Blood In the Water

Into the Storm

Crusade

Maelstrom

Distant Thunders

Rising Tides

Firestorm

Iron Gray Sea

Storm Surge

Deadly Shores

Straits of Hell

ROC

Published by New American Library,

an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

This book is an original publication of New American Library.

Copyright © Taylor Anderson, 2016

Penguin Random House supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin Random House to continue to publish books for every reader.

Roc and the Roc colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

For more information about Penguin Random House, visit
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.

LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS CATALOGING-
IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

Names: Anderson, Taylor, 1963– author.

Title: Blood in the water/Taylor Anderson.

Description: New York City: New American Library, [2016] | Series:

Destroyermen; 11 | “A ROC book.”

Identifiers: LCCN 2015047839 (print) | LCCN 2016001092 (ebook) | ISBN

9780451470638 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780698162976 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Imaginary wars and battles—Fiction. | Destroyers

(Warships)—Fiction. | Naval battles—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION/Science

Fiction/Military. | FICTION/Alternative History. | FICTION / War &

Military. | GSAFD: Alternative histories (Fiction) | Science fiction. |

War stories.

Classification: LCC PS3601.N5475 B58 2016 (print) | LCC PS3601.N5475 (ebook)

| DDC 813/.6—dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015047839

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

F
OR
: T
HE
“S
NIPES
.”

I
NDEED, ANYONE WHO EVER SERVED BELOWDECKS ABOARD A SHIP IN COMBAT, WHETHER IN THE ENGINEERING SPACES, THE AMMUNITION HANDLING ROOMS, THE MAGAZINES—IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE
. T
O PARAPHRASE WHAT
I
SAK SAID WHEN HE
 . . .
DID WHAT HE DID IN
D
EADLY
S
HORES
, THIS ONE'S FOR ALL THE ONES YOU NEVER SEE, WHO DID WHAT THEY DID IN THE HOT, DARK PLACES BELOWDECKS
. W
ITHOUT THEM STAYING FOCUSED AND PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES JUST LIKE IT WAS ANY OTHER DAY WHEN THEIR SHIP STEAMED INTO BATTLE, THE SHIP COULDN'T FIGHT
. I
T COULDN'T EVEN MOVE
. I
T MIGHT'VE BEEN EASIER FOR SOME, NEVER SEEING THE BOMB, THE SALVO OF SHELLS, OR THE TORPEDO COMING AT THEM, KNOWING IT WAS ABOUT TO HIT
. F
OR MOST
, I
IMAGINE, IT HAD TO BE A HELL OF A LOT
HARDER
.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As always, thanks to my agent, Russell Galen, and my editor, Anne Sowards. The more I get to know and work with Anne, the more I appreciate her! I'm sure she must be the best wild, wandering prose tamer in the business.

Thanks to all my great pals who continue to provide, um, “character inspirations.” I've named most of them so often that I'm going to quit before they get too puffed up. They know who they are. I still appreciate all the great (and really smart) folks who I jabber with on my Web site. Their input and their (mostly) sound arguments have kept me from veering off down some really stupid trails from time to time. I
can't
name all of them here, but special thanks (in no particular order) to Bill, Charles, Clifton, Alexander, Joe, David, Matthieu, Alexey, Justin. . . . I'll get to more of them next time! If you check out the Web site and scroll the posts, you'll very quickly figure out who I mean. Extra special thanks to Captain Pat Moloney. And Jim, of course, for being particularly “inspirational”—in odd and amusing ways.

Finally, my greatest thanks go to my wife and family, the most important people in the whole wide
world.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(For those new to the series, don't be alarmed by the number of names listed here. They don't
all
appear in any one volume. Many not currently active in the narrative
do
remain active on the sidelines, however, and may turn up again. The list is updated with each volume as a courtesy to those who have followed the series from the start—so they'll always know who is where.)

See index for details of ships and equipment specifications.

Note:

(L)
—
“Lemurians,” or “Mi-Anakka” (People) are bipedal, somewhat felinoid folk with large eyes, fur, and expressive but nonprehensile tails. They are highly intelligent, social, and dexterous. It has been proposed that they are descended from the giant lemurs of Madagascar.

(G)
—
“Grik,” or “Ghaarrichk'k,” are bipedal “reptilians” reminiscent of various Mesozoic Dromaeosaurids. Covered with fine downy fur, males develop bristly crests and tail plumage, and retain formidable teeth and claws. Grik society consists of two distinct classes,
the ruling or industrious “Hij,” and the worker-warrior “Uul.” The basic “Grik-like” form is ubiquitous, and serves as a foundation for numerous unassociated races and species.

Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Patrick Reddy, USNR
—Commanding. CINCAF—(Supreme Commander of All Allied Forces).

Cmdr. Brad “Spanky” McFarlane
—Exec. Minister of Naval Engineering.

Cmdr. Bernard Sandison
—Torpedo Officer and Minister of Experimental Ordnance.

Lt. Tab-At, “Tabby” (L)
—Engineering Officer.

Lt. Sonny Campeti
—Gunnery Officer.

Lt. Ed Palmer
—Signals.

Surgeon Lieutenant Pam Cross

Ensign Laar-Baa-Ra (L)
—PB-1B “Nancy” pilot.

Chief Quartermaster Patrick “Paddy” Rosen
—Acting First Officer.

Chief Bosun's Mate Jeek (L)
—Former Crew Chief, “Special Air Division.”

Chief Engineer Isak Reuben
—One of the “original” Mice.

Gunner's Mate Pak-Ras-Ar, “Pack Rat” (L)

Earl Lanier
—Cook.

Juan Marcos
—Officer's Steward.

Wallace Fairchild
—Sonarman, Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures—(AMF-DIC).

Min-Sakir, “Minnie” (L)
—Bridge Talker.

Leftenant Doocy Meek
—British sailor and former POW (WWI). Now liaison for the Republic of Real People.

Corporal Neely
—Imperial Marine Bugler.

Admiral Keje-Fris-Ar (L)

Atlaan-Fas (L)
—Commanding.

Lt. Sandy Newman
—Exec.

Captain Jis-Tikkar, “Tikker” (L)
—“COFO” (Commander of Flight Operations); 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bomb Squadron, and 1st and 2nd Pursuit Squadrons aboard
Salissa
(CV-1).

Lt. Cmdr. Mark Leedom
—COFO at Grik City.

Lt. Araa-Faan (L)
—Leedom's Aryaalan Exec.

Lt. Cmdr. Russ Chappelle
—Commanding.

Lt. Michael “Mikey” Monk
—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Dean Laney
—Engineering Officer.

Surgeon Cmdr. Kathy McCoy

Stanley “Dobbin” Dobson
—Chief Bosun's Mate.

USS
Tassat
**
(Badly damaged at the Comoros Islands)

Captain Jarrik-Fas (L)
—Commanding.

Lt. Stanly Raj
—“Impie” Exec.

USS
Scott
***

Cmdr. Muraak-Saanga (L)
—Commanding. (Former
Donaghey
Exec. and sailing master.)

USS
Nakja-Mur
*

Lt. Naala-Araan (L)

Tassanna-Ay-Arracca (L)
—High Chief, commanding.

USS
Kas-Ra-Ar
**

Captain Mescus-Ricum (L)
—Commanding.

USS
Ramic-Sa-Ar
*

USS
Felts
**

USS
Naga
***

MTB-Ron-1 (Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron #1)
—5xMTBs (#s 4, 7, 13, 15, 16)

General Queen Safir Maraan (L)
—Commanding.

General Mersaak (L)
—Commanding.

“The 600” (B'mbaado Regiment composed of “Silver” and “Black” battalions), 3rd Baalkpan, 3rd, 10th B'mbaado, 5th Sular, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Sular

General Grisa
—Commanding.

5th, 6th B'mbaado, 1st, 2nd, 9th Aryaal, 3rd Sular

Major Risa Sab-At (L)
—(Chack's Sister)—In temporary command.

Major Alistair Jindal
—Commanding. Imperial Marine, and Chack's (currently Risa's) nominal exec.

1st and 2nd battalions of the 9th Maa-ni-laa, 2nd Battalion of the 1st Respite.

Captain Enrico Galay (former corporal in the Philippine Scouts)
—Commanding.

2nd and 3rd battalions of the 19th Baalkpan, 1st Battalion of the 11th Imperial Marines

Lt. Colonel Saachic (L)
—Commanding.

3rd and 6th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry

Hij Geerki
—Rolak's “pet” Grik, captured at Rangoon, and now “mayor” of Grik prisoners at Grik City.

Kapitan Adler Von Melhausen
—Commanding.

Kapitan Leutnant Becker Lange
—Von Melhausen's Exec.

Adar (L)
—COTGA (Chairman of the Grand Alliance), and High Chief and Sky Priest of Baalkpan.

Surgeon Commander Sandra Tucker Reddy
—Minister of Medicine, and wife of Captain Reddy.

Diania
—Steward's Assistant and Sandra's friend and bodyguard.

Gunnery Sergeant Arnold Horn (USMC)
—formerly of the 4th Marines (US).

Lieutenant Toryu Miyata
—formerly of
Amagi
.

Ensign Nathaniel Hardee
—Commanding PT-7.

Lt. Col. Chack-Sab-At (L)
—Commanding the expedition.

Courtney Bradford
—Australian naturalist and engineer. Minister of Science for the Grand Alliance and Plenipotentiary at Large.

Chief Gunner's Mate Dennis Silva

Lawrence, “Larry the Lizard”
—orange and brown tiger-striped Grik-like ex-Tagranesi (Sa'aaran).

Corporal Ian Miles
—Formerly in 2nd of the 4th Marines.

Caesar (Kaiser) Nig-Taak

General Marcus Kim
—Military High Command.

Inquisitor Kon-Choon
—Director of Spies for the Republic of Real People.

Long-Range Reconnaissance and Exploration

Cmdr. Greg Garrett
—Commanding.

Lt. Saama-Kera, “Sammy” (L)
—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Wendel “Smitty” Smith
—Gunnery Officer.

Captain Bekiaa-Sab-At
—Commanding Marines.

Chief Bosun's Mate Jenaar-Laan

General of the Army and Marines Pete Alden
—Commanding. Former sergeant in USS
Houston
Marine contingent.

General Lord Muln-Rolak (L)
—Commanding.

General Taa-leen (L)
—Commanding.

1st Marines, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th Baalkpan

General Rin-Taaka-Ar (L)
—Commanding.

Major Simon “Simy” Gutfeld (3rd Marines)
—Exec.

1st, 2nd Maa-ni-laa, 4th, 6th, 7th Aryaal

General Faan-Ma-Mar (L)
—Commanding.

9th and 11th Divisions composed of the 2nd, 3rd Maa-ni-laa, 8th Baalkpan, 7th and 8th Maa-ni-la, 10th Aryaal.

General Linnaa-Fas-Ra
—Commanding.

Colonel Enaak (L)
—5th Maa-ni-laa Cavalry.

A near-division-level “cavalry” force of aging Czechs and Slovaks, and their continental Lemurian allies. They are militarily, if not politically, bound to the Grand Alliance.

Colonel Dalibor Svec
—Commanding.

Primary Army/Navy air base in Indiaa, on the north shore of Lake Flynn, West of Madraas.

Colonel Ben Mallory
—Commanding.

4th, 5th, 7th, 8th Bomb Squadrons (PB-1B Nancys) and 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th Pursuit Squadrons (P-1C Mosquito Hawks “Fleashooters”). The 3rd Pursuit Squadron is composed of eight operational Army Air Corps P-40Es

Lt. Walt “Jumbo” Fisher
—Commanding Pat-Squad 22.

Lt. (jg) Suaak-Pas-Ra, “Soupy” (L)

Lt. Conrad Diebel

2nd Lt. Niaa-Saa, “Shirley” (L)

S. Sergeant Cecil Dixon

Commodore Kek-Taal (L)
—Commanding.

5th Naval Air Wing—14th and 17th Pursuit Squadrons, 20th Bomb Squadron.

USS
Bowles
***

USS
Saak-Fas
***

USS
Clark
**

USS
James Ellis
(DD-21)

Cmdr. Perry Brister
—Commanding.

Lt. Rolando “Ronson” Rodriguez
—Exec.

Lt. (jg) Jeff Brooks
—Sonarman, Anti–Mountain Fish Countermeasures (AMF-DIC).

Lt. (jg) Paul Stites
—Gunnery Officer.

Lt. (jg) Johnny Parks
—Engineering Officer.

Chief Bosun's Mate Carl Bashear

Taarba-Kaar, “Tabasco” (L)
—Cook

USS
Geran-Eras
(DD-23)

Cmdr. Cablaas-Rag-Laan (L)
—Commanding.

*Repairs to USS
Mahan
(DD-102) have been suspended until a floating dry dock can be spared for her.

Cmdr. Alan Letts
—Chief of Staff, Minister of Industry and the Division of Strategic Logistics. Acting “Chairman” of the Grand Alliance.

Cmdr. Steve “Sparks”
Riggs
—Minister of Communications and Electrical Contrivances.

Lord Bolton Forester
—Imperial Ambassador.