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Juan watched as the second shell struck the bow of the subed all the way through to the torpedo room because the entire front of the submarine blew apart in a spectacular blast

The remainder of the sub settled in the water until its tail fins tilted up skyward, then plunged beneath the surface like a diving whale

The op center was quiet for athe Oregon But when nothing happened, everyone breathed a sigh of relief

“Sorry about the first shell ,” Murph said to the roo system”

“Yeah, you stink at this,” Eric teased “It took you thole shots to sink an enemy sub”

“If you keep shooting that badly,” Max said, “we just ive you a Christmas bonus this year”

Juan didn’t want to dampen the mood He kneas only a temporary victory

“Hali, did you intercept any signals co from the sub?”

Hali shook his head “No, but that doesn’tThey could have sent out an encrypted radio e”

“Then I don’t think we can celebrate just yet,” Juan said in a somber tone “It’s very possible Tate nos exactly where we are”

64

The Portland’s helicopter circled the Deepwater twice, but Ballard, as sitting next to the pilot, couldn’t see anyone at all

“Theyinside,” she said to Tate over the radio

“I wish I could be there with you,” he said