[Gargamel]

“What’s that mean long term Chief?”

“Well, as long as August can hold that manifold together, we should be fine. Seems like it’s a defect in the manufacturing, same thing that made us turn back earlier” He replied.

“Was für ein Haufen Scheiße! These incompetent fools keep sending us out here with ill designed equipment and then blame us for the failures!” I cursed.

“Exactly, Kaleun! You know that the head mechanic back at base said we had over revved the port engine?”

“What? We hadn’t even taken it over standard speed! We were just getting ready to put her through the paces. That delay cost us almost 2 weeks! We missed the chance to run the channel, and had to go around the isles the long way! We’ve just gotten to our assigned patrol zone! The other boats have already been able to hit a convoy!”

“Well, I don’t think the Fuehrer received my telegram to hold off on the war.”

I laughed, “Even if he did, I don’t think he listens to us line officers very well.” We both chuckled at that.

“So how much fuel was wasted?”

“Not too much, maybe a few dozen liters worth. We gave Heinrich hell with the trim while we fully pumped out the bilges and flushed with seawater. Franz says it shouldn’t affect our range too much, a day lost at worst.”

I pulled out my pipe, filling it, “Fair enough, keep an eye on it. Check the other one’s too, we don’t need this happening again. Getting stuck out here would be very bad. Anything else Chief?”

“No, Kaleun, I’ll get on that right away”

“Sehr gut,” I said, looking over the other gauges.

I put the unlit pipe in my mouth and started up the ladder, wanting to get some fresh air and enjoy my pipe. Kessler had rightly chastised me last time for lighting up inside the boat. The weather was still dead calm, and perfect for being on the bridge. A far cry from what had experienced while working up the boat in the Baltic and North Sea during the spring.

“Alllaaaaarm!!!!” Came the cry from above, forcing me to reverse course.

Stepping away from the ladder, “Crash Dive! Ahead Flank! Ballast hands forward!” I yelled.

The watch crew came down the ladder, crew started rushing towards the front of the boat, Chief was with them, stopping in the control room.

“What is it Wolfgang?” I yelled, as he landed. The helmsman and Chief were spinning valves, diving the boat, the thrum of the engines increasing.

“Jabo sir! About 80 degrees out, I think they saw us about the same time we did, they turned towards us!”

“Chief, soon as we’re under, turn to port 60 degrees, change our direction!”

“Aye herr Kaleun!”

The hissing and clunking noises of the diving boat continued, The Chief and helmsman still twisting the valves. Looking around the room, I saw wide eyes. This was our first encounter with a truly hostile entity, nobody knew what to really expect. I was scared myself, but forcing myself to not show it.

“Submerged Kaleun! Hard to port!” Chief called out. The diesels had faded away, soon replaced by the electric motors. We waited.

It didn’t take long. A loud explosion, maybe two, was felt, the boat shook, the plotting triangle fell to he floor. I had to brace myself from being knocked over.

“Damage?” I called out.

Our Navigator, Franz, heading for the aft hatch, “One minute Kaleun!” We had decided that since navigation while submerged was pretty much following a course and staring at a clock, that Franz could be better used elsewhere during times of crisis. He was the repair officer, coordinating our damage control teams, with close help from the engineering specialists on board.

“Nothing aft! Just some scared crew!” Franz yelled as he ran through the control room, heading forward.

“Steady at 70 meters Kaleun! Nothing irregular trim wise sir!” Chief said.

“Aye, reduce speed to one third please” I said.

Franz came through the hatch, “Same forward sir, just some rattled boys.”

“Gut! Maintain this heading for 30 minutes, then return to our previous course for an hour,” I said, “We’ll wait for the air to clear before popping our heads back up there.”

“Aye Kaleun” Franz said.

“Tommies can’t hit a barn!” I said, laughing. Some of the crew grinned back at me.

“Well, I’m going to check on the crew, call me if you need” I said, heading towards the hatch. I was really going to the head, as I wasn’t totally sure if I hadn’t already.