Tactics
Nelson drew the diagram on a scrap of paper. They contemplated and discussed.
Crane murmured that it was a good plan, he hoped it worked.
Nelson responded, 'It better. We may not get another chance.'*
Morton and the officers in short individual conversations had come up with a couple of ideas. They passed the word to each other as they could. One idea in particular might apply to a situation such as they faced. Morton set navigation, engineering, and other system techs to work on calculations, pressure differential, logistics, and troubleshooting. It took so much time to communicate with each other on the down low.
Morton went to sick bay for a report on casualties. While there he asked, "Doc, do you think you can get in to see the Admiral and the Captain? Sharkey and several of the men report hearing what sounds like a beating and groaning. Foley has told us that the boat's routines can continue … can it be routine for a medical check? After all they've been captive for hours."
"I should hope so. I can try."
"All right, if you can get in there are you willing to try to get a message through? I have an idea but it's risky."
"What would you need me to say?"
"Well, if you can somehow mention to either one of them the words The Slip it would let them know what I am considering. If they say anything in answer it could help."
Doc commented, "That's an odd thing to mention … "
Morton replied, "It's basically like a play from a play book. We have a few plays we can use in dire straits. I've never seen any of them used, as they are very high risk, but one The Slip might help us now."
"Well if it's from a play book that gives me an idea I can try to work with."
"That's good to hear, Doc. See if you can get in to see them."
Doc approached Foley when he came to the control room to check on things. "I understand you want the boat's routines to stay in place?"
"As much as possible, yes; as long as these routines don't interfere with my objectives."
"Then I want to see Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane. Their wellbeing is in question and as the boat's doctor I want to attend to them."
Foley scoffed with a wry smile. "All right, you may have ten minutes. You may take in first aid supplies, but no medicine." The control room crew glanced at each other when they heard Foley's answer. It just confirmed all their fears for the two officers.
"Thank you." The Doc turned and left.
Foley met the Doctor outside the main stores turned visitor's quarters and let him in. Doc saw the Admiral tied to a chair that had been bolted to the floor near the forward bulkhead facing aft and the Captain standing near the aft of the compartment facing forward. Crane's arms were bound behind him and attached to a fitting. That meant he was on his feet even though he looked tired and uncomfortable.
Doc glanced at both men appraisingly, and then turned toward Crane. The Captain involuntarily shuddered as he approached.
"Untie this man. He's in shock."
The guards hesitated not wanting to release the Captain.
"You know he is the greatest leverage you have with the Admiral, but not if he's dead."
Foley conceded, "Untie them both for the moment and take the Admiral out."
Doc stated boldly, "I want to see the Admiral."
"Look. You can see. He's fine."
Doc looked at Nelson, who jerked his head toward the Captain indicating that Doc should look after Crane.
As the guards released Crane's wrists, the Doc took his arm, backed him up to the aft bulkhead and assisted him to slide down it to sit on the deck leaning back against the bulkhead.
The guards moved toward the Admiral's location.
The Doctor, crouching beside him, asked, "Captain, how is it with you?"
"Let's just say I can sympathize with an anvil."
"I see. Where are you most hurt, sir?"
Crane glanced over to where the Admiral was being untied and seeing that the Admiral's view of him was blocked did not speak but fluttered his hand over his chest and abdomen. He didn't want to distress the Admiral. Even though the Admiral had watched everything happen, Crane had tried so very hard not to show as much discomfort as he actually felt.
Understanding Crane's intention Doc briefly glanced over his shoulder towards where the Admiral was. Turned back and made eye contact with Crane to let him know he understood. "Ok, let's get your shirt open."
Doc started slowly unbuttoning the Captain's shirt. He looked at Crane's body and his face froze. He looked up into the captain's eyes. Crane's eyes moved toward the Admiral and back to the doctor and he just barely shook his head no.
For the Admiral's benefit the Doctor observed, "You've got some bruises … "
"Mm."
The intruders had Nelson out of the chair now and were moving him towards the hatch. "Lee?"
Crane sitting stiffly answered tersely, "I'm fine, Admiral."
The Admiral looked meaningfully at the Doctor as he was hustled out of the compartment. "Doc, do what you can." Once the Admiral was gone Crane slumped, and laid his head back on the bulkhead.
"Captain, you've got some broken ribs here."
"Yeah, a gun butt."
"And a massive amount of bruising."
"Mm, fists, elbows.
"You're shivering."
"Yes."
"Have you been given food? Water?
"No, but I think the Admiral gets meals. They say so but I haven't seen it, so I can't confirm it."
"But you haven't?"
"No, but I couldn't eat, Doc, even if I had." With a flick of his eyes to the doctor's he added, "It wouldn't stay down." After a pause he changed the subject, "How are the men, Doc? Any casualties?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so."
"Right." Crane turned his head aside waiting for the bad news. "How many?"
"One dead, Paulson, two others injured but not seriously, they weren't shot."
The Captain visibly reacted to the sad report. "I'm very sorry to hear that." He gave a thought to those grieving. "Doc, Paulson's best buddies … I'm not sure but … might be West and maybe Griggs … ?"
The Doctor sighed and re-buttoned Crane's shirt a bit. "Don't worry, Captain, I will find out and check on them."
Crane nodded his thanks. "Please. I'd appreciate it if you would."
"Consider it done. Now, Captain, there's not much I can do about your ribs and the other injuries I can see there, that's for when we can get you to sick bay, but let me dress and pad those wrists." Padding wrists was a poor substitute for the medical care the Captain needed but it would buy some time; give him a chance to talk with the Captain.
As the Doctor dressed the Captain's badly abraded and excoriated left wrist he introduced Morton's comments. "The Exec asked me to remind you that he's looking forward to seeing the game with you in Santa Barbara next week."
Crane looked slightly startled and confused but caught on quickly enough to play along. "Ah, right."
"He hopes to see a great play like the one they used last game to get control of the field."
The Captain glanced meaningfully at the Doctor without speaking and then away, thinking fast. He appeared to choose his next words carefully. "Ah, there were a few good plays … I, um … I can't seem to remember which one he means right now … "
The Doctor intentionally made eye contact with the Captain, held his gaze for a moment, and then continued with the bandages. "Oh right, I think he said The Slip. He just seemed curious what you thought of that one."
The Captain's eyes moved as he strove to recall. Think, think, he told himself. It came to him. With a shocked look, he glanced at the Doctor and then toward the captors who were nearby. He lifted his free hand to his face, rubbed his head with a slight sigh, to camouflage his frantic fast thinking. He looked back at the Doctor significantly and then spoke using a carefully casual tone. "Well, a sacrificial play is a good strategy if it puts the team in a better position to win." Crane shifted uncomfortably.
Messer interjected angrily, "Hey what are you talking about?"
"Just talking about foot ball." Doc answered.
Messer gave them a highly suspicious look.
"An age-old medical technique is talking to distract the patient from what I am doing." Then Doc spoke to Crane to distract the guard, "I'm sorry if that hurt, Captain." He finished with the left wrist. "Your other hand now please, sir."
"Hurry that up!"
"Of course, I'll just do his other hand." Messer paced away toward his companion.
The Captain looked pensive and shifted again.
The Doctor looked at Crane letting him know without speaking that he understood the words he put into a comment about football meant something significant even if he didn't know what was being communicated between the Captain and the Exec. His next comment reflected the most significant word he heard in the Captain's answer, speaking very quietly. "Sacrificial … ?"
The Captain pressed his lips as he glanced at the doctor and barely nodded. "Maybe … " Then speaking unconvincingly, "Maybe not … but … " the Captain moved his head in a negation, "definitely not nice."
The Doctor, understanding, looked stricken. He continued bandaging Crane's right wrist. "Sir, I would fill you full of painkillers right now if I could, but they didn't let me bring any medicine in here."
The Captain ducked his head as he nodded to the doctor's words. "If I see you again, Doc, I will take you up on that."
The Doc picked up on that, "If … ?"
The Captain met his eyes but glanced down quickly.
Doc very quietly asked, "If not?"
The Captain turned the hand the Doctor was bandaging into a hand shaking position. Barely audible, "It's been an honour to serve with you, Doc."
Doc briefly took the Captain's hand. "And I with you, sir." The Doctor covered his emotions by busying himself finishing with his first aid. As he did he asked, "The Exec?"
"Tell Mr. Morton to look after the men, and the boat. He has the conn."
"Aye, sir." Then Doc asked quietly and quickly, "Have they hurt the Admiral?"
"His wrists, but not anything else that I've seen, but he isn't always in here. He is suffering though."
The Doctor nodded, noting the Captain's choice of words, and got up to leave. In a more normal tone for the benefit of the guards he said, "The usual thing for me to say, Captain, is – get some rest."
The Captain in a like tone and slightly stronger voice responded, "The usual thing for me to say is – I'm fine, thanks, Doc."
As Doc left he told the hijackers, "This man needs water."
After the Doc left Foley in a mocking tone spoke, "He won't get water or food." He turned to the guards, "Don't let him use the cot again and no sleep for the Captain. Keep him awake."
"He didn't sleep. He just lay down for a while."
Foley once more glanced around the compartment. He had to decide now if the next phase could be done in here. Was there enough room to swing a cat? Yes, there was.
"That's fine but no more of that. Keep him upright as much as possible and prod him if he looks like he is dozing off. It's time to assemble the kit."
Whelan with a smirk got a pry bar and started to open the last couple of crates labelled H2O Purification. These crates weren't used during the retrofit. They had a very different purpose.
Doc approached Morton who looked at him meaningfully and asked. "How are they?"
"I was able to talk with the Captain, they took the Admiral out when I came in. The Skipper is dehydrated. He has broken ribs and is in mild shock. That's possibly from internal bruising or just pain. He's been badly beaten but he is conscious. They've left his head alone so his thought processes are clear, amazingly so considering. He's worried about the men."
"They left his head alone so he stays awake and aware through it all."
"I'm afraid so, yes. They haven't given him food or water."
"What about the Admiral?"
"I only saw him from across the room. Physically he looks okay but his mental state must be pretty rough. The Captain thinks that too. They're beating the Captain in front of him."
Chip looked distraught.
"Mr. Morton, in regard to what you asked me to say to them, I will report as closely as I can what the Captain said in response to your words. The conversation was couched as a discussion on football. As best as I can remember he said 'sacrificial plays are a good strategy if they put the team in a better position to win.'"
Chip looked pensive. "So it's possible he understands what I might try to do."
The Doctor replied, "Believe me, as far as I can tell, without having a clue what the two of you are talking about, he more than understands you … he also appears to comprehend possible implications … and consequences. The other thing he asked me to say to you was to look after the men, and the boat, and that you have the conn."
Morton eyed the doctor with unspoken questioning in his eyes.
The Doctor paused a moment. "I know it is not in my scope but perhaps, Mr. Morton, I could help you interpret the Captain's comments better if I knew what you two are trying to say to each other through me. What exactly does The Slip mean?"
"Well, perhaps you're right. Let me explain."
Doc listened for a while then responded, "So, as far as I can tell sick bay can expect a lot of bumps, bruises, and lacerations soon."
"Yes. Hopefully we get the boat back though without too many casualties. But the question remains what happens to the Admiral and the Skipper during all this? We don't have control of their situation while this is going on. Would they even want me to try this?"
"I think that's the sacrificial part, and I believe the Captain's comments show he has already agreed."
Morton nodded thoughtfully. "Ok then. Now tell me how they are situated in there? How is our manoeuvre going to affect them?"
"If they are in the same places, Admiral Nelson was tied to a seat right against the forward bulkhead. He shouldn't shift much but falling debris or unsecured items could hit him. Captain Crane's arms though were tied to the valves. He would not able to stay on his feet. If things go on too long … and … with broken ribs … ah … that … um might explain something the Captain said to me."
"What was that?"
Doc looked embarrassed and uncomfortable. "Ah … umm … he said it had been an honour to serve with me."
Morton looked at him keenly. "So he doesn't think he will survive this."
Doc replied, "I don't know if he thinks he wouldn't live through the manoeuvre or the whole situation. Regardless the Captain would be at high risk during such a manoeuvre and if he is tied up when it happens wouldn't be able to survive more than three minutes of it."
After a pause Morton stated, "You'll need to clarify what exactly you mean by that."
The Doc took a few moments to explain.
Morton pondered, "In that case we will need to work fast and a detail will be assigned solely to ensure both Captain Crane's and Admiral Nelson's safety as quickly as possible after."
"I'd like to be assigned to that detail please."
"I understand, but this could involve combat."
"Nevertheless, if I am on the detail I could be close by if needed." He looked at Morton meaningfully. "That may be vital."
"Of course, Doctor, but you'd have to hang back until the scene is safe. We can't risk you. You will only be there in a medical capacity. I'll make sure you are briefed in."
"Thank you, Mr. Morton."
Morton got the techs working on calculations with the added time limit of three minutes. Timing, weight, flow rates, sequencing, and many other variables were in play and all were vital. The slide rules were getting a workout. It was taking a lot of time but if they didn't get this right, Morton would be sentencing them all to death with the order.
He also pulled Sharkey aside to insist the backup batteries be wedged as securely as possible during the daily routine maintenance.
"Pass the word quietly to the crew. We are all to treat this as a 'routine' boat duty. If Foley's people ask anything we just say we do a drill each day to keep in tiptop shape. If they question because they have already been aboard for 2 days we did a Sunday evasive action drill and on Monday a silent running drill. All routine. We'll use a Tuesday Duty Detail to do inventory as cover to secure all loose items possible everywhere on the boat."
The Chief spoke in a worried voice, "If we can't get into the visitor quarters? What about the Admiral … and the Skipper?"
The Exec sighed, "I know, Chief, do your best to get a detail in there but if you can't it's a risk we have to take. Once the duty detail is done we can proceed to Tuesday Drill."
"But … the Admiral … the Skipper … "
"The important thing is to regain our boat."
"Right, ah … I … I will get a detail into that compartment somehow."
"Thanks, Chief. Get to it."
"Aye, aye, sir." Sharkey looked more worried than Morton had ever seen before.
The Chief reported back to the Exec. "All items secure, sir."
"Did you get into the visitor's quarters?"
"Yes, sir. They were obliging in letting the detail in. We didn't spend much time in there and didn't do anything but I could see the biggest stuff is secure. I basically just took a stock check sheet in with the detail to look like that's what we were checking. It looks like they are assembling some sort of frame or racking in there but it was bolted down. The Admiral wasn't in there but … " the Chief lowered his voice, "Sir, the Skipper looks pretty rough."
Morton looked at the Chief in sympathetic understanding and nodded. "Very well. Thank you, Chief."
He checked with the techs on the calculations. They were still toiling on it frantically but there were complex variables to work through. It must be right as they only got one chance. It was slow going.
* The Buccaneer