JonDLundyn Parker 2/15
March 18th 2007 22:33
Ramid was now satisfied that at least the “Ocean King” would do it’s damage now. Ali had taken more convincing but now a plan was worked out and it was only a matter of timing. He would need to send some of the men off the tanker, that would happen in the cover of darkness one night before the tanker was due to blow. The men had all put their lives on the line. All were ready to die for the cause, but he knew not every man needed to die. Some could be saved and would have their opportunity another day in another battle. He climbed the ladder of the charter boat and joined his skipper on the fly-bridge. The man was a local, an Australian born Arab. He even spoke with an Australian accent. He could repeat cricket scores and Melbourne Cup winners and rattle off Prime Minister’s names from Chifley onwards. He was an asset that the struggle valued. He was also an excellent skipper, navigator and fighter, having been in the Royal Australian Navy.
“What are they doing now?” he asked his skipper, “are they making plans to clear the “ocean King”?”
The skipper pulled a hand rolled cigarette butt out of the corner of his mouth a flicked it into the ocean. He watched it tumble in a spray of sparks and land in the froth of the bow wave. He turned to Ali, “they would have been ready before the “Ocean King” entered the reef. It is part of an overall contingency plan. The men would probably have been on stand-by from the time she passed through the Torres Straights.”
Ramid looked at his skipper and saw the concern on his face. This was a good man and he knew his business, he also knew the ways the Royal Australian Navy, not every detailed contingency, but at least the actions likely to be taken. “She is a big ship. We have her well aground and that can not be changed. To drag her off will cause her to break up. We will get her blown up one way or the other. They will be wasting their time”
The skipper took off his hat and ran a finger around the rim to dry off the perspiration. He put it back on his head and nodded to his commander. “If Allah wills” he nodded and turned to piloting his boat.
Twenty pairs of fins kicked with the flowing tide and twenty dark neoprene suited men swimming just below the surface of the ocean, using their snorkels to breath edged along the edge of a coral reef. They were using reefs and sand bars to make their way toward the stranded tanker. Swimming with the strong tide they were making good time and were in fact saving themselves as they had another two hours to full darkness. That was when they would breach the hull and make their entry. The man of the Royal Australian Navy clearance diving team were ready for every eventuality. Their job was to clear the ship of explosives. A simple plan had been worked out. Each man knew every inch of the inside of the hull after hours pouring over the plans. They had worked out where the charges would need to be laid to do the maximum damage. Like Ali, they were aware of the extra high tides due over the next couple of nights. They knew tonight was their last chance for success.
“What are they doing now?” he asked his skipper, “are they making plans to clear the “ocean King”?”
The skipper pulled a hand rolled cigarette butt out of the corner of his mouth a flicked it into the ocean. He watched it tumble in a spray of sparks and land in the froth of the bow wave. He turned to Ali, “they would have been ready before the “Ocean King” entered the reef. It is part of an overall contingency plan. The men would probably have been on stand-by from the time she passed through the Torres Straights.”
Ramid looked at his skipper and saw the concern on his face. This was a good man and he knew his business, he also knew the ways the Royal Australian Navy, not every detailed contingency, but at least the actions likely to be taken. “She is a big ship. We have her well aground and that can not be changed. To drag her off will cause her to break up. We will get her blown up one way or the other. They will be wasting their time”
Twenty pairs of fins kicked with the flowing tide and twenty dark neoprene suited men swimming just below the surface of the ocean, using their snorkels to breath edged along the edge of a coral reef. They were using reefs and sand bars to make their way toward the stranded tanker. Swimming with the strong tide they were making good time and were in fact saving themselves as they had another two hours to full darkness. That was when they would breach the hull and make their entry. The man of the Royal Australian Navy clearance diving team were ready for every eventuality. Their job was to clear the ship of explosives. A simple plan had been worked out. Each man knew every inch of the inside of the hull after hours pouring over the plans. They had worked out where the charges would need to be laid to do the maximum damage. Like Ali, they were aware of the extra high tides due over the next couple of nights. They knew tonight was their last chance for success.
| 38 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
