Nick enjoyed the long kick to the Tempest, never until now doing a dive with equipment as technologically advanced as he and John wore. The midnight hour they started the dive at provided a pitch blackness in the slightly choppy water needed for the approach. Only their surfacing bubbles would be visible. The crewmen would have to be maintaining a watch with night-vision equipment and be in the exact right spot to see their surface bubbles. He and John would remain below the water until moving within fifty feet of the Tempest. They would then gauge their approach. Satellite feed of the Tempest confirmed the Panga boat door closed which they expected. Agreement had been made to board the Tempest by way of the plush fantail deck with ascending ladder stairs. No guards had been spotted in the video feed. With an advanced radar system, Nick figured correctly they would monitor their radar gear day and night with a rotating watch, but would feel they had no need of an actual deck watch.
Although carrying double tanks to make certain of staying underwater the entire way, Nick and John used less than one attaining their agreed upon surfacing distance. The drawback with the full face masks was communications. They broke silence only after circling the ship, watching for any sign of crew or passengers moving around on deck. Satisfied the very chilly night confined the crew and passengers to the ship’s interior, the two men slipped aboard on the lower fantail deck, silently pulling their pod on the deck. They stripped off their gloves first to open the pod. Nick retrieved the silenced MP5 from the pod, keeping watch until John stripped off his gear and pulled on the Kevlar vest. John took over the watch while Nick readied himself, including equipment pack. Nick stuck two grenades from a small bag jammed into the end of the pod into the pouches in his pants he wore under the dry-suit.
“You sneaky prick,” John whispered as he put on his com unit and pack. “Do you want the upper or amidships deck?”
“I’ll take the upper,” Nick replied. “Should we try communications with the Valkyrie?”
“Let’s wait until we secure the decks. We’ll have Gus steer the Valkyrie toward the Tempest at full speed then. If they have the radar station monitored, we’ll kill anyone coming on deck until help arrives. Jafar’s on line with latest satellite feed info as well as jamming equipment. Our jammer will probably work on everything but their ship’s radio.”
“I’ll turn on the jammer the moment we get into position. Ready, Dark Lord?”
“Ready, Muerto. Let’s go get some. Try not to stumble around like a boot camp.”
Nick chuckled. “Aye… Captain.”
Nick led the way to the upper decks, both men angling away from the deck lights. John would have watch over the main and amidships deck while Nick would secure the top deck and provide backup for John. They climbed silently with their extra 9mm clips for the MP5s secured inside Velcro straps fitted on the Kevlar vests, marveling at the swimming pool on the main deck. It was nearly 1:30 am. The ship’s interior only showed minimal lighting through the glass ports and doors. Nick crouched in a spot near the rear railing next to the hot tub where he could control the entryway while also watching the lower decks. He noted John doing the same thing.
“Ready to rumble, DL. I’m turning on the jammer.”
“Call the Valkyrie now, Muerto. Let’s get them coming our way. It would help if there was a bit more cover where you are. I have some nice deck furniture down here.”
“I guess I’ll have to shoot before they shoot me.”
“That would be wise.”
Nick activated his com. “Achmed?”
“Here, Muerto.”
“Tell Payaso to head toward us at full speed.”
“He’s on with you. I’ve turned on the network.”
“Full throttle as of now, Muerto,” Gus said. “Issac and Cala are with me on the bridge. Laredo’s in the air with the Stealth. Do you want him to land your backup yet?”
“No. John and I need to scare our hosts so they’re ducking inside while backup arrives on top deck. Did you copy that, Ahab?”
“Got it, Dead Boy. We’re ready.”
“I’ll follow the Valkyrie until you give me the go ahead, Muerto,” Laredo said.
“Understood,” Nick acknowledged.
Gus counted down distance as he sped toward the Tempest. When he reached the two mile distance mark, Nick heard the alarms go off inside the ship. Moments later, two men ran out on deck, weapons in hand. Nick fired single shots into both men, followed by a kill shot when they collapsed on deck.
“Two down.”
“Only one so far here,” John replied.
Nick grinned as the theme ‘Ride of the Valkyries thundered over the waves so loudly from the Stealth and Valkyrie that the Tempest reverberated with audio vibrations. He could hear John humming in his ear, unable to resist. “Oh yeah!”
Three more ran into sight near the top deck hatch, one with a rocket launcher. Nick’s MP5 burst stitched through the launcher and across the man’s head. Knowing his burst in the dark revealed his position, Nick dived to his right while hitting the second man dead center. The third man fired an AK47 at Nick’s shifting position so close Nick felt the displacement of air by his ear. Nick’s return fire turned the man’s face to red pulp. Making sure no others were following on the trio’s heels, Nick crab crawled to where he could again cover both lower decks. A full scale gunfight erupted on John’s amidships deck.
“Talk to me, DL!”
“Stay where you are, Muerto! I’m taking sniper fire from the lower deck!”