CHAPTER 14
USS Bataan LHD 5 Middle of the Caribbean Ocean
Mike was standing on silent flight deck of ship deep in his thoughts thinking about how he is getting a second chance with his family. He has never given up hope of being reunited with them. He is angry that somehow that son of bitch Russian survived the sinking of the Vernyi and made it to the United States and kidnap his family from him for over two years.
"Captain Slattery, sir" young sailor said as he approaches the man
"Yes, Petty Officer what is it?" Mike replies
"Sir, CDR Bosch said to tell you they are ready in the wardroom" he "replies
"Thank you, tell the Commander, I will be there in five minutes" Mike replies
"Yes, sir" he replies and leaves
Mike takes one last look at the horizon before he heads toward the wardroom. He grabs the handle to open the QAWTD opens it steps through and shutting it. As he walks towards the wardroom he knows the crew has heard the scuttlebutt going around about the CO of the Nathan James being on board, but he does not care. His thoughts are focus on the mission about to take place in less than two hours. Mike reaches the wardroom takes a deep breath and enters the room.
"Remain seated" he says as he enters the space
"Alright now that everyone is here let's get started. Our teams contacted the subject and she was able to give us good intel on the setup on the ship and the routine of the security detail. Security teams has the suites on the upper decks. The subject and her children are housed on the same deck as the security teams their stateroom are on the port side fifth cabin in. The decks are secure at night due to pirates but here is the kicker Ruskov is in league with the pirates operating in the area." Bosch states
"Captain Kelly, thirty minutes prior to sunset we will launch the RHIBs
"Yes, sir" he replied
"Remember Ruskov is brilliant military tactician and dangerous to achieve his object he will do anything outside of the norm. Detonating a nuclear missile over southern France to preventing the James from reaching an unmanned refueling station, killing one of his own men to make his point. The man has no moral compass he will do anything to accomplish his goals. Stay on your toes with this one he is truly a snake" Mike states
"Double check your equipment especially the helmet cams CNO wants this entire operation document to ensure we did everything by the book to rescuing the hostages and keeping the passengers safe. We departure in thirty minutes" CDR Bosch says
Caribbean Sunrise
Ed and Sal had spent the morning scavenging the ship looking for cans to repack and improvise the stink bombs with simple detonators. Later in the evening they would set the bombs off in ten minutes intervals in key parts of the ship's ventilation system.
Thirty minutes after sunset they began to set off the bombs at the prescribe intervals so far everything is going as plans as the obnoxious smell of rotten eggs slowly begins to fill the ship's interior a slow build up to an overpowering smell. As the passengers are heading towards the weather decks the Captain has no choice but to place them on the upper aft weather deck for while trying to ventilate the ship. The chaos of people heading up to the weather deck the security teams are distracted by directing the passengers to aft weather decks. This distraction allows Bosch's and his team to climb up to the mooring stations on to the ship. Sasha and her team take up position around the Slatterys while mingling with other passengers. Over the comms they here the pre-arrange signal of three clicks to let them know the others have boarded the ship.
They break off into two teams and begin advancing towards the bridge and the engine room. The engine room team with the element of surprise on their side allowing them to quickly overpower the guards station around the space.
The bridge team is steadily making way up to the bridge along the bridge wing when guard spots and opens fire upon them. The fighting was short and intense both sides suffered causalities, thankfully no fatalities among the SEALs but the Russians suffered several fatalities.
As soon as the gunfire began Sasha and her team took down the guards guarding the Slattery family ensuring that the passengers suffered no harm. The word was passed over comms that "all tangos neutralized with the exception Ruskov"
Sasha looks at Christine and the girls and say "Christine this is over yet Ruskov is loose somewhere on this ship"
Sal realizes that Christine is looking at one passenger he follows her line of sight and ask, "Ma'am is that Ruskov standing alone by the railing?"
Before anyone can stop her Christine covers the distance separating them when she lands a solid punch to his to his nose breaking it in the process she looks at Sal and replies
"Meet Admiral Ruskov" Christine said
She looks at Ruskov with hatred in her eyes
"From the moment you kidnapped us from Deer Park I have been waiting for this day for over two years. Not so tough without your guards, are you?" Christine states
"Now if you excuse me I am going to see if I can help the wounded. Charlie and Hannah go get the medical bags and help the passengers I will help the medics treat the SEALs." She said as the girls run to get the bags.
"Admiral it looks like you pick the wrong woman to take hostage" Sal states
USS BATAAN
Three hours later the operation was deemed a success with no injuries among the passengers and the SEALs, Ruskov was in custody along with his men on the USS Bataan several Coast Guard members along with a detachment of Marines were sailing the Caribbean Sunrise to their port in the Bahamas. Ruskov's men began to turn against him hoping for leniency for their part during and after the pandemic. They gave up the pirates' location and their operation. In the morning they would raid the pirates' location and put an end to their operations. Christine had stay behind to help the medics with injured and the girls stayed with her onboard.
Mike had just received word that the medical teams were heading back, and Christine was on the first LCAC to enter the well deck. Mike watched as the craft came into the well deck maneuvering up the ramp to allow the other crafts to enter as soon as the crafts master position the craft in place and released the air from the bellows.
Mike stood there frozen in place watching as Christine emerge from the craft cabin. Christine spots him as her feet touch the deck. They slowly walk towards each other and they stop just a few inches apart when Mike says
"Is brea liom mo shaol Chrissy" as he pulls her into his arms
"Mike" is all she says
"Chrissy, I am so sorry that I wasn't there for you when Lucas died
"Mike, I we had a fight prior to your leaving then Lucas got sick and died it just made things worse, so I took it out my frustration on you" she replies
"I love you Chrissy and I know we have rough road ahead of us, but I am here for you and" but the sentence was cut off by the sounds of two teenagers screaming "Daddy" Charlie and Hannah jump off the LCAC and ran straight towards Mike and Christine. Mike barely had time to brace himself for the girls jumping in his arms.
"Okay let me get a look at you two both of you have grown so much in the last two year my beautiful babies" he said
"Dad you are so embarrassing" Charlie replies
"Yeah, Dad you are embarrassing our daughters" Christine responds laughingly.
The reunion is broken up by the sound of another LCAC entering the well deck. Mike looks ups and notices the Master-at-Arms converging on the craft. Mike free himself from his family and walk over to the craft as the prisoners are disembarking. He is looking for one man and that is Ruskov whom he spots him
"Admiral Konstantin Ruskov you were once a great leader, but your arrogance has cost you everything. When we get back to the States you will be formally charge for your crimes." He states
Ruskov just looks and says "Captain Slattery it seems that I under estimated two years ago and now well-done Captain and tell your wife how you Americans say no hard feelings" as he begins to laugh
Mike's response "How's the nose? According to initial reports I believe that my wife broke you nose with a solid punch tell me admiral how does it feel to have you ass handed to you by a woman in front of your men and those passengers?" he replies as he walks away from a once great leader.
Mike looks towards his family and he smiles he has his family back. Life is looking up for him
Author Notes:
QAWTD: Quick Acting Water Tight Door these doors are found throughout the ships.
LCAC: Land Craft Air Cushion
The USS Bataan LHD5 is the perfect class of ship to execute a rescue mission on the high seas due to the different ways she can be configured for various missions. Along with a complement of Marines.