AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The Chinese forces were evacuating the yacht.
It could only mean one thing.
They’re going to sink it.
The bow of the submarine was already pointed toward the target. The boat’s commander must have ordered the evacuation before even firing the torpedo at the LCAC. With theDayangxidoomed and the master of these forces absent, the commander must have taken it upon himself to take down theTitan X.
Monk spun in the water, knowing there was nothing he could do. His efforts to save the yacht had only delayed the inevitable.
But apparently, it had been long enough.
Around the bulk of theTitan X, a seaplane dove low into view. It tilted on a wing and turned sharply upon the submarine, diving toward its target.
Monk recognized the Twin Otter.
How did it get here?
He gaped in confusion, adding another question.
What is it doing?
3:12P.M.
Kowalski leaned out the side door of the Twin Otter. He kept a grip on a handle inside. The seas swept low under him. The Chinese submarine rose ahead of them.
In the pilot’s seat, William Byrd shouted, “Get ready!”
The plane coughed and choked, stifled by ash. It dropped a full yard.
“Hold it together!” Kowalski hollered back. “Keep us steady!”
The Otter swept over the length of the sub’s hull. Spatters of gunfire shot at them. Rounds tore through the wings, pinged off struts. The sail of the submarine appeared dead ahead. Byrd fought to hold their line, to keep them aloft.
“C’mon,” Kowalski moaned.
The Otter swept at the conning tower, low enough that the men on top ducked out of the way.
“Now!” Kowalski yelled.
To the side, Jarrah shoved his shoulder into a waist-high stack of Semtex 10. The load rested on a wheeled pallet. The package toppled out the open door and fell heavily downward.
As the seaplane passed onward, Kowalski leaned farther out. He hung by the handle and bellowed, “You left something behind, assholes!”
He watched his care package strike the top of the sail and smiled.
This is what I do best.
In his other hand, he pressed the detonator.
Two hundred pounds of Semtex exploded with a fiery flash. The blast thundered. The concussion shook the air and shoved the plane. Huge gouts of flames burst out the sub’s forward and aft hull hatches. Pontoon boats flew high, burning and crashing.
The Otter spun a half circle to view the damage.
The conning tower burned like a torch. The craft slipped sideways. Some seams must have burst lower down. Another explosion rocked the boat. Maybe from the torpedo bay inside. The submarine slowly sank away.
Farther out, a helicopter landing dock burned its way into the sea. Missile fire still blasted into its steeply canted deck, as if making sure itstayed down. Kowalski didn’t know who was attacking the ship, but he was grateful for the assist.
Byrd yelled from the pilot seat. “Losing engines!”
