Chapter Seven

The small fleet of fishing vessels heads towards San Francisco Bay. Now fully stocked with more supplies than these boats were designed to carry, they make their way towards Alcatraz Island quickly, if not comfortably. Just as the island comes to be within visual range, the tuna boat veers off course and starts heading out into the open water. Hannibal, who is riding with the Mayers, gets immediately onto the radio.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" he asks, "The island's in sight! We'll be there in less than an hour!"

Colt Seavers, who is riding with the crew of the tuna boat, gets on the radio to respond. "We'll meet you there Colonel," he replies, "The captain says we picked up a school of tuna on sonar not too far from here. We're gonna go try and net 'em for dinner tonight."

"Roger that," says Hannibal, "You guys be careful not to go too far out to sea. I don't know how long our fuel is gonna last us."

"Copy that," replies Seavers, "We'll see you guys at Alcatraz. Over and out."

Hannibal places the radio receiver back onto the hook and watches as Doug Mayer guides the lobster boat towards Alcatraz Island. Soon it becomes evident that the island is already occupied. First, Hannibal spots a couple of boats tied at the island's dock. One is clearly a ferry for taking tourists from the mainland to the island and back again. The other appears to be a rich person's yacht. Then he notices movement in one of the guard towers. Apparently someone else had a very similar idea to Hannibal's. The colonel gets on the radio again and addresses the rest of the fleet. "Listen up folks," he says, "It looks like there are already people on the island. Now we don't know exactly what we might be walking into here, so tread lightly. Face. B.A. Better start passing out the party favors."

B.A. and Face start distributing rifles and ammunition out to everyone on the Mayers' lobster boat. On the other vessels, other members of their party are doing likewise. Hannibal gets on the radio and calls Colt Seavers and the others on the tuna boat.

"Seavers, this is Hannibal. Do you read me? Over."

"This is Jody Banks," comes the voice from the other end, "What do you need Hannibal?"

"Hey Jody," says the colonel, "Do you have a sit-rep?"

"Good news," she replies, "We're gonna be eating well tonight. We just netted us a whole school of tuna. Colt's on the deck right now helping to haul it in. Only problem is we're so loaded down with supplies from town that we have nowhere left to store them."

"Just head straight to Alcatraz Island," Hannibal tells her, "And be quick about it. We may need your help."

"Why?" she asks, "What's wrong?"

"Turns out we're not the first people to think that Alcatraz would be an ideal place to hold up. There are people there already."

"Friendly?"

"I don't know. But a boat load of fresh fish might help barter our way into the complex. And the extra men with guns could be useful in case we have to defend that boat load."

"Understood, Colonel," replies Jody, "We'll be there as soon as we can."

As the small fleet gets closer and closer to the island, they begin to see more and more movement in the former prison. Soon, the fishing boats pull up to the dock. Those that can tie off at the dock itself do so. The others all tie up to each other, allowing the crews to move easily from one boat to the next. The A-Team, the Dukes, The Master and his apprentice, and Charlie's Angels all disembark. Hannibal, Face, and Murdock are all carrying their Rugers. B.A. is armed with an M-60. Max Keller is given the fourth Ruger. Luke Duke, Enos, Jill Munroe and Sabrina Duncan are all carrying the AR-15's that The A-Team had with them. John Peter McAllister and Bo Duke are still armed with their bows and arrows. And Daisy Duke and Kelly Garrett are armed with pump action shotguns.

The group heads up the walkway towards the main gate while the Mayers and the rest of their band of survivors, all armed with hunting rifles and shotguns, stay with the boats. While walking towards the entrance of the fortress, a shot rings out and a bullet strikes the ground less than a foot away from Hannibal's toe. The whole group stops, pointing their weapons in all directions, when a small group of armed men jump up out of the bushes. There's an aging black man with graying hair and mustache wielding a pearl handled, nickel plated 9mm Beretta. Then there's also a somewhat younger white man with a similar weapon. Next to them is a gruff looking man, also white, armed with a pump action shotgun and a somewhat younger Latino also armed with a shotgun. Behind them are two very big, and very muscular, blonde haired men wearing Bermuda shorts, Hawaiian shirts, sandals, and are armed with 30-30 rifles. These two men wear their hair long and have thick beards, and are quite obviously twin brothers. The Latino is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and the other three are all dressed in military dress uniforms.

"That's far enough!" says the black man, "Who the hell are you people and what are you doing here?"

"I'm Colonel John Smith of the U.S. Special Forces," replies Hannibal, "Most people call me Hannibal. This is my second in command, Lieutenant Templeton Peck, and my platoon sergeant, B.A. Barracus. With us is our chopper pilot, Captain H.M. Murdock. We're The A-Team."

"The A-Team?" says the white guy with the shotgun in a slight southern drawl, "I heard about these guys back in 'Nam! They were supposed to be the best!"

"I heard of them too," says the black man, "Last I heard they were fugitives from the law. Robbed the Bank of Hanoi and then escaped a maximum security stockade before they could be court martialed."

"A misunderstanding," says Hannibal, "We were under orders to rob that bank. Unfortunately all records were lost in a mortar attack which killed our C.O."

"I heard that version too," says the black man.

"That ain't our version!" shouts B.A., "That's the truth, sucka!"

"You know who we are, friend," says Hannibal, "Now who are you?"

"The name's Brewster," says the black man, "Colonel Carl Brewster, United States Special Forces. This here is some of my SOG unit from 'Nam. Captain Myron Goldman, my former field lieutenant. This is Sergeant Major Zeke Anderson, his former platoon sergeant. Then there's former Specialist Alberto Ruiz. The two brothers behind us I didn't have the pleasure of serving with, but at least one of them was in the captain's platoon for a while. They're Scott and Karl Baker. And the one who fired the warning shot, up in the tower over there, is former Corporal Danny Percell."

"Colonel Brewster," says Hannibal, recognizing the name, "I've heard of you. You led that raid on an NVA prison camp."

"That's right," says Brewster, "Unfortunately the prisoners had all been moved before we got there. We weren't able to liberate any of our men."

"You're wrong," replies Hannibal, "My team and I were some of those prisoners. The reason we were moved was because their intelligence network had gotten wind of your operation. But in moving us to a new location, it gave my team and me the opportunity we needed to escape. We're alive right now because of your efforts. I thank you for that."

"So what are you and your group doing here Colonel?" asks Brewster.

"The same thing you are, I imagine," Hannibal says, "Looking for a safe place to try and wait out this plague. Maybe even rebuild."

"We don't want any trouble," says Brewster, "But we have families here. Women and children. And civilians who are relying on us to keep them safe."

"Hey sucka!" shouts B.A., "B.A. Barracus don't hurt no little kids!"

"We also don't have many supplies," says Brewster, ignoring the big man's outburst, "We can't afford to share with you."

"What if we were to share with you?" asks Hannibal.

"Excuse me?"

"What if we were to share what we have with you?"

"With all due respect," interrupts Captain Goldman, "I don't know if I trust these guys, Sir. I mean they robbed a bank!"

"Like I said, Captain, we were under orders," says Hannibal, "And regardless, we're all in the same boat now. We need to be able to pull together, despite our differences, if we want to survive."

"Fair enough," agrees Colonel Brewster, "So what resources do you plan on sharing with us?"

"For starters," replies Hannibal Smith, "We have enough canned and dried foods to last us for months. Even with your people joining us, it will be a long time before we go hungry. We also have lots of medical supplies. I take it the infirmary wasn't fully stocked when you guys got here?"

"The only medical supplies we have are whatever we could scrounge together from a few First Aid kits."

"We can make the infirmary fully stocked with all necessary emergency supplies, and the dispensary stocked with every medication we might need down the line."

"How'd you manage that?"

"We cleared out a hospital which was overrun."

"What else?"

"Well most importantly," says Hannibal, "We can make this colony of yours totally self-sufficient. We have all the building supplies needed to make a greenhouse . . . several greenhouses, in fact. We have soil, fertilizer, seeds and seedlings of every fruit and vegetable we could find. We have berry bushes and fruit trees. And all of our boats are fishing boats. They're mostly lobster boats, all packed to capacity with lobster traps. We can start setting the traps up in the bay and see what we can catch. We also have a Japanese whaler, which will harpoon a whale for our dinner table once they can find one, and a tuna boat, which is on its way here right now with a net full of fresh tuna. And finally," concludes the colonel, "we also have guns. Lots of guns. And ammunition for them as well. We also have plenty of bows, arrows, and crossbows, if any of your group happens to be archers. Even if they're not, they can learn. And without wasting any rounds of ammunition either."

"If you don't mind me saying so, Sir," says Sergeant Anderson, "That all sounds mighty tempting to me."

"Yeah, me too," adds Ruiz, "I'm getting pretty tired of Spam and beans."

"Yeah," says Scott Baker, "And what we have left ain't gonna last much longer."

"It'll be real nice to be able to eat some fresh caught tuna," adds Karl, "Or lobster."

"What do you say, Myron?" asks Colonel Brewster.

Captain Goldman thinks for a moment. "Food. Medicine. Supplies. Sounds pretty good to me," he says.

Colonel Brewster holsters his sidearm, "In that case gentlemen," he says, "Welcome to Alcatraz."

Everyone on both sides lowers their weapons, and Hannibal turns to John Peter McAllister. "Johnny," he says to his old war buddy, "Head back to the boats and tell them to start unloading everything. It looks like we're gonna be staying a while."

The Master smiles at his old friend, then signals to his student to join him. As the two ninjas head back down to the docks, the rest of the group begin introductions to their new allies.

"Colonel Brewster," says Hannibal, "I want you to meet the rest of our company. The young lady with the shotgun is Daisy Duke. And these two young men with her are her cousins, Bo and Luke Duke. Luke here was also in 'Nam, in the marine corps. The young man in the police uniform is Enos Strate. The three young ladies there are former L.A. police officers, Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe, and Kelly Garrett. The two I sent back to the boats are John Peter McAllister, who I served with back in Korea. And the young man with him is Max Keller, who he's training to become a ninja."

"A ninja?" says Ruiz, "Like in the movies? Really?"

"That's what he says," replies Hannibal, "When they get back we'll introduce you to the rest of our crew. A former newspaper reporter named Amy Allen, and a couple of bounty hunters, Colt Seavers and Jody Banks."

"Is that all?"

"Well there's also the crews of the fishing boats that we came here on," admits Hannibal, "But I'm afraid I haven't learned all of their names yet. They'll have to introduce themselves."

"I see," says Colonel Brewster. He then turns to his own men, "Anderson, go get Hockenbury and those two civilian doctors. Let them know that we'll have medical supplies that they'll need to inventory. Then round up the rest of the team and bring them down to the docks to help unload the supplies."

"Right away, sir," replies Sergeant Anderson as he salutes the colonel and runs off to do as he's asked.

"In the meantime," says Colonel Brewster, "What do you say we all head down to the docks and start unloading those supplies?"

"Sounds like a plan, Colonel," replies Hannibal. The two groups of survivors join together and begin walking towards the docks together. As they're walking along, Colonel Brewster can't help but to glance over at B.A. Finally he just has to say something.

"I'm sorry, but have we met somewhere before?" asks the colonel, to which B.A. just growls and continues walking. Carl Brewster just shrugs his shoulders and continues on.

"Don't take it personally," says Hannibal, "He's like that with everyone. Don't worry. He'll grow on you."

"Yeah," says Murdock, "Kinda like a rash."

"Shut up sucka!" shouts B.A. "I'm sick of your crazy jibber jabber!" Murdock sticks his tongue out and blows a raspberry at B.A. who then chases after the chopper pilot. The smaller man just runs away laughing hysterically. The rest of Hannibal's group, who are all used to the antics of those two by now, all chuckle at the sight.

"Don't worry," Face tells Colonel Brewster, "He won't actually kill him . . . I hope."

"So Colonel," says Hannibal, "How did you and your old unit find yourselves here on Alcatraz during all this mess?"

"Our unit was having a reunion in Golden Gate Park. We were getting together with our families for a potluck picnic lunch. The captain, Sergeant Anderson and I weren't able to attend due to the growing crisis across the country, but our wives and kids were attending in our places. I had managed to get us at least enough time to make an appearance and say hello. Then we were going to have to return to headquarters. Turns out, no sooner had we arrived at the reunion than the shit really starts to hit the fan. The next thing we know we're in the middle of Michael Jackson's Thriller video fighting for our survival. There's a gun store right across the street from Golden Gate Park, so we went there and loaded up on as much guns and ammunition as we could carry. Then we looted a corner grocery store of as many canned goods as we could fit into our cars and then fled to the marina. When we got there we found a wealthy couple trying to keep those damned things from boarding their yacht. We saved them and in return they agreed to give us a ride out of the city. We decided to hold up here, where we met the rest of our group. The tour guides, tourists, and security guards had all been stranded on the island because of the crisis on the mainland. So far things have been going pretty well, all things considered. Except that we're running frightfully short on food. But at least the dead don't seem to be able to swim."

"That's one hell of a story," admits Hannibal. Just then the group arrives at the dock. At the same time, Colt Seavers and Jody Banks have arrived on the tuna boat which has a large net filled with tuna hanging over the bow of the ship. McAllister and Max have organized the fishermen and they had already managed to unload a great deal of the gathered supplies. "Colonel Brewster," says Smith, "I'd like to introduce the rest of our group. This is our good friend, former investigative journalist Amy Allen. The captain of the fleet that brought us here, Doug Mayer and his sister Shana. Hollywood stunt woman, slash bounty hunter, Jody Banks. And her friend, as well as fellow stunt man and bounty hunter . . ."

"Scarlett?" says Colonel Brewster.

"What?" asks Hannibal.

"Private Tom Scarlett? Is that you?"

"I'm sorry sir," says Colt Seavers, "I'm afraid you've got me confused with someone else. My name's Colt Seavers. And I've never served in Vietnam."

"The resemblance is uncanny," remarks Captain Goldman, "But Private Scarlett was at least ten years older than this guy, and that was twenty years ago."

"Good point," agrees Colonel Brewster, "I guess it's true what they say. Everyone has a double of them out there somewhere."

"Well it's good to meet you anyway," says Colt as he offers the Colonel his hand, "And thank you for agreeing to let us join you."

"The way I figured it, we could either turn you away and starve to death or allow you to join us and make this place more liveable. You guys would have eventually wound up setting up camp here eventually anyways. Might as well be alive to see it happen."

Just then Sergeant Anderson comes down the path with a group of people right behind him. Some of them are armed with hunting rifles and, while dressed in civilian attire, are clearly military trained and thus most likely other members of the platoon who had attended the reunion. The rest are unarmed and all clearly civilians. One unarmed man is wearing a tie dyed t-shirt and a fringed suede vest, with long hair, love beads, and a thick mustache. There's another man who walks with a cane and has a very pronounced limp. Then there's three unarmed women, a couple of unarmed men, and four teenagers, two boys and two girls, also unarmed. The aging hippy's jaw drops when he sees Colt Seavers. "Pop?" he says.

"We've already been through this, Doc," says Captain Goldman, "This isn't Private Scarlett. They just bear an uncanny resemblance to one another."

"Man," says one of the former soldiers in civilian attire, a tall fit black man, "If Pop's kid hadn't had been killed in 'Nam, I woulda sworn that this was his son."

"Allow me the opportunity to introduce the rest of my team. This here is former sergeant Marcus Taylor," says Colonel Brewster, indicating the black man who had just spoken. Then he points to another black man in a dress shirt and slacks right next to Taylor, "That's former sergeant Marvin Johnson. The gentleman in the blue jeans and t-shirt is former corporal Daniel Percell. The fellow with the cane I never had the pleasure of serving with, but he was the team's former radio operator, Roger Horn. That gentleman there was our chopper pilot, Lieutenant Johnny McKay. Then there's Sergeant Anderson's wife, psychiatrist Doctor Jennifer Seymour. Ruiz's wife, Suzanna Lazado-Ruiz, a registered nurse. That gentleman there is Doctor David Howser, a former M*A*S*H surgeon and captain in Vietnam. That's his son Douglas, who believe it or not is also a doctor."

"He's a doctor?" asks Face, "How old is he? Twelve?"

"I'm fifteen!" the young man shoots back, "And I happen to have an IQ of 220 and an eidetic memory!"

"That's right!" says the other teenaged boy, "Doogie's parents took us to Alcatraz to celebrate him beginning his residency at the hospital!"

"Doogie?" says Face with a snicker.

"That's what Douglas's friends call him," says Doogie's father, "And he is a genius, and well on his way to becoming a first rate physician. These are his friends, Vincent Delpino, Wanda Plenn, and Janine Stewart."

"Sorry," apologises Lieutenant Peck, "I didn't mean any offence. It's just a little surprising to find someone so young who is actually a doctor."

"The gentleman in the tie dye and love beads was our unit's medic in 'Nam, Francis Hockenbury." Says Colonel Brewster.

"Call me Doc Hock," says the hippy, "Everyone does."

"And finally, this is the couple who were kind enough to give us a lift to this fortification. Johnathan and Jennifer Hart."

"Johnathan Hart?" says Face, "Of Hart Industries? That Johnathan Hart?"

"One and the same," says the distinguished older gentleman.

"Who's Johnathan Hart?" asks Hannibal.

"Colonel, you have got to read Forbes Magazine every once in a while," replies Face, "This man is a multibillionaire. He's one of the richest men in the country."

"Once upon a time," says Johnathan modestly, "Today I'm no better than anybody else. Money doesn't really mean much nowadays. The oysters that were harvested to make my wife's pearl necklace are considered to be far more valuable than the necklace itself."

"Wait a minute!" interrupts Amy Allen, "You're Jennifer Hart? Investigative reporter, Jennifer Hart?"

"One and the same," replies the attractive older woman.

"I love your work!" exclaims Amy, "I am a huge fan!"

"Thank you," replies Jennifer, "You know, I had been following your work as well, back before all this happened. You're very good."

"Why thank you. Coming from you, that's a great honor."

"Alright!" says Colonel Brewster, "Now that introductions are out of the way, why don't we get these supplies up to the rest of the group! We can sit around and sing Kumbaya when the work is done!"

"The Colonel's right!" says Hannibal, "Let's get this stuff up into the complex. There will be more than enough time to get to know our new friends here once everything's been unloaded!"

With nods of agreement from everyone, the two groups of survivors begin working side by side taking cases of food, clothing, and medicine up to the former prison. Tanks filled with propane, bags of charcoal briquettes, bundles of firewood, sleeping bags, they're all being unloaded and carried up to the fortified tourist attraction. When the people who were waiting at the prison see how much is being brought by the newcomers, they quickly pitch in to help as well. Soon the barbecue sets are being unloaded, and the extra guns and ammunition. The bows, crossbows, arrows, and crossbow bolts are also brought back. Virtually every type of tool one could ever need, whether it be for building a house or building a carburetor, is also unloaded. Dozens of car batteries, CB radios, even a satellite dish are all unloaded. Taylor and Johnson's eyes nearly fall out of their heads when they see B.A. and the Baker Brothers carrying sealed beer kegs on their shoulders. "Man, I think I'm gonna like these guys," says Taylor, and he and Johnson pound each other's fists.

Eventually all of the equipment and supplies have been unloaded from the boats. Everything is stacked in the recreation yard. Tables and chairs are being set up, the barbecue sets are being assembled. The medical supplies are being sorted and put away in the infirmary. The tuna are being cleaned and cut into steaks. And most of the food is being taken into the prison kitchen, where it's being sorted and put away in the pantry. All in all, it's shaping up to be a very good evening.

Guest Starring

(From Tour of Duty)

Carl Weathers as Colonel Carl Brewster

Stephen Caffrey as Captain Myron Goldman

Terence Knox as Sergeant Zeke Anderson

Tony Becker as Danny Percell

Miguel Nunez Jr. as Marcus Taylor

Stan Foster as Marvin Johnson

Ramon Franco as Alberto Ruiz

Eric Bruskotter as Scott Baker

Karl Bruskotter as Karl Baker

John Dye as Francis "Doc Hock" Hockenbury

Joshua D. Maurer as Roger Horn

Dan Gauthier as Lieutenant John McKay

Kamala Lopez as Susanna Lozada-Ruiz

Betsy Brantley as Dr. Jennifer Seymour-Anderson

(From Doogie Howser M.D.)

Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Douglas "Doogie" Howser

Max Casella as Vincent "Vinnie" Salvatore Delpino

James B. Sikking as Dr. David Howser

Lisa Dean Ryal as Wanda Plenn

Lucy Boryer as Janine Stewart

Belinda Montgomery as Katherine Howser

(not seen in this chapter)

(From Hart To Hart)

Robert Wagner as Johnathan Hart

Stefanie Powers as Jennifer Hart