George replied, “Yes, I remember that. He drifted into airspace in Pensacola. The press was all over that. If he hadn’t of done it during the Balloon Festival in Foley, Homeland Security was going to take him to Guantanamo Bay.”
“I think it will work. We did the math together and with that much canvas, he can lift 2500-pounds. That allows a gondola, engine, fuel, propane, and a two-person crew. With a little help he can have it built in a week.”
“Two-person crew? I can’t imagine anyone crazy enough to stake their life in Doug’s hands,” the Ringknocker stated.
“I was going as observer and navigator. He doesn’t have enough of an aviation background to fly over the horizon and he wouldn’t know what to look for even if he did. It would be a wasted effort for him to go alone or with anyone but me.”
The 3-Blind-Mice looked amongst each other before the Ringknocker spoke. “I’ll be the first to say that we need you here too much to risk you in an experimental aircraft. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure it would be worthwhile to risk anyone on this thing.”
Reynolds bit her lip. “But sir, with the range the blimp would have, we can scout from here to New Orleans to Montgomery to Pensacola and back in a single trip. I can’t see that in any other possibility.”
“We’ll take that under advisement,” the Ringknocker said before looking at Stone. “What did you have in mind, Captain?”
Stone slid an open notebook across the table to George and the three colonels of the military council. On it was clipped a road map of southern Alabama and several index cards with carefully written information. Colorful symbols, boxes, and blocks dotted two of the cards with arrows and numbers outlining movement.
“I’d like to take a supply convoy across the bridge into Foley, and then up to Summerdale and back. My scout teams on route reconnaissance have gone as far as Miflin to the east, Weeks in the west and as far north as Robertsdale, so we know the area well,” Stone said.
“What did the scouts find?” asked the Ringknocker.
“A lot of damage, arson, and bodies. It looks as if the infected that are left are systematically destroying the remaining buildings and infrastructure itself, for what reason I cannot say. However, we have identified several intact stores, gas stations, and other businesses that still have useful items. I have made a list on Card 3 there of the fifteen sites I would like to hit, collecting supplies at each.”
“Is it safe enough to stop out there?”
“In the month since the outbreak a lot of the infected have moved off, been killed in fires, or otherwise been put out of action. While there are still good amounts across the bridge, they are spread out and we can achieve local area dominance while we collect supplies before their numbers are a threat.”
“How big of an operation is this, Captain?” George asked, “I don’t think we can risk sending the whole island’s defense force no matter what the prize at the end.”
“A dozen vehicles and forty personnel, about half will be shooters and the other half volunteer drivers and supply handlers. There would still be fully manned defenses here on the island for contingencies, and we will be in radio contact at all times. It will be a one-day OP, covering 16-miles round trip,” Stone replied before coming to a rest.
“Sounds good. We’ll get back to you,” the Ringknocker said and turned his head to Jarvis. “Lieutenant?”
Jarvis stood out among the group at the meeting, freshly shaved and in his winter blue uniform with a perfectly tied tie and decorations. He was in stark contrast to the rumpled and well-worn army camouflage uniforms sported by Reynolds and Stone.
“As you know, the
Fish Hawk
overheard military communications during our recon of Mobile Bay nearly two weeks ago. After consulting with the Army signals people here, we believe the transmission may have come from military units in the Gulfport, Mississippi area.
“I also have reason to believe that there may be other Coast Guard assets there. I spoke with Captain Stone and related to him directly the result of our mission to Mobile Bay and the land route to Mississippi is completely sealed off by the traffic jam over the Bay. We have also continued to receive sporadic contact from the cruise ship
Gulf Mariner
. By signal bearing, we think she is adrift somewhere south of Dauphin Island. This information, coupled with the information given me by Major Reynolds about what is contained in the hold of the reefer ship
Pamyat Ilicha
, I propose that the cutter take a three day trip to scout Gulfport and Pascagoula, scout for the
Gulf Mariner
, and sink the reefer ship on the return leg of the trip.”
“How do you plan on sinking such a large ship?” asked the Ringknocker.
“We are still working that out, sir. I have a couple of options that I will report back on as soon as I have more information.”
“Are you staffed enough for this, after the loss of your man?”
“I’m glad you mentioned that, sir. Even with our tanks filled, we only can carry enough diesel to get us about 400-miles away from here in a straight line before we would have to turn back. However, that is not the big problem as we can make Gulfport and back on half that— the big problem is navigation.”
“How so?”
“Without GPS we have to hug the coast so we can figure out where we are. We can use celestial stuff if away from the coastline but without a ship’s alidade and good charts, I would be wary about sailing much farther than a hundred miles or so from here. I know the waters around the Bay and the island itself fairly well enough not to be worried. Nevertheless, I have only sailed to Gulfport once; I am leery of going there without some detailed knowledge of the harbor. Is there one of these charter captains that knows the area that we can borrow?”
Stone laughed and poked Jarvis, “I’ve got it covered. I have just the charter guy for you. Young, total sea salt, expert in the waters around Biloxi and Gulfport. Nothing but guts.”
««—»»
When the meeting rejoined after lunch, Doug was already pacing the room by the time Reynolds walked in with the rest of the members in tow. The short spastic man rushed up to Reynolds immediately as she entered the room.
“Did you tell them about the
Depplin
?” he asked with a hushed voice using his pet name for the blimp. “What did they say?”
Reynolds hated Doug’s pet name for the blimp and refused to use it. Instead all she did was take the man by the elbow and walk him down to the end of the table, quietly imploring him to be quiet. He had evidently brought with him a clipboard full of paperwork, a model of the Depplin and a yellow plastic suitcase the size of the microwave that lay on the table already.
“You are all about some clutter, aren’t you?” she asked him as they took their seat, to which he looked back at her with a hurt expression on his face but did not say anything.
“Doug, good to see you again,” George said as he walked in and took his seat. “Major Reynolds told us all about your balloon this morning.”
“It’s a non-rigid hot gas airship actually, sir, kind of like a blimp but not,” he explained, passing the model across the table to him.
The foot-long model looked like an upside down taco with a piece of latticework under it. On the latticework was a miniature propane tank, gas cans, a motor, and two GI-Joe action figures, one male, and one female, zip-tied to it in a seated position. The word
Depplin
was written in a black marker across the top of it with tiny smiley faces inside the
p’s
.
“It’s not to scale, of course. I just made that up so you would have an idea of what we were talking about.”
“
Depplin
huh?” Stone asked as the model was passed around the table.
“Catchy, isn’t it?” Doug said with a smile.
“What’s in the box, Doug?” George asked, pointing to the yellow case at the end of the table. It was a large banana-yellow Pelican waterproof case of the type used to carry around sensitive electrical equipment.
Doug stood and pushed his glasses up over his nose as he opened the case. When he turned it toward the inside of the table for all to see, he stepped back like a magician in the middle of a trick.
“Holy shit,” Stone said with a whistle and stood up smoothly. The man knew enough to get mobile when the situation warranted.
Inside the case looked to Reynolds to be an improvised explosive device. Although she had never seen one in person, she had to sit through enough PowerPoint presentations before her last few deployments to have a good idea what they looked like. She could see a clock, wires, a charge of what could be explosives, and an ignition circuit.
“Don’t worry, it’s not armed,” Doug said, trying to calm the room down.
“What is that thing and
why
did you bring it here, son?” asked the Ringknocker.
“I read an old British book, an autobiography of a watchmaker who came up with a whole workshop of dirty tricks to use on the Nazis in World War II,” said Doug with a smile. “And one of these was a limpet mine.”
“A limpet mine?” said Jarvis, perking up.
“Yes, its eighteen pounds of black powder used to fire salutes from the old cannons at Fort Morgan, an improvised electric match attached to a 9-volt battery powered digital alarm clock set for two hours. You attach it to a ship with these magnets here that I got from some old speakers. I left hollow compartments to give the whole thing slight negative buoyancy, making it easier to handle underwater.”
“The ship we would need to use this on weighs 12,000 tons,” Jarvis stated. “Will it sink that?”
“It’s directional and should make a 3x3 hole as long as you place it on the hull at least five feet below the surface of the water.”
“Can you show my engineer how to arm it?” Jarvis asked.
“I already did. I brought it by your boat this morning out at the marina and apparently just missed you. That’s why I was late getting here.”
“Well, Doug, stop walking around town with bombs. Even if they are not armed. It just freaks people out, okay?” George said.
Doug nodded and packed the limpet mine back away before retaking his seat.
The Ringknocker cleared his throat as a signal to begin. “Let’s get down to brass tacks here. My two colleagues on the military council and I discussed with George here our options over the fish tacos today and we have decided to let you, Captain Stone, proceed with your convoy and you, Lieutenant Jarvis, with your naval mission.”
The two officers acknowledged.
“As for you, Doug, build your airship. Major Reynolds advised that you can pull it off with some support in a week, is that right?”
“Yes, General.”
The Ringknocker grimaced. “It’s colonel but thanks for the promotion, Doug. Get your ship built in a week and prepare to fly it. Major Reynolds will give you all the support she can but she is to stay here.”
“But sir, it’s a two-person aircraft. I need a navigator while I fly. I will have my hands full just operating the burners, engine vents, and control surfaces.”
“I’m sure there are a few residents left with private pilot experience that can be your navigator. The Major can interview candidates for it.”
Reynolds shook her head. “There is no need, sir; we need a military pilot. They have to be able to bring back a report from a military standpoint or it’s no good.”
“I appreciate that, Major, but it remains that your flying privileges are revoked. You are an administrator now. And this matter is
closed
,” the Ringknocker said, standing.
Reynolds stewed in her seat and looked at the wall as her face blushed with rage.
“One week, everyone. We are setting the launch day for all three operations as November 13. Advise only mission essential personnel. I want no leaks on our new radio station to jeopardize anyone. Understood?” The Ringknocker asked
Everyone nodded or murmured agreement.
“Dismissed.”
— | — | —
ChapteR 41
Billy poked at his cheese-cracker mullet with a fork. It had looked better when he left the house with it a half hour ago. Crushed snack crackers over a couple dozen mullet fillets baked on a cookie sheet sounded like a good idea at the time. He had made it for Mack and the gang at the station because they were all tired of shrimp.
“But they didn’t do fish today,” Mack told him, batting her eyes.
“Really?”
“Yeah,
Pappa Rocco’s
had 100 pounds of pepperoni they had in their reefer donated to the cause.
“Mmm, pepperonis are good, so pizza today?”
She shook her head, “Pepperoni soup.”
He laughed and went back to his mullet. “Wyatt is still at Doug’s house? That dude creeps me the hell out. You think he’s a pedo-bear or what?” Billy asked.
Mack rolled her eyes. “They aren’t there alone. Wanda from the upholstery shop and her sons are over there for the past couple of days too. They are working on a special project together. It’s all top-secret military stuff.”