//------------------------------// // Hard to starboard // Story: Shipwrecked // by Thunder_Chaser_ //------------------------------// "Lovely day to be at sea" Colby Stone said with a sigh, gazing upon the blue sea ahead of him from the port side bridge look out of the USS Sampson He walked back inside the bridge after admiring the deep blue for a while, he was greeted by several men and women "Officer on deck!!" The man at the helm ordered, all of the sailors stood to attention, this was one of his favourite part about being an officer. "At ease" he said, the sailors returned to their work, he walked over to the radio that sent messages between decks and picked it up, "what's the weather looking like CIC?" He asked into the small radio "Clear skies until 1800 bridge, then we're do for a shit load of rain and thunder" the unseen voice replied "Thanks dez, I'll pass the news onto the captain" he replied hanging the radio back onto its hook, "where's the captain, helmsman?" "In his quarters sir..." The man at the helm replied He turned and walked out of the bridge, he walked down from the bridge lookout station on the port side and climbed down the steep steps. For being in the pacific, it was unusually cold. He quickly unlatched the heavy steel door In front of him and walked in, he was embraced in the warmth the inside of the warship offered. He walked down the narrow corridor, and took a left turn, he followed this corridor until he came to the officers quarters, he came to a door which had a name branded in gold to the front of it. "Captains quarters" Out of respect Colby knocked on the door he heard rustling from within and was soon greeted by the captain, he was in a set of navy blue fatigues, much like the ones Colby was wearing. "Sorry to wake you up like that captain, a storms coming in at 1800 hours... Also... It's your shift on bridge sir..." Colby asked, the captain was feared and honoured by Every man on board, Like most sailors, Colby saw him as a father figure, but he had known the full wrath of the captain during an incident with a keg of beer. "Thank you lieutenant, you may attend to whatever duties your needed for..." The man said, he was nearly 10 years older then Colby. Colby acknowledged saluted the captain and went to his quarters... Colby had many other jobs aboard the ship, he was commanding officer in CIC, but tonight was one of the rare nights Stone had off, he came into his officers quarters, he had the large room to himself, large for a navy room, about maybe 2 meters by 3 and a half, he really didn't want to actually go and measure, he had a large tv like most officers, and had bookshelves and awards decorate the walls, most were photocopies , the rest he had at his home. He feared if the ship sank he'd lose them all... He chuckled to himself as he came to his computer , he checked his watch 1630 hours "Well looks like I've got an hour and 30 minutes to piss around before I should return to the bridge for the storm..." He spent the rest of his time in his quarters, playing on his computer, watching the television... And most importantly sleeping... He was awoken by a large thunderclap sounding off near the ship, Stone had a duffle bag with his uniforms and such in it, he had unpacked and repack this bag many times, he was getting off of the Sampson in a month, he couldn't wait to see his girlfriend or family... Another thunderclap awoke him from his trance, for some reason he had the notion to bring his pistol to the bridge with him, He strapped the Military Issued holster around his waist and thigh, It might save his life one day as his DI always told him... as he unrolled his fatigue sleeves and put on a rain slicker he ran up to the bridge. The ship rocked violently in the waves, tossing back and forth, rolling from side to side, Colby stumbled as he got up onto the bridge "Captain, were running right into the storm??? Should we not anchor?? or change course???" The helmsman asked, the sea ahead of him looking frightening "We stay the course until I say so sailor!!" He barked back "Sir that's not a very wise decision" Colby shouted to him, stabilizing himself as the bow sliced into another wave. "Who gives the orders around here officer!!!!" He barked back "With all due respect sir, your putting a lot on the line, your crew your ship and your life... we should try and avoid the storm.." Colby pleaded hoping he could preside the captain "Stone, I was a marine until they had me retire to the navy, marine corps motto is do or die... death doesn't threaten me..." the captain said back ignoring all the pleas from his crew "I see captain, I'm just worried for the crew..." Colby apologized half heartedly The captain ignored this, and it seemed that his promise held out... But not for long 1927 hours "Brace Brace Brace!!!!" An officer shouted over the intercom, the ship plunged through the wave, and nosed out through the other end. "Hows avoiding the storm sounding now captain..." Colby asked in a smart ass tone "Just a little turbulence..." He said, but he knew Colby was right "sadly we can't drop anchor nor turn around, if we drop anchor we'll be engulfed by a wave and we ain't in shallow enough water to start off with, if we turn around the ship we'll be rolled over by a wave...We must maintain course through the storm!!" Colby knew this couldn't end well... The ship rode to the top of another wave, when they came to the other side a large whirlpool stood in their path "Shit..." Colby said, the ship began to nose down to the abyss, "Commander SOS has been sent out, abandon ship has been ordered as well..." The Spotter stated "I-I know... I heard over the intercom..." Colby replied "We need to get off this ship NOW!!!" The captain barked to the crew... As the ship finally met the whirlpool Her bow was over the edge before the ship fully went down, the crew around him got up and jumped from the ship, the captain and every one did... Except Colby... He stood motionless, the bridge was empty, he knew it would be futile to jump... He'd be sucked in, as would every other soul... Unless... Colby came to the helm and turned the ship to hard to starboard and let the whirlpool engulf the ship, this plugged up the whirlpool, and stopped it... Colby and any other poor soul on board were gone, gone beneath the waves... The crew choose the wrong place to jump, even with lifeboats they weren't much a match for the waves, many drowned in the water, a few were still onboard, many were in lifeboats the kind not meant for this kind of battering... No distress signal was sent... For the next week the uss Sampsons fate would be unknown to the world... Only 2 life boats made it through the storm... Only 79 hands would live to tell the tale... -------------------- Colby Lay face down in the sand, the tide licked at the heels of his shined black boots,he duffle bag washed up beside him, he was awoken by an explosion, he got to his knees and spun around, wreckage filled the water, as the last for the ammo storage sounded off in a large explosion, the flag that stood proudly on the bow was the last thing to dip into the water, Colby watched horrified at the sight of all the destruction, he hung his head, and for the first time... In a long time the sailor cried... ------------------ 'One last gulp of air... Then I've got to open that door...' Another breath was drawn, one that could be final... The sailor opened the large steel door underneath the crushing pressure if the sea, swimming out to the last of the bow... The American flag waved under the water, swimming down risking more, it was cut off, swimming to the surface , lungs about to explode the vision of the sailor blurred... Then darkness... But the heat of the sun told the sailor something... "You are alive... You are not alone..."