Page 51 of Clive Cussler's Quantum Tempest

“We should retreat,” the first officer said. He turned to the helmsman. “Prepare for evasive maneuvers. Full power.”

“Aye, sir,” the helmsman responded.

“Stand by,” Captain Stokes said, delaying the helm order.

Activating theBaktun’s laser-induced plasma detonation wave propulsion (LIPDWP) system would rob power from theBaktun’s more important operations and likely disrupt it, if not damage it.

The whole purpose of theBaktunwas to provide a secret and safe platform for the development of Project Q.

Dr.Bose’s organoid computer and associated hardware consumed the vast majority of the electricity generated by theBaktun’s internal confinement fusion reactor. She had just briefed him on their progress. They were days away from success. Any disruption of her electricity supply at this crucial juncture could prove catastrophic.

TheBaktun’s fusion reactor produced ten times the energy of an Ohio-class S8G fission reactor, though it occupied a smaller space. Without an ample supply of electricity, Project Q would crash to a halt.

But Stokes had to rob Peter to pay Paul. The only way theBaktuncould activate its plasma wave propulsion system was to redirect the energy supply away from Project Q. An enormous amount of electricity was needed to power the high-energy optical-fiber lasers—each thinner than a human hair—that laced the torpedo-shaped pod beneath theBaktun’s hull. The resulting rapid expansion of superheated plasma underwater created both a supercavitation bubble and a shock wave.

That supercavitating zone essentially eliminated all friction between the energy pod and the surrounding seawater—and generated incredible speed. The successive plasma shock waves, in turn, produced explosive thrust and drove theBaktunin any direction Stokes desired by manipulating the energy flow.

Stokes hardly understood the physics of the thing, but he knew his disguised research vessel could reach unheard-of speeds and all without conventional fuel or propellers.

But the former naval warfare officer wasn’t ready to turn tail andrun just yet. Stokes had been waiting for years for a combat opportunity like this. TheAgua Linda, even if it was some kind of a disguised gunboat, couldn’t possibly know his location. How could it attack him?

Yes, theAgua Linda’s ability to knock out his holographic drones with what appeared to be an electromagnetic pulse weapon was surprising, but hardly concerning. TheBaktun’s systems were hardened against such a thing. But what other weapons might theAgua Lindahave up her sleeve?

“Comms? What kind of chatter are you picking up?” Stokes asked.

“Agua Lindahasn’t broadcast any radio or distress signals. She’s quiet.”

Further proof she wasn’t damaged, Stokes reasoned, nor in need of assistance. She was no sitting duck. It would be a manly fight.

Now was his chance.

“Weapons—fire the nano-torpedoes. Helm—activate laser propulsion. Evasive maneuvers.”

“Aye, Captain.”

?

“Missile detected!” Linda shouted.

“Course and speed?” Cabrillo asked.

Stoney threw the radar track up onto one of the big monitors as he called out the stats. A bright red orb on the radar screen streaked at over six hundred miles per hour toward theOregon.

“Activate missile defenses.” Cabrillo hardly needed to give the order. Linda had already activated it, exactly according to protocol.

“Heading our way,” Stoney called out. “No…Wait…Veering off course…”

The missile track drifted several points away, then suddenly dropped off the screen.

“Malfunction?” Cabrillo asked.

“Maybe a wave skimmer,” Max said.

“Just splashed,” a sonarman said, one hand pressing against his headphones.

“Crashed?” Cabrillo asked.

“Multiple splashes…”