Home Goes The Warrior

by Jeff Noonan

  “I know, Papa. I guess my exact location isn’t really a big thing.” Fedya didn’t really want to have to sit through one of Papa’s famous tirades right now.

  “Okay, my son. But let me repeat: Do not allow our mission to be revealed under any circumstances. Is that understood?”

  “We understand, Papa.”

  The meeting was over.

  CHAPTER EIGHT - THE SHIPYARD

  he next morning Lee and Maggie prepared for their adventure to end as Maggie packed to fly home and Lee put on his dress blue uniform. He was going to take Maggie to the airport, then report to the shipyard for duty after she was on her way. It was a somber pair that packed and checked out of the beautiful old hotel.

  They were silent as Lee maneuvered his Mustang through the traffic and onto the freeway leading south to the airport Once they were on the road, Maggie spoke up. “Lee, I’m going to put in for a transfer as soon as I get back to San Diego. There’s openings at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, and I’ve been stationed in the San Diego hospital for over three years. I know that I can get transferred here. Heck, no one ever asks to leave San Diego and go to Philadelphia, so I know it’ll work.”

  She paused to chuckle, and Lee broke in on her thoughts. “Why would you do that? We can get together occasionally, and this assignment of mine won’t last forever. We will be back together before you know it.”

  “No, Lee. We’re a team now, and you’re here. Not only that, but you may be in danger and I’m not leaving you here alone to face that. I’ve been thinking about this since we ran into Bruno that day. I’m not changing my mind. I’ll get myself transferred here as soon as possible. Then we can fight together, if any fighting is needed. I told you last night that I love you, and that’s the truth. I’m leaving this morning, but I’ll be back soon.”

  Lee drove on silently, absorbing this idea. He knew that there were times he couldn’t sway Maggie, when her mind was closed to any arguments. Her tone said this was one of those times. He was trying to think of something to say that might delay her and possibly keep her out of danger when she interrupted his thoughts.

  “I just have one request, sweetheart.”

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “Please don’t go out to see your old home or anything like that until I can be back here and go with you. Please?”

  The request startled Lee. He hadn’t even thought about the old home recently. But, after his reaction last night in the Warwick, he understood her logic.

  “Okay, lover. But I don’t intend to break down and bawl when I see it. Just want you to know that.”

  He smiled at her as she replied, “Thank you”.

  They pulled into a high-rise parking garage at the airport, unloaded her suitcases, and proceeded across an enclosed bridge to the main airport, walking arm in arm. They made a handsome couple, he in Navy blues heavily decorated with service ribbons and Maggie in a black pants-suit and white blouse.

  They were about to enter the main airport when they passed a group of young people sitting on the floor at the end of the bridge. One of them was playing a guitar and the group was idly listening. Lee smiled at the sight. He had always loved guitar music and folk songs.

  One of the men sitting in the circle around the singer jumped up, facing Lee and Maggie. Looking at Lee, he snarled, “What’re you grinning at, baby killer?”

  Startled, Lee stopped short and just stared at the man.

  “I said, what are you grinning at, baby killer?” He was even louder this time. People all around them were stopping to watch now. Lee stiffened and took a step toward the man, who took up a karate stance facing Lee.

  Maggie jumped in front of Lee, placing her hands on his chest. “No sweetheart. You don’t need any publicity. Allow me.”

  With that, she turned to face the man, who was larger than Lee, but softer around the middle. She walked toward him. The man relaxed and started to chortle. “Look, the baby killer’s whore is unhappy. Isn’t that too bad?”

  Those were his last words for some time. Maggie’s right foot caught him solidly in the groin. The air whooshed out of him as he doubled up. But before he could double all the way, her knee caught him in the face, whipping him upright. Then her right hand chopped across his windpipe and he fell backward, landing on the group in the circle, gagging.

  A stunned silence fell over the crowd that had gathered. Maggie turned, her hands on her hips, and stared at the people surrounding the man on the floor. Slowly she extended her right hand, motioning with her fingers in a beckoning gesture as she quietly said, “Next.” The guitar player’s circle disintegrated as the group distanced themselves from the Amazon in front of them.

  Then a nearby businessman who had observed the whole scene, shouted “Hooray!” and started clapping. The crowd followed his lead, clapping and yelling their appreciation of this woman who had done what many of them would have liked to do.

  Maggie rejoined Lee, and they continued down the passage. Lee was grinning from ear to ear. “Remind me of this if I ever get out of line will you?” He was proud of his woman. She smiled up at him and he bent to kiss her as they walked farther into the airport.

  “Now I’m really happy that you’re coming back. I can use that kind of backup!” They were still laughing as she checked her luggage and boarded the plane.

  The shipyard commander, Captain Warren Jones, was a large, jovial man. But he wasn’t particularly happy today. “I’m not sure why you’re here, Mr. Raines. Oh, I heard all the bullshit that the FBI guy had to say, but I don’t think that we have any problems here in the shipyard. They already investigated once, but they found nothing, and their investigation just petered out. When they left, I put my civilian counterpart and a team he hand-picked from the most experienced yard workers on a special detail, investigating to see if they could find anything that the FBI missed. They came up empty. So then the FBI tells me that you’re coming here to do what none of us could. I wish you well.”

  Captain Jones had to stop for breath. Lee had been listening intently to him through this tirade, and now he took the opportunity to speak. “Captain, I apologize if you’re somehow offended by my assignment. Believe me, I didn’t ask to be here. If everything is as black and white as you think, I shouldn’t be here very long.” He was going to continue, but the captain held up his hand to stop him.

  “Mr. Raines, I’m sorry if I made you feel responsible for this mess. I don’t blame you. I blame the FBI for stirring up this witch hunt in the first place and I blame them for sending a person with your background here. An officer that is typically assigned to a Navy shipyard is normally an EDO5, and they’re specifically trained in shipyard processes and shipyard paperwork. You don’t have that training, so I don’t know how you will ever find anything that the trained professionals missed. Not your fault, but not a good assignment. I think the FBI guys were distracted by your wartime record and forgot that this investigation is a technical matter, not a battlefield action.” Again he ran out of breath and paused to breathe heavily. He apparently wasn’t in the best physical shape.

  Again Lee took advantage of the opportunity. “You’re probably right, Captain. But I’m here now, and I have to try to do the job that I’ve been given. It may be a wild goose chase, but, if it is, I’ll figure that out soon enough and will ask to get out of your hair. But since I’m here, where do you want me to officially be working?”

  Captain Jones finally sat back in his chair and relaxed. “You’re right, Lieutenant. I know that. I just wanted you to hear what I think of this. Now that I’ve had my say, I do want you to know that I’ll do everything in my power to help you. If there is any chance that our Navy is being ripped off, it’s our job to stop it. So I’ve given a lot of thought to how to best put you in a position in the yard that’ll enable you to do the job you came here to do. Here’s my plan.”

  Again he stopped. This time, Lee waited until the captain caught his breath and continued, “In the shipyard there’s a gr
oup of civilian engineers and technicians responsible for overseeing all of the electronics, weapons, and aviation-related work in the shipyard. They also supervise the testing and certification of those shipboard systems. This group is known as the Combat Systems Office, Shipyard Code 190. The office has about a hundred and fifty people and is normally headed by an EDO with electronic engineering credentials. But our last Combat Systems Officer, a captain, was transferred suddenly and hasn’t been replaced. I’ve let the billet stay open because the other Navy guy in the group is a warrant officer who’s doing a terrific job there. Code 190 is operating better under this warrant officer than it has for years.”

  Again the pause. “My plan is to assign you as the Combat Systems Officer. I will leave the warrant officer, CWO-3 Tim Connors, there as your assistant. He can continue doing the job, and you’ll be free to chase ghosts for the FBI. Of course, you’ll have to do some token work to keep the disguise in place, but I think Connors will probably do most everything anyway. That’s just the way he is. In the meantime, if you need anything from me, just holler. I’ll be here for you when you need me. Any questions?”

  This time Lee didn’t wait for the captain to catch his breath. “Yes sir. I’ll need to get around the shipyard and meet people. Can you send me around to meet people and disguise it as an official indoctrination? You can say that, since I’m not an EDO, you’ve decided to give me a shipyard-wide training period. I’ve put together a list of shops and offices in the shipyard where I’d like to meet the people and see their operations. If you put this out at a staff meeting or something, then I’ll schedule myself and grudgingly do the training that you’ve assigned.”

  The captain’s demeanor relaxed and he actually laughed aloud. “Grudgingly, eh? I like that. Let me see your list.”

  Lee handed it to him. “There may be other places that you’d recommend. We can add to the list wherever you think we should.”

  Captain Jones scanned the list, then bent his head to study it closely. “How did you come up with this list, Raines?” Lee noticed that he had dropped the more formal “Lieutenant” and “Mr.” from the name. Perhaps he’d finally made a bit of an impression on the older man?

  “I just sat down with a shipyard phone book and worked out the places where I thought a scam could be run, or helped to run. But we should probably also add the production department shops that work on the combat systems equipment, since I’m going to be assigned to Code 190.” The captain made notes in the margins of the sheet in front of him.

  Finally he looked up. “Raines, this makes a lot of sense. I have a weekly staff meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please attend along with Connors. I’ll introduce you then, and we’ll let them know about your indoctrination.” He paused for a long time, obviously lost in thought. Lee didn’t interrupt. Finally, the captain skewered Lee with a look that betrayed the fact that Warren Jones was a lot smarter than the jolly giant he let the world see. “I may have to revise my thoughts on this investigation of yours.” He waved the list Lee had given him. “This tells me that you’re a lot more ready for this job than I expected you to be. Now I’m interested, and I’ll be watching to see what happens. Please let me know if you need help.”

  Again the characteristic pause, which Lee was starting to suspect was just a ruse to allow the captain to gather his thoughts. “Why don’t you drop in on the combat systems office this afternoon and get settled there? They’ve been told that you’re coming, so they’re expecting you. I’ll see you at the meeting in the morning.” He reached out to shake Lee’s hand and gave him a hearty, “Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Raines!”

  Lee exited the captain’s office and asked his secretary, a tall competent-appearing woman, where he could find the combat systems office. He was surprised to find that it occupied the building next to the one he was in. In fact, he found out later that the captain could see into Lee’s first-floor conference room from his second-story office window.

  Lee walked next door and entered his new office building.

  “You must be Lieutenant Raines! We’ve been expecting you! Welcome to combat systems!” The voice startled Lee, hitting him before his eyes had adjusted to the gloom of the old office building. Smiling, he shielded his eyes and peered at the person greeting him.

  “Hello. Glad to be here!” His eyes slowly came into focus. The woman who had greeted him was coming toward him holding out her hand to shake his. She was a medium-height, big-boned person, but her sweater and mini-skirt clearly showed that she wasn’t overweight. Still smiling, Lee took her hand and shook it, covering it with his left hand in a very friendly gesture. She smiled at this and then pulled back.

  “My name is Jane Herperowski. I’m your secretary, but you have to share me with Warrant Officer Connors and the Chief Engineer, Mr. Eckert. Come on in and I’ll get you settled. Conner and Eckert are at a meeting out in the shipyard, so you have some time to get your act together before they show up.” This all came out in a steady stream as she led him in to an office just to the right of the doorway where he’d entered.

  Lee’s office was in the front of the building on the opposite side of the reception area from the desk where Jane had been sitting. He noticed immediately that, from her seat, she would be able to watch everything that happened at his desk unless he closed his door. I’ll have to watch and see if this is a problem. He didn’t like the office layout, but now wasn’t the time to start making abrupt changes.

  Jane’s chatter never eased as she led him into his office. “I’ve copied the organization chart and put together a briefing packet for you. There are brief bios of each of the division managers, the action items from our recent staff meetings, and a bunch of other stuff that I thought you might be interested in seeing. Whenever you want, I can take you around the office and introduce you. Just let me know.”

  She paused, and Lee finally got an opening. “Thanks, Jane. I think I’ll look over your info packet first. Then I’ll give you a holler, and we can look around. Thank you for putting this all together.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll be at my desk if you have any questions.” With that she left, half-closing the door on her way out.

  Lee peeled his coat off and tossed it over a chair in front of the desk. Then he sat and began seriously studying the information that Jane had prepared for him. The organization chart drew his attention first. There were four divisions in the combat systems office; weapons division, electronics division, engineering division, and coordination division. Additionally there were three staff positions reporting to him: Executive Secretary Jane Herperowski, Chief Engineer Roy Eckert, and Chief Warrant Officer Tim Connors. From the looks of it, he and Connors were the only military people in the organization. All the rest were civil servants ranging in grade from GS-4 typists to the only GS-14, Roy Eckert. There were 155 people in the organization.

  Turning away from the organization, he then went through the papers Jane had assembled. He found that he had three personnel recruiting actions to handle, as well as one discrimination complaint. Nothing unusual there. Then he went through the weekly reports that each division prepared. He found that the ships under overhaul in the yard were mostly in reasonable shape, with nothing he could see that was abnormal in their overhauls. One of the ships in the DLG modernization program, USS King, was reporting some pretty serious problems with the overhaul of its Terrier guided missile systems. That caught Lee’s eyes. The FBI had suspected financial irregularities in these ship modernizations and now the combat systems office’s reports were telling him that all was not well here. Perhaps he needed to take a long hard look at this ship.

  His musing was cut short by the boisterous return of Eckert and Connors. “Yo, Janie! Did you miss us?” The man doing the talking was wearing Navy khakis, so Lee assumed he was the warrant officer, Connors, that the captain had told him about.

  Jane shot back immediately with, “Why? Did you go someplace?”

  Connors was a trim, athletic-appearing man of mediu
m height, but what caught the eye about him was his flaming red hair. It was matted down right now, having just emerged from under a shipyard hard hat, but Lee could tell that it was a good bit longer than that of most naval officers. Eckert, on the other hand, was a tall, good-looking man with dark hair and a bashful smile that right now was turned to catch the banter between Connors and Jane.

  Lee stepped out of his new office to meet the two and obviously startled them. Connors recovered swiftly and came forward with his hand extended. “Lieutenant Raines, I assume? I’m Tim Connors.”

  Lee took the proffered hand and smilingly answered the query. “Yep, I’m Lee Raines. Glad to meet you, Tim.” Then he turned to Eckert and this time took the initiative, holding his hand out to the taller man. He noticed that Eckert seemed a bit tense, possibly apprehensive. He looked somehow very tentative as he slowly came forward. But once he had shaken Lee’s hand, he seemed to relax somewhat and was very cordial as he spoke.

  “Hi. I’m Roy Eckert. I’m happy to meet you.” He then seemed to withdraw, standing behind both Connors and Jane, who had come forward as if to perform the introductions. Lee had the passing thought that either Roy was very shy or he was somehow dreading having Lee in the office.

  Lee took the initiative and said, “C’mon in, guys. I’m tired of reading about this place. I’d like to hear your thoughts and start learning something about reality here.” Connors grinned at him and followed him into the office. Eckert was right behind him.

  Jane stuck her head in long enough to ask, “Can I get coffee for any of you?” Receiving a negative response from everyone, she closed the office door and left them.

  Eckert took a chair in front of the desk as Lee walked around the desk to take his seat. Connors, headed for the other empty chair but noticed Lee’s coat, casually slung over the back of the chair.