Tweet...tweet.... Long delay in my postings

I would like my apologies once more. I have not pen anything for one month now; with my mind pre-occupied on other issues, I could find myself doing any writing. Its only fair to all that I mentioned this.

Am I giving up?

No. I am not. I just need some time to sort my current issues.

Will there be postings?

Yes, but maybe not so prompt. I will do it at least once or twice a week. I will complete Deep Sea War, though I have not pen the final chapters.

Do I have any other tales to post?

I do have some older tales. They were written like more than five years ago, but they may not be as detailed like the ones now. I will edit and post them.

When do I get out of this fuddled mind?

Soon I hope but please allow me some time to get my wits and fingers to tap dance once more. I just needed the breathing space for now.

And once more, thanks for dropping by.

Cheers

Deep Sea Wars 13.1. and 13.2

13.

The Surface

General Clarke looked at map on the wide and long table at his personal home at the twenty four room mansion on the riverbanks of the river that flows through the city. It was his family home from his grandfather’s days.  The elderly old man was in the colonies when he was informed of his inheritance by the barristers then. Ironically, he was fighting the same ruling class for the decent patch of farm in the colonies. Once he was advised of the inheritances, the old man abandoned his quest from a farmer to that of the Lord. He absorbed the family into the ruling class with fine tutoring and rankings in the social circle with the hefty purse he had carried. His son which was Clarke’ father was given a rank of Colonel but the poor man died from over indulgence in opium. Clarke was the younger generation then and had disclaimed all the family’ troublesome past to stay afloat on the influences of power and greed. The later caused him some pain where he lost at the cards but the former brought him the position as General. It was rumour that the former bought him the later, but whatever it was he was ranked General by the Army.

General Clarke was all familiar with the points on the map but he disliked the ones marked red. Those are the enemies; similar in blood and flesh but with a different view of the issue. Before him there were the seventeen senior officers with the lowest ranked Colonel. They were from the three divisions of the Army.

“General Allen, are your men ready?” General Allen heard the Senior General request. He was a single star General from the Armoured Division. They have the armoured Mark I units with the rhomboid design and the long tracks coupled with the two rear wheels to steer the tank. Each tank weighed over twenty seven tons each. Each tank held a crew of eight with the twin six pounder cannons, and three Hotchkiss machine guns. The twin side sponson which looked like pigeon homes housed the cannons. 

“Yes, General.” General Allen replied. ‘But we have an issue.”

General Clarke glared at the other. He then looked at the others around the table. He was not sure if they will support him on the war. They were once his command but with the shift of command, he was unsure.

“General Clarke, we have an issue. Sir.” General Allen voiced out.

“Then fucking cleared the issue.” General Clarke raised his voice. “We are soldiers, Allen. Not fucking stooges.”

“All of you listen up. See those red spots. I want them cleared.” General Clarke shouted out. “Dismiss.”

The officers all trooped leaving the General to himself by the table.  

“You are losing your command, Clarke.” The voice belonged to Lord Stuart. The later was seated on the far corner while holding the glass of brandy. “They need your voice to command and not to ignore them.”

“Ian, if I ever need your advice, remind me to call my mother. She have lots of it even she was not drunk.” General Clarke stepped away from the table. He then pointed at the table.

‘Those red spots represent the regiments or company that will not listen to my command. They are for the General who took my spot of command. Half of those bastards were promoted by me.”

“The promotions which you sow like the poppy seeds in the field then. I recall it very well in your exact words; ‘they are loyal officers and more to it, capable men.’ You thought you were feeding them for their loyalty, but apparently, your chosen men have lived to their mantle. They have grown their own poppy plants to feed their own. They fought for their land and never the snob that sold the rights to the seas.” Lord Stuart gleefully sounded it out.

“This scheme was yours to begin with, my Lord.” General Clarke replied with the cynical tone.

 “It’s mine by birth, General Clarke and ours when we nurtured it to near adulthood now.  You can’t deny my birth right gave me the edge needed to foresee the benefits of it all, if we continued nurturing it.”

“Damn you, Stuart. If it was not your planning, I may be still seated on the post.” General Clarke lament on his loss of authority.

“That post will not bear you the grandeur that your grand paddy once held. It was your father’ and your grand scheme to lose most of it at the cards.” Lord Stuart reminded the other. “It was my grand scheme if we are to succeed regained that loss for you.”

“The land cannot bear another war after the last one.” General Clarke sighed. “It was to takeover Lord Henry’s idea and made it ours. No fighting on the grand scale.”

“And it should be. Your Army are to stand down. I will have Lady Jan’s do the fighting. She will annihilate the island named Jaws. After all, it’s at the boundary and none of our ships are capable of reaching it.”

“You are telling me to babysit the renegades while Lady Jan battle Henry’s fleet?” General Clarke asked

“Yes, remember the plan was to get rich again. We were supposed to fish but the fleet that Lady Jan brought was her fighting fleet. I had the data on it. She was trying to invade us.”

“That’s good news. But why tell me now?” General Clarke asked. “We have brought the enemy to our shores.”

“Good point but she had not landed. Her fleet stands off our shores.” Lord Stuart replied.

“The fleet is off our shores and you tell me we are not to worry.” The General shouted back. “I am to protect it.”

“Protect it you shall, General Clarke. Let our enemies fight among themselves. The victor side will be weakened and with that, we can overcome them. It’s called killing two birds with one stone.”

“Then explained to me one more time how can we win the war?” General Clarke asked.

“Our primary task is to fish in the deep sea. When we recruited the assistance of Lady Jan, our agreement was to get her here so that we can take over the fleet. She refused to berth and with the new General, we have to make new plans. Lord Henry abrupt move pushed the deadline ever closer. He is the unknown factor here. We are not sure of his fleet and that infernal submerged ship of his.”

“Henry’s fleet is not a fighting fleet. It’s a fishing one.” General Clarke cut in. “He was not …”

“So why are you afraid of Lord Henry?”

“Lord Henry is resourceful. He will not be easily defeated.” General Clarke explained himself. “He had out fought me on the few occasions we met.”

“Twice beaten and you are ashamed to stand up again. By George Clarke, you are a disappointment to the family. Considering that I am your cousin, I ought to march you out for a duel for shame on the family name but we lived in a different era now.” Lord Stuart did not hide his distaste for the cowardly General. “Lord Henry is only flesh and blood. It’s how we handle the situation that will determine his demise.”

General Clarke then saw the arrival of Lady Jan with unkempt and poorly dressed man at her side. The lady was dressed in knee length dress with the flats. He had taken offence to the arrival for that man should not be allowed into the house. He knew that man and was to voice out his protest.

“Lady…” General Clarke was cut off.

“May I introduce to you gentlemen the man who will help us destroy Lord Henry”

The Depth

The only way to describe the sea cavern was it was huge. Its entry was seen as a narrow outcrop by the ships in the bay there, but beneath the surface, was the open mouth that could swallow the Sea King into its throat and surfaced inside the huge belly.

Stacy was not new to caving but each time she arrived at one, she was overwhelmed by the majestic feel of being inside it. For one to experience a cavern was to be become engulfed in the dark. There was the accompanying feel of chill which will tinge your skin. Its cold touch there reached out to your fear. The first thing you do was to reach for light. It could be a distance light that shone through some narrow openings or the reflection of your own light. That was only part of the sensation. The other ones was silence. It was most times silent in the cavern unless there were some dripping waters from the ceilings or the side of the walls. Each drop will resonance across the cavern and be echoed at times. Your hands will reach to feel the solid walls; it was your only secured feeling then. Your feet will grip into the nocks and cracks of the dark path. Each step was taken with a breath of prayer hoping it will prevail on and not be a deep crevasse fall into the depths.

“Stacy...” She heard her name called. She looked back to the Captain.

“Are you okay?” Captain Arthur asked her. Stacy nodded and then turned to look at the glass window. They were surfacing in the cavern. She was told that it held a depth of a hundred feet and a height of equal with a length across of over five hundred feet.  The large bulbs of the ship were turned off but the smaller ones were still lighted. It shone against the wall and then the magnificent works of the tenacious breed known as Man.

The cavern was lined up with three platforms that were built into the solid wall with the wood piling and planks. Each platform reached out to the water and there it supports the ship while it berthed. When the Sea King was anchored by the ropes, the walking planks were extended out and then the hatches opened. The fresh air was inhaled with relief by the crews after their exhausting five hours of recycled air.

Stacy was assisted out by the cavern crews to the platform. It felt strange to stand on firm ground then. She saw that each platform was about fifty feet across and there were crates of supplies and equipment there. She saw the large closed structures on the far end of the cavern. She was to ask when she saw the Captain and the others were lead to the nearby staircase. They mounted it up for over five levels before they appeared in the open mouth cave.

There were structures that housed the cavern crews with the rail tracks that allow the small metal carriages to move the supplies in.

“The island was once a mining colony for iron ores. I bought it and changed.” Lord Henry told the newly arrived guests. “This is the entrance to Small Jaws, and up here we called it the Gooseneck. I don’t know why but it got stuck to the name.”

“Big Jaws in on the other side of the island where the fishing trawlers get to seek shelter during the storms. In the centre of the Island is my Fortress of Solitude. It stretched from there back to Big Jaws.” Lord Henry explained. “It’s more of a home to the ones who stayed here. It’s fortified with guns but for defensive purpose. We are living in dangerous times now.”

“I say, old boy.” Jones quipped in while nudging at the Sergeant Major’ left ribs. “Is there a tavern here?”

“Yes, Corporal. It’s on Big Jaws.” Lord Henry replied. “If you walk, it might take you half a day climbing over the volcano there. Or you could take the train. It should not take more than an hour.”

“Aye, my Lord. I am on my way.” Corporal Jones dragged the Sergeant Major by the arms. The later was reluctant to leave but his Lordship gave the consent. Lord Henry then led the others to his home on the volcano side.

“Living dangerously had always been my life.” Lord Henry then held his brandy after having refreshed himself at his home. They were all seated at the cushy settee in the mansion hall. “When I saw this island on one of my reckless sails, I sought out the owner and bought it. I stayed here for over a month to explore the place and found the cavern. It was an explorer dream then.”

“During the war, I did bring Arthur here. We hid out here and planned our missions here. It was him who introduced me to deep sea fishing. I was intrigued and then invested in it. The fishes will be the bridging supply to our dwindling food supply. Of course we never bargained for the predators but then again, which frontier does not have its own predators.”

“I could not just have the island to myself. I had to make it useful for others too. The sea is huge and we are pawns to its emotions. I developed Big Jaws to become a safe harbour.” It was the elderly man sighed. “I never thought the Chamberlain will play dirty. Damn! He was a good friend then.”

The dark uniformed officer stepped in to his Lordship Hall. He was an elderly man with a stern look and a firmer frame. He was armed with a Webley strapped to his waist belt.

“My Lord, we are in need to speak.” The elderly man had on the thick curled up moustache that was the trade mark of Senior Sergeants.

“You may speak freely, Staff Sergeant Hamley. We are among friends here.”

“So be it, my Lord. Three trawlers came to berth last week. They sought shelter on the grounds of repairing their boats.” Staff Sergeant Hamley spoke up. “We never turn anyone away. They turned out to be Far Eastern in their looks and talks.”

“I suspect they are not fishermen’s but pirates or at worse killers.” Staff Sergeant Hamley continued on. “I was on the Mediterranean and seen my share of those booties killers.”

“Their strength, Staff Sergeant?” Lord Henry asked.

“About five on land and another twenty five on the boats.  They have weapons, rifles and pistols next to their cleavers.”

“Put them under surveillance and give me daily report. They could be genuine pirates or Lady Jan’s hired killers.” Lord Henry gave the command. “Gentlemen, it’s time we visit Big Jaws.”

Deep Sea Wars 12.1 and 12.2

12.

The Surface

Admiral Yi Sun Sin improved on the design of the Turtle Ship during the Joseon Dynasty. It was an enclosed ship with eleven cannons on each side with two each at the stern and bow. The ship’ figurehead was in the shape of a dragon and held four more cannons. The ship has three decks with its upper deck covered with wood and inlaid with spikes. The ship has two masts with the large sails but the steering of the ship was by its rowers beneath the decks. 

“Have you read on the Turtle Ship?” General Gale was by herself on the table at the Library when she was asked. It was her private hour where she put aside the crisis and current events to indulge in her private reading. She was not particular of her seating but it was to be the only herself on the table. She disliked any one joining in and most of all inquisitive questions. Normally, any person coming near her table will have been stopped by her guards but that one slipped the guards.

General Gale looked up from her book. She saw the person was dressed in a tight green dress that reached below her knees with the braided design of the eastern dragon.  The lady had her hair braided too at the back and she was holding another book.

“Lady Jan I presume.” General Gale makes the assumption. “I am having my …”

“Afternoon reading.” Lady Jan replied. “I know of your habit, General Gale. You also disliked company but I could not resist stepping over. It’s not every day you see someone reading the works of Admiral Yi Sun Sin.”

General Gale marked the page she was reading before placing it down on the table. The other lady had taken the liberty to sit down. She then placed the book she was reading on.

“I was catching up on my interest in your sea hero, Admiral Nelson Horatio.” Lady Jan avail herself to the conversation with the General. “I am not a strategist like him.”

“I could …not see that very clearly, Lady Jan. You have just move in on my private hour and acted as if I did not care.” General Gale displayed her emotions there. “I would have concurred that a lady of your standing knew of that. We…”

“We are ladies first and in the current times we are still placed side line for many things. I have very need to be polite and pretty behind the man when I could take the lead.” Lady Jan displayed her fangs. “You are the new commanding officer of the Army. I respect that.”

“I see your point, Dragon Lady.” General Gale replied. “Since we are of the same gender, I doubt we will fuck like rabbits. Lady Jan, I have studied your personal files. You are a strategist in your own land climbing up the rank in the military circle and later also in the trading lines. Your reputation as the Dragon Lady precedes your name.”

“My nickname was given to me by the petty old men who uses their wealth to move the people but not me. I used my people to excel in using the available wealth and building it.” Lady Jan hit back. “Just like yours, the name Iron Lady came from your military peers.”

“Enough of the grand name bashing. If you are asking me to allow your vessels to the port, my reply stands the same. I will not tolerate any other fleet inside my waters unless they are here for war. In which the later I am ….”

“Unable to be matched, General Gale. Your last war have depleted the resources to fight on land and left your once esteemed fleet of ships virtually useless.” Lady Jan snapped on the nerve point of the General. “I am not here for war. I am here to assist you…”

“In taking control of our seas. No, thank you, Lady Jan. We were master of the Seas and will reclaim our honour there. It may take time but we will make it.” General Gale replied. She knew that the once famous fleet was reduced to a few old ships and those were already on escort duties of the fishing convoy. “Perhaps you want to read more on Admiral Nelson and his victories at sea.”

“You may have read of the battle of Myeongnyang in 1597.” Lady Jan mocked at the General. “The Admiral had used the elements and terrain to fight his battle. It was stealth and deceit which won him the battle.”

“Stealth and deceit are some of the strategies of war. Only a fool will rush into battle without a strategy.” General Gale replied. “Your strategy had failed. Your assumptions that two lady may listen to each other rather than argue. I am still the General when in uniform. My ladylike only surfaced when I am at home with my family or fucking with my husband.”

“I was not rushing to the bonding of ladies with you. I was merely studying my opponent’s features. You are tough and decisive but those are only the hardness in the character. For one to be complete, you need to have softness of the likes in stealth and deceit.” Lady Jan smiled. “Read on General. You might learn more of us to improve yourself.”

General Gale watched the lady leave before she picked up her book. It was all about crochet. Gale’s mother once told her that the most important thing in life is to remain calm in a storm. If you can’t do that, then learn crocheting. It was calming and above all, you are matching the strings to form the bigger picture you want.

Her personal aide soon arrived with the report she was eager to read. It was written on it the details of the fleet that was off the boundary of the island. There were sighted four large cruiser class and three destroyer class, and ten supporting ships. The ships were moored in a circular manner which prevented them from seeing what was in the middle.

‘Did they send the dirigibles?” General Gale asked.

The aide shook her head. She then passed on the list of names.

“They are your allies General. The others are either on the fence or in favour of General Clarke.” It was only one third of the officers who supported her. None of them were from the Air Division. She has an uphill battle ahead.

“Then we shall fight with the ones we have.” General Gale replied. “Send a personal message to Lord Henry. Tell him I will be delighted for the tea party he had planned.”

The Depth

Incoming light gets reflected when it reaches the ocean surface. How it will be reflected depends on the state of the water. If it’s calm and smooth, less light will be reflected. If it’s turbulent, more light will be reflected. The light that penetrates the surface is refracted for light travels faster in water than in air. Once it is within the water, the light get scattered or absorbed by solid particles. The light will be absorbed with the depth.

Stacy saw the lights came on the hull. It was a deep yellow light from the foot long tungsten filament bulbs which was powered by the water current dynamo generator the provide electricity. The bulbs were encased in water tight glass covered compartment that was filled with an inert gas. Its light was reflected off the shiny material coating on the inside of the casing. It could shine up to a hundred feet in the shallow depths and only twenty at the deeper darker areas. For the darker depths, there was the space out larger half-moon casing that measured two feet in radius. That light could reach over from a hundred to four hundred feet depending on the depths.

Stacy was awed by the fishes that she had normally seen on the decks but beneath the waves, it was a different view. There you are watching the school of fishes passed the glass windows like a swarm of bees. They were so swift in the water, and within a blink of an eye they were gone. It was at the depth of a hundred feet depths that the Sea King was maintained. Even at that level she was greeted by the sharks; not a single predator but a school of them ranging for the twenty footers to the young ones of five feet. They were swimming among the other fishes with posing no danger to the smaller fishes. There were also the small squids and jelly fishes that rise up from below like soaring birds to the surface. It was made more spectacular when she saw the colourful shades of the fishes were also met by the multitude of shades among the sea plants and weeds. Even the rocks themselves were in differing shades.

“Steer two degrees south.” Captain Arthur called out. Stacy held the wheel and moved the Sea King to the direction. They have been sailing for two hours then with the breathable air pumped out by the equipment that converts the exhale air into oxygen again. Well, it was not all that pleasant at times. There were the scent of oil and what’s was in the air.

“Wow!” Stacy gripped the wheel when she saw the sea serpent at over a hundred feet in length crossing the ship’s path. It was not attacking the Sea King but moving on its own course. She wanted to halt the ship but the Captain told her to hold her action.

“Take it easy, First Officer. She is not our predator.” Captain Arthur told her. “Keep her steady. We should reach port in a short time. Prepare to surface.”

Stacy felt the lurch in the ship when her ballast was slowly emptied of the load. The ship was breaking for surface. She looked at the depth gauge and noted the rising needle from two hundred to one hundred and ten feet.

“Keep her steady, First Officer. We will balance off at eighty and then maintain course with an elevation of five degrees.” Captain Arthur called out. Unknown to Stacy, the ship was climbing up to avoid the corrals on the sea bed. It was rare to see the corrals here in the cold barren sea unlike the warm tropical climate sea, but at the turn of the century, when sea serpents were seen at the shallow sea beds, the corrals appeared. They were the hybrid of the deep water species found mostly at below nine hundred feet. The corrals have adapted to the near surface conditions and thrive on the rocky outcrops in abundance. They formed a food banks for the smaller fishes and themselves for the larger predators.

When they reached eighty feet they are able to sail across the top of the rocky mounds with the sharp edges. The corrals growth was hardly seen at this level. At the last stretch, the crew were all given the general alerts to man their posts.

“Crews, we will soon be a feast for the dirigibles if they are still above us.” At eighty feet depth, the sea shadowed the ship but once it reaches above that, it can be seen from the decks of the low flying dirigible.

“Prepare the main periscope.” Captain Arthur called out. The ship has seven periscopes lay out on the ship length. Two was on the aft at the sides, while two were on the lower rear compartment with at the bottom. The other two was on the side to view the bottom. Only the main and the two at the aft were for looking from the top.

The periscope contraption was lowered from the top of the deck that resembled a semi-circular metal ring with two handles on the side. The Captain placed his sight inside the metal ring and then flashed the signal to go up. The periscope was only twenty feet in height from the outer hull surface. The Sea King had to level up another thirty feet for it the periscope top to be above the waves. 

“First Officer, take her up by twenty feet at an angle of five degrees.” Captain Arthur called out. Soon he was given the view of the sea surface through the periscope viewer. His view was the breaking waves and then the coastline of the island.

“My Lord, we made it.” Captain Arthur spoke up from the periscope.  “Jaws’ ahead.”

The crews cheered on the news that they were coming back to port. It was then Captain Arthur told Stacy to hand over the wheel to Boatswain I.

“You have not sailed here. Let her have it.” Stacy handed the wheel to the other.

“Prepare to dive on my command.” Boatswain I Conlay gave out her command.  The Sea King ballast began to fill in with the sea water. They sailed on for a short distance before the Boatswain I called for the ship to halt. She then checked the view before she gave the order to dive.

The Sea King slowly lumbered on its engine and then the ship tilt downwards. She was not crashing onto the mounds but actually diving in between it. There was no mound there but the continental shelf which extended beyond the island to the main land. In that shelf were a series of deep sea canyons that reached the shallow levels of the sea. The ship went forward with its aft tilting into the tight break in the shelf. It was entering the narrow canyon and making its way in the bay of the island named Small Jaws.

Stacy looked with awe at the steep walls of the canyon. It walls were smoothen not by wind as seen in the acrid desert lands but by the sea currents. Here and there were the living corrals that lived there as a feeding ground for the fishes. Boatswain I Conlay held the wheel with her focus on the canyon walls. A slight wrong angle will caused them to crash into the walls.

Stacy then questioned the Captain.

“You never told me that you sailed on this ship….”

“Presumption my dear Stacy. I have not sailed on her to sea. This is not my first sail inside the ship and under the waters. I did however sail in similar ships in the war. It was soon after I rescued the General. We have sailed in those cramped ships of his for over a year before they ended the war.”  Captain Arthur.

“During the war, we all take risky tasks if it means victory to us. The ship I was on then had leaks and our visibility was our keen eyesight. Lord Henry then had the pleasure of my services but it was he who found this canyon.”

“Pray fix your focus on the window. Soon we will come into the bay and then into the underground bunker of the Sea King. There we will berthed and re-supply.” Captain Arthur told his First Officer.  

Deep Sea Wars 11.2

The Depth

Stacy had never been inside a submerged ship. When she stepped down the stairwell, she was marvelled the similarity of it to the interior of the ship engines compartment except the submerged was an extended version. There was the jet black-valves, gadgets and machinery all required to help the crews keep alive. Once you are in the ship, your heart thumps and the lungs expand, greedy for oxygen. It’s a general feeling of anyone first feel in the ship. You cannot help but to look for the exits. Those are the closing hatches that were latched by the crew members.

“Steady on, First Officer. You are in a metal coffin that will soon be covered by the sea water.” Captain Arthur made his way to the so named bridge. “Come along. We ain’t got all day. The ship needs it Captain.”

They squeezed their way from one compartment to the other with their heads bent down. It was tight with pipes and valves with the walkway cramped fully. Stacy felt the ship tilting forward. Her first reaction was to grab hold of the pipes. It felt warm on her touch; probably fed by the hot water from the turbine and recycled through there to give them the warm feeling. When she looked at the crews there who were working in the cramped condition they looked like they don’t need it for most of them were naked from waist up. Some wore a thin vest on their chest but it may be cut on the sides to vent the heat. It was unlike the surface ship where everyone is dressed to the fullest. It was not only the heat but the musky air. She was feeling nausea then although it was not her usual reaction on the ship.

“Come along, Stacy. You are still the First Officer.” They reached the bridge and Captain Arthur took his honorary seat while the First Officer on seeing the familiar wheel took over. She called on for the chart. Stacy looked out at the glass window view.

They were not above the water surface. She was surrounded by water beneath the sea. They were swimming with the fishes in the depth. She once told Arnold when they were fucking in the shower.

“On the ship we are always near the water, inside the water but we never held a fuck about it. Water is essentially the nutrient of life besides the sunlight. Yet we never appreciates it value like the mined minerals.”

On the bridge, Captain Arthur took his seat with his Lordship on the right reserved seat and the Sergeant Major taking the other. The navigator was on the assigned seat charting out their next course.

“Jolly chap, do I get a seat here too?” Jones asked the navigator.

“Corporal Jones, I presume. I am Boatswain I Conlay. On this ship besides the Captain and First Officer, I ranked the third most senior one.” The tough lady smiled at the Welsh. “Inside here, we are rather limited in space. In some areas you cannot even walk straight as you may collide with the equipment.”

“However we are accommodative to some guests.” A wooden stool was brought for the Corporal. “Let me …”

“Do you serve drinks?” Corporal Jones asked.

“As you can experience now, we are breathing on recycled air. This is done by the electrical generator that operates the air filter and reversed the bad air we exhaled into breathable air. We do appreciate that you do not contaminate it with you’re …”

“I fart pretty well.” Jones replied. “It’s my garlic diet.”

“As I was explaining just now before I was scented off, cooking is done at the minimal. If you don’t like the food, feel free to starve.” Boatswain I Conlay signed off her lengthy lecture on conduct. She drew a smile from the Sergeant Major.

Deep Sea Wars 11.1

11.

The Surface

Lady Jan took her drink to the window balcony. The drink was a vintage drink of over a hundred years. It was made from the fresh grapes and then pressed for the juice before it was fermented over in a barrel for over a period of time. It was then preserved in the cold and dry place for over a longer period before it was shelved for over a hundred years. It was dry and yet tangy to the taste. She sipped the drink into her mouth and left it there to open the pores at the tongue. The pores there permeates to the taste nerve points and that effect will assail the mind to a higher level of satisfaction that even the drugs may not achieved in its peak.

She had the use of the suite over looking at the pier when she was there. The suite was kept to the minimum in furnishing but by that standard, it was grand in design with the light feather large bedding to the larger than usual bathroom with the threesome sized tub, and the living area held the expansive bar counter.

She stood there naked before stretching her body to the full length and then arched her back fully to the back. It was better to do it at her own home in the country side on the vast land of her home but out there on the island, she cringed at the soot and coal inlaid air. She finished her drink and disappeared back to the suite. She walked to the bathroom and immersed herself in the large tub.

“You ought to climb back into the bed.” Lord Ian Stuart called from the bed. “It’s getting chilly here.”

Lady Jan looked up from her comfortable position in the warm water. She stretched her body in the water before she raised her right hand at the Lordship. On her right hand, her middle finger stretched out.

“You are a bore, Lady Jan.” Lord Stuart bored his way into the lady on her knees before him. It was his humping which woke her up. She was not his bed partner but she valued the act between man and woman although she favoured the later more.

“My fleet was refused entry into the port.” Lady Jan voiced out.

“It’s the Army. They won’t listen to me anymore.” Lord Stuart heaved up his hips to gain more leverage. “General Clarke is no more the top honcho there.”

“Then he is no more of use to us.” Lady Jan stepped out of the bath water. She walked over to the bed and looked at the girl who was subjected to the lust of his Lordship. She stepped up over the girl’ back and sat on the spine of the girl. She grasped her legs tight on the girl’s waist before she grabbed his Lordship by the face with the h3r left hand. She buried his face into her flat chest while her right hand grabbed his left thigh. She grabbed it hard and forced his pushes.

“Arghh!” His Lordship screamed out on his final push. So did the girl who was being humped. Lady Jan stepped off the body and off the bed. Both the girl and his Lordship collapsed on the bed.

“I hoped you enjoy that. It’s a form of sexual release when your breathing is hampered.” Lady Jan smiled. “Some call it sexual asphyxia.”

“Now that you have your fuck. Tell me who the new head honcho is?” Lady Jan asked.

Across the city in the Army Military Office, General Clarke stormed into the office that was once held by him for four years.  He ignored the salute from the sentries and marched his way to the office. He did not bother to knock and opened the door in.

“Good morning, General Clarke. I was not expecting you this early.” The voice carried over across the office space to the doorway. “You may do kind to close the door first. I am still a lady first and my hairs are in a mess.”

“General Ellen Gale.” General Clarke did the gentlemanly approach to close the door before he approached the other ranking officer. General Gale held the same rank as himself but by war ribbons, she had less than his. The lady General was dressed like most lady officers in her fine uniform and matching skirt with the dark flat shoes. Her peaked cap differs from Clarke’s as her’ have the two sides bent upwards. On the peak were the two rows of braided gold leaves. However at that time General Gale had not on her cap for her hairs was in curlers. The Army had changed on its ruling then when the female recruits are allowed certain feminine styles.

“I trust you are not here for tea so I won’t offer you any.” General Gale sipped her cup of morning tea. “Don’t you hassle over that for my cookies ain’t are limited. A general works is never ending and my baking has to be left in the oven most times. ”

“General Gale, I was told that you have refused entry to the special fleet of the …”

“The reputed pirate ships of the Far Eastern Empire. Yes, I did that. I can’t have them docked on my ports unless they have sprung a leak in their hull.”

“But General Gale, they are here on the request of the Lord Chamberlain and their ….”

“Fishing contributions are not my concern. If the Lord Chamberlain wants to have them fished here then he can bloody well appeal to me. Why the overly concern on it? Do you understand the implication of having a fleet of …..pirates berthed in your own backyard?”   

 “General Gale we have needs of their ships to counter the sea predators and more to that we are on diplomatic …”

“General Clarke, I am the commanding officer now. What I command take precedence over diplomatic issues. So fuck off and let me have my tea in peace.” General Gale showed her true colours to the stunned peer of her’. “I can assure you Gale is not only my family name but our freakish behaviour. Stand off my ground or be prepared to be swept away.”

With that General Gale reached for her cup of tea.

“Darned tea is cold.” Nevertheless she gulped it down. 

tweet ...tweet....Its 2200hrs and I done....

Hello to all of you.

Just to drop a line to say I was penning for over three hours. Ne tale though and it has been fun with half the screen shared by the TV Series 'Castle' Season 5 I think. Pardon me, I was not focus on that. I seen the whole of Season 5 before. Just rerun to ease my mind, I guess.

I completed three thousand words. Not a hurray move but it was fun. It may be my return to writing.... and writing.

As I have said above, its just a hello....

Cheers

Deep Sea Water 10.2

The Depth

“The way we map on the sea is to look at the stars and the …” The Captain held the wheel while steering the ship across the waves. “And the sun. We have been sailing for four hours now and given the sea current speed and the wind speed, I would say we are…”

“Far from the land I presume, Captain.” The Sergeant Major cut in. “I will reckon you are lost.” 

“A sea Captain is never lost. He will navigate you to anywhere.” The Captain then looked at the First Officer. “Stacy, tell me where do I steer next?”

“I give up.” The Sergeant Major sighed. “You are the few Captains I knew who could not navigates.”

“Twenty five to port and maintain speed at ten knots. We should be there soon.” Stacy replied.  Then she looked at the Sergeant Major. “He ain’t afraid to navigate but he can’t read those small charts anymore.”

“A sign of the advanced age, my dear Captain. Never fear, my good man. I can be your reading aide.” The Sergeant Major sniggered before he steps away and bumped his head on the doorway of the wheelhouse.

“I think they made the door too low for you or are your eyes downwards at your feet.” Jones laughed at the Sergeant Major. It was then when Lord Henry pounced into the wheelhouse.

“Are we there yet Captain?” Lord Henry was all excited to know.

“Aye, my Lord. I believe we are …”

“Five minutes away, my Lord.” Stacy assisted him. Lord Henry looked to his watch and smile.

“Good.” Lord Henry then looked at the Sergeant Major. “Can you ask the crews to fire at the dirigibles? I can’t have them around in five minutes.”

The Sergeant Major saluted and pulled Jones along to carry out the command. The machines guns started firing at the dirigibles shadowing the ship and causing them to steer away. The clock ticked away and soon the dirigibles were at a safe distance from the guns. It was then Lord Henry asked Stacy to stop the sail and idle the ship engines.

“Al engines to halt.” Stacy called out to the Engine room. The ship slowed on the termination of the push on the engine and soon it was floating on the sea waves. It was never a good sign to idle on the high seas for the danger lurks below in the water. The crews were on alert for any predators that may loom over their position. Lord Henry was all excited while he checked his duo watches for time precision. A seagull came swooping down and then perched on the rail at the port side. It quacked for a while and then began to preen its feathers. Tensions were high but the crews remained quiet. Everyone was watching the sea and surprisingly the dirigibles kept their distance.

“Sharks!” A crewman called out. He pointed to the moving predator seen by the moving water flow when it cuts across the sea waves. “It’s on portside. It’s moving to …the aft.”

The shark soon emerged from the waves but it was not a shark as seen by the crewmen. It was enormous for a sea predator when its upper body cut away from the sea waves. The three hundred feet in length soon broke surface a short distance from the ship. It was no shark but the submersible Sea King. It rose with the two upper compartments appearing at the rear. Six top deck hatches were seen later popping open and the crew members stepped out. They fixed the metal struts to support the Lewis gun before they took position behind it.

“Captain Arthur, it’s time we jump ship. Lord Henry ran out of the wheelhouse to the port side. There he instructed the ship crews to lower the lifeboat. He soon boarded it with the Sergeant Major, Corporal Jones with Captain Arthur and First Officer Stacy.

They rowed to the new Sea King on her maiden voyage. They were met by the Boatswain I Abigail Conlay.

“Boatswain Conlay, please meet your new Captain and First Officer.” Lord Henry told the Boatswain I.

“Good day to you, Captain. Please come in. We may hurry. We got some predators on the prowl.” Boatswain I Conlay replied. She then looked at Corporal Jones.

“Hello…” Corporal Jones short greeting was met by the solid right punch into his midriff and then the left hook to throw him off the deck into the sea water.