“Captain, I have never seen anything like this, but I’m not in on everything. I do agree with you. It’s far more likely this one is a ‘local.’ If you’ll allow me to send a burst transmission through the VHA-UAV antenna, there’s a chance I could get some useful info from my guys.”
“Very well, you may go ahead, Doctor. I expect you to share everything you get back.”
“Absolutely, Captain!” Simmons smiled and ducked back inside.
“Should we set the LE Bill or GQ?” Ben asked.
Sam shook his head. “Neither, let’s check out this guy first. We’ve plenty of time either way, and I’d hate to call one, then jump to the other.” He turned to Ben and smiled. “It’d make me appear indecisive.”
“Sir, the UAV has the target,” Bondurant said, poking his head out the door.
“Thanks, OOD, I’m coming,” Sam replied, and he and Ben turned to enter the Bridge.
Ben and Sam took positions standing behind the seated Deffler and Simmons, the former working the flight controls and the other controlling the camera.
“Still about two miles out,” Simmons said. “We’re powering down to slow flight now to reduce the noise signature. They should be unaware it’s up there.”
The vessel was a large white sloop under a single jib and mainsail, making about three knots in the light wind. A canopy covered the cockpit, with no one visible.
“Remarkable,” Sam replied. “Get a read on the crew first, followed by a close examination of the mast and deck. Whatever they’re using to mask their return, I’d like eyes-on before they figure out we’re here. Any chance you can scan for crew or weapons?”
“Only visually.”
“That’d still be useful. I don’t suppose you heard back on your inquiry.”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
Sam turned back to the screen. “Let’s see what the bird finds. OOD, can you come over here, please?”
“Yes, sir.” Bondurant walked over to the UAV station. He glanced at the screen and nodded approvingly. “Marlow Hunter 50AC. That’s a sweet ride. Captain, that’s at least half a million dollars’ worth of boat, there should be plenty of information available if we call it in.”
Sam nodded. “Agreed, but I still want a good look before we cancel emissions control. How big a crew do you need to handle one of these?”
Bondurant was puzzled by his CO’s caution but shrugged and went along. “Just one, sir. That’s a Marlow Hunter specialty, but it’s a handful for just one.”
“Coming around port side, sir,” Deffler interrupted. “There’s a name on the aft quarter.”
“Zooming in,” Simmons added. “Okay, it’s the Sunrise Surprise II. Homeport Clearwater. One person is visible in the cockpit. No weapons or contraband visible.
“Examining the mast now. Normal, Furuno radar. Wait a sec. Well, hello there!” He zoomed in on an egg-shaped object mounted on top of the mast. “I don’t believe this comes with the standard package.”
Sam and Ben both joined Simmons in gazing at the object. Finally, Sam broke the silence. “Assuming that’s what’s obscuring the radar image, how would it work?”
“I can think of several possibilities, Captain, but it’s hard to figure anything that small containing the hardware needed. Suggest we file that one under ‘maybe’ and move on.”
“Very well, complete the survey, please.”
“Yes, sir.” Simmons returned to the screen. After a few minutes, he called out again, “Survey complete, Captain. We have good imaging of everything. Still only one person visible, white male, age appears to be early 20s. No weapons visible.”
“Very well. OOD, discontinue emissions control, take the radar off standby, and set an intercept course at 10 knots. Who’s up for Boarding Officer today?”
“Guerrero, sir.”
“OOD, let’s set the LE Bill, but I believe I’ll let the XO earn some of his pay today. Once Hopkins relieves you, I want you to hang around and get a feel for the risk based on the pre-board interview. If you think you need to bump Lee and take the boat, I’ll approve it.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine, Captain.”
“Thanks, carry on, please.” Sam turned to the chart table. “Deffler, keep your eyes on that boat, sing out if anything changes. XO, Doctor, come with me, please.” Sam led the way out to the bridge wing, and Bondurant announced setting Law Enforcement stations over the PA system.
Turning around after closing the door, Sam addressed Simmons first. “Doctor, I am convinced that there’s more to this boat than meets the eye. If he is carrying a load of drugs like the other boat, what’s the probability your hyperspectral camera would pick up something?”
“Pretty much 100%, Captain. Even sealed, the camera would pick up a trace. If a dog can smell it, the camera will see it.”
“So, if they are not carrying a load, they would have no reason to mount a strong defense if we were to try to board them, correct?”
“It would be foolish of them, Captain. They know that you’ve reported in. Even if they took us out, they’d lose big time. We’d slap a terrorist label on them and anyone they associated with and, best case, that’d be game over for most of their revenue stream. Worst case, they know we have a history pursuing cop-killers to the ends of the Earth. There’s a remote chance this is some psycho they don’t have a handle on, but that’s unlikely. No, I believe this might be a pickup boat for moving product off the High Dawn. That presupposes this is their boat and not another rich kid out to get laid.”
“Very well.” Sam turned to Ben. “XO, I want you to take this one because you’re up to speed on everything, and I need someone who can think on his feet. I want a thorough look inside, but I don’t want this to get ugly. I wish we had a way to check for hidden compartments without knocking a bunch of holes in her.”
“You’ve got it,” Simmons interrupted. “I have a hand-held X-ray backscatter recorder among my gear I can lend Ben here.”
“Doctor!” Sam smiled. “I may revise my opinion of you yet. Can you train this young man on its use in the next 15 minutes?”
“It’s switch-on, then point and shoot. You get the image in real-time, and it records.” Simmons grinned. “Even an Ops Research grad can handle it.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Doc.”
“Don’t mention it.” Simmons winked. “Just don’t drop it overboard, please. You wouldn’t believe how expensive it is!”
“All right, XO, gear up, please.” Sam nodded.
“Very good, sir. OK, Doc, let’s get some tech on.”
11
Seizure
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kauai, Gulf of Mexico, 19 nautical miles northeast of Key West, Florida
1032 EST, 16 January
Hopkins had relieved Bondurant after Kauai had completed the turn toward the sailboat and came off of emissions control. Williams manned radar and communications during law enforcement operations, allowing the OOD to focus on ship-handling and safety. After a few minutes, a radar target track coinciding with the sailboat’s bearing and range popped up on the SeaWatch system.
“Captain, OOD, they appear to have shut down their masker,” Williams commented. “Range sixty-eight fifty and bearing consistent with the visual target.”
“Very well. Now we know.”
“Captain, I have a second POB coming up into the cockpit,” Deffler called. “Appears to be female based on dress or
Sam observed Hopkins turning away to hide an amused grin and suppressed one himself. “Yes, Deffler. They know we’re here and watching. Your job is to maintain situational awareness—keep it so.”
“WILCO, sir,” Deffler wondered where the boundary between close observation and leering lay.
Sam caught Hopkins’s eye and nodded to the starboard bridge wing. Once out of sight and earshot, he turned to her and smiled. “I appr
eciate you’re enjoying the hell out of this, but I need him on the top of his game. In a minute or so, wander over and reassure him he’s not looking at a sexual harassment violation.”
Hopkins affected a downcast expression. “Aw gee, Captain, I never get to have any fun!”
Sam turned back and raised his binoculars to watch the sailboat. “Yes, it’s the monstrous burden of command, so get used to it, Chief-to-be. Carry on, please.”
“Yes, sir.” Hopkins smiled and turned back inside.
◆◆◆
After a briefing and instruction on the operation of the x-ray scanner, Ben and Simmons returned to the Bridge, the former wearing his boarding equipment and the latter in his personal body armor. They went straight to the chart table to check the UAV feed. The picture invoked a “Yowsa!” from Simmons and a stoic silence from Ben. There were still only two people visible on the boat: the male handling the wheel and the bikini-clad female lounging on the foredeck. Kauai had come around and was now paralleling the sailboat’s course about 200 yards distant.
“Any changes besides the fresh face?” Ben asked Deffler.
“No, sir. And I’ve had eyes on since you left.”
“I bet you have!” Simmons quipped, drawing scowls from both men. After two seconds, he continued, “She’s a bit underdressed, don’t you think?”
“All right, knock it off,” Ben said with irritation.
“No, I’m serious. It’s cloudy and cool right now. Why walk around quasi-nude like that when she knows we’re here?”
“Because she’s a tease? How would I know?” Ben said.
“Think about it. The radar masker switches off, and she pops up on deck looking like a centerfold right afterward. The ‘evade detection’ plan didn’t work, so it’s on to Plan B. Be very careful over there, friend.”
Ben gazed at Simmons’s face and saw actual human concern. “I get what you mean. Thanks.”
Ben turned and walked over to Sam. “Captain, I’m ready to begin the interview.”
“Very well, XO. Carry on, please.”
“Yes, sir,” After setting the radio frequency to Maritime Channel 16, he picked up the handset. “Sailing Vessel Sunrise Surprise II, this is the United States Coast Guard, Channel 16, over.” No response. Ben repeated the call with the same result. After two more unsuccessful attempts at contact, Ben hung up the handset. “No joy, Captain. Recommend close to 100 yards and use the loudhailer.”
“Very well. OOD, close to and maintain 100 yards from the target vessel.”
“Yes, sir,” Hopkins replied and gave the orders. When they had closed the distance, Hopkins said, “Holding at 100 yards, Captain.”
“Very well,” Sam replied and nodded to Ben.
Ben activated the loudspeakers. “Sailing Vessel Sunrise Surprise II, this is the United States Coast Guard. Contact me on VHF-FM Channel 16 immediately.” After a brief pause, Ben repeated the hail and finally saw movement in the sailboat’s cockpit.
“Coast Guard, Sunrise Surprise, what do you want?” said a male voice on the radio.
“Sunrise Surprise II, this is the Coast Guard, reply with last port of call and next port of call, please,” Ben said into the radio handset, keeping his eyes on the vessel through his binoculars.
“And how is that any of your business, Coast Guard?”
Ben grimaced. “Sunrise Surprise II, this is the Coast Guard. You are a US vessel sailing on the High Seas. The Coast Guard may make inquires, examinations, and inspections and enforce federal law on all US vessels on the High Seas. Now I’ll ask again, and you will reply. What are your last and next ports of call? Over.”
“Fine. We are out of Clearwater, heading for Key West.”
“Sunrise Surprise II, this is the Coast Guard, thank you. How many persons do you have onboard? Over.”
“That’s it, Coast Guard, inquire into this!” said the voice with an accompanying gesture from the man in the sailboat cockpit.
Ben turned to Sam. “Captain?”
Sam nodded in return. “That’s it indeed. Pull him over XO.” He turned to Williams at his SeaWatch station. “Williams, start a Command Net chat with the Ops Center. Tell them we are preparing to board a less than-fully compliant US-flagged sailboat named Sunrise Surprise II, homeport Clearwater, FL, and give our position.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ben turned back and activated the blue flashing “law enforcement light,” turned the siren on for 10 seconds, then returned to the radio. “Sunrise Surprise II, this is the United States Coast Guard. You will stop your vessel immediately for boarding and inspection. Acknowledge, please, over.”
After a pause, the voice replied, just as angrily, “I don’t think I have to do that Coast Guard!”
Ben took a breath, straightened up, and keyed the headset. “Captain, this is a lawful order, not a request. You will stop your vessel immediately and prepare to be boarded. Failure to comply violates US law, which will make you subject to arrest and your vessel to seizure. Acknowledge, please.”
Through the binoculars, Ben watched the woman on the foredeck jump up, sprint aft, and engage the man in a lively discussion. When Ben saw the man pull his arm back as if to strike her, he transmitted, “This is the Coast Guard, acknowledge my last transmission!”
The man hesitated, then lowered his arm. “Fine Coast Guard, I’m taking in the sails, but I’m also going to contact my lawyer over this!”
Ben turned to Sam. “Did you see that, sir?” Receiving a nod in return, Ben continued, “If you’ve no objection, I’d like Lee in the boarding party.”
“Great minds, XO. By all means. Bondurant, I want you on Coxswain, please. You OK with Jenkins handling the crane for this one?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
“Excellent. I think we’re about done here; go get your people ready.” Bondurant saluted and departed, and Sam turned to Ben. “XO, this one will be tough. I get how you feel after seeing what that guy did, but I’m sending you because I know I can count on you to keep hold of the big picture.” Ben nodded, and Sam continued, “I’ll back you whatever you decide to do, but make it solid. Don’t let him goad you into a mistake. OK?”
“Captain, prepare for some world-class ‘counting to ten’ unless he makes another move at that woman or one of our people.”
“Just right. Off you go—play it cool and play it safe.”
“Very good, sir.” Ben saluted and left.
Sam turned to see Simmons watching him from across the Bridge. When their eyes met, Simmons nodded, then returned to his work with the UAV. Sam returned to the window with his binoculars and addressed Hopkins, “Status please, OOD.”
Hopkins recognized the heightened concern Sam hid and replied in a quiet voice, “Captain, the target vessel has heaved to with sails furled. We are maintaining position 100 yards north. The ship is at LE stations, awaiting launch request from the boat deck. UAV is performing covert overwatch at 1000 feet. District operations center has been advised and is standing by on Command Net chat.” She gave a slight, sympathetic smile. “You have everything covered, sir.”
Sam turned to Hopkins and smiled. “Thanks, Hoppy.”
◆◆◆
“Hey, XO, you slumming with the little people today?” Seaman Lopez joked. Another recent addition to the crew, Juan “Lope” Lopez was the senior among the non-rated crewman of the cutter’s Deck Force. A Southern California native, he was hardworking, reliable, intelligent, and somewhat quiet except, obviously, for the occasional joke. Lopez was waiting for a slot to open at the Maritime Law Enforcement Specialist School in Charleston, South Carolina, to fulfill his dream of becoming a full-fledged law enforcement officer.
“Well, Lope, I occasionally venture down to the nether reaches, to see how the other ‘haff’ is getting by,” Ben responded in his best upper-crust accent. After waiting for the chuckles to subside, he snapped into professional mode. “OK, guys, here’s the deal. No weapons or contraband in sight, but keep your eyes open. As far
as we know, only two people on board, one male and one female. I’ve got this boarding because the master has a bug up his ass about stopping, much more than usual. We’re still just checking for safety and compliance, but I consider this a medium threat, so again, stay sharp. I think we will get a lot of abuse over there, but I want you to keep your cool and let me take it for you.” He nodded toward Lee. “Shelley, the reason you’re along instead of driving the RHIB is I think the female POB may be taking some physical abuse. I don’t know for sure, but it looked close to that during the approach. I want you to evaluate and, if necessary, find out if she wants us to take her off.”
“You’ve got it, sir.” Lee nodded with a grim expression.
“Good. Don’t push it, we’re not relationship counselors, but if it seems like there’s an actual problem, give me the high sign, and we’ll deal with it. Finally, the female is wearing very brief swimwear. Do NOT get distracted,” He gave Seaman Smith, the fourth member of the boarding party, and Lopez his sternest expression. “Copy?”
“Yes, sir,” both men answered with slight smiles.
“Anybody have questions?” Ben asked.
“Yes, sir,” Lee piped up, smiling now. “What’s with the bag?”
“Ah, yes. Dr. Simmons has loaned me one of his toys. It’s good at seeing through walls, so if there are any hidden compartments, I can get a peek without drilling holes. Let’s keep that to ourselves, please. I don’t want to stir this guy up any more than he already is. Any other questions?” Seeing nothing but shaking heads, Ben concluded, “OK, let’s do it. Remember, stay cool and see something say something.” He turned to Bondurant. “Boats, we’re ready when you are.”
“OK, XO, everybody, follow me,” Bondurant said, stepping into RHIB alongside the rail and up to the center console. The rest of the boat’s crew and the boarding party followed, and when they were secure, Bondurant gave a thumbs-up to Jenkins at the boat crane control and announced, “Ready for launch.”
Engage at Dawn: First Contact Page 10
