THE DESTROYERMEN SERIES
Into the Storm
Crusade
Maelstrom
Distant Thunders
Rising Tides
Firestorm
Iron Gray Sea
ROC
Published by the Penguin Group
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First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Copyright © Taylor Anderson, 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Anderson, Taylor.
Storm surge/Taylor Anderson.
p. cm.—(Destroyermen)
ISBN 978-1-101-61416-7
1. Imaginary wars and battles—Fiction. 2. Destroyers (Warships)—Fiction. 3. Alternative histories (Fiction) 4. Science fiction. I. Title.
PS3601.N5475S76 2013
813'.6—dc23 2012050859
Set in Minion
Designed by Alissa Amell
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.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
Contents
Also By Taylor Anderson
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Cast of Characters
Maps
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
Map
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
Map
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
EPILOGUE
Specifications
To: My mother, Jeanette Anderson
A swell dame
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Again, I must thank my friend and agent, Russell Galen, as well as the utterly delightful Ginjer Buchanan and all the great folks at Roc. Otherwise, I’ll keep this one short since all the “usual suspects” know who they are—as do all those who have joined us on this adventure by now, for better or worse! Ha! I would like to throw out a very special thank-you to those who were so steadfast and supportive during a really tough time. They know who they are as well. Adversity does tend to put things in perspective, but it also often reveals the many blessings we take for granted. Since I count my true friends and family among my very greatest blessings, I am a fortunate man indeed. Oh, and for those who crave the usual hint regarding the latest ridiculous thing to “happen” to Jim, propriety must prevail this time. All I can say is that it was, again, wildly—painfully—amusing for most concerned.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(The following does not necessarily reflect initial or even final deployments, but only those most pertinent to the events described.)
See the back of the book for a list of ships and specifications.
Note:
(L)—Lemurians, or Mi-Anaaka, are bipedal, somewhat felinoid creatures with large eyes, fur, and expressive but nonprehensile tails. They are highly intelligent, social, and dexterous, and inhabit a variety of regions, but are concentrated in and around the Malay Barrier. 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, the 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.
Members of the Grand Alliance
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.
Lt. Tab-At (L)—Engineering Officer.
Courtney Bradford—Australian “naturalist” and engineer; “Minister of Science” for the Grand Alliance and Plenipotentiary at Large.
Chief Quartermaster Patrick “Paddy” Rosen—Acting First Officer.
Lt. Sonny Campeti—Gunnery Officer.
Cmdr. Bernard Sandison—Torpedo Officer and Minister of Experimental Ordnance.
Lt. Ed Palmer—Signals.
Chief Bosun Fitzhugh Gray—Chief Bosun of the Navy and Damage Control Officer. Highest ranking NCO in the Alliance and commander of the Captain’s Guard.
Gunner’s Mate Pak-Ras-Ar, “Pack Rat” (L)
Jeek (L)—Flight Crew Chief, Special Air Division.
Earl Lanier—Cook.
Johnny Parks—Machinist’s Mate.
Juan Marcos—Officers’ Steward.
Wallace Fairchild—Sonarman, Anti-Mountain Fish Countermeasures (AMF-DIC).
Min-Sakir, “Minnie” (L)—Bridge Talker.
Chief Engineer Isak Rueben—One of the “original” Mice.
Cmdr. Simon Herring—Chief of Strategic Intelligence.
Lance Corporal Ian Miles—Formerly in Second of the Fourth Marines; assigned to Bernard Sandison.
USS Mahan (as rebuilt)
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-Kar, “Tabasco” (L)—Cook.
Chief Bosun’s Mate Carl Bashear
Ensign Johnny Parks—Engineering Officer.
Ensign Paul Stites—Gunnery Officer.
USS Respite Island (SPD-1)—Self-Propelled Dry Dock #1.
MTB-Ron-1 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron #1) 10xMTB’s (#s 4-14).
Lt. (jg) Winston “Winny” Rominger—Former carpenter’s mate 3rd; head of the PT project; 1st Allied Raider Brigade.
Chack-Sab-At (L)—Commanding; Bosun’s Mate (Lt. Colonel).
Major Alistair Jindal—Imperial Marine and Chack’s exec.
Captain Risa Sab-At (L)—Chack’s sister.
First Fleet
Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)—(CINCWEST).
Indiaa
Allied Expeditionary Force (North)—Within “Alden’s Perimeter” around Lake Flynn and in the Rocky Gap.
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-la Cavalry)—Exec.
1st Marines, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Baalkpan
2ND DIVISION
Major Simon (Simy) Gutfeld (3rd Marines)—Exec.
1st, 2nd Maa-ni-la, 4th, 6th, 7th Aryaal
II Corps
General Queen Safir Maraan (L)—Commanding.
3RD DIVISION
General Daanis (L)—Commanding.
Colonel Mersaak (L)—“The 600” (B’mbaado regiment composed of Silver and Black Battalions)—Exec 3rd Baalkpan, 3rd , 10th B’mbaado, 5th Sular.
5TH DIVISION
Captain Saachic (L)—Commanding.
Includes remnants of First Amalgamated (Flynn’s Rangers), 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 6th Maa-ni-la Cavalry, 1st Sular (about 140 total effectives).
6TH DIVISION
General Grisa—Commanding.
5th, 6th B’mbaado, 1st, 2nd, 9th Aryaal, 3rd Sular*, 3rd Maa-ni-la Cavalry
III Corps
General Faan-Ma-Mar (L)—Commanding.
9TH & 11TH DIVISIONS COMPOSED OF THE 2ND, 3RD MAA-NI-LA, 8TH BAALKPAN, 7TH & 8TH MAA-NI-LA, 10TH ARYAAL
Lt. Mark Leedom—COFO, 5th & 8th Bomb Squadrons and 6th Pursuit Squadron from Humfra-Dar (remains of Second Naval Air Wing) attached; also 1st and 3rd Bomb Squadrons and 2nd Pursuit Squadron from Salissa (CV-1).
Ceylon
Mackey Field—Near Trin-con-lee. 3rd Pursuit Squadron (P-40E’s) Army Air Corps.
Colonel Ben Mallory—Commanding.
Lt. (jg) Suaak-Pas-Ra “Soupy” (L)
Lt. Conrad Diebel
2nd Lt. Niaa-Saa “Shirley” (L)
Staff Sergeant Cecil Dixon
Off Madras
Salissa Battlegroup
USNRS Salissa “Big Sal” (CV-1)
Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)—(CINCWEST)
Adar (L)—COTGA (Chairman of the Grand Alliance) and High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan.
Atlaan-Fas (L)—Commanding.
Lt. Sandy Newman—Exec.
Nurse Lt. Sandra Tucker Reddy—Minister of Medicine and wife of Captain Reddy.
Diania—Steward’s Assistant.
General Linnaa-Fas-Ra—12th Division.
First Naval Air Wing
Captain Jis-Tikkar “Tikker” (L)—COFO (Commander of Flight Operations); 2nd Bomb Squadron and 1st Pursuit Squadron remain on Salissa (CV-1) after damage.
Arracca Battlegroup
USNRS Arracca (CV-3)
Captain Tassana-Ay-Arracca (L)—Commanding; High Chief.
Fifth 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**
TF (Task Force) Ellis
Commodore Jim Ellis
USS Santa Catalina (CAP-1)
Lt. Cmdr. Russ Chapelle—Commanding.
Lt. Michael “Mikey” Monk—Exec.
Lt. (jg) Dean Laney—Engineering Officer.
Surgeon Cmdr. Kathy McCoy
Stanley “Dobbin” Dobson—Chief Bosun’s Mate.
S-19
Lt. Irvin Laumer—Commanding.
Midshipman Nathaniel Hardee
Danny Porter—Chief of the Boat.
Motor Machinist’s Mate Sandy Whitcomb
Frigates (DDs) attached: (Des-Ron 6)
USS Haakar-Faask**
Lt. Cmdr. Niaal-Ras-Kavaat (L)—Commanding.
USS Nakja-Mur*
Captain Jarrik-Fas (L)—Commanding.
USS Tassat**
Cmdr. Muraak-Saanga (L)—Commanding; former Donaghey exec. and sailing master.
USS Scott***
TFG-2
TF (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.
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.
Army and Naval Air Corps Training Center (Kaufman Field) Baalkpan
Lt. Walt “Jumbo” Fisher—Commanding.
4th & 7th Bomb Squadrons, and 4th & 5th Pursuit in extra training
Corps of Discovery
Ensign Abel Cook—Commanding.
Chief Gunner’s Mate Dennis Silva
Lawrence “Larry the Lizard”—Orange-and-brown tiger-striped Grik-like ex-Tagranesi (Sa’aaran).
Surgeon Lt. Pam Cross
Imperial Midshipman Stuart Brassey
Gunnery Sgt. Arnold Horn—USMC; formerly of the 4th Marines (US).
Moe the Hunter
Pokey—“Pet” Grik brass-picker.
Also 6 Lemurian Marines and 2 more “tame” Grik.
Fil-pin Lands
Saan-Kakja (L)—High Chief of Maa-ni-la and all the Fil-pin Lands.
Meksnaak (L)—High Sky Priest of Maa-ni-la.
Chinakru—Ex-Tagranesi, now colonial governor of Samaar.
General Ansik-Talaa (L)—Fil-pin Scouts.
Colonel Busaa (L)—Coastal artillery; commanding Advanced Training Center (ATC).
Respite Island
Governor Radcliff
Emelia Radcliff
Lt. Busbee—Cutter pilot.
Bishop Akin Todd
New Britain Isles
Governor-Empress Rebecca Anne McDonald
Sean “O’Casey” Bates—Prime Factor and Chief of Staff for G-E.
Lt. Ezekial Krish—Assistant to Mr. Bates.
Lord High Admiral James Silas McLain III (relieved)
HIMS Ulysses, Euripides, Tacitus—Completing repairs.
Allied Assets/New Britain Isles
Sister Audry—Benedictine nun, and new Allied Ambassador.
“Lord” Sgt. Koratin (L)—Marine protector and advisor to Sister Audry.
USS Simms***—Fil-pin-built; under repair.
Lt. Ruik-Sor-Raa (L)—Commanding.
USS Pinaa-Tubo—Ammunition ship.
Lt. Radaa-Nin (L)—Commanding.
Eastern Sea Campaign
High Admiral Harvey Jenks—(CINCEAST)
Enchanted Isles:
Sir Thomas Humphries—Imperial Governor of Albermarl.
Colonel Alexander—Garrison commander.
Second Fleet
USS Maaka-Kakja (CV-4)
Admiral Lelaa-Tal-Cleraan (L)—Commanding.
Lt. Tex “Sparks” Sheider—Exec.
Gilbert Yeager—En
gineer (one of the original Mice).
3rd Naval Air Wing
(9th, 11th, 12th Bomb Squadrons, and 7th, 10th Pursuit Squadrons (30 planes assembled, 30 unassembled).
2nd Lt. Orrin Reddy—COFO.
Sgt. Kuaar-Ran-Taak “Seepy” (L)—Reddy’s backseater.