“Steady . . . shoot!” the young ensign ordered and the sergeant hit the firing trigger.  As the sonar technician listened and the sergeant consulted his watch, the ensign closed his eyes as if praying.  The rest of the control room crew sat or stood tensely at their controls, ready to dive as fast as the ballast tanks could fill.
        It was a difficult shot to set up because the freighter was headed straight at them.  The solution had had to be updated almost constantly as the two ships closed the range on each other.  If the torpedo missed, the Kocha Koi would have to dive quickly or risk being rammed by the larger ship.
        The submarine rang like a struck gong as the torpedo exploded within five hundred yards, and the crew of forty Chinese and five Rain Islanders cheered.  The rat pressed his eye to the periscope to look at the damage to the ship even as another explosion rocked the sub.
        It was very obvious that the freighter had been carrying a full load of fuel for the Japanese Army.  The ship was burning like a torch and the sea was lit up from the glow for miles around as its crew leaped over the rails.
        “Well done, Ensign,” Sam said, “well done, all of you.  Just one thing to remember – always give yourself a means and a way to escape.  If you can’t take the shot, or taking it puts you at unacceptable risk, don’t do it.  Back off and start over.”  She leaned close to the ensign.  “You understand?  You may be in charge of this boat.  All the lives aboard will be your responsibility.”
        The rat swallowed.  “Yes, Ma’am.”
        “But for right now,” Sam said, “we’ve encountered three ships tonight, and put them all on the bottom.  Shall we break out the beer and celebrate?”
        The cheer was general, and cases of Tsingtao were brought out and distributed.

        A fourth ship crossed the Kocha Koi’s path as it headed for Qianshan, but it didn’t join the others at the bottom of the sea.  Instead, its cargo of food and weapons would fetch a good price at Macao, so a prize crew was put aboard the vessel after the Japanese crew was herded onto lifeboats.  As a result the submarine was understaffed but the mood aboard was one of accomplishment.
        The submarine surfaced just inside the harbor and moved immediately into its covered dock.  Two dockpaws immediately drew a painted canvas curtain across the opening to hide the boat further.
        It had been Ching’s idea, although no bets were taken as to when (or how) she mentioned it to Lefty.
        “Hi, Sam!” Max said as he practically fell down the ladder into the control room.  “Good hunting?”
        “Excellent hunting.  Three sunk, one seized,” the ensign commanding the boat said before Sam could say anything.
        “Great news,” and the fox grinned.  “While you were out we had a fishing boat drop off the first three crews, and Chang says he has something for you.”
        “What is it?”
        “How should I know?  He said it was for you,” her husband said.  “I’ve been sitting here with nothing to do.”
        “Max,” Sam chided, “you know better than that.  Remember what my grandmother said; an idle mind is the – “
        “Yeah, yeah, the Devil’s merry-go-round,” he growled.  “I’ve heard it before.  Anyway, he’s up in the town talking to Lu.”
        “I’ll go talk to him then.”
        “Well, just make it snappy.  What about my needs?”
        She leaned over and kissed him deeply.  “There, that ought to hold you until I get back.”


April 26, 1938:

17APRIL38
BEGIN COOKIES RECEIVED STOP DELICIOUS STOP ALL IS FORGIVEN STOP COME HOME STOP FATTED CALF READY STOP MASTERS ENDS

        Samantha Vreeland gave the tiny slip of rice paper to Max, who read it, nodded, and promptly started eating it with a muffled complaint that it needed salt.  To the two Chinese officers seated across from her she said, “According to the message, our contract is fulfilled.”
        Chang nodded.  “My superiors contacted me to concur, Captain.”
        “So,” she said in a pleased tone, “I move that we give the submarine U-666, also known as the Kocha Koi, to her new commanding officer and arrange transportation back to Rain Island.”
        “Seconded,” Max said with his mouth full.
        “Who is that?” Chang asked.
        “You,” Sam said.  “As a commander of a ship, I have the authority to grant battle promotions.”
        The Husky did an impressive impersonation of a gaffed fish.
        “You’ve learned a lot and you’ve shown to me that you can lead and conduct combat operations, including the seizure and redemption of prizes,” the badger femme added with a smile.  “I’m certain that Captain Lu – and your Naval hierarchy – will have no objections.”
        “I have no objection,” the canine captain said.  He slapped the lieutenant on the shoulder.  “Congratulations, Commander.”
        Chang still looked shell-shocked.  Max waved a paw in front of his muzzle and told Sam, “I think you’ve achieved strategic surprise, my dear.”
        “Looks like it,” she agreed.  “He looks like you did when I said 'Yes' to your marriage proposal.”
        “How would I know that?  There wasn’t a mirror in sight.”
        “Because you threw that empty beer keg at it.”
        “Perfectly good reason for it, honeyfur.  I was drunk.”
        “Saying 'Yes' sobered you up fast, though.  Now, let’s do a formal change of command and have a party.”
        “Dancing?”
        “No.”
        “Aw, c’mon, Sam.”
        “I said 'No', Max.”
        “How about a nice slow waltz?” Max’s eyes gleamed.  “Just you and I, sweet music, dancing cheek to cheek – “
        “Cheek to breast, you mean.”
        “Can I help it if I’m short?”
        “I can’t tell.  Did your mother smoke while she was pregnant with you?”
        “Only at conception.”
       
        “ . . . Promoted on the field of battle to Commander, by my authority as a Captain in the Rain Island Naval Syndicate, under contract to the Republic of China by letter of marque.  Further, Commander Chang is hereby authorized to take command of the Kocha Koi and conduct combat and seizure operations as he sees fit under the aforesaid letter of marque, pending orders from higher headquarters. 
        “Signed by me, this twenty-seventh day of April, 1938.  Samantha Vreeland, Captain, RINS.”  The badger femme lowered the paper and pivoted to face the Husky, now wearing the insignia of a full commander on his uniform.
        He still looked a bit like a lost puppy.
        She saluted.  “Sir, I stand relieved.”
        Her voice brought him out of his trance, and he returned the salute.  “Ma’am, I relieve you.” 
        Everyone cheered.

        Later that night all of the non-Chinese crew members gathered a bit apart from the other revelers.
        “So, my dearest,” Max was saying as he laid his head in Sam’s lap, “what next?”
        “What’s next, my lunatic husband, is we arrange to get back home.  Now, I’m informed that we can hitch a ride south to Macao – “
        Max sat up.  “Great!  I know this one place there – “
        Lefty chimed in.  “I know the place, Max!”
        “Let’s go see!” Bob said.
        “In your condition?  You’re still in a cast, Bob; you wouldn’t last two seconds,” the charcoal-gray feline said.  “But Macao sounds like the best route, Sam.  We can hitch a ride or work passage from there to Seathl.”
        “All in favor, then?” Sam asked, raising a paw.  Most of the others raised theirs as well, with three exceptions.
        “Hey, Jude!” Max yelled at their helmsfur.
        “Oops, oh hey, sorry guys.  Been here, there and everywhere.  What’d I miss?”
        “For the benefit of Mr. Kite,” Sam said with a withering glance in his direction, “we are going home via Macao.  Objection?”
        “None, Ma’am.”
        “Good.  Now, what about you and Hans, Fritz?”  The two German wolves had also not raised their paws.
        “With all respect to you, Captain,” Fritz said, “Hans and I will stay here.  They will need a good engineer and a Diving Officer.”
        “And someone has to watch over the still, huh?” Lefty asked.
        “Ja,” Hans said.  “We do not wish it to fall into the paws of Cranium Island, do we not?”
        The others laughed. 

        The next day brought a final celebration, as the inhabitants and refugees in Qianshan brought out food and drink as their way of thanking the visitors for their help.  Sam ordered the case of champagne looted from the Alouette brought out and opened, and the added lubrication enabled everyone to have a good time.
        Sam sipped at her champagne and sat back, turning to catch a movement from the corner of her eye.
        It was the mouse child again, the small boy looking a bit wistful and sad.  He smiled then, and gave a shy wave.
        The badger waved back, then focused on what was written on the boy’s shirt:
        “Thank you, and I’m really steamed at being called ‘the mouse child’ all the time.”

        “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” Lefty asked Ching as they sat alone in the darkness.  “I’m certain you’d be happy on Rain Island.”
        “As long as you’re there, I know I would be,” the white-furred feline said, snuggling closer.  “But I must stay here; China is my home.”
        “I understand.”


next