“Yes, sir,” Chen said.
“Jack, we’ve got more gunboats in preparation, right?” Steve said.
“Two more are undergoing renovation right now,” Isham said. “And we’ve got four yachts that are ready for sea. We’re running low on people who know how to run them.”
“Lieutenant Kuzma,” Steve said. “Start a class on basic boat operation. No more than three days. If they can drive it without hitting the sides of the harbor, use the radio more or less and put out a fire, they’re good.”
“You’re serious?” Kuzma said, wincing. “For an Atlantic crossing?”
“Oh, yeah,” Steve said. “And the big class is on how to unrep at sea.”
“Oh, God, sir,” Chen said, covering his face with his hands.
“One boat can cover, at most, a ten mile radius for search and rescue,” Steve said, seriously. “Counting the small yachts we have, what, fourteen?”
“Yeah,” Isham said.
“That’s, only a two-hundred-eighty-mile footprint,” Steve said. “A hundred and forty boats gives us a twenty-eight-
“That is a point,” Kuzma said. “And a lot more ships that have to be cleared.”
“We’ll take the already experienced people and put them in a follow-on squadron or squadrons,” Steve said. “With Marine boarding parties and prize and salvage crews. See if we can find another boat like the
“You know the sort of people who will sign up for that are the sort of people we need for everything else, right?” Isham said, shaking his head. “We only have so many people.”
“They have to have done a scut job, first,” Steve said. “Cleaning up gear, cleaning compartments, what have you. But if they can read a map, use a radio and sort of not hit stuff, we need the boats.”
“And… ” Isham said. “Steve, look, I’m up to my eyeballs in work already. You want to bump up the number of small boats? I mean times ten? You got any clue how much logistics that is?”
“Yes,” Steve said. “Need a hand?”
“Oh, hell, yeah!” Isham said. “You see my enormous staff, right?”
“First of all, if you’ve got numbers to crunch, toss it to the boats,” Steve said. “By which I mean the subs. And speaking of looking for craft, that’s a group that’s going to start being more actively involved. At a certain level, if it’s not in an AO we can effect, I’d rather just not know. But they’ll sweep one wing of the movement. They’ve got sonar, radar and people who will actually maintain a watch. They can’t interact but they can spot. One flotilla of fast response boats with them.”
“Suggestion, sir,” Chen said.
“Always,” Steve said. “Please.”
“Cigarette boats,” Chen said. “Based around one of the megayachts. Something needs to be cleared, the teams head out on those.”
“They use gas, right?” Isham said.
“Yes,” Chen said.
“So now I gotta not only find gas, but have a way to carry it,” Isham said. “Thanks, Zack.”
“Glad to be a buddy, Jack,” Isham said, grinning. “You can pump the diesel out of one of the tanks on the megas.”
“They’ve got a spare gas tank, anyway,” Wilkes said. “And an av gas tank. Speaking of which, you can spot stuff really well with a helo. Hinta, hinta, Captain.”
“Qualified on a Lynx?” Steve asked.
“Does it have a Dash one, sir?” Wilkes said.
“Are your airframe mechanics qualified on getting it up and running?” Steve asked. “We got parts? Thing’s been sitting as deck cargo in storms for six months, Captain.”
“Point, sir,” Wilkes said, shrugging.
“We’ll put that on the to-do list on the crossing,” Steve said. “At least get it surveyed. If it’s working, do you think it would make an okay trainer?”
“Want to learn to fly a chopper, sir?” Wilkes said.
“We’re going to need a buttload of chopper pilots at some point, Captain,” Steve said. “And airframe mechanics and all the rest. After we clear Gitmo, you’ll definitely be turning in the rifle to start working on that program. But that’s for later. Lieutenant Chen’s concept has merit. So, Chen, look for fast ocean going boats with range as well. And, yes, some source of gasoline for them.”
“Tools, parts, fittings… ” Isham said. “Seriously, Captain, I’m going to need some help, here.”
“I’ll find you some,” Steve said.
“I could really use… ” He paused and frowned and looked at Faith for a second. “You know, Zumwald is an asshole and I know he’s on your shit list. But he’s really underutilized.”
“I kind of like that he’s in charge of cleaning our gear,” Faith said. “Serve him right. Sir.”
“Your point is worth considering,” Steve said. “Okay, Marine Corps Ball, continue clearance on Sierra Two. USCG personnel to shift to classes on small boat operations for available personnel. LitClear to go, well, LitClear and collect said vessels. Work on an expansion plan for an unknown number of small boats. Chen, you’ve got about ten days, tops. All clearance to be complete by last week of November. We pull out November 20th. All clear?”
“Got it, sir,” Isham said. “And get me some more staff.”
“I’ll work on that,” Steve said.
CHAPTER 18
“I’m totally freaking out!” Faith said, adjusting her uniform as she approached the doors to the ballroom. She’d been informed as the “junior Marine” she had to give the toast and was, therefore, required to be in uniform. Her beautiful dress was relegated to the closet. Worse, all she had was MarCam.
“You’ll be fine,” Olga said.
“Easy for you to say!” Faith said. “You get to wear girl clothes!”
“Take a deep breath,” Olga said, hand on the door. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Faith said.
* * *
“Do you think you could increase your father’s knowledge base, Lieutenant?” Steve said at breakfast the next morning.
“I’ll try, Da,” Faith said, holding her hand up to her face. She was wearing oversized glasses and make-up which was unusual to say the least. And she didn’t seem to want to move her hand away from the left side of her face.
“Is there a reason that the Gunnery Sergeant is sporting one hell of a shiner?” Steve asked.
“What happens at the Ball, stays at the Ball, Da,” Faith said, chewing carefully…
CHAPTER 19
They got the Library of Alexandria. They’re not getting mine.
“Hey, Ernest,” Steve said as Zumwald tentatively entered his office. “Grab a chair. I understand you’re a scotch drinker?” He laid out two glasses and pulled out a bottle.
