A.N Hey guys sorry about the long wait for this chapter, I have been extremely busy with my end of year assignments and unfortunately I am not going to be posting anything for the next month.
My final exams are fast approaching and they are sadly going to last all November and regretfully I will not be posting any new Chapters until they are over. I apologise about this but I will be studying like crazy and will not have time to write.
As always please review
Vice Admiral Jonathan sat at his desk; it had been another quiet and peaceful night at the Marine fortress of G-8, code named: Navarone. He had been out doing some night time fishing as was his usual routine and like usual he did not expect to catch anything. However while he was fishing something very unexpected happened.
A ship fell from the sky and crashed into the lake.
At the time Jonathan could not believe it, not only had a ship fell from the sky but it turned out to be a pirate ship as well. Naturally the marine base had instantly sounded the alarms and the base suddenly went from quiet and peaceful to high alert.
Jonathan had retoured to his office and was now awaiting a report from his second in command Lieutenant Drake. While the other Marines secured and guarded the ship he had asked Drake to find and talk to any witnesses.
While he was waiting Jonathan set up a chess board and placed the black King in in the centre of the board, he then looked at the other white pieces wondering witch pieces to place. Deciding to wait for more information first Jonathan pulled out a letter he had received a few days ago from Marine Hq.
The envelope had opened already as he had already but he read it again, Jonathan focused on a date written on the letter and then looked at the calendrer on the wall. He put the letter down and leaned back in his chair thinking hard.
"They'll arrive tomorrow; this ship could cause trouble….or perhaps we could use this to our advantage…" Jonathan thought.
Suddenly a knock on the door brought Jonathan out of his thoughts; he glanced over to the door.
"Come in," Jonathan said.
A Marine Lieutenant walked in, he was a man of average height with He has brown hair with mutton chop sideburns. He wears a marine cap with an overcoat draped over his shoulders, over a blue suit. His coat had gold shoulder pads with matching tassels hanging down to signify his rank.
"Ah Drake, good timing have you spoken to the witnesses?" Jonathan asked.
Drake nodded.
"I have, though they have some odd things to say," Drake said as he came over.
Once he was in front of the desk he noticed the Chess board and the letter from Marine Hq.
"What's that…a letter from headquarters?" Drake asked.
"Hmm…oh it's nothing important, just a letter from Admiral Suziki," Jonathan claimed as he put the letter in his desk draw.
"Ah, how is your mentor doing lately?" Drake asked.
"Oh you know Suziki, he's always grouchy or complaining about something," Jonathan joked light heartedly "Tell me what did the witness say?"
"Right one said that they saw a big hairy man, another said that they saw many arms and legs sprout form the side of the ship," Drake reported.
"Oh…were they nice looking legs?" Jonathan asked interested.
"Commander please remember that you're married," Drake scolded.
"Joking, I'm joking," Jonathan said "But please don't tell my wife I said that. Anything else?"
"Well there were also reports of strange and unusual noises along that sounded like and I quote. A scream of a banshee and the moan of the dead rising," Drake said.
"A banshee you say?" Jonathan asked "that seems odd,"
"Yes, personally I think it's all poppycock, but the general conciseness amongst the men is that the ship is a ghost ship," Drake said "but one thing is consistent across all stories, it's that the ship fell from the sky,"
"Well then I suppose we have no choice," Jonathan said and stood up "Let's go investigate the ghost ship,"
Jonathan and Drake walked out of Jonathans office and headed down to the docks where there was a row boat waiting for him, he got in with Drake and a Marine rowed them out to the ship that had landed. When they
"Well I think this dashes the ghost ship theory," Jonathan claimed.
"Sir?" Drake asked.
"You can't touch ghost ships," Jonathan joked.
Drake rolled his eyes. They boarded the ship and found several Marines investigating the ship, some were taking phots outers were making notes and a few were cauterising and taking inventory of everything on board.
Jonathan looked around the ship thougholay, he did not entirely believe the whole ghost ship theory and he had his own suspicions. He looked in the kitchen and noticed that there was a teapot out with 7 cups on a tray. None of them had any liquored in it, the pot had some coffie in it that was still warm and there was some kind of biscuits out on the bench that
"Looks like they just dropped everything and left," Jonathan muttered.
"Sir?" Drake asked.
"Oh sorry just talking to myself," Jonathan smiled.
He picked a cup and poured himself lf a bit of coffee and picked up a biscuit and offered it to Drake.
"Want one?" Jonathan offered.
"No thank you," Drake responded.
"Your loss," Jonathan shrugged and he ate the biscuit and drank the coffee.
"Hmm….this is pretty good," he said happily.
"Sir that is evidence, you can't go eating evidence," Drake scolded.
"Oh lighten up there's plenty of biscuits and it would be a shame to let them go to waste," Jonathan added as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Sir look up there," Drake said and pointed to the mast.
"Hmm…" Jonathan said as he looked up.
Up on the mast were two birds one was a south bird and the other looked like a sea eagle.
"Oh a south bird," Jonathan stated.
"South bird?"
"Yes there birds who's heads always point south, they were used for navigating in ancient times. They naturally live on Jaya," Jonathan explained.
"Really? But why do they always point south?" Drake asked.
"No one knows it's just how they evolved," Jonathan claimed "there rather silly and stupid birds,"
The bird seemed to take offence to this and it instantly flew down and attacked the vice admiral, Jonathan tried to shoo it away and but the bird was stubborn but it finally flew off leaving the vice admiral in with quite a few scratches.
"I didn't know they were so vicious," Jonathan said once the bird was gone.
Jonathan walked over to one of the Marines who was taking inventory of the ship.
"You there report," Jonathan ordered.
"Sir," the Marine said snapping to attention "we are still cataloguing and gathering evidence, I believe we are half way done,"
"Good work, have you found anything interesting?" Jonathan asked.
"Interesting?" the marine asked.
"Yes things that would be out of place on a pirate ship," Jonathan clarified.
"Well there were one or two items that did seem odd," the Marine agreed.
"Oh like what?" Jonathan asked.
"Well we found a lot of gold…sacks full of it in fact," the marine said.
"Gold?" Drake asked interested.
"Yes but it looks old and I mean ancient old. It's not in coins or anything its moulded into statues and other ornaments," the Marine reported.
"Really? I would like to see this gold," Jonathan said "where is it?"
"Everything we're collecting is being taken to the base by the Endeavour,"
"Hmm….put it all back," Jonathan ordered.
"Sir?"
"We don't need everyday things cluttering up our base, take only what seems out of place and bring it to me in my office once you've finished cataloguing everything. Leave the rest," Jonathan ordered.
"Yes sir," the Marine responded.
"Come on Drake let's go back," Jonathan said as he headed back towards the rowboat.
Drake followed and once they got back to the base Jonathan called the captains of the various divisions to his office to give them his orders. Once they were there he began.
"So let's go over what we know," Jonathan said.
"A ship fell from the sky, we have reports of hairy men, limbs sprouting and the dead moaning giving the impression of a ghost ship," Jonathan started.
"That of course is preposterous," Drake claimed.
"Oh indeed, however we do have a ship that we can touch and it did fall from the sky," Jonathan said "but it is not a ghost ship. It's just a regular old pirate ship,"
"But which crew would dare invade Navaore?" one of the captains asked.
"That is a good question, once the ship gets hauled into the docks in the morning I would like you to find out," Jonathan ordered.
The captain nodded.
"Now moving on, we can safely say that there are at least seven people who were on that ship," Jonathan continued.
"How can you be sure?" Drake asked.
"That ship was well stocked with food and other supplies; the food was all fresh so it stands to reason that the ship's crew was on board at the time it landed. As for the number there were seven cups on that tray," Jonathan explained "we also know that the ship must have been in Jaya recently,"
"Jaya?" Drake asked "that's a fair way away,"
"Indeed, but the coffee in that pot is a blend made in Jaya and the south birds can only be found there," Jonathan explained.
"What about the odd things the men found?" one of the captains asked.
"Ah yes the gold, well that is easily explainable. It's not uncommon for pirates to have treasure on their ship and there is a certain legend on Jaya about a lost city of gold…maybe they found it," Jonathan claimed.
"Was anything else round that seemed out of place?" Drake asked.
"Yes, we found a collection of books, mostly history, medical and a few cook books," the captain responded.
"Well that's not that out of the ordinary, every ship should have some books on medicine and cooking, plus a general knowledge of islands in the grand line," Drake said.
"I know but we also found some children's books on board too," the captain said.
"Oh, what kind? Novels, fantasy stories…comics?" Jonathan asked interested.
"No they were early learning books…like ABC's and basic writing and maths. There was even paint by numbers book and a chalk board. They look brand new too, not even opened," the captain claimed.
"That is odd; do you think these pirates have a child with them? Perhaps they kidnapped one and are use the child as a hostage," Drake suggested.
"I think it is more likely that one of them bought those as gifts for someone…maybe a family member or relative," Jonathan reasoned "unless you found any other evidence that there is a child on board,"
"None, just the books and the chalkboard," the captain responded.
"In that case we can rule a child out," Jonathan said.
"Sir let me take my unit and search the base, I can have the pirates found in no time," Drake assured.
"No let's wait until morning," Jonathan said.
"Why we must act now or the pirates could get away," Drake argued.
"They won't," Jonathan assured.
"How do you know?"
"Try to see this situation from their point of view, these pirates find themselves in an enclosed Marine base with their ship surrounded by marine battle ships, so they leave to hide in the base to avoid capture. Now what would be the best way to hide?" Jonathan asked.
"Umm…." Drake responded, trying to think of a way to avoid capture in a highly defensible marine base.
"Drake we have a lot of recruits here, so seeing a few new faces would not be that out of the ordinary. These priests could easily steal some Marine uniforms and blend in with the rest of us," Jonathan said.
"This way the chance of being detected is a lot lower, however…that would also put us them at a disadvantage," Jonathan claimed.
"How so?" one of the captains asked.
"It is not uncommon for new recuts to get lost here, if any of find someone wandering around in a marine uniform ask them what unit number they are part of and then tell them the wrong unit. If they correct you than they are real marines…but if they get it wrong…pirate," Jonathan explained.
"I see…and with so many marines around picking out the odd ones will be easier," Drake said.
"Exactly. So for now we shall wait until morning. Tomorrow double the patrols and have the patrols in pairs…also tell all squad elders that if any marine is seen acting even the slightest bit suspicious they are to report it immediately to the nearest senior officer," Jonathan ordered.
"Focus the patrols on inside the base as well especially around the mess hall. Pirates are notorious for being hungry and eating a lot," Jonathan added.
"Sir yes sir," the other marine captains and Drake responded.
Once the meeting was over Jonathan dismissed the others and he focused on his chess board in front of him.
"Let's see…seven pirates…we need a captain and a first mate," Jonathan said and placed a black king and queen on the board.
"We also need a doctor and most likely a navigator," Jonathan mused and put a bishop and a rook down.
"And a cook," He added and put a knight down as well
"I suppose the rest can be considered pawns," Jonathan said and placed two more pawns on the board.
Jonathan leaned back in his chair and looked at the board thoughtfully, he had placed the pieces so the white king was surrounded, he stared at the board contemplating on everything that had happened. However one thing he could not figure out is why the pirates would come to Nevour, in fact why anyone would even bother with them.
They were a small out of the way marine base that barely saw any action, a lot of pirates ignored them and even the marine higher ups never came to visit. He stood up and walked over out onto his balcony and looked down over the pirate ship that was in the middle of the lake.
"We have nothing of value….What are you here for?" Jonathan asked himself.
He didn't get a response; he sighed and rubbed his head. He would not be figuring out anything tonight, he would just have to wait until one of the pirates got captured.
"So much for a peaceful night," Jonathan sighed.
The next morning Jonathan went about his usual routine, he got up, had a shower, got dressed, ate breakfast with his wife before heading to his office to read the new reports and speak to Drake about the day and any issues that needed to be addressed.
Since there was a pirates had invaded the base most of the usual reports were put on hold so Jonathan could focus on the situation at hand. He watched from his balcony as the ship that had fallen from the sky was towed off to the dock to be looked at by the bases shipwrights.
As he was watching the door to Jonathan's office opened and Drake walked in. He walked over to the marines Vice Admiral.
"Sorry I'm late sir, I was reminding the squad captains of the double patrols and to report any suspicious behaviour," Drake said.
"That's alright, this is an unusual situation after all…has there been any sightings of our pirate gusts?" Jonathan asked.
"Not yet unfortunately," Drake responded.
"Hmm well it's still early morning I suppose, we'll just have to wait," Jonathan said causally.
"When they make their move we will catch them," Drake assured.
"We'll see," Jonathan said.
He turned and walked back to his desk and picked up a piece of paper and turned back to Drake.
"By the way we will be having a few extra gusts today," Jonathan said and handed the Lieutenant the paper.
Drake took it and read it over.
"A special investigator…here?" Drake asked.
"Yes, apparently we are up for a review. Normally I would make preparations but we have a bit of a crisis on our hands so I think we can skip that part," Jonathan said "But I would like you to meet the investigator when they arrive and inform him of the situation,"
"Very well," Drake agreed "It says here that two chefs will be accompanying the investigator,"
"Yes apparently Marine Hq's famous chiefs are touring some bases and giving the chiefs some pointers in cooking. Personally I think there just showing off," Jonathan said.
"I bet Jessica is going to love that," Drake claimed.
"Indeed, she was not thrilled when I told her this morning," Jonathan said.
"Should I get the Harassment complaint forms ready again?" Drake asked.
"Oh I'm not worried, if there as good as they say they are then there won't be a problem if not….well Jessica will eat them alive," Jonathan grinned.
"But that is probably a good idea. Since there only here for as long as the investigator I doubt we will need the transfer request forms this time," He added quickly.
Drake nodded, he then made few calls to make sure that the complaint forms would be ready for the chefs arrival and that they would be easily accessed. The head chief Jessica was brutal when it came to cooking and every time when Navarone had new chefs there were always complaints about the head chief within the first ten minutes and several transfer requests in the first hour.
"So now that that is settled lets go fishing," Jonathan declared.
"Fishing sir…at a time like this?" Drake asked.
"Of course, how can I not go fishing when the catch is?" Jonathan asked.
Drake sighed and followed the vice admiral out of his office and down to the one of the docks where a small row boat was waiting for them. Once they were out on the lake Jonathan pulled out a spy glass and started looking around the cliff areas and trees for any sign of the pirates.
They weren't the only ones out on the lake as there were quite a few pastorals in small boats and one or two marine battle ships patrolling the perimeter. The other marines gave the commanders a wave or a salute as they passed them.
After a while Drake grew impatient and looked at his watch.
"Sir we've been out here for over two hours now, wouldn't it be more productive to search the base?" Drake asked.
"Perhaps but bad guys always return to the scene of the crime. I am quite confident we will find at least one pirate hanging around," Jonathan said.
"I sincerely doubt we will," Drake responded.
A few minutes later the two commanders herd something odd above them they looked up to see a green haired person not in Marine uniform hanging from a balcony trying to reach something in a bush just out of reach. Jonathan pointed his spyglass towards the man and saw that there were three swords in the bush.
"You were saying Drake?" Jonathan teased.
"What the hell is he doing?" Drake asked.
"I think he is hanging around…quite literally," Jonathan stated "call some of the other patrols,"
Drake did as he was told and soon the other patrol boats arrived, the marines were very confused as to what Zoro was doing. Jonathan started a small betting pool on how long the man would last until he let go.
After about three more minutes Zoro finally let go, however the swords he was reaching for fell down the cliff and he chased after them. The marines watched as the man ran down the cliff before tripping on a branch causing him to tumble and start a small rockslide.
The man eventually splashed into the sea and the rocks followed him.
"Well…there is something you don't see every day," Jonathan commented.
A few seconds later Zoro came back up to the surface and all the marines instantly pointed their guns at his head,
"Hello there, would you mind surrendering?" Jonathan asked.
Zoro glared at the vice admiral, he glanced around at the guns and the marines around him, he didn't see any way out that did not involve him being shot. Zoro sighed
"Sure," Zoro said and raised his hands.
Jonathan smiled.
"See Drake, and you say fishing is a waste of time," Jonathan smirked.
Drake just rolled his eyes.
The two commanders watched as Zoro was helped up onto one of the boats and taken away, several boats followed him just encase Zoro tried to escape.
"One down, six to go," Jonathan said.
A.N The chess pieces that Jonathan uses to represent the Straw Hats are:
Luffy – King
Zoro – Queen (jokes will be made)
Nami – Rook
Chopper -Bishop
Sanji – Knight (again jokes will be made)
Usopp – Pawn
Robin – Pawn
Connor – None (Jonathan doesn't know he is there)
