap a cable?" " The big question, is why? Most
whales are non agressive." Murphy answered. "That's what I used
to think." The female Nav-tech looked down at were Max was
standing...seeing spots of crimson red. "Mr. Harrison... Could you turn
around, please?" "What? Oh yeah, sure. " Max turned to face the others.
Above his left eye, a large abbraision ran with blood. "You might
want to go down to sickbay and have that checked." Murphy
insisted. "Have what checked?" Even as he asked, he ran his hand
over the bloody cut, then looked to his fingers. "Oh?...I must've
nailed the console." "I'd say so!... You probably dented my equipment,
too!.. You rock headed bastard!" The others laughed...All except Max,
who knew exactly what his friend was hedging at.
Four stitches later,
Max was again on deck near the damaged control van. He was
on his way back into the room when a Nav-tech stopped him.
"C'mon, I need the readings we took! " He argued. But the
Navy man held his ground. "Mr. Harrison, All the equipment in
there got wet, we don't need you frying yourself, too!" "Don't
you think I know alittle something about elect..." "Shut up, Max...I
took care of it, already!" Murphy interupted the argument. "All
of it?" " Even the video feed, up to the moment the
sled was lost... I got everything. So chill out, will ya?" Murphy
assured. "Fantastic! Now I can get a good look... at..." His voice
trailed off. Max finally noticed the new arrival to the blockaid.
Off the stern, he saw the massive contour of a battleship.
One of the "New Jersey" class. "...Look at that!?" Murphy puzzled over
his friend's amazment. "Oh, that? Yeah, the Navy uses things
like that. They call 'em Battleships." He sarcasticly replied.
"I know that. But wern't they all decommisioned, like years ago?"
Now, the Navy man spoke up. " Yeah. This one was at Pearl,
being cleaned up when we lost the Lexington. It'll make a
perfect command opps. for a recovery this big." "I guess, that
would make sense." Max agreed.
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It was dusk
when Max got back to the White Sands Hotel. He was sore
now, The afternoon's tramatic event had caught up with him. He
was suppose to meet with Murphy and Sue for dinner. So he
painfully showered off the day, then headed for the lobby.
The three were off
to one of the best restaurants in the city... This would
be nice change of pace after earlier. Max thought, as they went
along. Sue wanted to know exactly what had happened today. The
two men had agreed to tell her, but it had to be kept
quiet from the general population... ( By order of the Navy.) Either
way, Max felt good...Until they got the the eatery.
The table
had been reserved...And Tamara was sitting at it. Max saw her, and
winced... Pulling Murphy aside. "Please, tell me
you didn't arrange this?" "No I didn't... Sue did...Now smile." He strongly
suggested as they joined the table. Tammy saw Max, and the
large guase plasterd over his eyebrow. Her eyes expressed a genuine
concern. "My God, what happened to you?!" Before he could answer,
Sue got her shot in. "Murphy slugged him." The other laughed, then Max
added. "Well, actually... It's a long story..." "I don't have to work,
tomorrow...I've got all night." Tammy said. Max nervously smiled, then
boldly added. "Oh good. More time for me to say something
completly assinine....Great." Again, Murphy looked totally impressed. Tammy had
seen this two nights in a row now, and could stand it
no longer. "Is there something you'd like to share with us,
Murphy?" She asked. "Two appologies... two nights. I'd say you're
doing pretty good!" Tammy looked at him, confused. Sue added.
"Max has trouble swallowing his mistakes." Max gave the woman a
screwed up look. "Am I that bad? How come you guys never
tell me these things?" Laughter again rounded the table.
The dinner was
indeed, fantastic. Sue and Murphy seemed to be working their relationship
nicely... Exchanging double meanings through the meal. Max found himself
feeling more comfortable as well. Sue was right, Tammy was amazingly
even tempered and pleasent. After dinner the talk turned to the
event at Maalaea. Murphy explained
the events in detail. More so, than Max felt comfortable with.
For this reason, Max felt that there was an alterior motive
in telling the women. ( At least, according to Murphy.) But why?
After Murphy concluded, the table fell silent.
"And you think,
a whale did this?" Sue asked. "It's the only real explanation,
we could come up with... The only thing that made sense, at
any rate." Max affirmed. "How many tons, do you think that ship
comes in at?" Sue tossed out. "I know, but...What else
could it be?!" Exclamed Murphy. Tammy sat during this whole exchange...Seemingly
off in her own world of thought. Her expression was that
of distress. "Godzilla..." She said quietly. The table went still.
Max sat, stymied... "Uh,.. Come again?" Tammy looked directly at him...
As to imprint the serious nature of this moment. "Godzilla... That
would be your answer." She pressed Murphy went to speak, Sue
stopped him. Max chose discression, this time. "I have the video
from our sonar sweep. I'm hoping, it caught whatever grabbed the
sled." Tammy looked surprised, as Murphy made the connection. "That's
why you threw a fit about the readings!.. You're holding out
on us!" "Not really. The Navy has it's own copy of it."
Max said. "Max, can you do me a really big favor?" Tammy
interupted. Max looked over to her, as she continued. "... If
you do find anything, please let me know?"
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