Jackson Hunt was checking his watch the sub arrived in time good old Royal Navy punctuality. It was only 2 minutes before surfacing and dropping them meaning Frost and Sophie off then submerging and pushing both Colin and him out of the torpedo tubes. The aqua equipment has been checked out. Greg has been a great help but it was almost show time. Greg would be left on board to monitor their progress. Two US Navy LHA's were diverted from the Persian Gulf to be within jump jet and helicopter range of the island. They were still off radar until the go word.
Jackson helped both Sophie and Frost dressed differently than he had ever seen before. Gone were the cat suit and the knives but instead was a floppy hat and sundress. Sophie was dressed casual in Capri's and smock with sailing shoes completing the outfit. Both were experienced sailors. Jackson thought once they neutralize this threat a nice sailing adventure would be good. Maybe take Sophie along then maybe not. Once they were situated the submarine submerged to torpedo depth. It was go time Jackson looked and Colin as the chamber flooded. Breathing through the rebreather there would be no bubbles to give them away. The doors open and compressed air forced them into the open ocean.
Jackson took a minute to reorient. He and Colin met up then found the boat. Getting under the cat Jackson signaled they were ready. Sophie had already got the ship underway. The sled was faster than the boat but the battery life was only 4 hours. Hopefully they would reach the island before that would happen. Jackson hated to be towed by the boat. On the boat their radio was out so they sailed onward ignoring the broadcasts.
On the Island the chief of security was showing Casey around. There was a commotion in the central hub. Casey walked with the chief.
"What is the problem?" The Chief thundered.
"We have tried to contact an unknown radar contact using all frequencies. There was no response Sir." The tech said.
"So what is this contact doing?" The chief asked.
"It is heading toward the island Sir." The tech responded.
"Perhaps it is just a boat without a radio. There were several islanders in this area where that occurs." The chief said. "Keep monitoring it. If it comes within 5 miles send out a zodiac to inspect it. There have been storms lately and it could be a craft disabled."
"So does this happen often?" Casey asked his counterpart.
"Unfortunately yes boats get stranded here too often for my likings but we always lend assistance and get them on their way." The chief said.
"I see" Casey said filing away that the chief obviously did not suspect what this company really was. He might be a valuable ally when everything goes down.
A few hours later the tech noticed the craft was not veering course. He ordered a 5 man crew to go and investigate,
On the boat Sophie at the crows nest could see the on coming boat.
"Frost company is coming It is show time as she slid down the rope to the deck." Jackson could see the crafts approaching from the cameras mounted on the Cat then shut down the sled as the cat slid to a halt.
"Ahoy There" the captain of the zodiac said while it circling the craft.
"Oh hi there" Sophie said waving.
She had changed into her red bikini.
"Mother we have guests." Sophie said.
"Oh good maybe they can tell us where we are. We should have reached Marajico by now." Frost said. "Maybe they have water? We lost all ours in the storm."
The zodiac not seeing anything but one gorgeous female and her slightly older mother tied along side. The mother daughter allowed them to search while they told them their sob story. The crew satisfied they were really in distressed tied the cat to the zodiac and towed them to the island.
The chief of security was called.
"Ok so they need our assistance I authorize them to bring them in." He said.
He turned to Casey.
It looks like we have uninvited guest but they seem harmless enough perhaps they will dine with us? The Chief asked.
"It is fine I you say they are harmless so they are I do not see any threats to my employer." Casey said.
"Fine let's go and greet our new guest and get them some accommodations then hopefully they will accompany us to dinner." The chief said.
"Ok let's go" Casey said enthusiastically.
The walked down to the docks where the cat was tied and there was the team sent out still leveling weapons at them.
"Daniel! Stand your men down! These are lost souls not terrorists! Now get out of my sight! Excuse my over enthusiastic 2nd in command. He is not very diplomatic. I am Jeb Giddens the chief of security on this island. Please call me Gids everyone does. And who are you my lovely ladies?" The chief asked.
Casey knew Frost on sight but the brunette he had no idea.
"Please call me Sophie." Sophie said.
"And I am Mary thank you so much for your assistance Gids." Mary said kissing him on the cheek.
"Mother stop throwing yourself at strange men!" Sophie said being in character. "I swear you are just too friendly for your own good."
Gids blushed.
"My privilege Mary and Sophie so what brings you so far out in the ocean?" Gids asked.
"We were on our way to Marijorica and a storm blew us out to sea we lost all our water but then we saw this island and we came toward it." Mary said saying the cover story.
"You mean Marajico?" Gids asked.
"Yes that is the place we are from New Jersey and never been out in this part of the world before." Mary said as they were walking away from the cat. "Isn't that right Sophie?"
"Yeah Ma you are correct as usual" Sophie said in a Jersey accent then rolled her eyes at her pretend Mom.
"Well Marajico is 250 miles southwest of here. That storm really blew you off course. Please accept our hospitality while our mechanics look over your craft." Gids said.
"Why thank you Gids" Mary gave him another kiss on the cheek. Sophie looking exasperated rolled her eyes again.
They were shown to their room to freshen up before dinner.
"I have taken the liberties to bring your clothes to your rooms please have a good stay with us." Gids said.
All this walking Casey had said nothing.
He walked away wondering what was this new person's role other than to set cover for Frost.
Casey walked over the Charles and whispered.
"Your mother is here and she brought a friend. You will meet them for dinner." Casey said.
Charles face showed nothing. He was getting really good at masking his emotions.
Sarah walked up to Charles.
"Is everything ok?" She worriedly asked.
"Oh everything is fine Mrs. Carmichael" Charles said giving her a kiss.
\\\\\
Jackson waited in the water he looked at his watch 30 minutes to go.
Colin watched his father but he did not show anything. Colin was counting down and the adrenaline was pumping. He had been on several missions with his father each time the waiting was the worst part.
/
In the Dining area Dinner was called and it was a formal affair.
All the guests had assembled at the formal dining hall and they were escorted by the staff to their seats, Charles was seated next to the Empty seat at the head where Carmine would sit. Caroline was seated across from him. Sarah occupied the seat next to Charles and Casey was across from her. Then Laz next to Sarah and Bryce arcoss from Laz. Next to Laz was Sophie and Mary was seated across from her Daniel was seated next to Sophie and Gids was across from him and Morgan was seated at the end of the table. Everyone stood up when Carmine entered the room and when she was seated. The rest seated also. Morgan's first course was served and the dinner started properly.
"So Mr. Carmichael can you describe what we will be seeing tonight?"
Carmine said placing her hand on his. Sarah was seeing red.
"Another no good skank after her man again." Sarah thought.
Charles seeing Sarah reaching for her knives was stopped by Charles' hand on hers.
Charles smoothly spoke trying to keep his wife under control at the same time.
"Carmine…? Or do you prefer Ms. Bracken?" Charles asked.
"Carmine is fine." Carmine said seemingly under Charles spell.
Caroline pantomimed barfing and Sarah smiled. Carmine failed to notice her daughter since she was looking at Charles.
"Ok Carmine what you will see demonstrated will be the adaptive firewall in action. Both Laz and Black Arrow are noted hackers of the highest caliber. It will be their task to break through the firewall and retrieve this photo in a secret file." Charles said then produced the photo of him in a clown suit. "In only 15 minutes."
"How interesting." Carmine said moving closer to Charles.
Sarah noticed how close the skank was to her man and was plotting how to get rid of her before the rest happens.
"The adaptive firewall design is an exclusive CI design. It has never been penetrated from the outside. And we give a guarantee for your money back if it is ever breeched. Now this warranty does not cover inadvertent leaving of passwords or such like that. Those are internal ones and nothing can prevent damage from those." Charles said.
The meal continued as Casey got to know the cover story of Sophie but he still was wondering who she was.
Under the Cat all the equipment was tied off the secret compartment was opened and their weapons, suits, gas grenades and the extra flash bangs were retrieved. The map of the island was programmed into the PDA device for both Colin and himself. Zero hour it was Show time. Jackson thought.