The Violent Sea

by Russell Moran

  “My husband never saw a string that he couldn’t pull. He’s got a lot of friends in high places, including the White House. Because you have little family, maybe you’d want to continue your Navy career 76 years into the future.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea,” Sandy said. This time she didn’t just touch his hand, she held it. Looks like I’m going to be in the market for a new aide, I thought.

  “Hey, it’s 1430,” I said. “We should get a good spot on the pier to welcome the Enterprise. Oh, by the way, Admiral Nimitz told me that he didn’t relay the information that I’m here to meet Harry. Be prepared for me to make a scene.”

  Chapter 9

  Six tugboats gently nudged the Enterprise to the dock. I stood next to Admiral Spruance on the flag bridge. By then he insisted that I call him Ray. A large crowd gathered on the dock waving flags and cheering.

  Spruance looked through his binoculars.

  “Wow, Harry, that is one good-looking blond standing there, although she’s wearing a weird uniform. Here, have a look.”

  “That, Ray, is the most beautiful woman in the world—my wife, Meg. That cute little ensign next to her is her aide.”

  “And the man with them looks like Lt. Sam Parker, the man who disappeared from Building 19.”

  I stood on the outside bridge deck and waved like a lunatic. Meg saw me and jumped—actually jumped, waving her arms. I could see that she was crying.

  Any time a ship ties up after a deployment, especially one that involved combat, the scene on the dock is always the same; people in love hugging one another.

  Meg was waiting for me at the bottom of the gangway. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. It reminded me of the first time we met and fell in love.

  Admiral Nimitz walked up to us, keeping a respectful distance from two people who obviously missed each other. Ray Spruance was a few feet away, hugging his wife Margaret. Ray and Margaret Spruance walked over to us along with Nimitz.

  “I see you guys gave my husband a demotion. Last I saw him, Harry was an admiral.”

  Meg has a way of lightening things up.

  “Your husband is every bit an admiral, lieutenant. The only reason he isn’t wearing admiral’s stripes is because we didn’t stock them aboard. I don’t know how history treats time travelers, but Harry’s performance at the Battle of Midway sure belongs in the books. I wish I could convince you two to stay with us in 1942.”

  “Admiral Harry, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Admiral Nimitz said. “Ray Spruance kept me up to date on your actions at Midway. It’s not just a pleasure to meet you, it’s an honor. Please join me for cocktails and snacks at 1700.”

  “I’ve been here in 1942 since May 9. It’s now June 9th. How long have I been gone in 2018-time, Meg?”

  “Only about 24 hours, honey. Admiral Dexter called in the FBI and the NCIS, and they’ve been tearing Pearl Harbor apart looking for you. When you didn’t answer my calls or texts I was frantic, as you can imagine.”

  “Admiral Harry, can I give you a hug besides a salute,” Sandy Borman said.

  “I trust you’ve been taking care of my Meg while I was gone, Sandy. Who is this gentleman next to you?”

  “I’m Lieutenant Sam Parker, admiral. I was the gunnery officer for the Enterprise, but I missed the movement when I crossed the same wormhole as you, except in the other direction. Your wife and I put our heads together and figured out that you had probably encountered the identical time portal. Obviously, we were right. That’s how we all figured out that you came through Building 19 as well. I saw your flagship, the USS Gerald R. Ford. My God, I didn’t think it was possible to build a ship that big.”

  “So, Meg, nothing’s changed with the deployment of Strike Group 14, I hope.”

  “I handled the staff meetings to prepare for the deployment, honey, if for no other reason than to keep busy. We’re good to go for next Tuesday.”

  “Are you joining Admiral Harry on the deployment?” Admiral Spruance asked.

  “Yes, sir. Besides his wife, I’m Harry’s aide.”

  Spruance and Nimitz cracked up.

  “It’s a different Navy than the one in 1942,” Spruance said.

  ***

  The next morning at 0900, Meg, Sandy, myself, and Lt. Parker headed for Building 19. Parker got permission for a brief time travel to 2018. He had 25 days of leave saved up, so it was no problem. Meg told me that Sandy and Sam Parker were becoming an item. If he wants to stay in the future, I guess he can get permission from the 2018 Navy to do so. Time travel creates tricky legal questions. If he doesn’t return, would that make him a deserter? In my opinion, and the Pentagon usually listens to my opinions, he’s still be an officer in the Navy, just 76 years into the future. Sandy will lobby Meg, who will lobby me, and I in turn will lobby the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

  Lt. Parker volunteered to go first, followed by Sandy and Meg, with me bringing up the rear. I’ve crossed so many wormholes in my life, you’d think I would take it in stride. Didn’t happen that way. I was nervous as usual. Suddenly, Building 19 disappeared, and there we stood, dizzy and nauseous, on a patch of grass on June 10, 2018. And there was my flagship, the Ford. Just a few short days ago I was present at the Battle of Midway in 1942. I think I should write novels, or maybe comic books.

  Chapter 10

  “Carrier Strike Group 14, Arriving,” announced the officer of the deck, the Navy’s traditional way of announcing a high-ranking visitor, which in this case was me. I snapped a salute to the colors on the stern and then returned the salute of the officer of the deck. Meg walked behind me and did the same.

  ***

  It’s been a week since Meg and I returned from our trip to 1942. Sam Parker and Sandy Borman enjoyed a whirlwind romance and announced their engagement yesterday. I’m impressed with Parker’s knowledge and his quick grasp of technology. The Ford is unlike anything Sam experienced in 1942 but he seemed to be a fast learner. I requested that he be assigned to the Ford, and he will report aboard this afternoon. Our deployment to the Sea of Japan will last four months. Sam and Sandy plan to marry a week after we return.

  “We’re happy to have you back, admiral,” Captain Marty Brinkman said. “We were all worried about you two.” Marty Brinkman is the captain of the USS Gerald R. Ford. He sat at one end of the conference table in my office, and I sat at the other end. With us were the ship’s gunnery officer, to whom Sam Parker would report, the engineering officer, and the commander of the air wing. Meg, of course, my wife and aide, sat next to me. Our pre-deployment meeting was scheduled to last one hour.

  “It’s good to be back, Marty. Meg and I enjoyed our trip to 1942.”

  Because I knew they all wanted to know more about our time travel adventure, Meg and I spent a few minutes recounting our trip, and the details of what it’s like to travel through time. Ever since Meg and I returned from what’s become known as The Maltese Incident, time travel is no longer just a subject for science fiction, and the world no longer thinks the phenomenon is fantasy. That said, it’s still weird as hell.

  “Meg, can you update us on ‘Operation Grass Patch?”’ I said.

  “In case any of you haven’t heard, the admiral is referring to the patch of grass that contains the wormhole which took us to 1942. Admiral Dexter ordered a structure to be built around the area to keep us from losing people to the mists of time. Construction will begin next week, but in the meantime, the area is roped off and Marine guards have been posted. So, if any of you are curious about World War II, I recommend watching a movie.”

  “Now I’m going to bring you up to date on the intelligence briefing I received this morning,” I said. “Things are heating up with North Korea, to say the least. You’ve all heard about the pact between Iran and North Korea. Iran is not content to seek headlines by provocative press releases, and we all know that the boy dictator of North Korea is flexing whatever muscle he has. The last ICBM that North Korea launched landed 100 miles off the coast. The trajec
tory of the missile could have taken it right here to Pearl Harbor. After Admiral Dexter and I got our intelligence briefing, we received a call from none other than the President of the United States. President Blake was emphatic that we should maintain a higher than usual level of alertness. I’m not recommending that we remain at a constant state of general quarters, but I want to stress that everybody should be prepared to go to battle stations on a moment’s notice.”

  “Admiral Fenton, does the White House think that Iran or North Korea would actually attack the Ford or another ship in our group?” Commander Brad Kalish, the engineering officer, asked.

  “That’s exactly what they’re thinking, Brad. The Ford can blow the entire Iranian navy out of the water, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t lob a bomb or missile as a gesture of defiance. As best we know, neither Iran nor North Korea have yet to achieve a nuclear capability, but an anti-ship missile can pack quite a punch. The Ford is the most sophisticated warship in the world, but even with our defensive capabilities, we’re not bulletproof. Okay, folks, we head to sea tomorrow at 0900. This meeting is adjourned. That is all. Carry on.”

  Chapter 11

  Meg stood on the open wing of the flag bridge observing the activity on the flight deck. With Meg as my aide, I hardly need any other staff. Her attention to detail is mind-blowing. I walked up next to her.

  “Anything interesting on the flight deck, lieutenant?” Both of us try our best to avoid saying “honey,” or “sweetheart,” although it comes naturally. It’s important to keep up appearances.

  “A few people from the flight crew are crowded around the starboard catapult,” Meg said. “I’m gonna go down to see if there’s a problem.”

  “Don’t sweat it, babe…I mean lieutenant. A replacement part was delivered yesterday, and they’re just checking it out. The flight ops officer told me about it.”

  “Harry, look at those two men approaching the gangway. Am I seeing things?”

  “Holy shit, that’s Admiral Spruance and his aide, Mike Johnson. I guess Spruance couldn’t get the best of his curiosity. They must have come through the wormhole.”

  “Carrier Task Force 16, arriving,” announced the officer of the deck.

  “I guess Spruance alerted the quarterdeck to let them know he was coming.”

  “Quarterdeck, this is the flag bridge. Please arrange an escort for these two officers to the flag bridge, lieutenant,” Meg said to the OOD.

  “Quite a ship you’ve got here, Harry,” Spruance said as he walked through the door with his chief of staff.

  “Ray, not to belabor the obvious question, but what are you doing here? Don’t you have a war to win?”

  “The Navy Department is aware that Mike and I came here. Our thinking was that you folks in 2018 would disable or somehow cordon off the site, and I wanted to take a look at our future before that happened. So, Mike and I just walked through Building 19, and here we are. I see that you really are an admiral, Harry.”

  “Did you think I was kidding you?”

  “Of course not. The way you helped us at Midway made it quite clear that you’re a flag officer.”

  “Something you should know, Ray. Time goes a lot faster on the other side of a wormhole. I was in the year 1942 for over a month, but less than 24 hours went by here in 2018. I’d love to bring you guys with us on our upcoming deployment, but I’m afraid that you’d miss the war. That would be changing history. Our country needs you, my friend, in 1942. But let me show you around the Ford. I’ll make an announcement first.”

  The shrill sound of the boatswain’s pipe was heard throughout the ship.

  “Attention all hands, attention all hands. Stand by for Admiral Harry Fenton.”

  “Good afternoon, everyone. I know that you’ve all heard about the recent time travel journey that Lieutenant Fenton and I took. Yes, time travel is a real thing, and I’ve done it a few times as you’ve all heard by now. I’m proud and honored to announce a guest who comes to us from the past, from the place where I went a few days ago. Ladies and gentlemen, stand by for Admiral Raymond Spruance, the hero of the Battle of Midway.”

  “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m having a hard time believing that this is happening, but yes, as Admiral Fenton just said, I’ve come here from 1942, along with my chief of staff, Commander Mike Johnson. Admiral Fenton just called me the hero of the Battle of Midway, but I’m here to tell you that the battle would not have been such a success if Harry Fenton wasn’t next to me making recommendations. You folks should be proud to serve under such a gentleman. I’m giving the microphone back to Admiral Fenton.”

  “Have your cameras ready. Lieutenant Fenton and I are about to give Admiral Spruance and Commander Johnson a tour of the Ford.”

  I wouldn’t think of showing Spruance and Johnson around without Meg. Typical of her, she knows every square inch of this giant ship. Meg and I took them to every major area of the Ford. The most fun part of the tour was when we took them to the ship’s movie theater, which was named the Admiral Raymond A. Spruance Theater.

  “I recall you telling me that you fly those F/A-18 Hornet jets, Harry.”

  “I sure do. If you were coming with us, I’d give you a ride. They’re a lot different from the Hellcats you fly. One Hornet could take out a Japanese ship.”

  “I wish I could fit this ship through the wormhole, Harry. The war would be over in a few weeks.”

  “Speaking of the war, Ray, history tells me that you’re about to become the commander of the Fifth Fleet and that you’re going to kick some more ass at the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19 and 20th. You’re gonna sink three Japanese carriers, and two oilers.”

  “June 19th? What’s today’s date?”

  “Today is June 11, but that’s 2018 time. In 1942, it’s a short time away.”

  “Has your time away from here upset your plans for your upcoming deployment, Harry?”

  “Not at all, Ray. When you have an aide like Meg here, you know that everything is under control.”

  “May I ask where you’re going, or is that secret?” Spruance asked.

  “No, it’s public knowledge. I’m taking my strike group to the Sea of Japan where we’ll rendezvous with our good friends and allies, Japan and South Korea, for naval exercises. The purpose is to show the flag to the unfriendly regime of North Korea. Oh, by the way, I may not have told you that Korea split in half in 1953 after a three-year Korean War. North Korea is a communist dictatorship to this day, and still technically at war with the United States.”

  “And I believe you also referred to our ‘good friend and ally Japan.’”

  “Yes, Ray, Japan is now our good friend. After Tojo and the militarists were gone, Japan turned into a peaceful country and a major industrial giant. If you look out at the pier, you will see about half the cars there were made in Japan. Keep in mind, Ray, that the sooner you kick their ass, the sooner they’ll become our friends.”

  “Harry, it’s been a pleasure. Mike and I better get the hell out of here and get back to the war.”

  “Meg and I will walk you to the wormhole.”

  When we got to the wormhole site, Spruance did something I never expected from a guy from the 1940s. He gave me a bear hug.

  We watched them disappear through the wormhole, as the two Marine guards saluted and stared in amazement.

  As we walked back to the ship, Meg grabbed my hand. “Harry, thank God you’re back. I hated the idea of you being in the middle of a war.”

  “You may hate the idea, hon, but after my briefing from President Blake, I’m not so sure we’ll be experiencing a lot of peace on this deployment.”

  Chapter 12

  The deep loud sound of the ship’s horn pierced the beautiful June morning as the USS Gerald R. Ford cast off its lines. “Anchor’s Aweigh” sounded over the loudspeakers of every ship in the group.

  Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 14, my command, consists of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, my flagship, the guided mi
ssile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG-69), two Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), and the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51). As soon as the ships cleared the breakwater, I told the officer of the deck that I wanted to make an announcement. It would be carried on all the ships of CSG 14.

  “Attention all hands, attention all hands. Stand by for Admiral Harry Fenton.”

  “Good morning, everyone. We’re heading to Tokyo Bay, where we’ll rendezvous with naval forces of Japan and South Korea and engage in maneuvers in the Sea of Japan. Needless to say, our security will be on full alert because of the actions of North Korea recently. It’s quite a haul from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo, a distance of 3,400 nautical miles. If we maintain a Group speed of 10 knots we’ll get there in 14 days. As I told a meeting of department heads the other day, I received a security briefing from the White House, warning us that we may expect trouble. If we get trouble, we’ll give trouble. As you all know from the news, North Korea launched yet another ICBM and it landed in the ocean 100 miles from Pearl. The boy dictator of North Korea never tires of provoking us, and his actions are cheered on by Iran. I will announce further destinations after we complete our exercises. Tonight, I’ll be watching the movie, Midway, in the ship’s theater, and for those not on watch, please join me. I’ve seen the movie before, but if you listened to Admiral Spruance, you know that I’ll watch the film from a different perspective. I was there a few days ago. That is all. Carry on.”

  Chapter 13

  People think that my name, Buster, means that I’m a ball buster. That’s fine with me, even if it isn’t true. Well, I don’t think it is. I am a stickler for the tiniest of details, and that’s why my boss, CIA Director Bill Carlini, thinks I’m a super spy, or, as he puts it, a super spook.