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Oregon Files
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The Oregon Files is a series of novels written by author Clive Cussler and several co-authors. Craig Dirgo was a co-writer for the first two titles, Jack Du Brul was a co-writer for the next seven titles, Boyd Morrison took over as co-writer starting with book 10, and Mike Maden writes the 16th, 17th, and 18th book after Clive's passing.
The books follow the mysterious "Corporation" and its leader Juan Cabrillo. The title of the series, "Oregon Files", comes from the name of the corporation's ship, the Oregon. The ship's name is based on the former name of the TS Empire State VI, which originally had the name SS Oregon before entering into government service as a training ship for the United States Maritime Service.
Books
[edit]The crew of the Oregon first appeared in Flood Tide. The main Oregon Files series consists of:
- Golden Buddha (2003)
- Sacred Stone (2004)
- Dark Watch (2005)
- Skeleton Coast (2006)
- Plague Ship (2008)
- Corsair (2009)
- The Silent Sea (2010)
- The Jungle (2011)
- Mirage (2013)
- Piranha (2015)
- The Emperor's Revenge (2016)
- Typhoon Fury (2017)
- Shadow Tyrants (2018)
- Final Option (2019)
- Marauder (2020)
- Clive Cussler's Hellburner (2022)[1]
- Clive Cussler Fire Strike (2023)
- Clive Cussler Ghost Soldier (2024)
- Clive Cussler Quantum Tempest (2025)
Overview
[edit]The Oregon is a high tech ship owned by a private secret service organization called 'the Corporation'. It is disguised as a rusty old tramp steamer. It mounts five cranes - three fore, two aft – only two of which are operational, one each fore and aft. To add to its appearance of authenticity, this disguise is highly detailed. This includes a fake mess hall, and a captain's cabin specially designed to be utterly repulsive, with features including specially designed chemicals to keep people away, a dysfunctional toilet, and depressing paintings of clowns on black velvet.
In reality the Oregon is an extraordinarily sophisticated intelligence-gathering vessel with luxury facilities and top-of-the-line technical capabilities. It is equipped with a moon pool for launching two minisubs, an Olympic swimming pool (in one of its ballast tanks), state-of-the-art medical facilities, and powered by a pair of revolutionary magnetohydrodynamic drives. It also uses an array of underwater vectored-thrusters to give it unparalleled maneuverability for a ship of its size. Dark Watch gives its dimensions as 560 feet long, with a 75-foot beam and a gross weight of 11,585 tons.
The Oregon is also equipped with a suite of armaments that rivals most military capital ships, including: French-built Exocet anti-ship missiles, two torpedo tubes below the waterline (firing Russian-made TEST-71 and later Type 53-65 torpedoes, though Cabrillo has stated he would have preferred American Mk48 ADCAP), 20 mm multibarrel Gatling-style rotary cannons (probably M61 Vulcans) mounted behind steel plates on its hull, and an array of 7.62 mm caliber M60 machine guns concealed in dummy oil barrels welded onto her deck (also known as their boarder repellents) that are all remotely operated with the most sophisticated fire-control systems. As well as these, the Oregon carries Russian-built cruise missiles of an unspecified type, a 40 mm Bofors autocannon (later replaced by a Metal Storm gun system), and at least one Rheinmetall 120 mm gun of a similar type to that of the M1A1 Abrams tank. Most novels talk about the 120 mm in the singular, however Dark Watch states that it has two – one on each side of the hull.
The ship's control center, located deep within its hull, is said to have the feel of the starship Enterprise, including a large, central command chair in which Cabrillo sits when on the bridge, which is colloquially referred to as "The Kirk Chair".
Characters
[edit]Corporation members
[edit]Executive officers
[edit]- Juan Cabrillo: Chairman of The corporation. Formerly a CIA operative under Langston Overholt IV.
- Max Hanley: President of The Corporation/chief engineer. Formerly in the US Navy.
- Linda Ross: Vice President of The Corporation replacing Richard Truitt, previously Security and Surveillance Specialist. Formerly an intelligence officer aboard a US Navy Aegis Guided Missile Cruiser.
Current crew members
[edit](In alphabetical order)
- George "Gomez" Adams: Helicopter pilot. Former US Army 160th SOAR.
- Rick Barrett: Assistant chef.
- Monica Crabtree: Supply and logistics coordinator.
- Chuck "Tiny" Gunderson: Chief pilot, fixed wing.
- Michael Halpert: Finance and accounting.
- Cliff Hornsby: General operations.
- Julia Huxley: Medical officer. Formerly the senior medical officer at the US Naval base in San Diego.
- Pete Jones: General operations.
- Hali Kasim: Communications/general operations.
- Larry King: Sniper/general operations. Former US Army 1st SFOD Delta.
- Franklin "Linc" Lincoln: Head of general operations. Formerly a US Navy SEAL.
- Marion "MacD" MacDougall Lawless III: General operations replacing Jerry Pulaski.
- Raven Malloy: Shore operations. First appears in book 12, Typhoon Fury.
- Judy Michaels: Pilot.
- Mark Murphy: Shipboard weapons and technology specialist/general operations.
- Kevin Nixon: Magic shop specialist.
- Jim O'Neill: General operations.
- Tracy Pilson: Pilot, amphibious plane.
- Sam Pryor: Propulsion engineer.
- Gunther Reinholt: Propulsion engineer.
- Eddie Seng: Director of shore operations/security and surveillance specialist replacing Linda Ross. Formerly a US Marine then CIA operative.
- Eric Stone: Control room operator/general operations/chief helmsman.
- Russ Kefauver: Intelligence Analyst and former CIA forensic accountant.
- Dr. Eric Littleton: Oregon's biophysical lab director.
- Mike Lavin: Chief armorer and retired U.S. Army armament/fire control maintenance supervisor
- Bill McDonald: Senior armorer and former CIA paramilitary operator.
- Amy Forrester: Physician's assistant and former Navy combat medic.
- Maurice: Chief steward. Formerly of the Royal Navy.
Retired crew members
[edit](In alphabetical order)
- Carl Gannon: General operations.
- Bob Meadows: General operations.
- Richard Truitt: Vice president of The corporation.
Deceased crew members
[edit]- Jerry Pulaski: General operations.
- Mike Trono: General operations/helicopter pilot in training. Former US Air Force Pararescue.
- Tom Reyes: General operations.
Antagonists
[edit]- Golden Buddha: China, Stanley Ho, Ling Po, Marcus Friday, Winston Spencer
- Sacred Stone: Aleimain Al-Khalifa, Halifax Hickman
- Dark Watch: Anton Savich, Shere Singh
- Skeleton Coast: Congolese Army of Revolution, Daniel Singer
- Plague Ship: Responsivists, Zelimir Kovac, Thom Severance, Adam Jenner (a.k.a. Lydell Cooper, Ernst Kessler)
- Corsair: Unnamed terrorist leader (alias Suleiman Al-Jama)
- The Silent Sea: China, Argentina, Argentinian 9th Brigade, Phillipe Espinoza, Jorge Espinoza, Raul Jiminez
- The Jungle: John Smith (a.k.a. Abdul Mohammed), Gunawan Bahar, Al-Qaeda of the East, a quantum computer
- Mirage: Pytor Kenin
- Piranha: Admiral Dayana Ruiz, The Doctor (a.k.a. Lawrence Kensit)
- The Emperor's Revenge: Sergey Golov
- Typhoon Fury: Salvador Locsin
- Shadow Tyrants: Nine Unknown Men
- Final Option: Zachariah Tate
- Marauder: April Jin, Angus Polk and Lu Yang
- Clive Cussler's Hellburner: The Pipeline
- Clive Cussler Fire Strike: Heather Hightower, Jean-Paul Salan, Kalid bin Salman
- Clive Cussler Ghost Soldier: The Vendor
Others
[edit]- Langston Overholt IV: CIA officer who funnels jobs to the corporation and provides covert information
- Fiona Katamora: United States Secretary of State
- St. Julien Perlmutter: Scholar with expertise on the marine history on nearly three hundred thousand ships and shipwrecks
- Dirk Pitt: Friend of Juan Cabrillo and head of NUMA
References
[edit]- ^ "Clive Cussler's Hellburner by Mike Maden: 9780593540640 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com.
External links
[edit]- The Oregon Files official website
Oregon Files
View on Grokipedia- Golden Buddha (2003, with Craig Dirgo)[1]
- Sacred Stone (2004, with Craig Dirgo)[1]
- Dark Watch (2005, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- Skeleton Coast (2006, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- Plague Ship (2008, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- Corsair (2009, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- The Silent Sea (2010, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- The Jungle (2011, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- Mirage (2013, with Jack Du Brul)[1]
- Piranha (2015, with Boyd Morrison)[1]
- The Emperor's Revenge (2016, with Boyd Morrison)[1]
- Typhoon Fury (2017, with Boyd Morrison)[1]
- Shadow Tyrants (2018, with Boyd Morrison)[1]
- Final Option (2019, with Boyd Morrison)[1]
- Marauder (2020, with Boyd Morrison)[1]
- Hellburner (2022, with Mike Maden)[1]
- Fire Strike (2023, with Mike Maden)[1]
- Ghost Soldier (2024, with Mike Maden)[1]
- Quantum Tempest (2025, with Mike Maden)[1]
Series Premise
The Corporation
The Corporation is a covert, for-profit private military company (PMC) that specializes in providing intelligence, security, and direct intervention services to governments, corporations, and other high-paying clients unable to address threats through conventional means. Operating as a mercenary outfit with a focus on high-risk operations, it undertakes missions involving terrorism, arms trafficking, and global sabotage, often stepping in where official agencies cannot due to political constraints.[1] The organization maintains a non-governmental status, allowing it flexibility in client selection and operational tactics while avoiding direct affiliation with any single nation-state.[4] The Corporation was founded by Juan Cabrillo, a former CIA operative, in the wake of his agency's decision to disband his specialized black-ops unit, bringing together initial members from that disbanded team who shared his vision for independent action.[5] These early recruits, drawn from military and intelligence backgrounds, formed the core of a self-sustaining entity designed to continue their high-stakes work outside bureaucratic oversight.[5] This backstory underscores the group's origins in post-Cold War restructuring, where experienced operatives sought a private framework to apply their expertise without institutional limitations.[6] At its core, the Corporation adheres to operational principles emphasizing strict autonomy, heavy reliance on cutting-edge technology for mission success, and a firm moral code that prohibits harming innocents or engaging in unethical contracts.[7] This ethical stance distinguishes it among PMCs, as it only accepts jobs aligned with delivering justice against threats beyond legal reach, often involving mercenaries described as operating "with a conscience."[7] The group's structure promotes equality among shareholders—its crew members—fostering a collaborative environment where advanced tech, such as surveillance systems and weaponry, enables precise, low-collateral interventions.[1] Funding for the Corporation derives primarily from fees earned on successful missions, supplemented by shrewd investments managed by its leadership, ensuring financial independence and the ability to sustain ongoing operations. With a global reach spanning continents and oceans, it executes contracts worldwide for clients who can meet its premium rates, positioning itself as a versatile force in international security without ties to any specific government.[1] Its primary asset, the ship Oregon, serves as a mobile base that enhances this worldwide mobility while maintaining the organization's low-profile mandate.[1]The Ship Oregon
The ship Oregon serves as the flagship and mobile headquarters for the Corporation, a private organization conducting covert operations on behalf of governments and corporations. Over the series, the Oregon has undergone upgrades and replacements, maintaining its core deceptive design while incorporating evolving technology.[8] Externally, it is meticulously disguised as a dilapidated tramp freighter to evade detection, featuring a rust-streaked hull with faded black paint, artistic applications of rust effects, scattered rusting equipment and cables, and a smokestack emitting oily black fumes.[9] Ballast tanks allow the vessel to lower its profile, simulating a heavily loaded cargo ship and enhancing its unassuming appearance as a decrepit lumber hauler or nondescript steamer.[9] Internally, the Oregon contrasts sharply with its exterior, boasting luxury accommodations comparable to a five-star hotel, including richly carpeted decks, exotic wood paneling, designer furniture, plush crew cabins with no distinction between officers and enlisted personnel, a dining room, full gymnasium, recreation areas, and a running track.[9] The ship is divided into three primary levels: the lowest houses the engines, machine shops, armory, and a three-deck-high moon pool—a specialized compartment with sliding hull doors that facilitates deployment and recovery of submersibles such as the Nomad 1000 and Discovery 1000, along with diving gear.[9] The middle level contains communications suites, weapon control systems, and a library, while the upper level includes additional living quarters and support facilities like a clinic, conference room, and a "Magic Shop" for fabricating disguises and costumes.[9] A central command center features advanced computers, automated controls, flat-screen monitors, and satellite uplinks for real-time intelligence and coordination.[9] Propulsion is provided by four magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) drives that utilize seawater as the working fluid, enabling whisper-silent, vibration-free operation and top speeds of up to 62 knots.[9] These systems are powered by superconducting magnetic cores cooled to near absolute zero with liquid helium, which generate electricity from the seawater, granting the Oregon exceptional endurance and the ability to operate indefinitely without frequent refueling.[10] The MHD configuration also allows for sharp maneuvers and stealthy positioning, critical for evading pursuit during operations.[11] The vessel's advanced armaments rival those of major naval warships, including railguns for high-velocity precision strikes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles, Stinger man-portable air-defense systems, mini-rockets, torpedoes, and deployable Predator drones armed with missiles.[9][11] A 120mm cannon and chain guns mounted on support aircraft further augment its offensive capabilities.[11] Defensive systems include electronic countermeasures (ECM) jammers, anti-missile defenses, and an experimental radar-reforming technology that can render the ship invisible to radar or redirect incoming targeting signals.[9] The reinforced hull provides additional protection against impacts and projectiles, allowing the Oregon to withstand direct engagements while maintaining operational integrity.[9] As a versatile mobile base, the Oregon supports insertions, extractions, and direct interventions by housing specialized equipment such as speedboats, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles, while serving as a secure platform for planning and execution of global missions.[9] Its combination of stealth, firepower, and self-sufficiency enables the Corporation to respond rapidly to threats without reliance on external infrastructure.[9]Publication History
List of Novels
The Oregon Files series consists of 19 novels published primarily by G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House, spanning from 2003 to 2025.[2] The series began with collaborations involving Craig Dirgo and transitioned to co-authors Jack Du Brul, Boyd Morrison, and Mike Maden, with each book featuring the Corporation's high-seas adventures led by Juan Cabrillo.[12] Below is a chronological list of the novels, including publication years, co-authors, and brief non-spoiler descriptors.- Golden Buddha (2003, with Craig Dirgo): The Corporation undertakes a daring mission to acquire a legendary golden artifact in Southeast Asia.
- Sacred Stone (2004, with Craig Dirgo): Cabrillo's team races to secure a biblical relic amid international intrigue in the Middle East.
- Dark Watch (2005, with Jack Du Brul): The crew confronts ruthless pirates threatening global shipping lanes on the high seas.
- Skeleton Coast (2006, with Jack Du Brul): An expedition along Africa's Skeleton Coast uncovers a deadly secret tied to lost treasure.
- Plague Ship (2008, with Jack Du Brul): The Oregon intercepts a luxury liner carrying a mysterious and lethal cargo.
- Corsair (2009, with Jack Du Brul): The team searches for a missing heiress entangled in a web of corporate espionage.
- The Silent Sea (2010, with Jack Du Brul): Cabrillo investigates a vanished submarine in the icy depths of the Southern Ocean.
- The Jungle (2011, with Jack Du Brul): Deep in the Amazon, the crew battles environmental threats and hidden dangers.
- Mirage (2013, with Jack Du Brul): A high-tech illusion leads the Corporation into a confrontation over experimental weaponry.
- Piranha (2015, with Boyd Morrison): Civil war erupts in Brazil as the team navigates a conflict involving advanced drone technology.
- The Emperor's Revenge (2016, with Boyd Morrison): A deadly virus outbreak sends Cabrillo on a global hunt for its cunning originator.
- Typhoon Fury (2017, with Boyd Morrison): The crew pursues a rogue admiral wielding a catastrophic weather weapon in the Pacific.
- Shadow Tyrants (2018, with Boyd Morrison): Ancient secrets empower modern tyrants, drawing the Oregon into a battle for world order.
- Final Option (2019, with Boyd Morrison): Drug lords unleash a new peril, forcing Cabrillo to strike back from unexpected quarters.
- Marauder (2020, with Boyd Morrison): A distress call from the Arctic pulls the team into a clash with a ruthless mining conglomerate.
- Hellburner (2022, with Mike Maden): The Corporation targets a Mexican drug cartel after a failed raid claims one of their own.
- Fire Strike (2023, with Mike Maden): The crew extracts an operative in Kenya, uncovering a deadly plot involving hypersonic missiles and genetically engineered mercenaries.[13]
- Ghost Soldier (2024, with Mike Maden): The team uncovers a U.S. military conspiracy during a deadly war game simulation.
- Quantum Tempest (November 18, 2025, with Mike Maden): Cabrillo faces assassins and a ghost ship in a race to thwart a threat from his past.[14]
