Page 141 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

Linda selected the Melara’s Vulcano round as the computer locked onto its swaying target, automatically loading the first fin-stabilized, laser-guided 127-millimeter shell into the breech.

The difficulty of such a long-range hit was complicated beyond human measure as both theOregonandBaktunbobbed in the running swells. The physical, atmospheric, and tactical challenges in the highly dynamic environment made targeting nearly impossible.

The AI-powered targeting program overcame all of it by integrating the suites of sensors, gyros, electromechanical mounts, and radar-tracking controlling the automated deck gun. They all could hear the clank of the weapon’s steel container as it fell away high up on the deck, and the faint whirring and clicking of servos, gimbals, and hydraulics snapping the auto cannon into place.

Boom!The big gun sent a single shell downrange. Traveling at nearly five thousand feet per second, it would take twenty-five seconds for it to reach the target twenty-eight miles away.

The high-explosive fragmentation round would act like a shotgun blast. The fragments covered a wider range of destruction than a precision armor-piercing round, making a hit on the fragile mast far more likely and at the same time eliminating the risk of sinking theBaktun.

Three seconds later, Linda fired a second shell—in case the first one missed.

“Chairman, Murph online for you,” Hali called out. “He says it’s an emergency.”

“Put him through.”

“Chairman, I did it. I broke the code.”

“Kinda busy right now, kid—”

Boom!A third shell erupted from the cannon.

“You don’t understand. Eidolon hid another code inside of his code. I just broke it open. He left a back door open onBaktun’s mainframe. I can access it from here.”

All eyes turned toward Cabrillo.

He leaned forward in his chair, grinning.

He knew exactly what to do.

77

Aboard theBaktun

“Itold you before I don’t trust the Chinese—and you know I hate them,” Stokes said as he waved Fierro toward his cabin. “The filthy vermin cost me my career.”

“It is what it is, my friend,” the tall Colombian said as he stepped through the door.

“We now have the world’s most powerful weapon, Fierro. Let’s use it. Don’t give it to the enemy.”

“You forget your place,Capitán. It’s my weapon, not yours. And I’ll do with it as I please.”

Stokes shut the door behind him. Bose’s Sikh bodyguard stepped out from behind a curtain before Fierro could turn around. The Sikh’s powerful hands gripped the side of Fierro’s head and squeezed it like a vise. The squirming Colombian clawed at the larger man’s powerful hands, but couldn’t move. The big bodyguard spun Fierro around to face Stokes.

“What is the meaning of this, Stokes?” Fierro howled.

Stokes stepped close enough to smell the panicked Colombian’s souring breath.

“You may have financed Project Q, Fierro, but you clearly don’t appreciate the magnitude of my sweet orchid’s invention. Perhaps you should relinquish it to someone who does.”

“And I suppose that’s you?” Fierro hissed as the Sikh’s hands pressed harder.

“Who else, old boy? I’m a warrior, born for battle. Not a foppish dilettante with delusions of grandeur.”

Fierro’s eyes flared with rage.

“I will have you—”

Snap!