Code 13 Read Online Free PDF Page A

refilling wineglasses.
    Caroline stood up, stunned, uncertain of what to think. Was this Paul Kriete’s unspoken motive for inviting her tonight? Because he was going to announce he was leaving his warship? He was as full of surprises as he was astonishingly handsome.
    The indomitable captain spoke again. “The USS Cape St. George was named for the Battle of Cape St. George in the Pacific in 1943, which was the last engagement of surface ships in the Solomon Islands campaign. Under the command of the great Admiral Arleigh Burke, the American victory proved decisive, sinking three Japanese ships, marking the end of the Tokyo Express, ending Japanese resistance in the Solomon Islands.
    â€œWhen you sail to the west, gentlemen, remember the battle for which this great ship was named. Be brave, decisive, and victorious. And do so under the banner of your new CO, Commander Turner, and your new XO, Lieutenant Commander Carber, for whom I propose these toasts.”
    â€œHear, hear!”
    â€œHear, hear!”
    Caroline smiled, nodded at Turner and Carber, raised her glass, then sipped her pinot noir.
    Her eyes caught Paul’s. Again.
    Their little game of mutual catch-a-glance was driving her batty. The furtive looks between them were brief and hopefully unnoticeable to everyone except each other. But what the glances lacked in time, they made up in power.
    â€œThese two men are good men. I have supreme confidence that under their leadership, the Cape St. George will sail to even greater heights than ever before.” He looked at Commander Turner and smiled, then continued.
    â€œNow, we’ve spoken of this ship’s great history, of the battle for which it was named, of the great victory achieved by the U.S. Navy over Japan in that battle. Therefore, I find it ironic that your first stop, forty-five days from now, will be in Japan, at U.S. Fleet Activities in Sasebo.
    â€œWhen you arrive in Sasebo, I’ll be waiting for you there. But not to reassume command of the ship. I’ve been called to other things. Instead, I’ll be on hand, along with Admiral Clarke, for the formal change-of-command ceremony, promoting Commander Turner from interim commanding officer to permanent commanding officer. It will be a glorious day.” He surveyed the room with a smile. “Any questions?”
    Hands rose. Kriete nodded. “Lieutenant Mitchell.”
    â€œSir, if it’s okay to ask, how recently did you learn of the news?”
    â€œOf course it’s okay to ask, Harold. As a matter of fact, I caught wind of this as a possibility a couple of days ago, and just learned that the orders had been finalized this morning at 0800 hours local time. Commander Turner got let in on the secret so he could take a couple of hours to think about the notion of commanding a warship. Now, poor Lieutenant Commander Carber over here”—he nodded at the new XO—“I’m afraid he found out about his new job at the same time all of you found out.” Kriete looked at Carber and grinned devilishly, as if he’d played a sneaky trick on his best childhood friend. “Surprise, surprise, XO!”
    That brought a round of laughter.
    â€œOther questions.”
    More hands rose. Kriete pointed at an officer sitting across from Caroline.
    â€œLieutenant Rouse.”
    â€œSir, are you at liberty to say where they’re sending you?”
    â€œYes, I am at liberty. Before assuming command of the Cape St. George , I completed a dual master’s at the Naval War College in counterintelligence and counterterrorism, specializing in domestic littoral regions. And that relates to my next assignment.
    â€œAs you know, because of the curvature of the earth, the United States is always under threat from maritime terrorism. Our radar doesn’t go beyond seven miles, and it’s a big ocean out there. An enemy vessel with a hydrogen bomb on board could slip over the horizon undetected