by Ricky Sides
“You’re welcome. Care to share?” the engineer inquired.
“Sorry, Max, but I’ve got to get to the Constitution,” Jim said, and then he left running.
***
An hour after the conversation between Jim and the engineer, utilizing the sophisticated video and radio equipment of the Constitution, the peacekeepers began broadcasting a warning that the pirate fleet was approaching Washington, and possibly the southern states. The message was broadcast on all the normal peacekeeper radio and video outlets. Over the years that the peacekeepers had been established, a growing number of Americans had taken to tuning in their broadcasts. First by radio, but in recent years they had managed to broadcast video as well.
Now, the day before the attack on the city, the peacekeepers broadcast the warning.
The video opened with a solemn faced Jim Wilison appearing before the camera. Pointing toward the giant flag and the Washington Monument, Jim said softly, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your heritage, but men are coming to this city soon to try to take our national treasures.” The scene shifted to an overview of the massive fleet heading toward the city. Then it shifted again to a scene that included battle footage of some of the ships being attacked. The cameras also captured the downing of several fighters, and the rescue of the captured pilot. The video then changed to a scene filmed from across the river. It was the raising of the giant American flag to the right of the Washington Monument.
The presentation then switched back to Jim as he said, “We will be fighting them here, but there are things that you can do to assist in the defense of America. If you live in a coastal city, be vigilant. There is also a southern fleet that we hope we’ve discouraged from entering the Gulf of Mexico, but we can’t know if we have been entirely successful. We need you to watch for the ships. If you spot the enemy, then contact a peacekeeper outpost and let us know. Your warning could save lives, and I can’t overstress the importance of that. This message will be rebroadcast every hour for the duration of this emergency, or until the enemy terminates our ability to transmit it. Thank you, and God Bless America.”
The video feed then switched back to a perspective from across the river, but this time it was a night scene. It centered on the illuminated Washington Monument and the giant American flag, which was flying stoutly in the wind. Then the Star Spangled Banner played. It was the entire version and not the partial version always performed at sporting events. The flag rippled in the wind as the national anthem played in the background. In small pockets of civilization all across America, people who had the capability watched that video. In many cases, men and women got to their feet as they listened to the national anthem.
The peacekeepers had alerted Bob Reager to the impending broadcast. In a hastily assembled gathering at Reager Industries, the men and women who had been so instrumental in the defense of America in the past spontaneously got to their feet. A few veterans sprinkled among them saluted the flag. One man voiced the sentiments of many when he said, “If I was just ten years younger, I’d go fight with them.”
When the video ended, Bob Reager stood up and said, “I think I speak for us all when I say that we’d all like to help the peacekeepers, but we really can’t help them during the coming battle. However, this does serve to illustrate the need for the battle fortress that is currently under construction. In the coming days, I intend to sit down with the board of directors and see if we can hammer out some sort of arrangement that will permit us to supply the peacekeepers with the alloy they need to complete that fortress project on an “at cost” basis. I think we must do that, because America needs the protection that we can help the peacekeepers provide.”
The employees applauded the statement. They were well aware that the company could ill afford to give the peacekeepers the massive quantities of the alloy they needed for the battle fortress. In the wake of the fall of the government and the natural disasters, such a magnanimous gesture on their part would stall the steady progress the company was making in recovering from the economic collapse of America.
In other areas of the country, men and women watched that video and discussed it with their neighbors who had missed it because they lacked the capability to view it or hadn’t been home when it aired. When it was rebroadcast as promised, the second viewing of the video had a much larger audience. By the fourth broadcast, people who had access to the news were inviting friends who didn’t have such access to watch it with them.
Meant to serve as an alert that would cause people in coastal cities to become vigilant, and thus free up some fighter patrol assets, the video had other, more long-term consequences. Across America, people began to seek out peacekeeper outposts to volunteer for service.
Aboard his ship, Captain Bran Lynch watched the video with interest, but his interest was centered on the defensive works he could make out in the background behind the man who was addressing the people of America. In addition, he intuitively understood he was one of the men that he would have to defeat.
“That’s a big flag,” the first mate observed.
“I am going to want that flag when we take the city, and we will take it,” Bran stated with such quiet assurance that the first mate stared at him in surprise.
“You’ll soon see why I’m so certain of victory. Let them come at us, if they have the courage, but as surely as I am sitting in this chair, tomorrow night we will be ashore in Washington. Now, make certain the gunners know not to target the monuments. Some of the Arabs are willing to pay vast sums in trade goods in exchange for certain sections of those monuments. We have an offer of six tankers of crude oil for Lincoln’s head,” Lynch explained. He turned back toward the video, which was frozen on the scene with the giant American flag. “But that flag is personal. Through their support of the United Kingdom, the Americans denied my nation its independence. I think it fitting punishment that I take the symbol of theirs.” His eyes glared with malevolence as he said, “I want that flag!”
Bran waited some few minutes past the time that his first mate had left, and then he looked at his watch and frowned. He would still have to wait another few minutes for the radio contact that he needed to make.
At the appointed time, Bran made his radio contact. He was assured that the weapon was functional and would be ready when needed.
***
“You are restless tonight,” Maggie said to Pete when she found him outside the ship staring up at the stars.
Turning to face his wife, Pete held out his arm in an invitation for her to join him. She slid beneath his arm as she usually did when he made such a gesture. “I’m glad you found me,” Pete said. “I was just thinking that everything would be perfect if you were here with me to enjoy this view.”
“What a romantic thing to say,” Maggie said as she slid her arm around his waist.
Maggie tilted her head back and looked at the stars. Seeing them in the sky reminded her of the night she had seen Pete walk away from her tent after visiting the dying private named Dale. Prior to that night, she had not realized just how deeply Pete felt for the people who’d followed him into the survivalist lifestyle, but she’d seen it in his eyes, and to this day she could picture him walking away alone into the darkness. He had stopped that night to stare up at the stars. For a moment, she had been tempted to join him on that night. He had looked so forlorn and lonely that her heart had gone out to him as he had walked away into the darkness.
She snuggled against his arm and asked him when he was going to come to bed. When he looked at her quizzically, Maggie grinned impishly and said, “I want to snuggle with my man tonight.”
“Now, I think a man would be a fool to turn down that invitation,” he said and then he kissed Maggie tenderly.
“Thank you,” she said when he broke the embrace. “I presume that’s for not nagging you about staying here.”
“Then you’d be wrong. That was for making this a perfect night.” Looking at her out of the corner of his eye, while he survey
ed the area around them, the ever vigilant Pete added, “I figured you were too tired from all of the work you’ve done setting up field medical stations today, so I wasn’t going to bring it up, but I’d love to snuggle tonight myself,” Pete explained.
Maggie nuzzled his neck playfully and said, “I’m not that tired, lover.”
***
Evan and Lisa were walking back to the Valiant, hand in hand, when they encountered Pete and Maggie, who were heading for their cabin aboard the Constitution. Evan was about to call out to Pete, who hadn’t seen them, but Lisa whispered for him to let them go without stopping them. “They are holding hands,” she said as if that explained her reasons. Seeing the confusion on Evan’s face by the light of the stars and the moon, she added, “They do that when they are going to bed to make love.”
Evan’s face turned red with embarrassment. “Lisa!” he exclaimed.
“Well, they do, Evan. I learned as a kid not to disturb them when I saw my parents holding hands. With their schedules, they don’t often have time for intimacy,” she explained.
By now, Evan was curious, so he asked, “How’d they pull that off when they shared a cabin with you?”
Lisa shrugged and then said, “I learned to watch for the signs. If I was aware they needed some time alone, I made an excuse to go aft and hang out with the strike team or with you for a while.”
Evan grinned and confessed, “I did the same when Mom and Dad gave each other a special smile. With my folks, it was always that way. One would look at the other and smile this special smile. It started with the eyes and slowly traveled to the rest of the face. When the other noticed, they would begin to get that same smile on their face. I’d know I needed to make myself scarce for a while. I generally went for a talk with Pete if he was available. Of course, I also went looking for you more than a few times. I really enjoyed your company once you began to relax around me.”
Lisa reached out and caressed Evan’s face. “You put up with me when I didn’t trust anyone. I don’t know where you found the patience, but I’m glad you did. Thank you for being there for me,” she said, and then she kissed him.
Evan returned her kiss. When their lips parted, he leaned his forehead against hers; subconsciously mimicking a gesture that he had seen Jim doing with his mother upon numerous occasions.
“We don’t have to wait if you don’t want to, Evan,” Lisa said quietly.
Evan knew what she was referring to without the need to ask for clarification. “Are you ready?” he asked clumsily. Realizing how that sounded, he quickly added, “I mean, do you feel the need that strongly?”
“I’m not sure, Evan, but I don’t want to make you wait forever for me. I know boys feel the need more than girls,” she explained.
Evan smiled at Lisa and kissed her again, but when he broke the embrace, he said, “We’ll wait. I can handle waiting. I don’t think I could live with myself if I hurt you. The day will come when we’ll both be sure. Till then, I think we need to wait.”
Lisa’s smile of relief told Evan more than her words that he had made the right decision. “Thank you for understanding me so well,” she said.
“I love you, Lisa. I just want what’s best for you,” he said simply.
“I love you too, Evan,” she said, and then she kissed him again.
“We’d better get back to the Valiant. I enjoyed our visit in the Arizona, but the Valiant feels more like home to me now,” Evan said.
Giggling, Lisa said, “That’s because we’ve piloted her and fired her weapons.”
“Not to mention stowing away and snuggling in a berth for hours,” Evan said with a grin.
Quietly, the two young people walked toward the Valiant holding hands. The guards smiled as the couple approached. “It’s a nice night for a walk,” one of the guards said to them.
“Do you men need anything?” Lisa asked. As ship brats, Lisa and Evan had often gone to the galley for coffee for the guards.
“The cook just brought us coffee, but thanks for asking, Lisa,” the other guard said.
A few minutes later, Evan saw Lisa into her berth, and then he climbed athletically into his own bed, which was directly above hers. With Evan’s help, Lisa had overcome the fear of the berths. He was beside her in moments, if she so much as whimpered in the night, causing her to wonder if he ever really slept at all. On two occasions, she had dreamed that she was once more a captive of Reggie and enclosed in the trunk of a car. Those nights, her screams had awakened Evan, who had gone to her aid. The word had spread about the reasons behind Lisa’s aversion to the sleeping berths. The crew understood when she cried out in her sleep, and Evan sat on the edge of her bunk talking quietly to her for hours after those incidents, but tonight Lisa wouldn’t be bothered by bad dreams. Instead, she dreamed of a loving and caring Evan, who was willing to wait as long as it took for his woman, and as she dreamed, her love for Evan grew.
***
In their cabin, Lina said, “Everything that can be done in advance has already been done. Come to bed, Hon, you need your rest.”
Looking up from his work at his desk, Jim turned to Lina. He noted the negligee that she was wearing, and his eyes lit up. He closed the notebook that contained his notes. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ve already been over this file five times. I’m at the point where I’m second guessing every decision I’ve made.”
“Come to bed. I’ll make you forget all about this war for a few minutes,” Lina said and then she winked at Jim, and for a while, she did.
***
Jim awoke at 5:00 A.M., as was his habit. He quietly dressed and left Lina sleeping. They weren’t scheduled to leave for several hours, so she could catch up on her rest. He knew that in all likelihood, there wouldn’t be much time for rest in the next twenty-four hours.
Jim was checking on the peacekeepers on the ground when he encountered Pete who had thought of the same idea. The two men spoke at length regarding the plans for the coming battle; then their conversation turned to their children. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this matter, Jim, and I think we should consider sending them back to one of the bases after the sea battle. In fact, I think we should send all of the females back to a base, or at the very least, have them board the Constitution. We know from experience that her multi-hulled construction can take multiple missile hits and remain airborne.”
“After reading Tim’s report of the atrocities committed by some of the pirates, I’m inclined to agree with you, Pete, but the women won’t like it,” Jim said.
“They’d like being taken captive by the pirates a lot less,” Pete observed.
“Will Bill agree to take them all aboard the Constitution without a fuss?” asked Jim.
“He suggested that alternative to me before I came outside this morning,” Pete said.
“Alright, I’ll order Lisa and Evan to report to the Constitution for drone duty there during the sea battle as well. I’ll keep Lina and Teresa with me for the sea battle, but have them transfer to the Constitution afterward. I’ll also order Jack to have Namid and Sharon transfer to the Constitution after the battle,” Jim said.
“How many female fighter pilots do we have stationed here?” Pete asked.
“I think seven or eight of the thirty-three fighters remaining are piloted by females. We have five men available. They’re the fighter pilots we rescued yesterday. The sixth is on medical leave until he recovers. I can have the five men pilot the fighters,” Jim explained.
“Agreed, but look through the rosters. See if there are men available with fighter experience. There may be some who went through the training, but weren’t selected, and we still need one or two,” Pete said.
However, Jim shook his head. “I checked that in the aftermath of reading Tim’s report. The only male pilot not attached to a fighter is Rufus Hayes, and he’s still on medical leave.”
“We’ll just have to hope they don’t get taken by the enemy,” Pete observed.
“
Do we settle for the transfer to the Constitution, or do you still want to send them to a base?” asked Jim. “We could spare an APC to handle the transportation. One less APC wouldn’t make that big a difference in our combat worthiness.”
“Don’t let their crews hear you say that,” Pete said with a grin.
“How are you feeling, Pete?” Jim asked.
“I feel great actually. Better than I’ve felt in a year. I think the constant exercise of the past few days has reinvigorated me,” Pete explained.
“It should. You must have walked the length and breadth of the mall at least a dozen times,” Jim observed. Then he said, “I miss us being on the same ship, but you and Maggie need a cabin. That’s the one drawback of the design of the Valiant.”
“Actually, I sort of like the berths, but Maggie insists we sleep together when we’re in the same location,” Pete said with a smug expression on his face.
“Lina’s the same way, or I’d give you my cabin on the Valiant,” Jim said with an equally smug grin.
“We’d best go find Jack, and then I’ll go send the kids to the Constitution,” Jim said.
“It’s getting late. I’ll go talk to Jack. That will give you more time to convince Evan,” Pete stated.
“Yeah, he may not like being transferred,” Jim stated.
“Lina’s going to be a problem as well, but maybe I’m wrong. She’s been a captive before, so she may go along with the transfer plan. As to whether or not we send them via APC to a base, we can make that decision after the sea battle. We’ll still have hours before they can arrive,” Pete observed.
Evan was with Lisa when he heard the communications officer summon him to the captain’s cabin. As the men predicted, Evan resented being transferred to the Constitution, and he made that abundantly clear to Jim. Jim surprised Evan when he shook his hand and thanked him for his loyalty to his ship and fellow crewmembers. Then Jim explained what Tim had learned from the British, regarding the pirates’ habit of taking females captive and selling them into slavery. He finished his discussion with Evan by saying, “Son, in my eyes, you are man enough to defend Lisa if the Constitution goes down. You love her, and no man will fight harder to protect a woman than the man who loves her. Therefore, I’m assigning you to the Constitution. I don’t think the enemy can take that ship down, but if they do, I am counting on you to take care of Lisa.”