THE LAST SHIP 8

STRAIN

State House - St. Louis, Missouri

All the military, marine and navy officials in high ranks were seated around the boardroom table in the state house waiting for POTUS to arrive. They were sitting there for a while conspiring over what the emergency meeting could be about when Tom Chandler stepped into the board room and closed the door behind him. He looked at Mike briefly, gave a nod and smiled before he took a seat and cleared his throat. "Thank you all for coming. I got news this morning that last night there was an attack on the US embassy in Syria. Prior to the attack the US ambassador was threatened by a Syrian terrorist group that is funded by the Syrian Minister of Defense. They declared war on the United States," Tom informed them with a stern expression on his face. "With immediate effect we will be deploying our troops, our navy and our marines to Syria." Mike and Craig Ashton threw knowing glances at each other from across the table. "Our troops will deploy under the leadership of General Craig Ashton from their army post in Norfolk." Tom paused for a moment. "Admiral Mike Slattery I commission you as captain to the USS William Slater along with XO Bianca Grace. Admiral Kara Green will be comissioned as captain to the USS Chandler along with XO Connor Levine. Both ships will be accompanied by the newly commissioned destroyer the USS Granderson and an aircraft carrier the USS Burke."

*****

Claudia was sitting in the living room watching the news when Mike stepped into the living room with a somber expression on his face. She looked up at him and instantly knew that something was wrong. "Mike...you're going to Syria aren't you?"

"We're leaving tonight."

"So soon?"

"Yes. I'm sorry." He went upstairs with Claudia following on his heels and took his suitcases to pack his clothes. A while later he met Claudia downstairs dressed in his uniform and ready to go.

*****

As soon as they reached the pier where the USS William Slater was docked, Mike parked the SUV in the first open parking spot he could find and got out of the car with Claudia. He opened the rear door and took out his suitcases before they walked up to the ship. There were several navy seals and officers with their families saying goodbye to each other, not knowing when and if they would see each other again. Mike looked up at the ship and then again at Claudia. "This is it."

"How long will you be gone?"

"I cannot tell for sure. I will keep in touch. I promise."

"Please come back safely. Promise me that you will."

Mike pulled her closer and gave her a kiss before he took his bags and walked up to the ship to board.

*****

USS William Slater Mission Day 1...

XO Bianca Grace was sitting in the XO chair on the bridge overlooking the ocean as the ship sailed further and further away from the East coast of Virginia accompanied by the two destroyers, the USS Chandler, the USS Granderson and the aircraft carrier the USS Burke. Her mind drifted away for a brief moment when the OOD alerted her of the presence of the captain. "Captain's on the bridge."

She turned her head to look at the starboard entrance of the bridge as Mike stepped through and walked up to his chair. "Captain Slattery."

"XO Grace," he greeted with a nod.

"What a surprise. I didn't think they would put us together on one ship."

Mike took a seat and gazed out at the ocean before he turned his head to look at Bianca again. "Yes well, POTUS was generous."