Ghost Recon. David Knight

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      Chapter 12

      The Calling

      Star Gazer was at the federal building in the parking lot, looking at his motor pool. He chose the emerald-green Mercedes Benz, twin-turbo eight-cylinder E-55 four-door sedan. He got in, started the car, let it warm up for a minute, then drove to the Navy base. Star Gazer showed his Marine identification card at the gate, and the Navy SEAL security team let him on the base. He drove to the pier 7 parking lot and parked where he could view the Acadia ship, without being seen by the Acadia command or the crew.

      Star Gazer sat there for three hours, and then the Acadia crew had shift change at five in the evening. That’s when Star Gazer spotted his missing brother Tail Gunner exiting the pier 7 gate into the same parking lot Star Gazer was sitting in. Star Gazer sat straight up in the driver’s seat of the Benz and watched Tail Gunner walking toward his Benz. Star Gazer started his car and rolled the front windows down as Tail Gunner walked toward Star Gazer’s car. Tail Gunner stopped one row in front of Star Gazer and was just about to get into an old 1999 Camaro Super Sport.

      Star Gazer got out of the Benz and said, “Hey, bro, was that just the Acadia shift change?”

      Tail Gunner looked over at Star Gazer and said, “Yeah, brother.”

      Star Gazer said, “Maybe you can help me, man. I’m looking for my brother Tail Gunner. You ever heard of him? He’s stationed on the Acadia. Just want to spend some time with him.”

      Tail Gunner turned to look at the kid saying his name. His mouth dropped open. His eyes went big, and he said, “Star Gazer, is that you?”

      Star Gazer said, “Yes, Tail Gunner, it’s me. Let’s take a ride. We got to talk.”

      Tail Gunner walked up to Star Gazer, and they embraced each other in a bear hug. Star Gazer drove, and Tail Gunner sat in the passenger seat, and Star Gazer told Tail Gunner what was going on. Tail Gunner listened to Star Gazer, and after he was done talking, he told Star Gazer, “Count me in, bro. Let’s do it.”

      Star Gazer smiled, picked up his secured marine radio, and called T-Con 56 to Marine One, “Tail Gunner is ready for recovery in custody in bound fifteen minutes to Coronado Marine One.”

      There was no reply at all from the Marine radio. Not one Marine answered the call. They were all in shock. Star Gazer drove Tail Gunner to the Coronado Marine base from San Diego across the bridge. Star Gazer drove through the gate at the Marine base turned the corner left at the cafeteria. They both got out and went inside to see the Marine colonel on duty. They stopped at the duty colonel’s table in the chow hall, and Star Gazer said, “Grandfather, look who I just found. It’s Tail Gunner.”

      The Marine colonel turned slowly in his seat and looked at the boys and then said, “Hello, son.”

      Tail Gunner smiled and said, “Hello, Grandfather,” and stepped up and hugged the Marine colonel.

      Sitting in the Marine colonel’s lap, he said, “Grandfather, I know where Ghost is. He is on the Acadia Navy ship.”

      It went dead silent in the Marine chow hall as the Marines just heard they know where all three missing baby hybrids were now after nine and half years of not knowing. The Marine colonel just sat there in shocked silence for a minute then said, “Boys, give me a minute to talk, okay?”

      Star Gazer and Tail Gunner replied, “Yes, Grandfather,” and walked outside and sat on the hood of the car.

      Fifteen minutes later, a Marine gunny came out and said, “Boys, Grandfather will see you now. Come inside.”

      Star Gazer and Tail Gunner replied, “Yes, Gunny,” and went into the chow hall to talk to the Marine colonel.

      The Marine duty colonel turned toward the boys in his seat and said, “Boys, I want Ghost of that damn ship here tonight. You hear me? Tonight.”

      Star Gazer and Tail Gunner wiped tears from their faces and said, “It will be done, Grandfather. We promise you.”

      The Marine duty colonel said, “Go get him, boys, now.”

      Star Gazer and Tail Gunner said, “We will be back with Ghost in an hour or so. Wait for the call, Grandfather.”