"XO, I want a damage report, and want it now!. Officer of the deck, sound general quarters!. Helm, rudder all to port, new course two-five-five!, all flank ahead!"- the captain yelled immediately. "I want starshells over that ship, I want the range on him and I want a firing solution, NOW!"
As his orders were repeated and complied,and as general quarters were being sounded, he looked through the binoculars again. Still dark to see much detail, the shadow was still there.
"Signals, order the destroyers to return towards us at top speed, order them to torpedo that bastard. Report to Habana HQs: "fighting against unknown vessel""
"Aye aye, sir"
"XO, where's the damage report?" Echarri asked, impatiently
"Hit on the aft superstructure, sir, the shell has punched from side to side, no explosion"
"Very well, Juan. Did you saw those splashes?. I'd say nine-and-a-half or ten, you agree?"
"Sounds about right, sir."- as De la Nuez spoke a starshell was fired ,popping a couple of seconds later-
"Gunnery, open ranging fire as soon as the turrets are on bearing!. Half salvos until range is found" - ordered Echarri, to then look throw his binoculars as his orders were repeated and followed. Their adversary was perfectly visible now, under a box of light.
the XO was the first one to talk "Sir...cage masts, sir"
"Americans..." his words were cut by yet another round by the raider ship. Four tonges of fire, two fore, two aft. Four columns of water surrounded the Santa María.
"Gunnery reports all main turrets on bearing, sir!" the officer of the deck yelled
"Fire!" Echarri immediately answered. The ship was still turning, but he wanted to fire back as soon as possible.
With a thunderous noise, four of the eight main guns in the Santa María opened fire at once. All splashes fell short of the target, but mere seconds after they fell the other four guns also fired to a corrected solution. This time only three splashes were seen. So, at least one had impacted the enemy ship.
"Gunnery, I want the targets' range, heading and estimated speed!" he yelled.
"Sir, helm steady, course two-five-five", another voice sounded in the bridge
"Enemy ship nine thousand meters to starboard, sir, heading two-three-five, speed estimated at 25 knots!" came the gunnery report
"Fire to effect, full salvoes on said solution!" echarri ordered "Open fire with secondary guns, keep target illuminated!"
"Aye, aye, sir, firing to effect on said solution, secondary guns opening fire"
Echarri turned to his XO who had said not a word in the meantime: "what do you think, juan?"
"Two main turrets, one fore one aft. two, maybe three funnels. Main weapons of around ten inches. And it has a strange, tall, superstructure just on it's stern... no idea, sir, but it's not a battleship. As for nationality, those cage masts are hard to miss, though. It's american"- was the answer
Another volley was exchanged when the strange ship and the Santa María opened fire almost simultaneously. Echarri had no time to see the results of the eight gun broadside from his cruiser, because two loud "Thumps" and a great explosion were heard shortly after their own salvo was fired. Fire was visible on the starboard side of the Iberian cruiser.
"Damage report!" Echarri asked.
"two hits, sir, one against C turret. It didn't penetrate, nothing else is known for now. The other hit has penetrated B casemate and blown it out. The 100mm is out of action, fire has been reported, and there are casualties, sir!"
Over the noises of the secondaries firing, Echarri was heard again:
"those guy know how to shoot...where are our destroyers?"
"last reporting position fourteen thousand yards bearing 300, steaming at full speed towards us, sir"
"Sir!, gunnery calls the target is turning away" the officer of the deck reported
taking his binoculars to his eyes Echarri looked at the enemy ship. "Gunnery is right" he thought "space between masts has decreased".
"they can't shoot directly aft"- the Executive officer said "The strange superstructure over the stern prevents them to".
"All kind of good news"-Echarri answered sarcastically: "Keep course steady, keep on firing, gentlemen. We will wait until he stops turning, then we hunt him. XO, any news from C turret and B casemate?"
After a brief moments where De la Nuez spoke in the intercom...
"seems the hit glanced off the face armor, but has jammed the C turret, sir, and inter-comunication in the turret is out of service because of the concussion. For now it's out of action.
As for B casemate firefighting parties are working on the fire, which is controlled...but...The whole crew in the casemate is gone, sir"
"gone?"
"Yes sir, all dead"- De la Nuez answered.
Echarri stood silent while the main guns, only six this time, fired from his ship again. A whole casemate crew had died. His men. All he could do now was to hunt the responsible and make it pay for their lifes.
"Gunnery reports two hits on last salvo, sir, target is on fire, and seems now steady on course 0-3-0"- he heard.
Echarri looked towards the unknown foe and sure, it was burning.
"standard starboard rudder, new course three, four, zero. Make it fast, helm."
"standard starboard rudder,course three, four, zero. Aye aye sir"- the officer at the helm answered
"Signals, order the destroyers to burn their ass if they need to, but I want them here as soon as possible. And send report to habana HQs :"Enemy fleeing action, ship damaged but battleworthy, we start pursuit""
"Understood, sir"
"gunnery, stop firing to effect, return to half-salvoes while we turn. I don't want to lose this guy a single second"
Echarri turned towards De la Nuez "they better be fast, for their own good. They better be."