THE DESTROYERMEN SERIES
Into the Storm
Crusade
Maelstrom
Distant Thunders
Rising Tides
Firestorm
Iron Gray Sea
Storm Surge
Deadly Shores
ROC
Published by the Penguin Group
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First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,
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Copyright © Taylor Anderson, 2015
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REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Anderson, Taylor, 1963–
Straits of hell / Taylor Anderson.
pages cm.—(Destroyermen)
“A ROC BOOK.”
ISBN 978-0-698-16296-9
I. Title.
PS3601.N5475S73 2015
813’.6—dc23 2014043672
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Version_1
Contents
Also from the DESTROYERMEN SERIES
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Cast of Characters
Maps
Schematic
Epigraph
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
EPILOGUE
SPECIFICATIONS
To: Silvia—for everything.
For: “Taffy-3.” Whenever anyone says something to the effect that “nobody would ever go up against odds that long,” I just shake my head and say, “Taffy-3.” If they know what I’m talking about, they say “Oh. Oh, yeah.” If they don’t, they should definitely educate themselves. When they do, they will know why no imaginary scenario I could ever conjure up can truly equal the “long odds” some very real young Americans once actually faced.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks again to Russell Galen, a great friend and the best agent anybody could ever have. Thanks particularly to Anne Sowards, who graciously agreed to jump into the middle of all this and become my new editor. I can’t begin to say how great she’s been or how much I appreciate her. Fred Feidler did the first read once (or twice or thrice) over again, and kept me from making more dopey mistakes than usual. Mark Wheeler and Col. Dave Leedom, USAFR, still help me “keep ’em flying.” Electronic and comm tech advice still flows freely from my dad, Dr. Don Anderson. Dennis Petty, Mark Beck, Eric Holland, Gordon Frye, Lynn Kosminski, Kate Baker, Pete Hodges, Ron Harris, Robin Clay, and many more continue to support me with their friendship, contribute their time, or inspire me with memories and… anecdotes. (Jim Goodrich, in particular, keeps the amusing anecdotes coming. A certain “swarm” of wildly selfish little piggies that demonstrated amazingly Grik-like behavior springs to mind.) Matthieu Buisine has recently joined my “bullpen” of advisors, and his input, along with that of all the great folks who visit my Web site (taylorandersonauthor.com) will be increasingly crucial as the tale steams into even stranger waters. Last, but absolutely not least, I would also like to thank Jane Steele, who hands down is the best copy editor it has ever been my pleasure to work with.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(The following does not necessarily reflect initial or even final deployments, but only those most pertinent to the events described.)
See index for details of ships and equipment specifications.
Note:
(L)—Lemurians, or Mi-Anakka (People) are bipedal, somewhat felinoid folk with large eyes, fur, and expressive but nonprehensile tails. They are highly intelligent, social, and dexterous. It has been proposed that they are descended from the giant lemurs of Madagascar.
(G)—Grik, or Ghaarrichk’k, are bipedal reptilians reminiscent of various Mesozoic dromaeosaurids. Covered with fine downy fur, males develop bristly crests and tail plumage, and retain formidable teeth and claws. Grik society consists of two distinct classes, the ruling or industrious Hij, and the worker-warrior Uul. The basic Grik-like form is ubiquitous, and serves as a foundation for numerous unassociated races and species.
At “Grik City” Madagascar
USS Walker (DD-163)
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Patrick Reddy, USNR—Commanding. CINCAF—(Commander in Chief of All Allied Forces).
Cmdr. Brad “Spanky” McFarlane—Exec. Minister of Naval Engineering.
Cmdr. Bernard Sandison—Torpedo Officer and Minister of Experimental Ordnance.
Lt. Tab-At, “Tabby” (L)—Engineering Officer.
Lt. Sonny Campeti—Gunnery Officer.
Lt. Ed Palmer—Signals.
Surgeon Lieutenant Pam Cross
Cmdr. Simon Herring—Office of Strategic Intelligence (OSI).
Ensign Laar-Baa-Ra (L)—PB-1B “Nancy” pilot.
Chief Quartermaster Patrick “Paddy” Rosen—Acting First Officer.
Chief Boatswain’s Mate Jeek (L)—Former Crew Chief, “Special Air Division.”
Chief Engineer Isak Reuben—One of the “original” Mice.
Gunner’s Mate Pak-Ras-Ar, “Pack Rat” (L)
Earl Lanier—Cook.
Johnny Parks—Machinist’s Mate.
Juan Marcos—Officer’s Steward.
Wallace Fairchild—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).
Min-Sakir, “Minnie”(L)—Bridge Talker.
Leftenant Doocy Meek—British sailor and former POW (WWI). Now liaison for the Republic of Real People.
Corporal Neely—Imperial Marine Bugler.
Salissa Battle Group
USNRS Salissa “Big Sal” (CV-1)
Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)
Atlaan-Fas (L)—Commanding.
Lt. Sandy Newman—Exec.
1st Naval Air Wing
Captain Jis-Tikkar, “Tikker” (L)—“COFO” (Commander of Flight Operations); 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Squadron, and 1s
t and 2nd Pursuit Squadrons aboard Salissa (CV-1).
Lt. Araa-Faan (L)—Tikker’s Aryaalan Exec.
Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 6)
USS Haakar-Faask**
Lt. Cmdr. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat (L)—Commanding.
USS Tassat**
Captain Jarrik-Fas (L)—Commanding.
Lt. Stanly Raj—“Impie” Exec.
USS Scott***
Cmdr. Muraak-Saanga (L)—Commanding. (Former Donaghey Exec and sailing master).
USS Nakja-Mur*
Lt. Naala-Araan [Cmdr. Cablaas-Rag-Laan (L) has been reassigned].
MTB-Ron-1 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron #1)—5xMTBs (#s 4, 7, 13, 15, 16).
Aef-M (Allied Expeditionary Force—Madagascar).
II Corps
General Queen Safir Maraan (L)—Commanding.
3rd Division
General Mersaak (L)—Commanding. “The 600” (B’mbaado Regiment composed of Silver and Black battalions), Exec 3rd Baalkpan, 3rd, 10th B’mbaado, 5th Sular, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Sular.
6th Division
General Grisa—Commanding.
5th, 6th B’mbaado, 1st, 2nd, 9th Aryaal, 3rd Sular
1st Allied Raider Brigade (“Chack’s Raiders,” or “Chack’s Brigade”)
Lt. Col Chack-Sab-At (L)—Commanding—bosun’s mate (Marine Lt. Colonel).
21st (combined) Allied Regiment
Major Alistair Jindal—Commanding—Imperial Marine, and Chack’s nominal Exec.
1st and 2nd battalions of the 9th Maa-Ni-Laa, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Respite
7th (combined) Allied Regiment
Captain Risa Sab-At (L)—Commanding—(Chack’s sister).
2nd and 3rd battalions of the 19th Baalkpan, 1st Battalion of the 11th Imperial Marines
1st Cavalry Brigade
Lt. Colonel Saachic (L)—Commanding.
SMS Amerika
Kapitan Adler Von Melhausen—Commanding.
Kapitan Leutnant Becker Lange—Von Melhausen’s Exec.
Adar (L)—Chairman of the Grand Alliance (COTGA), and High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan.
Surgeon Commander Sandra Tucker Reddy—Minister of Medicine, and wife of Captain Reddy.
Diania—Steward’s Assistant and Sandra’s friend and bodyguard.
Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn—USMC—formerly of the 4th Marines (US).
Lieutenant Toryu Miyata—formerly of Amagi.
MISSION TO MEET “ANCESTRAL” LEMURIANS:
Ensign Nathaniel Hardee—Commanding PT-7.
Courtney Bradford—Australian naturalist and engineer. Minister of Science for the Grand Alliance and Plenipotentiary at Large.
Chief Gunner’s Mate Dennis Silva
Lawrence “Larry the Lizard”—orange and brown tiger-striped Grik-like ex-Tagranesi (Sa’aaran).
Corporal Ian Miles—Formerly in 2nd of the 4th Marines.
The “Republic of Real People”
Caesar (Kaiser) Nig-Taak
General Marcus Kim—Military High Command.
TFG-2 (Task Force Garrett-2)
(Long-Range Reconnaissance and Exploration)
USS Donaghey (DD-2)
Cmdr. Greg Garrett—Commanding.
Lt. Saama-Kera, “Sammy” (L)—Exec.
Lt. (jg) Wendel “Smitty” Smith—Gunnery Officer.
Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At—Commanding Marines.
Chief Bosun’s Mate Jenaar-Laan
Inquisitor Kon-Choon—Director of Spies for the Republic of Real People.
In Indiaa
Allied Expeditionary Force (North)
General of the Army and Marines Pete Alden—Commanding. Former sergeant in USS Houston Marine contingent.
I Corps
General Lord Muln-Rolak (L)—Commanding.
Hij Geerki—Rolak’s “pet” Grik, captured at Rangoon.
1st (Galla) Division
General Taa-leen (L)—Commanding.
Colonel Enaak (L) (5th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry)—Exec.
1st Marines, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Baalkpan
2nd Division
General Rin-Taaka-Ar (L)—Commanding.
Major Simon “Simy” Gutfeld (3rd Marines)—Exec.
1st, 2nd Maa-Ni-Laa, 4th, 6th, 7th Aryaal
III Corps
General Faan-Ma-Mar (L)—Commanding.
9th & 11th Divisions composed of the 2nd, 3rd Maa-ni-laa, 8th Baalkpan, 7th & 8th Maa-ni-la, 10th Aryaal
VI Corps
General Linnaa-Fas-Ra—Commanding.
The “Czech Legion”—Colonel Dalibor SVEC—Commanding. A near-division-level “cavalry” force of aging Czechs and Slovaks, and their continental Lemurian allies. They are militarily, if not politically, bound to the Grand Alliance.
Flynn Field—Primary Army/Navy air base in Indiaa, on the north shore of Lake Flynn, west of Madraas.
Colonel Ben Mallory—Commanding.
Lt. Cmdr. Mark Leedom—Exec.
4th 5th, 7th, 8th Bomb Squadrons (PB-1B Nancys), and 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Pursuit Squadrons (P-1C Mosquito Hawks “Fleashooters”). The 3rd Pursuit Squadron is composed of 9 Army Air Corps P-40Es.
Lt. Walt “Jumbo” Fisher
Lt. (jg) Suaak-Pas-Ra “Soupy” (L)
Lt. Conrad Diebel
2nd Lt. Niaa-Saa “Shirley” (L)
S. Sergeant Cecil Dixon
At Madras (Indiaa)
First Fleet North
USS Santa Catalina (CAP-1)
Lt. Cmdr. Russ Chappelle—Commanding.
Lt. Michael “Mikey” Monk—Exec.
Lt. (jg) Dean Laney—Engineering Officer.
Surgeon Cmdr. Kathy McCoy
Stanley “Dobbin” Dobson—Chief Bosun’s Mate.
USS Mahan (DD-102)
Cmdr. Perry Brister—Commanding. Minister of Defensive and Industrial Works.
Lt. (jg) Jeff Brooks—Sonarman—Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).
Lt. (jg) Rolando “Ronson” Rodriguez—Chief Electrician.
Taarba-Kaar, “Tabasco” (L)—Cook.
Chief Bosun’s Mate Carl Bashear
Ensign Johnny Parks—Engineering Officer.
Ensign Paul Stites—Gunnery Officer.
Arracca Battle Group
USNRS Arracca (CV-3)
Tassanna-Ay-Arracca (L), High Chief—Commanding.
5th Naval Air Wing
Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 9)
USS Kas-Ra-Ar**—Captain Mescus-Ricum (L)—Commanding.
USS Ramic-Sa-Ar*
USS Felts**
USS Naga***
USS Bowles***
USS Saak-Fas***
USS Clark**
At Baalkpan
Cmdr. Alan Letts—Chief of Staff, Minister of Industry and the Division of Strategic Logistics. Acting “Chairman” of the Grand Alliance.
Cmdr. Steve “Sparks” Riggs—Minister of Communications and Electrical Contrivances.
Lord Bolton Forester—Imperial Ambassador.
Lt. Bachman—Forester’s aide.
Surgeon Cmdr. Karen Theimer Letts—Assistant Minister of Medicine.
“Pepper” (L)—Black-and-white Lemurian keeper of the “Castaway Cook,” (Busted Screw).
Leading Seaman Henry Stokes, HMAS Perth—Assistant Director of Office of Strategic Intelligence—(OSI).
Among the Khonashi (North Borno)
“King” Tony Scott
“Captain” I’joorka—Respected warrior and Scott’s friend.
Ensign Abel Cook—Commanding Allied Mission.
Imperial Midshipman Stuart Brassey
Moe the Hunter
Pokey—“Pet” Grik brass-picker.
Eastern Sea Campaign
High Admiral Harvey Jenks (CINCEAST)
Enchanted Isles
Sir Thomas Humphries—Imperial Governor at Albermarl.
Colonel Alexander—Garrison commander.
Second Fleet
USS Maaka-Kakja (CV
-4)
Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan (L)—Commanding.
Lieutenant Tex Sheider (Sparks)—Exec.
Gilbert Yeager—Engineer; one of the “original” Mice.
3rd Naval Air Wing
(9th, 11th, 12th Bomb Squadrons & 7th, 10th Pursuit Squadrons.) (30 planes assembled, 30 unassembled)
2nd Lt. Orrin Reddy—COFO.
Sgt. Kuaar-Ran-Taak “Seepy” (L)—Reddy’s “backseater.”
Line of Battle
24 Imperial Ships of the Line Including:
HIMSs Mars*, Centurion*, Mithra
*Attached to TF-11 commanded by Imperial Admiral E. B. Hibbs
DDs (of note)
USS Mertz***
USS Tindal***
USS Finir-Pel***
Lt. Haan-Sor Plaar (L)—Commanding.
HIMS Achilles Lt. Grimsley—Commanding.
HIMS Icarus
Lt. Parr—Commanding.
USS Simms***
Lt. Ruik-Sor-Raa (L)—Commanding.
USS Pinaa-Tubo (Ammunition ship)
Lt. Radaa-Nin (L)—Commanding.
USS Pecos—Fleet Oiler.
USS Pucot—Fleet Oiler.
Second Fleet Expeditionary Force: (X Corps)—4 regiments Lemurian Army and Marines, 2 regiments “Frontier” troops, 5 regiments Imperial Marines—(3 Divisions) w/artillery train.
General Tomatsu Shinya—Commanding.
Colonel James Blair—Exec.
Major Dao Iverson—Commanding Second Battalion, 6th Imperial Marines.
Nurse Cmdr. Selass-Fris-Ar (L)—“Doc’selass” Daughter of Keje-Fris-Ar.
Capt. Blas-Ma-Ar “Blossom” (L)—Commanding 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.
Spon-Ar-Aak “Spook” (L)—Gunner’s Mate, and 1st Sgt. of “A” Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines.
Lt. Staas-Fin “Finny” (L)—“C” Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Maa-ni-laa.
Lt. Faal-Pel “Stumpy” (L)—“A” Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Maa-ni-la. Former ordnance striker.
Lt. (jg) Fred Reynolds—Formerly Special Air Division—USS Walker.
Ensign Kari-Faask (L)—Reynolds’s friend and “backseater.”
Army of the Sisters
Saan-Kakja (L)—High Chief of Ma-ni-laa and all the Filpin Lands.
Governor-Empress Rebecca Anne McDonald
Sister Audry—Benedictine nun, and commander of El Vengadores de Dios, a regiment raised from penitent Dominion POWs on New Ireland.
Colonel Arano Garcia
Lt. Ezekial Krish
General Ansik-Talaa (L)—Filpin Scouts.
Sergeant “Lord” Koratin (L)—Marine protector and advisor to Sister Audry.