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    Mack didn't like hearing that. He didn't like entertaining the notion that Cheyenne would suffer sufficient damage to require a floating drydock for repairs. But this was war, he knew, and with the Chinese navy focused on hunting Cheyenne, he just might be all too glad of Arco's presence.

    He was still thinking about that when the executive officer slipped the captain a note with the letters ASDS on it.

    Mack nodded, liking the news of Arco even less. He looked over at the briefing officer and asked, "Are there any intentions for Arco to bring the advanced SEAL delivery system, ASDS, out here?"

    The CTF 74 admiral answered the question before the briefing officer could speak: "That option has been discussed, Captain. The concern is that although Cheyenne completed the ship alterations for the ASDS and the interface pylon lit checks in San Diego prior to your deployment, the vehicle and your ship have not seen each other." Mack nodded. "So the chances are slim for Cheyenne to demonstrate this newest war-fighting capability?" he asked.

    "I would say yes," the admiral replied. "For the time being."

    "That's a relief. Admiral," Mack said. "As you know, operations with that vehicle seem to be extremely intricate-especially the landing on my back. We would need some serious training before any prudent submariner would take that on for the first time in the uncontrolled nature of war."

    "I agree, Captain," the admiral said. "And that concern is precisely what I passed to COMSUBPAC." He paused briefly before adding, "If the SEALs get involved in this war, and their movements are very tightly secreted by SOCOM (Special Operations Command), we'll probably find out about it after it has happened-unless the intention is to use Cheyenne."

    Mack was relieved to hear that. Partially, anyway. Losing control of Cheyenne was not part of his destiny- not if he had anything to say about it.

    The briefing ended soon after, and when they were back on Cheyenne Mack expressed his concern about the floating drydock to the executive officer. The executive officer agreed. He pointed out that it was the only way for Cheyenne to get dry for removal of fixed ballast-which would be necessary if the heavy ASDS vehicle were to be installed in its planned location. Installing it over the aft escape trunk, which led to the engine room, would put more weight aft than the variable ballast tanks could compensate for.

    "Attention on deck and on McKee" the OOD announced over the bullhorn from the bridge. "Single all lines." This order was repeated by the bridge phone talker over the sound-powered phones to the phone talkers on deck, one forward and one aft of the sail.

    Within minutes, the bow, stem, and spring lines were singled. When the ordered actions had been completed and the reports had been relayed to the OOD by his phone talker, he ordered, "Cast off the spring lines, lines three and four."

    In peacetime, and under other circumstances, Cheyenne would use her own lines. But this was war. During their very first reload alongside McKee, Mack had ordered that Cheyenne's line lockers be welded shut. This would prevent any possible noise sources from captive bolts loosening, especially since the chances of encountering torpedo and even depth charge explosions were increasing.

    As with the last two war patrols, all lines would be left with McKee, where they would be dried and stored with care until Cheyenne once again returned from her patrol.

    "Check the stern line. Keep the slack out of the bow line," ordered the OOD. He was concerned about maintaining positive control of Cheyenne's position until the stern was safely clear of the after anchor lines, especially those on McKee's starboard side. He would not back the main engines until she was clear.

    In preparation for this next evolution, the OOD had already extended the secondary propulsion motor (SPM), tested it locally in the engineering spaces and from the ship-control console, and trained it to 090 degrees (relative).

    "Helm, conn, start the SPM." That order came from conn on the sound-powered phones.

    When the SPM started, Cheyenne's stern swung slowly to starboard. Pivoting around the camel between the two ships, the bow moved slowly toward McKee. With the momentum of the 6,900-ton submarine now swinging the stern nicely, the OOD ordered the SPM stopped, trained to 000 degrees, and housed. As the ship continued to swing slowly, the OOD backed the main engines at one-third speed long enough to gain sternway, and just enough to keep the sonar dome from coming too close to McKee's hull.

    At his command, the two remaining lines were cast off, snaking through the water as the McKee line handlers pulled them on board. With the stern line clear of the stern planes, Cheyenne backed safely away from the submarine tender and her after anchors.

    Patrol 3 had commenced.