The Last Ship Season 2 Part 10 – Rebuilding the world
"We want the tomahawks" the British Prime Minister said looking at Chandler since their return to the Falklands Islands they had gone in circles discussing what the Americans would be paying the British for the return of the Tuxtun. "Commander it is simple we know that over the last two days your people have been removing the ammunition and spare parts from the Tuxtun. We understand that, keeping your Nathan James online is more important than trying to keep another vessel online, however we need some of your tomahawks for the Drummond."
"The US Navy is not in the habit of trading weapons to other nations; that's a government's job." Chandler said attempting to avoid the issue from what he'd seen the people at the Falklands Islands were good people but Tomahawk Missiles would give them a first strike capability.
"I understand that Commander, but your government doesn't exist, you do" Prime Minister Cameron Hudson said "we are your allies Commander Chandler. If I wanted to leverage you I would say I have a platoon of Challenger II Main Battle Tanks overlooking the bay where your warship is ready to punch a hole in the side of your ship" she said she saw the shock and anger on Chandler's face. "Commander those tanks are not there I promise you." She said Chandler didn't look convinced "we do not need all the missiles just enough to equip Drummond with a capability that will keep the Immortals at bay."
"Drummond's anti-air and anti-sea capabilities already do that as do your fighters." Chandler pointed out "however in the spirit of cooperation I'll have my technical teams offload a dozen tomahawks along with their launch codes for your people. You can do what you want with them" he said there was still an edge in his voice from her threat against his ship. "We'll continue the strip out of the Tuxtun unfortunately we need her for parts. I'll be leaving the ship here in the Falklands with your permission?" He asked looking at the Prime Minister she nodded her agreement. "We've also salvaged one of the Seahawk Helicopters from the destroyer replacing our own lost aircraft."
"Very good Captain" she said formally "and your plans beyond?"
"Once we are ready we will be heading into the Pacific the west coast United States, Australia and Asia are all waiting for the cure. Nathan James may not be able to spread the cure to them all by ourselves but we will make sure that the people who need it will get it." He said "I ask that if you are able to pass on the cure to the areas near you the Immortals may dominate but there are still people out there who need this cure."
"We'll do what we can." The Prime Minister promised the Captain who replied with a salute she wasn't his commander in chief but still deserved his respect.
For the next three weeks that followed the crew of the Nathan James continued their work on the Tuxtun removing parts of the destroyer to either fit onto the James or to be used as spare parts. Regular maintenance that they hadn't been able to maintain due to the search for a cure was caught up while every member of the crew was given limited shore leave. After all the trouble getting here British troops continued to exercise and patrol the island while the Drummond continued patrolling the sea. The scientists on the island continued to work with Dr Rachel Scott to perfect her cure and work on an aerosol version of it but that appeared to be a while away. There were regular air contacts as Immortals aircraft continued to try and probe the defences around the Falklands however none gained sight of the Nathan James.
Tom Chandler walked onto the bridge of the Nathan James sitting in the XO's chair Mike Slattery waited while Lt Granderson stood waiting for orders. "Status?"
"The Brits are finishing up fitting the tomahawks to the Drummond all our stores are secure and we're ready to go to sea." Slatterly reported
"Here we go again" Chandler said looking around at the bridge crew, Gator, Granderson, Slattery and ending on Jetter "OOD set course for the mouth of the harbour, one third speed"
"Helm, set course for mouth of the harbour one third speed." Granderson repeated passing the order to the helm the USS Nathan James began to move slowly turning in its place. Chandler reached up for the speaker.
"Nathan James Actual to Falklands Islands control thank you for your time and assistance this is Nathan James heading out."
"Safe travel Nathan James" Prime Minister Catherine Hudson herself replied. As the Nathan James turned they saw the Tuxtun sitting at anchor the ship powered down and virtually abandoned now that much of her ammunition, weapons and parts were on board the Nathan James.
"Sir, permission to show respect to the Tuxtun?" Granderson asked Chandler who came to attention "Bridge Crew Nathan James salute USS Tuxtun" Granderson announced every member of the bridge crew turned towards the Missile Cruiser standing at attention "and salute" she ordered each of them saluting the Nathan James sister ship as they slid by.
Several hours later the USS Nathan James was approaching South America with the ship remaining at alert concerned that the Immortals would be laying in wait for them at the Drake Passage which linked the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. As the ship continued forward Chandler and Slattery walked into the CIC "what have we got?"
"It's a looping SOS" Kara Foster reported Chandler nodded to her to play the message.
"This is Dr Julius Hunter sending in the blind looking for help." The man's voice said "we were sent to Chile to research the Red Flu but we are under attack by a group of Immunes. We've held up until now but they are bringing heavy weapons and our ammunition is running low. If anyone can help us we would be very appreciative none of us are sick." He said there was a pause then the message began to repeat Kara cut it off.
"Lt Foster any idea where they are?"
"Cabo de Hornos" Foster said naming a settlement further north than their planned route.
"Not somewhere we want to take the James" Chandler admitted although the ship could easily fit through the area it was narrow which would limit their manoeuvring.
"Plenty space for the RIBs and Helo" Slattery noted "and we can still provide ship to shore fire."
Chandler turned to Lt Burk who stood off to the side "Lieutenant, prep a team we'll take the Helo until we find out what is going on." He said the African-American marine left the CIC as Chandler turned back to Slattery. "Prep the RIBs if we need to evacuate the scientists we'll need them too." He told Slattery who nodded "keep the James out of range of anything that can hit it from the ground and keep an eye out for aerial and sea targets." He said glancing at Foster and around CIC as he did.
Heading back through the ship Doctor Rachel Scott stopped Chandler in the corridor "Captain, I heard that you had received a distress call from some scientists?"
"That's correct Doctor Scott they were researching the Red Flu trying to find a cure" Chandler said there was no need for anyone to know that Dr Scott had already found the cure.
"I heard one of the Doctors was a Julius Hunter?" She asked cautiously
"That's correct he was the one making the distress call" Chandler said "I don't know his condition or the others condition unfortunately. We are on our way out to check on them." He said moving past her towards the Helicopter pad.
"Captain" Scott said catching his attention "Dr Hunter was my mentor I learned everything I know from him" Chandler barely believed that but it was obvious that she held him in high regard. "Look out for him for me." She asked Chandler nodded before heading through the ship.
Sometime later the Helicopter was heading over Cabo de Hornos and below they could see the problem the research facility near the outskirts of the town looked like it had been through a war even now there was tracer fire striking the base. Chandler and Lt Green looked down on the fighting from one side of the chopped while Lts Burk and Wolf Taylor looked down from the other side. Tex sat further back in the cockpit. Chandler had taken four of the best operators on the James with him but against this they had little chance of making a difference there was little more than vegetation in the area so Chandler made a decision. "Nathan James this is Vulture team fire support North-north-east of the complex, sending coordinates, fire for effect." Chandler said into his radio Lt Mousseau at the controls instinctively pulled the helicopter into a bank to the right clearing the firing path for the Nathan James.
Far off shore the destroyer turned its 5-inch turreted cannon towards the shore elevating the gun it fired several rounds. The shells flew through the air landing in and around the tracer fire causing huge explosions as they hit. After a few moments a second salvo of cannon fire landed in the area setting yet more of the undergrowth on fire. "Lt Mousseau land us on the far side of the compound then get airborne again, we'll call you in when we need you." The Frenchman gave Chandler thumbs-up then turned the helicopter towards the far side of compound rapidly lowering the aircraft's height.
The four of them moved rapidly across the ground reaching the perimeter of the research compound "US NAVY COMING IN!" Chandler shouted as Burk began to move weapons fire rang out just missing the man. "We're US Navy!" Chandler shouted again
"Of course you are" an American accent shouted back as more shots rang out.
"Who do you think just bombarded your attackers?" Chandler shouted the shots slowed to a stop. "We're coming in" he called out with Green raising cautiously this time there was no fire as Vulture Team moved in. The guards were dressed in civilian clothing, much as Tex was, but each also wore heavy body armour and carried M4 Carbines. "I'm Commander Tom Chandler, US Navy; we were answering your distress call."
"Our apologies we thought you were an Immortal patrol" one said "I'm Adam Caldwell, RanTech Private Security."
"RanTech?" Tex commented as he stepped past alongside Green, Chandler made a mental note to ask Tex about them later.
"What's your situation?" Chandler asked looking around the compound looked like it had been through a war.
"We're down to fourteen men and women, eight scientists and about three hundred and forty civilians in the facility." Caldwell reported "the town of Cabo de Hornos has been untouched by the Red Flu there's a few thousand people there." Each of the numbers was hammer blows to Chandler's thoughts of evacuation. "We've been attacked by the Immortals but recently they've been moving armour and artillery into the surrounding area." Caldwell said Chandler nodded the situation seemed to be getting worse. "The scientists are this way unfortunately they haven't made any headway with the virus research."
"That's alright, we're here with the cure" Chandler said deciding to get that out of the way straight away the man's face visibly brightened as Green produced a dose of the cure. Chandler nodded as Green injected the man "if there are any sick in the town this will cure them as well." Chandler thought thinking of how to make the most out of the does that they had with them.
"The virus hasn't reached here" Caldwell said "the Immortals tried to drive in several truck loads of infected civilians but we blew the bridges." He explained Chandler was concerned to hear that the immunes who dominated the South American continent would use infected people like biological weapons it would make curing South America all the more difficult.
Even as Chandler was lost in his thoughts he was led into the facility by Caldwell to a research "clean-room" Caldwell crossed the room and activated the intercom system "Dr Hunter" he said an older man looked up from his microscope and crossed over to the window looking at Chandler.
"You're an American?" He asked looking at Chandler's gear.
"I'm Tom Chandler Commander of the US Navy Destroyer Nathan James."
"Nathan James that rings a bell…" he said lost in his own thoughts for a moment before looking back at Chandler again "I'm sorry if you are here looking for the cure then we haven't found it yet." He said turning back towards his gear.
"Dr Hunter the Nathan James is familiar because it was the ship that Dr Rachel Scott too to the Antarctic to search for the Primordial Strain of the virus." Chandler said immediately he saw his face brighten at the mention of the Doctor "from the Primordial strain she was able to synthesise a cure."
"Rachel did it?" He said looking stunned but very proud.
"Yes he did Doctor. We have enough cure doses for all of your people here and we'll hopefully be able to help you a bit with your defences too." Chandler said he could see tears running down the doctors faces it reminded him on why he had trusted Dr Scott when she had insisted that they search for the cure.
Several hours later more marines had come off the James and they were helping shore up the defences while Dr Scott had come onto the island to see Dr Hunter. The Immortals had been seen scouting the perimeter none had come close enough to attack or be attacked. Chandler had accepted the offer of an office inside the compound for the duration of his time there. Tex knocked on the door and entered the office sitting down opposite him "how you doing, Commodore, I see the RanTech boys rolled out the welcome mat for ye." He said in his southern drawl "did they invite you into the tribe?" Tex asked half joking
"What do you know of these guys Tex?" Chandler asked leaning back in his chair.
"They are tough sons of bitches." Tex admitted "I encountered some of them in Afghanistan. They get the job they are assigned to done but not always by the book."
"Hear anything about these guys?" He asked referring to the RanTech Private Security force.
"Little things Commodore" Tex explained being a civilian people were sometimes more inclined to talk to him. "Seems like the RanTech guys started the trouble with the Immortals they had been ignoring this little town but the RanTech folk they thought that striking first was a better strategy than waiting until the Immortals steamrolled this place." Tex said getting up of his chair walking over to the window "they torched a nearby Immortals guard post intent on sending a message."
"Unfortunately it turned the Immortals onto this place" Chandler noted.
"Yes sir" Tex said "they were trying to protect these people but it seems to have backfired on them." He explained Chandler nodded in effect it was a turf war.
"Then for the good of both sides we need to end it." Chandler said pushing his fist into the desk for a moment as he looked at Tex.
"God damn, Commodore, why did I have to hook up with someone who wants to rebuild the world he just saved?"