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“One engine is flooded: we’re taking on water fast. Bilge pumps are running, but they’re not keeping up.” There was an edge of frustration to his calm report. “I’m going to try to run her aground.” He reached for the radio transmitter.

As he spoke, the stern dropped further, water breaking over the rear deck.

“How far are we from the shore?” asked Mike.

“Half a mile,” said Charlie. “I’m going to run her hard. We might make it.” He paused. “Be prepared to abandon ship.” He reached for the radio. “I’ll call for help.”

“Use the satellite phone. Something tells me we don’t want to be transmitting our situation over open airwaves,” said Mike.

“That boat wouldn’t be running blacked out unless it was up to no good,” agreed Rick. “You grab the sat phone. I’ll get the girls ready.”

The SEALs jumped into action. They got the women into life jackets and moved them to the bow. Visibility was limited due to cloud cover, but Rick could see the shoreline less than a half mile distant. Driven by its single functioning engine, the Okanagan plodded slowly forward, listing heavily to the port side.

“Where are the dogs?” Ali asked frantically as she gripped the railing.

“I’ll find them,” said Mike as he arrived carrying one of their gear bags.

He made his way back to the cockpit, where Charlie was working to coax power from the engine. In the flickering light, he spotted Axe and Saber standing on one of the benches that lined the water-logged cabin.

“Charlie, you need to move up to the flybridge. You can’t be in here if she goes under,” he said.

“I don’t have a depth sounder up there,” he gestured to a small screen that showed how deep the water was under them. It showed the bottom was rapidly rising as they closed with the shore.

“It’s getting shallow, bud. That’s all you need to know. Now put on a vest and get upstairs. “You’re not going down with the ship.”

“Aye, lad.”

He guided the dogs out through the cabin’s side door and ushered them forward. Then he joined the skipper on the flybridge. As he climbed the ladder, the remaining engine coughed and died.

“The waves are going to drive her toward the coast,” Charlie said, his voice laced with sorrow.

“We need to get clear,” said Mike. He grasped the skipper’s shoulder. “I need to get the women on the beach.” Beneath them, the Okanagan groaned and listed heavily to port.

“The impact must have breached the hull,” said Charlie as they made their way forward to the bow, where Rick was waiting with the women.

Suddenly, there was a scraping sound, and the boat shuddered as it ran aground. Mike glanced to starboard and saw they were only a few hundred yards from shore. “We’d be safer on the beach. If the tide pulls her clear, she’s still going to sink.”

“Did you call it in?” asked Rick.

Mike nodded as he handed chem sticks to everyone. “Yeah, the Coast Guard is responding to another incident. They’ll send someone as soon as they can. Guys, crack the stick and tie it to your vest.”

Charlie helped them tie the boat’s life preservers and additional life jackets into a makeshift raft. They lowered it over the rail, which had dropped to less than a foot above the water.

“Everyone hangs onto the raft,” said Mike. “We kick it to shore, then we get a fire going and get everyone dry.”

“Is the cold going to be an issue with the baby?” asked Jenny.

Rick shook his head. “No, if we get out of the water as fast as possible. Your body will keep her warm. OK, everybody in.”

Without fail, everyone gasped as they entered the water and grabbed the raft. Mike stayed onboard to lower Axe and Saber into the water before entering. The dogs immediately made a beeline for the shore as Mike swam alongside the raft, encouraging everyone to kick hard.

They had only been in the water for a few minutes when trouble struck. Charlie cramped hard, and lost his grip on the raft. Jenny called out, and Rick was quick to respond. He grabbed the sailor’s life jacket and towed him toward the shore.

“I can touch the bottom,” Jenny announced as she approached the rocky beach.

“That doesn’t help me,” joked Maria.

The girls managed a laugh as, under Axe’s watchful gaze, they dragged the raft up the beach. Moments later, Mike and Rick emerged from the water, dragging Charlie.