CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“The ship is about a hundred miles from Gibraltar,” said Chipper. “If you’re going to board her, now is the time.”
“Got it. Thanks, Chipper. Get us as close as you can, but do not risk the bird or you and Evie,” said Ham.
As the team checked their gear, wearing their wetsuits just in case someone went overboard, they showed Leo all the cool gadgets on the suits. Touch this. Don’t touch that. The instruction was fast, but Leo was smart.
“CJ, Ham, Rett, U-Jin, and Moose take the bridge. Once it’s secured, follow the rest of us below deck. We’ll spread out, take out the crew, and secure them below. Chipper and Evie will initiate the scramble that will ensure no messages are sent from the ship. Quiet comms other than taps and ASL,” said Gator. He looked at all of the men, then nodded. “NVGs on, prepare to repel.”
The Osprey, in whisper and stealth mode, could not be heard above the splashing of the ocean beneath the large freighter or over her loud engines. Hovering just above the bridge, Chipper and Evie watched on their screens as the men repelled in pairs to the ship below. The last man was Ham.
“Evie? Get this damn thing out of here. We’ll let you know when we need pickup and where.”
“Do not piss me off and be late, Ham. I will not leave a man behind. We’ll find a place close that we can be out of sight but near. We’ll be there when you need us,” she said, glaring at him. “Now, go have fun.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he smiled, waving as he disappeared down the line.
“Sometimes I want to beat those kids,” she growled. Chipper laughed, nodding his head.
“I know the feeling, honey.”
“We’re almost there, captain,” smiled the first mate. The older man nodded, letting out a long breath.
“We were lucky this time. I’ve had a feeling in my bones the entire trip that something was going to go wrong. We’re almost home now. Hopefully, she’ll be pleased with what we’ve brought, and we’ll receive a bonus and a well-deserved rest.”
“Should I wake the men?” he asked.
“Not yet. They deserve to sleep a bit longer. We’re nearing Gibraltar. We’re safe now.” He tilted his head, thinking he’d heard someone at the door, then waved it off. When the door to the bridge opened, but no one was there, his first mate closed it.
“Maybe the wind,” said the mate.
“The winds are low,” he frowned. “Perhaps the latch is loose. We’ll look in the daylight.”
“Or, you could turn around now,” said Moose, pointing his weapon at the captain’s head. He reached for the controls, and U-Jin gripped his fingers, bending them backwards. The captain screamed, and the first mate stared at the men in terror.
“Now, why would you do that?” asked CJ.
“You have no idea whose ship this is,” said the man, holding his hand.
“Oh, I do,” nodded Rett. “Mikella Zacharov. Her sisters as well, although Alana is dead, and I’m going to guess that Irena will be dead soon as well.”
The first mate eyed the emergency alert button, staring at it and then back at the men in front of them.
“Let’s just take that concern from your plate,” said Ham. He took the end of his knife, prying the button from the panel, and disconnected the alarm. “Tie ‘em up and put them in the hold.”
As the minutes ticked by, they could hear in comms that the decks were being cleared and the crew secured in the hold. When they checked the ship again, they were relieved to know that everyone was accounted for below deck.
Up top, Ham took over the bridge, now dressed in his captain’s gear with U-Jin as his first mate.
“Have you ever steered a ship this large?” asked U-Jin.
“Nope. But it can’t be that hard, right?”
“It is very hard,” said U-Jin. He tapped his comms. “Marcel, I believe we may need your expertise on the bridge.”
“I’m offended by that,” smirked Ham. “You prefer a two-hundred-and-fifty-year-old sailor to me at the helm of a massive cargo ship?”
“Be offended all you like. I wish to live to see my wife.” When Marcel arrived at the bridge, he stared at the panel of buttons, dials, and electronics and frowned at U-Jin.
“I am experienced at steering ships, sailing ships, ships that did not require noisy, smelly machines to run them.”
“Didn’t you see ships coming and going the last two centuries? Didn’t you say that you boarded some to see how they operated?” asked Ham.
“I did, but that’s vastly different then actually driving one. I know the waters, and I know the currents and tides better than anyone. I will keep my eyes on those things. You keep your eyes on all these, these dials and knobs.”
“Well, we’ll figure this out together. We’re about to pass through into the Alboran Sea. Pray they let us through, and I don’t hit anything historic.”
Ham had never been so nervous in his entire life. As they passed through the straits of Gibraltar, his heart was racing a million miles a minute. Once through, he felt some relief but then realized they would have several more tests. They would pass by Malta, into the Mediterranean Sea, and then on to Cyprus.
“About an hour before dawn,” said U-Jin. “We will be in Cyprus soon. Are you ready?”
“As ready as I can be,” said Ham. “You good, Marcel?”
“I am good, my friend. I’ve died once. I do not wish to do it again. I have the controls now. I’ll be alright.”
“Let’s get the welcome committee ready.”