Don't own Chuck
Somewhere over the North Atlantic coming up on the British Isles Chuck was making an approach behind and below an Air Force KC-135 for a mid-air refueling. The Lear normal isn't designed to do a mid-air but a part of the upgrades Chuck added was a probe attachment.
"X-plane," radioed the tanker, "Listen I know you spook guys love to do this hush-hush stuff off the radar not to say it in more picturesque words but I'm not very comfortable with this."
"Just release the basket and leave the rest to me," radioed Chuck. "Trust me this is going to go smoothly."
"He sounds nervous what's he concerned about," asked Rick.
"I sent a request for fuel for a spy plane and told them to turn off all visuals aft. Basically he can see only what's in front of him which means it's up to me to set the probe. He'll count down the fuel we take and when we've topped off we'll automatically disengage"
"Somehow that doesn't sound too safe considering all the fuel that's in the tanker." Chuck just smiled as he flashed when the boom came in sight. Then he easily guided the jet in and "Contact" he radioed.
"You know that's usually my boom operator who radios that," said the pilot. In seconds the fuel gauges read full then after topping off the clamps automatically broke and Chuck dropped back.
"Thanks guys, if you can't trust the man who wears the star who can you trust" radioed Chuck.
"Roger that next time maybe we'll wash your windows and check your oil too." They both laughed.
"Hey, put this on General Beckman's credit card." He banked port then proceeded until he was back on his flight path then listened to see if he had been missed. He had arranged for the refueling in a dead zone off the scope from Iceland and just before being picked up by British radar. In addition he hadn't been off course long enough to set off any warning bells.
"Where are we," asked Rick.
"We're about ready to cross Europe once we clear Italian airspace I'm going to make a run for Libya then cross over to Egypt and follow the Red Sea down to Somalia. I figure with the political unrest in both countries they won't have that many people manning radars and more importantly SAM missile batteries but still I have some precautions just in case."
"What's your plan when we get to Mogadishu?"
"I'm going to see a man about buying a sheep." Rick looked at his stranger. "Just kidding. Hey, I'm going to need you to watch things up here for a while I check out our guy in Mogadishu."
"What do you want me do, just like before?"
"Yeah, if any lights light up or any warning bells go off just yell but I think I'll hear. By the way what's your blood type?"
"B positive, I hope I'm not going to lose any." Chuck smiled.
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Morgan and Alex had just finished their coffee and were walking out to wake up Chuck when Molly came out with Emma from their room. They exchanged greetings and Molly listened to their conversation as they talked about how to deal with Chuck and as she listened she smiled.
"Emma do you know when Chuck got in?" asked Morgan.
"No I went to sleep before you did. That was some scare last night, I was worried Molly would have a nightmare but she didn't. "
"I know you did but I thought you might have heard him come in or something."
"No, I didn't hear anything. I did get up and make the couch for him but that was late and he still hadn't come in. I went back to bed like I said I didn't want to leave Molly by herself. Especially after last night I didn't want her to wake up alone it a strange house. Do you think we should wake him?"
Morgan explained his reasoning and concerns.
"Yes, I agree," said Emma.
"See Morgan there are times when you make sense."
"Does that mean you agree with my definition of sleeping together?"
"Morgan no one's sleeping in the bathtub yet but that could change if you keep it up."
"You two remember who's present before you go any further with descriptions," said Emma as she looked back at Molly standing behind them still in pajamas holding Rex her ever trusted companion smiling at them.
"Right so we all agree we've got to wake Chuck up and do an intervention."
"Yes, Morgan," said Alex, "but we want him to get checked out not start attending meetings."
"Tomato /təˈmātō/, tomato /təˈmätō/ so we all agreed that we should creep into the living room and turn on the lights?
"Let's just do it already," said Alex as she walked in and opened the curtains to let in the mid-morning sun. Morgan walked over to the couch and with his back to it he began to talk.
"Chuck I know you're tired buddy but we've being talking and we, no I-"
"Morgan," interrupted Alex.
"Alex, please it's better if I talk to Chuck. He's my best friend and I know he'll listen to me. Chuck you see we're thinking only about what's good for you and hey-"
"Morgan," interrupted Alex again.
"Come on Alex let me finish I need to tell Chuck this. He can handle it, I know he can handle it, right Chuck," said Morgan as he turned around and to his surprise the couch was empty.
"That's what I was trying to tell you there's no Chuck."
"What? Where is he?"
"It looks like he never came home," said Emma, "The sofa is the same as when I made it."
"Did he say anything to anyone about not coming home? The last I remember him saying was that he'd meet us later," said Alex.
"Yeah I remember him saying that too but the last person he talked to was Molly," said Emma. "Molly, what did Chuck say to you?"
"Chuck's not here," said Molly with a thin little voice.
"Sweetie we can see that but did he say where he was going?"
"Yeah but he told me not to tell you until today. He said it was our secret he told me he was going to get my sister and bring her home."
"Morgan, what did you do?" asked Alex.
"Hey I didn't say anything this time. It's not my fault. Why do you assume it's me? Don't answer that."
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A CH-53 touched down at the Mogadishu International Airport among the burnt out buildings of what used to be a terminal facility built with both Ex-Soviet and US aid, a symbol of the cold world struggle for a key corner of the globe. Mary stepped off the back of the copter and put on her sunglasses then looked around to make sure everything was clear. Casey and Sarah stepped out afterwards standing behind Mary they waited for their ride to show up. Then finally after a half hour wait two old ex-soviet BTR-70 eight-wheeled armored personnel carriers drove up.
"Good day," said a man climbing out in an old tattered Soviet Army uniform. "My name is Colonel Hammet El Wzhiznam and I'll be your interpreter and guide. I understand you're looking for Ellyas Abshir?"
"Yes we need to talk to him about a boat," said Casey.
"I understand. You know where he is a rat's nest but the buffet is descent and the gambling is good."
"I've heard that before," said Casey. "I think I read that in my Michelin but I lost my copy."
"Well I've got to get back on the copter before Diane has a cow. If anything even just feels wrong give me a call and I'll have a SEAL team in for you."
"Don't worry Mary this isn't our first dance," said Sarah.
"I just don't want it to be your last. Chuck would never forgive any of us if anything happens to you."
"Well, ladies I hate to break up the knitting circle but we've got pirate to catch.
Casey and Sarah got inside the transport and they took off down a dusty dirty road through roaming herds of cattle that looked like something that belonged on a mural in some pharaoh's tomb. They passed the carnage and ruins of burnt out cars and homes. They saw wild dogs and children roaming the streets malnourished looking for their next meal and there were shepherds herding their flocks among what used to be residential homes.
"So do you know Ellyas." asked the Colonel.
"We briefly met him before. Our contact told us that he's addicted to gambling."
"You bet, it's a family curse. His father used to be a successful sheep herder. He won the Miss Sheep award three years in a row for having the prettiest ewe in the area."
"Wow, I can see why he'd be popular."
"But he lost it all to cards. Ellyas moved to Mogadishu and managed to get selected to go to West Point on a bet he made with the former president. Then when the country went under he made another gamble and went into his current line of work. Piracy and gambling, it was his way of diversifying which has been fruitful for him and his family."
The man in the front yelled back to the Colonel telling him there were about at the compound.
"It seems we're almost here," said the Colonel. They pulled up outside. "Wait here and let me go first," said the Colonel then he got out a few minutes later he came back in. "Let's go," he ordering them to get out. "Okay everything is set just knock on the front door and they will let you in."
"Aren't you coming with us?" asked Casey.
"No this is as far as I go."
"I thought you were supposed to be our guide and translator," said Casey. "Sarah I don't like this."
"Neither do I," she said.
"If you want Ellyas you have to go in," said the Colonel who turned around and loaded his men on the transport and left them standing in front of the door.
"What do you want to do John," asked Sarah.
"I think we've come too far to go back now but we need to stay sharp."
"I agree partner."
"Partner, I like that," said Casey. He was about to knock on the door when it opened up.
They walked in to what seemed an open air market but instead of goods there were various games being played. There was a table where eight people were playing seven card stud. Casey watched as the dealer deal the fifth street to each player as he walked around the table checking out each player's hand until one of the men got upset.
"Hey, I don't like people looking over my shoulder at my cards."
"Sorry," said Casey as he walked back to Sarah. That guy will be sorry when they do the showdown."
"I didn't know you were into gambling."
"Not really we used to play a little to kill time on missions even though gambling was frowned on. We used to save up our desserts and use them for the ante."
"So what have we got, there's roulette, craps, and various card games going on but I don't see Ellyas at any of the tables."
"Neither do I." As they were speaking a large man carrying a M60 with ammunition belts wrapped around him came up to them.
"If you want to stay you'll have to make a bet. You can get your chips from the cashier," he said indicating with the muzzle of his weapon."
"Buddy, if they do a Rambo remake you've got the part nailed down."
"Come on Casey we don't want to make a scene," said Sarah as he walked over to the cashier. They were greeted by a larger heavy set black woman with one gold tooth.
"How much," she asked.
"Give us three hundred in fives and tens," said Sarah. The woman took Sarah's money then posted her chips on the counter.
"Thanks," said Sarah and as she was picking up her chips the woman placed her hand on Sarah's hand.
"I like your boy toy," she said as her gold tooth seemed to glisten.
"Yuck I think I'm going to be sick," Sarah said as she pulled away.
"Woman knows something good when she sees it," said Casey as he smiled.
"I'd be more afraid she wasn't thinking about the meat for her stew. Here take these and you go play I'll just stand behind you for cover."
"What should I play?"
"You know more about this that than I do but make it something that can last a while and hopefully not lose our shirts too."
"Then let's make it blackjack." Sarah and Casey went over to the blackjack table where they found a seat empty and the dealer invited Casey to sit down.
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General Beckman was sitting in the Crisis Response Center watching the various satellite feeds. She had just gotten off the horn with Mary who was on her way back on the copter. She listened in at the same time to an audio bug Colonel Casey was carrying so she could keep up with what was going on the ground.
"Major, I didn't like our Somali contact dropping the team off like that. Have someone dig into that man's background there's something there I don't like." Just then an Air Force Captain walked in with a folder and brought it up to the General.
"General ma'am I need to get your signature on these payment vouchers."
"What! Can't you see I'm knee deep in excrement here and sinking fast, I don't have time to do the paperwork shuffle."
"I'm sorry but I've got two generals at Lackland and one in the Pentagon who want this taken care of as soon as possible excuse me ma'am but the word I was told to tell you was like yesterday. Who Matt and Luke? And who in the Pentagon?"
"General Winterfield."
"They know what I've got on my plate. What's wrong with them?"
"Ma'am with all due respect they're pissed because of what you did with the X-plane."
"X-plane? What X-plane?"
"Well General Clerk in Lackland is pissed, I'm sorry upset, because you ordered that mid-air refueling without giving him a heads up so he could smooth out all the rough feathers at Mildenhall. General Winterfield is upset because he spent most of the morning talking with his NATO counterparts who were upset because they accused us of flying experimental aircraft in European airspace."
"And Matt why is he pissed off?"
"The General is upset because he said that you shouldn't be developing experimental aircraft without his department's knowledge."
"What are they smoking back there? Whatever it is it must be-" She stopped herself as she realized she was talking to a Captain. "I haven't got the foggiest idea what they're talking about. Give me that damn folder," she said as she grabbed it out of his hands then opened it. "I never signed off on this. Who approved this refueling?"
"General ma'am, I'm sorry but those are your authorization codes."
"I can read Captain but I never authorized this. Who the hell would-" she stopped again in mid speech. This time the Captain was worried. He was about to call for a Medic thinking the General had had a stroke.
"Major," yelled the General as she signed the vouchers and handed them back to the Captain. "You're dismissed," she said. "Major!"
"Yes ma'am," he said as he came in running with a clipboard.
"I have that information you wanted on out contact in Somali. It turns out that Colonel Hammet El Wzhiznam is Ellyas Abshir's third cousin on his father's side and is rumored to be on Abshir's payroll."
"Christ, why didn't we know that before we sent out team in?"
"What do you want me to do? Do you want to send in an extraction team?"
"No let's wait a bit nothing has happened yet, but have the team put on standby. Tell them that we're probably going to need them. Then I want you to put me in touch with Chicago, more specifically with a Charles Bartowski and I also want any report on any privately owned aircraft that has left Chicago heading for Europe in the last three days or so."
"Yes Ma'am," said the Major as he left. He ran into the Captain outside in the lobby as he was heading out.
"Is the General alright," asked the Captain. "It just seemed to me she was acting a little odd. I mean first she about rips my head off saying she didn't know anything about these expenditures then she just signs them off like nothing."
"Well she's been under a lot of stress lately but she does seem a little off her game. I shouldn't be talking to you about this but she asked me to get her in touch with an Agent she fired a few days ago."
"Maybe she had a change of heart and wants to bring him back?"
"No you don't understand he was let go because he had an accident which left him blind. He was released from service because he was no longer medically qualified."
"Well I just hope it's not a case of the blind leading the blind.
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Chuck was flying over Sicily and making his way out of Italian airspace. Up until then everything had gone as it was supposed to but now he needed to deviate from his flight plan and he knew this was the tricky part.
"Rick how do you feel today?"
"Maybe a little tire but fine why?"
"Because we're about to die." Chuck radioed Tunis tower control, "Mayday, mayday, Tunis control," he called in an emergency.
"State your emergency," they order.
"Tunis control I'm losing control of my aircraft," then he jammed the frequency and veered into Libyan airspace. "We have to act quickly before they get a MiG up," said Chuck. He raised a red toggle and fired a missile, also a recent addition a part of the same upgrade. The missile struck debris from the recent uprising then he jammed Tunis controls radars until he as far enough away that they wouldn't pick him up. Rick looked at him perplexed.
"Okay the last thing they heard was we had plane trouble and that I was having trouble with my controls so they won't think twice why I veered over Libyan airspace. This will cause an international debate as to who has jurisdiction over the wreckage. Even if they do decide to do a joint mission I fired a missile at old wreckage that was there from the uprising which kind of stirred up the pot. It will take them days or weeks to figure out no aircraft went down there and by the time they do we'll be on the ground in Mogadishu."
"Are all your missions this much fun?"
"Oh, we haven't got to the really cool stuff yet and for that I'm going to need a syringe of your blood and mine. But first I need to borrow some satellite feeds so can you keep an eye up here. The most important thing is to watch this light," said Chuck as he pointed it out. "If that light goes green you yell for me right away."
"What does it mean if it turns green?"
"It means someone has locked fire control radars on us. I'll be right back or do you want to get something first?"
"A single malt would do nicely."