Final Option (Oregon Files 14)

“Effective rate,” Farouk said. “It only holds a thousand rounds at a time. But it can fire them all within a few milliseconds using electronic primer caps.”

“I wouldn’t want to go up against her.”

“Many ships have tried, even naval destroyers. It didn’t end well for them.”

“How do you know all this?”

Farouk turned back to his control panel. “That is something the commander has not cleared me to share. But I thought you would want to know what we’re up against.”

“That still doesn’t explain why we’re out here.”

“Don’t raise your head. Do you understand?”

“Okay.”

“Using only your eyes, look at the bird circling high above us. Do you see it?”

Li’s eyes tilted up. “I see it. So what?”

“That’s not a bird. It’s a drone sent up by the Oregon. It’s communicating with a sub closing in on that yacht. I can’t listen in on the signal because it’s encrypted, but I can tell where the transmission controlling it is coming from.”

Farouk nodded at the screen in front of him, and Li leaned over. The screen showed a white dot nearing the Dragão.

“Let me guess,” Li said. “That sub came from the Oregon.”

“You catch on quickly,” Farouk said, impressed. “The Oregon has a central space called the moon pool big enough to hold several submersibles. Huge doors in her keel open to launch them unseen.”

“So the sub is our target?”

“Exactly.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s part of a mission that we are going to interfere with. The sonic disruptor will introduce a challenge they’re not counting on.”

“I’ve never seen it in operation,” Li said.

“You won’t see the effects on the sub’s crew. You won’t even see the equipment.” The sonic disruptor was mounted on an underwater drone connected to Farouk’s control system by a hair-thin fiber wire. Ironically, the drone was based on the same technology as the design sold to Ricardo Ferreira.

“Then what will I see?”

“The results.”

“Who’s on the sub?”

“It’s who is on the yacht that I think you’d be more interested in.” Farouk activated the controls for the sonic disruptor. The target was locked in.

Li threw up his hands in frustration. “You’re infuriating. Who is it?”

“Our common nemesis. The man responsible for you losing your company and me being exiled from Egypt. The same man who is the reason why you and I were recruited by the commander into the Imito organization. Juan Cabrillo.” Farouk grinned wickedly. “We’re about to make sure that he has a very bad day.”

7

Juan was disgusted at the pride Ferreira took in his technology. The Brazilian gently patted the Slipstream drone as if it were a beloved dog instead of a device that would benefit the most vicious drug cartels on earth.

“The entire skin is composed of carbon fiber,” Ferreira said, “with microchannels built in to deflect sonar waves and reduce its sound signature when cruising through the water. The battery can power it for up to twenty-four hours after it’s cut loose from the ship or sub that’s carrying it.”

“And if the batteries are drained?” Juan asked, putting on the guise of a wary buyer. “We could lose hundreds of millions if this thing sinks to the bottom of the ocean.”