Surprising Help…
"Principal, we have intercepted a message from the Harekaze. It appears as if our message was too late and the Blue Mermaids opened fire on them – seriously injuring the Captain and Secretary"
"THOSE FOOLS!" Mashiro's mother thundered. "By doing that, they might as well have told the girls they are going to be killed. I assume my daughter has assumed command?"
"That is the interesting part – it seems your daughter is not onboard… The Navigator has assumed command"
"Interesting… Get me a direct line to the Blue Mermaid command centre"
"I doubt they will want to speak to you"
"Tell them…" Principal Munetani paused and then smiled as if remembering something from long ago. "Tell them that the hero of the Kurushima will open fire on their fleet and send it to the bottom of the ocean"
"Principal…?"
"That ought to get their attention. After you have done that, put out a request for any merchant vessels to report Harekaze's position, course and speed. We have to try and make contact with that ship at all costs…"
#
"Minami has taken Mei and Tama to act as Nurses while she works on the Captain and Kouko" Rin said. "At the moment, we're running at maximum speed back to the island with everything switched off – including all the exterior lights. I hope we can pretend to be a ghost" she added in a whisper. "I want everybody who can be spared to start working on the damage" she added more strongly.
"According to the Deputy Captain, everything is alright for when we come in – they have already flooded the drydock so we can come straight in" Tsugu said and then the quiet girl frowned. "Do you think that the virus infected the Blue Mermaids?"
"Anything is possible" Macchi said from the back of the Bridge, "And it would seem logical if they have boarded other ships in the training fleet. There is the question of if we are being searched and followed"
"What do you mean?"
"With everything but the radio receiver switched off, we are reduced to how far I can see at night. If we encounter fog, we'd be likely to crash into something before I had a chance to call out"
"We'll use the Radar system if we have to" Rin frowned, trying to decide what Akeno or Mashiro would do if they were in her shoes. "Until we get back to the island, I want the guns and torpedoes fully loaded" the girl added.
"You think we might get attacked?" Mina asked.
"Well…" Gufran said, "If that fake freighter was anything to go by" and the boy shrugged. "I wonder why they never tried to communicate with us first though"
"Do you think that the Blue Mermaids are trying to take over?" asked Mei.
"The Blue Mermaids have kept the peace for decades – I refuse to believe they would turn now" Kaede shook her head and spoke quite firmly – getting surprising looks from people as she was the most calm and cultured person onboard. "I admit that there has been a push to make the Blue Mermaids a bit more militant, but nothing like this… Maybe a rogue group had taken over and is trying to force matters – it's not unknown after all"
"I agree with Kaede – the Blue Mermaids, as a whole, can't be responsible. However, with most of them far away on goodwill visits and joint exercises…" Maron shrugged her shoulders. "It would be a good time to strike"
"Surely the navy would do something" Tama spoke up.
"Yes, but if you want to cut off an island, you would need more ships and the navy would provide that"
"Do you think this is a coup? Like in some of the African nations?" Gufran frowned.
"I don't know" Rin admitted. "All I know is I want to get back to the island and turn everything over to the Deputy Captain – she will know what to do"
"I think you are doing well enough" Mina smiled warmly.
"You… You think?"
"Of course"
"Oh" Rin seemed to get better. "Maron, can we get to the island any faster?"
"We are at maximum revolutions already" the Chief Engineer replied, "But I am sure I can get another few knots out of my girl"
"Do you think the Emperor will be okay?" asked Kaede.
"You think they'd throw him off the throne?"
"It's treason if they do"
"If one was to do it, you would need the help of the navy – which they might well have. Stop ships coming to aid us, occupy Tokyo and overthrow the government… Its how I would do it"
"But what about the ground forces?" Mina asked. "Surely they would do something to stop them"
"Unless they are in on it too" said Mei bitterly.
"If there isn't anybody involved in this, raise your hands" Tama said and, to a girl, the others all did so.
"Ship on the starboard bow!" one of the skeleton crew shouted.
"What sort of ship?" Rin asked.
"Cargo ship – it's the Mamiya"
"Are you sure…?"
"Yeah… I can see her name on the bow"
"Battlestations" Rin decided. "Just in case"
# # # # #
As it turned out, her fears were unfounded and it turned out that Mamiya was who she said she was. Rin quickly had the Harekaze come alongside and started to get as much food onboard as possible along with the few spare parts she carried. Although a food resupply ship, she carried a few of the essentials just in case any ship she encountered happened to need them. Before leaving, the Mamiya's Captain handed over a coded message for Mashiro before giving the crew updated positions for all Blue Mermaid ships. When Rin asked what the Mamiya intended to do, she was told that she was going to head into port as previously ordered to do so. A few hours later, and after some repairs had been finished, the two ships parted and the Harekaze sailed at full speed towards the island and the rest of her crew. Rin and the others were not surprised when Mashiro came out by Skipper and took over command.
"I turn command of the Harekaze over to you, Deputy Captain" the girl said shakily.
"Thank you" Mashiro said formally and then smiled. "And congratulations"
"Ma'am?"
"Two out of three senior officers were incapacitated, the Bridge was damaged, you faced your fears and assumed command and managed to evade. Not only that, but you also managed to effect repairs and resupply from a friendly vessel… A very fine first command" she patted Rin on the shoulders. "Go to Minami, get a sleeping pill and have as much rest as possible"
"Aye, Aye, Ma'am"
#
Mashiro was reading reports from all departments when the news came in – they had been spotted by a submarine and a Blue Mermaid task group would arrive in three hours to arrest them all. It was to her surprise when the task force was made up of just one ship – a black hulled Blue Mermaid vessel. With caution, Mashiro allowed it into the bay and the other ship's Captain came onboard where there was a family reunion of sorts.
"Where is your Captain?" asked Mafuyu Munetani.
"She was injured in an ambush and is in our Sickbay – I have command"
"Damn… Then I'll tell you this in her place. Your Doctor was right about it being some sort of mind controlling virus that takes over a person, but the original reasons behind it were much more innocent. Our sister managed to find a report based on old research with underwater survival – seems there were a few experiments some time ago on a submarine which sank. Recent volcanic eruptions forced it to come to the surface, so the scientists hitched a lift to get all of the data and then scuttle the sub"
"But something went wrong"
"Yes… One of the boxes on the sub was broken, but there appeared to be nothing in it so they just brought it back anyway. That box contained samples of the virus which were still live and it infected the crew of the Sarushima and the rest of the training fleet"
"But why these rat like hamsters?"
"Something to do with the way it is transmitted to the human" Mafuyu shrugged. "Despite this, the Blue Mermaid HQ thinks you are still mutineers and that this is somehow part of your plot"
"Well we have a few ideas of our own" Mashiro said. "Apart from yourself, Chief Haraga and a few others, the majority of the Blue Mermaid ships here are those known to be occasional trouble makers. They were left behind when the fleet sailed to America to take part in games and some of us think that was their entire plan"
"They would need to have support"
"And they would have it in the form of the navy"
"Surely not"
"They have to in order to pull this off – there should have been at least a few navy observers, but none were listed for the training sessions and all of the naval communication channels have gone silent" and Mafuyu shook her head.
"Damn" she said softly. "I'd give you a guts infusion, but I think you would have to be the one to give me it"
"That would be a nice change" Mashiro muttered. "Our problem is trying to free the crews of the virus before anything stupid happens, but we don't know where any of the fleet is. For that matter, how did you find us?"
"I knew there had to be an island here and remembered I read the Germans having dumped a load of stuff for the Spee, so I decided to do something about it. We met up with the supply ship and asked them to put a low powered tracer into one of the boxes. Don't worry, though, it self-destructed. Now, the question is what we do now"
"I don't understand"
"Blue Mermaid fleets or groups have sealed off most of the Marine High Schools and not letting ships out and only allowing those in when they follow orders and return to port. As it stands, the Blue Mermaid forces that are acting treasonous are too strong for us to take on together"
"Us?"
"They have prevented mother from leaving – I can only assume that they will shortly issue orders to capture me and our sister" and Mafuyu shrugged. "At least you stand a better chance if you have us as company"
"True… I will have to ask the Captain though"
"Is she well enough to resume command?"
"Not yet, but I am running my decisions past her"
"You are in command"
"Yes, but she is still my Captain"
"Ah" Mafuyu knew only too well what Mashiro meant.
"I doubt she will say no" Mashiro shrugged. "It is better to have the ability to see what is coming with your blimp"
"Be nice for you to stage out with the ability to see"
"Yes – not being able to use our search systems has been annoying" Mashiro agreed, "Though I think some of them have taken up the chance to do crosswords"
"Okay… How are you handling the food supply?"
"We're rationing for the time being mainly because we're unsure when we can resupply. You should do the same as well"
"I will do" and Mashiro's sister looked at her oddly. "How are you holding up?"
"I am okay when you think that I am being held accountable for sinking a ship, damaging more and accused of mutiny"
"That's the one thing I don't understand – how did Sarushima sink so quickly? The report you sent with the girls said that she was hit with a training torpedo – that should not have caused too great amount of damage to a modern ship like that"
"So that leaves…"
"So that leaves us with the thought you were fired upon on purpose and then Instructor Furushou sank her own boat on purpose to frame you"
"So you think that she was infected?"
"I have known her since before you were born, Mashiro – there is no way on earth she would act like this otherwise" she broke off as she saw crewmembers coming onboard the Harekaze. "Still wearing uniform?" Mafuyu raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
"Just asking… Listen, I know you want to keep going on the rations and stuff, but what do you say to me having my ship's cook do something for your crew? You could do with the food after all"
"Just because I don't like sushi… Are you going to tease me about this even now?"
"Yep"
"I'm so unlucky" Mashiro muttered. "Mafuyu?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think Mom is alright? I mean, they wouldn't hurt her, would they?" Mashiro asked in a scared voice.
"I… I don't know" her sister admitted. "I hope not" she added. "I just hope the Blue Mermaids can get back in time"
"You've contacted them?"
"I think so, but I can't be sure if they got the message or not. The message was sent through the special channels, but I suspect they are being monitored"
"Makes sense to monitor the communications of the enemy fleet"
"Two boats doesn't make a fleet, Mashiro"
"True, but we need more ships on our side before we go back and force our way to the government"
"Mmm… When can you be ready for sea?" Mafuyu asked her younger sister.
"Couple of hours… The Chief Engineer wants to inspect the engines for any problems and give them a full servicing"
"Captain!" one of Mafuyu's crew came running up and handed her a piece of paper – the older sister taking it and reading it. Her eyes widened before looking up at her crew member. "Be ready to go to sea" she said. "Oh, and prepare the weapon systems"
"Whats happened?"
"You need to get those engines back online and everyone onboard – we've been found"
"How?" Mashiro was alarmed and ran over to the Bridge telephones.
"Some sort of submarine was following me… We'll get going now and try to disable it – you get your crew back on board"
"Right" Mashiro nodded and picked up the handset. "All hands to General Quarters! Weapons departments get training rounds loaded" and she slapped the alarms for good measure. Flicking another switch, she contacted the Engine Room.
"Hello, Gufran here" and it took a moment for Mashiro to remember there was a boy onboard the Harekaze.
"Gufran, tell Maron we need the engines working and ready for full speed"
"She's going to love that" he said. "The port engine is in pieces and the starboard has no fuel"
"Get that fuelled and the other one put back together as quickly as possible"
"Aye, Aye… Whats the rush?"
"We've been discovered, there is a rogue Blue Mermaid fleet coming towards us at high speed and a submarine outside. My sister has gone out there to find and disable it"
"I'll let her know" and Gufran hung up.
"Lookout manned and ready"
"Radar manned and ready"
"Sonar system manned and ready to go"
"Kitchen is sort of okay"
"Chief Navigator is on the Helm"
"How did you lot all get here so quickly?" Mashiro asked.
"Luck… That and the fact we figured your sister would be followed" Rin said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Bridge to Kitchen, can you send a pot of strong coffee to the Bridge?"
"But that means cutting into the rations"
"Well take it out of the emergency supplies – the Chief Navigator needs some on the double" Mashiro called down.
"Okay"
"You should be asleep – you haven't rested in days"
"I know" Rin sighed and then straightened her posture and looked at Mashiro. "Helm, ready for orders"
"Message from the Benten – they have detected the submarine and are going to engage. Our orders are to get underway and head out to sea" Tsugu called from her station.
"Acknowledge and tell them we're getting supplies and crew onboard" Mashiro ordered.
"Finally… I get to send a message"
"Bridge, Engine Room" Maron called up.
"Go ahead"
"You have one engine ready to go"
"You could not have fuelled it up this fast"
"We're pouring it in as we speak"
"Very well…" Mashiro looked at her watch. "Rin, I am going to speak to Mina – do you know where she is?"
"Um… Yes, sort of…"
"What is it?"
"Well she's spending time with Kouko"
"And… Oh! Oh my" Mashiro blushed heavily. "I'll talk to her later then" and she tried to put the thoughts of what Mina and Kouko were doing in Kouko's quarters.
"Another message from the Benten… They have fired torpedoes and disabled the submarine which has come to the surface"
"All crew accounted for" Momo called over a voice pipe.
"Rin, starboard engine slow ahead… Get us out of here"
"Starboard engine slow ahead" Rin repeated the order as the pot of coffee arrived.
"Radar, give me the position of Benten. Sonar, any contacts underwater I should know about?"
# # # # #
"… and made a run for it" Mashiro was stood at attention as she reported to Akeno who was lying in her bed and resting.
"Where is your sister now?" Akeno asked softly.
"Sitting off our port bow and using her Radar to search" Mashiro answered. "We're heading in random directions which change every few hours to try and stay free"
"I can't believe that some of the Blue Mermaids would be like this" the head haired girl shook her head softly.
"My sister might have got a message through, but she's not had any reply at all. Mom and Mashimo seem to be cut off from communications. The rest of the school has been ordered to port under escort, but we can't raise them on the radio either. A lot of the crew are worried not just for themselves but also for their families and they wonder if they are in danger"
"What have you told them?" Akeno winced from the head movement.
"Not much… I've tried to reassure them, but I don't think it is working"
"Hmm… How is that boy doing?"
"Well he seems to be having great fun with Maron down in the Engine Room – the pair of them seem to take great delight in fixing the smallest of problems" Mashiro chuckled. "I suspect they have something of a crush on each other" and Akeno smiled weakly.
"I miss being on the Bridge"
"We miss you as well, but if this is what the Doctor ordered, you will have to do it. Now, Captain, do you have any orders?"
"Just keep doing what you are, Shiro… The ship seems to be running well without me in charge"
"It might be running well, Captain, but we long for our heart and soul"
"Shiro… When did you become a poet?" and the two girls shared in the laughter. "Oh, how is Mina?"
"Busy"
"Doing what?"
"Kouko"
"Huh?"
"It seems…" Mashiro wondered if Akeno knew a lot about relationships. "It seems that they have fallen in love with each other"
"Those two…? Wow – I never knew you could fall in love with another girl"
#
Mashiro was somewhat right, but Mina was just sat with Kouko and helping her to get dressed and to sit up on her bed. At first, Mina had been quiet whenever Kouko was near, but seeing the girl injured had almost broken her heart and she'd spent every possible moment with her. Kouko, for her part, had made it quite clear to Mina that she was a lesbian but wanted to keep it quiet because the rules of being a Blue Mermaid meant that lesbians could not serve – making it difficult for Kouko. Although, now that she thought of it, Mina wasn't actually in her class of trainees…
"Mina…?"
"Yeah?"
"Is this okay between us?" Kouko asked.
"I have no duties on this ship… Oh, you mean us?" Mina paused and thought about it. "I don't see a problem with it, but I know how badly you want to be a Blue Mermaid so we will have to keep this a secret as long as possible. You know, in Germany, they allow lesbians to serve"
"They do?"
"Yeah – so you could always come with me if the worst comes to the worst" and Kouko leaned over and kissed Mina gently on the lips.
"Thank you" she whispered. "I would hate to leave my friends, but at least I would still be able to talk them via emails and stuff"
"You'd really give it all up for me?" asked Mina.
"I think so… Yes! I'm sure that my parents would understand" Kouko said. The two looked at each other before coming together and starting a passionate kiss. Outer clothing was coming off when there was a thud and the air was filled with the sounds of alarms going off"
"Battlestations – we've been hit by a torpedo" Mashiro's voice filtered through the voice pipe. The pair broke apart quickly and exchanged worried looks before Kouko flailed around for her shoes.
"Give me a hand getting these on" she said.
"Where are you going?"
"I might be injured and somewhat dizzy, but if I sat on the deck I can still be of use"
"Why can't I be mad at you?" Mina asked as she smiled and helped to put the shoes on Kouko's feet and got her to a standing position. "You're bleeding" she said.
"Wrap me up tightly with a bandage after you put a plaster on it" Kouko said.
"You are going to hurt yourself even more" Mina softly said as she found a large enough plaster, put it on and then tied bandages round Kouko's middle.
"Maybe, but we are under attack and my place is on the Bridge"
"I'll come with you" Mina said. "Somebody has to look after you" and, after another quick kiss, the pair finished with Kouko's dressing and went quickly to the Bridge.
# # # # #
"Kaede, where are those torpedoes coming from?" Mashiro demanded.
"I can not tell you, Deputy Captain – they are silent before they get close and acquire us"
"Understood"
"Ship's Secretary reporting for duty" Kouko spoke up from the back of the Bridge.
"You should be in bed recovering"
"Yes, but my place is on the Bridge"
"Very well… Take damage reports" Mashiro turned back to look out of the windows. "Lookouts, give me the course whenever you see a torpedo. Rin, when you hear it, steer us on that course and head towards it. Standby to launch Depth Charges when we are over the most likely spot. Tsugu, tell Benten what we plan to do" she bent down to the speaking tube. "Engine Room, how are we doing?"
"We've got a few leaks and a couple of nuts on the engine beds have sheared off – Guffy is down there with some of the girls sorting it out" Maron replied. "Do you still want me to keep full speed?"
"For now… Bridge out" Mashiro sighed.
"Torpedoes to starboard!" one of the lookouts called. "They started their run five thousand meters"
"Rin, hard to starboard – steer us directly on their course. Tama, load the forward gun and fire at that spot"
"Why?"
"I'm hoping they think we've spotted them" she looked back at Rin. "Steady on this course. Maron, be ready for full emergency power on the engines"
"Ready"
"Rin, slow together"
"What are you doing?" demanded Mei.
"We're going to drift over the submarine as if we have suddenly had engine failure. As it comes out from under our stern, we go to full emergency speed and drop a Depth Charge over the side"
"Oh, that's okay then"
"Deputy Captain, flooding reported in the last three workshops and two of the storage sheds" Kouko was being propped up by Mina. "It's manageable for now with the pumps"
"Acknowledged" Mashiro sounded calm, but inside she was wishing that Akeno was up here and making all of the decisions. Commanding a ship in a fight was easier on paper and classroom games than in real life and she was beginning to have doubts. Counting down the seconds, she slapped her hand on the bulkhead. "Emergency speed now! Mei, drop the charge" and the Harekaze seemed to jump forward as the engines were opened up and she went to top speed from a standing start. There was a faint thud and whoosh as the depth charge was launched into the sea and a wait of several seconds before it reached the suspected level before detonating – disabling the submarine and forcing it to surface. "Macchi – send a light message to the submarine telling them we are not mutineers and that we only fired to defend ourselves"
"Can we throttle down now?" asked Maron.
"I think so" Mashiro said. "Come down to half ahead together. What is our damage?" she asked Kouko.
"Flooding aft of the Engine Room, Number 1 Turbine is leaking, there was a fire in the Number 4 workshop and some of the quarters have a bit of water in them" she replied. "I think we can handle it though" the girl added proudly.
"Easy for you to say" grumbled Maron.
"Message from the Benten" Tsugu said. "We're to follow it out of the area and report damage"
"Kouko, take a full report of damage to the Radio Room and then go back to bed. Mina, I trust you can make sure she stays there"
"Not a problem"
"That's…" she shook her head as the two left, "That's not what I meant. Never mind… Rin, port twenty degrees and come up to the Benten's port side"
"Port twenty degrees, come to the port side" and Rin swung the wheel over to bring the ship about.
"I am going to report to the Captain what has happened" Mashiro announced. "Mei, you have the Bridge until I return"
"Yes, Deputy Captain"
#
"… and that's all, Captain"
"You did well, Shiro – better than what I could have done"
"I doubt it, Captain… I am so unlucky most of the time"
"Have faith, Shiro"
"If you insist" Mashiro huffed. "Has the Doctor said when you can report for duty?" she asked with hope.
"Tomorrow" Akeno replied with a smile. "Minami wants me to have one complete day recovered before letting me out. Personally, I think she is overreacting"
"Minami is a talented Doctor – I believe it would be wise to listen to her"
"Maybe I will" and Akeno fell silent and seemed to worry. "Any messages from Musashi?"
"Nothing" Mashiro had the urge to sit down and hug Akeno. "I have left standing orders for anything about the ship to be sent straight down here"
"I worry about Moka"
"Moka?"
"Childhood nickname – she calls me Mike… She is really the only family I have left now"
"Apart from us" Mashiro raised an eyebrow.
"Apart from the crew" Akeno clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "I worry a lot about her because she is my best and oldest friend. I keep going over the last message sent from her, I had somebody send me down a copy of it, and its almost as if she was hurt to keep her quiet. You don't think they would kill her, do you?"
"I hope not" Mashiro said and Akeno knew, deep down, that she meant it. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"Well… There is one thing, but you will think it childish"
"I promise not to"
"Read me a story"
"Huh…?" it wasn't what Mashiro was thinking of.
"When I was ill or stressed or frightened, my Mom would always read me a story and I'd be so calm that I would go to sleep" and Akeno, to Mashiro, looked so small and vulnerable that she did not have it in her heart to refuse. Akeno opened the bedside drawer and pulled out a much loved and used book.
"The Little Mermaid…? I should have guessed"
#
"Wow… I didn't know it could be like that" Kouko said breathlessly. "Its better than doing it by myself" she added, pulling the covers over herself and Mina. She wasn't entirely sure how or why their relationship had gone from the shy and hidden glances to sleeping together, but Kouko felt comfortable for the first time in ages.
"It will get better as we go on together" murmured Mina as she used a finger to draw lazy patterns on Kouko's bare stomach. The other girl giggled at the tickling feeling it gave her before sighing in contentment.
"Do you think we should tell the others?" she asked.
"Not yet… Besides, I think they know we are sort of together"
"Oh… I don't want this to end when this is all over, but I can't abandon my shipmates and you can not abandon yours" and Mina tilted her head in thought but mashing her lips into Kouko's. The pair of them kissed for several moments before Kouko suddenly became shy and blushed heavily and prettily. "Mina…?"
"Yes?"
"Can… Can I please try to do what you did to me?"
"Think you can handle that…?" Mina cocked an eyebrow in amusment.
"Well" Kouko replied, letting her right hand drift down to Mina's wet and moist centre, "There is only one way to find out"
"Ooooohhhhhh" Mina moaned loudly as fingers filled spaces suddenly, "I completely agree" and two girls started to make love to each other once more.
#
Kaede, Macchi and Tsugu looked at each other.
"See no evil" Kaede said.
"Hear no evil" added Macchi.
"Speak no evil" finished Tsugu and the trio hurried away from the closed door as far away as possible.
#
"Captain on the Bridge!" Mashiro called the next day.
"Keep working" Akeno threw a somewhat empty glare at Mashiro who smiled at her Captain. "Report, Deputy Captain"
"We are in formation with the Benten with low power radio between us, repairs from the damage sustained by torpedo attack have almost been fully completed and the ship and crew are doing well under the conditions"
"Good" Akeno ran a hand on the compass case as if thinking it wasn't really there. "Deputy Captain, you are relieved of duty for the next twenty four hours… Get some rest"
"Aye, Ma'am" Mashiro drew herself to attention, saluted, turned smartly on her heel andleft the Bridge.
"Captain?" it was Rin at the Helm.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you are back… The Deputy Captain is a great person, but she's not like you"
"I rather think she is better" Akeno smiled, "As is a certain Chief Navigator that assumed command in a crisis"
"I only tried to do what you would have – I was scared the entire time"
"But even so, you still managed to get the ship and crew out of there without too much major damage" Akeno crossed over and gave her a quick hug before turning to look out the Bridge windows. "You know, we need some sort of chair here"
#
"Principal, we have something on the rat based virus" Mashiro's mother's aide came in with a folder.
"What is it?"
"The DNA has been altered from what it was supposed to be – by artificial means too… From what the Doctors at the school have been able to work out, those infected are controlled by a radio signal"
"So jam the signal"
"That would be not a good idea. Each infected person is controlled by the hive mind, if you will, and there is a chance they could be triggered to 'self destruct' after a fashion"
"Ah"
"The good news is that the girls taken prisoner have been released"
"I thought they were being held in permanent custody?"
"I found an obscure rule about your being responsible for them during classes and term" the aide said with a shrug. "When they tried to resist, I showed them a court order made out by Child Services court which ordered them to turn them over to us"
"Where are they now?"
"Being looked over by the school Doctor before sent to quarters for at least a full day's rest"
"Good… Have you been able to get through the jamming?"
"Not yet"
"In that case, get me a line through to Tonemi High…"
A/N:
Well, reviews in the normal manner please
Robert