G Hopf - The End

USS Makin Island off the southern coast of the Philippine Islands

“We made it through the Malacca Strait and past Singapore with no trouble. Now we’re about to enter the Western Pacific, I don’t know what to expect from here on,” Barone said after taking a drink of his coffee.

He and his son Billy had been getting together almost daily. Barone enjoyed his son’s company and felt blessed that they were able to be together during this time.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. I can’t imagine the president would attempt to attack us,” Billy said, taking a bite of toast.

“I wouldn’t be so sure son. He’s been a tough talker all of his life while in Washington. Who knows, maybe he’s a chicken hawk.”

Billy chuckled, “Hopefully he is.”

“If all goes well we should be spending New Year’s with your mom and sister.”

“I’d like that, I hope they’re okay.”

“Oh, I’m sure they are fine, it will take a lot to take out that old gal. Your mom is a tough cookie and she has Megan locked down I’m sure,” Barone openly talked with confidence about his wife and daughter’s safety but inside he was deeply concerned.

Barone looked at his son as he ate. Billy reminded him of his wife, Mary. He looked like her a lot and had her fire and strong will. As he looked at Billy, he now wished to himself that he had been home more with him when he was growing up. He now longed for the days when Billy was young. He never really had too many intimate and deeply private conversations with Billy or Megan. He wondered if they resented that he spent so much time away. He wondered if Billy resented that he never went to his baseball games or missed those moments to comfort him when he had a nightmare growing up. Barone had given most of his adult life to the Marine Corps and his country. Now all that time invested was given for what? Why did he make a decision that could prove fatal if he were wrong? He finally admitted to himself that his country was gone and that the Marine Corps he knew died along with it.

“Son, what is the talk amongst the Marines you’re with?”

“Dad, everyone is with you, they are just anxious. We all want to get home as fast as possible,” Billy said, looking up from his plate.

Billy’s words brought comfort to him. He knew his son was smart and in tune to what was happening on the ship.

Their conversation ended when the General Quarters alarm sounded. Both men looked at each other and didn’t say a word. Barone jumped up and ran out of the Mess. The corridors were alive with activity as men rushed back and forth on their way to their assigned duty stations.

He climbed the last ladder well and entered the bridge. Inside he encountered a hub of activity. The radio operator was contacting the other ships in the flotilla.

“Why has General Quarters been sounded?” Barone asked.

“Colonel, we have a submarine on SONAR” a junior naval officer answered.

“Where is it?” Barone asked.

“The sub is approximately…”

“I see it sir!” yelled a Marine on the bridge looking through binoculars.

“Where?” Barone asked. He hurried over to the Marine holding the binoculars.

“Approximately 3000 meters out on our starboard side sir!” the Marine said pointing to where he saw the submarine floating on the surface.

Barone grabbed the binoculars, focused them and saw the submarine.

“Use all channels and hail the sub!” Barone commanded.

Moments passed as the communication’s petty officer attempted to contact the submarine. The ships kept getting closer and closer. Barone had ordered that all ships not engage the sub but to stay vigilant in case the sub took aggressive action. As the ARG moved closer they saw the top hatch of the sub open and a couple of men came out and stood on the sail. Barone stayed glued and curious as to what was happening. He was not sure himself what flag the submarine flew or why it was on the surface of the water.

“Anything yet?” he asked the communications petty officer.

“Nothing, sir.”

The two men on the sail started to wave.

“How close can we pull the Makin Island up to the submarine?”

“Sir, we can get close, but I would recommend not doing so.” the first officer on the bridge said.

“Tell the rest of the ARG to move away from our position and to slow down, I want to pull alongside the submarine and see what’s going on?”

“Yes, sir,” the first officer said.

The USS Makin Island pulled alongside the port side of the floating submarine. By the time they had gotten within a couple hundred meters, the submarine struck colors. Fear and apprehension filled the men on the bridge of the Makin Island when they saw it was a U.S. flag.

Barone was alone in not being fearful. If the sub had meant them harm it would not have surfaced. He stood along the railing with a bullhorn in hand ready to communicate with the men on the sub’s sail.

“I am Lt. Colonel Barone of the USS Makin Island and Commanding Officer of the 2 ndBattalion 4 thMarine Regiment. Are you in need of any assistance?” Barone said, his voice amplified from the bullhorn.

One of the men on the ship looked at the other and said something that no one could hear. He left and went back inside the submarine. The other man raised his hand to gesture for more time.

“What’s he trying to say?” the first officer asked out loud. He was standing next to Barone.

“I think they want us to hold on for a minute,” Barone responded.

A moment passed and the man who had left reappeared and handed the other a bullhorn.

The first man took the bullhorn and said, “Colonel Barone, what was the name of that blonde from Fremantle back in 1999?”

“What?” the first officer asked out loud. He put down his binoculars and looked at Barone.

Barone was stunned by the question; he kept looking through the binoculars to see if he knew who just asked him the question.

“Who are you?” Barone asked.

“Maybe this will help,” the man said and then continued. “A half pint for a half pint?”

Barone’s eyes lit up. He knew who it was.

“Captain White! What the hell are you doing bobbing in the water?” Barone asked.

“We’re waiting for you.”

Barone was shocked to hear that, he looked around and saw other puzzled looks on the faces around him.

“Get your ass over here,” Barone said.

Capt. White gave a thumbs up.

“Sir, who is that?” the first officer asked.

“Why, lieutenant that is Capt. David White of the USS Topeka and an old dear friend of mine. We go way back. Now get the captain over here without delay,” Barone told the first officer.

Barone poured White another drink and sat down. He looked at his old friend, whom he had not seen in five years. The years had not been good to David, his black hair had been replaced with thick white, his eyes sagged and his skin was blotchy. There was sadness in his eyes that was not present before. Barone did not know where the years had gone since they had last spent time together. How easy it had become to move on from friends and colleagues. How could you spend each day with someone, then one day you say goodbye and not see them for five years?

“I appreciate all the bourbon,” White said before taking another sip.

“You’re welcome, old friend.

“Let’s talk about the 800-pound gorilla in the room.”

“800 pounds? More like an 800 million pound gorilla to me,” Barone joked.

White took another drink and put his glass down. “A few days ago we received word from the Secretary of Defense that we were to patrol the waters out here looking for a rogue colonel and his band of mutinous Marines,” White chuckled and continued. “Our orders were to track you down and destroy the ships, take no prisoners, do not negotiate, just sink your ships.”