Full Metal Panic!

Chapter Eight

Idle Currents

By Steve Edward

Sunday, 0930 hours, Third Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama

Entering after the choir, who were singing joyfully Baptist Minister Oliver Brown clapped along to the music from the organ and the churches small string section. The church was literally rock'n, the pews filled to overflowing; those who did not mind standing were singing the praises in the aisles.

Behind Oliver Brown, television cameras captured the celebration and were beaming it to the world. It had been only last Thursday, when he sat across from Sandra Montgomery, a child of his church, praying with her. It had been anything but joyful then when her captors tired of the prayer vigil had interrupted it by yanking on the chains that had bound her.

Forced out from the hotel, Oliver had sought a place to pray and had found it at a small catholic mission a short distance away. It was there that a "messenger" had spoken to him, "Angels will soon come to free her. You must leave now to prepare for her homecoming." He turned to view the messenger, but the ragged dress of an African laborer was all that he saw, but the hand squeezing his shoulder told Oliver he was real.

Returning to his prayers, he felt the hand lift from his shoulder. Rising to his feet, Oliver walked from the mission into the crowded and chaotic street but did not see the messenger who had spoken. Doing so as directed, the preacher made the treacherous 100 kilometer trip to the nearest airport and returned to the United States.

His wife of 22 years, Nancy had shaken him awake Saturday afternoon, the portable phone clutched in her hand as she thrust the phone into his hands she spoke, "Sandra! She is free! Sandra is free! Praise God!"

In disbelief he listened to an elder as he reported the news and as his wife turned the TV on to the cable news channel which at that moment was covering the story, "United Nations forces conducted a daring early morning raid in Radnor Friday morning and their mission was to rescue an American Missionary named Sandra Montgomery, and they got more than they bargained for after freeing Mrs. Montgomery from the Radnor prison where she had been held…"

For the remainder of the afternoon, first in ones and twos and then in large groups, television news vehicles began to descend on the Third Baptist Church of Mobile, as Oliver began to give interviews.

Oliver Brown ascended the steps to the podium and waited for the music to finish. Turning and thanking the choir and the organist, Oliver Brown's voice boomed through the church and the world.

"Brothers! Sisters! Rejoice this day. Sister Sandra will be coming home to us, not dead but ALIVE!" Shouts of joy, and amen's soundly loudly, as he continued "Last Thursday, I was in Radnor, sent there with help of generous donations to be with Sister Sandra in her great time of need. I prayed with her, her faith had never wavered nor had it been shaken. When those callously treating her so harshly yanked on the chains that bound her, she did not cry out in fear."

More shouts of amen's , "When I was but forced to leave her side, I wondered the streets of Radnor and came upon a catholic mission, whose doors were open. I entered to pray there Brothers and Sisters, because God is blind to color and faith or even where you come from. While praying, I felt a presence then the comforting touch of a messengers hand on my shoulder!"

Sipping water, Oliver Brown gazed over the congregation. White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and a smattering of other nationalities, his church welcomed all. "I turned to see the messenger, but he was dressed in the simple and but ragged clothing of an African laborer and he spoke to me and said "Angels will soon come to free her!" then he told me to leave, to prepare for her homecoming." The choruses of amen's rang out.

Oliver continued, "We all heard the news yesterday, of seeing her on the television when she arrived in Germany, early this morning. We can give praise and our prayers for her safe return, but we can never repay the Angels that have helped bring her back home to us but only offer our prayers to them, nameless Angels from on high! Amen!"

Sunday, 1700 hours, Melida Island Airfield

The props of the V-22 Osprey spun down as the rear ramp began to lower. Captain Teletha Testarossa with Kaname Chidori and Sergeant Souska Sagara disembarked from the front with Major Zareb with Icarian exited from the rear. Major Zareb returned the farewell wave to Chidori as he loaded Icarian into the horse trailer being pulled by a base tow tractor.

Commander Mardukas spoke, "Welcome back Madam Captain," as he closed the door to her transport vehicle. Tessa waved at Kaname and Souska as they walked to another aircraft that would fly them both back to Japan, then spoke "Final report Commander?"

Commander Mardukas opened a folder and spoke, "The United Nations on scene commander reports significant progress in cleanup of the laboratory found at the former prison, and that the disarming of the make shift army occupying the capitol of Radnor is proceeding well.

Mrs. Sandra Montgomery was flown by a United States Air Force Medical Transport to Germany and arrived earlier in the day and has since been released and is presently enroute to the United States by commercial airline."

Pausing while exiting the vehicle at the living quarters, Commander Mardukas continued, "A full report concerning your experience with Ensign Aryl is awaiting your review. Mithril scientists consider the implications to merging not to be surmountable, and problems should be overcome by additional guidance and training for those who are involved in such practices."

Tessa spoke, "I was wrong Richard, to accuse Captain Simms both behind his back and in front of you." Mardukas paused, "Madam Captain?"

Tessa replied, "Of him having inappropriate relationships. He never has, and he never will in my view. Perhaps when he returns we can discuss it more informally. Good evening Commander."

Commander Mardukas waited till the door closed, then he turned and walked away. Joining Lieutenant Commander Kalinin in the officers club and later in his quarters, the two men discussed the troubling events well into the night.

As originally scheduled the Samuel Eliot Morison returned to Melida Island on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, and perched on the conning tower with Captain Andrew Simms were Lieutenant Alice Wren and Ensign Aryl, both of whom waved at Captain Testarossa as the Samuel Eliot Morison passed beneath the catwalk to her berth. Captain Teletha Testarossa gave a reply to them, which only they could hear, "Welcome home."