Episode 31

Chapter 111

An Association Agent

6:03 am November 3^rd, 2006

I looked around.

The Philadelphia Naval Yard had been closed several years ago by a short sighted congress. But at least our friends were able to slow things down so the ships they thought were going to be sold for scrap to pay for their bleeding heart liberal programs were saved.

It was aboard one such ship that the Association had a base.

A lot of us found it rather funny that someplace this ship was listed as scraped and sold. Those traitors who thought ethics and responsible government were more important that our President's will and God Given Wishes would never think to look for us here.

Not only that, but I'm thinking those that would go looking would expect to be flaunting ourselves around and all over an entire ship. That is precisely why I sought out the most rusted, derelict looking ship in the mothballed fleet. My only requirement was that it not be in any immediate danger of sinking. On that ship, I designed operations to run out of three rooms in the bowels of the ship. The rest of the ship was to, as my orders put it, 'look like an invitation to a nautical disaster'.

I entered the room to take my post as watch commander.

The watch officer for the first room welcomed me silently.

I nodded back as I went through to the second room.

"This is weird."

The voice came from the next room.

I looked in.

One of the sensor watch officers called over his watch officer.

The watch officer came over, curious. "What is it?"

"Sir, I don't understand these readings."

The officer took a closer look. "Oh no." He raced to the deck phone. "Tell home base we have a situation!"

Chapter 112

General Colt, USMC

6:20 am November 3^rd, 2006

12:20 am November 4^th, 2006 (local time)

I heard a rustling noise in my room. I started to move around in my bed before I realized that nobody would be stupid enough to disturb me when I was trying to sleep. I think they're all afraid I'd send them to Cuba. Although that's not a bad idea.

I heard a voice in the darkness. "Excuse me sir. You need to get up."

I was wrong. Somebody WAS stupid enough.

"No. What I need to do is decide whether to have you shot before or after I eat breakfast."

Now the voice was quaking. "I've a report that your communications crew ordered me to deliver to you. They said it was vital you got it now."

"Oh, very well. What is it?"

"Crab attack."

I was incredulous. "That's it?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Crab attack." I repeated the strange message as if that would help me to make sense of it.

It didn't seem to be helping.

"You're dismissed. Now go before I remember that you woke me up."

The messenger scurried out.

Five minutes later my eyes snapped open. Crab attack??? That's the code for an attack by Stone's technology. But I thought I seized the only active one. I grabbed a phone and dialed a code. "What the hell are you guys doing? Stone is captured and there are no more ships out there of his. There can be no crab attack. His treasonous Density Force is dead."

I slammed the phone back down and went back to sleep.

Chapter 113

Ashley Cork

6:33 am November 3^rd, 2006

12:33 am November 4^th, 2006

I couldn't sleep. Nobody could find Jacob for hours now.

Make that nobody wanted to admit Jacob ever existed. Then his parents and brother disappeared.

Now I can't even find my mother. She never returned from her last search trip.

I dressed. No way I was getting any sleep before I got some answers. I was in Palestine, not the Bermuda Triangle. People simply did not disappear.

I had just finished dressing and putting things in their pockets when the room's door came crashing in.

It really annoyed me when people did that. "Hey! Didn't anybody ever teach you to knock???"

"Not for the bitch sluts of traitors they didn't."

Ooooh, they are soooooo dead. Maybe they haven't died yet. But they soon will. Horribly if I get my way on the subject.

I moved into my loosest position. The one I used in gymnastics to be able to do whatever move I needed on a moment's notice.

Six of them came charging into the room.

Pissed as I was, I was not stupid. I could not beat 6 MP's in a closed room. I looked around.

Chapter 114

Captain Makins

6:36 am November 3^rd, 2006

12:36 am November 4^th, 2006

We watched Ashley adopt some position that I never saw before. With five other MP's in this room, I didn't think I was in any danger.

She looked around like the cornered rat she was.

"Ashley Cork, you are under arrest as an enemy combatant for your actions against General Colt's proper seizure of the Montezuma's Revenge."

She had the gall to deny it.

"No. I protected the Hades from a pirate. You can't do this. It's illegal."

"Wrong. You interfered with General Colt. That was illegal. You supported Stone's refusal to submit to the right thinking factions of America. That was treasonous. Now prepare to be cuffed and dragged to the jail cell you so richly deserve."

Ashley stopped looking around, and backed scared into the window area.

"Please, no."

"Oh yes. You can't challenge the forces of America's protectors from the lecherous liberals unscathed. Get her!"

Suddenly she wasn't there anymore.

Chapter 115

Ashley

6:40 am November 3^rd, 2006

12:40 am November 4^th, 2006 (local time)

I prayed to the Olympic gods that my memories were accurate. Then I did a stupid thing. I flipped out the window I was backed up against. Two tumbles and my hands found the ledge they were hoping for. But I didn't grab for dear life like any sane teenager would. I pushed off hard and twisted to the right. Then I landed on the first floor roof at the back of the building. From there I started into a run before making my next leap. Right into the back seat of a jeep in a motor pool. I jumped into the front seat and prayed the old saying about deserts and keys was true. It was. I turned the key and hit the gas pedal. Now was the time to see if all the time I spent watching speed racer was worth it.

Chapter 116

MP Bates

6:48 am November 3^rd, 2005

12:48 am November 4^th, 2005

I watched her tumbling tricks with outright awe.

And I thought I was given the best training.

Suddenly a hand grabbed me from behind and slammed me into the wall by the window.

"What the fuck are you doing? Why the hell didn't you shoot her?"

"I couldn't shoot a civilian."

"You heard Colt say if they resisted or tried to escape, they were to be shot and left for the vultures?"

"She's only a high school girl for god's sake."

"Then for god's sake you better catch her first." He pulled out his radio and rattled off a quick description of Ashley. "Attention all units. That is the description of an escaped enemy combatant. She is to be shot on sight. I repeat shoot that bitch on sight."

Chapter 117

Valerie Dash

Personal log (voice), V. Dash, Captain of the Mary Celeste

8:12 am November 3^rd, 2006 (ship's time)

"Scotty?" I called for the ship's AI.

"Yes?"

"Get me Fred aboard the Princes of the Universe."

"Done."

"This is Captain Fred Dash aboard the Princes of the Universe, how can I help you?"

"We need to slow down."

"Why? You know why we are in such a rush."

"Yes, and so do our opponents. You forget I was in the army?"

"No, but I thought you wanted to forget."

"True. But not tonight. Right now somebody has to think with a clear head or a lot of our friends will get hurt in the crossfire."