The Rowen (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 7)

by JC Ryan

  “Hmm,” Willis hesitated. He had a bit of a dilemma, Admiral Johnson didn’t know anything about the operation in progress at Raven Rock and although he explicitly trusted the Admiral it was not his decision to make whether the Admiral could be taken to the facility or not. “You’ll have to give me a few minutes. I have to get authorization for that.”

  Johnson was a bit taken aback but didn’t say anything. He just nodded his understanding.

  Willis left the room to make the call to Daniel on his secured mirror satellite phone. It took less than two minutes to explain the situation to Daniel and get the authorization. He was smiling when he returned to the room where Johnson was waiting. “I’ve been told by President Rossler that you are most welcome, Admiral.”

  “Excellent. I’ll am ready when you are Mr. Secretary.”

  ***

  Less than three hours later they were all gathered around Roy and Raj at one of the desks again. This time with Admiral Johnson in attendance.

  They had a long deliberation after Willis and Johnson arrived about the wisdom of contacting the Trepang. The clearer images produced by Raj’s and Roy’s tweaks to the software didn’t reveal anything that they didn’t already know.

  Their dilemma was that any communication with the Trepang could be intercepted. However, they had to weigh the lives of the people onboard the boat against the potential consequences of being discovered by eavesdroppers with nefarious intent. The former cause won.

  “All right, Roy,” Daniel said, “let’s see if they’re listening.”

  They had agreed that either Admiral Johnson or Secretary Willis should do the talking as the Captain was unlikely to answer if he heard the voice of an unknown person.

  Admiral Johnson gave Roy a frequency, waited while he dialed it in, and then spoke into the mic. “Trepang, Trepang, this is Sting Ray. Come in Trepang.”

  They waited. Thirty seconds passed and the Admiral repeated the call. That was part of the agreed security protocol.

  A crackle came over the speaker. Sting Ray, this is Sea Horse. Please repeat your call.

  Johnson grinned. He didn’t repeat the call, instead he said, “that’s the correct response. Tune to this frequency,” he said pointing to the dial next to Roy’s hand.

  When Roy had it dialed in, he repeated his call a third time. “Trepang, Trepang, this is Sting Ray. Come in Trepang.”

  “Sting Ray, this is Trepang. It’s good to hear from you, over.”

  “Trepang it’s a big relief to hear from you. What’s going on out there?”

  In coded language, Locklin quickly gave them a run down on the events of the past five days, describing the takeover of the boat as a ‘restructuring of command,’ never mentioning Brideaux or any names, neither referring to prisoners, using the word ‘trainees’ instead. In similar fashion, he explained the failed attempt to surface and took great care not to disclose their location.

  “I’ve got divers in the water making repairs. They just got our mast antenna working again a few minutes ago, good thing you didn’t call any sooner.”

  “How bad is the damage?”

  “In short, we won’t be going anywhere for a while yet, and it won’t be fast when we do.”

  “What’s your best estimate of when you might be moving again?”

  “About another eighteen to twenty hours. We still have to remove the remaining bow plane and it’s taking longer than we expected to seal up the damage to the upper bow compartment and get the water out of it.”

  Johnson looked surprised. “That’s a water-tight compartment with internal access only; how are you going to do that?”

  Locklin laughed. “I’m not sure we are, but my acting executive officer believes if we seal up most of the damage and start pumping more air into the compartment it will force the water out and we can seal the remaining damage before reducing the air pressure.”

  “I don’t know if that’s even been tried before. Let’s hope it works.”

  “Well, the only sure way to fail is not to try,” Locklin said.

  Daniel grinned, I surely would like to meet this guy as soon as he gets off that boat. A man with such an attitude is worth knowing.

  “All right, Captain. Keep up the good work. I’m sending help your way just in case it turns out you need it.”

  “I appreciate that Admiral. This boat took a beating, Trepang out.”

  “God speed, Trepang. Sting Ray out.”

  Admiral Johnson placed the mic on the table and clapped Roy and Raj on the shoulders. “What you’ve done today is staggering, thank you both.”

  His statement was followed by a group sigh of relief as if everyone had been holding their breath, followed by a release of joyous energy.

  “Raj, we found them!” Roy exclaimed softly but jubilantly. “We really found them!” They high-fived each other while the others patted them on the back.

  Daniel let the mini-celebration continue for a few minutes, then called them all back to the work at hand. “Ok, ok!” he said raising his hand for silence. “Before you award yourself Congressional Medals of Honor, now that you found them, we need to figure out how to help them. Right?”

  He looked at Johnson. “Admiral, I hear you’ve put a rescue plan in motion. What can we do to help?” he asked motioning for everyone to take a seat at a nearby table.

  After settling in to his seat, Admiral Johnson folded his hands in front of him on the table and began. “What I’m about to tell you is highly classified and must not be repeated outside this group.”

  Heads nodded in agreement all around the table.

  “For the past two years, I have been working with a team at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to design and build a new type of DSRV, Deep-Submergence Rescue Vehicle.

  “In years gone by, we had two, the Mystic and the Avalon, but they were both decommissioned by 2010. “They were capable of rescuing twenty-four people at a time, up to a maximum depth of two-thousand feet. These DSRV’s were short range vehicles only but they could be flown to any port in the world within twenty-four hours and then attached to a submarine and taken to the rescue site.

  “Since 2010 they have been replaced with various forms of surface launched, remotely operated vehicles called SRDRS, Submarine Rescue Diving Recompression Systems.

  “What isn’t well known, is that more crews of distressed subs have been lost rather than rescued since the DSRV’s were taken out of service because the tethers don’t work as well. They take more than two days to be ready to deploy and then they still have to reach the rescue site. They can’t dive as deep, and their maximum rescue capacity is limited to twelve people at a time, sometimes less depending on the vehicle in use. Some have even been lost when the umbilical cable became separated from the mother ship,” Johnson paused, looking around the table at the intense faces before he continued.

  “The Woods Hole team and I have designed and built a new type of DSRV. We believe its capable of much more than any other ever designed.

  “It’s both a scientific research sub and a rescue vehicle. It has living quarters for a crew of twelve, including scientists, and can briefly hold an additional fifty in rescue situations.

  “It moves independently over long ranges, it’s fast, it can mate up with another sub even at an angle of sixty degrees, and it’s capable of performing rescues at up to two thousand five hundred feet.”

  “Why all the secrecy?” Raj asked.

  “Because almost all submarine rescues are performed by the military on military vehicles. This is a privately financed and owned vehicle and some of its technology has been designed by MIT students and is almost futuristic.”

  Roy and Raj grinned. “We love futuristic,” Raj said on their behalf.

  Johnson continued. “I know our fleet gentlemen, and I’m telling you, this is the most advanced underwater vehicle on the planet.”

  Daniel grinned. “Well, can we use her? Is Woods Hole willing to participate in a rescue operation?”


  Johnson leaned back in his chair, a slightly smug look on his face. “She’s already on her way.” He looked at his watch and grinned. “She put to sea three hours ago.”

  At the astonished looks on everyone’s face Admiral Johnson explained. “Several days ago, I asked Captain Marcus to ready the sub for a deep-sea rescue mission. As soon as I received the coordinates of the Trepang, I met with him and gave him the mission details. The sub was ready to go and the crew on standby; they started arriving before I left.”

  Relieved smiles glowed on every face as they looked at one another.

  “Well that is great news, Admiral!” Daniel exclaimed.

  “Yes, it is” Willis agreed, “but we’re not out of the woods yet.”

  “What do you mean?”

  The Admiral answered, “The Trepang is damaged, we don’t know how bad. We don’t know if we will have to rescue the crew and prisoners or not.

  “At this point, sending the Itinerant, that’s the name of the DSRV, out is a precautionary measure. If it becomes necessary to use her, we will need a surface ship with a large decompression chamber and medical personnel for support. There are over one hundred people on that sub, the Itinerant can’t carry them all at the same time.”

  “Not to mention a secure jail facility with armed guards,” Roy muttered.

  “Nah,” Raj said, “as far as I’m concerned they can go down with the sub.”

  Daniel frowned at him.

  “It was just a thought,” Raj said, holding his hands up as if surrendering. “If we have to choose that would be my choice.”

  “Well, however this plays out, we’ll to have to try and keep the prisoners alive.” Daniel said.

  Willis nodded his agreement. “And keep Hayden in the dark about the operation.”

  “Agreed,” Daniel said. “Now, what are we going to do about a surface ship for support if the need arises?”

  “I’ve had a ship on standby since the Trepang left port… that was just in case we needed alternative, secure accommodations for the prisoners. She is already on her way to the area. She’s large enough to carry the decompression chamber and provide the support we need.”

  Satisfied, Daniel said, “Admiral, Mr. Secretary, it sounds like things are well in hand.” Thank you for your diligence!”

  Chapter 80- A terrible ordeal

  “I am ready,” Tawndo said quietly but with determination.

  He was on the diagnostic bed; his arms, legs, and torso restrained and as an extra measure of care, Siasha had just administered a dose of Quatempar, a drug that caused temporary paralysis from the neck down, subdued the adrenal glands, but left the mind, speech, and vision alert.

  Linkola approached the bed. “I need to ask you again, Tawndo. You understand the risk you are facing and are in full agreement with the humane termination of your life by lethal injection if this fails?”

  That had been the only way that Linkola would agree to attempt the merge; temporary paralysis and immediate termination by lethal injection if the merge failed. While Tawndo didn’t want to die, he did appreciate that Linkola did not want him to suffer mentally or physically, so he had agreed to Linkola’s terms.

  He spoke softly and measuredly, “Yes. I understand and am in full agreement with humane termination if the merge fails.”

  Linkola nodded.

  “Linkola?” Tawndo’s voice stopped him as he turned away. “Thank you for agreeing to do this, especially for taking into account my physical and mental well-being.”

  Saying nothing, Linkola just nodded and walked away.

  “We’re going to prepare you for surgery now. You will be conscious, but you will feel no pain while we implant Robert’s chip,” Siasha said, then whispered, “I love you.”

  Tawndo tried to nod, but couldn’t because his head was held motionless by the restraints in preparation for the surgery. He smiled slightly, “and I am eternally devoted to you, Siasha.”

  She smiled back, squeezed his hand, and moved to the head of the table. Looking at Linkola she said, “As before, I will open and close, you will do the implant.”

  Linkola nodded. They both glanced at the instrument tray between them, noting the equipment they needed: Eiser, separator, grips, microchip, and both sealers were there. A new item had been added this time—an injection tube filled with a rapid acting lethal substance.

  Locating the area of the previous skull penetration, Siasha again opened a small circular section of the skull bone on the top left side of the head. At that point, Linkola took her place and proceeded with the chip implant; gently tucking Robert’s chip deep in the Central Sulcus next to Tawndo’s and sealed it in place.

  Linkola looked up at Siasha, and then toward the ceiling and closed his eyes as if offering a prayer. He sighed deeply and opened his eyes. “Here we go,” he said as he pushed the button on the panel to activate the chip.

  The panel lights flashed amber and blue. The setup process had begun. “No red lights, the chip is functioning as it should. You may close up,” he said to Siasha.

  Just as she completed sealing the incision, a bone-chilling scream erupted from Tawndo and alarms began flashing on the health monitor; the chip setup had been completed, and the transfer had begun.

  “No! Not again!” shouted Linkola reaching for the syringe with the deadly fluid.

  “Wait!” shouted Siasha grabbing Linkola’s hand, preventing him from picking it up. “Wait,” she said again stepping to Tawndo’s side.

  Placing her hands on either side of his head she shouted over his screams, “Tawndo! You are safe! You’re alright! Look at me!”

  Tawndo continued to scream, and the monitor alarms continued to flash. His heart was racing and his blood pressure dangerously high.

  “Tawndo!” Siasha shouted again, “look at me!”

  Some small part of his brain reacted, and his pain filled eyes looked at Siasha. “Help me! Please kill me! Please!” he screamed.

  Linkola grabbed the tubule and moved to his side.

  “Wait!” Siasha shouted again.

  “Tawndo, focus! You are alright! You are merging with Robert. His last memory is of being shot. You must understand you are safe and unharmed so that he will understand.”

  “Nooooo!” He screamed.

  “Yes! You are safe! You’re safe!” she began to cry.

  “Please Tawndo, my love, please, believe me!”

  Somehow Tawndo managed to close his eyes and concentrated. The screaming immediately diminished and then suddenly it stopped. The heart rate monitor and blood pressure indicators ceased their upward climb.

  “Terrified,” Tawndo gasped. “Help me!” he begged.

  Siasha smoothed her hands gently on his face, looking deep into his eyes. “You are safe, my love. I am right here with you, and you are going to be just fine. You’re almost there my brave hero. Almost. Just hang on for a little while longer.” She bent over and kissed him lightly on his forehead while she kept on whispering to him.

  Time seemed to stand still while Siasha continued to sooth and reassure her terrified lover. After what seemed an eternity, his breathing slowed and the monitor alarms went silent.

  Tawndo opened his eyes. “I love you; but … who are you?”

  Siasha smiled sadly. “I am Siasha; who are you?”

  “See-osh-ah. You seem familiar to me. I am … I am … I ...” fear filled his eyes, “Who am I.”

  “Relax,” she soothed, “it’s ok. You’re a little confused right now; you’ve been through a terrible ordeal. It will all come back before long. Know that you are safe and among friends. I love you.”

  “Oh. Okay,” he said weakly as consciousness left him.

  Siasha quickly glanced at the monitors and saw that his breathing and heart rate were steady, and the blood pressure indicator was approaching normal. “Linkola?”

  “I think the merge overwhelmed him. The brain has a way of protecting itself by shutting down the conscious mind temporarily. Let’s giv
e him some time and see what happens.”

  Chapter 81- The hope of two worlds

  Robert awoke slowly, his eyes opening to the dim light of an unfamiliar yet recognizable place. Where am I? He looked around the lab and recognized it for what is was and knew it well, yet he was absolutely sure he’d never seen it before. What is going on…?

  He started to get up and realized he was restrained. Fear settled into the pit of his stomach, and a sour taste began to rise in his throat, “What do you want?” he spoke to the shadows. He was answered only by silence—he tried to relax and think.

  Images danced in his mind; battles in unknown places, a secret life working with - who are they? A cold wasteland surrounding a valley of paradise; sharing drinks in a bar with a very tall man… my brother? Faces of women; faces of - friends? Technological information; geological information; what is all of this? What does it mean?

  For hours Robert lay quietly as the visions and memories washed through his mind and at last they began to form a whole. He knew who he was. He had been merged with another mind, an ancient but technologically advanced mind. He was human, yet part of another culture, a trusted friend and yet a stranger. He was the hope of two worlds, yet known only by one.

  He didn’t like what had happened to him, but he understood why it had been done. He could hate these people and refuse to help them, but he knew his own world needed his help and he would not refuse. Given a choice, he would not have done this, but then again, given a choice, how could he not? It was a riddle he could not solve. “Get over it son, and get on with it,” he said to himself in a language he didn’t understand. What? Did I just speak in another language?

  At that moment, the door to the lab opened, and the instant bright illumination made his eyes water.

  “You’re awake!” breathed Korda.

  “Who are you and what did you say?” He said in English, to Korda’s consternation. “Ah, now I remember you are Korda.”

  Korda smiled. He walked to one of the shelves and picked up two translation devices, mumbling, “Just like Linkola said, he might wake up speaking in his mother tongue.”