Iron Princess by Brenda Elkin

The decommissioned naval submarine was a behemoth at 530 feet long, and with a conning tower 40 feet high. Her torpedo tubes, half submerged, were still visible from the dock. The waves caressed my senses, as I indulged in the salty smell when a voice behind me gave me a startle. “Ahoy,” an elderly gentleman with a white turtleneck sweater and holding the clipboard said. “I take it you’re here for the auction of 471. Do you represent the buyer or…?”

Knowing why he assumed I wasn’t the actual buyer; I smiled. “Nope, just me. So why are you getting rid of her? She’s not taking on water, is she?”

“Oh no, nothing like that. We own an auction house, J & R Services, and once in a while the Navy will part with a few of their vessels and ask us to sell them. But I assume you understand, it takes a minimum crew of 40 to operate her.

Category: Science Fiction – Adventure