Nelson Follies
Chapter Three
Admiral Nelson had no problems with landing the FS-1 at the Tacoma air base forty five minutes later. A jeep was waiting for them with a driver to take them to the celebration party across the ways at the conference hall. The party was in full swing with the moon now out in full bloom for the next few hours with the sky clear and crisp.
"Lovely evening Admiral?" Lee asked with the driver moving quickly on the field to head on over.
"Yes, it is Lee. I must admit it's quite a change from the last time we were here with the weather elements." He noted with his comment fixing his black uniform tie and jacket. Driver, when did the celebration begin?" He asked with curiosity in his demeanor.
"Twenty minutes ago Admiral Nelson, we will be there in a few moments." The young driver named Sergeant Jerry Mcquire born in New York City. He has been in the service for the past three years having transferred in from Fort Dix,
New Jersey.
"Thanks driver." Nelson replied with looking back at his friend and captain feeling relaxed for a change.
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General Braxon was enjoying himself sitting across from the commanding officer of the base Jordan O' Rourke sipping a whiskey the waiter brought over. He was waiting for Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane to arrive. While the three doctors were sitting at another table.
"General, how are you enjoying the celebration?" His commanding officer had to asked with drinking his Scotch on the rocks feeling somewhat mellow with his second drink.
"Very nice Jordan." He states with calling him by his first name.
Outside of the celebration Sergeant Suzanne Moore seen the jeep arriving with the two from the submarine Seaview. She was very anxious to dance with the captain. "Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane, I am Sergeant Suzanne Moore. I will be escorting the both of you to your table. General Braxon and the Commanding officer Jordan O' Rourke are waiting at the table assigned."
"Lead the way Sergeant." Nelson replied with the Captain scanning the woman. She looked very much like his wife Commander Rose Marie Crane a few years younger. As they walk inside to the hall filled with music being piped through the sound system.
Being placed into their seats after formerly being introduced to everyone at the table. Right away Lee noticed the salad filled with shrimp and other seafood as he began to dig in with having to be hungry as with the Admiral talking to the General.
"I must admit General this is some spread of goodies with this salad." Lee said with the general answering his comment.
"Yes, I know. We went all out to really enjoy our ten year celebration of the base and with many more to come in the future, I might say!" He popped another one of the shrimps into his mouth while the general continued to talk with Admiral Nelson.
Sometime later...
Sergeant Suzanne Moore came up to Captain Lee Crane at the snack table asking him on whether he would be interested in dancing to one tune.
"Why not! I would love to dance with the sergeant." Lee said before she corrected him.
"Please call me, Suzanne for now, Captain Lee Crane of the Seaview." She smiled as Lee placed his tray back at the assigned table.
They moved to the middle of the floor assigned for those wishing to dance. Lee tried not to get too close to the woman smelling of roses with her perfume. It had reminded him so much of his wife Rose Marie.
"So tell me Lee, how long have been the Captain of the Seaview?" She asked dancing to the slow music for which she didn't know the title of the song.
"A long time. There has been times it has felt like a lifetime for when ever we are on long cruises. A question for you. Are you married?" He had to asked flowing along the floor with the sergeant.
"I was 15 years ago, he was killed during a diving accident just like Rose Marie's first husband. They tried to get him out when the frame he was working on killed him and the other man working with him. I was able to get over it, even though I never remarried with no children. Rose and I have been keeping in touch by mail, phone and at times using the base computers via email."
"I am sorry to hear it Suzanne." Lee sounding sad in his tone and demeanor.
It was at this time Doctor Rebecca Rae came over to the table to ask Admiral Nelson to dance. He accepted the offer leaving his drink of Scotch near his snack plate with dinner to be served sometime soon.
Close to Lee and Suzanne on the dance floor. Nelson was getting comfortable with needing to know the female doctor better. "Are you all right Admiral Nelson? I won't bite!" She stated with watching his face change expression to a smile.
"I am just fine Doctor Rae. I never really liked parties, even though I have attended my fair share of them over the years. And no doubt you have done the same in Russia?"
"Yes, we have. Under the noses of the Russian government, and any secret police wanting to know about the projects I have been working on." She frowned with moving swiftly with the Admiral in his arms.
Watching out of his corner of his eye, he noticed that Lee and the Sergeant needing a breath of fresh air headed outside.
"It looks like Captain Crane and the Sergeant had gotten bored with dancing for the moment?" Nelson said into her ear too close for comfort in his judgement. He was able to break away from her slightly to continue on dancing with four other couples on the dance floor.
"By the way Admiral, I wanted to let you know that the device we are using to grow the plants is working properly after the past few tests in our lab. Doctor Teo said today there shouldn't be any further issues with the power drainage." She replied with an all business comment.
"That's good Doctor. The Seaview doesn't need any accidents that might harm the crew and the submarine overall." He moved her to the middle with another couple dropping out to sit down with dinner about ready to be served.