The skipper of the Anzio, Commander Bob Norquest, was waiting there to greet the new visitor. He held out a hand and Ward took it.

“Glad to have you aboard, Commodore. Admiral Donnegan called and gave me a quick brief on what you need. Crusty old bastard, isn’t he?” Norquest smiled. “We’re happy to help out. Sounds like a lot more interesting stuff than what we were scheduled to be doing today. We’re heading for the Norwegian coast now.”

Ward nodded and returned Norquest’s smile. “Yep, that’s Donnegan, all right. You won’t find a nicer guy or anyone better to have in your corner when the going gets rough.”

As if for emphasis, the cruiser made a sudden roll to starboard as both men braced themselves against a bulkhead. Ward tossed the “brain bucket” cranial helmet and survival vest to a waiting deckhand. He turned to Norquest and said, “Skipper, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get to work right away. Let’s get up to Combat and find out what’s going on.”

“Right this way, sir,” Norquest said. He stepped through a hatch on the forward port side of the hangar deck and down the passageway.

Ward was right behind him.

There was something comforting about the efficient hum of activity in the big, darkly lighted room. The banks of computers and screens flashing with a myriad of complex images were on the cutting edge. Sailors sat in front of the screens, analyzing the displays, or scurried between stations. Conversations were hushed. The room had an atmosphere of quiet professionalism.

Jon Ward had occupied the battle commander’s seat in the Combat Information Center since arriving on board two hours before. The Aegis cruiser, USS Anzio, still pitched and rolled, bucking the rising seas north of the Hebrides. Nobody in the CIC seemed to take notice.

Ward had already familiarized himself with the complexities and capabilities of the Aegis combat system. The three huge flat-panel displays on the bulkhead in front of him could be set up to show any bit of information available to the U.S. military. It could all be directed by the trackball that rested under his right hand. Just in case the three screens weren’t enough, two fifteen-inch ones were mounted on either front corner of his desk console. Just above his left hand was a switch bank that hooked him up to listen to twenty-four different audio circuits. What’s more, he could pipe a different circuit to each ear while talking on a third if he wished.

Talk about information overload! Ward thought.