Children Of Fiends by C. Chase Harwood Page B

He had worked hard. For the first time in a long time, his purpose had been directed toward something greater than taking care of his arrogant bastard of a murdering boss. The raping... he got (his boss had exquisite taste), but the murdering and then this banishment... Now he was nearly apoplectic with rage over the loss of what seemed like a perfect checkmate. They had used the Sentinel’s plutonium driven motor to turn over one of the ship’s four turbines. He had gotten his hands quite dirty helping to make sure the other three were well lubricated before bringing them online as well. He nodded at the screens and blurted, “Can’t have them, then sink them, say I.”
    Plimpton glanced at the man with annoyance for speaking out of turn, but instinctively agreed. “A round at their waterline would do it.”
    “I have a better idea,” said Thompson. He opened his arms to encompass the space. “This weapon is completely maneuverable from this room. The devils can’t see us. I say stop operating under such an abundance of caution.”
    “And?” asked Plimpton.

    Dean swore under his breath as the destroyer fully revealed itself and slowly came toward them. He had no idea how many adversaries they had. A well mounted human assault, mixed with the spider drone on the crane could easily overcome them, leaving the turbines mostly intact. Their small weapons offered nothing of the firepower needed to fend off that ship. They had one advantage – the twins. He called out, “Hansel. Do you and your sister have anything?”
    Hansel and Gretel both looked hard at the ship. Hansel finally said, “We cannot see anyone. Perhaps a foggy presence.”
    “Hansel is not being truthful. We feel no presence.”
    Hansel scowled at his sister and she smiled with satisfaction in return. Eliza quietly said, “Thank you, Gretel. We appreciate it when you two are honest with us.”
    Dean called out to everyone and spoke as loudly as he could to be certain that the spider drone picked up his words as well. “Prepare to repel boarders. They can only meet the height of this ship by bringing their deckhouse alongside us. Green, KK, be ready to put a round or two into anyone that steps outside, but let the pucks try their craft first. Hansel and Gretel, you know what to do.”  
    The Lyndon Johnson came within two hundred yards and turned in a less than graceful fashion to bring herself alongside the Delfshaven. With bow thrusters foaming the sea around it, the big ship came to an awkward stop, her stern pointed slightly at the   cargo ship. Plimpton’s voice came from the Sentinel. “You can’t remain in your positions and serve any other function. We can wait you out and slowly pick you off. However, there is an alternative. You impress us as useful. Rather, we have a mutually beneficial proposition.”
    “Who the hell are you?” barked out Dean.
    “We are of The Shore.”
    “Okay. What does that mean?”
    “We are members of the sovereign nation of The Shore. You have twice entered our sphere of influence. We have been tracking you.”
    “No kidding, if by a herd of elephants you mean tracking.”
    There was a long pause, then, “We want the bulk of those wind turbines. In exchange for you steering and maintaining that vessel, we will tow you back to the East. Determined, we have, that the Nicaraguan Canal, if passable is the shortest route. Barring that, the Horn.”
    Dean looked at Sanders and kept his voice low, “How the hell did they get their hands on a working destroyer while we have been hunting for nonexistent diesel fuel?”
    “Lucky herd of elephants.”
    Dean looked at Wen and Hernandez. “What do you two think?”
    Wen said, “I think they have us over a fucking barrel. Pardon my French.”
    Hernandez whispered, “I say we take them up on it and when we can, take that fucking ship.”
    “I imagine they have the same plans for us.”
    Hernandez said, “Too bad for them.”
    Dean looked around at the faces