Stealth.

Unison had been commanded excellently, the crew morale was very high as they slipped in behind HMS Unity cloaked in the former's baffles. From this spot, the Unity's own propeller would mask Unison's approach to Queen Elizabeth. Cmdr's Grator's plan was to drop below Unity and then fire four upgraded spearfish torpedos which would be simulated. These being so close should lock onto the carrier and in the confusion, Unison could drop below the thermal layer to throw off any sonar sweeps and to that end, the crew had practised a WW2 discipline of silent running.

In the combat information centre onboard the Queen Elizabeth a sonar operator reported to his senior officer that he had picked up a contact. The contact had been fleeting and when the officer asked where the contact was, the operator said it was astern of the Unity the officer dismissed it as a sonar ghost. Queen Elizabeth sailed on launching and recovering its F35 aircraft unaware that not too far away a danger lurked. Admiral Whitehouse was onboard and she would be acting as a referee during the exercise and secretly hoped that Captain Bhanoa and Unison could pull it off.

Unison's sonar operator that Unity was maintaining course and that she had the carrier on her scope four thousand yards dead ahead. The weapons officer pressed a button and the computer did its calculations then programmed the torpedos. What would happen is that the fire sequence would be as it should accept the torpedoes would not leave the tubes. Instead, a highly focused sonar beam would be fired at the carrier. The computer on Queen Elizabeth would analyse the data and then determine the accuracy of the beams deciding whether Queen Elizabeth had been hit.

The weapons officer announced that they were ready so Cmdr Grator gave the order and four imaginary torpedos were fired and Unison immediately flooded her tanks and dove. Onboard Queen Elizabeth alarms sounded and someone said that Unity had fired torpedoes. Signals were sent to the escorting destroyers to hunt Unity but for the carrier, it was too late as the computer spewed out its report. Admiral Whitehouse grinned as she read the report and showed it to the captain of the carrier who looked angry and also a little humbled. The admiral handed a message to the communications officer to send to Unison.

#To Commanding officer HMS Unison

The computer has analysed your attack and from the data has reported the following.

Queen Elizabeth has been sufficiently damaged to make her unable to operate and in need of shipyard repairs. These repairs are expected to take at least ten months.

Due to human error, HMS Unity was identified as the attacker and was sunk in a simulated attack from the escorting destroyers and frigates.

Congratulations Unison a very successful experiment see you back at base.

Admiral Whitehouse.#

Cmdr Grator ordered the communications mast lowered and then set course for base looking at the message again with a smile. The message had started with Commanding Officer and not Captain Bhanoa. She headed to the captain's cabin and went straight in and found Harinder kneeling in her little maids uniform. In the two days since she had been outed to the officer's, she had been cleaning her cabin and serving the officers in the officer's mess. Helen took great pleasure in showing Harinder the message and smirked as Harinder realised the opening of the message was not addressed to her.

"Well, **** there it is the Admiral herself has unintentionally slighted you. When we get back to base and the record shows you sick in your cabin during the attack four things may happen. One you might be relieved of command of Unison and given a shore assignment. Two you will remain for the rest of your career a captain. Three you could be court-martialed for sexual harassment the circumstances can be easily fabricated. Four you have control over you can resign your commission and then I will find you employment."

Harinder looked on in despair realising that what Helen said was correct and she had little to look forward to. Helen could see how uncomfortable Harinder was because she was fidgeting. She decide that Harinder could have the night off and headed back to her own cabin and smiled. She may well soon be the captain of Unison and if plans came to fruition Harinder would be even further under her control.

~I realise that the attack was highly improbable except the part of using Unity's baffles to hide. If it could be possible it would take a great deal of seamanship. So before anyone complains that it's impossible I know.~

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