required Jerry to be here, but Palmer would have to answer Shimko’s questions alone.
Which was as it should be, Jerry mused. So why was he here at all, he asked himself. Not moral support. The XO had left the door cracked, so Jerry could hear Palmer’s performance.
“Mr. Palmer. What will the tides be when we get under way?”
“Ebb tide, sir. Two feet above mean low water, with a two-knot current.”
“And the weather?”
“High scattered clouds, light winds from the south, about sixty-five degrees. That’s as of this morning according to the NOAA website. I’ll check…”
“What rudder and bells will you start with?”
“Well, sir, last time I used back one-third and twenty—”
The XO interrupted Palmer. “I didn’t ask for a history lesson, mister. What rudder and bells would you use this time,
There was a pause, a little longer than Jerry would have liked, and then Palmer said, “The same. Back one- third and twenty-five degrees right rudder.” Jerry started to worry. He thought Palmer would last longer before getting rattled, but the XO knew where to apply pressure. Which might be what he wanted Jerry to see.
“What orders are you giving the tug?”
“None yet, sir. I have to get our stern swung out. ”
“Won’t that smash our bow into the pier?” The XO’s tone was neutral, with just a tinge of concern. He was challenging Palmer’s answers now.
Palmer stammered, but he knew the answer. “I have to limit the swing to no more than thirty degrees. There’s a tower on the north shore you can use as a mark. As the rudder swings past that point, I tell the tug to start backing. ”
“The tug’s suffered an engineering casualty.” Shimko’s tone was still flat, but he spoke quickly.
“Sir?”
“The tug captain tells you he’s suffered a breakdown. His engines are dead. He can’t give you any help.”
Jerry didn’t hear an answer right away, and counted the seconds. He imagined the wheels spinning in Palmer’s head, and hoped they were finding traction.
“Put number three line back over, then shift to ahead one-third. Use side force from the screw and pivot on number three to push the bow away from the pier.” Palmer sounded tentative. If Jerry heard it, so did the XO.
“But you’re using ahead engines. Won’t that drive our bow into the pier?” More concern in the XO’s tone, mixed with skepticism. He was really leaning on Palmer. Shimko remembered Palmer’s first underway as well. He knew Palmer would be worried about the bow.
“I’d only leave it on for a moment, sir. We have some sternway. As soon as our sternway was off…”
“But what about the tug? As the bow swings around, won’t we hit the tug? We’re big enough to cave in his hull.”
That was a sucker question. Since the tug was up against
“Sir, I’m not sure. ” Palmer’s voice was more than unsure.
“The tug skipper’s on the radio, yelling that he’s holding you personally responsible for any damage to his vessel.”
“Sir. ”
Jerry was waiting for Palmer to implode when the door to the captain’s stateroom opened and Rudel stepped into the passageway. Jerry stepped back out of the way, and the skipper politely nodded to him as he walked to the XO’s stateroom. Knocking on the half-open door, he walked in without waiting for a reply.
Jerry heard him ask lightly, “So XO, what’s the situation?” Shimko quickly summarized the scenario and pointedly remarked, “I’m still waiting for Mr. Palmer’s answer.” After a short pause, he added, “Mr. Palmer is liable for any damage to the tug.”
Jerry was tempted to peek inside, but he didn’t really need to, and certainly didn’t want to be seen. He listened to Rudel ask softly, “Mr. Palmer, do you know the answer to the XO’s question?” His question demanded an answer, but at the same time had a positive tone.
After a short pause, Jerry heard Palmer say, “Yes, sir. I do.” After another pause, he answered, “There can’t be any damage, because he’s tight alongside us.”
Rudel asked, “But won’t he keep our bow from moving out from the pier?”
“No sir, we’re so much bigger than the tug, with a much deeper draft, and he’s at our pivot point anyway. Then, as soon as our headway’s off and we’ve swung more parallel to the pier, I’d send the lines back over and get us moored again.”
“Why would you do that, mister?” The XO’s voice was still level. “I thought the idea was to get under way.”
“Not with the tug in the way. Besides, he’s broken down and we can’t leave him adrift in the channel.”
“Very good, Mr. Palmer, never abandon a mariner in distress.” The captain’s praise was followed by a quick “Carry on,” and he stepped out of the XO’s stateroom and back to his own. As he passed Jerry, the skipper winked at him, smiling. Jerry felt himself smiling as well. He was sure now Palmer would pass.
Rudel’s kind words were the only praise Palmer received. The XO grilled him for another twenty minutes, and there were more trick questions as well as hard ones. Jerry knew the XO wasn’t really testing Palmer’s knowledge, but his presence of mind, his ability to think under pressure.
Finally, he said, “All right, Mr. Palmer, I’m satisfied that you’re able to properly get
Jeff Palmer stepped out of the XO’s stateroom, pale but smiling. Jerry and Palmer walked some distance away from the XO’s stateroom before either spoke. “Compared to that, the underway will be a breeze.” Palmer sounded stressed but pleased.
“Just hope you’re right, Jeff. Things can get past you before you know you’re in trouble.” Jerry gestured back toward the XO’s stateroom. “In there, you knew you were being asked a question. On the bridge, you’ll have to ask yourself the questions, as well as answer them.”
Palmer’s expression became more serious, but his smile didn’t go away completely. “Believe me, sir, I get it. My first underway taught me that. We live in a boat designed to sink, filled with explosives and a nuclear reactor. If we don’t stay on our toes, we’re screwed.”
“Learning from your mistakes is a good thing. But dwelling on them is not,” advised Jerry sternly. “You lost the bubble last time and it’s been holding you back. This time you need to stay in control, which means you have to think ahead. We may move slowly, but a submarine on the surface reacts to your helm orders just as slowly — so keep your wits about you and plan accordingly.”
“I will, Nav. And this time, I won’t screw up.”
“Sounds good, Jeff. Let’s plan to meet on Friday, you and Mr. Hayes, to do a final review, okay?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll inform Will.”
“Very well, Mr. Palmer, carry on.”
2. PROTECTIVE RESPONSE
The four men marched down the main hall of the Northern Fleet Headquarters building in perfect, if unintentional, unison. The echoes of their footsteps reverberated sharply off the ornate walls, giving the illusion of a much larger contingent. The mood was somber, the air formal, the countenance of the men stern and determined. “How perfectly Russian,” mused Captain First Rank Aleksey Igorevich Petrov. Flanked by his
