"The war" #2 said "is passing us by"...

[Silverleaf]

So the day had come at last. Being trained to lead a boat of sailors was my goal, but getting there had been tough. I lost good friends in the last 12 months, some to service in other countries and a few close friends when the U-Boat they were on never came back. A type II was my destination and my largest fear wasn't death but letting the men see that I was scared stiff. Patience, breathe deep and we'll get through this, or so I thought..

Our first patrol in August had been a shake down of sorts, the men getting used to a brand new ship and me getting used to them. Petre was my #2, a good man whom spoke little but whose actions demanded attention. I had no concerns about him, nor the enlisted men, but a junior officer named Koenig was testing my patience with slow reports of sonar readings.

Our first conversation about a missed merchant ship almost came to blows, though if it weren't for the torpedo man affectionately called Bull, he might have got away with it. Funny how that works, I know Bull's sister, a shapely lass who has her eye on capturing Petre's heart. She's always inviting us over for drinks and on the rare occasion when I can't make it, he begs off for some other "important" task. I think she's wearing him down.

We were to patrol sector AN18, and after I found it on the map, I gave an appreciative whistle. Hans our resident Helmsmen smirked as he plotted in our course, saying just loud enough for me to hear "We'll see what she's made of huh?" I clipped him on the back of the head and said over my shoulder as I went top side "...and I'll see what your made of too."

24 days, three missed merchant signals and one pissed off Captain later, we arrived back at port - five fish wasted and nothing to show for it. Petre tried to talk to me about it, but the only consoling I could stand was a bottle of schnapps.

September 8, 1939

AN42...

Well it's a bit closer this time I thought, throwing the orders down on the table and staring out the window overlooking the docks. I was thinking about strategy, replaying in my mind everything I had been taught and a few tricks that Hebert had shown me on a napkin last night at the club. As I watched a seagull dive down to the water I was snapped out of my revelry by some commotion on the dock. Looks like a child got caught stealing something, the vendor's screaming and threatening to hit her. Even though I'm two stories up, I can't help but want to leap through the window and beat the stuffing out of him, she's just a kid, hungry, scared, we all are.

A hand comes out of no where, blocks the arm and knocks the vendor to the ground. Well, well.. that's Hendrek, my can't hear a damn thing Sonar man coming to the rescue. The merchant gets up, curses Hendrek and fades into the shadows. He kneels down and wipes her face with a hankerchief then quickly looks around and hands her some money. A whisper in the ear, a smile on her face and she's gone to stave off starvation for another day. He heads to the club, and I'm thinking I need to buy him a drink.

Two days out and I've had another conversation with Hendrek, only this time Petre's involved. Something about money lost in a bet, though I can't get the whole story. I tell them it's finished till we get back to Keil, your wasting my time. Up on watch theres a foul wind blowing, the radio's been buzzing with reports of high seas and terrible rain. Our chief screams from below "All right you bastards, time to see what your made of", I can only smile, look at the fading stars, and wait for the impending storm.

"Contact Battleship, bearing 110, long range" comes the reply. It's about time I think and head down to the sonar to take a listen. 36 hours later, we've been making little headway against this storm. I think it's good to be below the waves and out of that wind, but damn Chief, what should we do? He smiles, takes a long draw of powerhouse coffee and doesn't say a word. I can see where this is going Chief, thanks!. I go to my quarters, "#2 you have the con", I need to think...

I awoke 4 hours later to the sound of electric engines humming, not whining. When I popped out to the control room and looked around "The war" #2 said "is passing us by"...

[Jimbuna]

Message from Bdu:

BE MORE AGGRESSIVE!!

[Brag]

I like your characters--keep writing

[Task Force]

Very good silverleaf. you have done a good job on this.

[nikbear]

It will be interesting to see where these chaps and the story leads:hmm:keep up the good work

[Silverleaf]

I truly appreciate your kind words, thank you. 8)

I started thinking about writing something as just an introduction to my career, but when I installed SH3 Commander and actually had a crew with names and historical data, well that made it interesting.

I just finished Patrol 3, so we'll see what happens...

Cheers,

R.S.

[Silverleaf]

"We've had a couple reports from HQ, it seems we've lost six U-boats in the last two weeks - the reports are on the console when you have the time". Thanks #2.

"We're nearing end of patrol of AN42, so I was thinking we should stick around and see what happens". I checked our coordinates, looked the status report over and glanced at the radio messages, when I had a thought. Do we have any friends in AN34? .. There seems to be quite a bit of traffic reported near that sector, though I'm hoping it's not more fishing trawlers. I asked for radio reports from the last 72 hours, told Chief to have the entire ship inspected and went up top.

It was near 2200 and I thought the boys on watch might like a break. Petre joined me along with Hedge, a watchman whom had sharp eyes - he quickly gained the name Hawk. Stars, first time I've seen them in a few days. Coffee was brought up and as we took turns enjoying a cup, out of the corner of my eye I caught Hawk staring at me, "Something on your mind?"

"Well Sir, I'm curious about something". Petre looked at me and smiled, I gave a quick shake of my head and said "spit it out". "Well...I've heard that amongst Captains, your one of the caring kind - it's just that.. I was wondering why?". Petre ducked down below with a sideways glance at me and I could hear Hawk holding his breathe. "Relax sailor", "Look, I fully believe if I'm going to be your Captain I have to treat you fairly - yeah, I'm in charge here, but I need to be able to count on everyone to pull their own weight and get along" The way I see it is, I can be a bastard telling you to do this, take care of that and if your feeling a little under the weather, well deal with it."

"But having served aboard a ship with a commanding officer's shoe up my ass isn't what I call "doing it right". I'd much prefer to know my crew personally, to genuinely care about your well-being, and when that moment comes when it's us or them" Hawk had lowered the binoculars to stare at me "I'll have no regrets about how I should have done things".

I had turned to port and lit a cig when Hawk said quietly "I'm glad your my C.O. Kap"

...

[Silverleaf]

All hell broke loose in the next two hours. First we successfully tracked a tanker on his way west, right past our position. Silent running, everything's lined up, tripled check the readings, opened one & two and let them fly. I heard the fish leave and above it a sudden whirring intensified. Good old Hendrek takes this moment to announce "Contact, Warship, Moving Fast". The blood drained from my body.

I screamed as I grabbed for the ladder "secure from silent, crash dive, depth under keel, double knuckle to port, red alert, Damage Control, depth charges and hold on!"...the reports started flying.

"Secured from silent" ...splash...
"Crash Diving" ...splash...splash...
"Charges in the water" ...splash...
"Torpedo #1 Hit" ...bam...
"Depth under Keel: 56" ...bang...
Torpedo #2 Hit"...Kaboom...
"Double Knuckle, Aye"... bang, bang, BOOM!
"Damage to torpedo Tube 1 and 2"
"Conning Tower damage"
"She's going down" ...distant bang...

KABLAM!!!!

The last thing I remember was an intense sheet of pain rolling across my face.

[Silverleaf]

Groggily I opened my eyes, or at least started to and almost passed out from the pain. It was dark, and quiet. Too quiet, I panicked, tried to sit up when hands forced me back down. I was laying on a bed, had to be Doc's bunk, but...

"Easy Captain, your going to be ok".. a soft voice whispered in my ear, "your in the hospital at Kiel." Kiel? a thousand thoughts floated through my mind, my crew, my boat. "If you want me to stay here, please answer my questions - what happened, how.."

"All in good time Captain, you need rest, your a lucky man".. a slight pinch and in a few moments I started to sink, ever deeper into the abyss of my soul.

***
.... fuzzy dreams roll through my conscious, sailors screaming around me, loud banging, cracking and water spraying ..."Captain...flooding in torpedo room, damage control...Captain?...we're taking on water...Captain!!"...I see the faces of my crew, of Klaus never seeing his family again, of Bull's sister hearing the news that he and Petre were gone, her falling to the floor, heartbroken and wrought with emotion. But strangely in my last moments I see the face of Hawk, staring at me and silently pointing"...

***

Three months later...

"Well Captain, it looks as if your coming along nicely, you'll be discharged tomorrow. I mumbled a quiet thank you to the doctor, turned and stared out the window. "oh, one more thing, you have a visitor".

As I turned towards the door Chief came charging in, with Petre and Bull in tow. "Captain, it's good to see you sir", Chief grabbed my hand firmly, Petre saluted sharply and Bull tried to squeeze the stuffing out of me, all at once.

"Bull..*gasp*.. Bull"

Petre yelled.."Let him go your hurting...", Bull dropped me and stepped back, "Sorry sir!..". After I caught my breath, the four of us got reacquainted and as I started to ask what was obviously written all over my face, Chief quietly shook his head and looked around. We went outside for fresh air, and near a fountain we found solitude, lit cigs and got comfortable. Chief pulled out an old flask - not his black skinned one - and took a long drag.

"Ok, so is someone going to fill me in..."

[Silverleaf]

"You really don't remember do you?", startled I turned to see my C.O. walking towards our group, I tried to stand but he put us at ease right away. "So, I'm here to get the official story, I've read the crews reports but until I'm satisfied this case is still open, so go ahead Chief, fill him in". "Aye Sir" Chief sat back down, looked at Bull and Petre then focused on me. "First, I need you to tell me everything you do remember, don't leave anything out".

I flashed back through the haze, and started to speak.

"Well, we were after a tanker, I had Petre double check my readings, and once everything was green I fired tubes 1 & 2. About that time I ... started yelling orders ... I heard a whirling sound, thought we had a fish coming back at us and .."

I paused and shook my head, trying to make sense of all the images and sounds rolling through my mind. I looked at Chief bewildered...

"According to the record Captain, you called a string of orders out after we all heard that sound, and just as Hendrek reported a warship closing on our position. A few moments later when I got close to you, your face was covered in blood. At first, I thought you were dead, but your eyes flickered and.."

"That's when I took over, you had called for a deep double knuckle and damage control. When I looked around Chief was beside you, and Doc was trying to stop the blood flow." Petre had leaned forward, a grimace on his face. "We got away, took serious damage to the ship, lost four .. five.. men. Once we were away silently and safely, we headed back here with all the speed we could muster. Doc didn't think you were going to make it, but you were fighting Cap.."

"I don't remember...I ...."

"Easy Captain, Bull..?"

"Sir, I was on my way forward to help Kostos, who was having problems with the hatch leading to the engine room. I glanced up and saw Hawk pointing, then I saw you falling to the ground, and ..." Chief passed his flask to me, I took a deep drag, and choked from the potent liquor.

"Captain..." I looked at Dreden, a man whom I trusted, a man who kept his shoe up my rear end for almost two years, never giving me a break. The look on his face sent shivers down my spine - he's still the most intense man I've ever met. He pulled a file out of his attache and flipped a couple pages...

"I call your attention to the report filed by Seaman Johannes Hedge. During the crash dive to avoid a Destroyer and Depth Charges, he witnessed Lieutenant Ernst Hendrek run from the Sonar room, and hit you on your blind side with a wrench. Furthermore, Seaman Hedge helped to restrain Lieutenant Hendrek during the waning moments after the attack."

"This incident was witnessed by first mate Eric "Bull" Hermann, and during the action, Lieutenant Hendrek was subsequently strapped into a bunk and armed security was placed for his protection. As Lieutenant Petre Eichler secured the boat and crew, and started the trip back to port, there was a secondary rupture in the forward hull."

"Damage Control was able to secure the area, but not without casualties. Seamen Erwin Winterfield, Rolf Lang, Artur Trotha, Gerfried Simon and Lieutenant Ernst Koenig-Hendreck succumbed."

...

[nikbear]

Blimey

[Silverleaf]

I woke from a terrible dream, sweat rolling off me. Light a cig, and wonder for the thousandth time what could have been done differently to prevent such an attack. No information as to what motivated Hendreck has been found. No letters, contacts, or even family members wanting his personal effects. A full investigation is ongoing, or so they tell me.

I pine to get back and visit my ship. I've wanted to see her and the crew so badly these last few months, but I wasn't permitted. I felt like a prisoner most nights at the hospital, and the staff there wouldn't allow anyone to see me unless they were Kriegsmarine. I can deal with the pain, I can deal with the loneliness, but I miss the sea, my ship and my crew.

I was informed that I've an important meeting tomorrow at 0700 hours near the harbor. Try to sleep, but can't. Set out early this morning and feel alive for the first time in months, salt air sinking into my pores, a vibrancy about the streets, the smell of fish, close now. Around the corner she waits, I can hear the sounds of work, cranes, welders, and distant voices.

I stop. Heart pounding, breath shallow. Lean back against the wall, catch my breath and try to calm down. In that alligator part of my brain I shouldn't be afraid, I'm completely safe, and yet I'm overwhelmed. Hands shaking, kneel down, light a smoke and feel sweat rolling down my back. This close and yet...

"Sir?.. is that...ah it is you, glad you made it, we're just around the corner."

[Silverleaf]

My dear friend Petre, hearing his voice calms my jangled nerves and I think of how far we've come...

We grew up in the same neighborhood and both had a fascination for rocketry and the sea. My father worked with Johannes Winkler, a member of the Verein fur Raumschiffahrt - Society for Space Travel (VfR) which included other members with names like Valier, Hohmann, Oberth, Esnault-Pelterie and Rynin. These were the luminaries of early rocketry research in Germany in 1927. In 1931 at the ripe age of 17, Petre and I started helping Winkler with work on his HW-1 (Huckel-Winkler I), which had a central combustion chamber surrounded by three cylindrical tanks, one containing liquid oxygen, the second containing pressurized liquid methane and the third pressurized nitrogen gas. In retrospect, shaped liked a triangular prism, it looked nothing like the V2 would.

On March 14, 1931 Johannes recorded the following:

"By 4:45 pm, everything was ready for me to throw the ignition switch. It was an exalting and blissful moment when the apparatus rose from the launching table and climbed up with a rumbling, metallic hiss. Its motion was very steady. At a certain height, the apparatus turned over further further into the horizontal, then maintained this direction for some time and finally landed at a distance of nearly 200 meters from the launching point".

For Petre and I, it was exhilarating to watch German technology perform what we thought was the first rocket flight in history. Later we learned that Goddard had flown rockets in 1926 with great success.

***

As we were helping clean up the remains of the debris, Petre caught my arm and pointed to the river. There a barge was creeping along carrying an old submarine. Without a glance back we scurried down to the water's edge to see her up close.

"Ahoy, where's she going?" Petre yelled. "Up for repairs lads, she's still got life just needs a little TLC". The old sailor winked at us. I whistled and admired her lines. Painted on the side was U162. When she had drifted out of sight round the bend we headed back to our task, distracted throughout we finished with a bit of yelling from Winkler.

Later that night as we sat on the dock with our feet in the river, Petre looked at me and said "Someday I'll be on one of those boats, under the water slipping silently through the night. Just think of it, noone to tell you where to go, what to do and you can disappear whenever you like". "Aye my friend, would be a great life". I dreamt that night of visiting strange lands and being admired by everyone when we pulled into port.

Little did I know...

[nikbear]

Aha,the back story to how it all started,the building of the characters and they're personality's,very cleverI'm liking this,keep up the good work

[Silverleaf]

Thanks Nik, your positive comments are really keeping my mind working. 8)

Its funny I've never really written stories before, always thought it would be fun but something always stopped me. This is a refreshing way to relax and SH3 appears to be a nice outlet.

A few of the characters are defining themselves, a feeling that is quite alien to me because I'm not working at it, just letting it go. I suppose it's akin to an out-of-body experience - I'm typing and the words are just rolling out, though I'm not sure where its leading at this point.

Hopefully it'll be worth the trip.