I told him as everyone started filtering out.
"Yes, sir. I assume then you want all maintenance tasks put on hold until then?" he asked.
"Yes, unless there is anything that just cannot absolutely wait, or can be done by 0800." He nodded and turned to walk out. Jeff and Michelle came up next and we chatted for a few minutes, then they left together. Roger stayed behind to help me pack the maps and notes up, and take everything back to the map room.
"Alright man, that's everything. I'll see you in the morning to start all the prep. Have a good night." Roger said, then we both walked out. I wanted a shower and my bed. The next two days were going to be hectic and very, very busy.
I stepped into my quarters, locked the door, and kicked my boots off in the living room. I sat there for a few minutes, just resting. I got up, unbuttoned my shirt and walked into the bedroom. Tossing my shirt in the direction of my laundry basket, I finished getting ready for bed, then turned off the light and laid down, passing into a fitful sleep.
Chapter 8
Sept. 5th, 2020
I woke up groggily, heading for the bathroom, and then to the kitchen to make some coffee. As it brewed I sat on the couch and started reviewing the personnel files on the volunteers I had from earlier once more. As I was finishing my second cup, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter." I said, refilling my coffee cup. Roger entered, tailing Jack from the Royal.
"Morning fellas, what's up?" I asked, motioning to the coffee pot. Roger sat at the counter and filled a cup while Jack started arranging papers on the table.
"I was reviewing the depth soundings from the bay, as well as sonar reports. I think I found something." Jack said, setting the papers out.
"Roger, what time is it?" I asked. He turned and looked at the clock behind him.
"Looks like 7:50, why?" he answered.
"Jack, you have ten minutes to tell me whatever it is you need to tell me, then you are on 48 hours leave, remember? No working, only resting." I told him, grinning so it didn’t come across too harsh.
"Yes, sir," he chuckled, then began, "In most of the bay, it's too shallow for the cruisers even to pull all the way in, but they could get close. There is no way the carrier could make it. But if you look here, there appears to be a trench, which opens into a deep hole, right here. It's more than deep enough to park the Nimitz at this pier, or what looks like a pier at least. I thought you might want to see that."
I went and looked at the maps, saw where he was pointing. It did appear that it would be deep enough to get the carrier in there, which would be a huge bonus to this operation. As I reviewed the maps and notes, something occurred to me.
I retrieved a map I had seen earlier, and on it was marked fishing and shipping businesses. After pulling it out and searching for the right area, I found it. An old shipping center that had closed before the event and became warehouses. That made perfect sense. Most of those freighters had to carry so much weight, their draft was about equal to what the carriers was. Which meant there had to be a dock for them also. We might not have to anchor in open water after all.
"How did we miss that on the original go through?" I asked, to no one in particular. I then turned and looked at the clock.
"Jack, it's eight. You are officially on leave. Go relax. Roger, get me those new satellite pictures ASAP, and meet me in Ready Five." I said. Jack stood and left as Roger followed him out. I gathered the maps and information together, then headed
"Yes, sir. I assume then you want all maintenance tasks put on hold until then?" he asked.
"Yes, unless there is anything that just cannot absolutely wait, or can be done by 0800." He nodded and turned to walk out. Jeff and Michelle came up next and we chatted for a few minutes, then they left together. Roger stayed behind to help me pack the maps and notes up, and take everything back to the map room.
"Alright man, that's everything. I'll see you in the morning to start all the prep. Have a good night." Roger said, then we both walked out. I wanted a shower and my bed. The next two days were going to be hectic and very, very busy.
I stepped into my quarters, locked the door, and kicked my boots off in the living room. I sat there for a few minutes, just resting. I got up, unbuttoned my shirt and walked into the bedroom. Tossing my shirt in the direction of my laundry basket, I finished getting ready for bed, then turned off the light and laid down, passing into a fitful sleep.
Chapter 8
Sept. 5th, 2020
I woke up groggily, heading for the bathroom, and then to the kitchen to make some coffee. As it brewed I sat on the couch and started reviewing the personnel files on the volunteers I had from earlier once more. As I was finishing my second cup, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter." I said, refilling my coffee cup. Roger entered, tailing Jack from the Royal.
"Morning fellas, what's up?" I asked, motioning to the coffee pot. Roger sat at the counter and filled a cup while Jack started arranging papers on the table.
"I was reviewing the depth soundings from the bay, as well as sonar reports. I think I found something." Jack said, setting the papers out.
"Roger, what time is it?" I asked. He turned and looked at the clock behind him.
"Looks like 7:50, why?" he answered.
"Jack, you have ten minutes to tell me whatever it is you need to tell me, then you are on 48 hours leave, remember? No working, only resting." I told him, grinning so it didn’t come across too harsh.
"Yes, sir," he chuckled, then began, "In most of the bay, it's too shallow for the cruisers even to pull all the way in, but they could get close. There is no way the carrier could make it. But if you look here, there appears to be a trench, which opens into a deep hole, right here. It's more than deep enough to park the Nimitz at this pier, or what looks like a pier at least. I thought you might want to see that."
I went and looked at the maps, saw where he was pointing. It did appear that it would be deep enough to get the carrier in there, which would be a huge bonus to this operation. As I reviewed the maps and notes, something occurred to me.
I retrieved a map I had seen earlier, and on it was marked fishing and shipping businesses. After pulling it out and searching for the right area, I found it. An old shipping center that had closed before the event and became warehouses. That made perfect sense. Most of those freighters had to carry so much weight, their draft was about equal to what the carriers was. Which meant there had to be a dock for them also. We might not have to anchor in open water after all.
"How did we miss that on the original go through?" I asked, to no one in particular. I then turned and looked at the clock.
"Jack, it's eight. You are officially on leave. Go relax. Roger, get me those new satellite pictures ASAP, and meet me in Ready Five." I said. Jack stood and left as Roger followed him out. I gathered the maps and information together, then headed
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