Clean Sweep: A Military Thriller (War of the Submarine Book 5) by R.G. Roberts

Author:R.G. Roberts [Roberts, R.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter seven

The Hunted

12 October 2039

If there was one thing John could get used to quick on a surface ship, it was seeing sunsets at sea. Sitting in a chair on the starboard bridgewing, with his feet up and watching the sun set was a new luxury…but one he was already in love with.

“Looks like our shakedown cruise just became something more, Captain.”

His new XO’s voice made him jump. John turned to face Lieutenant Commander Arnie Quinn. Arnie was tall, and by which John meant really tall. A former basketball player at the Naval Academy, he was pushing six foot six, dark-skinned, narrow and well-muscled, and he moved like a cat. He’d even gone pro for a year, before an ankle injury took him out of the game for good, though from what John heard, he still dominated pickup games on base. Nereus’ sports teams were some of the best in Perth, a fact that John found ridiculously pleasing.

The fact that they wouldn’t need John and his two left feet was even better. His sport at the Academy had been sailing, which didn’t require running fast or kicking balls. John loved the sea and hated running, so sailing had been the best possible option.

“What happened?” John asked.

“Sperry went down this morning, sir.” Arnie scowled. “Sounds like that French fucker got her.”

A lead weight landed on John’s chest. “Rochambeau?”

“That’s the one.” Arnie was a surface warfare officer; in the navy’s infinite wisdom, the XO of a sub tender was always a surface guy to balance out the submariner in command. It was probably a good idea; John didn’t find driving Nereus too different from a sub on the surface, but radars and fire control and close-in defense weapons were things he had limited experience with.

“So much for being free of him when I surfaced.” John sighed. “Any survivors?”

“They got picked up by HMAS Hobart this morning. They never saw Barracuda coming.” Arnie’s eyes narrowed. “Asshole tweeted about it, though.”

“I still can’t understand the depth of ego required to do that.” John shook his head. “And it’s not that I lack ambition, but tweeting about sinking the enemy is a great way to send a posse of enemies on a hunt for you.”

“Pity it hasn’t worked on him.”

“Got a copy of the tweet?” John gestured to the tablet in Arnie’s hand.

“Yes, sir.”

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