100 Nautical Miles Due East of Punta del Este,
Uruguay
2220 30 December 1942
“What have you got, Sparks?” Captain Jernigan inquired as he entered the radio room. He was attired in his underwear, his bathrobe, and the somewhat battered brimmed cap with its somewhat moldy insignia and gold strap he customarily wore at sea.
Radioman First Class Clatterman was at the radio console. Ensign Lacey, in a crisp cotton uniform, showing evidence that he had recently shaved and was in need of sleep, sat before the cryptographic machine.
“HKG, Captain,” Ensign Lacey replied. “We have…”
“I was speaking to Clatterman, Mr. Lacey, if you don’t mind. Sparks?”
“HKG, Sir. They’re coming in five-by-five. It’s Chief Schultz, Captain. I recognize his hand.”
“Did you relay the Biloxi’s last radio?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Send, ‘Well done,’ Sparks,” Captain Jernigan ordered. “And then advise HKG that we will be monitoring the frequency.”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”
“I’ll be in my cabin. Call me if we hear from anyone.”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”
[SIX]
Estancia San Pedro y San Pablo
Near Pila, Buenos Aires Province
0740 1 January 1943
The chief operator of Navy Radio Station HKG tore the sheet of paper from the typewriter on his makeshift desk and turned around, taking off his headset as he did so.
“That has to be the oldest fucking typewriter in the world,” he announced.
“Beggars, Chief Schultz,” First Lieutenant C. H. Frade, USMCR, replied, somewhat unctuously, “cannot be choosers.”
“Up yours, Mr. Frade,” Chief Schultz said, adding, “it’ll take me fifteen, twenty minutes to decode this; without a machine, it’s a pain in the ass. Whatever it is, it’s not just one of them ‘standing by’ messages. It’s too long for that, and they said switch to Contingency Code Eleven.”
“I don’t have anyplace to go, Chief.”
“You want to hand me one of them beers? It’s hotter than hell in here.”
Eighteen minutes later, Chief Schultz handed Lieutenant Frade a sheet of typewriter paper.
“It’s two messages, Mr. Frade,” he said.
Clete read the messages, then passed the sheet of paper to Second Lieutenant Pelosi, who read it and handed it to Staff Sergeant Ettinger.
* * *
TOP SECRET
OPERATIONAL IMMEDIAT