CH71

Hank put his service weapon in his holster and shouldered his M4 carbine and put 2 magazines in his belt pouch. Making sure he had his cell phone and ID, he joined Natalie at his car.

Together they drove in silence to the Harbor shipping container office building.

Finding the shipping master, Hank introduced himself and started asking questions. He was never more happy that he was a poker player than when talking with this guy. He was answering his questions, just not the way he wanted him to.

Thanking him they left. Just outside Natalie spoke up. "Did you see the other guy?" She asked.

"Actually I was leaving him to you. Anything?" Hank told her. Showing trust in her.

"I'll bet my stripes he's already on his cell phone calling in support." Natalie tells him.

"Well let's not disappoint them shall we? Let's go see the loading area." And back into the car they go.

Arriving at the dock they talk to the load master and get the names of the ships that left recently and a rough number of containers that shipped out the day in question.

Heading back to their car they both spot a large blacked out SUV headed their way. Hank moves up and opens the rear door on the driver's side with the intent of getting his M4 out of the back seat. Natalie however strides right past the car. And as the SUV starts to slow to a stop she is at a dead run straight for the SUV.

The two men in the front seat exit the SUV quickly as soon as it stops. Natalie uses both hands to throw two objects at the drivers feet. They immediately send out a charge equal to the power of a tazer. Putting him on the ground twitching.

This allows her to place her attention on the guy who got out of the passenger seat. Continuing her run on him she begins a forward flip towards him. Timing it so that her feet strike him in the head as he had raised his fists intending to fight bare hands.

Her strike sent him reeling backwards. Natalie landed on her feet and promptly kicked him in the crotch that had him doubled over crying out in pain only to have his pain silenced with a kick to his chin.

Using the guy that was falling to the ground with a kick to his chin, Natalie put both her hands on his back and was sweeping both her feet straight into the chest of the guy just getting out of the back seat. She then pulled out a single ball that she broke at his feet creating a mini flash bang. And with a roundhouse kick to the right side of his face shoved him into the side of the car.

Stepping up to punch him in the side right at his kidney that weakened him a little. Then she grabbed his head and pushed it down to meet her knee which was on the way up. Shoving his nose up toward his brains, not that he seemed to have any.

Not even breathing heavy she stepped to the front of the SUV standing over 3 unconscious men. Looking back at Hank she spots him kneeling at the back of the car with his M4 ready to fire if needed.

Hank shoulders his weapon and approaches Natalie. "Good thing I keep you around." Hank tells her.

"You could have taken them sir. These wimps are definitely not Marines!" Natalie says with discuss. And is a little bummed. She was hoping for more of a challenge.

"Here are the zip ties. I'll see what they came with." Handing her the ties he reaches into the driver's side and grabs the fob and opens the back of the SUV.

Standing there eying everything in the back Hank is joined by Natalie who steps beside him. Whistling "Who are these guys?" Natalie questions.

Inside are 3 HK automatic weapons. An RPG launcher. A six-shot 40mm grenade launcher. A single Stinger Missile system. And three boxes of Semtex.

"We're going to need some transport and have another talk with that guy in the office." Natalie tells him. A little late since he is already on his cell phone calling in reinforcements. Along with someone to pick up the guy in the office.

Natalie is smiling. "And I'm talking to myself again."

After meeting up with the Marines to pick up their three new friends, Natalie and Hank head back to the office.

Natalie had expected more of a work out on this expedition. So she asks for some time in the gym for a few hours. Hank gladly accepts and offers to drive her there. Knowing that Jimmy is scheduled to arrive at his office in about 30 minutes.

Natalie is on the mat stretching when Jimmy spots Hank and approaches him to report in.

Standing ramrod straight and saluting. "Lt. Jimmy Douglas reporting as ordered sir."

Hank returns the salute. "At ease Lt. This is Lt. Rushman."

"Your secretary sir?" Jimmy opens his big mouth and inserting his foot.

"SECRETARY? I'll show you secretary. Get your ass in her mouth." Natalie is going to teach this wimp manners.

"That wouldn't be fair mam. A Marine against a little girl is not fair." Standing his ground.

"Really? I would have taken you for a computer geek. Sitting at a desk wasting away all day."

"Well if you don't mind the hospital bills." Jimmy shrugs his shoulders. Taking off his shoes, socks and shirt going bare chested.

Natalie has watched every piece of clothing come off and her heart rate is rising watching him move.

Hank has been keeping his eyes on Natalie the entire time. Jimmy definitely has her attention. Smiling he goes off to one side to watch the show.

Jimmy steps up. "Let's see what you've got GEEK." Natalie taunts.

One hour later Hank is still wearing his wide smile. They have been going at each other non-stop. They have each hit the mat several times but neither has backed down or given up. Hank is just glad it's these two. If he was in there he might not even make it TO the hospital. Let alone OUT of it.

Two hours in and both are laying on the mat side by side breathing heavy and sweating up a storm. Hank can tell they are talking to each other, but is too far away to hear them.

Hank slips out satisfied that his job of match maker is probably over.

Natalie and Jimmy have agreed to get showered and meet for dinner tonight.

Next morning Natalie and Jimmy arrive in Hanks office. Both standing straight and saluting. It doesn't take Hank long to notice all the bruises and that Natalie in particular seems to be walking stiffly. His imagination is working overtime as to why that could be.

"I need you two to go back out to the loading docks. Take the place apart. Question everyone and don't let anyone interfere. Clear?" Hank asks.

"Clear sir." They say in unison. "Here are your written orders. I want to know everything. Someone is using our state of the art Naval Base and making a mockery of it. And I want to know who it is and what they have done. If you have to break some eggs to find out, so be it.

Dismissed." And Hank salutes them. Saluting back they twist in unison and exit the office with Jimmy holding the door open for Natalie. Natalie unconsciously runs her hand over his arm on the way out and smiles at him.

None of this went unnoticed by Hank. Picking up the phone he calls Mac.

"Mac, it seems I have four packages to send you. I'll wrap them up and have them shipped out to you overnight." Hank tells her.

"Let me guess. Big black SUV. Three men. Armed to the teeth and dangerous." Mac is not really guessing.

Laughing. "Well half right. Natalie had no trouble with them." Hank tells her.

"Jimmy make it alright?" Mac asks.

"Those two spent the first two hours trying to beat each other into the ground. Neither willing to give up to the other. I think it ended in a tie. And if I'm any judge of how she is walking this morning, she is sore in more ways than one." Hank hints.

Laughing loudly. "I'll have his transfer papers made up and sent your way before end of day. You think you can handle those two?" Mac hates to lose him. But it's for his own good.

"I'm more concerned about how to keep them out of the hospital. But yea, I can handle them fine. Perhaps I should quit my day job and go into a new line of work?" Hank really has no such plans.

"I think this job pays more." Mac tells him.

"We have a problem out here. I just sent our two to clean it up. I may have some extra deliveries for you soon." Hank hints.

"I'll be ready for the first batch. Just send them along." Then Mac changes the subject. "You think Natalie can do your job when you decide to retire?" Mac is curious what he is planning.

"Actually, I have bigger plans for her." Hank hints.

"Do tell." Mac is curious now.

"Everett is a good place for her to live." Hank is sending coded signals.

Catching on almost instantly. "Those two will have that base the envy of the entire military if you are right."

"It'll certainly be the cleanest place on the planet." Hank agrees.

"Send me what you find Hank. Any trouble with those two. Just let me know. I'm Chief of Staff. It comes with perks you know." Mac is laughing.

"It's been good working with you Mac. Say hello to Harm for me." And Hank ends the call. "That should get her flustered." Hank is smiling wide.

Mac just puts away her cell phone with her mouth hanging open. How the F… did he know? If he knows, who else knows? She was going to have to have a long talk with her fiance when she got home. There might be trouble coming their way.

Natalie and Jimmy however were not having any trouble. They were overseeing a team that was busy taking the office spaces apart. Almost literally. Everyone from the manager to the janitor was being interviewed by someone, separately. Not giving anyone the chance to coordinate their stories.

Satisfied it was going well here, they both left to head for the loading area. There were workers out there too. Maybe they didn't know what they were loading? Maybe they did?

As they approached the area they spotted a large group of workers headed their way. All of them were carrying improvised weapons. Pipes, chains, crowbars, etc.

Natalie and Jimmy were both smiling as the continued walking straight for them.

Jimmy spoke first. "We do it my way tonight if my six hit the ground first." Jimmy offered up a bet.

Smiling like a Mountain Lion had prey in its sight. "You are soooo on." Natalie responds. Bet accepted.

They both charged into the group at top speed. Natalie went in like an F5 Tornado, while Jimmy went in like a bowling ball hitting pins trying to get a strike.

It was all over in less than a minute. Neither of them was even breathing heavy. "I win!" Natalie proudly proclaims.

"Only because you knocked your last one over and I let my fall of his own accord." Jimmy counters.

"A bet is a bet, Marine." Natalie argues back.

Acknowledging defeat, if only on a technicality. "Fine. We do it your way tonight." Jimmy pouts. Though not really mad. It was a win-win for him either way. No matter who won, he was getting laid tonight. Again.

Natalie steps up to him and strokes her hand over his cheek. "Don't worry. I'll take it easy on you."

"You do that and I'll take the first flight back home." Jimmy counters.

Smiling wide, Natalie takes out her cell phone and arranges for a truck to come out and pick up the trash.

After the truck is gone and they have talked with the rest of the dock workers, including the crane operator. They went back to the office to check in with Hank.

"We have to arrange for emergency holding facilities because of you two." Hank tries to sound mad, even though he isn't.

"Sorry sir." They say in unison. "The locals were not friendly sir." Natalie finishes.

"Is there anyone left to even work the docks?" Hank asks. Chastising them a little.

"Yes sir. They may have to run a little faster with fewer people, but it'll be good for them sir." Jimmy replies. Getting a tick of a smile out of Natalie.

"Try to be more careful next time. This is supposed to be an OPERATIONAL Naval base."

Natalie's smile gets dropped fast. "Yes sir." Again in unison.

"Go help interview everyone. The sooner we get this mess cleaned up the faster this base gets back to being in top form. … Dismissed." Hank salutes them. "Oh, and Jimmy. Your orders to transfer you to this command under myself came in this morning. Welcome aboard son."

Totally perplexed he almost forgets to salute back before leaving not as crisply as he normally would.

As soon as the door behind them closes. "Transfer?" Jimmy squeaks out staring into space, very unbecomingly of a Marine. Natalie's response is also not very Marine like. She launches herself into his arms and kisses him soundly. Breaking away. "Come on Marine. We have work to do before play." Smiling wide, delighted that he is going to be staying.

Mac meanwhile had finished interrogating the three Jimmy and Keith had brought in, and was letting them enjoy their new semi-permanent home for now. While the first one from Everett was brought in.

Shackled and held in place and unable to even reach for Mac let alone get to her. Not that she was worried, she was a Marine after all. Besides Keith was just outside the door with the other two.

Opening her folder. "Carl Dunn. Seems you have led an interesting life Mr. Dunn. Seeing as how you died five years ago in a training accident. But then you didn't really die, did you Mr. Travers? Rick Travers. Born in 1984 in Colfax, Indiana. Never married. Parents both died in a car accident (drunk driver ran a red light) when you were 16. Moved around a lot. Joined the Military. Passed the 90 week Green Beret Special Forces training and was assigned to General Reed. Presently stationed at Gardez Fire Base in Afghanistan.

And yet here you are in DC with no transfer order or supporting documentation. Seems you are AWOL Mr. Dunn. Care to explain yourself?" Mac is going to give him just this one chance.

However Travers decides to remain silent. "Have it your way Mr. Dunn. You will love your 6x8 room at Gitmo, since you will be there the rest of your life. No A/C, no phone, no contact with anyone outside of your guard." Mac calls for Keith to remove her guest and bring the next one in.

Mac knew none of them were going to talk. However Gitmo had a way of getting people who stayed there to reflect on their life. Like they had anything else to do?

Mac suddenly has an unexpected guest. "You are holding three men that I represent. You will allow me access to them." He barges in and starts making demands.

"I don't have to give you anything counselor. They are enemy combatants and are being held in a secure facility, pending their court martial and dishonorable discharge." Mac is not impressed.

"These are your orders to release them to me." And he hands over papers proving his point.

"Why thank you." Mac tells him and getting an 'I win' smile from her unwanted company. "KEITH!" Mac yells thru the door.

Keith enters ready to take anyone apart. "See that the counselor here has a seat open for him as he is escorted to Gitmo along with his friends." Mac tells him. Keith wastes no time in slamming his head down on Mac's desk and pulls out a zip tie and pulls his arms behind his back.

"You are making a mistake. We will have your commission for this. You will be out of the Marines so fast you will never even notice until it is all over." He yells.

"You counselor are messing with the wrong person. Keith, when you are done throwing out the trash I have someone else for you to pick up for me." Mac tells him.

"Yes mam. It'll be a pleasure." As Keith shoves his new friend out the door, closing it behind him.

Mac was smiling. Today was proving to be a good day. The Colonel on these papers had just made a big mistake. A very big mistake!

Ok, so this job came with a lot of paperwork, but days like today made it all so worth it. Being Chief of Staff actually did come with a few perks.

Two weeks later, the first of several naked men trussed up like a turkeys started showing up outside her front door. Zip ties on their hands behind their back and zip ties on their legs at their ankles.

It took all day to ID who the first one was. He was assigned to the unit directly under the control of General Reed. The same group that Mac already had sitting in Gitmo contemplating the end of their futures.

And there was nothing on security on how he got there. She was all set to fire the guy in charge of security. Then the next day there was another one. Again trussed up like a naked turkey.

By the third she had ordered that extra security cameras be installed. Mac wanted to know how a naked man with zip ties all over him could make it to her front door and no one see a thing.

A naked man trussed up like a turkey showed up at her door every day for the next two weeks. All of them were ID'd as having been part of the unit directly under the control of General Reed.

The extra security cameras and finally extra security men assigned just for this case never saw or recorded a thing. One second the cameras were working fine. For a minute they stopped working and when they came back up, it showed a naked man lying on the floor. And when the cameras went to snow and they called in security who showed up in seconds, all they ever saw was the guy lying on the floor.

Then on what turned out to be the last day of this, they found General Reed himself. Naked, dehydrated and hungry, lying on the floor trussed up just like all the others.

Mac made sure several months later that he was reduced in rank to corporal, then dishonorably discharged and spent the rest of his life in a military stockade.

To Mac he was the lowest of the low. He had abused his rank and soiled the military by selling opium and heroin to destroy untold countless civilian lives. All in the name of money. She hoped whoever had him before had made sure he had suffered. Oh she was mad!

Even Keith had practically begged her to let him have one minute alone with him. She was seconds from granting his request when his assigned attorney had shown up.

Mac had actually apologized to Keith for not getting to grant his request. Keith however had taken his disappointment like a true Marine. He went to the gym and took on everyone stupid enough to take him up on his offer until he was too tired to get back up.