4 a.m.
`` Sail at 4 a.m. , '' said Captain Jack Templeton of the U.S.S. Plymouth , laying down the long manila envelope marked `` Secret . '' `` Acknowledge by signal , '' he directed the ship 's messenger , and then looked inquiringly about the wardroom table . `` Aye , aye , sir , '' said the first officer , Lieutenant Frank Chadwick . `` Ready at four , sir , '' said the engineer officer , Thomas ; and left his dinner for a short trip to the engine room to push some belated repairs .