Sea Devil Three: Mv Sea Dragon

By Mark Newell Douglas

Sea Devil Three continues where Sea Devil Two left off. The Sea Dragon continues to ply coastal ports with their marketing wares --- and making a huge profit. This, alone, will attract the coastal pirates in their attempt to kill the crew and take over the ship with its riches. There are two attempts to take the Sea Dragon, which failed. The second occurred as the Sea Dragon accepted a large replishment crew from the Chinese National island of Taiwan. On their way to Quemoy Island off the coast of China, the pirates struck again. This time the ChiNat troopers were incredibly important to hold off the pirates.
As the Captain reported to CINCFE, without their vital assistance, this report would not have been written!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543907827

Book preview

Fourteen

Chapter One

1045, March 9, 1951

MV Sea Dragon

Laid To in the China Sea

Near USS Rochester CA-124

South China Sea

The polished black Admiral’s Barge sat, bubbling and bobbing nicely, crew in crisp whites, barely rocking at Sea Dragon’s Accommodation Ladder. Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy walked over to the ladder at the Quarterdeck and turned to Captain Ezekial Carter, reached out to shake his hand, with a nice smile on his face.

Captain, you have a happy ship in spite of your duties. You are to be commended for that. Keep up the good work.

Thank you, Admiral. Zeke saluted, returned by the Admiral; Admiral Joy turned to the Ladder’s upper landing and saluted the Colors.

Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy turned back to look at the Sea Dragon crew in their ranks. He laughed.

Sailors, I have never seen such a sharp, well turned out crew of United States Navy sailors. WELL DONE, he roared.

The crew, in their motley merchant seaman bedraggled clothes, burst out in hysterical laughter.

Joy patted Zeke on the back, turned and trotted down the accommodation ladder to his Barge.

DINGDING DINGDING DINGDING DINGDING

COMMANDER US NAVAL FORCES FAR EAST

AND COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET DEPARTING

Admiral Joy settled into the Barge after compartment and looked up at the side of this old converted LST. He shook his head sadly and waved to the Coxswain to get underway.

As soon as the Barge pulled away, pointing at the Rochester, it sported the admiral’s blue flag with three stars rippling in the breeze, and returned to the Rochester’s forward accommodation Ladder.

Sea Devil’s Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch, Smith BM1, lifted his Bo’sun’s Pipe and piped for the Rochester’s Captain’s Gig to come alongside.

After all that had gone on for the last couple of hours, Zeke was relieved that the last of the brass was leaving. The Rochester Captain turned to him.

"Congratulations on your promotion to Lieutenant Commander and your unique command, Captain. Perhaps your next duty assignment will be back in the real Navy."

The captain reached inside his coat, withdrew a wax-sealed envelope and handed it to Zeke who looked at the envelope, looked sup at the Rochester’s Commanding Officer and wished he did not have to take these new orders.

These are your new orders, Captain Carter. They shook hands, saluted, the Captain turned to the Ladder’s upper landing and saluted the Colors.

DINGDING DINGDING

ROCHESTER DEPARTING

Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch Smith BM1, piped for the Captain’s Departure. The Rochester’s Captain, still in crisp, gleaming whites, trotted down the accommodation ladder and hopped into his Gig.

Zeke watched as the Rochester Gig’s Coxswain broke out the National Colors at the stern, and pulled away from the accommodation ladder’s lower landing, circling to return to the Rochester’s forward accommodation ladder. Zeke looked around the Main Deck at his crew.

Bob, you’re on me, please, and strode away, heading for the Bridge. LTJG Luxor, aka Warrant One, motioned to the Boatswain’s Mate.

Smitty, get the Ladder triced up flat on the deck, right away, and release the crew, please.

Aye aye, sir. That was quite a show … and you deserve that Bronze Star with the V-for-Valor, Mister Luxor.

Yeah, well … Abner smiled, touched Smitty’s shoulder, nodded a thank you and headed for the Ship’s Office to see Jones about all these new people.

Signals Bridge … as soon as the Rochester is over the horizon, strike our colors and raise the Swiss colors. Aye aye, Cap’n.

Abner pulled the Ship’s Office dutch door top half open. Hey Jonesy, what did we bag? he asked with a big grin.

Well, Mister Luxor, we got two en-swines, two chiefs, another Frogman for the UDT team, a couple of first class, and a bunch of seamen, firemen, and operators. Mister Smith already has the ensigns in hand. I’ll get Smitty to muster all the rest on the Main Deck by the superstructure.

Good, announce it, and I’ll go join Smitty as he sorts them out.

Got it, sir.

The 1MC cut in, as Jones made an announcement. Sucking in a deep breath, he said:

AVAST THERE MATEYS

ALL POLLYWOGS REPORT FORWARD OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE

ON THE MAIN DECK FOR SHIPBOARD ASSIGNMENTS

Abner grabbed a mug of coffee from the Crew’s Mess and joined Smitty in front of 18 men.

Abner gazed at the faces.

Hmmm, one old grizzled fellow … must be a chief. Who knows what the others are. The merchant civilian clothes do make a difference.

Smitty hopped up on top of the Port 20mm Ready Locker and looked them over, benevolently, so to speak.

All right, listen up. I am Smith Boatswain’s Mate First, Acting Chief Master At Arms (CMAA) and senior Leading PettyOfficer (LPO) of the Deck Department slash Amphibious Detail. I want your rates so I can move you around. Okay, I understand there may be two Chiefs. Is that right? he asked, looking around.

Two men raised their hands; one was that grizzled fellow Abner had noted. His brow wrinkled, then his eyes popped wide open.

By God, I know that chief. Holy Toledo! That’s my old boss, Chief Dyers!

Chief Dyers, is that you? You shoulda been buried long ago, Chief. Abner called out happily.

Dyers looked up, squinted at Abner and gave out with a whiskey laugh.

Luxor, you asshole. What are you doing here? Last I saw, they put you on a hospital ship at Okinawa. They made you a BM2 for the last landing.

Uh huh. Lots of changes, Chief….

Smitty interrupted.

Chief Dyers? I take it you’re a BMC. That right?

Dyers nodded.

May I have the honor of introducing you to our hero and one hell of a warrior, Lieutenant Junior Grade Abner Luxor.

You’re shittin’ me, right? He’s a BM2! Ahh … Uh oh … Lieutenant Junior Grade: Mister Luxor, you say? Squinting up at Abner, shaking his head.

Not a problem, Chief. If you’re nice, I’ll even let you touch my cutlass! Abner said laughing.

Smitty snickered.

Still laughing, Abner said, As of this moment, you are the Deck Department Chief and Chief Master-at-Arms. Smitty is your right-hand man. Pay attention to him. He’s been here a long time…. Smitty? Abner said, sweeping his arm at the newbies, signifying he get on with it.

Right … the other Chief? What are you? Smitty asked.

The