The Shark Mutiny

Patrick Robinson The Shark Mutiny

This book is respectfully dedicated to everyone who opposes the reduction of U.S. Naval budgets, especially those politicians willing to reverse the process.

CAST OF PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

SENIOR COMMAND

The President of the United States (Commander-in-Chief U.S. Armed Forces)

Vice Admiral Arnold Morgan (National Security Adviser)

Robert MacPherson (Defense Secretary)

Harcourt Travis (Secretary of State)

General Tim Scannell (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs)

U.S. NAVY SENIOR COMMAND

Admiral Alan Dixon (Chief of Naval Operations)

Admiral Dick Greening (Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet [CINCPACFLT])

Rear Admiral Freddie Curran (Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet [COMSUBPAC])

Rear Admiral John Bergstrom (Commander Special War Command [SPECWARCOM])

USS SHARK

Commander Donald K. Reid (Commanding Officer)

Lt. Commander Dan Headley (Executive Officer)

Lt. Commander Jack Cressend (Combat Systems Officer)

Lt. Commander Josh Gandy (Sonar Officer)

Master Chief Petty Officer Drew Fisher (Chief of Boat)

Lt. Shawn Pearson (Navigation Officer)

Lt. Matt Singer (Officer of the Deck)

Lt. Dave Mills (ASDV helmsman)

Lt. Matt Longo (ASDV navigator)

U.S. NAVY SEALS

Commander Rick Hunter (Team Leader, Assault Team Two)

Commander Russell “Rusty” Bennett (Overall Commander, Assault Team One)

Lt. Commander Ray Schaeffer (Team Leader, Assault Team One)

Lt. Dan Conway (Second in Command, Assault Team One)

Lt. John Nathan (High Explosives Chief, Assault Team One)

Chief Petty Officer Rob Cafiero (Base Camp Chief, Assault Team One)

Petty Officer Ryan Combs (machine gunner, Assault Team One)

Combat SEAL Charlie Mitchell (Electrics, Assault Team One)

Lt. Dallas MacPherson (Second in Command and Explosives Chief, Assault Team Two)

Lt. Bobby Allensworth (personal bodyguard to Commander Hunter)

Chief Petty Officer Mike Hook (explosives assistant to Lt. MacPherson)

Petty Officer Catfish Jones (combat assistant to Lt. Allensworth)

SEAL Riff “Rattlesnake” Davies (machine gunner, Assault Team Two)

SEAL Buster Townsend (Assault Team Two)

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, FORT MEADE

Admiral David Borden (Acting Director)

Lt. Jimmy Ramshawe (Security Ops Officer)

THE COURT-MARTIAL

President: Captain Cale “Boomer” Dunning

Judge Advocate General: Captain Sam Scott

Judge Advocate/Observer: Captain Art Brennan

Trial Counselor: Lt. Commander David “Locker” Jones

Defense Counselor: Lt. Commander Al Surprenant

CHINESE HIGH COMMAND

Admiral Zhang Yushu (Senior Vice Chairman Peoples’ Liberation Army/Navy Council)

Admiral Zu Jicai (Commander-in-Chief, Navy)

CIVILIAN OIL TANKER MASTERS

Commodore Don McGhee (Global Bronco)

Captain Tex Packard (Galveston Star)

FIANCEES

Kathy O’Brien (Admiral Morgan)

Jane Peacock (Lt. Ramshawe)

Maps

PROLOGUE

Summer 1987.

Hunter Valley Thoroughbred Farms.

Lexington, Kentucky.

It was pretty damn hot for baseball. Only a light breeze ruffled the sweltering bluegrass paddocks in this big thoroughbred breeding farm along the old Ironworks Pike, out near the village of Paris. And young Dan Headley couldn’t hit Rick Hunter’s fastball to save his life.

“Easy, Ricky…take something off it…I can’t hit that….” But again and again the baseball came screaming in, low and away, and slammed into the base of the red barn wall behind the hitter. And the tall 16-year-old pitcher