Target Lock

Bridge of the Frigate Sutanto 1 Mile off Crab’s Claw Cape 0800 Hours, Zone Time: August 25, 2008

Elliot MacIntyre lowered his binoculars as well, his eyes narrowing. Remarkable. He could see right down the gut of the inlet, and there wasn’t a sign of anything in the way of an exterior dock gate or passage at its far end. If this all turned out to be some kind of staggering miscalculation, he mused, he was on the verge of earning himself a very unique slot in American naval history.

He lifted a hand to the touchpad of his Leprechaun transceiver. “Lost Prize to Black Beard. We are at Station Privateer. I say again, we are at Station Privateer. Report commitment status on all Freebooter elements.”

“Lost Prize, Lost Prize,” Ken Hiro’s voice replied from over the horizon. “This is Blackbeard. We show green boards. All elements on station. All elements on time line. All elements report ready for mission commit. We show no situational changes on Crab’s Claw. Ready to execute on your command.”

There was no sense in waiting to see if he’d made a fool of himself. “Understood, Blackbeard. Transmit UNODUR notification and initiate primary Freebooter time line. Commit the attack.”

“All elements initiating primary time line,” Hiro replied. “Good luck, sir.”

“To us all, Commander. To us all.”