green shirt. She smiled.
"These young individuals , as you call them, are mine." Her blue eyes blinked at him. "And who, may I ask, are you ?"
He was about to announce "I am the captain of this ship" when a sporty-looking black Volga 3111 automobile pulled toward them. Bat-sakov winced at the faces of the two FSB agents who had invited themselves on board his ship less than forty-eight hours ago and announced that he would be forced to host a floating kindergarten.
The two FSB agents, in black suits and black sunglasses, stepped out.
"Ah, Kapitan , " said the first one, whose name Batsakov remembered as Federov. "I see you and Miss Katovich are becoming acquainted." The agents walked toward the captain and the woman.
"We were getting off to a good start." The young woman locked her eyes on Batsakov again. "I'm Masha Katovich. I work for the relief organization that sponsors summer trips for these orphans." She extended her hand, as if expecting him to kiss it.
He obliged. "You aren't FSB like your friends here?" That brought laughter from her, but no reaction from the stone-faced agents.
She flicked her head toward them. "I envy their salaries and their car. I am but a mere social worker, Kapitan ."
"I wouldn't describe you as a mere anything, my dear." She had mollified his anger about the late sailing, he realized. "I shall gladly transport your orphans to wherever you wish to sail."
" Kapitan , " spoke the second one, whose name he had forgotten in the immediate glow of Masha Katovich. "Unfortunately, my colleague and I cannot sail with you. Developments in Chechnya have us occupied. You will be met by other FSB agents at the pier in Odessa. They will come onboard and bring the children off. There will be no need for you to disembark. If you choose to disembark, wait until after the ceremonies at the dockside. Meantime, Miss Katovich will assist you during the course of your journey."
"Miss Katovich is coming with us?"
"If that is okay with you, Kapitan ." She smiled at him.
"But of course. My ship is your ship."
"Then with your permission, I will round up my young individuals and get them on board. I am sure you are anxious to set sail, and apologize if we have held your ship up in any way."
"Please, bring your children aboard. And no apologies are necessary, Miss Katovich. Radimov here will assist you in finding your berthing spaces."
She smiled, nodded, stepped into the bus, then barked a command. A minute later, they emerged, like baby geese following their mother goose. One by one, in single file, holding a single linen bag with whatever possessions they owned, they marched up the gangplank and onto the deck.
Batsakov followed them up to the deck and ordered the gangplank removed.
It was time to sail.
The USS Honolulu The Straits of Sicily
10:40 a.m. local time
Pete and Frank had just finished their inspection of Torpedo One when the 1MC began blaring. "Alert one! Alert one! Incoming emergency action message! Alert one! Alert one! Incoming EAM!"
"Weps, report to your duty station!" Pete ordered the weapons officer. "XO? Come with me!"
"Aye, Captain."
They rushed back through the narrow passageways. Sailors wearing dark blue ball caps stepped back and shouted, "Make way! Make way for the captain!"
Pete stepped into the radio room. "Attention on deck!" the radio officer called.
"At ease, " Pete barked. "Where is it?"
"Here, sir."
Pete ripped the message from the radio officer's hands and spread it out on the table. Frank looked over Pete's shoulder.
EMERGENCY ACTION MESSAGE
FROM: NATIONAL MILITARY COMMAND CENTER -- WASHINGTON, D.C.
TO: THE USS HONOLULU , THE USS CHARLOTTE
SUBJECT: ACTION MESSAGE REMARKS:
Russian weapons-grade nuclear fuel confirmed missing.
Russian freighter Alexander Popovich reportedly underway from Sochi 0700 hours Zulu time this day.
Russian high command apparently unaware of presence of fuel on board Alexander Popovich .
Russian forces amassing on Chechen
"These young individuals , as you call them, are mine." Her blue eyes blinked at him. "And who, may I ask, are you ?"
He was about to announce "I am the captain of this ship" when a sporty-looking black Volga 3111 automobile pulled toward them. Bat-sakov winced at the faces of the two FSB agents who had invited themselves on board his ship less than forty-eight hours ago and announced that he would be forced to host a floating kindergarten.
The two FSB agents, in black suits and black sunglasses, stepped out.
"Ah, Kapitan , " said the first one, whose name Batsakov remembered as Federov. "I see you and Miss Katovich are becoming acquainted." The agents walked toward the captain and the woman.
"We were getting off to a good start." The young woman locked her eyes on Batsakov again. "I'm Masha Katovich. I work for the relief organization that sponsors summer trips for these orphans." She extended her hand, as if expecting him to kiss it.
He obliged. "You aren't FSB like your friends here?" That brought laughter from her, but no reaction from the stone-faced agents.
She flicked her head toward them. "I envy their salaries and their car. I am but a mere social worker, Kapitan ."
"I wouldn't describe you as a mere anything, my dear." She had mollified his anger about the late sailing, he realized. "I shall gladly transport your orphans to wherever you wish to sail."
" Kapitan , " spoke the second one, whose name he had forgotten in the immediate glow of Masha Katovich. "Unfortunately, my colleague and I cannot sail with you. Developments in Chechnya have us occupied. You will be met by other FSB agents at the pier in Odessa. They will come onboard and bring the children off. There will be no need for you to disembark. If you choose to disembark, wait until after the ceremonies at the dockside. Meantime, Miss Katovich will assist you during the course of your journey."
"Miss Katovich is coming with us?"
"If that is okay with you, Kapitan ." She smiled at him.
"But of course. My ship is your ship."
"Then with your permission, I will round up my young individuals and get them on board. I am sure you are anxious to set sail, and apologize if we have held your ship up in any way."
"Please, bring your children aboard. And no apologies are necessary, Miss Katovich. Radimov here will assist you in finding your berthing spaces."
She smiled, nodded, stepped into the bus, then barked a command. A minute later, they emerged, like baby geese following their mother goose. One by one, in single file, holding a single linen bag with whatever possessions they owned, they marched up the gangplank and onto the deck.
Batsakov followed them up to the deck and ordered the gangplank removed.
It was time to sail.
The USS Honolulu The Straits of Sicily
10:40 a.m. local time
Pete and Frank had just finished their inspection of Torpedo One when the 1MC began blaring. "Alert one! Alert one! Incoming emergency action message! Alert one! Alert one! Incoming EAM!"
"Weps, report to your duty station!" Pete ordered the weapons officer. "XO? Come with me!"
"Aye, Captain."
They rushed back through the narrow passageways. Sailors wearing dark blue ball caps stepped back and shouted, "Make way! Make way for the captain!"
Pete stepped into the radio room. "Attention on deck!" the radio officer called.
"At ease, " Pete barked. "Where is it?"
"Here, sir."
Pete ripped the message from the radio officer's hands and spread it out on the table. Frank looked over Pete's shoulder.
EMERGENCY ACTION MESSAGE
FROM: NATIONAL MILITARY COMMAND CENTER -- WASHINGTON, D.C.
TO: THE USS HONOLULU , THE USS CHARLOTTE
SUBJECT: ACTION MESSAGE REMARKS:
Russian weapons-grade nuclear fuel confirmed missing.
Russian freighter Alexander Popovich reportedly underway from Sochi 0700 hours Zulu time this day.
Russian high command apparently unaware of presence of fuel on board Alexander Popovich .
Russian forces amassing on Chechen
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