The Last Ship Season 2
"Nathan James, where are you?"
Chandler stood looking at the power plant in the distance knowing that more deceased members of Baltimore's population were heading to the incinerator and there was nothing he could do to stop it. "Nathan James, where are you?" He demanded speaking into his radio, his destroyer was not answering, it wasn't like his crew something was wrong.
"Captain, if they can't answer some thing's wrong" Burk said the African-American sailor was the last of his landing party with him. Dr Scott was with Amy Granderson, the former member of the President's staff and would be leader of Baltimore, who had made questionable decision after questionable decision.
"Dad, I need you to take Ashley and Sam somewhere safe, out of Baltimore."
"What you going to do son?" The elder Chandler asked as another truck full of bodies left the former football stadium known as Olympia. Chandler had found evidence that the "carers" there were poisoning members Baltimore's sick population to power the Baltimore power plant.
"I'm going to get my ship back, then I'm going to end this" the Nathan James' commander said determined.
"We'll go to the old fishing pier" his dad said Chandler nodded he remembered where his father was on about "we'll stay out of the way. Do what you need to son." He said putting his arms around the kids starting to lead them away.
Chandler knelled down for a moment beside his children "I've got to leave you guys for a bit" he said both looked unhappy by these words both had lost their mother, his wife, and been near death's door before Chandler had reached them with Dr Scott's cure. Now he was ready to leave them again "look I promise both of you that when I've done this little bit I'll be with you and you can see my ship." He said seeing their faces lighten up a little "but first you need to stay with grandpa and stay safe as I make the bad people go away." He said from inside Olympia there were shouts to being a search for Chandler and his family "now you need to go." As they headed off in one direction he and Burk headed towards the cities main harbour.
At the harbour front Master Chief Hugh Jeter and Lt Danny Green had been able to slip through the Baltimore Police Department patrols. Jeter had been injured in a confrontation between the Nathan James crew and the police officers. "Nathan James, this is Vulture Two" Green said looking over the bay at the Destroyer at least two helicopters orbited the warship. "Something is not right." Danny said looking over at the older man.
"Nope I got shot" the man half joked he was in a manageable amount of pain but wasn't one hundred percent.
"We need to get onto the Nathan James and help free our crew." Green said glancing around the harbour seeing something that could do what they needed "Master Chief, you think you could sail a fishing boat?"
"Not exactly the most illustrious ship I've ever commanded but yes I think so, don't think I'll be much good in a fight" he said following Green on-board as the younger officer climbed over the side holding on as he put his rifle over his shoulder.
Tex had kissed Dr Rachel Scott when he said goodbye to her, he'd actually kissed her, and she still hadn't reacted. Then he'd walked away, he'd given up on her just like that, he had strong feelings for her it wasn't just an infatuation and he knew she felt something too. Time to test the theory he thought turning around heading back towards Granderson's building.
They had made quick progress towards the harbour even on foot. Suddenly the air was filled with weapons fire as a group of six men dressed in the uniform of Maryland State Police troopers. Both Chandler and Burk dropped behind a crashed car drawing their side-arms. "Not good" Burk called out leaning around firing a couple of shots. Moments later Chandler did the same "sir, we can't stay here or we're going to be cut to pieces." Burk advised firing off a couple more shots.
"I know" Chandler replied following suit before ducking behind the car. Burk leaned around firing a couple more shots. Moments later the air was filled with weapons fire as more figures in a dirty mix of civilian and military wear moved in firing on the troopers. Each of them wore a face mask covering their identities and protecting them from the virus. Within moments the fighting stopped neither Chandler or Burk moved.
"How many you got?" Chandler asked glancing at Burk's side-arm.
"Two shots" Burk replied glancing around the car.
"Same" Chandler admitted he did not want to face another fight with another armed group.
"Captain, my name is Thorwald" one of the newcomers called out Chandler recognized that Granderson had named as one of the "warlords" who fought to control the area. However given Granderson's judgement on other things Chandler was beginning to question everything the woman had said to them.
"I've heard of you" Chandler replied
"Captain, I don't expect you to like me or some of the things I've done." Thorwald admitted "but I want you to believe something I don't want Granderson in power here or in control of your ship." He said at least that was one thing that Chandler and Thorwald could agree on. "So I'm going to help you get her back, and you'll help me get my city back."
In the harbour Jeter's small fishing boat was approaching the Nathan James when one of the helicopter's orbiting the destroyer flew over it as a deck light turned on the craft. Several shots rang out across the boat's course and Jeter waved that he understood turning the boat away as he did Green dropped off the side of boat diving underwater approaching the Nathan James. On the bridge Commander Slattery didn't know if this was a move by the Captain but he knew he needed to do something at the very least for Quincy Tophet who lay on the deck clutching at a gunshot wound to the chest. "We need a doctor up here now!" He snapped at the state trooper "if he dies so god help me!"
"You're getting nothing"
"I'm not asking for a rifle! I'm asking for a doctor!" Slattery shouted his anger boiling.
"Please get us the help he needs" Lt Kara Foster pleaded kneeling beside Quincy Tophet she had tried to stem the bleeding but had yet to be successful.
"You on the deck the chopper has it covered get me the ship's doctor we have wounded up here!" The trooper shouted turning back to Slattery "happy?" He asked Slattery noticed over the man's shoulder Lt Danny Green slipping onto the deck unseen.
"Peachy" Slattery snarled looking at the trooper "you're going to pay for what you're doing."
Near Granderson's building Tex rounded the corner seeing the glass fronted building on the ground he noticed several armed guards while on the second floor he saw through the windows Dr Rachel Scott standing facing someone holding a pistol that was pointed at the doctor's head. Tex dived back behind the building he was near "Tex to Vulture One" he said scrambling for his radio.
"Tex? Where are you?" Chandler asked sounding surprised he was still able to get through to the man.
"Near Granderson's boss, I'm looking at Dr Scott, someone's got a gun pointed at her head." Tex said glancing around the building he loved that woman and he wouldn't see her harmed. He'd thought that Chandler's people were close to Dr Scott and the cure he'd thought she was safe he felt the blood boiling in him.
"Understood Tex, things are going down, I need you to stay out of sight and stand by. Switch to frequency Three." Chandler ordered Tex was a civilian private contractor, not Navy, that had been picked up at Guantanamo Bay on Cuba he'd served on the Nathan James with its crew and trusted Chandler implicitly.
A knife silently flew through the air into the Nathan James' Combat Information Centre (CIC) embedding itself in the guard's chest downing the man without a sound. Danny Green charged into the CIC heading over to the weapons console he'd seen Kara Foster do this a hundred times before but doing it himself was something completely different. He entered into the computer system the command to activate the automated Close In Weapon System (CIWS) the system was designed to defend the ship from incoming missiles however at this range it could be just as effective against close flying helicopters. He tagged all three helicopters as hostile prayed for a moment then pressed the execute button before running from the room. On the ship's forward hull the CIWS opened fire the radar controlled mini-gun immediately spun towards the first helicopter tearing through the aircraft with hundreds of bullets. The weapon system without an operator continued firing into the air as it turned cutting through a second helicopter with a steady stream of fire until it began to fall from the sky burning as it went.
On the bridge the guards looked stunned as first one then a second helicopter exploded under the CIWS fire followed rapidly by the third. At the same time Danny Green charged into the room gunning down both Maryland uniformed guards securing the bridge quickly. "Where's the Captain?" Slattery demanded moments later there was a couple of flash-bang explosions near the rear of the ship.
"I'm guessing there!" Green shouted back Slattery leaned up and triggered a the PA switch.
"This is the XO, Battle-stations, Battle-stations, Battle-stations!" He called out he knew the crew were under guard but he also knew the guards had just seen their helicopters shattered and that the Captain was charging on-board the vessel with reinforcements. On the flight deck at the rear of the ship several of the ship's marines acted quickly disarming the guards.
Several minutes later Chandler entered the bridge as two of the Nathan James' crew and Dr Rios moved the unconscious and bleeding Quincy Tophet from the room. Chandler threw Slattery a questioning glance. "He tried to stop them." He the ship's XO explained "you got new friends?"
"His name is Thorwald, he's opposed to Granderson in Baltimore, and guards up." Chandler said as the "warlord" leader entered the bridge. "Time to raise her holy-ship" Chandler said grabbing the microphone "This is the Nathan James to Amy Granderson, Commander Chandler speaking, I want you to turn over Dr Scott and shut down your operation at Olympia." He said grabbing at his own personal radio "Vulture One to Tex, get Dr Scott out of there any way you can before I drop a Tango on target." He said listening for Granderson's reply.
"I see you made it back to your ship, Captain, a very resourceful man you are, an ally I could use?" Amy Granderson replied "but I suspect that you and I would not see eye-to-eye" she replied "I have Dr Scott and any hope you have of replicating her cure."
"You can't hold back a full assault from this ship, your game is over" Chandler said angry at the gall of the woman.
"I will offer you a trade" Granderson offered as she heard weapons fire down stairs, probably from Thorwald's men it would be a perfect time for it. "My spies tell me that you are now allied with the Warlord Thorwald you will surrender him to me and I will allow Dr Scott to return then you can go your merry way." As Thorwald and Chandler shared a glance around the bridge Thorwald's men and the marines present all snapped their weapons up at each other.
"Commander Slattery, have CIC prepare a Tomahawk Missile for launch. Mr Thorwald, you have exactly ten seconds to order your men to stand down or I will order mine to open fire. We are the United States Navy and we don't do losing it is your choice." Chandler warned looking at the man as the seconds ticked by Thorwald slowly indicated for his men to lower their weapons.
At Granderson's building Tex was fighting like a man possessed he'd tried to disable as many as he could without killing them, they had not harmed him and probably had made few of the decisions, he had no reason to kill them. One trooper he dropped with a knee shot turned and shot him with a pistol clipping Tex by the shoulder Tex swung his own silver revolver at the prone man firing a shot into his chest and another through his head. Stopping forward his rifle hanging over his chest Tex kicked open the door firing past Dr Scott hitting Amy Granderson on the shoulder her weapon flew from her hand "Com'on!" Tex shouted his weapon not leaving Granderson but his eyes locked on Scott glancing to the side he saw Alisha Granderson, Amy Granderson's daughter, still dressed in her Navy uniform. "Your choice, in or out decide now." Alisha answered with her feet moving quickly from the room as her mother screamed her name Tex holstered his pistol raising to his mouth "Vulture One, we're on our way out." Tex ordered staggering down the stairs as the blood loss from his arm began to hit him. As he moved towards the doors he struck the fire alarms, not all the people here were bad people and he had a feeling he knew what was coming next.
"Get clear head to the harbour, we'll come and get you" Chandler replied "fire the missile." He said looking at his XO Slattery passed the message. Moments later from the forward bay a Tomahawk cruise missile flew out of the Nathan James vertical missile launch system flying over Baltimore.
As Tex staggered to a waiting vehicle one of Granderson's guards stepped out spraying the car and Tex with several bullets knocking the man down. Alisha Granderson in turn returned fire killing the man while Dr Rachel Scott helped Tex into the car "Don't you die on me now Tex! Don't you die!" She said over and over as Alisha began to drive the car away from the building. As they drove the Tomahawk missile flew through the sky past them Alisha saw it tears streaming from her eyes as she drove in the opposite direction knowing what was coming. Moments later the missile impacted with the building striking where the drug labs were on the eastern side engulfing the building in a massive fireball.
From a screen on the bridge Chandler watched as the building burned turning to Thorwald "I did listen to a couple of things people said, they said you tried to keep infected people away from the healthy. It's your job to lean this place. Make Olympia somewhere people do receive help and shut down that power plant or god help me I'll flatten it." He said reaching into his pocket handing a small black case to the man.
"What's this?" Thorwald asked
"That was my wife's dose of the cure to the Red Flu." He said using the name that many people had given it "she doesn't need it any more." He said painfully thinking about her passing "I think you might." Behind him Slattery's face dropped at hearing the news of his CO's loss "Commander Slattery, ensure Mr Thorwald receives all the excess cure doses we have then get him the hell off my ship." Chandler ordered Slattery nodded leading the warlord from the bridge.
"Thank you Captain, thank you for trusting me" Thorwald said before he left the bridge with Slattery. Chandler stood looking out the bridge window at the raising cloud of smoke which had been Granderson's building.
Several hours later the USS Nathan James had begun to slowly move away from Baltimore. Commander Tom Chandler travelled by boat to the pier his father and children waited at. The children were ecstatic to see their father and quickly got on board the vessel "Com'on dad, I know you don't like the sea, it's my turn to take care of you."
"Not this time son" his father said "you lost your wife because of me seeing me every day would be a constant reminder of that" he said he saw the pain on his son's face even as he tried to argue that it wasn't the case. "I'm not one for the water son, you know that and I know that. You've given me the cure there's some friends I've got near the cabin they were sick when we left. I need to know if they've made it son, and you need time to come to terms with this."
"Dad, you don't need to do this..." Chandler began he'd been coming to terms with this since hearing of the plague and the losses that had been suffered Darien was one more... No she was more than that.
"My choice is made" his father said "kids you be good for your dad, I'll see you soon" he said turning to his two grand children. One of the marines with Chandler handed him a survival pack inside were several doses of the cure and survival rations. With it they handed him a rifle they had read the situation even when he couldn't.
"Good luck" Chandler said offering his father his hand to shake it. His father grabbed him in a hug before releasing it. His father threw the bag over his shoulder and began heading away from the pier Chandler wondered if he'd ever see his father again but knew he couldn't talk him down.
Hours later the USS Nathan James was at sea far from the United States coast Dr Rios had just left the bridge after passing the worse possible news. He slipped off his watch chair and moved over to the ships PA system "Nathan James, this is the Captain, I regret to inform you that despite our medical staff's best efforts Quincy Tophet has been lost to us." Chandler said quietly he'd never really liked the man he'd betrayed them to the Russians in an attempt to save his family and he'd tried to stir up opposition towards him in an effort to gain his freedom but still he was beginning to be accepted and find a place on the ship now to be lost so close to home stung even more. "You will all be aware that I ordered a missile strike against a location in Baltimore" he said glancing at Alisha Granderson knowing that her mother was likely dead because of his actions "these people were attempting to be a solution to the problems that have befallen our world but their actions against this crew and this ship made them as dangerous. We will find a safe harbour, Nathan James, I promise you as a member of the United State Navy and as your Captain, I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens and Quincy Tophet will not be fogotten." He said glancing over all those on the bridge he knew that some of them still held hope that their family were alive on the mainland his XO included among them. Mike Slattery didn't look angry at his words unlike the last time he'd ordered his ship to turn away from home this time he looked determined to get the job done. "Carry on." He ordered finally placing the microphone back.