Gasps were heard. A woman in charge of Recon? And she was so young!
Sam kept her chin high. Michael continued.
“Besides having a dual Masters in Marine Biology and Physical Oceanography, her work has been recognized and is under review by the Nobel committee for her breakthrough in cetacean communications. I need to see all your clearances before I continue, please.”
Everyone looked confused as they removed their IDs to present to him. Satisfied, he perched on the edge of the table. “Each of you has been specifically selected for this tour. We will be working with SCI and TS information. I must insist that you repeat absolutely nothing that you see, hear, read or experience. If any of you have problems or concerns regarding the delicacy of this team and our mission, you are free to leave without retribution.”
He waited, noticing he caught their interest. “Then I am assuming each of you is also willing and able to perform under the command of an 18 year old female? Anyone with problems, speak up now.”
A couple of men hesitated before raising their hands. Michael started to respond but was interrupted by another crew member. “I have served under these two for over a year and have witnessed the most amazing, brave and—pardon me, ma’am, I don’t mean to embarrass you,” he said to Sam who nodded gratefully before he finished, “ridiculously unbelievable things that I can’t even begin to tell you. That girl has put her life on the line for each of us multiple times and any of us would gladly give our lives for her.”
“Permission to speak freely, Sir,” one of the new men requested. Michael nodded. “Our job is special forces. If I understand correctly, Lieutenant, you said the Recon team is under her command. How in the world is a little five foot tall kid going to be able to keep up with us in the field? I don’t mean disrespect, ma’am, but we don’t have time to be watching out for you or worrying about you being injured.”
“None, taken, corporal. And my name is Samantha. Please, Mike, let me handle this,” she requested, standing in front of the desk. “It isn’t any surprise to me regarding your concerns, and that’s okay. I would probably feel the same if I judged from first impressions and outward appearance. I do remind you that a tiny vial of nitro can easily destroy this entire facility with only a little agitation. Not that I’m nitro, but my brother says my temper sometimes comes pretty close to it. “
Several men laughed, the mood lightened. She continued. ” I do ask that you give me an opportunity to prove my abilities to you. Wait, Mike,” she held up her hand. “My brother was going to say that I am a decorated officer and have already proven myself through the Commander and Chief. Blah, blah, blah. This issue has nothing to do with my commission or the circumstances surrounding it. It has to do with trust, my age, size, and gender. Yes?”
“Yes, ma’am,” several men nodded. Sam smiled, her eyes piercing as she studied them. She watched them swallow hard. It wasn’t her flirting smile, it was her ‘bring it on’ one. Her crew, familiar with the facial expressions of their Siren, elbowed each other with grins.
“I appreciate your candidness. Go on, challenge me. In anything you want. I’ve been through the same training you have and I promise I will keep up or excel at anything you need me to do in the field. I also promise that I will not take your challenge as a personal affront.”
“I need to intervene here, “Michael said, his eyes also hard, “Samantha is my partner, my best friend, and my kid sister. I have to warn you that anyone who harms her will have to deal with more than myself, this crew and our parents. They will never be able to survive the ocean. This is not an empty threat. It’s a promise. There are forces involved that you don’t understand.”
“He’s not talking about my legendary temper, either,” Sam smiled affectionately at her bristling brother as she stroked his arm to calm him. “My family is very protective of me, for good reason. They almost lost me last year. But we can talk about that later. I want to see the tanks and demo some things. I would also like my Recon unit to suit up, we are going to hit the water.”
The squad dispersed to the large open lab that housed an open water tank. The Recon unit left to don wetsuits while the girl stood quietly near her brother as he reviewed the stations. She smiled at the teams approach. “Gentlemen, I would appreciate you entering the tank and bottoming. I’d like to see your lung capacity.”
The men snorted, unbelieving that they were being put through such a silly demonstration. Each was able to stay submerged for nearly three minutes. Sam nodded, gesturing them up. “Adequate, but needs work.”
“Um, excuse me, ma’am, but we are top Recon. We hold the highest dive times.”
“Really, Sergeant? I could beat that plus.”
“With due respect, but I’d like to see that, ma’am.”
She shrugged, catching Michael’s smile. Challenge number one. She gracefully stripped off her cammies and stood before them in her figure forming wetsuit. Several men inhaled sharply. They weren’t expecting such a beautiful creature to emerge out of the shapeless uniform. She also released her long hair from the bun before slowly climbing into the tank. “You may start the timer anytime. Just let me know when you know you’re beat, okay? I have other things to do today,” she commented before submerging.
Michael and his crew settled in chairs, looking bored. They already knew her secret. The Recon and lab techs stood around the tank as she lounged comfortably, blowing bubbles occasionally, and watching them through the glass. The Sergeant blinked with disbelief, she just passed 5 minutes. Then 10. Then 30.
“This is impossible,” he said, looking around at the squad. Silence was his response. He tapped the glass with a thumbs-up signal. She shook her head, beckoning them back in to join her. They looked at Michael for instructions.
“You heard your commander, go on in. Bring your gear,” he said. The men entered the tank after throwing on the heavy scuba equipment. Sam patted each on the shoulder, directing them to settle 25 feet down on the bottom with direction to stay and not move. The men looked across at each other as she swam to the center, still having not returned to the surface for air. She faced the open gate and held out her arms. Seconds later, the water swelled and Ton entered and rammed his snout gently into her torso, pushing her against the glass. After stroking him, Sam introduced the whale to the new members of her pod. He slowly eyed each of the 7 men before resurfacing. He rejoined her, sending images of walrus’ bodies with blow fish heads. He wasn’t impressed, but then again, that was nothing unusual.
He inquired about the other land walker and Sam pointed to the glass. Michael stood on the platform to rub the whale head and laughed as he caught the image of the Recon team through the band hidden by his t-shirt. Pride filled him as Sam floated in front of the men and raised her hands in question. They all slowly shook their heads. Grinning, she swam away and stretched out her hands a second time. Within minutes, the tank was filled with ten 10 porpoise and their calves.
Sam invited the team to touch them and could see smiles through the men’s masks as they stroked the playful animals. One calf butted against the Sergeant, who gently embraced it. The man shook his head. He was a believer. He gestured for permission to surface by his lovely, new commander. As the tech crew helped Recon off with their gear, Sam hauled herself up onto the edge of the tank. She balanced easily while squeezing out her hair, and accepted the Sergeant’s offer of a towel and his hand to help her down.
“I am so sorry ma’am. If it’s not too late, I would be honored to work under your command.”
“What’s your name, Sergeant?”
“Steve Harris, ma’am.”
“I’m Samantha. Welcome to my team.”
Michael grinned as the Recon group surrounded her, questions flying, excitement high. He turned his head to Frank.
“She did it again, Mike. Won them over by being herself. Look at them. They are star struck.”
“Just like you guys are when she flashes her smile and wiggles by. Let’s get settled.”<
br />
***
“How was work today?” Dr. Quimby asked as Scott drove them home. Michael recounted the events and how well his sister handled the challenge of her Recon team.
Scott was pleased. “Good job, children. I know, Mike, but you’re still my kid. Get over it,” he commented, hearing Michael’s groan. “Well, that’s one down. We are going to have our hands full with the Master-Sergeant. He got in my face today to inform me no females will be permitted in his unit. He’s in charge of the seals.”
“Like animals or human? I already have my own Recon team.”
“Like animals, the sea lions specifically. I don’t want to step on his toes. We’ll need to go gently.”
“You’re a General! Pull rank.” Sam demanded, crossing her arms.
Dr. Quimby shook his head. “We show respect to the senior enlisted, honey. Scott and I are mere children to what that man has seen and done. Don’t worry, we’ll get in.”
“That is ridiculous. Daddy, would you mind terribly if I swim in in the morning? I need to make more intros and leave super early. I would also like to take the Recon team out to work pressures.”
He nodded, watching the traffic ahead.
“What are you up to?” Michael whispered.
She smiled prettily, blinking her eyes innocently. “Nuthin. Wanna come?”
“Should I?”
“It has to be real early. We leave at 0300.”
“Oh man, I hate mornings. Dad, is it ok if I go with her? We really need to map the area better.”
“Sure, just contact me if you are going to be late.”
“We should be in the labs by 0700 or earlier.” Sam promised.
It was 0245 when she pounced on her brother’s stomach to wake him. He groaned, rolling over while pinning her to the bed with one arm. “Sleep,” he groaned.
“You don’t have to go and keep an eye on me. It’s not like I’m planning any trouble. No problem. Of course, when Daddy questions you about what happened...”
“I’m up, I’m up! Geez,” Michael groaned, stretching as he stood. He slapped his sister’s cold hands from his chest as she tried to remove his t-shirt. “I can dress myself, thank you. Go wait for me downstairs. With a cup of coffee.”
“Already thought of that,” she reached to his dresser, handing him the cup. Kissing his cheek, she rushed downstairs.
Michael eyed the black water warily, catching his sister’s hand preventing her from diving off.
“We can turn on the flood lights.” She said.
He shook his head. “Too dangerous at night. Take the stairs. Damn it’s so cold. Why this time in the morning?”
“Simple, it’s feeding time for the sea lions. We are going to introduce ourselves with help from the dolphins.”
Frowning, Michael followed her into the cold water, his suit quickly adjusting to the temperature and radiating heating elements around his face and hands. His sister acted like she didn’t even notice the cold. Then again, she would swim in ice water if it meant getting wet, a habit she seemed to indulge more and more frequently since her accident. They met Ton a mile off shore. Sam tried to gain his assistance, but the only image he would offer was the hunt and food.
Michael tugged her hair. “Did that mean he was hungry or that he saw sea lions as food?”
“I dunno. Maybe both?”
They swam through the dark waves, following the lights along shore and far out enough to avoid hitting any rock formations. Michael grumpily observed the need to develop some sort of sonar type device for blind swims.
“I knew getting you to come with me would be beneficial, other than gracing me with your delightful morning presence,” his sister teased. “Let’s go into the kelp beds.”
She called the nearby pod of dolphins and expressed her need. They process their confusion as to why she would bother with inferior creatures and sent images of the sea lions intentionally going onto the beach and even bringing their pups! She imaged a calf (herself) exploring new water and tasting solid fish for the first time. They laughed at her silliness, rushing to the surface to breach then chatter loudly. She patiently waited for them to regroup and sent an image that Ton used to describe her. She had the flukes of a whale, flippers of a dolphin but the face (mind) of a land walker. The purpose of the convergence was to learn.
The dolphins understood. She was shown simple movements to convey her intent to the herd. She repeated the movements over and over again until the pod was satisfied she wouldn’t make a ‘penguin’ out of herself. They also refused to escort her because the two species competed with food sources, and sea lions were very untrusting about food.
It was 0600 when her lesson was declared ended so the pod could feed. Michael, finally awake and showing interest, recommended they go to work and continue the training session later.
Encouraged by his attitude, Sam grinned broadly and invited him to ride with her on Ton to base. They transmitted their entry while passing North Island, and zoomed into the lab tank, water splashing everywhere. They showered in fresh water and towel dried. The fibers of the special wetsuits dried within minutes, and they dressed in Cammie pants, t-shirts and lab coats. Walking into their shared office, Michael fell into his desk chair, yawning and exhausted.
“Good job today, but why so freakin’ early? We didn’t even see the sea lions.”
“Quietness, less distraction, plus...” she giggled, “You hate mornings. It was an opportunity to harass you.”
“Oh, you are so going to get it when we get home. I promise,” Michael snarled, throwing a wad of paper at her.
She caught it. “Let’s plan an agenda, I think we made good progress today. Video me doing the signals so I can study them later. Pinnipeds obviously use a completely different communication system.”
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew, kidlet. You are already breaking the cetacean and ichthyoid codes. It might be too much.”
“Me? Handle too much? Never. Besides, I could bring this to thesis without revealing classified information. And, once I learn some things, I can infiltrate the seal unit,” she snickered evilly.
Michael laughed, turning on his computer. “Gotcha. Ok, let’s also work on a depth detector. I don’t like blind diving.”
Dr. Quimby walked into the lab at 0900, the staff quickly standing to attention. “At rest. You don’t need to do that with me unless we are under inspection. Where are my kids?” One of the techs pointed to the back room where they were loudly arguing over signal transmissions and feedback. He stood in the doorway. “Just like the old days on ship. You might be scaring the new crew.”
“Nah, the boys already set them straight. We promised to come in here to fight when we need to,” Sam smiled. “Or when he is being unreasonably stubborn and mule- headed. You are just like Daddy! He thinks he knows everything too!”
“Hey!” Dr. Quimby said, a bit wounded. However, he knew it to be true.
“Thank you,” Michel retorted, “and you are impossible to reason with when you get your mind set on something, right or wrong. You are just like Uncle Scott.”
“Am not! Daddy, he is being a butthead.”
“SHE is being a brat!”
“Ok, I’m out of here. If you need help, please call. Love you two.”
“Love you back,” they answered in unison with wide smiles.
Dr. Quimby was softly smiling when he walked back into the lab, beckoning to the techs. “Gather round, please. Don’t let this bother you. It’s how they communicate when they brainstorm. The louder they fight, the closer they are to finding the answers. Be worried if they are quiet. It means they are pissed at each other, which is never pleasant. Learn to laugh at this, ok?”
“Excuse me, General, but I have to add something. Run like hell if the one shouting is General Jenkins. If you have to, dive into the tank, but get out of here.”
“Yeah, about that,” Dr. Quimby chuckled, “Some of the men say that about me too. If we are raising our voices, i
t’s because one, or both, of our two have gotten into a mess of trouble. My little one likes to use herself as a lab rat. That is against my orders. Non-negotiable.”
“Her family isn’t as comfortable with her bravery as we are. It’s caused some problems,” someone commented.
“It almost killed her. Ok, you all know where to find me if needed. Please approach me before Scott, ok?” he ordered the Allegro crew. They nodded, watching him leave.
“He seems pretty cool. Very genuine.”
“You will love being under their command. I’ve been in for 15 years and will retire before I transfer to anyone else. They are the family I never had. It’s really funny watching the Generals’ with them, too. They’re really affectionate and poor Mike doesn’t know what to do with it sometimes.”
“He’s right about them,” Frank commented as the shouting grew louder, “Any minute, little Sam will storm out and go into the tank while Mike slams the office door behind him. In one hour, she will return, he will come out and they will have the next step.”
“They can’t be that predictable—oh!” A tech said as Sam stomped to the tank while stripping off her cammies and Michael marched into the office, muttering “spoiled brat” before slamming the door.
Frank smiled, setting the timer. “One hour.”
To the minute, the two emerged and silently went back into the testing room. They still argued, but it wasn’t frenzied. They came out at 1230, announcing hunger. “Let’s close the lab from 1230-1330. What hours have you been keeping?”
“0800 to 1600.”
“Would you like 0730 to 1530, with an hour for chow?” Michael asked.
Sam elbowed him. “Some people like to do PT during lunch. Make it 12-1330. Come on, be a sport.”
“Well… alright. Just remember, people, there might be times that hours change. Especially when we do some sea duty.”
Murmurs’ circulated the room, this was news. Good news.
The Siren, the General's Daughter Book One Page 11
