Disclaimer: NCIS and its characters do not belong to me and I am making no money from this.
Many thanks to Mr VP for the Beta. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
AN: Thank you so much for your kind comments, I really appreciate them. I'm sorry this chapter is a little shorter; it was the right place to stop, if I get on ok with the writing tonight I'll try and post another chapter tomorrow.
"Are you sure about this Gibbs, it seems very risky to me?
Gibbs looked askance at the XO wondering how the man had risen to second in command of the Navy's latest experimental submarine. He was saved from answering however by Root who looked pointedly at his officer before replying calmly. "Yes it's a risk Dan, the biggest risk is to the hostages which is why it's so important that it look like an accident, I don't want any reprisals."
"I still think we should play along for a bit longer Sir, when we surface…"
"When we surface," Gibbs interrupted. "Our chances of survival go down to approximately zero. You don't seriously think they will want any witnesses do you?""It's my job to lay out all the alternatives Sir" the XO replied huffily.
"Is that what you call it?" Gibbs began before thinking better of it and turning back to Root. "Well Captain, what do you suggest?"
"I think you're right Gibbs, the repairs could feasibly give way and we would then have to surface but there's no way I can get divers outside without them being aware of it. They would have to leave through the forward escape hatch and the explosive decompression would be felt throughout the boat."
"The repairs were to the starboard ballast tank weren't they? Is there any way of putting pressure on them from inside and blowing the seal so to speak?"
"By going deeper we would take on more water; to surface we would force the water out by pumping air in. Both could put pressure on the seal, I suspect that's why our friends have only initiated a shallow dive. Trouble is, anything we do from here is repeated in the engine room."
"We don't actually want to damage the repairs Captain," Gibbs suggested slowly. "Only to make it seem necessary or even imperative to surface."
"In that case, some poor work at the hydroplanes, coupled with a loud bang and an emergency blow just might do the trick." Root replied, a hint of a twinkle in his eye. "It will need careful timing, any hint that we are involved…" he trailed off.
"Unfortunately I think Bossman is unlikely to see it as an accident," Gibbs was sombre, "we can only do what we can, open the hatch, make sure we can't dive again. The rest is up to the hostages."
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It would have pleased DiNozzo if he'd known how closely his thoughts mirrored Gibbs'. He did know that they were running out of time and tried to consider all of the eventualities. In his heart he knew that given a suitable distraction, which he was confident Gibbs would provide, it was up to the six of them to go on the offensive. Realistically they would only get one chance but their captor had been over confident in not restraining them, relying on violence and the threat of further attacks to hold them in check. When it came down to it though fear of reprisal and injury paled somewhat when you considered the alternative, which, DiNozzo knew without a doubt, was certain death.
He twisted his arm slightly where it lay resting across his knees. They had been submerged for a little over ninety minutes. It was too much to hope that they were heading towards the naval destroyers sent to assist them but doubtless there were other US vessels in the Pacific. Most of which their captors would know about and avoid he realised. Basically then it came down to regaining control of the ship before they reached their captor's destination. Simple. He looked around the compartment; the engineers were all seasoned men and seemed alert and watchful. He thought that Williams would follow his lead. The main unknown remained whoever was in the engine room and for now he could do nothing about that. He drew his knees up tighter flexing his muscles and tried to ignore the ache in his shoulder as he stared impassively across at Bossman.
Tony barely registered the flash of alarm in his captor's eyes before all hell broke loose. A loud cacophony and startled shouts sounded from the next compartment and the deck suddenly tilted upwards as alarms keened all around. He was pinned to the bulkhead as if by an invisible hand and tensed ready to leap forward the instant the pressure was released.
Bossman had recognised the emergency blow for what it was and had managed to grasp the bulkhead with one hand while keeping a tight hold on his knife with the other. His eyes glared venomously at DiNozzo until, with a sudden roar, he leapt forward as the pressure eased. Tony was ready for him and pushed himself sideways as soon as he was able to move. The knife missed his back by inches but he landed on his injured shoulder and was too slow in turning back. Bossman leapt forward again raking the knife across DiNozzo's other shoulder as he turned. With a shout Tony swept his legs sideways catching his assailant in the shin. The man grunted but pressed forward intent on getting behind DiNozzo to use him as a shield but he was too slow. Williams jumped on his back with more strength than finesse giving Tony a chance to scramble to his feet and wrestle for the knife.
Bossman reared up to his full height and shook the young seaman off, Tony barely registered the grunt as Jack's head hit the overhead piping, he was too intent on keeping the knife from his face. Bossman fought like a man possessed. Both men had both hands around the knife and twisted and turned in the confined space. DiNozzo's strength was borne of desperation as he called on every trick that Gibbs had taught him, adrenaline coursing through his body. Suddenly Bossman went limp and he thudded to the ground taking Tony with him. Dazedly he looked up into the smiling face of one of the engineers before sinking to the ground himself, all energy gone.
He was aware of someone issuing orders and was suddenly inordinately glad not to have to think any more. He heard the hatch being opened and suddenly Gibbs was beside him, hand pressing the fresh wound in his right shoulder, eyes assessing, assuring himself that the situation was now under control.
"Two here, at least one in the engine room Boss," DiNozzo's voice was tight with the pain that he was forced to acknowledge as the tension left his body.
"Bossman?" Gibbs asked.
Tony tilted his head to nod at the man on the deck. The COB pocketed the knife before removing the breathing apparatus. Gibbs raised his eyebrows at him.
"It's Michaels Sir," the Chief confirmed.
"Michaels?" DiNozzo asked.
"Chief Engineer," Gibbs supplied before nodding over at their second captor who was being held firmly between two of the engineers. One of the chief's men removed his breathing apparatus and identified him as a machinist's mate.
"Keep them restrained and apart Chief," Gibbs ordered, indicating the engine room hatch by their feet and mouthing, "Stun grenade?" to DiNozzo.
"Always did like poetic justice Boss," Tony agreed, watching as Gibbs grabbed a spare grenade from Michael's belt as he was dragged away. The ex gunny quickly pulled the pin before dropping the grenade down the hatchway and locking the hatch in place. He had a grim half smile on his face as he returned and looked down at his agent.
"Come on DiNozzo," he said. "Let's get you patched up then we'll see what we've got."
TBC