Naval Manoeuvres
Based on the annual story
Adapted by Jonathan Downs, Rachel Ravens and Zack Wanzer
To run a fleet of tugs, you have to be prepared to take on any job. One of the most difficult and dangerous was handling the big naval munitions ships. These ships are often carrying explosives, and it is a tricky job for the tugs to manoeuvre them safely into the docks.
Once a year in November, the Naval tramper Kraka-Toa would arrive in Bigg City Port to be loaded with munitions for the naval base up the coast.
One particular day I'm remembering, Hercules was about to head up the coast, and was at the coal depot with Ten Cents and Warrior.
"It's that time of year again," Hercules said to the duo.
"Naval manoeuvres?" gasped Ten Cents. "Oh no… don't tell me that Bluenose will be back."
"I'm afraid so, old darling," sighed Hercules. "But don't worry. So long as I'm around, he won't dare hurt any of you."
"Why don't they just sell him somewhere else?" muttered Warrior. "Perhaps he should be put onto garbage detail."
Ten Cents and Hercules laughed.
"Well, it certainly gave Top Hat a lot to think about," said Ten Cents. "Then again, given how stubborn Bluenose is, I don't think that'll do much good."
"You do have a point," Warrior admitted.
"I'd better get going," said Hercules. "You two will be alright at the old dock, won't you?"
"So long as Warrior doesn't bump into anything," joked Ten Cents, "we'll be fine."
"I will be very careful," assured Warrior. "See you later, Hercules."
"Bye, big brother."
"Toodle-loo," called the ocean-going tug.
Ten Cents and Warrior began to depart as well. However, before they could depart, Warrior swore he saw something move.
"Huh?" wondered Warrior. "Is that one of the Z-Stacks over there?"
"Over where?" asked Ten Cents. He glanced over where Warrior gestured to. "Er… no, I don't see anyone…"
"Huh, must have imagined it," muttered Warrior. Then, Ten Cents gasped sharply.
"This coal has sparks in it!" he cried. The switcher's eyes widened in horror. "Hercules!" He raced off after his brother. "Warrior, go report this to the coal depot manager!"
"Right away, Ten Cents!"
Hercules was making good time up the coast, and he saw Lillie Lightship on the way.
"Hello, m'dearest," he called.
"Hello, Hercules," she smiled. "How are things down in the Star Dock?"
"Going well," he replied. "This will be Sunshine's first time doing navel maneuvers with us, and–" Suddenly, the ocean going tug broke off into a coughing fit.
"Hercules!" cried Lillie. "Goodness me, you don't sound well at all."
"You're right…" he coughed. "Ugh… I don't know if the coal I… took on was bad, or if I… have a leak somewhere… or what."
"It was!" came an urgent voice. Hercules glanced up to see Ten Cents racing over. "Oh, oh, Hercules… you took on bad coal at the depot."
"You'd better go back to the Star Dock," advised Lillie. "If you bring the boat back here, everything may go up in flames."
"I… will," replied Hercules. "Thanks, Lillie."
"Cut your engine, big brother," Ten Cents soothed as he threw a line onto him. "I've got you."
"Thank you, Ten Cents…" Hercules smiled.
"Due to the risk of sparking, Captain Star," explained Hercules, "I think it would be best if the other tugs handle the Kraka-Toa this year."
"I understand your feelings, Hercules," I replied, "and you're absolutely right. It would be too dangerous for you to handle the explosives if it means setting the dynamite off."
"Precisely, Captain Star," said Hercules. "I think I'd better head over to Lucky's Yard and get my engine seen to."
"I'll contact Lucky's to let them know you're on your way," I said. "Grampus, can you gather Big Mac, O.J. and Sunshine and tell them I need to speak to them?"
"Right away, sir," Grampus said, diving below the surface.
"Ten Cents," I turned to my switcher, "well done for discovering the bad coal as soon as you did. The coal depot manager says he'll be looking into things right away."
"I wonder how it happened," Ten Cents said to himself.
As Ten Cents led Hercules to Lucky's Yard, they had an unpleasant surprise waiting there.
"Why, who is this then?" sneered a voice. "My old buddy, Hercules, and his scrappy little switcher brother."
"Say it all you like, sweetheart," grunted Hercules to Zeus. "I am anything but your buddy. And don't you dare bring Ten Cents into this!"
"I thought you were meant to be towing in Kaka-Toa," smirked Zeus. "What's happened? Do you need a fitter to check your engine?"
"I would feel better if you beat it, Zeus!" retorted Hercules. "The sooner you're done with maintenance, the better."
"I'm here to pick up a delivery for the old dock," he muttered. "That Captain Zero has yet to see my true potential." He laughed as he picked up his barge and left. With that Hercules out of the way, Zeus smirked, I'll have to tow Kraka-Toa in. Captain Zero will be pleased with me.
"Moonlight Oceans, give us strength…" Hercules said to himself.
"You get better, Hercules," soothed Ten Cents. "We hope you'll get your sea-legs back soon."
"Thank you, Ten Cents," smiled Hercules. "Now, you'd better see if Warrior hasn't created any wakes in your absence, alright?"
"Heh, of course," laughed Ten Cents as he chugged away.
O.J. and Sunshine were at the waterworks when Grampus resurfaced, spitting out water as he did so.
"Captain Star wants you to speak to you two and Big Mac on an important matter," the submarine said.
"Thank you for alerting us, Grampus," O.J. replied. "Come along, Sunshine."
"Right behind you, O.J.!" the little switcher confirmed. "Big Mac should be at the fire station deliverin' some new barges. We'll let him know on the way."
"Oh, that reminds me," said Grampus. "There's some bad coal at the coal depot. Could you tell Finbar to get it disposed of?"
"Of course," said O.J..
Big Mac had just finished his delivery at the fire station.
"Thank you for delivering the barges," Finbar said. "These new barges are designed for fighting fires and would prove especially useful if something goes wrong with the munitions."
"Weel, wi' luck, thae manoeuvres shuid go smoothly," chuckled Big Mac.
Presently, they heard O.J. and Sunshine's whistles.
"Ah, there you are, Big Mac," said O.J..
"Hello, Chief," Sunshine called to Finbar.
"Morning, O.J., Sunshine," greeted Finbar.
"Captain Star needs us back at the dock," O.J. explained to Big Mac.
"And there's bad news, Chief," added Sunshine. "There's some bad coal at the coal depot. It could cause some sparks."
"Och no!" Big Mac cried. "Ah hawp na one's used it."
"Me too," Finbar said. "I'll get down there as quickly as I can."
"Thanks, Finbar. Cheerio," O.J. called as he, Big Mac and Sunshine left the fire station.
The three tugs arrived back at the Star Dock together.
"Ah, excellent," I said. "You've got the message. Now, Sunshine, this will be your first time doing this. We've got our annual naval manoeuvres."
"N-naval manoeuvres?" She swallowed hard. "Er… okay, sir…"
"Don't worry," soothed O.J.. "So long as we go carefully, we'll be fine."
"Usually, Hercules would bring the naval tramper Kraka-Toa," I continued, "but he's having engine trouble and doesn't want to risk a disaster. Since Ten Cents and Warrior are moving equipment in the old docks and Top Hat is working with Lord Stinker today, it's down to you three to bring Kraka-Toa. O.J., you'll be on the side push…"
"Aye-aye, sir!" O.J. replied.
"Big Mac, you'll be leading," I continued.
"Richt, sir!" Big Mac said confidently.
"And Sunshine, you will be on standby, should anything go wrong!" I said. "Be careful; one wrong move and the manoeuvres will end in disaster. Off you go, and good luck."
"I just hope Zak doesn't push me again…" Sunshine gulped.
Down at the coal depot, Top Hat had just arrived to refill, and was surprised to see Finbar there.
"I say, Chief!" he called. "Was there a fire down here?"
"Well, almost," replied Finbar. "There was some bad coal. Hercules took some on."
"Good gracious!" cried Top Hat. "Is he alright?"
"Ten Cents managed to bring him to Lucky's Yard and Warrior reported the situation to the manager," Finbar explained. "I just don't know how this lot got here…"
"Well, I'll keep my eyes open, Chief," replied Top Hat.
As the three tugs set off across the harbour, O.J. was explaining the manoeuvres to Sunshine.
"Now, Sunshine, you must be careful with these naval trampers," he said. "So don't get too excited or rush in unless you absolutely have to. One wrong move could mean disaster!"
"Don't worry, O.J.," replied Sunshine. "Ah'll only rush in if Ah'm needed and not for the sake of it." She bit her lip. When I was part of the salvage team, we usually dealt with the aftermath of disasters like this… I hope we don't cause a disaster…
"Tis a guid jab Billy Shoepack isnae workin' wi' us," Big Mac said with relief. "Ah dinnae trust explosives even efter he helped us oot that time we git trapped up water."
"Ah'm more worried about Bluenose and his orders," Sunshine agreed. "Especially with what almost happened with Grampus…"
"Oh, don't remind us…" shuddered Big Mac.
"Well, it was a blessing in disguise," said O.J.. "If that hadn't happened, Grampus wouldn't be part of the Star Fleet."
"You've got a point," smiled Sunshine. "Ah don't know how we'd get by without him."
On their way, they came across Zeus.
"Well, well, well," he said. "If it isn't the falling Stars. It's a pity my old buddy Hercules isn't well enough to bring in Kraka-Toa this year. Maybe they should get someone else to do it – like me."
"That won't be necessary, Zeus," O.J. replied. "Captain Star has assigned me, Big Mac and Sunshine."
"You seriously think a Glaswegian scruff, a clapped out paddler and a little runt like you three could handle it?" snorted Zeus. "Don't make me laugh."
"At least we're nae stupid enough tae git ourselves quarantine," retorted Big Mac. "Th' lest Ah heard, Captain Zero threatened tae scrap ye."
"What?!" Zeus spluttered. "How did you know about that?"
"Captain Star overheard it from his office," replied Sunshine. "It makes me glad Captain Zero isn't my captain. He sounds like an unpleasant bully. Ah almost feel sorry for you Z-Stacks."
"Perhaps we'd better get on our way before Zeus decides to bring the Spanish flu to Bigg City," O.J. said, with a slight chuckle.
Zeus seethed in anger as the three Star Tugs continued on their way, laughing as they did so.
"Someday, you'll be sorry…!" But the Stars were too far away to hear his implied threat.
Big Mac, O.J. and Sunshine soon arrived at the estuary where Bluenose was waiting.
"Well, it's about time you Star lot showed up!" Bluenose snapped, turning to face them. "Kraka-Toa is ready and waiting and I expect you three to act ship-shape! I trust you're up for such a dangerous endeavor?"
"We Star Tugs ur th' bravest tugs aroond," retorted Big Mac.
"Ha, ha, well, you'd better be!" said Bluenose. "Now, I will be following behind to make sure you civilians do your job properly."
Big Mac, O.J. and Sunshine thought that Bluenose had some nerve. But there was no use in arguing – Bluenose was coming with them and that was that.
Down at the old dock, Warrior and Ten Cents were finishing up their work.
"Not a bad job," smiled the switcher. "Everything is ship-shape now, Warrior."
"We'd better go back to Star Dock," he smiled. "Er… Ten Cents…"
"What is it, Warrior?"
"Look!"
The two Stars stared. There was Zeus, nudging a barge forward.
"Suffering stacks!" Warrior exclaimed. "It's a barge of coal."
"Not just any coal!" cried Ten Cents. "Coal that looks very dusty and full of sparks! We need to cut him off somehow! It will be risky though – our stacks could cause a fire."
Warrior looked around carefully. "Hmm… we could use those old tires. Rubber doesn't give off sparks."
"Brilliant!" Ten Cents grinned. The two tugs quickly grabbed the barge of tires and surged forward.
"What the –" cried Zeus. He quickly found himself cut off by the barge of tires, and trapped between it and the quay. "Ugh, you Star upstarts!"
"Well done, Warrior!" smiled Ten Cents. "You stay there, and I'll get Peeper Pipes!"
The little switcher rushed off, leaving Zeus very annoyed indeed.
Big Mac, O.J., Sunshine and Bluenose were now approaching Kraka-Toa. Big Mac buttoned his towline at the front whilst O.J. handled the side. Sunshine kept close to O.J. for extra assistance and to learn from the elder tugs as well.
Soon, everything was ready.
"Lead on, Big Mac," O.J. called and the cavalcade set off. At first, it was smooth sailing, but Bluenose kept shouting orders from the other side.
"No, no, no! Go faster! More steam!" he shouted.
"We hae tae go slowly!" snapped Big Mac. "Kraka-Toa haes dangerous cargo, ye ken."
"I don't care if she's carrying the President!" barked Bluenose. "You need to do your jobs properly!"
"That's exactly what we're doing!" O.J. argued.
"THEN DO IT FASTER!" roared Bluenose. "BIG MAC! PUT ON MORE SPEED RIGHT NOW!"
Big Mac was getting more and more irritated, which worried O.J. and Sunshine.
It was halfway across the harbour where it happened. As Bluenose shouted more orders, Big Mac finally lost patience.
"Right! That's it!" he growled and he put on more speed.
"Big Mac! Wait!" O.J. cried. But it was too late. With a loud snap, O.J.'s towline snapped. Kraka-Toa started to lose control.
"Moonlight Oceans above!" Sunshine exclaimed. "Hang on, O.J.; Ah'm comin'!" And the little switcher threw a line to Kraka-Toa, quick as lightning.
Bluenose heard the snap.
"I knew it! Never trust a civilian to do a Naval Tug's work!" he grumbled and quickly rushed to the other side to help get the vessel under control. But, to his shock and disbelief, the Stars had everything under control again, thanks to Sunshine.
"Got a problem, Bluenose? We told you the Stars were the best tugs in the harbor, and now we've proved it!"
"Uh… yes, well, er… well done," said Bluenose, rather sheepishly.
"Well done, Sunshine!" called O.J..
"A'm sae sorry, O.J.," Big Mac said quietly. "Are ye alricht?"
"Yes," assured the old tug. "You?"
"Aye," said Big Mac. "You wur really brave, Sunshine. Excellent wurk."
The switcher could only blush with pride.
The tugs dropped Kraka-Toa at the naval base without any more issue and Big Mac, O.J. and Sunshine returned to the Star Dock.
"A'm sorry aboot losing mah temper, Captain," Big Mac said. "Ah shuid hae ignored Bluenose 'n' concentrated oan getting Kraka-Toa intae port safely."
"Well, Big Mac," I said, "I'm just glad no one was hurt and since little harm was done, I'll overlook the matter."
"Thank you, captain," said Big Mac. "It wilnae happen again."
"Good," I said, before turning to Sunshine. "I'm proud of you, Sunshine. Your quick thinking prevented a disaster in port. For that, I'm going to reward you with a fresh coat of paint."
"Oh, thank you, Captain Star!" Sunshine said happily.
"Mr. Mitton would have been proud of you," said O.J.. "I know we all are."
Luckily for Hercules, he just needed a good clean out and he was back at work in time to tow Kraka-Toa back out to sea.
"Welcome back, Hercules!" Ten Cents cried.
"It's good to see you, m'dears," he smiled. "Sunshine, I hear you were quite the hero the other day."
"Aww… it was nothin'," she blushed.
"I'd say you're more than ready to help us out next year," said O.J.. "Just don't let Bluenose get to you and we'll be right."
"And so long as Zeus doesn't mess up the coal again," muttered Warrior.
"What?!" cried Hercules. "You mean to tell me…"
"It's all true," confirmed Top Hat. "Just listen to what's going on at the Zero Dock…"
"So, you decided to try and get the entire dockside to go up in flames, is that it, Zeus?!" snapped Captain Zero.
"What?!" cried Zeus. "Er, no! I just wanted to prove myself by bringing in the–"
"You are on dredger detail until further notice!" scolded Captain Zero. "If Hercules had brought in the Karka-Toa with bad coal, there would be no one left!"
Zeus gulped. "Er… sorry, Captain Zero…"
"Get the blazes out of my sight, you useless bucket of bolts!"
Zeus slunk sheepishly away.
As for Bluenose, well, I informed his superior officer, General Cardona, about his obnoxious behavior and he was not impressed with the naval tug.
"I've told you a million times!" General Cardona said sternly. "You should never assert your authority over the other tugs!"
"But, general," Bluenose argued, "that civilian Big Mac lost his temper and almost caused a severe accident with Kraka-Toa."
"Yes, but you caused him to lose his temper by ordering the Stars about!" General Cardona replied firmly. "And, it was another civilian, Sunshine, who saved the day! Now, this officious behavior of yours had better stop; otherwise, there will be severe consequences! Understand?"
"Yes, sir," Bluenose said quietly.
"I certainly hope so," General Cardona replied as he turned on his heels and sternly walked away.
Bluenose had never felt so belittled and despite General Cardona's warning, he became more obnoxious, and I'm sorry to say that this behavior would lead to trouble the following year… but that's a story for another time.
The End
Author's notes: Sorry this one took a while to get up, but it's finally here. This is a pre-curser to Munitions and it shows Bluenose being as obnoxious as ever. Zeus is even more of a nuisance, claiming Hercules to be his 'buddy', but essentially poisoning him and mocking his little brother. And I love the brotherly love between Hercules and Ten Cents in this scene. It's almost like Mario and Luigi now I think about it. Luigi practically idolises his big brother, like Ten Cents does, and Mario would protect his little brother with his life, like Hercules. We also get a few changes, like Hercules being given bad coal rather than 'up the coast', and Big Mac loosing his cool with Bluenose. Zeus and Bluenose also get a firm telling off.
Next time, the tugs encounter a Bigg Freeze during a an ocean liner docking.
