The call wasn't unexpected but who was talking was.

"Can you estimate the size of the force we're dealing with?"

"Roughly about 30 sir."

"Rodger that, we're patching you through to Captain Franklin, stand by."

At this Madeline took the phone from Ryeback. "That's my sister, I'm talking now." She growled.

"Yes ma'am." He replied immediately.

"This is Captain Franklin."

"Norma Jean!" Madeline cried happily.

There was a pause. "Madeline, that you?"

"Yeah, it's me." Madeline almost had tears in her eyes.

"Are you harmed in any way?"

"Not really, no. No damage. But these men are building what appears to be a carrying device that will enable them to lower ordiance down to another ship. Their after the missiles, Big J."

Ryeback heard cursing in the background and Madeline smiled. "I'm assuming Irene's with you." She said.

"And Wilma." Norma Jean replied.

"We're all here, lil fucker now get your fat ass home you hear!" That was unmistakably Irene.

"I'm in charge of the phone here." Norma hissed.

"I'm the eldest, bitch." Irene replied, taking the device from her.

"Bitch, give that back!" There was a slap noise.

"Hey, I wanna turn!" There was squabbling as the siblings were no doubt fighting over the phone.

Ryeback only stared at the blatant display of immaturity from first line officers but Madeline actually laughed. "Oh man I miss you guys." She said. "Sure I'll come back but I could use some help. What d'ya have planned?" She asked.

"We're working on it." A third voice, Ryeback assumed it was Wilma, spoke this time. "In the meantime, keep feeding us information when you can."

"Copy that. One other thing, Krill's with them." Silence met Madeline's announcement.

Then "That fucker! Bring him here and I'll show 'em my 16 inch dicks! Suck 'em asshole!" Irene again, no doubt.

There was more squabbling before Wilma came on. "We'll get you out of this mess soon, Big Mo. I promise." Click.

Madeline sighed and wiped the tears from her eyes. Ryeback nudged her and she smiled. "My sisters." She explained. "Haven't seen them since I deployed to the Gulf. Well, Wilma and I were over there together but she got back to the states and was DeCommed before me. But I can't say I'd mind dying out here. It's not a bad way to go."

He gave her a pat on the back. "We'll make it out of this, Missouri." He said and unlike Krill, he said her true name with respect.

"Right. Command's no doubt sending the elite to bail our butts out of this one. SEAL Team 5 being the logical choice. But if I know that, Krill knows that and he's no doubt told his cronies. So we've got work to do if we're gonna get them onboard in one piece. So let's hustle sailor!"

Grinning this time, Ryeback followed her without hesitation.