Page 143 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

“Haven’t had this much fun since wakeboarding on the Mekong,” Max said, recalling his days as a swift boat captain.

“They’re establishing a satellite uplink,” Hali said.

“First shot’s a miss,” Linda said.

The op center held its collective breath. Seconds later, the second round exploded. Everyone saw theBaktun’s satellite mast torn apart like bird shot through a sheet of tinfoil.

“Satellite signal dead.” Hali smiled.

The op center cheered.

“Great shot, Wepps,” Juan said.

“Chairman,” Linda shouted. “Missile launch!”

?

Aboard theFuzhou

Captain Zhao heard the first airburst over theBaktunand watched her pilot’s swift evasive response to the explosion. Her initial reaction was that the Americans had elected to fire at her ship, but she quickly dismissed the idea. The Americans would have used much more powerful ordnance against her mighty vessel.

The second explosion two seconds later infuriated her. The dogs were trying to damage or sink theBaktun, no doubt to capture or destroy the AGI program.

Zhao didn’t radio Peng for instructions. He had already given her permission to destroy the American ship if they threatened theFuzhouor the AGI program.

Zhao shouted orders as a third round passed harmlessly overhead.

“Helm, flank speed.”

“Aye.”

“Weapons station, launch Eagle Strike.”

78

Aboard theBaktun

“What is that madman up to?”

Stokes studied the radar screen, watching theOregonplowing directly toward him from some distance away. Now that Fierro was dead, he had to protect Bose’s AGI at all costs, keeping it from both the Chinese and the Yanks.

A thundering roar erupted beyond the bulkheads.

“Fuzhoulaunching missile,” the Brazilian first officer said, calm as a clam.

“Chinese turbines spinning up,” the sonarman said. “She’s engaging the American.”

Stokes nodded, admiring the American captain. He now understood what he was doing. The American wasn’t charging at theBaktun—he was only closing the distance to theFuzhou.

For a split second, Stokes considered the tempting option of firing his weapons at the distracted Chinese, their attention focused on the Americans.

But theFuzhouwas a stout ship, and close-quarters battle with a heavily armed gunboat was risky at best, and most likely fatal.

He also thought about joining theFuzhouin combat against theOregon. But it was too late to join the battle. The sudden launch of the Chinese hypersonic meant the Americans had less than twelve seconds to live.

His other course of action was clear, now that he had full access to the ship’s fusion reactor.

“Helm—pulse wave engine status?”