A/N: This will be the last chapter where we see almost a day to day story line with our character. There will be a some time jumps next chapters, then the final two chapters will be the attack and the aftermath. There will be a Epilogue to the story. So please enjoy the story and keep the reviews coming. This is a very Rick heavy chapter, because I wanted to show how it would have been like to a point. Enjoy.
Chapter 5
July 14th, 1941
Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
Castle, Esposito, Ryan and a half a dozen sailors were milling about waiting for the temporary ship's doctor to arrive. They had just finished loading supplies for their four days at sea. The Arizona, and her divison had ended their maintenance period and were schedule to conduct a maintenance and training cruise. The training aspect would be for the new comers to the crew and for officers and sailors, like Castle to see how their jobs perform while underway. Now all they were doing was waiting.
"Sir, when is the doc supposed to arrive?" A young seaman asked as he and a couple other sailors smoked in a group.
"Any moment Jenkins, just relax." Castle said admonishing the young sailor. He checked his watch for the time. "We still have about an hour before we set sail."
They waited another five minutes before a Navy ford sedan pulled up close to the group. Castle noticed that Kate sitting in the front seat. She got out with a Lieutenant Commander who was walking towards him.
"Attention on Deck. Good Morning Sir." Castle called out which got his group to come to attention and salute.
The Lieutenant Commander return the salute. "Morning Lieutenant Castle. I'm Lieutenant Commander Meyers. Sorry that I am late, I was waiting on a working party led by Lieutenant Beckett here. I dropped of the working party but she asked if it was ok if she rode over with me."
"That's fine sir, we still have time." Castle replied with a smile on his face. He turned to Kate. "Good Morning Lieutenant."
"Good Morning." Kate replied with her own smile.
Ryan and Esposito noticed this, but Castle didn't notice them. He motioned to the young sailor he admonished earlier. "Jenkins, grab the commander's bags from the car. Sir, if you'll climb aboard the launch, we'll take you over shortly."
Lieutenant Commander Meyers nodded and moved towards the launch as went to retrieve the bags. Castle walked on over to Kate. "Hey, didn't expect to see you here this morning?"
"Neither did I, but I got tasked to lead this working party to pick up supplies coming in on this transport coming in so I figured I see you off." Kate answered Castle. She motioned with her hand to show Castle the Merchant Marine transport rounding the channel. She shot him a smile as he turned around. "I had a wonderful time last night."
Castle nodded his head in agreement. "So did I."
They had decided on a early dinner yesterday and went to eat at a restaurant in Honolulu, since Castle had the deck watch early this morning, plus with the ships heading out on their maintenance and training cruise, which Castle had told her about on Saturday when they talked on the phone.
"Four days isn't so long." Kate stated as she looked past Castle towards the Arizona and her sisters. Hints of smoke were coming out of the stacks that indicated the engines were gaining power. "Tough part will be not seeing you."
"Same here, but we should be back late Thursday or early Friday morning." Castle replied with a smile that calmed her down. He checked his watch and sighed. "I got to. I'll call you when we get back so we can plan a date."
Kate smiled at him. "I look forward to it."
For the both of them, they wanted to give each other a kiss, but they were professional while on duty. Castle smiled again at her to try and ease some of the pain. "Bye."
"Bye." Kate replied with sadness in her voice. She decided against professionalism and gave him a quick kiss. "See you in a few days."
"Yeah you will." Castle said with shock and a smile at the same time. He gave her a quick kiss before turning and heading to the duty boat. He noticed Ryan and Esposito standing near the ladder with huge grins on their faces. He tried to hide his own grin. "What are you two grinning at?"
"Par taking in the new personnel assigned here sir?" Esposito asked him with a broader smile now.
Ryan chipped in as well. "You two do seemed hooked on each other sir?"
Castle shook his head with laughter and again tried to hide his smile. "Get in the boat."
"Aye sir." The both of them said and they climbed down the ladder with Castle following behind them a moment later after seeing Kate get in the front seat of the sedan, and waving to her which she waved back.
Ten minutes later, Castle, the working party, and the doc climbed aboard. The outgoing Gunnery officer Lieutenant Commander Samuel Douglas saw Castle and motioned him over. As soon as he was close he spoke to Castle. "Rick, I need you to take the mid-watch in gunnery tonight."
"Yes sir, what's going on?" Castle asked as the Lieutenant Commander Douglas motioned over the doc as he asked the question.
"Ensign Tolliver is down with the flu. He reported to sick bay early this morning. Lieutenant Commander Douglas told Castle. He turned to the doc and told him what was going on to which the doc nodded and moved off towards sick bay. Commander Douglas then turned back towards Castle. "Hospital corpsman Taylor thinks Tolliver should be fine by morning."
"Good, because tomorrow is the anti-air live fire." Castle stated as the gunnery officer nodded his agreement. "I wanted to give Tolliver the second run on the live fire."
"I agree with you Rick, he needs to experience the live fire if he can report to duty." Lieutenant Commander Douglas stated. He checked his watch. "We'll be setting sail here soon, so we have to change over for manning of the rails."
"Yes sir." Castle said as he made his way towards his berthing.
Forty minutes later the shrill of the boatswain (bosun) whistle echoed over speakers throughout the ship. "All hands man the rails for getting under way."
Rick and his sailors manned the rails near their guns. The ships horn and whistle came to life as the ship slowly started to make its way down the channel and out to sea. Across the harbor at the supply pier, the working party from the hospital continued to load boxes of supplies onto the trucks. A few sailors watched the Arizona and her sisters get underway. Kate stood near the end of the pier watching the mighty ships leave. To her the next four days would seem like a eternity.
July 15th, 1941
North of the Hawaiian Islands
The following morning, the Arizona and her sisters were about 100 miles north of Oahu sailing in the training area for anti-aircraft practice. The ships were spread in a long column so that during live fire of the anti-air guns, no shrapnel or explosions would risk the ships. The anti-air crews were milling about waiting for the training to start. They were constantly checking and rechecking their weapons. Castle inspected the 50 caliber's first, before moving on to the five inchers, when he noticed Tolliver walking up. "Hey glad to see you back on your feet Ensign."
"Thank you sir." Tolliver said a little bit fatigued but otherwise cleared for duty. "What do you need me to do sir?"
"Check on the ammunition for the five inchers, and then I'll explain what the plan is for today." Castle told him to which Ensign Tolliver nodded. Castle checked the workings of the weapons as Tolliver checked the shells. Once complete Castle brought Tolliver over to the area where they would be standing. "Okay, this is a live fire anti-aircraft exercise. The ships are spread 8 miles apart for safety and each ship as two aircraft assigned to it. You with me so far?"
Ensign Tolliver nodded. "Yes sir."
"Good, now each battery for their fifties and five inchers has different color assigned to it for grading purposes. Ours is yellow, while Lieutenant Brackens is blue, then Lieutenant Donaldson's is red, followed by Ensign Perry is green."
"I think I have it sir." Ensign Tolliver said.
Castle nodded. "Good, now the aircraft will approach within 1500 yards of the ship running parallel to us. They will then past 2000 yards in front of our bow, where they will pass one another and we see the other aircraft. You with me so far?"
Ensign Tolliver nodded. "Aye sir."
"Good, now you will have the second and the fourth runs, while I will have the first and third." Castle stated as clasped the young man's shoulders. "You'll do fine."
Before Tolliver could answer, the boatswain whistle and speaker system came on. "All battery crews man your stations. All personnel not taking part in exercises stay clear of the main deck."
The gun crews got up and manned their guns, dawning helmets, life jackets, and for the talkers, the sound power communications system. Castle and Tolliver did the same as well, without the chest system since they had a talker next to them. Ensign Tolliver stood to one side as Castle quickly went over the guns once again. The sound of aircraft engines started to fill the sky.
"Attention all batteries, you may commence firing when target drogue is in range." The speakers echoed again throughout the ship.
"All guns begin to track the target." Castle ordered as he began to track the target through his binoculars. He heard the ranges being called out over his chest microphone. He just waited until the aircraft was past his last gun before giving the order. "Five inchers open fire."
The guns thundered as they were fired. The concussion and the smell hit Ensign Tolliver and he saw the bright flashes as the shells exploded with the bright colors designated for each battery. As the target drogue drew closer Castle ranged it again with his binoculars. "Fifty calibers open fire."
The sounds of the fifty hammered away at everybody on board, along with the thunder from the five inch guns. Within a couple minutes the speakers came to life. "Cease fire, cease fire. All anti-aircraft crews please reload for second pass."
Castle turned to Tolliver and handed him the binoculars after checking on the crews. "We have about five minutes before next run. Begin checking the battery."
Ensign Tolliver nodded and began to go over the battery checking on the settings of the weapons, talking to the crews, checking timing on the fifty caliber machine guns. Within a couple minutes, the speakers again came to life. "All crews prepare for second pass of target drogue. You may commence firing when drogue is in range."
Castle stood back as Tolliver locked the binoculars onto the drogue and heard the ranges called out. Castle was wondering what Tolliver was waiting for, when he gave the command. "All guns fire."
Both the five inchers and fifty calibers began to fire at the same time at the drogue as the crews began to shift fire. At one point a fifty caliber jammed and Castle wondered if Tolliver would go over and check, but he let the crew clear the jam before moving. Within a couple minutes the drogue was out of range and again ceased fire was called. Ensign Tolliver sighed and lowered the binoculars to his chest. He then turned and looked at Castle.
"Good job, just remember to shout when giving ranges, and directions besides using the talker so just in case the system goes down they can hear you." Castle remarked with a smile on his face. Tolliver would do just fine.
July 15th, 1941
Naval Hospital Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii.
Kate poked at her lunch in the mess hall of the hospital as her friends chatted away about some of the men they met, and what they wanted to do that evening. Kate wasn't paying any attention. Gina looked at her. "Kate you are bringing me down. He's only gone till Friday."
"I know, but I still miss him." Kate replied as she continued to poke at her food.
"You went on two dates, and had one phone call." Gina stated with a smirk on her face. "You hardly know him yet and you are looking like a women in….."
Gina saw the look on Kate's face and it hit her. "No Kate, not after this short period of time."
"Quite possible." Kate remarked getting up and walking away from the table with Gina getting up and following her. "I mean Saturday we must have talk on the phone for an hour, then Sunday, a two hour dinner where I continued to get to know him."
Gina smiled at her friend. "Oh Kate, I'm so happy for you but what are you going to do about it."
"That is the question Gina. I still want to take it slow, but at the same time tell him too." Kate remarked setting her tray down and walking back towards her duty area. "Just have to find out when he gets back."
"And hopefully returns what you are feeling to you." Gina replied following her friend out of the mess hall.
July 16, 1941
North of the Hawaiian Islands
For Rick Castle, today was a big step for him. He was going to observe the firing procedures of the gunnery officer as the division would test fire on a set of anchored barges just 30 miles north of big Island of Hawaii. Commander Douglas looked at Castle. "You ready?"
"Yes sir." Castle replied with a smile on his face but nervous on the inside.
"Just watch, learn, tried to relax and next time you will do this." Commander Douglas told Castle with a smile on his face. He went over to target director and peer through it. He then got on the internal communications phone. "Bridge, Gunnery, Targets sighted and in range."
Castle saw Commander Douglas set the phone back in its cradle as the speakers that had been going off constantly since leaving Pearl went off after the boatswain (Bosun) whistle. "Attention all personal. Main battery firing will commence. All personnel stay clear of the weather decks."
The general alarm went off as the crews shut hatches all over the ship just in case of a accident, they would save the ship and contain the damage. Commander Douglas went to the range finder and peer through. "Target, enemy barge. Range 12,000 Bearing 351, speed 0. Ship speed 15 knots. Winds 15 knots east. Charge 4."
The repeater relayed all the information to the main battery of the Arizona as crews in the guns loaded shells and powder. Commander Douglas again looked through the view. "Elevation 12 degrees."
The turrets already swung out not raised their barrels as the crews received the latest information. On the Flag Bridge, Admiral Kidd and Captain Valkenburgh observed all this. The division would fire as soon as the Arizona did. Admiral Kidd nodded to Captain Valkenburgh who nodded to the talker who relayed the order to gunnery.
Commander Douglas heard the order. "All guns, fire."
The explosive concussion, sound, and rattling of the ship as crews began racing to reload the guns quickly. The seconds ticked by as the shells flew. Commander Douglas looked through the view finder and finally saw the splashes. "Long. Range now 11500, bearing 342, speed still 0 ship speed 15 knots. Winds 15 knots east, Charge 4, elevation now 11 degrees."
The crews of the turrets imputed the new information and loaded. Once reported as reloaded, Commander Douglas ordered. "Fire."
Again the ship shuttered as the guns fired at once and again a few seconds later shell splash were observed. "Straddled. Commence firing at will."
Upon that order, the guns fired out as soon as they were loaded and corrections made from the observers. Within 10 minutes a ceasefire was called as barges were on fire and sinking. Commander Douglas looked at Castle who was just amazed. "Any questions Rick?"
"All the information is through the viewfinder?" Castle asked.
Commander Douglas nodded. "Wind, ship and enemy speed along with bearing and range. You have to estimate the elevation with the tick marks, but after a while you will get the hang of it. Have a look."
Castle was intrigued now, so he walked up to the view finder. The elevation tick marks that Commander Douglas talked about where there, and indeed, the range, speed of the Arizona, enemy ship speed, wind, and bearing were given to him. He stepped away. "That is impressive."
"Next time out you get to do this." Commander Douglas smiled as he shook Castle's hand.
Castle had this grin on his face knowing he was looking forward to it.
July 18th, 1941
Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
"Good maintenance and training evolution gentlemen. We accomplished all of our goals, and there will be little down time this go around." Captain Valkenburgh said in the wardroom just soon after the ship had docked early that morning. He looked at his notes. "The admiral is pleased on how well the ship, and departments perform and how the new personnel in some of the departments handled everything the first time out. Deck watch roster is out for the weekend. See to your departments before liberty call is sounded. Lieutenant Castle a word when please. That is all gentlemen."
Castle remained behind as the other officers filed out of the wardroom and to their departments for shops. Captain Valkenburgh waited till the door was closed. "Any concerns about Tolliver?"
"None sir, he performed well in all accounts, even in the tracking exercise yesterday." Castle remarked with a smile. The Admiral had arranged for a carrier squadron to come by the division so the gunners could get practice with tracking aircraft on an attack run. "He is listening to the senior men, letting them take charge, asking questions, making corrections or recommendations sir. He'll be fine sir."
"Good to know, and Commander Douglas is impressed with you as well in your preparation for the turnover so keep up the good work." Captain Valkenburgh said smiling to Castle with a hand shake and a smile. "Tell your girlfriend not to wear you out to much."
"Thank you sir, and I'll tell her that, after I killed Ryan and Esposito." Castle replied with a smirk on his face. He came to attention but saw Captain Valkenburgh wave him off. "Morning sir."
"Morning Rick." Captain Valkenburgh said with a smile and shake of his head.
As noon approached, liberty call was growing closer and the sailors were getting anxious to get ashore, except for those that had the watch. For Castle he had no watch that weekend so he could focus on seeing his daughter, mother and Kate. The speakers came to life. "Liberty call for all hands except watch standers."
The crew cheered and started towards the railing where duty boats were waiting to take them ashore. Castle waited for the crowd to die down a bit before getting in the fifth duty boat. Ten minutes later he arrived back at the pier and climbed up the ladder on the shore side, and to his surprise Kate was waiting for him in a blue cocktail dress, and simple rolls in her hair. He walked up to her. "Hey I was going to call you from the shore office."
"I have the next two days off so I thought I would surprise you." Kate stated. She took his arm and led him away from the area towards where a cab was waiting. "So I figured a lunch at the Royal Hawaiian before dinner this evening."
"Sounds great to me. But it may be hard to get a table at the restaurant." Castle remarked.
"Who said anything about eating in the restaurant?" Kate answered climbing into the cab.
Castle smiled and climbed into the taxi which took off as soon as the door was closed.
Additional Note: The paint filled shells were a common practice to protect the aircraft towing the target drogue behind it. Tracking exercises like mentioned in the story do take place that way the gunners can practice on a aircraft making a attack run. With the Arizona and her last modernization which took place before Pearl Harbor in Brementon Washington, would have modern day equipment back then installed including the latest in range finding and view finding equipment. Any questions about the gun ranges, please PM me. Thank you.