Advanced Weaponry C4

[Belisarius]

USS Theodore Rossevelt
Midnight
Heading 180 (due South)
Speed ( Fast enough that only aircraft are catching her)
Transiting the Windward passage between Cuba and Hispaniola

In the Captian's mess, the 3 highest Captians on board were eating some sandwiches and drink some tea. Captain Robert Halloway, the CO of the TR, was trying to get some idea about how to get 8 people out of harms way. Captian Jonathan 'HELLFIRE' Starmore being the CAG (Combat Air Group) CO was trying to convince the Captain that the SEALs would call if they needed help. Captain Mark Franklin, the cheif engineer, was ther just to be there. Not really, he was ther to explain to both the hazards of running the power plant the way they were doing.

" How long can the reactors stand this beating?" said HELLFIRE. "We need to slow down, so I can get more of my airplanes on this thing. Even I'm not crazy enough to land on a carrier going over 50 knots." *And hell, we were going over 60, just before we hit the Windward Passage. I wonder what Robert and the gang in Washington have up there sleeve. And why does he want to get those SEALs out of there? we are going to need them on the ground to give Intell on enemy positions. Something is not adding up.* thought the CAG.

"I've got the best engineering department this side of Star Trek Jon. They can run these reactors at this level for ever, if we asked them to. Hell, I can get this ship going over 70 knots, if I was allowed. " siad the Cheng with pride. He knew that they would try and succed, but evenetually the wear and tear would get them. He wanted to get off the coast of Colombia and start some booting some bozos heads that had attacked the US of A. In his mind, anybody who use WMDs these days was asking to be put on the Darwin awards.

"HELLFIRE, we'll slow down after we get thru the Windward Passage. I'm got to let the Engineering catch there breath before we enter the Gaunlet. You guys know that the only escorts we going to have for the next couple of days is the ships here in Carib. That one Burke , 4 SpureCans , and 2 attack submarines. We will be the only CV down here for at least a week, so we got to make sure we take every precaution to ensure our survival." said the Captian.

"So what's up with trying to get those SEALs out of there? They are the only ones on the ground who can pinpoint targets. It's what they are good at." said HELLFIRE.

"Jon, They are my People, they are in the worst hornet's nest every created by man. You've got every guerilla group attacking the goverment because of what has happened. " said the Cpatain.

"My guess is that some CIA people were targeted by the locals and just got out, right?" siad the Cheng as he sipped some of the tea. He enjoyed it. The Captain's cook outdid himself again. The tea was the right amount and the sugar was just right. He smiled as he thought about this. *It's the small things that make this life bareable. *

"Yes. The CIA is pulling out all thier non-esential people as of now. They just lost some men in Bogata from some local soliders. Whoever did this, did it well. The Colombain government is collapsing quickly. Its choas down there, and it's going to spread. Already Ecuador, Peru, and Venezula are putting thier Armed Forces on red Alert, while Panama is specail session to evoke the Alliance Treaty with us. "

"This wouldn't be about the pledge you hole yourself to, Robert?" said the Cheng even thought he knew it was a factor.

"What pledge, Captian?" said HELLFIRE said with some astonishement.

The CO of the TR looked at the Cheng as if he could make him explode. The Cheng talked before the Captian could respond.

"Our dear Captian knew Alex's grandmother and mother. In fact, they lived in the same neighborhood for some time. When Alex's family died on 9-11, he made a vow to make sure that Alex would survive to have his own children." said a rather smug cheif Engineer.

"SO that's why you've take such an intrest in the Saop Opera between AMac and Dr. Maurikous. You shouldn't let your feeling get in the way of good tactical sense." said the CAG as he swilred his glass.

"And now before you get too smug, HELLFIRE. The idea that they are allright is offthe chart, too. You're right they are the only reliable source of Intell in the area, but the bad guys know that some pissed SEALs are in thier backyard. They know that real soon, the hammer is going to stike and they will hold the nail. We need to know thier status ASAP. I doubt that for the last 12 hours thay gotten any rest. If I was FARC, my top priority would be to kill those eight men NOW." as the Cheng put his glass down.

"So How do we do that, considering Colombia is disintergarting before our eyes on TV?" said the captian.

"Hope and Pray that they figure out a way to get a hold of us, Robert. right now, A miracle needs to happen for our boys to survive the next 24 hours. " said the Cheng.

A silence came over the three as they realized that was right. A miracle would be needed for them to survive.

A knock on the door came at this time.

The Communication Officer can into the room with a perplexed face.

"What's up, Doug? Why the wierd face?" said the Cheif Engineer.

"ah Captian, you've got a video conference call." said the Commo.

"I didn't think that Washington was going to get a hold of us until we get thru the Passage. " said the Captian .

"It isn't Washington, sir"

"Then who got a hold of us, some hackers?"

"Ah, no. they got the right codes, sir. But I have no clue who they are?" as the COMMO gave his captian a sheet of paper.

It read, we need to speak. Tuatha de Danaan

A smile came to Robert's face as he started for the door. "It's allright, Doug. Not many is supposed to know about this. MAke sure that nobody spill anything about this. Set it up in here." he turned to his CAG & Cheng. "You guys need to stay here, because our miracle could have just presented itself."

The Conference equipment was set up in the Captain's Mess rather quickly. In 10 minutes, everybody but the Captain, Cheng, and CAG left the room. Then the MITHRAL sheild came up. Then a image of a simialr room to the TR 's Captian Mess, but smaller. cma to veiw. Two men came into focus.

"Richard, is that you?" said Franklin. "I thought that the sharks finally got you?" with a flourish.

"It's good to see you, Mark. I wish there was a way to get a hold you sooner, but I will explain why I can't. Captain, I am Commander Richard Mardukas, commanding officer of the Tuatha de Danaan , and this is my Special Operations Group commander, Major Aundrey Kallinin." said Mardukas in his english accent.

"So that's where the RussianFox went, too? Looks like Mithral know how to get a hold of the best." said the Captian. He knew Kallinin from stories that Peterson and the other Special FOrces people he knew told of him. The RussianFox was the best of the best of Spentaz. "So, Commander, where's your captian?"

Niether of the men from the de Danaan showed any sign that this was the case, but his men looked at him like just blew his top.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Captain. I am the Captian........." said Mardukas.

"No you are not, Mardukas. It is Teletha Testarosa that designed that ship and is now her captain. She's been the Toy Box 's captian since she was put out to sea in 02. Don't make that mistake agian, Mardukas. I know that she isn't old enough drink or vote, but she is your captian. Either you get her on line, or this discussion is at an end." said the Captian.

A MITHRAL insigniga came up. HELLFIRE looked at the CO and asked, "How do you know that wasn't the real captian?"

"I just do, HELLFIRE, and leave it at that."
***********************************************



To HELLFIRE, and RussianFox,
I hope you don't mind this infraction, but I needed some nickname for the guys and they seemed apporpiate. Especially for Kallinin. Don't let it go to your head.
When the screen came came to veiw, HELLFIRE couldn't believe it. It was a teenage girl with platnium londe hair with the equilvlent of captain 's bars shiwing on her knaki uniform. He however did a better job of kepping his emotions under control then the CHENG.

"YOu've got to be kidding. A girl is your captian. You can't be seroius. She's not even old enough to drink." said the rather loud Cheif engineer.

"I assure you, Captain. That if I wanted to I could drink. I can also captian this vessel, after all I designed her." deadpanned Tessa.

"Come now, lass. You look as if you were brought up on tea and crumpets. I doubt that you have even had a kiis from a boy yet. I've been in the USN for over 20 years and this is a riot." The Cheng looked at the CO of the TR. "This has to bee some prank. there is no way she could even know how to make a submarine sandwich, let alone design a submarine."

"Mark, leave this room at once." said Halloway with frim conviction.

"YOu can't be.........."

"I am. You just made me look like a fool in front of another Captain. One who probably shouldn't even have contacted us, you spout off like a buffon. " sadi Halloway. He wanted Mark there to be his technical adviser in the discussion between him and Testarosa, but he felt that Mark was also one who couldn't see the writing on the wall if it wasn't black and white. He wanted impartial advice, not uninformed bigotry.

Mark realized that he steped over some line that he didn't noticed. He looked at Hellfire and saw the same reaction to this. Obvoiusly, the discussion wouldn't start untill he left, he got up.

When he did, Halloway looked back to the screen. "I am sorry about that, Captain, but he is a good guy and a great engineer. "

"It is alright, Captian. While I am certain that most of the captains of the world would have the same reaction, I try to speak with my action then anything else. Like your ship's namesake." Tessa smiled a little at this point. She expected this to happen, but still was hurt by it nevertheless.

"

[Taurec]

LOL ... i think they would be honered ...

[HELLFIRE]

Rightly so *hehe*

_I_ get to talk to Tessa


Ahh, it won't get to my head... and I understand you needed some names.
Russian Fox actually suits Kalinin, and what little we know of his past.

Getting a CVN up to 70 knots? That even possible....

Keep it up Bel!







Regards

[Belisarius]

I can niether confirm or deny that any USN CVN has ever gone over 35 knots. However, my sources say that the Abraham Lincoln broke all four shafts when doing a full power run for its shakedown trial. As my source would say, "They would have been moving right along on the Interstates back home"

Considering the speed limit for the Atlanta Suburban area is 65 MPH, and nobody drive the speed limit (unless the police is there), Its possible.

I don't think that the shafts would last that long, as already noted.

Of Course, with acess to Whispereds, nobody knows.

[HELLFIRE]

...I already know about the 'no shit' story of Enterprise CVN-65 doing
40+ on trials... and that was not at 100% capacity









Regards

[Chief Petty Officer Klerk]

...I already know about the 'no shit' story of Enterprise CVN-65 doing
40+ on trials... and that was not at 100% capacity


Regards

I believe my former XO swam under that toy (while moving) and blew it out of the water in a war game between the USN and RAN. He, nor the sub he was aboard got detected eather.

(our former USN boy might have heard about that.)