Guns for Hire - Script Forty Three

Magellan Star, Arabian Sea 11.19am - 05/08/2016

Crippen stared in incredulity at Vrasten, "How dare you discharge a weapon on my sh. . . . "

Before Crippen could continue Alex interrupted,

"Enough, Henry, you will do as we ask, you will cooperate, kindly hand over all weapons either held previously or recovered from your former wardens, if you oppose us there will be consequences, we won't to be off the bloody ship as soon as we can & if you do as instructed we will be, now kindly get on with your bloody job whilst we arrange to remove the both ourselves & the hostages we've just recovered or would you rather the Minister was aboard & they were dead."

With Crippen, for the moment, put in his place Alex & T-Bird set about collecting & securing the various weapons strewn about the ship as well in the hands of the remaining ships crew.

Vrasten, stopped by Sickbay where Skinpin was busy giving the hostages the once over to confirm their details & thus armed put a call into Uriel.

Magellan Star, Arabian Sea 12.43am - 05/08/2016

"So" said Vrasten, "Uriel is pretty happy with the outcome, although I didn't mention the Minister, after all he wasn't specifically part of the deal, was he ? All we need to do is tell Uriel where the hostages are going to be & when they'll be there & he'll ensure that somebody gets to know about it, anybody got any suggestions ?"

For the rest of the day all three of them poured over various ships charts & the Internet looking for a likely destination, even Crippen was consulted as to where they could or couldn't berth although he was somewhat incredulous when the suggestion was made about sailing back to the US West coast, whilst this was going on Vrasten made a call to their contact at the Moran Shipping Line,

"Afternoon, Lorenz, ah, sorry, it's afternoon here, sorry. Anyway, we've had enough of the local culture & thought it was time to go home, we've managed to make a few friends so they're maybe hoping to come with us although that isn't definite yet, so, we were thinking, any chance of a lift ?"

A quarter of an hour later it was agreed, sort of, Lorenz would put things in motion although it would be at least a week, maybe even two, before they could expect a pick up but until Vrasten called back to confirm where that was going to be Lorenz couldn't fiancees who they need to pay to look the other way.

Magellan Star, Arabian Sea 11.23pm - 06/08/2016

Vrasten descended the stairs in search of Alex, he'd just spent the last three quarters of an hour trying to mend bridges with Crippen, whilst Crippen wasn't exactly his bosom buddy the ships captain was at least no longer raving although he obviously still wasn't happy & wanted Vrasten, Alex & T-Bird off his ship as soon as could be arranged.

Magellan Star, Arabian Sea 1.49pm - 06/08/2016

Back around the table the various destinations were still being banged about, the three of them were getting a little frustrated, in all truthfulness they'd not been entirely convinced they'd away with breaking out the hostages let a lone surviving to collect the paycheck.

Magellan Star, Arabian Sea 4.56pm - 06/08/2016

After dismissing the Seychelles & Madagascar, islands seeming to be the preferred choice, Alex started looking at the main coast line south of Somalia, with a reasonable idea of where they were & the speed at which they crawling, Vrasten piped up,

"Mombassa ? it's only three or four days away, big city, international airport, Moi, I think it's called, we could jump ship & disappear & Uriel can do his stuff"

The main issue with Mombasa was that they'd not only have to rely on the documents & false passports that Vrasten had provided but potentially explain to immigration & customs how they came to be flying out of the country with no point of entry, whilst this wasn't a huge problem it was to be considered, suddenly Alex stabbed a finger at the chart, once she'd moved her nail Vrasten & T-Bird could see a small island some ninety klick's south of Mombasa & only around forty from the Kenyan coast.

Digging on the web Pemba Island was described as being the smaller of the two main islands making up the Zanzibar Archipelago & although it was of the coast of Kenya it actually came under the dictate of Tanzania, it didn't seem to have much of a population but importantly it did appear have decent strip, Karume Airport, just east of the capital town, Chake Chake, the more they looked into the island the more it seemed suited to their needs. In recent years the island appeared to have had a reputation for political violence, but then, as T-Bird pointed out, where didn't in this neck of the woods. Its population consisted mainly mainland Shirazi along with its indigenous Waswahili inhabitants & Arab immigrants mainly from Oman who either grow cloves, fish or practice witchcraft & traditional medicine.

Studying a satellite map of the island they picked a likely looking spot to go ashore on the seaward east coast only a mile or so from a sizable settlement called Kangagani although from the look of things there were sizable reefs & sand banks peppering the coast.

Magellan Star, Indian Ocean 9.08am - 07/08/2016

Alex had skipped breakfast & left T-Bird & Vrasten with a couple of the crew chewing their way through the last of the ships dried fruit, fuck, thought Alex, what I'd give for a decent coffee & a couple of poached eggs.

Leaning on the starboard weather deck rail Alex watched a brace of Roseate Terns dipping & diving in the salty spray as they left the Arabian Sea behind, she was startled however when her mobile rang, glancing at the screen she expected the number to be Vrasten however it was a number she didn't recognise,

"Er, hello ?"

"Good day Miss Price, I trust you are well"

Bloody hell, thought Alex, recognising the voice as that of Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade, what the fuck does he want.

"Miss Price, I have called you to help you, as you can imagine things did not entirely pass as I would have hoped, long before you came aboard however I had made arrangements to, shall we say, disable the ship in the event of events conspiring against my people, unfortunately, we were not expecting your attendance & the charges were not detonated, who am I to judge the will of Allah. Once I had left the ship I saw no need in it's pointless destruction, it would serve no purpose, I give you this knowledge so you may do as you will, go in peace Miss Price"

With that Somali warlord gave Alex the precise locations of the three charges placed aboard the ship.

Slipping below decks Alex casually checked out the locations identified by Inda'ade, true to his word Alex found the tell tale traces of the devices hidden in the main engine room, beneath the propellor shaft housing & finally beneath the ships main fuel tanks, the charges were complete with detonators but were disconnected from the trigger mechanism.

Alex contemplated simply removing the charges or at least telling Vrasten & T-Bird, after a few minutes quiet contemplation Alex made sure the charges were hidden from all but a determined search, returning unseen later in the day Alex expertly rigged a remote denotation system for which only she had the trigger switch, the only disappointment was that the kit she had was limited to a maximum half mile range.

Smugly Alex headed off to rejoin the others, as far as she was concerned nobody else need to know about this one, it was her little secret.

Magellan Star, Indian Ocean 5.14pm - 07/08/2016

Vrasten waited patiently for Lorenz to come back to him, eventually he did,

"Found it, shit Vrasten, that's one hell of an' outta the way pissy island. OK, I need to make calls, I ain't argue costs with you, I know you're good for it, come see me when you get back, we can chew the fat & you can make me a rich man. I'll call ya back in a few hours, tomorrow maybe, to confirm the pick up but get comfy, it's gonna be a while."

Magellan Star, Indian Ocean 7.41pm - 07/08/2016

On the Bridge Alex, Vrasten & T-Bird gave Crippen the welcome news that they'd made the necessary arrangements & would be departing the Magellan Star sooner rather than later, Crippen obviously pleased with the news, began to plot the their course on the day chart, after a few minutes he confirmed more or less what they'd expected,

"I'll have you there at our current speed some time in the afternoon of the ninth, Saturday, however I would warn you that with the best will in the world I will not be able to take you closer than say two, maybe three miles off shore, I don't have soundings for anything closer than that, in fact according to the charts that's closer than I should be, it's well of the recognise shipping lane but I anticipate they'll still be sufficient draft."

Magellan Star, Indian Ocean 3.47pm - 08/08/2016

Vrasten's phone rang late in the afternoon, he recognised the number & answered immediately,

"Lorenz, how's it going, yeah, that good, OK, yeah, OK, we'll see em' in about a week then, call me if there's any problems, zbogom"

With their own route back to the US secured Vrasten put a call through to Uriel confirming where & when the hostages would be in around a week, Uriel thanked him & confirmed he'd make sure the right people got to know about.

Magellan Star, Indian Ocean 10.39am - 09/08/2016

Alex & Vrasten spent the morning transferring all their kit to the Magellan Star's port side free fall leaving T-Bird & Skinpin to ensure released hostages were prepped on what they were about.

Magellan Star, Indian Ocean 11.29am - 09/08/2016

By late morning the ship was as close as they could expect it to be coast of Pemba Island, with Skinpin & T-Bird ushering the MilKor employees into the ships NORAQ free fall lifeboat Vrasten familiarised himself with its steering mechanism & engine, with all ready there was a brisk farewell with Crippen & the ships crew before the ships boatswain, James Moon, released the drop mechanism, moments later the lifeboat self righted & drifted away from the stern of the ship, inside several of the MilKor personnel vomited, grinning, Vrasten, engaged the lifeboats 29hp BUKH DV29 RME diesel engine, slowly the lifeboat began the short journey to the shore.

Alex watched the MV Magellan Star through the one of the lifeboats small portholes, the ship was maybe quarter of mile south & getting further away with every passing moment, ignoring the smell of stale sweat & vomit she ran her finger over the number pad on the small transmitter her pocket, slowly she watched the ship slip out of view, shaking her head she turned to Vrasten & good naturedly berated his seamanship.

Two or so hours later having negotiated the many rocks & reefs Vrasten grounded the lifeboat in the islands shallows.

Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 1.39pm - 09/08/2016

Stood on the crisp sandy beach a few of the freed hostages openly wept, it finally dawning on them only know that they were actually free.

Ten minutes later they emerged from the scrub onto the track that they'd seen on the satellite map & followed its meandering route through the densely planted fields of clove bushes to the settlement they'd picked out a couple of days earlier.

As they entered Kangagani the local population started to gather, whilst Europeans weren't unusual visitors for a dozen or so to appear on foot from nowhere was certainly unusual. Alex & the others, wary that their appearance may cause a stir had concealed much of their equipment back on the beach & carried only concealed small arms. The gathered inhabitants seemed more curious than anything else & were eager to assist for a few dollars in anyway they could.

It was quickly established that hotels were fairly thin on the ground on the island however they were in luck as there was a small hostel in the town that actually had its own generator, satellite phone & bar.

In the hostels reception Vrasten & Alex negotiated several rooms to at least allow the MilKor employees somewhere to crash whilst Uriel made whatever arrangements he could for their extraction, meanwhile the former hostages bickered as they all tried to use the single satellite phone on the receptionist/managers desk whilst the locals did their best to sell them fruit, chickens & medical cures for anything & everything, it was only when the locals realised these foreigner's had no money they reluctantly drifted away. Once they were predominantly out of the way Vrasten dropped a roll of dollar bills under the receptionist/managers nose suggesting that if he arrange food & drink for his new friends as soon as possible they'd be more dollars up for grabs.

Hostel Mami, Kangagani, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 2.57pm - 09/08/2016

With only the most determined entrepreneurs left hanging around two haphazardly uniformed police officers pulled up outside the hostel in a somewhat dilapidated pick up, ambling inside they approached Alex & in a mix of English, Swahili & Arabic explained that they had traveled from the islands police station in the capital, Chake Chake, as they had been told that many Americans had appeared from nowhere. Over the next half an hour Alex, Vrasten & T-Bird did their best to explain where they come from & that they would only be here for a few days at most as there were people on the way to fly them back to the US. Seeming to have nothing to declare the officers made ready to depart but almost apologetically did warn them to take care as not everybody would be friendly & that they would need to tell the police on the mainland about their arrival.

Hostel Mami, Kangagani, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 1.52pm - 10/08/2016

Over the next few days Vrasten, Alex, Skinpin & T-Bird baby-sat the increasingly frustrated former hostages as they waited for the cavalry or possibly the Tanzanian US Ambassador to come get them, the only visitors however had been a follow up visit from the Pemba Police Force, aka Abasi & his younger brother Faraji.

A couple of reporters who'd got wind of what had occurred showed up however their appearance was largely not welcomed by the released hostages who simply wanted to go home.

Skinpin & T-Bird positively avoided the reporters whilst Vrasten & Alex said as little as possible, Alex took the attitude that nobody worth noting would recognise her in civilian mode whereas Vrasten made small changes to his appearance in case any photographs were taken.

Hostel Mami, Kangagani, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 4.03pm - 12/08/2016

Just after 4.00pm on the Friday following their arrival on Pemba Vrasten was chillin' out with T-Bird & a couple of chilled beers in shade under a couple of palm trees at the front of the hostel & keeping an eye on the wandering MilKor employees when they heard the distinct rip of a turboprop aircraft coming in low over the settlement, suddenly the aircraft came into view,

"C130" muttered T-Bird, "fresh from the motherland"

Headland, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 4.04pm - 12/08/2016

Alex, butt naked, stretched out on the white sand luxuriating in the isolation, well, apart from Skinpin who was dozing under a tree, the sun & the clear blue skies, she'd spent as many hours as she could out here with a pack up of isheti & kashata as well as a half dozen bottles of the local brew, Raha banana beer, hell, she thought, this is a good place to be.

Her though pattern was quickly disturbed however as the C130 came low over the island, maybe only hundred & fifty feet up, & swung out & around over the shallow reefs before turning tightly back to run towards the air head, her requiescence disturbed Alex donned her shorts & t-shirt & woke Skinpin,

"Looks like the tourist bus has arrived fella, we better get back & see what's going down"

Hostel Mami, Kangagani, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 4.18pm - 12/08/2016

Some fifteen minutes later Vrasten & T-Bird watched as a USAF 75th RSOV under the guise of the CTF-150 drove into the clearing in front of the hostel, as with their own initial entry to Kangagani the CTF personnel attracted attention however thier openly displayed firearms somewhat curbed peoples enthusiasm.

Two of the vehicles occupants approached Vrasten & T-Bird with an air of "You know why we're here so lets not fuck about" Addressing Vrasten the Second Lieutenant introduced himself & politely requested to know if he, Vrasten, could assist in locating the whereabouts of a number of American citizens who it has been suggested are temporarily in residence pending assisted return to the US,

"Do you mean the hostages" interrupted T-Bird, "cos' if you do there's a couple in the bar, one's asleep under that mango tree over there & the others are hanging around somewhere"

For several seconds the officer was unsure how to play matters, finally he sighed,

"OK fellas, lets cut the crap, I'm in a hurry cos' I'm not really here, round em' up will ya' an' I'll take em' outa your face. I'm supposed to take you guys with us cos' somebody back home wants to ask you a few questions but I guess I can't make ya' if you don't wanna go, I take it you don't wanna' go do ya"

Smiling Vrasten offered the officer a beer.

As the exchange continued Alex, now clothed, well almost, wandered into view arm in arm with Skinpin, smiling sweetly she asked the officer for proof of his ID, slightly embarrassed he proffered his credentials,

"Very pretty, is it real ?"

Hostel Mami, Kangagani, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 4.52pm - 12/08/2016

Vrasten, T-Bird, Alex & Skinpin watched as the C-130 climbed over the trees & headed north presumably for the Combined Task Force base of operations at Manama in the Bahrain.

"Beer anyone" suggested Skinpin

Karume Airport , Kangagani, Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago 8.05am - 15/08/2016

Vrasten watched as the now familiar C-27 taxied towards the dilapidated runabout hired from the hostel.

Before the Spartan had time to come to a rest the rear cargo door began drop & a figure hanging precariously out of the gap gestured for them to look sharp & get there kit aboard.

As the door closed the C-27's engines powered back up & the plane swung back onto the airstrip before immediately accelerating, Vamik Volkan, the co-pilot on the way out, stuck his head through the door from the flight deck,

"Jeez guys, you sure do find some pissy places to hang out, by the way you ever seen the pyramids before ?"

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