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By: Bull Gator
Chapter 2 in a series about a unique Royal Ranger Outpost.
In our last episode the Royal Rangers in a small south Florida town received the most unusual gift that an outpost could receive.. an underwater laboratory. They labored and prayed and finally refurbished it and are now ready to "get that puppy wet!"
Finally the UWL was floating again. It rocked ever so gently as the Stallion with it's horseshoe shaped aft section backed itself into position. Jim gave the command to flood the compartments. As the vessel appeared to get lower into the water the UWL appeared to get higher. When the proper depth was reached the entire aft structure was almost awash, it was that low. Finally the locking devices were engaged and the UWL quickly stabilized. The order was given and air was pumped into the compartments to displace the sea-water. Slowly the the Stallion rose back up to the proper level. This accomplished Jim gave another signal and the twin air horns on the Stallion broke the quiet of the harbor. The rangers gather dockside cheered. Departure was set for the following morning at 0600 hours.
The racks on deck were filled with air tanks in preparation for the upcoming dive. Jim estimated ETA to be only five hours after they had cleared the breakwater. A news team for the local TV station would accompany the Stallion to the anchorage. As much as they wanted to keep the lid on the upcoming operation, word had leaked out and the whole harbor was lined with well wishers as well as a small fleet of pleasure craft filled with family members and friends. Commander Bob and the boys had been interviewed by the local newspaper and their picture beside the ULW was front page news today; launch day.
"Cast off forward...cast off aft!" Jim looked at the pilot and gave the command, "left full rudder ahead one third". Black smoke belched from the stack of the Stallion as she inched away from the dock. The crowd on the dock cheered and the horns from the pleasure boats all sounded as the UWL and the Stallion began their journey. As the bow of the Stallion swung into the main channel the accompanying vessels had been instructed to hold back until the larger vessel had straightened out and settled into the outgoing tide current. When this was accomplished twill blasts from the Stallion's horns gave the ok signal. The smaller vessels all jockeyed for position close to the larger vessel. They were instructed to remain at least 50 yards away, due to the backwash from the much larger and heavier vessel. As the rangers all in full dress uniform linked the deck, the local high school band b;blared out the "Stars and Stripes". A US Coast Guard cutter led the way, it was a grand parade of almost every vessel in the little harbor town. When they reached the breakwater, only those vessels over 20 feet in length were permitted to continue and those only until the five mile marker. Thirty minutes from the dock the Stallion passed the breakwater buoy. Helicopters and small planes flew low overhead. The local news copter carried the image on the morning news. The main picture was a giant Royal Ranger emblem moving due east away from the coast.
Jim and Bob were both on the bridge, Jim was at the controls while Bob was out on the fly-bridge with a pair of high-powered binoculars scanning the horizon. They had been underway now for over two hours and things couldn't have been going better...or could they? "I don't know where it came from" said Bob. "Miami weather said clear sky and calm seas for the next three days." "Me either" replied Jim. "But, there it is on the radar." Jim was referring to a line of thunderstorms that were unseen just over the horizon, and from Jim's calculations, they would be right in the middle of them in another hour. "Better let the guys know so they can get everything battened down...and said Jim, I'll see if I can plot a course around it." "Right" said Bob. "There's only one problem though" he added. Bob turned around with a questioning look on this face. "It's going to add about four hours to our ETA" "I'll let the guys know and get them started" said Bob. Jim nodded as he turned to the first mate, "see if you can raise NWS Miami and see how severe this is going to be." "Aye aye" came the reply as the sailor went to do as instructed.
All the rangers were sitting around talking and double checking their equipment. They had all changed out of their uniforms and were all wearing their new ranger wetsuit donated by the local dive shop. Bob walked up and all heads turned in his direction, including the TV camera. Everything was being documented. "Hey Commander Bob" they all chimed. Spirits were high and everyone was in a good mood. "Hi guys" said Bob "How's it going so far?" he said pointing to the UWL at the aft of the vessel. "Not a peep" kidded Eddie, one of the Sea Rangers from an uptown outpost. Everyone laughed. "Good, good" said Bob smiling. "Actually we've got a bit of a problem, and I need your help." He led them over to the port side of the ship and pointed forward to the horizon. "There's a line of severe thunderstorms coming our way. Jim's not sure how severe they really are yet, he's still trying to contact the National Weather Service in Miami. He said he might have to plot a course around them. The only problem there is that it's going to add about four hours to our travel time. We're not sure what we're going to do yet but just in case we need to secure everything and prepare for the worst. So I need you guys to tie down all the tanks and other equipment. Those auxiliary lines to the UWL need to be secured so they don't lash around and come loose." He gave a few more specific instructions and then went back to the bridge.
"What's the deal Jim?" he asked. "Well" answered Jim. "We're not going around it, it's over a hundred miles in width, but the good news is that it's only about half that in depth." "Can we weather the storm?" asked Bob. "That's the other good news" answered Jim, NWS said that the swells were running 8-12 feet, we're rated at 16-20 feet, but" he held up a finger, "that's without a load." Bob walked back out to the fly-bridge and checked on the activity going on aft, and then back at the UWL securely fastened in the deck cradle. He then bowed his head and offered a prayer to the Lord. "Lord, you've opened every door for this project and answered every need we've encountered. I can't accept that you will allow satan to stop us or to attempt to stop us." At that moment, he his answer. "Thank you God, your wisdom and grace are not withstanding. Amen!"
Bob entered the bridge and simply said three words. "All Ahead Full" Jim had learned a long time ago not to question an answer to prayer. "All ahead full aye sir!" he responded. The Stallion's bow bit into the rising swell and the vessel surged forward directly into the center of the line of thunderstorms. "Attention all hands!" said Jim over the intercom. "We are about to encounter some heavy seas and we might be in for a rough ride. If all things are secured the I would ask that everyone go below and batten down the outer hatches. That is all!"
No sooner had he replaced the microphone when the first sheet of rain hit the vessel. Coming straight at them was the first line of waves. The high bow cut cleanly through them and was barely felt in the bowels of the vessel. Jim checked his instruments, "that one was 9 feet." "You can tell how big the waves are?" asked Bob. "Yep, all this instruments aren't just to look good you know!" answered Jim. "We need to know everything about the weather, water and other things that could affect a salvage operation." The next wave crashed into the bow, spray flew high into the air. Bob looked at Jim and raised his eyebrows. "11" said Jim. But there's something unusual" said Jim. "What's up?" asked Bob. "The water temperature is dropping and the air temperature is rising. The wind is shifting across the bow." "What does that mean?" asked Bob. "I'm not sure" said Jim, "but it can't be good!" Jim went over to the radar scope at the summons from the first mate. As he stood there he shook his head "I don't believe it!" he said,. "What" asked Bob. "Look at this, there's a giant waterspout off the starboard and it's drawing the weather into it. It's almost like it's making a hole for us to go through.!" Jim turned around at the sound of the rushing wind from the open fly-bridge door. Bob was standing there with his arms raised, rain streaming down his face which, was turned upward. He was praising God for the miracle that was at that time taking place. The next three waves were 9 then 6 and finally 4 feet high. "It's like Moses parting the Red Sea." he said out loud. Jim thrust the throttles ahead flank and the Stallion true to her name leap forward with a vigor new purpose. Foe over an hour the waterspout was visible on their starboard side. It was like it was staying with them. Finally Jim announced that the storm was breaking and the seas ahead were calm. The waterspout started slipping past the ship. Just as the bow entered the calm seas the waterspout simply dilapidated on itself.
Several of the rangers came up to the bridge. "So where's the bad weather?" one of them asked. Both Bob and Jim smiled and made a motion with their thumbs. The rangers turned around and looked behind the vessel. Less than a mile behind them the waves rose and fell and the rain was coming down in torrents, almost a solid wall of water. Yet as they turned back around the sky ahead was a brilliant blue and the sea was flat calm. "ETA one hour guys, let's get ready." The boys left on the run. It was almost time.
Don't miss Chapter 3 in this great adventure.
See ya next time!