W.E.B. Griffin - The Corps IV - Battleground

"I have the conn, Sir," the lieutenant said, ritually, and then Pickering heard him say, "Help the Captain, Doc. Stop that bleeding."

(Two)

ABOARD USS GREGORY (APD-44)

CORAL SEA

1425 HOURS 18 AUGUST 1942

Pickering was in the Captain's cabin, in the Captain's bunk, his back resting on pillows against the bulkhead. He was naked above the waist. His arm, in a cast, was taped to his chest. He appeared to be dozing.

The lieutenant walked to the bunk and looked down at him.

"How do you feel, Sir?"

Pickering looked at him for a moment without recognition, and then, with an effort, forced himself awake.

"Oh, it's you," he said cheerfully. "Mr. 'No Damage to Report, Sir.'"

"Sir," the Lieutenant said, obviously hurt. "I didn't know what had happened on the bridge, Sir. Except that Mr. Goldberg had been killed on the ladder."

"I shouldn't have said that," Pickering said. "I'm sorry. I had a tube of morphine; I must still be feeling it."

"Are you still in pain, Sir?"

"Every time I breathe. That's a hell of a place to be stitched up." He changed the subject: "What shape are we in?"

"We're about five hours out, Sir, from Espiritu Santo. There's some things that have to be decided."

"Are you the senior officer?"

"No, Sir. You are."

"I'm supercargo."

"Sir, I checked the manual. Command passes-in a situation like this-to the senior officer of the line. Captain, that's you, Captain."

"What is it?"

"The bodies, Sir. I have them prepared, Sir."

"Where are they?"

"The captain and three others are in sick bay, Sir. The others are in the Chiefs quarters."

"If you're suggesting a burial at sea..."

"That's your decision, Captain."

"If we're only five hours out, I think we should take them to Espiritu Santo," Pickering said. "I have no intention of conducting a burial at sea."

"Aye, aye, Sir," the lieutenant said. "And we seem to have forgotten the report, Sir."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Mr. Norwood, the communications officer, has prepared it, Sir," the lieutenant said, and handed it to him.

OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

SECRET

FROM USS GREGORY

TO: CINCPAC

1. GREGORY ATTACKED 0750 HOURS 18AUG42 POSITION WHISKEY ABLE OBOE SLASH NAN NAN CHARLEY BY

ONE REPEAT ONE EMILY. MODERATE TO SEVERE DAMAGE TO BRIDGE. EMILY SHOT DOWN.

2. CASUALTIES: CAPTAIN, EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TWO ENLISTED KIA. THREE OFFICERS AND SEVEN

ENLISTED WIA.

3. GREGORY PROCEEDING BAKER XRAY MIKE.

PICKERING, CAPTAIN, USN, COMMANDING

"It's 'USNR,' not 'USN,' " Pickering said. "I'm not a regular."

"Yes, Sir. I'll have that changed."

"What about the wounded?"

"One of them is in pretty bad shape, I'm afraid. We're hoping he makes it. There's medical facilities at Espiritu. The others will be all right, Captain."

"Captain, "Pickering said thoughtfully, sadly, and paused, and then went on: "The captain died quickly. I don't think he knew what hit him."

"Mr. Goldberg, too, Sir. He was... whatever got him, got him in the head."

"Jesus Christ!" Pickering said.

"Captain, can I get you something to eat? A tray, maybe. A sandwich? You really should have something."

"What I really would like is a drink," Pickering replied.

"I wish I could help you, Sir."

"Is there any medicinal bourbon aboard?"

"Yes, Sir."

"How much?"

"There's four cartons, Sir. I think they pack them forty-eight of those little bottles to a carton."

"Enough for one per man?"

"Yes, Sir. More than enough, Captain."

"Issue one bottle per man. If there is any left over, bring me a couple."

"Aye, aye, Sir."

(Three)

WATER LILY COTTAGE

MANCHESTER AVENUE

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

1925 HOURS 18 AUGUST 1942

There was the sound of tires crunching on the driveway. Major Ed Banning went to the window, pushed the curtain aside, and saw the Studebaker President stopping in the drive.

"Pluto," Banning said, turning to Mrs. Ellen Feller. She was sitting on the couch, holding a tea cup and saucer in her hand.

"I presumed he would come here to discuss this situation with you," Ellen Feller said. "Didn't you?"

Banning didn't reply. He went to the door and opened it as Hon bounded onto the porch.

"I gather you've heard about Moore?" Banning greeted him.

"Yeah," Pluto said. "Take a look at this."

He handed Banning a sheet of onion skin, walked into the room, and nodded at Ellen Feller.

"Major Banning and I have been talking about what to do about Sergeant Moore," she said.

"And?"

"We've decided the best thing is to do nothing," Ellen said.

"What is this thing?" Banning asked, confused.

"The Signal Corps monitors the Navy frequencies when they can," Hon explained, "and they copy what they think might be interesting. Operational Immediates, for example. The crypto officer handed me that the moment I walked in. Before he told me that he had to fill in for the missing Sergeant Moore."

"But what the hell is this?"

"Read the signature," Pluto Hon said.

Banning did so.

"I'll be damned," he said.

"May I see that?" Ellen Feller asked, rising to her feet and walking to Banning. Banning handed her the Operational Immediate message radioed from the USS Gregory to CINC-PAC after the Emily attack.

"Well, we knew that Mr. Knox told CINCPAC to take him off Guadalcanal," Ellen Feller said. "He was apparently on this ship, and I suppose that as the senior officer aboard, he would naturally take command if the captain was killed."

Banning ignored her.

"I don't suppose you know off-hand what Baker XRay Mike is. Or where?"

"Espiritu Santo," Hon said. "With great reluctance, the Navy Liaison Officer told me."

"Well, thank God, Captain Pickering is all right," Ellen said.

Banning looked at her but said nothing.

"Lieutenant Hon," Ellen said. "As I was saying, Major Banning and I have been discussing Sergeant Moore."

"What do you mean by that?" Hon asked.

"We can't let it get out that Moore knew... more than a sergeant should have been permitted to know... can we? I mean, the greater priority is to protect Captain Pickering, isn't it?"

He looked at her for a moment before replying. Then he asked, "Are you suggesting that we should not do whatever the hell has to be done to get Moore the hell off Guadalcanal?"

He looked at Banning, who met his eyes, but said nothing. Hon looked back at Ellen Feller.

"The only way," she said, "we can, as you put it, get Moore the hell off Guadalcanal is to make it known that he has had access to MAGIC. That will get Captain Pickering-for that matter, all of us-in a great deal of trouble."

"Your discussion, I'm afraid, Mrs. Feller," Pluto Hon said, coldly, "is academic."

"What does that mean?" Banning asked.

Hon handed him a sheet of paper.

URGENT

TOP SECRET

SERVICE MESSAGE

FROM: OFFICER IN CHARGE SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY JKS-3 SHSWPA BRISBANE

TO: OFFICER IN CHARGE SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY JKS-1 CINCPAC PEARL HARBOR

1. FOLLOWING TOP SECRET EYES ONLY TO BE RELAYED URGENT TO CAPTAIN FLEMING PICKERING USNR

SOMEWHERE ENROUTE VIA BAKER XRAY MIKE TO OFFICE SECNAV WASHINGTON: BEGIN MSG ONLY ENLISTED MEMBER JKS-3 ENROUTE VIA AIR GUADALCANAL ON ORDERS ACOFS G2 HQ USMC SIGNATURE PLUTO END MSG.

2. IMPORTANCE OF DELIVERY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED. HON lSTLT SIGC USA

Ellen Feller stepped behind Banning and read the message over his shoulder.

"You had no authority to do that!" she flared.

"This has gone out, Pluto?" Banning asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"If you did so in the presumption that I would agree with it, you were absolutely right, Lieutenant," Banning said.