Strike Force 11

by Forest Getter

  When evening came, I found myself in the den of my new house with Kevlar, Holly, Var, Terror, Profit, John and the Skipper sipping a glass of Scotch. We talked and joked.

  “I never thought I would see the day when you would get married. I thought you always said that as long as you were in the Navy, you would not get married. If memory serves me correctly, you said knowing that any day could be your last you didn’t want to have to worry about leaving a wife without a husband or a child without a father.” The Skipper said.

  “Well you know how it is Mr. I’ve been married three times, sometimes the heart gets what the heart wants despite what the brain says. As far as children go, we will have plenty of time to think about that in 10 or 20 years. With my new implant, I could live as long as she will, so we don’t have to rush into a family.” I replied

  “Speaking of chips, starting next week we will except the first group of ten volunteers to get the implant then if everything goes good, we will do another twenty the following week. Then we will wait another two weeks, and if there are still no problems, we will open it up to the rest of TEAM 11” Var said.

  “Put my name on the top of the list,” Holly said.

  “Yeah me too.” Said Profit.

  “My name is second on the list right below the DM’s. How he managed to get on the list before me I have no clue” The Skipper said.

  We all laughed as John smiled. The conversation somehow leads to us all heading out into the yard for an impromptu fighting tournament with John becoming the referee.

  The fights ended up with Holly and Profit going first, then Skipper and Terror, followed by Var and Kevlar and I would get a by match for the round. The winners of the first two fights would fight, and I would challenge the winner between Kevlar and Var. Holly and Profit lined up across from each other and took fighting positions; John said go, and Holly kicked Profit so hard in the groin that it lifted him off the ground when he came back down he dropped to the ground in a fetal position with both hands on his crotch. John was merciful and called the fight giving Holly the win. It was then that all the guys agreed that groin shots were not allowed. The next battle was between Terror and the Skipper, and it was a David versus Goliath fight. The Skipper was 6’2” tall and weighed about 260lb of pure muscle, while Terror was 5’4” and weighed around 125lb. Thinking that the smaller person might have the advantage because the larger person is slower and not as nimble did not apply here. Not only did the Skipper have the size and strength advantage he was just as fast and agile as Terror was and in the end his strength and size allowed him to catch her midair and get her in a chokehold causing her to tap out after about 10 minutes of fast-hitting brutal fighting. The third fight between Var and Kevlar was a long fight as the two of them were very closely matched in both size and skill. Their battle lasted about 20 minutes and took place all over the yard and only ended when Kevlar dropped to the ground and tripped Var causing him to slam headfirst into the big Palm tree in the front yard, knocking himself out. By this time word had gotten out about our tournament and a crowd had started to form. We called a medic over to patch everyone up and took a thirty-minute break to allow the fighters to recover.

  It was decided that because I didn’t fight in the first round that Kevlar and I would fight first. Our fight started out as a picture of a Mixed Martial Arts match and turned into a street brawl. Our skills were nearly evenly matched. It was during our fight that I remembered something. My father use to tell me, he would say, “Son youth a vigor will never overcome old age treachery.” It was in the moment when Kevlar activated the shock gloves he was wearing and hit me with both hands on the chest, knocking me out cold that I truly understood what my dad meant. When I came to, I was informed that everyone had discussed Kevlar’s use of shock gloves and because we had not said they could not be used before the fight stating that he had won the match. The Next battle was between the Skipper and Holly. The fight only lasted about ten minutes; it wouldn’t have lasted that long, but Holly was Having fun toying with the Skipper. It really wasn’t a fair fight as Holly was his hand to hand combat trainer and she had only lost one match to him in all the time they had been fighting together. It ended with Holly getting the Skipper in an armlock submission hold and the Skipper tapped out.

  The final fight was set; it would be Kevlar and Holly. They decided that they didn’t need but ten-minute break before the match.

  “Are nerve strikes allow?” Kevlar asked.

  “As long as it’s a non-lethal attack,” I said.

  After John told them to start, Holly walked towage Kevlar with her hand extended to shake his. As he reached out to shake her hand, two things happened at almost the same time. Holly lifted cattle prod she had been hiding behind her leg and hit him with it at the same time he shot her with a nerve strike dart that sent an electrical surge through her nervous system. They both flew back and hit the ground and lay there, shaking as the electricity coursed through their bodies. After just a few minutes, they both passed out. John decided to disqualify them both and had the Skipper, and I fight for the win. The Skipper, still feeling a little beat up from his fight and knowing that He really didn’t have a reasonable chance of winning decided to surrender the win to me. His words were, “I don’t really feel like getting knocked out tonight, you win Go-go.” A roar of cheers when up and the men began to disburse. We walked back into the house for another drink and left Holly and Kevlar in the yard to recover. Twenty minutes later, the two of them stumbled back in the house looking like they had been on a three-day drinking binge. They had their arms around each other to keep from falling over until they found spots on the couch. They were both laughing and moaning in pain at the same time, so that was a good sign. By the way they were looking at each other I could see them becoming more than just friends in the future.

  It was around midnight when we finally called it a night, and everyone either found a place in the house to crash or headed back to their rooms. Kevlar, Var, Holly, and Terror stay at my home, and the Skipper and the others headed out.

  51.

  Wedding Day

  We all met in the kitchen at 0500 near the coffee pot as we waited for it to finish brewing the nectar of the gods. Some people would grab the pot while it was still brewing and pour off a cup before it was done. If your one of those people stop! While you might get your cup of coffee before everyone else, you also ruin the pot for everyone else. You see in modern drip coffee pots as the water flows through the grounds it gets light and lighter so if you pour off the first cup as the coffee comes out you make the rest of the pot of coffee week. On Navy ships the cooks have come up with a way to overcome this. They use so much coffee grounds that the first cup is thick as paste and the last cup contains enough grounds that you have to run it through a strainer and then it is still stronger than regular coffee. I had a better system when I would start the pot of coffee brewing I would set my pistol on the counter next to the machine and if someone reached for the coffee maker before the coffee was made I would reach for my pistol this would cause them to draw back their hand and I would draw back mine. Those around me learned that you didn’t grab the pot unless the coffee was done unless they wanted to get shot. Therefore, I achieve that perfect pot of coffee from the first cup to the last cup if it is drunk within a reasonable amount of time. We had our coffee and headed out to join everyone else for morning PT.

  The Skipper had several boxes stacked next to him “I’ve had new PT shirts made for everyone” he said and pulled one out, it was black, and on the front it said, ‘Yea though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death they shall fear us because we are Strike Force 11’ on the backside of the t-shirt it showed a picture of the grim reaper in a fetal position. “As of today, our unit which includes the rangers, the marines, our navel support force, the helicopter squadron and SEAL Team 11, is known as Strike Force 11. I am the group commander, and Go-go is our Fleet Command Master Chief.” We all grabbed the shirts out of the boxes and
put them on, then we set off on our morning run. After PT I went to breakfast then back to the house to change. My dress whites were already waiting for me laid out on my bed, most likely delivered by Anderson while I was at breakfast. I showered put on my dress whites and strapped on my Chrome .357 Desert Eagle. I came out to find Holly and Terror waiting in the kitchen, drinking coffee and dress in dress whites.

  “Your Hummer and the rest of the convoy is waiting outside for you. Are you ready for this Go-go?” Holly said. For what may have been the first time in my life, I felt nervous and excited.

  “Yea let’s get moving. What about the Skipper and the others?” I asked.

  “They are all riding there in the Helicopters They all are headed out already the Skipper wanted to make sure everything was safe and secure before the VIPs arrived,” Holly said.

  “Why are we taking a convoy rather than the Helicopters?” I asked.

  “Oh, that’s simple; they don’t want you there yet.” She replied. I laughed and then said,

  “Well then let’s get moving.” I replied as we loaded up into the Hummer.

  I saw that all our combat gear was loaded in the back of the Hummer. Terror and I sat in the back, so I reached over and grabbed one of the spare Railguns and configured it for Terror’s BioScan and briefly explained how it worked to her.

  “If all hell breaks loose, you grab this one,” I said then I gave her standard-issue Glock 9mm pistol with a holster. “Carry this, if we get attacked, I want you to grab Melissa and Daniela and get them to safety. I am trusting you to do this if you betray my trust, I will personally put a bullet in your head.” I said.

  “I will not let you down; I will protect them with my life.” She said. I then handed Terror an Officer’s sword.

  “The swords normally carried by Chiefs and Officers are just for dress, but the ones our unit carries are combat-ready,” I said as I showed her how to strap it on.

  It took us an hour to reach the wedding, all of Team 11 and the Marines were already at the site, and all were in their dress uniforms. PO1 Anderson was there and met me at the Hummer.

  “Go-go come with me,” He said.

  “I’ll get Terror seated and see you at the ceremony,” Holly said.

  I was led into one of the apartments in the main building here. Inside waiting was the Skipper, the SECNAV, Big Mike and my younger brother Paul.

  “It’s been too long Little Brother,” I said.

  “You’re telling me, you don’t seem to stay in one place for too long. I was thinking that if I didn’t see you soon, I was going to have to have your face put on the side of milk jugs.” He replied. We all laughed.

  “You trying to spoil the world’s supply of milk putting that ugly mug on the containers,” the CIC said as he entered the room. “Good to see you in person Go-go, but I need you to stop picking fights with aliens,” He told Jokingly.

  “I can’t help myself, sir, they come storming into my house, acting all big and bad, and I have to put them in their place,” I replied.

  “Well at least you could try to stay out of the news,” He said.

  “I’ll try but no promises,” I replied, and the room erupted in laughter.

  “Of all the women on this planet, you had to find one from another world that would be willing to put up with you. Are you guys sure he didn’t drug her?” Big Mike said.

  Everyone laughed as he patted me on the shoulder. The Skipper opened a wooden box on the table to reveal a bottle of 72-year-old Macallan Single Malt Scotch and began pouring everyone a glass, once everyone had a drink in their hands, he lifted his glass and said. “To Go-go, my best friend may he live long enough to be a pain in the ass to his grandkids.”

  “To Go-go,” Everyone repeated.

  Just then Lt Rogers knocked on the door.

  “Gentlemen if you will follow me, we are just about ready to get this show started. I have a security detail with me, and we will get you all seated. Go-go, Anderson will be up in a few minutes to get you John and the Skipper.” He said.

  Everyone chugged down the rest of their glasses and headed out. It was about 20 Minutes later when PO1 Brian Anderson showed up he knocked on the door when I opened it, he saluted me and said, “Master Chief they are ready for you.”

  I returned his salute and said, “We can’t go yet you need to change your uniform for the wedding party.”

  I then handed him a suit bag. Inside the bag was a set of Chief’s dress whites that were tailored to fit him and already had his new rank sowed on to them along with all his ribbons and metals and included a sword.

  “Congratulations Chief Anderson the results came in yesterday, you need to stop standing there and get changed so we can get on with my wedding,” I said. I shook his hand and embraced him in a brotherly hug.

  Anderson quickly changed uniforms, and I put on the Cloak that had been given to me by the Raccoons then we walked down to the ancient Chickee Hut where the weddings of the Seminole Chief’s had been held for as far back as the History of the tribe had been passed down. Billy Cypress stood at the far end of the Hut. We walked up and took our positions next to Billy. Moments later, a single set of bagpipes began to play Here Comes the Bride. My time in the military has afforded me the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful sites in the world from Sunrise at the top of Mount Everest, swimming the Great Barrier Reef, to standing at Loch Katrine in the Scottish Highlands listening to bagpipes play as the fog lifted revealing its beauty But none of them would ever compare to the site of Melissa Walking up the aisle in an emerald green dress with a wreath of fresh-cut wildflowers in her hair. The rest of the wedding went by in a blur, and the next thing I remember is Billy saying, “You may kiss the Bride.”

  The kiss brought back memories of the first time we ever kissed; I didn’t want to let her go. We soon found ourselves inside the banquette hall for the reception. Before the reception kicked off, we signed what we labeled “The Accords” in which all parties agreed to aid one another for the betterment of all and the status of favored allies. The document was about ten pages and defined acceptable behaviors and responsibilities of each nation. The agreement was signed between the United States, the Seminole Nation, the Elves and the Orcs.

  While the Raccoon did not sign the accords, Riley said, “Any enemy of Go-go’s were enemies of the Raccoons, and they would help to defeat them.”

  Somewhere in the back of my head, a little voice was sending up warning signs about what Riley had said, but I wasn’t sure what it was and figured it out really couldn’t be that important, and I would deal with it if it came up. The buffet contained wild boar, alligator, and smoked mullet among the 50+ food offering that was laid out. The reception lasted until 1900 when every departed and we all headed back to the base.

  52.

  Family

  The next morning Melissa and I walked out of our room at 0600 to find the usual group of people standing in the kitchen drinking coffee. To my surprise, Terror was at the stove cooking breakfast while Var was busy setting out plates at the table. Holly set two cups of coffee down at two spots at the head of the table.

  “Yours is at the head of the table; the one to the left is Melissa’s cup,” She said. Terror, Daniela, and Alley began to carry serving plates full of food to the table everyone moved to take seats around the table.

  “What did none of you guys know how to cook?” I asked, looking at the four men headed to the table.

  “I made the coffee,” Kevlar said.

  Anderson spoke up, “I brought the food.”

  “I made the biscuits,” Gili said.

  “I stole the Orange Juice from the Officers Mess,” Var said while holding up a gallon jug of OJ.

  As we all sat down and began to eat, I looked around at the people here. I thought to myself, “These people are my family, and I would give my life to keep them safe.” I knew that each one of them felt the same. I held up my orange juice glass for a toast; everyone stopped eating and did the same
. “To family,” I said.

  “To family,” they all said.

  “I don’t think Var has ever been in a kitchen unless it was to steal a snack from the cooks,” Melissa said.

  Just then I got a call from the Skipper across the battlenet. “Hey, Go-go half-day today. I don’t expect to see you and your team before noon. And that’s an order.” He said then he disconnected.

  “The Skipper has ordered all of our team to take the morning off. Holly, Gili let everyone know we are off till after lunch.” I said.

  “Hey, I know what we can do, we can build a Trebuchet and take turns shooting the annoying blue gnome across the base.” Kevlar suggested.

  “But we would only get to do it once,” Var said.

  “Not if we wrap him in bubble wrap,” Holly interjected.

  I laughed and smiled at the thought of the Gnome flying through the air screaming before he hit the ground and bounced like a rubber ball. “You’re not going to let them do it are you?” Melissa asked.

  “No, I’m sure they couldn’t get the material and build the Trebuchet by noon. I’ll make them wait till we have a full day off.” I replied.

  I looked over and saw Kevlar with pencil and paper beginning to draw plans for the Trebuchet while Holly and Var stood looking over his shoulder, giving feedback and tweaks to the design.

  Just then, I remembered the show junkyard wars from my youth, where they had like 4 hours to build things and thought that they didn’t have half the skills this group does.