The Sharkfighters

Lt. Commander Ben Staves arrives on a tiny island off Cuba to join an underway Navy test for shark repellents. He has survived the sinking of his destroyer and 13 days adrift, with many crew lost to shark attacks. He asserts he is there to help, not to take over the project.

The research team is led by Lt. Commander Len Evans, an ichthyologist, assisted by Ensign Dunk Duncan and Chief Petty Officer Gordy Gordon. The goal is to develop a reliable shark repellant. Ben begins to integrate with the group and set expectations for progress.

Evans explains that over 200 methods have been tested, from poisons to odors to ultrasonics, none providing lasting protection. Tests use dead fish as human proxies, which limits their reliability. The initial copper acetate test yields a temporary success that dissipates quickly.

To accelerate results, Ben proposes testing additional methods in parallel instead of waiting for single-method trials. Evans resents the pressure, insisting on careful scientific conclusions. Ben points out they lack human test subjects, creating tension between urgency and rigor.

Despite his wife Martha waiting in Havana, Ben orders seven-day work weeks to push progress. The team launches nonstop trials to reach their target. Evans remains wary of rushing, fearing compromise of the science.

Two weeks into the new series, the team reaches 72 consecutive positive results. Ben wants to submit the findings to Navy higher-ups, but Evans argues they have not yet reached the 100-test target. The disagreement underscores the tension between urgency and scientific caution.

During a test, Carlos trips and falls overboard, drawing a swarm of sharks. He swims toward the repellent cloud but panics and stabs a shark, triggering a brutal feeding frenzy. The team rescues him only after a devastating attack.

Shaken by the death, Evans revisits octopod ink as a repellant, and Duncan crafts a synthetic formula. They add it to copper acetate wax to slow dissipation in water. Ben promises to volunteer after 100 tests on fish carcasses are completed.

Ben travels to Havana to request two expert riflemen for protection and to secure Navy involvement. The naval attaché questions the plan and hints at using Ben as human bait, urging formal Navy approval. The encounter highlights the moral and strategic risks of their approach.

The copper-ink tests yield highly positive results, boosting confidence in the ink-based approach. Evans grows more willing to move forward, though cautiously. The team prepares for a final test to validate the method under real conditions.

With results leaning toward success, Ben orders one more test the next day, well short of the 100-test target. Evans reluctantly agrees to proceed under Ben's oversight. The team readies the equipment and guards for the in-water trial.

Ben enters the water with guards and focuses the repellant to dissolve the cake. At first the test seems to work, but chaos erupts when a shark attack begins after a previous signal of blood. A marksman shoots a shark, drawing more attention and triggering a feeding frenzy as the repellent is overwhelmed.

Ben is pulled aboard just in time as Evans floods the water with extra repellent from a barrel, saving him from the frenzy. He accepts a beer and, despite the relief, notes that the work will continue with caution and resolve. The scene closes on a cautious note about the project's uncertain future.