Termination Read online

  Termination

  A Rossler Foundation Mystery

  Book 8

  A Mystery Suspense Thriller

  By JC Ryan

  with Kadin Rixx

  YOUR FREE GIFT

  As a way of saying thanks for your purchase, I’m offering you a free eBook if you join my newsletter here: JC Ryan Books

  MYSTERIES FROM THE ANCIENTS

  THOUGHT PROVOKING UNSOLVED ARCHAEOLOGICAL MYSTERIES

  This book is exclusive to my readers. You will not find this book anywhere else.

  We spend a lot of time researching and documenting our past, yet there are still many questions left unanswered. Our ancestors left a lot of traces for us, and it seems that not all of them were ever meant to be understood. Despite our best efforts, they remain mysteries to this day.

  Inside you will find some of the most fascinating and thought-provoking facts about archaeological discoveries which still have no clear explanation.

  Read all about The Great Pyramid at Giza, The Piri Reis Map, Doomsday, Giant Geoglyphs, The Great Flood, Ancient Science and Mathematics, Human Flight, Pyramids, Fertility Stones, the Tower of Babel, Mysterious Tunnels, The Mystery of The Anasazi and much more.

  Don’t miss this opportunity to get this free eBook.

  Click Here to join the mailing list and get it now.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1 - Can she make it to Bangor?

  Onboard the Itinerant en route to the Chukchi Sea

  Onboard the USS Trepang in the Chukchi Sea

  Chapter 2 - You got it Capt’n

  The Admiralty Building, Saint Petersburg, Russia

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Chapter 3 - His biggest concern

  Washington DC

  Chapter 4 - Steady as she goes

  Onboard the Trepang

  Onboard the Russian submarine Knyaz Pozharskiy

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Chapter 5 - Be ready if they twitch wrong

  Onboard the Knyaz Pozharskiy

  Washington DC

  Chapter 6 - A special mission for you

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Onboard the Trepang

  Onboard the Knyaz Pozharskiy

  Onboard the Trepang

  Chapter 7 - After all this world has been through

  Onboard the Knyaz Pozharskiy

  Washington DC

  Chapter 8 - Aleutian Showdown

  Onboard the Trepang

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Onboard the Knyaz Pozharskiy and Knyaz Vladimir

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Onboard the Knyaz Vladimir

  Chapter 9 - Drive the Russians away

  Washington DC

  Onboard the Trepang

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Chapter 10 - Let me get right to the point

  Washington DC

  Chapter 11 - First Rescue

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Onboard the Trepang

  Washington DC

  Chapter 12 – Communication problem solved

  Re’an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 13 - Second Rescue

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Chapter 14 - A way for us to escape

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 15 - Third Rescue

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Washington DC

  Chapter 16 - Return of the Itinerant

  Washington DC

  Onboard the Itinerant

  Washington DC

  Heading for Bangor

  Chapter 17 – Safe journey Deszik

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 18 – The First Lady had arrived

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 19 - About the prisoners

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 20 - Mountains that exploded

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 21 - We need your help

  Private airstrip Washington, DC

  Raven Rock meeting room

  Raven Rock meeting room

  Chapter 22 - Six thousand miles away

  Yemelyanovo airport near Krasnoyarsk, Russia

  Chapter 23 - Ready in twenty-four hours

  Raven Rock

  Bremerton, Washington State

  Chapter 24 - The arrivals

  Various airports in the USA

  Chapter 25 - Return to the Canyon

  En route to the Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 26 – School in the days of the Eighth Cycle

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 28 – Setting it all up

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 29 - They’re already in the States

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  On the surface outside the Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 30 – Vulnerable to high-pitched sound waves

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 31 – Mobilizing Tectus

  The Rabbit Hole

  Chapter 32 – Be careful Deszik

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 33 - Ultra-high frequency sound

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 34 – Petya has been eliminated

  Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

  Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 35 –They’re here

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 36 - His diligence payed off

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 37 – Sister of my mother

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 38 – Siasha is alive!

  Re'an headquarters, Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 39 – He is my sister’s son

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 40 – In the pod room

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 41 – The Chasm of Marwolaeth

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 42 – Volcano watch

  Alaska Volcano Observatory, Anchorage, Alaska

  Chapter 43 - I have to wonder

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 44 - May God have mercy on your souls

  Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington State

  Chapter 45 – Raj and I will find it!

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 46 - They will be at these coordinates

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 47 – All hands went up

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Video conference

  Chapter 48 - Roy’s on to something

  Video conference

  Chapter 49 – Robert at the Oasis

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 50 - Dekka, it’s begun!

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 51 – Training in Phoenix

  Phoenix, Arizona, USA

  Chapter 52 - Be safe, all my hopes

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 53 - I’ll check it myself

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Chapter 54 - I have to warn Daniel!

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 55 - I’d rather be safe than sorry

  Washington, D
C

  Chapter 56 - Then we begin a new life

  Re'an headquarters Tunguska, Russia

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 57 – The curse of the Eighth Cycle

  Washington DC

  Chapter 58 – Robert can’t sleep

  Chapter 59 – The airlift

  Washington, DC

  Bremerton, Washington State to Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 60 – The first wave of attacks

  Phoenix, Arizona, USA

  Chapter 61 – These are terrorist attacks

  Washington, DC

  Chapter 62 – Keep at it

  Video conference

  Chapter 63 – That easy

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 64 – These numbnuts are going down

  Washington, DC

  Video conference

  Chapter 65 – There’s not going to be much action

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Eighth Cycle Site, Grand Canyon, USA

  Chapter 66 – The take down

  San Francisco, California 10:00 pm PST

  Chicago, Illinois midnight CST

  Phoenix, Arizona 11:00 pm MST Team Two

  Phoenix, Arizona 11:05 pm MST Team One

  Epilog

  CHAPTER 1

  Onboard the Itinerant en route to the Chukchi Sea

  CAPTAIN TIMOTHY MARCUS was in his cabin aboard the Itinerant—a small, one of a kind, but extremely efficient, rescue submarine, discussing possible scenarios with the Rescue Team Leader Karl Dunlap and his Second-In-Command, Michael Sommers.

  Karl, a former Navy Seal, stood just over six feet tall, had dark hair he kept cut to military standards, hazel eyes, a trim, fit body, and a firm-set jaw. He was a straight shooting, no nonsense type guy that could be counted on to get the job done, irrespective of how challenging the circumstances.

  Former Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Michael Sommers was the opposite of Karl in nearly every way. Standing five-eight, his well-muscled body moved with the grace of a dancer, his round, boyish face and twinkling blue eyes made his unruly blond curls an endearment rather than an eyesore, and his outgoing personality meant he knew no strangers and had few enemies.

  Though very different, Marcus knew that both men were dedicated professionals who would give everything they had, and then some, to save lives and complete a mission successfully. That was why he included them on this mission, the Itinerant’s first.

  She was a brand-new, uniquely designed and built research and rescue submarine, developed privately in combination with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Ben Johnson, a Navy Admiral working on this project in his own time.

  For this mission, due to the urgency, the Itinerant was not yet fully set up with all the research equipment she would eventually carry. She had, however passed her sea trials and was capable of a rescue mission. What remained to be seen was if she was suitable for this mission. However, it was a risk they had to take; there was no other marine rescue vehicle that could even attempt to undertake this mission.

  Admiral Johnson met with Marcus the day before, advising that the navy had a sub in trouble and requested help. His thoughts returned to the conversation.

  “I’m more than a little surprised you’re bringing this to me, Ben. Why isn’t the Navy responding to aid one of their own?”

  Johnson sighed. “What I’m about to tell you is beyond top-secret. Aside from our late President Campbell, our current President Daniel Rossler, Secretary of Defense Willis, and myself, no one knows about her mission. So, before I go any further, I need your word that this information won’t leave this office – need-to-know and face-to-face only.”

  Marcus whistled quietly and leaned back in his chair. “It must be some mission.”

  “It is. The lives of everyone on the sub, and anyone who goes after her, are at risk if word of the mission gets out. Are you with me?”

  Marcus nodded slowly. “I understand. You have my word that I’ll keep it secret, and you’ve got your rescue sub.”

  “All right let me bring you up to speed. As you know, Brideaux and his council members disappeared before they could be transferred to the Navy’s Joint Regional Correctional Facility in Chesapeake, Virginia where they were to be held pending trial.”

  “Bloody brilliant!” Marcus interrupted; his British accent thick in his excitement. “They’re on that sub!”

  Johnson smiled and nodded. There was a reason the man had risen through the ranks of the Royal Navy so quickly. “That’s correct. Several hours before the planned move, President Campbell ordered the prisoners secretly transferred to the USS Trepang.”

  Marcus frowned. “Wait, you don’t have a sub designated ‘Trepang’ anymore. There have only been two – a Balao Class during World War Two, and a Sturgeon Class that was decommissioned in 2000.”

  This guy is sharp. I like it. “Right again. The name is part of the security measures—a decoy. She’s actually one of our Virginia class subs under the command of Captain Reese Locklin.

  “Captain Locklin’s orders were to proceed under the polar ice cap to Bangor Naval Base in Washington State, where the prisoners were to be secretly transferred to the Northwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility near Fort Lewis.

  “While she was under the ice cap, we lost contact with her. Earlier today, she made contact, advising there was an incident, and they have sustained some damage.”

  “Not good,” Marcus said with a frown of concern.

  “No, it isn’t,” Johnson replied, placing a map on the desk. “She’s here, making repairs,” he said, placing his index finger on the coordinates on the map.

  “The Chukchi Sea over the continental shelf – any sign of the Russians?” Marcus asked.

  “Nothing definite, only a couple of intermittent blips on a damaged sonar is all they’ve reported so far.”

  “But you can bet they’re out there.”

  “Definitely.”

  “Yeah, they’re lurking out there somewhere.”

  Marcus was brought out of his reverie when he realized Michael was waving a hand before his face.

  “Knock, knock. Anybody home? Marcus, buddy, you there?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. Sorry, got sidetracked.”

  “Sonya just reported a contact on the sonar—could be our sub.”

  “Great! Let’s go see!”

  * * *

  Onboard the USS Trepang in the Chukchi Sea

  “BUT CAPTAIN, YOU really should be in bed resting! Your knee is in no shape for you to be moving about.”

  “Corpsman Gibbs, I am still Captain of this boat, and it is my knee, therefore I will move about my boat with my knee as I see fit—with or without your assistance. Is that clear?”

  Captain Reese Locklin was not a man to second guess. He was an outstanding leader, a tough but fair man, respected by his subordinates and superiors alike – and he ran a tight ship. His reputation as the best captain in the fleet was well earned.

  “Yes, sir,” Gibbs said dejectedly.

  “Good. Then do what you have to but get me to the control room.”

  Gibbs prepared and delivered a morphine injection before assisting the Captain to a seat in the control room and making him as comfortable as possible.

  “Thank you, Gibbs!”

  Saluting, Gibbs replied, “You’re welcome, sir!”

  “Sonar, report. Any more of those intermittent blips?”

  “Aye, sir. A few minutes ago—off to starboard, and we have a new contact just coming into range from astern.”

  “Is the stern contact steady?”

  “Aye, sir, and moving straight for us.”

  “Could be the Itinerant. Keep an eye on it for the signal.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Locklin picked up his hand mic, changed the communication dial setting to ‘Trunk’, and thumbed the mic switch.

 
“Has Lieutenant Larson come back aboard yet?”

  “Aye, sir. We’re draining the trunk now.”

  “Very good. As soon as he is able, have him report to me in the control room.”

  “Aye, sir!”

  Within fifteen minutes, a still damp Lieutenant Gary Larson stood before the Captain.

  “The last of the repair crew just came aboard, sir,” he reported. “We’ve done as much as we can. We can be underway as soon as you give the word.”

  “Can she make it to Bangor?” Locklin asked.

  “It won’t be a fun trip, but as long as nothing else happens, I believe she can.”

  “The Bering Strait is fairly shallow. Normally it isn’t a problem, but in our current condition, I’m concerned it could still be a bit of a challenge. Do we have enough control to stay shallow?”

  “As with getting here, it will take a team effort, but we have the finest helmsmen in the Navy, they’ll get us through!” Larson replied.

  “Fair enough. As you know, my Executive Officer was killed by Brideaux. I’m promoting you to acting XO for the duration of this mission.”

  Larson suppressed a grin. “I’m honored, sir, thank you!”

  Locklin let his steely gaze scrutinize the man. “Thank me later, Larson. Others will tell you that serving as my XO is no picnic. I’m not the easiest person to get along with, and I hold my XO to a higher standard than the rest of the crew.”

  Larson knew Captain Locklin was tough as nails, but he also knew the man cared deeply about the men on his crew. Serving Locklin didn’t bother him. However, taking on the XO position meant he was the second-in-command. He would be responsible for administration, maintenance, and logistics, freeing Locklin to concentrate on tactical and operational matters. It also meant if Locklin was unable to perform his duties as commander, he would be in command, and he wasn't sure he was ready for that kind of responsibility yet. But his captain was in pain, their boat was in trouble, the crew was in danger, and he was an officer. Captain Locklin had confidence in him. He was not going to disappoint this fine man. Larson swallowed hard and replied, “Yes, sir.”

  “Captain!” the sonar officer interrupted excitedly. “The stern contact is maneuvering according to the signal pattern as she approaches!”

  “It’s about time something went right! Send the response ping sequence as required. Stations everyone! Set course for the Bering Strait, best speed.”

  “Aye, Captain!” came a chorus of excited voices.