APRIL 2061: HMS Dragonfly - a Type 46 Destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was an improved version of the now outdated and retired Type 45s with increased speed, maneuverability and weaponry. She and her four sister ships had played vital roles during the Global Conflict, protecting the shores of the United Kingdom and helping out in the Mediterranean. Since the Global Conflict had ended she'd undergone an extensive refit and was now regularly stationed in the Med, based out of Gibraltar.
Easter was approaching, and to coincide with it, the World Navy was going to have a special open day in the Bay of Gibraltar with some of the world's top vessels in attendance. The highlights were to be the Russian Submarine K-298, United States Navy Cruiser USS Philadelphia, the French Navy Destroyers Toulouse and Berlioz and topping the bill was the brand-new Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Valiant. Not that anyone anticipated that there would be any trouble, but the two destroyers based at Gibraltar had been tasked with making sweeps of the surrounding area both to the East in the Mediterranean and out in the Atlantic to the West.
Amongst the Dragonfly's crew was Hayley Madison, a Sub-Lieutenant who had recently returned to her position of Damage Control officer following a stint with the World Aquanaut Security Patrol. Whilst she'd not yet had to deploy her Damage Control team in action for real, she put them through daily exercise drills to make sure that if anything was to happen, they'd be more than prepared for it.
Hayley emerged onto the deck towards the stern of the destroyer and made her way along the port-side of the vessel towards the bridge where she was due to join the watch. As she went, she passed Veronica Viljoen, one of the cooks who was busy peeling potatoes.
"Morning, Sub," Viljoen said as Hayley passed.
"Hello, V," Hayley replied. "I see the navy still hasn't run out of spuds during my absence."
"This ship definitely hasn't!" chuckled Viljoen.
Hayley continued to make her way towards the bridge, bidding 'Morning' to crewmembers David Seward, Matthew Parr and Steven Henley as she went. She soon arrived on the bridge where the First Officer Christopher Friend was on duty. Helmsman Thomas Willis was at the wheel and Second-Navigator Robyn Taylor was monitoring the radar.
"Ah, Hayley," said Friend. "Was wondering where you'd got to."
"Not late am I?" asked Hayley, checking her watch.
"No, no, not at all," said Friend. "You're just in time actually."
Hayley was puzzled. "Time for what?"
"Time for tea," said Friend with a chuckle. "It's eleven hundred hours."
The door of the bridge opened and one of Viljoen's assistant cooks Millie Fallowfield entered with a tray of tea and biscuits for the bridge crew. As she was handing them out, Taylor spotted an unusual blip on the radar screen. "Sir, I'm getting a contact off the port bow," she reported. "Bearing One-Nine-Six, range three miles."
"Course and speed?" asked Friend.
"Contact is stationary," Taylor replied. "No movement whatsoever."
Hayley and Friend looked at the radar screen. The contact was minute. Smaller than anything either of them had ever seen.
"Any other ships in the area?" asked Friend.
"A tanker to the North - eight miles," said Taylor. "Some fishing vessels off the port beam - ten miles. Nothing else near to the contact."
Hayley took her binoculars and began to scan the horizon in the direction of the contact. Within a few seconds she'd caught sight of it. "I have a visual!" she said. "Object in the water!"
Friend joined her on the wing of the bridge and observed the object. "Well spotted," he said before going back inside. "Port ten degrees. Steer Two-Zero-Zero. Half speed ahead."
"Aye, sir," acknowledged Willis. "Port ten. Two-Zero-Zero. Half ahead." He adjusted the wheel and the telegraph accordingly.
The Dragonfly turned to the left and began to make its way towards the object.
Friend then picked up a phone to call the ship's master - Captain Robert Hart. "Captain, we have an unidentified object off the port bow. We're going to investigate."
"Very good," answered Captain Hart. "I'll be right with you."
As the Dragonfly got closer to the mystery object, the ship was slowed to around two knots whilst those on the bridge tried to identify what it was. It wasn't easy due to the position of the Sun, but as they drew closer the shape became more identifiable.
Captain Hart joined Friend and Hayley on the bridge wing. "Strange," he remarked. "Looks like a lifeboat. Have we received any Maydays?"
"Not to my knowledge," replied Friend.
Captain Hart scratched his chin and beard. "Something odd going on here," he said. "Chris, have the engines stopped. We'll hold our position. Taylor, pipe Boarding-Stations." He then turned to Hayley. "Take the boarding party," he said. "There could be people in trouble in that lifeboat."
"Aye, sir," said Hayley.
Friend called into the bridge. "Stop engines!"
"Stop engines, aye!" Willis responded.
Taylor spoke over the intercom. "Hands to Boarding-Stations! Hands to Boarding-Stations!"
Stopping at a distance of roughly five-hundred yards from the object, the Dragonfly's satellite navigation adjusted the vessel's thrusters to ensure it held position whilst a RHIB was lowered over the side. Hayley led the boarding party along with crewmembers James Brace, Andrew Fitzgerald, Neil Wight and Medical Officer David Banner. Together they made their way towards the object, which indeed was the lifeboat from a larger vessel. As they had no idea what they might be faced with, they took guns with them from the ship's armoury for protection.
"Check your guns, boys," warned Hayley as they approached. "Bracey, bring us alongside."
"Aye, ma'am," said Brace as he skilfully moved the RHIB alongside the lifeboat. As they did, Hayley saw the name Andromeda painted on the orange hull.
"Andromeda?" said Banner. "Wasn't she in Gibraltar when we left?"
"Yes, she was coming in as we departed," said Wright.
The Andromeda was a small cargo ship that frequently visited Gibraltar and often served the ports in and around the Mediterranean. It was one that the crew of the Dragonfly were familiar with and had seen many times. They also knew that with a minimal crew it only had one large lifeboat which they'd seen attached to its launch ramp on
Hayley got onto the radio. "Charlie One from Sierra One. Over?"
"Go ahead, Sierra One," answered Captain Hart over the radio.
"It's the lifeboat from the Andromeda, sir," Hayley said. "We're about to check on the occupants."
"Proceed with caution, Lieutenant," warned Captain Hart. "It could be a trap."
"Will do, sir. Out."
Captain Hart, Taylor and Friend were standing on the bridge-wing feeling confused.
"What's it doing all the way out here?" Taylor asked. "Could it have just fallen off?"
"Unlikely," replied Friend. "Those holders are very secure."
"And we've had no mayday from the vessel," added Captain Hart. "I have a bad feeling about this." He raised his binoculars and observed as the boarding party moved alongside the drifting lifeboat.
With guns at the ready, Fitzgerald and Wright prepared to board the lifeboat. Fitzgerald knocked on the hatch of the lifeboat. "HELLO?! ROYAL NAVY!" he called. "ANYBODY THERE?!"
No reply came from inside the lifeboat. Wright took hold of the hatch and prepared to open it. Banner was ready with his medical kit to treat anyone inside. Fitzgerald mouthed 'One, Two, Three,' to Wright and then Wright pulled the door open. Fitzgerald dived in, followed by Hayley and then Wright.
"ROYAL NAVY! CALL OUT!" they shouted through the boat to get anyone's attention.
Brace, Banner and the rest of the crew on Dragonfly watched with anticipation for what was going to happen next. Listening to the radio, they were surprised by what they heard. "Charlie-One from Sierra-One. Lifeboat is empty. Repeat - lifeboat is empty!"
"Sierra-One, confirm the lifeboat is empty?" asked Captain Hart.
"Affirmative, sir," answered Hayley. "Lifeboat is completely empty. Nobody's here."
"Any sign of foul play?" asked Captain Hart.
"Negative, sir," said Hayley. "It's pristine in here."
"This makes no sense," Friend said to Captain Hart. "They can't have just let it go. Something must have happened."
"Maybe they lost it in the night and haven't noticed?" suggested Taylor.
"No, they would have noticed by now if they had," said Captain Hart. He went inside the bridge and called down to the Dragonfly's Communications Room on the phone. "Langford, I need you to try and contact the Andromeda. Not sure of her location but if I remember her schedule correctly she should be on her way to Cartagena. And get me the Admiral at Gibraltar as well. He needs to know about this."
"Aye, sir," answered Chief Radio Operator Robin Langford over the phone.
Hayley removed her hat and wiped the sweat off her face as she tried to figure out the problem. "Boys, keep an eye on the water," she said. "There has to be something else nearby."
"What makes you think that?" asked Brace.
"Call it a hunch," replied Hayley. She looked out across the vast open sea around them, looking for any other pieces of evidence that could prove useful to them. "Where are they?" she asked herself out loud.
"What do we do with this?" asked Banner, indicating to the lifeboat.
"See what the Captain says," said Hayley. "I suspect he's reporting it back to base. Admiral Hart will have the answer. Either we'll have to tow it back to Gibraltar or we'll have to sink it."
"It's a shipping hazard leaving it out here," Wright called from the top of the lifeboat.
"But I didn't think we were in the shipping lanes right now?" said Brace.
"That's irrelevant, James," said Hayley. Unlike normal navy tradition, she didn't like calling people by their surnames and would call them by their christian names wherever possible. This was why the whole of the Dragonfly's crew had a great respect for her. "It could very easily drift into the shipping lanes and potentially cause a disaster if another ship hits it. It may be small but could easily get missed and breach a ship's hull if hit in the wrong place."
"Then we'd need International Rescue," remarked Fitzgerald.
Hayley's gaze turned up towards the cloudless blue sky. The small shape of an airliner could just be seen several thousand feet up and leaving a vapor trail behind it. International Rescue, she thought to herself. Gosh, how I wish I could see them. Even if it's just for a second.
Captain Hart walked up and down inside the bridge until Langford called back. "Sir, I've had no luck in contacting the Andromeda. Getting no signal from her at all and cannot locate her AIS beacon. However, I have gotten a reply from Admiral Hart. he's on the line for you now, sir."
"Put him through to the main bridge phone, Langford," said Captain Hart.
"Yes, sir."
Captain Hart picked up the phone. "Dragonfly here."
In his office at Gibraltar, Admiral Dave Hart spoke with his son. "Hello, Rob. How are you?"
"Am good, thank you."
"Good. I trust you're on your way back to base?"
"We've had to make a stop, sir. We've discovered a lifeboat drifting empty about twenty miles East of The Rock," said Captain Hart. "It's the Andromeda's."
Admiral bit his lip. "Ahhh. I feared as much," he said.
"Sir?"
"Andromeda left about 2am this morning. Within three hours her AIS beacon disappeared. We've had aircraft searching the area but found nothing. Was there anything other than the lifeboat found?"
"No. Nothing. No survivors. No wreckage."
Admiral Hart sighed. "Bad business, Rob," he said. "Admiral Richardson at Alexandria called me two weeks ago and said they too had a missing vessel near Crete."
"Seems to have been a fair few occasions of vessels missing over the past decade or so," said Captain Hart. "You don't suppose it could be-"
"Rob, I bloody hope it is not!" said Admiral Hart shortly. "You know as well as I do how important this Navy event is to us as well as Gibraltar and the other nations taking part. With such high profile visiting ships, we cannot afford to have anything go wrong. Make your way back towards base. Have your crew maintain an ASW alert as well as providing escort."
"Escort?" asked Captain Hart.
"Yes, the Queen Alexandra should be close to your location," said Admiral Hart. "Given that she is yet another visitor, we need to make sure she is protected. Run ahead of her and lead her in. I'm sending Verulam and Virginia out to join you. They'll provide side screening. I'll also have them informed of the situation."
"Understood, sir," said Captain Hart. "What should we do with the Andromeda's lifeboat?"
"I would say tow it back, but given your new assignment you'll need to dispose of it," said Admiral Hart. "Regrettable but it's the only way."
"Understood, sir," said Captain Hart. "I'll let you know when we're in formation with the Queen Alexandra."
"Very good. Goodbye," said Admiral Hart and he put the phone down. He then opened the door to his office where his secretary Tracci Jackson was at her desk. "Tracci, I need you to contact the Valiant's group and warn them to be on high alert. The Andromeda is lost. I fear we have a Bereznik submarine in the area."
Captain Hart called Friend into the bridge. "Chris, have Turret A ready for firing. I'll call the party back to the ship."
"Aye-aye, sir," said Friend and he hurried off.
Captain Hart spoke into the radio again. "Charlie One to Sierra One. Over?"
"Go ahead, Charlie One?" answered Hayley.
"Return to ship. Repeat - return to ship. Lifeboat will be scuttled."
"Aye-aye, sir," said Hayley. "Back to the ship, boys! Hurry up!"
Wright and Fitzgerald returned to the RHIB and Brace drove them back to the Dragonfly. Whilst they were returning, the powerful single-turret gun on the front of the destroyer was turned to port until it was directly targeting the lifeboat.
"RHIB is clear, sir," reported Taylor.
"Turret A reporting," said Friend over the radio. "Target locked."
"Command approved," said Captain Hart. "Engage."
"Open fire!" ordered Friend.
The operator of the turret fired a single shot at the waterline of the lifeboat. The resulting impact sent a small column of water into the air as the shell ripped through both sides of the hull. Water gushed in through the two holes that were made for the shell had passed clean through both sides of the lifeboat like a knife through butter. In less than two minutes it had completely filled up with water and sank.
"Target sunk, sir," reported Friend.
"Very well," said Captain Hart.
"RHIB recovered, sir," said Taylor.
Captain Hart turned to Willis. "Starboard thirty," he said. "Makes revs for twenty knots. Steer Three-One-Seven."
"Starboard thirty. Revs for twenty knots. Steer Three-One-Seven, sir."
The propellers of the Dragonfly began to spin faster and the rudder was turned enabling the vessel to make its turn to starboard coming onto a course to rendezvous with the Royal Navy frigate HMS Verulam and the United States Navy destroyer USS Virginia.
Having joined up with the two other warships, they sailed in a V-formation with Dragonfly leading as they waited for the CUNARD Cruise Ship Queen Alexandra to join them on its voyage from Dubrovnik to Gibraltar where its passengers could take part in the Navy Day before it would then sail off back to Southampton to complete its Mediterranean cruise.
"There she is, ladies and gents," said Captain Hart, observing the giant ship through his binoculars. "What a sight she is."
"She's magnificent!" agreed Hayley. "This weather's perfect for cruising. What I'd give to be in one of the swimming pools or a deckchair with an ice cold drink in this weather."
"What's the plan of action, Rob?" asked Chris.
"We'll take position ahead of her," replied Captain Hart. "I've instructed Virginia to shield her port-side whilst Verulam will cover the starboard."
"Do you really think one of those Bereznik subs is in the area?" asked Hayley.
"If there is, we cannot let it be a threat to our visiting ships," said Captain Hart. "Taylor, anything on the scopes?"
"No, sir," replied Taylor. "Radar and sonar both show negative. We're the only vessels in a ten mile radius."
"Let's hope it stays that way," said Captain Hart grimly.
The ships formed up with Dragonfly leading the group followed by the Queen Alexandra. The Virginia took up position off the port-side of the Cruise Ship whilst the Verulam did the same on the starboard. Now they had the ship contained in a protective screen to make sure that it was as protected as could be. As they made their way towards Gibraltar, everyone on all ships were on high alert. Naturally the sudden presence of a warship escort caused some concern amongst the ship's passengers but Captain Harry Cotterill reassured them that it was just a precaution as there'd been some suspicious activity reported in the area. He advised them to continue with their leisure activities but were to be ready to react and go to Muster Stations if the need arose.
Hayley stood guard on the starboard bridge wing of the Dragonfly, scanning the ocean with her binoculars to look for any signs of danger. Even though it wasn't confirmed, she was a sneaky feeling that there was indeed something hiding out there under the surface, waiting for them.