Continental Visitors: The Wonder Tales Of Northern America

Chapter 4: Welcome to Montañarica

Continental Visitors' community server for updates and snippets of upcoming chapters:

https://discord.gg/7EaNQ4bEBj

And special thanks to onedumbgamer for helping me with this chapter!

Have at it!
- Misfit_9

———

USS Essex

12:34 P.M.

Climbing aboard their designated zodiac (RHIB), Ambassador Ramos, along with his Canadian counterpart, Ambassador Petruik, secured themselves in their seats, preparing for the short sail ahead. Below them, a row of LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanised) were lined up on the other side of the fully submerged well deck, each one transporting equipment, relief essentials and supplies courtesy of the 1st Medical Battalion, and the necessary logistics and transport — all intended for the island people who proudly unify and identify themselves as "Montañaricians."

“Hold on to whatever you've got, Mr. Ambassadors!” The driver called out from the helm compartment of the boat, their voice cutting through the bustle around them. “The President and Mr. Williams wouldn't like their representatives looking like wet rags when they meet our future partners,” Browns added, looking over his shoulders as he sat in front of them.

With the last of Browns' men boarded their separate RHIB, the boats were quickly lowered into the shallow waters below. The hooks chained to the sides automatically disconnected, allowing the boats to drift freely. After a brief exchange of verbal and gestural confirmations from crew and sailors above, the lead zodiac rumbled to life, slowly maneuvering towards the stern of the ship, closely followed by the delegation’s RHIB.

“We’re going to hit some good waves out there. Just hang on,” Colonel Browns advised as they exited the metal confines of the ship, their eyes adjusting to the sudden change in natural light.

As the lead zodiac made a sharp turn towards the city skyline in the distance, the delegation’s RHIB followed suit, prompting the ambassadors to shift their weight to counter the aggressive maneuver. The driver, seizing the moment, finally unleashed the RHIB’s full potential, pushing the ambassadors against their seats and the hundred and ten max horsepower as they sped towards their destination.

Mentally preparing for what lay ahead, Ambassador Ramos decided to spark a conversation, something at least related to the job.“Ey!” He turned to Ambassador Petruik. “How confident are you in your Spanish?” Ramos asked, his voice mingling with the sound of waves crashing against the boat’s hull.

“It’s been a while, y’know,” Petruik replied, uncertainty evident in his voice. “Guess we're gonna find out. God knows if it’s even the same dialect back on earth. Heaven forbid they look like E.T.”

“Then that's a wrap for us.” Ramos said, his hands creasing the leather material of his briefcase.

As the delegation neared the port, the silhouettes of dock workers began to materialize in the distance. Drawing closer to the nearby piers, the designated area where they would meet the Montañarician representatives, the workers began to guide them toward the docking zone There, on the wooden dock, stood several men whose attire was distinct from the rest.

"Guys with rifles, ten o'clock," Browns called out, his tone calm but alert. "Could be your little chaperones for the meeting." The helmsman steered the RHIB slowly behind the lead zodiac as it glided towards the pier, the engines gradually quieting and simmering down, while several dock workers moved in to assist with docking.

"They're humans, at least," Petruik whispered, his words offering some relief. Still, the looming language barrier weighed heavily on both ambassadors. The sight of familiar human figures didn’t erase the uncertainty. Even though Premier Fringe had communicated with Captain Aron in nearly fluent English, albeit accented as he described it, didn’t guarantee that everyone on the island would be as proficient.