Somewhere in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, 18th December 2020, 1500hrs.
Aboard the USS Republic, Anna is helping a corpsman pack her equipment while Lieutenant Olaf, Commander Kristoff and the ship quartermaster went through a final checklist for everything the boarding party needed.
With a small grunt, Anna shoves the final roll of bandages into the bag and zippes it shut with an accomplished smirk. She walks over to the quartermaster and grabs an M4 carbine and an M9 pistol, she inserts and secures the magazines into her weapons, chambers a round, and engages the safeties.
A slight frown forms on Anna's lips as she donned her bulletproof vest followed by an extra pouch of medical supplies. She doesn't like the fact that they were going to meet the people they almost blew up armed to the teeth, but protocol was protocol.
"I still think this is a bad idea ma'am, we need you here on the ship in case something goes wrong" Kristoff disgruntledly voices.
"Oh Relax Commander, we almost blew up a ship that was clearly just asking for help, the least we could do is give them a proper apology from the captain" Anna replies optimistically.
"You're gonna kill yourself"
Before Anna retorts, One of the marines, a part of the boarding party's security contingent, patts Kristoff on the shoulder.
"Oh relax commander" he says with confidence. "We'll make sure the capt'n here makes it back in one piece. Besides, in the VERY unlikely event things go south, we can just shoot our way out, my men are one of the finest the corps has to offer if I do say so myself" he finishes with a proud smile.
Anna smirkes and turns her attention back to a clearly annoyed Kristoff
"You see, commander, we'll be fine, and by the way, you should really have some more confidence in our marine detachment, right….?
" Fitzherbert ma'am, First lieutenant Eugene Fitzherbert." he said with a smirk.
Eugene confidently boards a RHIB and begins his pre-mission briefing as the group arrives and loads up their equipment.
"Alright ladies, here's the plan. The mission will consist of 24 people, 18 of whom will be a part of the boarding party, the captain included… Normally, we wouldn't even need an armed detachment for a medical mission, but since the target appears to be armed, we won't be taking any chances."
" the Republic will anchor approximately 100 meters off vessel alpha's port side, from there, RHIB alpha, with the main marine boarding team, myself included will be the first to depart, we'll circle around the the vessel, board, make contact, and determine if there's any threat, once that's done, We'll radio for RHIB bravo to approach and board with the captain and medical team. Any Questions?" Eugene finishes while glancing around at his audience.
"NON SIR" replied the marine detachment.
"Alright then, come on, time's a-wastin" he finishes with a stern yet somehow playful look on his face.
Anna and the medical staff plus her personal escort or "battle buddy" board RHIB Bravo while Eugene and his marines detachment board rhib Alpha and speeds off towards the ship; Anna and the other people on her boat sits and waits for the all clear, collectively staring as the RHIB of marines approach the strange sailing ship they had nearly blown into kingdom come.
Eugene and his team of marine speeds towards the heavily damaged Royal Yacht, one marine manning the .50 BMG mounted on the front of the RHIB while the rest sat in the back of the raft, gripping their M4s.
As the RHIB approaches and circles the stricken vessel, Eugene notices the distinct smell of gunpowder and death becoming more and more pungent, he takes note of several holes throughout the hull and superstructure, the blackened wood most likely caused by fires.
"Jesus Christ" he audibly whispers with a look of shock and horror on his face.
Around him, his fellow marines were also in the same state of shock as he was as they approached the ship.
"It's an complete fucking miracle this thing isn't twenty-thousand leagues under." mutters another marine.
Eugene turns his head towards the marine piloting the RHIB and mutters an order.
"Corporal Maximus, bring us around on the vessels port side"
"Aye Sir" responded the young marine.
The RHIB slowly pulls up to the vessel's port side, the marines looking up towards the main deck, still gawking at what they are seeing. Eugene grabs a boarding ladder and secures it to the main deck of the Royal Yacht, after checking and double checking if it was secured, the rest of the marines prepare themselves to board. The first of Eugene's team climbes the ladder onto the ship, followed by another, then another, once all 8 of his team were on board, he looked back at Corporal Maximus and the other marine manning the 50.
"Alright you two" Eugene turned his head and said with one hand and leg on the ladder.
"Y'all know what to do if things go south" he says passively as he continues his ascent.
As Eugene approaches the top of the ladder he sees the hand of one of the marines reaching down towards him, gladly accepting, Eugene grabs the hand and is pulled up onto the main deck of the ship and he quickly patts himself off after getting his bearings.
The scene in front of him nearly makes him throw up, he looks at the 8 other marines who've boarded just before him and sees the same emotion on their face: shock, horror, and disgust.
Eugene one-handedly reaches towards his radio in slow motion while the other rests on top of his rifle.
"Alpha team to Bravo, Alpha team to Bravo, this is Lieutenant Fitzhebert, please respond." he says with a blank look on his face, eyes not moving from the scene in front of him.
After a short crackle, a feminine voice responds.
"Alpha team, this is Bravo, Captain Kristiansen, go ahead Lieutenant, we read you loud and clear." replies Anna.
" I don't think these people are any threat Captain...at least not anymore" he mumbles in the last part.
"Say again?" replies the captain in a confused and borderline worried tone.
"Bravo you are clear to board, there is no threat, but we're gonna need those medics here ASAP"
"Copy that Lieutenant, we're approaching the vessel"