The Last Ship~ Season 3

Chapter 2~ Rising Sun

Chapter 2~ Rising Sun

Nathan's entrance into Shanghai made for some real head turns. Liaoning met him at the foreign docks, her massive bulk easily outsizing him. Though used to being outclassed in that way, the Chinese flagship held none of the warmth that her Nimitz-class counterparts had. Her gaze was like ice under a false sun and everything about her just screamed enemy to Nathan. The destroyer had to work hard to keep his weapons down. "USS Nathan James," She greeted, her tone sharp. "Welcome to China." "Yeah in your dreams." He thought but said outloud "Many thanks, PLNS Liaoning. Under different circumstances I would say your new designation suits you." Briefly he saw a flare of that old Soviet temper and a part of him half-hoped to see it come out before she relaxed. "The Red Flu has wreaked havoc on many fleets. China is fortunate to have ships strong enough to withstand its force."

He docked at his assigned berth near Customs or what used to be customs. A few Japanese destroyers kept giving him dirty looks though whatever for he could only guess at. The cure was being sent in ever increasing quantities to their homeland courtesy of several of his fleetmates. "Brats." was all Nathan said before turning his attention back to the task at hand. In the dock a few berths down was a young looking cruise liner and she looked surprisingly familiar to Nathan. He blinked and did a double take. That bridge, the sleek hull with the British flag on the bow. Those blue eyes. No, it couldn't be! And yet, undeniably, it was. Still in slight disbelief, Nathan half-whispered "Britannia?!" She looked over at him, tilting her head to the side in curiosity until the confusion in her eyes faded. "Nathan?" She moved closer to him. "Nathan James?" Nathan nuzzled her. "Who else would I be?" He purred. She leaned into it. "Nathan James, the handsome destroyer with a heart of gold." She said. "And you Britannia, a woman with as much daring and nerve as she has beauty. Able to seduce even the hardiest sailor away from the sea just with her charms." He replied, quickly becoming entranced by her blue eyes. He laughed at her blush. "You haven't changed." She said. "It's good to see you haven't either." He purred, rubbing his cheek against hers. She laughed. "Flatterer." She accused. "I'm 40 tons heavier and all the more lazier." "More to love baby, more to love." He nibbled her ear. She gave him a light swat. "Now, now behave." He backed off only slightly, his eyes twinkling. "Aye ma'am."

Settling in beside him, the two swapped tails. Nathan didn't need to tell much of his exploits, the stories had arrived here long before he did. But he had some burning questions of his own. "How does a high class girl like you, end up in China on some diplomatic assignment?" He asked. "Just because I'm a cruise ship now doesn't mean the British government had forgotten about my exploits under their jurisdiction. I was sent as the UK's representative to observe and enforce NATO policies in Asia. When the plague broke out and decimated the fleet's heirchary, Liaoning knew of my skills in the diplomatic arena and took me on as her Commander of Customs and Foreign Affairs." "Well you must've had an impressive resume. Liaoning doesn't strike me as the type to welcome foreigners, much less hire them." Nathan said. "She's a carrier born in the Soviet Union in the waning days of the Cold War and China hasn't been known for its chummy relationships with the United States." Britannia shrugged. "It's in her nature to dislike Americans." "Dislike's an understatement. You'd think I'd come in the middle of the night and raped her and took her daughter by the way she acts around me." "If you'd done that, you'd be dead." Britannia said.

The pair spent the rest of the afternoon catching up before Liaoning returned. "As an extension of China's hospitality, we'd like to welcome you to a special dinner in your honor later tonight." "Where you can flaunt your superiority?" Nathan thought but again kept his thoughts hidden. "Aye, I'd be delighted to attend. Thank you."

Britannia noticed the glint in his eye after Liaoning left. "You've got some scheme cooking in that hollow shell you call a brain." She said. He nudged her playfully before his face turned serious as he said "We've sent enough cure over to heal half of China's population by now and there should be no more sick ships either. Something tells me Liaoning isn't being entirely truthful about the amount of the cure that's being spread." "You think she's deliberately withholding the cure from people?" Britannia asked. "She rose to her position on the dead bodies of her predecessors and I think she fears the same fate from people below her. All she needs to do is bide her time." Nathan said. "It's a stout theory but you're going to have to prove it." Britannia told him. "I have a plan for that." "What are you going to do?" She asked. "I'm going to poke the elephant." He replied.