Temple of Fire Read Online Free Page A

slapped the forward windows as Captain Papagantis sat in the command chair in the center of the Bridge.
    “Twenty-degrees starboard,” Papgantis ordered.  “We can’t have this bitch of a storm knocking us sideways.  Helmsman, keep us in line with the forward motion of the storm.”
    “Aye aye , sir.”
    “I have a red indicator light for the port side,” said Lieutenant Bradley Bender, the second-in-command.  “Aft section of the ship.”
    “What is it?” asked Papagantis .
    “It’s a contact alarm,” said Bender.  “We’ve been struck by something.”
    “In a typhoon?”
    “It appears so,” said Bender.
     
     

Ops Center
Aboard the Alamiranta
     
    The Operations Center was the heart of all Titan paramilitary operations.  It was a round, multi-tiered room with a grayish-blue marble floor.  A dozen computer stations manned by Titan personnel surrounded a circular platform that displayed holographic representations of all mission sites.  Flatscreen monitors displayed tactical data in the dimly lit Ops Center as technicians tapped their keyboards.
    The communications liaison with Titan teams was nicknamed Touchdown, who could monitor the whereabouts and vital signs of all team members.  He could also trigger their BioMEMS nanobots from his central station.  DJ, a former German special ops soldier and occasional team member on Titan missions, sat between Touchdown and Dr. Joshua Ambergris, a senior Titan Global scientist.
    A voice with a slight Greek accent emanated from one of the many speakers above the stations.
    “The ship has been struck by a torpedo,” said the Captain.
    Catherine Caine frowned.  “We’re not under attack, Captain.  Explain.”
    “All I can tell you is that we’re taking on water below-decks.  The good news is that the torpedo didn’t explode.  The bad news is that it still appears to be live.”
    “So you’re telling me that we’re riding out a typhoon while taking on water from a torpedo lodged in our hull,” said Caine .  “A torpedo that could explode at any minute.”
    “Yes, ma’am.   Pyro’s lending a hand, and I have an explosives team examining the torpedo as we speak.  As for the leak, our pumps are handling the situation so far.”
    Caine sighed and paced around the Ops Center .  “Keep me updated, Captain.  We have a team in the field.”
    “Yes, Mrs. Caine .”
    “Rotten timing,” said Touchdown.
    “As bad as it gets,” said Caine .  “As bad as it gets.”
     

Titan Six
Cargo Bay of Titan C-17 Globemaster
III
     
    “Okay, people,” said Grace Nguyen.  “Step into your designated Plexiglas compartments.  My technicians and I will get you feeling nice and relaxed.”
    “I really don’t want to get drowsy before a mission,” protested Tank.  “I need to get myself psyched.”
    Grace put her hands on her hips and smiled.  “Have I ever let you down before?  Let’s have a little faith.”
    Hawkeye leaned back against a cushioned bed while a male technician in a white jumpsuit attached a tube to his forearm.
    “Close your eyes, Titan Six,” said Nguyen.  “Just relax.” 
    A pneumatic whirring sound filled Hawkeye’s ear as the bed tilted back to a forty-five degree angle.  A footrest at the bottom kept him from sliding off.
    “As the saying goes,” said Hawkeye, “you’re the doctor.  But I think you’re going to roll snake eyes on this little experiment.”
    Hawkeye closed his eyes.  He had to admit that he felt extremely calm, but the experience didn’t have the feel of a Titan Six mission.
    He decided he wasn’t going to go along with the ridiculous TRM experiment.  Enough with playing guinea pig.  He was a soldier.  He opened his eyes and looked directly at the Doctor.
    “Good morning,” said Nguyen.  “You’ve been in a state of deep relaxation for almost forty-five minutes.  How do you feel?”
    Nguyen pushed a button on the side of Hawkeye’s module, causing the Plexiglas to slide up and