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“Then let’s wait—”

Tate sla it will take for Juan to make repairs or if he’s called someone to come help him We have to find him now”

Ballard shook her head at the map The intricate web of channels, fjords, and coves provided too on to hide

“But the Abtao is gone Even with the Wuzong coe is cut by a third We can retreat and try this again another time”

Tate rounded on her, enraged “Are you insane or just stupid? We hit the Oregon three separate times with torpedoes and missiles And we have a Chinese diesel-electric sub on our side We’ll never get another chance like this You haven’t shown a lack of nerve before Don’t start now”

Ballard looked around the op center to see Farouk and Li giving her elances, then she turned back to Tate and glared at hirow a pair

Finally, Ballard put up her hands in surrender

“Fine What’s your plan?”

“Good Nice to see you’re back on the team” Tate calh we’re looking at a maze of channels in here, as far as I can see there are only tays out One here in the north, the other here in the south We’ll direct the Wuzong to enter from the north, we’ll come in from the south If we conduct our searches on or the Deepwater eventually When either is found, it’s game over”

Ballard nodded Tate could tell she liked his plan

“We either sink the Oregon and then find the Deepwater at our leisure and dispose of the witnesses,” she said, “or we take the Deepwater crew captive, like we originally wanted to, and force the Oregon to come to their rescue”

“Right And with the Oregon daht If Juan wants to battle toe to toe, we’ll be able to outlast him In fact, I’d welcome—”

Farouk interrupted him

“Co another call from Juan Cabrillo”

Tate s to surrender”