[a/n]Dedicated toPixel and Stephanie Forever's review of HDD#222 Cue the Falkland Defence Force engaging Aunt Marge as she drifts over Stanley... Actually, PLEASE let that be a sequel to this. Amazingly, no Harry. But LOTS of interesting faces.
Harry Does Different CCLXXXI
The Falkland Defence Force
A decade had passed since those rotten Argentinians tried to steal an eternal piece of the Queen's realm. A permanent force remained on the islands that, for the first few years, equaled the civilian population. By the mid 90s, ground forces had dwindled quite a bit, but they relied on first-rate RAF defenses to even prevent invaders from landing.
"Overnight log; Falklands radar station 2; time 0003 hours; date 24 July 1993" the commanding officer spoke into her recorder "Assumed operational control of system effective 0000 hours. Prior shift reported no unauthorized intrusion of Falklands airspace. HMS York remains in port. Overnight staff consists of TSGT Brendon Gleason and TSGT Gary Oldman. Ensign Myrtle Henderson, RN, reporting."
Both enlisted men, years older than their superior officer chuckled. Oldman offered, with a hint of irony "Nicely done, ma'am."
"Shouldn't you be watching your screen, Private?" countered Ensign Henderson.
Gleason leaned back in his chair and saluted with excess punctiliousness "YASSSUH Admiral!" And the trio settled in for a dull evening.
The crew was well settled and busily counting the crickets to be heard out the window when Oldman snapped out of his lazy pose "Ensign! Got something coming in from the northeast. It's big."
"Bet it's those bloody Argentinians." Gleeson immediately assumed.
The junior officer rolled her eyes "Need I remind you? South America is WEST of here."
"Exactly my point!" countered Gleeson forcefully "Only an idiot would come from exactly where you expect them."
Ensign Henderson giggled in a way that showed how young she was "I really don't think there's anything dangerous. BUT Sergeant Gleeson has expressed a concern that I will report."
"HMS York, Lt. Commander Gambon duty officer. Go ahead Ensign." Came from the docked destroyer, and he listened intently "Good enough for me. Tennant, bring the ship to yellow alert. Arm SAMs and close-in weapons. Watson, summon the captain. Isaacs, alert the RAF base."
abcij
Radar officer Fiennes reported "Coming in. No sign it's complying with your orders, sir."
"Exocet locked on?" queried Gambon and upon receiving confirmation, ordered "Fire!"
The missile leapt off the ship in a cloud of exhaust and raced to its target. In two minutes, Fiennes reported "Missile impact, target destroyed. Captain on the bridge."
"Calm cool and professional." Captain Spall praised his crew "Commander Gambon, locate the debris and get an analysis. The Admiralty will want a full engagement report. End red alert, maintain yellow until further notice."
Communication officer Watson announced "Sir, Johnson Harbour reports an explosion and a fire about two miles north. It's all forest, no casualties."
"Very good." Spall acknowledged "Helm, set course and sail as soon as ready. Security will prepare an away team, armed, to investigate. Gambon, you'll lead."
Helm acknowledged and announced "We'll be there by 0730 sir."
Abcij
"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it, sir." Lt. Commander Gambon was giving his report in the captain's quarters "But I swear to God and Her Majesty. We recovered about nine pounds of human flesh, scorched grey-red hair a single pearl and the torn remnants of a rather unpleasant looking brown and grey dark plaid woman's suit."
Captain Spall looked highly skeptical, to say the least "And what conclusion does this lead you to, Commander?" he demanded.
"We shot down an exceptionally large woman who was inflated to three times her normal size, who was bobbing around like a hot-air balloon….err….sir." the unfortunate subordinate replied "Oh, and based on forensics, she must've been British…sir."
Spall sighed "You, Mr. Gambon, will give that report to the Admiralty …in London… in person… just as soon as you can get there. I wonder whether either of us will have a career AFTER that. Dismissed."