From: Michael Stockton To those of you on the ML: I've edited Part 45 of G&Q in order to remove several glaring errors... chiefly the part where I left the "L" out of the term "Flag Bridge. The few lines that are stressed in capitalization may appear to be broken in that Communicator 4 does not control that well set for plain text, but this new version of Part 45 should read a bit better than what I first posted. To Suze: This part will conclude G&Q. Since G&Q is a logical extension of QUESTS FROM PALM KEY, I have decided to approach both stories as the first two books of a trilogy. I don't have a name for the trilogy just yet, and I won't begin the third book until I finish the HTML final version of G&Q so that it looks much like the version of QPK that you have in the archive. For now, plan on keeping QPK and G&Q as seperate stories. I'll get the HTML G&Q final version to you as soon as it's ready. To all: Meach has demanded that Jordan should live on in my story. I wasn't sure that I was delivering him very well, but I guess that I am. Thanks, Meach, for valuing him as an alternate character. And if you see this, write to me and tell me what was your favorite Jordan moment in either QPK or G&Q. My favorite was where he was pigging out in the chow hall at Fort Campell, and Benton grins and asks, "Hungry?" THE BATTLE OF PANAMA BAY Part 45 Of GODZILLA AND QUEST Taboga Island, Gulf Of Panama 21 April, 1998 Noon Local Time Using the same sonar equipment that Dr. Quest had earlier modified for the Battle of Vitiaz Straight, the DESRONs were now "influencing" the Western South American cell of Dr. Zin's theropods in such a way as to entrap them between Balboa and Puenta Chame, Panama. This made the target area of attack no more than twenty miles wide, and Taboga Island lay almost right in the middle of it. It was a sparsely populated, though currently evacuated little isle that was most notable as a holding area for air traffic heading into Panama City. It would also make one hell of a place at which to be in about two more hours. "Gee, Doc," Lieutenant Bennett wondered. "You're gonna be right in the thick of things here." Both Jordan and Kari smiled very bravely. "Front row seats, to be sure," he replied. "Yeah, well it isn't gonna be safe to be here." The Lieutenant was actually appalled. "Yes, we are right along the axis of fire for the fighters here. But we have to have this close-in view in order to observe the performance of Dugway's new weapons." "I wish that my bird's Mavericks had those warheads." "So do I. They will work, but how well that they do so remains to bee seen." "Oh, boy. I wish that I could stay with you, but my assignment's been changed. I'll be guarding the canal entrance." "Did you ever run into your friend from REUBEN JAMES?" "You know, we finally crossed paths just this morning. I'd been hoping to see her for the last month. I lucked out today in that my ship is heading home after we're done here. I was at Howard AFB picking up the action dispatch for that, and she just happened to also be there." "The Admiral made me aware of ROBERTS' orders while we were preparing for the flight here to Taboga. I want to thank you for flying Ina out to the Western Solomons. It would have been a long trip for her had she gone by boat." "Doc, it was good to be with her at that." "Was Commander Copeland upset that you were late at returning to ROBERTS that day?" "Please don't tell me that you know about that!" Chriss laughed in embarrassment. "Commodore Alfeld lost three of his ships to Zin's creatures in the Ceram Sea. CHOSIN was badly damaged, and ROBERTS— sitting at anchor back at Rendova, which was over a full day's steaming distance away— was the only available backup. The ship's general alarm was echoing all around the cove, alerting her crew to return with all haste for an immediate departure in order to meet up and escort CHOSIN at the earliest possible time. However, you and your helicopter and crew were far away on our medical mission. You received your captain's orders to return, but you would not until Ina had inoculated every last child on Rannonga Island." "Yeah. No. he wasn't too upset about it." Jordan's smile became a grin, and he extended his hand. "Thanks again, Chriss." "It was just one of those things that we do." But she shook on it just the same. "Stay alive to see KENNEDY, okay?" "I will. Best of luck to you both." Chriss then left, and her helicopter appeared a few minutes later, bound for the mainland. "Good woman, that one," Kari commented. "Yes. Dr. Quest is fondest of Lieutenant Pattersen from REUBEN JAMES, and I owe her as well. But Chriss is right up there with her." Kari let him alone with it for a few moments. "Do you think we're too exposed here?" she finally asked. "Absolutely," he exhaled. "But we're up high, and that protects us from the balance of Zin's creatures. An almost more dangerous problem will be our being right out in the open beneath the navy's missiles. If one of the creatures comes too close to us, and if the fighters shoot at it, well..." "...The blast and fragments won't be something we're likely to enjoy," Kari finished the sentence for him. "No." "Wonderful. I wish that we had the same escape to the sea that you and Hadji had off of Vietnam." "This isn't much higher," Jordan told her. They were standing on the end of an approximately one hundred meter long promontory that allowed them an almost 270 degree field of view out into Panama Bay. The area was bare, and the scientists were setting up a system of cameras and a transmitter that would beam the video back to the carriers, where it would be recorded by systems within both ships' CICs. The view would have been better from on top of Taboga Island, but Jordan felt best by being able to quickly escape into the sea. "Your kidding? You two jumped from this high?" Kari asked. "That's right." "This cliff has to be eighty feet high, Jordi." "The water is dense, too," he admitted. And his face reflected that it would hurt to hit it. "Oh, great." "C'mon. Let's set up the equipment." "Yes, master!" Kari grinned. "Thanks, by the way." "What for?" "For not mentioning so much as once that I shouldn't be here." Jordan put down the equipment that he was checking, walked over and took each of her hands in his own. "I don't have to tell you that I don't like your being here. You know that. You also know that I consider you to be my equal in every way, and that I trust you just as much. I need you with me here, and that takes precedence over my fear that you'll be hurt." "I'm not sure that I understand that last part." "Imp! I'm treating you like a professional! God knows that I'd rather be making love to you down there on the beach, but this just isn't the time for it." She hugged him then, and fiercely. "Damn work to do!" "My thoughts, exactly." He let her laugh about it for a moment, and then he held her out at arm's length. "Listen: Those things will be all around us, and we're right in the middle of a live fire environment. That means that one of us needs to watch our surroundings. I need for that to be you, though if for any reason I become so task saturated that any of the equipment needs your attention, I want you to be sure that you tell me so. I'll want to help you maintain our awareness at that point." "I understand. We want to survive for our beach date." "And beyond. Shall we finish this most immediate business, then?" But Kari was already tending to it. USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Flag CIC (Admiral's Combat Information Center) 1355 Local Time "Status," Admiral Pelkoffer commanded. "All ships and assigned aircraft are confirmed on station and standing by. Force Sierra confirms data transfers, and is standing by. We are receiving full data, VOX and video, from Taboga Island." "Execute Bullseye." Port Of Balboa, Panama Force Bravo... Seahawk Ava (Robin) Seahawk Oscuro (Dark Woman) Apaches Hacha (Axe) and Espada (Sword) 1355 Local Time Panama City was generally pretty, Chriss thought. It was a very sunny day, and warm, and the city was white and gleaming off to the left of the hovering Seahawk. The Port of Balboa and the entrance to the Panama Canal were below and behind Chriss, and before her was the Bridge of the Americas, beyond which was the indigo blue breadth of Panama Bay. All in all, it was stuff that was most fit for post cards, not combat. But combat was what the day was about to turn to. The four helicopters of Force Bravo were guarding both the bridge, the port, and the entrance to the Panama Canal. The Army crew aboard Hacha had the lead, and it along with Espada were armed to the teeth with TOW anti-tank missiles, the most accurate weapon that an Apache was able to carry. In turn, the two Seahawks were each armed with two AGM-65 naval Mavericks, which were quite a bit more powerful than TOWs. They were actually even more powerful than the Maverick that the air force used, which was why they were called "naval" Mavericks. They were the replacement for the Penguin anti-ship missiles that the fleet helicopters used to carry against yippee patrol boats in the Vietnam War, and they packed of full five hundred pounds of HE is a shaped charge. The air force Mavericks had warheads that weighed only about three hundred and seventy pounds in a shaped charge. HEY, THOSE OLD YIPPEE BOATS WERE NOTHIN' MORE THAN WOOD, Chriss smiled. THE NAVY KNOWS THAT MOST PATROL BOATS ARE ARMORED THESE DAYS, AND SO WE CARRY A BIGGER STICK THAN EITHER THE PENGUIN OR THE ORIGINAL AGM-65. "Bravo, Hotel. Check in." Hotel was Hatcha, of course. "Alpha," Chriss keyed up and confirmed. "Echo," Espada replied. "Oscar," Lieutenant Pattersen called from Oscuro. A few minutes later, the Hawkeye that was operating under the call sign of Mago (Magic) called up for the same thing. "Bullfighters report readiness." "Bravo, check," Hacha answered. "Charlie, check," a force of Apaches called from their coastal watch positions. "Golf, check." The first of the three DESRONs was prepared to give battle. "Hotel, check." Hotel in this case was the name for the reserve force of F/A-18 Hornets that would be operating over Isla del Rey. "Mike, check," Matador Flight responded. "Papa, check." They were a mixed force of Apaches and A-10 fighters that was guarding Panama City. "Romeo, check," Captain Andrade called from REUBEN JAMES, which was the lead ship in the second DESRON. "Sierra, check," the commander of Force Sierra called. "Tango, check," came the reply from Torero Flight. "Whiskey, check." This was from the main force of A-10s. "Yankee, check." A third DESRON was standing by, led by USS JOHN YOUNG, so named for the Gemini, Apollo, STS (first flight of COLUMBIA, no less) astronaut. "All units, stand by." "Take over for a minute," Chriss told Lieutenant Huddleston. "I got it," Natalie replied. "Dustin?" "I'm fine, and so's our ship," Warrant Officer Buck replied. Chriss then drew a deep breath and verified her surroundings. "Pilot's aircraft," she finally said. "Yours," Natalie answered. And she released the controls. "All units, execute Bullseye." Force Sierra 1358 Local Time Standing off in silence near the surface were the LOS ANGELES class attack submarines USS CHARLOTTE, USS CHICAGO, and USS KEY WEST. Each had raised a search periscope, as well as both ESM and communications masts. None could hear their targets by way of their own sonar equipment, and so Seahawk helicopters from the DESRONS were dropping DIFAR directional sonobuoys over the target creatures. The DIFARs then relayed their data back to the helicopters, the helicopters relayed their data back to the DESRONs, the DESRONS relayed their data back to the carriers, where JTIDS correlated it with data from both Mago and the TR-1 photo reconnaissance plane that was overhead tracking the animals with its FLIR and DLIR thermal systems. JTIDS then sent the updated presentation back out to Mago, to Torero and Matador Flights, to all three DESRONS, and most importantly, to Force Sierra, where presto! The Silent Service now had full baseline data on which to shoot, even without their ever having seen or heard their targets. "Friggin' cool!" an enlisted fire control technician softly commented. "Silence on board," his chief smiled and reminded him. CHICAGO was the oldest boat, and as such she had only recently been retrofitted with JTIDS. Her captain was to say the least amazed, as over his fire control team's BSY-1 display consoles he saw his targets to be selected for him by officers who were currently aboard the LINCOLN, which was operating over fifty miles away. The weapons officer spoke up, using a finger to point to his data. "Mike contact confirmed, Captain. We're to fire on this target here, and CHARLOTTE and KEY West will take on these two others." "Time to go?" the captain asked. "One minute... Mark!" "Make the tubes ready in all respects." "Tubes one and two confirmed ready, sir." "Firing point procedures." "Aye, sir. Firing point procedures." And the weapons officer set it all in motion. Fifty-five seconds later, the captain gave the final order... "Match generated bearings, and shoot!" Each of CHICAGO, CHARLOTTE, and KEY WEST had been provided with two highly secret and very special torpedoes. BUORD had taken the most advanced Mark 48 (Mod 4) ADCAP torpedo and re-designed it around an all new and incredibly lethal warhead. All of the ADCAP advantages were still in place, right down to the feedback from the weapons' built in sensors. The new warhead was, however, both hardened and in itself a totally independent second stage... one that was driven by a solid fuel rocket motor. As ADCAPs, the new torpedoes each trailed a fiber optic wire through which they could be individually guided to the target vicinity by the fire control systems operators aboard the launching submarines. The operators would then activate their weapons' own built in sonars, and the fish would then lock on and stage according to their own programming. CHICAGO and her sisters had the JTIDS baseline data, and all six new torpedoes burst from their tubes and went straight to their assigned targets. The results were spectacular. Taboga Island 1410 Local Time Jordan and Kari saw it via the TR-1 normal views: Three heavy carcasses floated to the surface. "Wow! That narrows down our problem!" he exclaimed. "The destroyers are launching!" Kari cried by way of reply. And both saw the first ASROCs rise from their ships atop steaming hot, white smoke trails. Jordan then verified the alignment and operation of their equipment, while Kari attended to their general safety by keeping her eyes on their surroundings. She saw with growing horror that the rocket launched torpedoes all fell with in one mile of Taboga Island. Seahawk Ava "Alrighty," Chriss commented. She was pulling in JTIDS as well, but from her perspective the first few minutes of the battle didn't amount to much. That soon changed, as she had a wonderfully clear view of DESRON Yankee's firing position off of the coast. Yankee was comprised of three ARLEIGH BURKE class destroys, which being quite new were top-notch war fighting ships. Each launched three ASROCs, which rose atop brilliantly lit contrails to quickly burn out, top out, then descend beneath orange and white drogue chutes. "Whoa!" Natalie exclaimed when she saw where they landed. "No kidding!" Chriss replied. "Those two need a keeper!" Torero 11 10, 000 Feet Above Puenta Chame The "keeper" was on the case. Lieutenant Dubryne was receiving JTIDS as she sat behind Commander Stiles in their F-14. She had been briefed that Jordan and Kari would be positioned within the target area, and they were indeed marked as friendlies on her tactical display. Still, she softly swore to herself at how close they were to the monsters. "Torero and Matador Flights, stand by to fire," Mago called. "You ready, Barb?" Patti asked. "Yep. Three majors are confirmed killed by Force Sierra, so we're hunting the last eight." "I love it! It means that we can do it all with SLAMERs." "Yez, ma'am." BETTER GET LOW DOWN THERE, Barbra thought about Jordan and Kari. But she had a way to help. She looked down at her keypad and typed a new data block, which she then entered into JTIDS. Once that was gone, she typed a second message... one that she left in suspension. Taboga Island Jordan heard the JTIDS audible alarm go off in his headset. He then checked his portable display... TO TABOGA: HEADS UP! INCOMING SLAMERS! TORERO 11 BRAVO "Okay, Barb." He knew who Torero 11 Bravo was. Bay Of Panama The ASROC torpedoes were hunting targets via their built in sonars. These were not modified weapons, but were instead packed full of HE. A few began to hit, and the water was disturbed as a result. The DESRONS then launched even more ASROCS, while Force Sierra stood off in reserve while their torpedo rooms reloaded with regular Mark 48s. With all of the torpedoes in the water, the creatures began to expose themselves as they ran for the safety of land in the same way that the South Pacific Cell of Zin's creatures had behaved during the Battle of Vitiaz Straight. Torero 1 Flight Matador 1 Flight And just as it was done during the Battle of Vitiaz Straight, the F-14s were flying racetrack patterns at standoff range. Torero Flight was set up perfectly, and Matador Flight closed up to just northwest of Isla del Rey. This forced the F/A-18s of Hotel to pivot around to the southwest, where they continued to remain in reserve. "Tally!" Lieutenant Clapham called. "Targets on the surface!" "No joy," a Matador RIO called. "The targets are not fully exposed." "Bullfighters, Mago. Do not fire until the targets are fully exposed. "This is way too slow," Patti said after two minutes had gone by. "Mago, Torero Lead. Request permission to close up for Mavericks." "Negative. Stand by to launch SLAMERs." "Damnit!" Patti swore after yet another two minutes. Barbra spoke up. "The ships ARE using up a lot of torpedoes. I—" "Tally-ho! Fox Five on the southerner!" someone called. "Torero 11! Fox Five on the southerner!" Barbra agreed and fired. "Mago, Torero 11! We've got two shots running on the southern target!" "Bullfighters, confirm first fire!" Mago demanded. "Matador Lead! Matador Lead fired first!" "Roger." "Tally on the northern leader!" Patti called. "Hits!" "Torero 11! Fox Five! ...Fox Five on the northern leader!" "Mago, Torero Lead has two shots running on the northern leader!" Patti reported. Barb was a little bit busy guiding TWO weapons at the moment. "Mago, Matador Lead! The southern target is down!" "Roger. Two shots running on the northern leader, and the southerner is down. Four shots fired." "Torero 12, take the lead," Patti called. She and Barbra were down to one last SLAMER. "Torero 12 has the lead." "Hits! Lieutenant Clapham called. "You nailed him, Barb! He's had it!" "Mago, Matador Lead! The northern leader is down! We need more fire support!" "Roger." WOW! Patti exclaimed to herself as she rotated aft. They had just killed two more heavies in less than a minute. DESRON Romeo USS REUBEN JAMES USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS USS GARY "Fire ASROCS!" Captain Andrade shouted. Several more rose from all three ships. Force Sierra USS CHARLOTTE "Victor contact! Firing point procedures!" the captain called while looking out through his periscope. "Set with regular Mark 48s!" the W/O confirmed. "Match generated bearings, and shoot!" Seahawk Ava Chriss wasn't on the fighter's tactical frequency, and she wasn't looking too far out to sea either. She was, however, mesmerized by a huge wall of water heading directly for the Bridge of the Americas. "Alpha, Oscar! Arm 'em up and prepare to fire!" Desiré called. "Say again, Oscar?" Natalie replied. "That's about three hundred feet of pissed off dino' underneath that wave that's coming towards us! Get ready to shoot!" "That shook Chriss back into swift sobriety. "Arm our weapons!" "We're hot!" Natalie reported. Hotel, Oscar! Get the Hogs heading this way!" "They're coming!" Hatcha replied. "He's ours for a couple of minutes, though!" "GEEZUS!" Chriss exclaimed. The thing swam right underneath the bridge. It then passed up the ship channel, and directly underneath her helicopter so that she had to rotate 180 degrees in order to follow it. "He's gonna run out of depth!" "He's gonna show himself!" Desiré agreed. "Natalie, fly!" Chriss ordered. "I got it!" "Keep it steady, Nat! ...Come on, you SOB! There you are! Fox Six! Fox Six!" True to her word, Desiré let Chriss go for the kill. "Come on, baby! Hit that mother hard!" "Impact!" Chriss called. "High order detonations!" "You nailed him, Chriss!" Natalie exclaimed. "Look at him go down!" "Nice shootin', amiga!" Des laughed over the air. "I must have crossed its shoulders and took out its heart!" Chriss replied. "Well, whatever!" "Mago, Bravo Hotel! Bravo Alpha has eliminated our problem! Call off the Hogs!" "Bravo Hotel, confirm that." "Delete one each major animal down in the Port of Balboa ship channel!" "Say again? You killed a major?" "It has to be as tall as a football field is long, Mago!" the officer aboard Hatcha laughed. "Roger." "Mago, Bravo Hotel. Bravo Alpha is winchester. She needs to RTB and re-arm." "Negative. We've got a RESCAP priority for her." "Oh, great!" Chriss exclaimed a moment later when she heard what Mago wanted her to do. "Natalie, are we transponding?" "We are." "Mago, Bravo Alpha. We are on our way. Request you notify the fighters that we'll be in their LOF." "They've got you on their tacticals. Proceed buster." "Copy buster," Chriss replied. And she sped out to sea. Torero Flight At approximately the same time that Chriss' target swam under Bridge of the Americas, CONNIE's leading four F-14s were operating in pairs of two. Toreros 11 and 12 were turning onto another strike run, as ten miles ahead of them Toreros 13 and 14 were coming off after having seen no exposed targets at all. "Nuts!" Patti swore. "Take a break and gimme control," Barbra said. "RIO's airplane." "I've got us. I'm gonna go nose down for a few seconds, okay? I want to check on Taboga." "Call Twelve." "Twelve, Lead. We're gonna come off right for a few seconds and descend." "Roger. We're gonna shoot if we can, though." "Will remain clear of your LOF," Barbra replied. She then pulled off a bit of her airplane's power and broke the nose down. "I'm head's down, Patti." "I've got our outside scan." "Okay," Barbra said. And she looked through the boot of her telescopic sight... "GEEZ!" Barbra cried when she saw what was happening on the island. She then reached down and keyed the JTIDS message that she had earlier left in suspension. "Tally-ho! Matador 13! Fox Five! ...Fox Five! "Matador 13! confirm your target!" Barbra called. "Target is on Taboga Island!" Taboga Island Jordan was looking through one of his own telescopes, concentrating heavily when he heard the JTIDS audible alarm go off in his headset. And neither he nor Kari heard or saw their immediate danger. The JTIDS display was on the ground beside them, and because he was busy she checked it... TO TABOGA: WATCH OUT! It took all of two seconds for Kari's eyes to grow wide at what she read, and no more than another second for her to turn her head and look back towards the one area of the island that had been blind to her. What she saw there by no means immobilized her, though it was a cause for immediate action. She stood up, grabbed her blissfully unaware love by the arm, turned him, and propelled him over the side of the cliff, where he then fell the eighty feet into the sea below. Kari had no problem jumping in after him, either. Torero 11 "Patti, fly! Hold our descent and heading!" "I've got the airplane!" Commander Stiles knew what was happening. "Hit! Mago, Matador 13! We have one hit on the target at Taboga! My other shot missed!" "Tally-ho! Torero 12! Fox Five on Taboga!" "That SOB's second shot impacted the ground behind the Doc!" Barbra cried. "Were they still on the island?" Patti exclaimed. "No, thank God! ...Mago, Torero Lead! We've got two survivors in the water at Taboga! Get a RESCAP heading that way!" "We're looking for one." Hit!" Torero 12 called. "Mago, Torero Twelve! Our single just finished off the target on Taboga! He's face down on the flat!" "Roger. Torero Lead, do you still see survivors?" "Affirmative!" Barbra replied. "Break for Twelve, Patti!" "All Bullfighters, Mago. We've got a RESCAP in our your A/O. Confirm your tacticals." The reports began to stream in. All aircraft and ships confirmed the presence of Chriss' helicopter on their displays, as she was forced to fly out under their continuing fire. Taboga Island Kari heard the explosions as she jumped. She even thought that she felt a bit of the blast. But the debris in the main fell into the sea with her. She was thus not terribly hurt, even though her contact with the water almost drove away her breath. Jordan, on the other hand, was just coming up for air when the shattered aftermath of the explosion fell all around him. He was struck. Kari surfaced, surprised by the automatic inflation of the life vest she'd been given for her helicopter flight. But she had more immediate concerns than that, and she began to look for Jordan right away. It only took a few seconds, since his life vest had also inflated. He was bobbing in the swells about twenty yards away, and he seemed to be unconscious. She then swam for him as if possessed, reaching him in under a minute. His head was bleeding profusely, and when she gently palpated the area of the wound, it was soft under her touch. OH GOD, NO! Still, Jordan had a pulse, and respiration, and that made it cavalry time. Kari was a strong swimmer, and she knew how to carry a water wound to shore. There was a slight sand bar about eighty yards down current from her, and she took him there. Robin flew over and landed while she was on the way, and soon Chriss and Dustin rushed into the water to help. They then laid Jordan out on the bar and began to check him. "This is bad!" Chriss commented. And she ran to her helicopter in order to report the casualty. "Not good at all, ma'am." "How were you able to respond so swiftly, Dustin?" "I have no idea. Maybe one of the fighters was looking out for you." "Well, if he lives, that person will forever be his next best guardian angel." "Do you think he's got a chance?" "I don't know. He needs help, now." "Is he able to be transported?" Chriss returned and asked. "Yes, his only injury seems to be his head." "Let's get him aboard my bird, and we'll head for the city." And they were soon on their way. "Not as many ASROCs in the air now," Chriss said to Natalie. "Whew!" Natalie then took a radio call, which she copied and gave to Dustin. He then rose from his flight engineer's seat and walked aft. "St. Jude is the trauma center here, Ms. Eskind. That's where we're going." "Thank you, Dustin." "Yes, ma'am. How's he doing?" "He's fading." "This message says that they're waiting for him. We should be there in three or four more minutes." "We'll see." Her face was wet, and it wasn't any longer so with sea water. Torero Flight 1732 Local Time "Tally-ho! Torero 11! Fox Six!" This was the last shot on the last major creature. It hit, and that brought the day to an end for the first flights. The land forces were still hunting a few minor creatures, but that didn't stop the Admiral from recalling his people. Something new had come up, and he had orders to leave. "Yeah!" Barbra shouted as the carrier arresting gear brought she and Patti to a stop. "It always feels good to be home, doesn't it?" "Especially when you haven't yet wet yourself, but you sure as hell need to!" Patti just laughed. "I don't have that problem." "Disgusting!" But for the ladies, wetting one's self in flight was the norm. If every fighter pilot was a female, Depends Adult Diapers would do a booming business. The flight deck handlers directed Patti to drive onto an elevator, where they secured her as she shut down her engines. They were taken under tow below, and were soon on their way to their lockers, and then to their rooms. The CAG soon summoned the both of them, though. And so they presented themselves before Captain Wilder. "At ease, you two." "What's up, CAG?" Patti asked. "A lot. First, LINCOLN is responding to the leftovers from Vitiaz Straight." "Yeah, we didn't get the babies, there." "No, and they've shown up in a very bad place... one where they'll need those weapons that you brought back with you." "Where's that?" Lesli told her. "Aw, hell." "Yeah. Two things that make it worse are that Dr. Carpentier is hurt and we won't be there to help them." "What?" "We don't have LINCOLN's speed, Patti. We've been ordered home." "Horestuff!" "I'll look past that gruff remark, since I tend share the same opinion that drove it. There is one possibility, which brings me to why I've called you both here. We have to send our remaining Mavericks over to our friends next door, and I thought that you two might like to go with them... and stay awhile." "You can cut my orders right now," Patti said. "Mine, too, CAG. I'll go." "All right. I'm also going to send Conger and Clapham as your wingmen." "That'll be great," Patti said. "CAG, have you heard anything about the Doc?" Barbra asked. "Yeah. They're giving him one chance in twenty." "Of a full recovery?" "No, of living. Listen: I know that it was Matador 13 who caused it. You'll be with them on NIMITZ, and I want your word of honor that neither of you will bring this issue up with them while your there." "I say again: Aw, hell!" "Your word, Patti." "Yes, ma'am. I won't cause them any problems." "And what about you?" Lesli asked Barbra. "They won't hear about it from me, Cag. You have my word on that." "I want you to tell me that you won't have it out with them on ANY issue." "They'll have no trouble at all from me Cag. You have my word of honor on it." "All right. Your step time is in exactly... seventy two minutes. You're dismissed." Both officers came to attention and saluted. They then left with a perfect dual right facing movement. Lieutenants Conger and Clapham were outside waiting to go in. "How's her mood?" Clapham asked. "Stern," Barbra told him. "You'd better go in. What she has to tell you, you'll want to hear pretty quickly. It involves flying again this evening." "Oh?" Conger asked. "Yeah." Christ Hospital Cincinnati, Ohio 21 April, 1998 2030 Local Time Benton took the news of the day in the waiting room on Jessie's floor. Everyone, including Danielle, was there, and Benton requested to hear the worst news first. Against what everyone believed, Jordan's little sister summoned her new-found powers and held on... even though what came up next hurt her just as deeply. The DIA officer who was giving the brief spared no pain. "We've received a message from Captain Marci Novy aboard USS HAYES: 'HAVE DISCOVERED NEST OF APPROXIMATELY FORTY MINOR CREATURES SOUTH OF VURANGGO ON NORTHEAST COAST OF CHOISEUL, SOLOMON ISLANDS. CREATURES RANGE FROM AS LITTLE AS THIRTY FEET IN HEIGHT TO OVER SIXTY FEET IN HEIGHT. AM ASSISTING USS RUSSELL IN EVACUATING CHOISEUL. NOVY.'" "So there are monsters in the Solomon Islands?" Trace asked. "Yes, sir. They've been doing quite a bit of killing, too." "What's our move with that and Jordi's situation factored in?" Race asked Benton. "India's need is absolute, and that's where you, Jonny, Hadji, Jeremy and I are going in Watts. We'll take the long and western way there so that we can set Trace back down on New Georgia. Amy will remain here to share the watch with Estella, and Rob and Paul will fly Dani down to Panama in Dragonfly." "That's spreading the butter for all it's worth, Benton." "Yes, Race, it is. That's why we need to end it all in India." Race just nodded. "You need me and Estella any longer? I'd kind'a like some time alone with she and Jessie before we leave." "Catch up with us at the curb in one hour. I'll call up Rob and have him update our flight plans." "Thanks, Benton." Race and Estella then left. "You're beginning to have a hard time keeping him near you, Doc." "Yes, Trace. And it's yet another reason that I'm anxious to finish all of this. It's time for that family to come back together." Benton then produced a cell phone, on which he called Robbie. "I need you to update our flight plan for Panama first. I'm sending Dani to you right now, and I expect to miss Dragonfly when I arrive there in just over an hour and a half." "Up and up, Doc. Is Amy there?" "Yes, she is." And Benton handed her his cell phone, to which she wordlessly gave him her unused one in case he needed to make other calls. The Doctor had to smile at her for that. Amy was becoming as in tune with him as Race was. "Trace, take Dani. Just don't fly off with her." "No way I'm going anywhere but to Rendova, Doc." "Come here, Dani." And Benton caught her in a hug. "Remember that I love and miss you." "Thank you, Doctor." "Go, now." And she and Trace were on their way. "What's the nearest LHD to India?" Benton asked the DIA man. "You're becoming difficult to predict, Doc," the man smiled. But he quickly checked his list of ship locations. "USS ESSEX is swapping out equipment at Diego Garcia." "Ask the President to order her to hold in place until we can figure out how to send India every helicopter that the navy can spare. I'm interested only in those that can fire Maverick missiles." "They have been surprisingly adept at obtaining effective hits with unmodified missiles, haven't they? We'll make a priority out of finding out how many can be spared, and how to get them there. Will you have any further instructions?" "I have a request." "Yes?" "Find out how good my young friend in Panama's doctors are and forward the information to me." "Yes, sir. Is he special to you, sir?" "In many ways, yes." "I'll get that info to you as a top priority." "Thank you. Please go and begin." And the DIA man then left. "Well, Hadji. Bangalore has been spared much of the problems which have plagued the rest of India. Shall we go and see that it stays just so?" "I would love to, Dr. Quest." "And what about yourself, Jonny?" "I'm ready to go, Dad." "Then let's go and pick up our things." Jessie was sleeping quietly when Race and Estella arrived in her room. Race then pulled up a chair and sat down beside her, while Estella remained standing. She knew that he'd want to speak to her outside in a few minutes. And as if right on time, five minutes later he rose, softly kissed Jessie, and because her head was turned just perfectly for it, he pulled a single white rose from one of her arrangements and placed it at what Estella knew to be the perfect distance from their daughter's nose. He then motioned for his ex to meet him outside. "You know, this is as hard as I've ever found leaving her." "I can tell." "Yeah. Would you like to get lost with us when all of this is over?" "I don't see how it's possible." "I do," Race said in a certain voice. "The tone," she smiled. "Is it out of place?" "Perhaps not. The truth is that only time will tell, or ever has told." "Then I'd better stop wasting our time. Will you accept a hug from the hopeful?" "Will YOU?" Race laughed softly at that and gathered her in. They actually closed their eyes and got caught up in it for a while. But there was still a job to do. "I gotta go an' finish off Zin's mess." And with that, Race was gone. End Part 45 Jagle ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left.