Episodes 7-13
Consciousness was slow to come for Colorado. She existed more in a state of limbo, blissfulness fading with each sleepy blink. Gradually, her brain caught up with what her eyes were seeing. "Morning." L'iana greeted. "Mm, morning." Colorado purred as they shared a kiss, fins adjusting their position around her mate. "Behave." The trawler scolded. "Your Chinese friends will be here in an hour." "Then we have 60 minutes to enjoy ourselves." Colorado replied, leaning in for another kiss. "No." L'iana pulled away. "You're going to eat your breakfast, get cleaned up and look at least somewhat presentable." Colorado pouted. "And then, after they've left you should be free to spend the rest of the day however you like." The sub grinned. "Now you're talking. Shall I put the batteries on the charger then?" She asked. "Oh you're a dirty old cigar with a mind full of rust!" L'iana scolded. "Bite my shiny prop." Colorado winked, dodging the light-hearted slap she received in response.
Colorado sat behind her captain as she listened to the Chinese ambassador. How she hated that man! He smelled of lies. She didn't like people who smelled like that. It took all her willpower not to curl her lip as the wind changed direction. And suddenly his smell was the least of her concerns. For the change in wind direction brought along another scent. A threat that was further determined by her radar. "Colorado?" whispered L'iana next to her. She noticed how the sub's eyes snapped suddenly in a different direction to the SE. Colorado put her nose to the air in that direction, confirming her suspicions. "What is it?" The sub locked eyes with her mate. "Trouble." She replied and turned back to the meeting, flopping forwards. "Sorry to interrupt gentleman." She began, moving beside her captain, a fin blocking his way as he tried to get around in front. "But care to explain to me ambassador why there are three Chinese destroyers moving towards this island?" The man was apparently stunned at Colorado's revelation. "Because you set us up didn't you? You set us up to die you son of a bitch!" She knocked him down with a quick punch and he was left wriggling in the sand, looking straight up into the rage filled ice green eyes and razor sharp teeth of the Ohio-class boomer. "Colorado!" "Colorado, take it easy. Let him go." "Let him go, Colorado he's not worth it." Colorado panted, stopping just short of biting into the man. She hissed slowly through her teeth. "I'd eat you. But you'd just foul my stomach." She growled. "Now get out of here!" He didn't need to be told twice.
Colorado turned back to her fleet. "We've got big guns inbound. They'll be here in under 4 hours." "Should we fight ma'am?" Blinka spoke up. "No. You lot are going to hightail it out of here. Saint Croix 100 miles to the north, you'll be safe there. Make the necessary preperations." "Aye ma'am." Blinka nodded and barked out orders. The fleet dispersed except for one ship. L'iana turned to her mate. "You're going to stand and fight aren't you? While we run like cowards you don't intend to follow us." "Oh I intend to." Colorado smiled. "After I deal with this threat accordingly." "Three destroyers is a lot to take on." L'iana said, facing straight ahead. "You might need some backup." "I have my SEALs." "Dammit Colorado, I can fight! I want to fight!" L'iana growled. "Not this time L'iana. You promised me, remember?" "With all due respect, damn the fucking torpedoes!" L'iana snarled. Colorado turned to her, her gaze deadly serious. "No." She said quietly and in a tone that had all the finality to it. "And that's final!" "Ugh!" L'iana hit the water in her frustration as she watched her mate sail off. Fuming, she stalked back to her berth. Lifting the dock up revealed a cashe of weapons she'd kept hidden from everyone, including Colorado. Going behind her mate's back was not something she took pleasure in but if it was to save Colorado's life... She loaded up quickly, locking everything down so it appeared she was never there. Then she took to sea.
Preparations was just another word for chaos as the little fleet of trawlers scrambled to collect all their belongings and make for open water. Blinka spotted Colorado off to the side, bow facing the open sea. The sub just sat there. The little trawler made her way alongside her flagship. Colorado cast an eye down on her. Still she didn't say a word. She was waiting for Blinka to speak. "The preparations are coming along, ma'am. The fleet will be underway within the hour." "Good." She nodded, turning away again. "You don't have to do this alone." Blinka said. "First L'iana now you." The sub groaned. "Don't be so harsh with her. She means well." Blinka replied. "This is no place for an unarmed fishing trawler. If I hadn't come here..." Colorado began. "Don't start blaming yourself now." Blinka growled. "L'iana, you could never tell but she's Japanese born. She had a mate, had children. Had a loving family." "Then how'd she wind up here?" Colorado asked. "It wasn't by choice. Nature made that decision for her. She lost her entire family and nearly perished herself. She couldn't bear to remain and so she fled. And found refuge here." Colorado looked down. Blinka knew she was pushing it but she leaned in anyways. "L'iana needs you Colorado. She'll do anything to protect you. You're all she has left." "She has you." The sub said. Blinka snorted. "I need you to take care of her." "Colorado..." "You and I both know there's only one way this is going to end." Colorado said. Blinka nodded slowly. "I'll care for her." She promised. Colorado nodded. "Um, excuse me ma'ams?" Colorado turned to the speaker. Jacobs, another small fishing boat. "The fleet's ready to leave but I can't find L'iana." "Did you check her berth?" Blinka asked as Colorado turned, her attention fixed on Jacobs. "I did ma'am. She wasn't there. And um, she has this cashe of weapons she hides under the dock. Never said anything about it. I only know its there because I saw her open it once. Well, I looked and all the weapons had been taken." "Shit." Colorado whispered. "Ma'am?" Both boats turned to her now. "L'iana's gone to face those destroyers." "Alone?" Blinka asked incredulously. "You did say she'd do anything to protect me." Colorado replied. "Blinka, get this fleet away from this island. I want them in St. Croix yesterday." She ordered and made for the channel with all haste.