The Guild, Secretive U.S. Intel Operatives
Chapter 4 - Island Hopping
From Hong Kong the Castle Asian Book Tour moved on to Manila, capital of the Philippines and one of the most dense cities in terms of per capita population than any other city in South East Asia and of the world. The choice of Manila was because intel showed that Lei Beng might be using a man-made island in the South China Sea as a home base. The Philippines shared the South China Sea, a maritime corridor, with China, as did several other neighboring Asian nations. It is a much disputed area that China claimed complete authority for, despite the fact it bordered several neighbors whose territorial waters were also part of the South China Sea. Thus the much contested claims of sovereignty over that body of water by all the nations involved.
While in Manila, Paula Haas was directed to book a charter boat trip for an island hopping trip to the island of Palawan. This so the entourage could supposedly enjoy a brief rest stop. Palawan being a major Philippine Tourist Destination out of the more than 7,100 islands of the Philippine Archipelago. The island was also bordered by the South China Sea just west of it. So the rest stop was a cover for a surveillance op by the Guild team to search for Lei Beng's outpost that might lead to the missing British Nukes.
The group's handler, Ned Stein, had arranged to have them charter a special boat, a motorized catamaran, with specialized surveillance equipment to include radar, drones, sonar, infrared scanners and the like. Stein made sure that Paula Haas knew of the charter and made it easy for her to book the vessel.
Castle himself held a U.S. Coast Guard Captain's license and could pilot the boat, a license that Turner also had. Beckett had completed while on active duty, the Combat Crew Training Course, and had been awarded the warfare speciality badge for qualifying. That training gave Beckett the capability to pilot a number of navy patrol boats and riverine craft. So Beckett could also easily operate the charter boat. Espo and Ryan had similar qualifications. The island hopping tour of the Palawan area would serve to explain their presence in the area and disguise their search for Lei Beng's Island home base.
The charter was a motorized catamaran with six staterooms, but also was equipped with search radar, accurate sonar, automatic identification system (AIS), and the like, with search drones that could be launched and operated from the vessel as they implemented their search. While masquerading as a commercial charter, the craft would be able to complete an exhaustive probe for Lei Beng's home base.
Col. Kwan had a similar search vessel and set sail for her efforts out of the Spratly Island Group controlled by the CCP. She was broadcasting the call sign to her boat's identity, which was known to Castle's Guild team, and would show up on their AIS. The plan had been to join up and complete the search jointly allowing for a greater effort in performing the search operation. Chinese military had conducted multiple such operations in the past looking for Lei Beng's base, but none had been successful.
Kwan's craft was also disguised as a commercial charter. The craft however was a converted Patrol boat of the Chinese Navy and also equipped with the electronics to perform the search. Kwan was at the helm of this craft and her crew was a CCP navy crew disguised as the charter boat crew.
Palawan
The trip out of Manila took a little more than a day and a half with an overnight transit, traveling at cruise speed. The team had taken to sharing navigating duties, each taking a shift to pilot the boat. Beckett had the midnight duty and had to relieve Turner from her shift. As Beckett started her watch, a conversation broke out with Turner.
"So how long were you and Castle an item?"
"We were together for several missions over the years."
"So the two of you were in a serious relationship?"
"Once, and one I still want."
"Oh, so what happened, if you don't mind my asking? I need to know just how to treat this present situation."
Turner does a nervous laugh and then shrugs.
"Well,… um… have you ever met someone and… and …had that intense attraction right away? You know, that sexual tension so pervasive it is hard to ignore. Well, we fought ours for months and then (she smiles, remembering)… and then we just couldn't stand it anymore."
Beckett looks at her intently seeing Turner's angst as she told the story. Kate had been in a similar way with an ex, Wil Sorensen, FBI. Turner's account of her union with Castle hits too close to home for Beckett.
"But afterward it was like that tension was all we had, really, …..and without it all, we were left with just …well, all those things that drove us to be annoyed with each other. Sometimes I wish we had never been together. That we had kept that longing present."
Kate again can relate, having been in such a situation with her ex, Wil. They had worked a case together many years ago. He as FBI and she as Naval Intelligence. It was six months of such intense longing, but in the end they realized between their jobs and with their time consuming missions, some undercover, and often away for extended periods, that it was not meant to be. They had only scratched at an itch. So they had moved on.
"Well thank you for the story about the two of you. I relieve of your shift, Turner. I got the con now."
"Affirmative to that, I stand relieved of duty, have a good watch."
As Turner left, Kate could not help having empathy for her. Many a woman had that one hookup that was so consuming in manner, but never meant to be. Kate still carried much of her lost baggage from past breakups. Turner was no exception. Such breakups tend to shape a future relationship, much to the detriment of that new relationship. Becket wondered if Turner's need in carrying a torch for Castle was based on true affection? Or maybe it was out of a sense of loss for the one that got away. Was it an ego thing for Turner? Kate puts away the thought and returns to her watch duties.
Beckett checked her heading and speed then glanced at radar and then to the AIS for any craft in the surrounding area. It was all clear and Beckett settled in for a six hour watch to be relieved by Castle the following morning.
As it approached the time for Castle to take over the helm duty, Beckett was anxious to be relieved, as it had been a boring and uneventful shift for her. A six hour watch was about as much as she could take so she had brought along a book to read and pass the time. It was a Derrick Storm novel by none other than Rick Castle himself.
Kate had not known of the author until she had taken care of putting away some of her mom's stuff after her demise. She had often noticed her mother reading Castle's novels, so out of curiousity, took one to read. After that first book, she was in, drawn there by Castle's writings. Particularly since her mom had left notes in the margins of the books or yellow little stick em notes expressing her mom's thoughts on a particular passage from said book. It was like her mom was alive, at her side, there with her, reading along with her. Beckett missed her mom intensely and Castle's books had brought her back, if only for a brief while.
"So Beckett, how went your watch?"
She comes out of her thoughts as Castle appears to take over the helm control.
"Uneventful and boring so I brought a book to pass the time."
Castle notices the title of the book as one of his.
"Well, I hope that I was good company for you Beckett."
"You always are Castle. I'm a fan, so full disclosure."
"I am humbled and pleased at the same time!"
"Don't let it go to your head Castle, it was my mother who was the original fan."
"As in?"
"I inherited her books when she passed and got hooked when I read one of them just to see what the appeal was."
"I hope I was a comfort in your time of loss?"
"You were Castle and that is why I am a fan."
"Mind if I asked how your mother passed away."
"She was one of those killed in the plane that struck the towers during 9/11."
"Oh, …..I'm sorry to hear that and apologize for asking."
"No need to apologize, it's taken time but I've learn to accept it."
"So mind if I ask for the story?"
"That's so like you….having said in your book covers that needing to know the whole story is what drove you to writing?"
"That is true."
"I was pre-law at Stanford in my frosh year when it happened Castle. My mom was coming back from a business trip. She and my dad were lawyers. I transferred to NYU after her death to take care of my father who lapsed into alcoholism from her death. I enrolled in NROTC wanting to fight the terrorists who were responsible for my mom's untimely death. I got a NROTC scholarship which helped with paying for my education. My dad was into rehab at the time and I was the only breadwinner. But I was helped by my cousin who is also my adopted sister, so we split costs. I wanted to be a Naval JAG Attorney, but went to naval intelligence upon commissioning specializing in terrorist threats. I was influenced to do so after a summer midshipmen cruise with an intel command."
"Your cousin who is your adopted sister? Now that's another tale I would like to hear!"
"Some other time then Castle".
"Well your story did answer some of my questions about you."
"As in…?"
"Why a smart attractive woman such as yourself winds up in this business."
"OH!"
"The Bruce Wayne syndrome."
Kate was more surprised at Castle's knowledge of pop culture that spoke to a man who was comfortable with his inner child. A nature that spoke of a child-like enthusiasm and joy for life. She had yet to know of such a man.
"I don't think that comparison holds Castle!"
"Trust me Beckett, it's close enough."
"So talking about wanting to know…..what's the story with you and Turner?"
"We were once an item."
"So I've surmised!"
"But what we did was inappropriate. I was her team leader after all and so I, we, should not have crossed that line. As team leader I must make decisions that could affect the individual agent as well as the team. Those orders might lead to sending an agent to his or her death. Emotional involvement with that agent could affect that decision process in a negative way. I should have remained professional and not cross that line."
"But you do know that she is still into you?"
'"I do, but will not repeat our mistake, and I've told her so."
"Well then, I will appropriately keep my professional distance."
"I know you will."
The two finish their turnover and Beckett passes the helm control to Castle.
As she leaves, Castle can not help but be intrigued by this woman and her story. Most women of her caliber had options. Becket could have easily chosen another path, but chose this one. He found Beckett to be an interesting and captivating woman! One he could easily fall for.
His father had been right. Beckett was his type, but he wasn't going there. He had been there once before with Turner and was not about to go over that real estate again. Still, Beckett was a stunning women; far more so than Sophia Turner had ever been.
"No Castle", he thinks to himself. "You've been down that road and look where it got you."
Castle would keep his distance. He would remain detached and objective for the mission, for his team, and for Beckett. He was not going to be tempted. Rick Castle would be strong but still pleaded with the Universe to keep him on course. Castle sensed that his resolve was soon to be tested.
With that thought, Castle looked to his navigation screen and saw he was a few degrees off course. So he changed his heading to correct his course. It looked like calm seas and favoring winds up ahead. As he turned his attention to his helm control duties, he tried to ignore his thoughts on Beckett. She is truly an intriguing woman, a mystery he would love to unravel but Castle knew he would have to remain above board with her. Still the Heart wants what the Heart wants, and Rick Castle was about to find out all about that.
He hears an alert coming from his instruments, bringing him back to his duty. The navigation screen was showing they were on approach to Palawan. Castle quickly brought up the nav charts for where they were to anchor for the stay. He began preparations for arriving and mooring at their destination.