C James

Chapter 142: Wairaka (Here's a link to google maps, which can be zoomed and moved around, centered on the areas in the chapter, because I know some of you are like me, and love to follow along and see the areas they are in.) With Atlantis moored in the Whakatane River, Shane looked at the lush green pastures to their north and grinned. “So, should we lock up and be off to fuck-a-whatsits? Or should we admire the view of the nervous sheep?” Trevor, laughing and cringing at the same time,

Wairaka is up! (it might take up to a minute after this post to appear). Please let me know what you think be it good, bad, or mixed. Also please note; the google map linked at the chapter top is interactive, so you can zoom it around to look at various spots or different areas. if you like, Author's note: TEMPORARY SCHEDULE CHANGE AND AN APOLOGY FROM ME. (Some of this is in the chapter header, but the bottom paragraph isn't) When I asked for feedback, I promised to get this story concluded before leaving for my long trip. I failed. I apologize. However, we are NOT going on hiatus. I've been working extra hard to get chapters banked in preparation for my trip (plus do all the stuff I need to do to get ready for the trip). The good news is that, worst case , we'll shift to every-other-week postings until Christmas. (However, if I can find internet access a few times while away, chapters will appear sooner). Starting at Christmas (Christmas Eve), we can resume a weekly schedule for the final three chapters (unless they have already been posted by then). The chapters I'm leaving behind for posting are larger than normal. In once case, it's a double (for plot reasons, it had to be). So, I'll be gone in less than a week, but the story won't be. I've put in many a late night (and so has my team!) getting ahead on chapters so you won't be left hanging while I'm away. Please don't let the forum die off while I'm gone. My sincere thanks to all who have given feedback in the forum, PM'd, e-mailed, or left reviews. You are the reason I;m motivated. Thank you!!! I will read and reply to everyone just as soon as I can (when I get back, if not before, though please be aware that I might not have internet access until I return just before the New Year). I've been slow this last week due to racing to get these extra chapters ready. However, I'm sorry I didn't get more done, so for now, starting with this chapter, we're on every-other-week posting until Christmas Eve. (But as I say, I may be able to speed that up if I can get internet access a few times while away. I'll do my best). Sorry I've been slow to reply! I've been working extra hard to get chapters banked in preparation for my trip (plus do all the stuff I need to do to get ready for the trip). The good news is that, worst case , we'll shift to every-other-week postings until Christmas. (However, if I can find internet access a few times while away, chapters will appear sooner). We'll then go back to weekly for the final three chapters, which should post Dec 24th, Dec 31st, Dec 38th, and Dec 45th, with the epilogue posting with the final chapter on the 45th. CJ

Ahhem! Don't forget that in Australia, they use a different calendar. The seasons are inverted, Christmas comes in mid summer, etc, etc. Sometime in summer. If you don't believe me, ask anytone in the Southern Hemisphere. I absolutely have to conclude the story this year. There's an eeevil conspiracy that keeps trying to frame me with the king of cliffhanger award. I'm not eligible this year, so this year is when the final chapters have to post. It simply has to be. (the final ones are a tad tense.) NOT TRUE!!! I'd never, ever do that! For example, last year, I had a Christmas chapter, Christmas at the Farm. A sweet, happy chapter. Even the alligators were happy.

They can't say much; the phones aren't safe. Also, they wouldn't say anything in Australia because they were afraid the federal police would confiscate it - and the gold.

That tracker sure is a pain... but what's the worst that could happen? Yep, as long as they sail at least close to on time, Bridget's people will arrive well after they're gone.

Sorry I've been slow to reply! I've been working extra hard to get chapters banked in preparation for my trip (plus do all the stuff I need to do to get ready for the trip). The good news is that, worst case , we'll shift to every-other-week postings until Christmas. (However, if I can find internet access a few times while away, chapters will appear sooner). We'll then go back to weekly for the final three chapters, which should post Dec 24th, Dec 31st, Dec 38th, and Dec 45th, with the epilogue posting with the final chapter. So, the story will conclude this year. I'll be posting an announcement as an author's note with tonight's chapter, including my apologies for not getting this story done before my trip as I promised. I did however manage to get three ahead to leave behind, and one is a double (and the other two are larger than normal). I'm going to do what I can to get another in process too.

BTW, sorry this went up a bit after midnight; I had some technical issues.

Commands From Afar is up! (it might take up to a minute after this post to appear). Please let me know what you think be it good, bad, or mixed. Also please note; the google map linked at the chapter top is interactive, so you can zoom it around to look at various spots or different areas. if you like, And, a bit of news; by this time next week, I'll be able to start a countdown, because I will know exactly how many chapter remain. That number won't change (before now, it's been guesses on my part, atrociously bad guesses as it turned out, the current guess being 5). I'll be able to do this because, all being well, I'll have a full draft that goes all the way to the two final chapters, which were written before the story began posting. CJ

Chapter 141: Commands from Afar (Here's a link to google maps, which can be zoomed and moved around, centered on the areas in the chapter, because I know some of you are like me, and love to follow along and see the areas they are in.) Racing west in the Coral Sea, Rachel cast a troubled eye at the now-empty life raft housing on Kookaburra’s rear rail. “Remind me to get a new life raft and radar reflector. So, where to now?” “For the time being, we’re soon going to be missing at sea as

Are you saying that you don't think Australians use maths?? True on Bin Laden... but Bridget isn't quite that wanted. No need to worry on the confusion on the bombs. Yes, two were planted, and he clearly found one. So, nothing to worry about. Bridget might have stress headaches soon. It wasn't me who even thought of doing such a nefarious thing. No need to worry; that's a big boat, so the asymmetry of something that size wouldn't cause much of a problem with steering. It was a fun one to write. I enjoyed it the same way I did Bridget's escape from Florida, due to the action and tactics. Or, might it trigger her to move in force?

At least until it blew up. I wonder if it will occur to Gray that Bridget does not accept failure well? (Remember Basingstoke's demise? Bridget contracted Gray for that.). You were right on both: The police officer (the forensics guy) and the diver were in Gray's employ. The US authorities can't touch Bridget in the Bahamas, for the exact same reason they couldn't take out the even more glaring Norman's Cay operation mentioned in the story; Bridget has the connivance of some of the local authorities. Bridget indeed saved the day. Fowler too; he drew heavily on his knowledge of WWII naval tactics and also of radar. It never occured to the bad guys that their radar and superior speed could be used against them. Things are starting to look up; Bridget's Australian hirelings are in hot water. And let's not forget, Moorcroft found out that Trevor was trying to copy a tape in Cairns. You're right; once Bridget discerns that Trevor has the tape, she has no further interest in Kookoburra/Ares. She's after Atlantis and all aboard, and this time, it's no holds barred. Looks like Mike (thanks Mike!) found Yankee Clipper. I *Think* I saw her in Barbados in 2009, not positive. There was one who looked like her moored next to the bigger 5-master, Royal Clipper I think. *********** BTW, the next chapter title is "Commands from Afar" CJ

To clear up any confusion: the narration is always to be trusted on which boat is which. Atlantis is Atlantis. Kookoburra is Kookoburra (or earlier, Ares). In dialog, that's the character's opinion, but narration has to be right. But, M7 *is* the northern hemisphiric version. If we return to Aussie maths, yes, it would be LW down there, but M7 up here. I think it's clear; you just don't understand Aussie maths. I'm in a similar position today; certain people (glances at MikeL) are skeptical of the translation system I use between Aussie maths and northern hemisphiric math. It's a good thing I included that final paragraph, isn't it? Otherwise, some might have implied that it was a cliffy. She outsmarted herself this time. Who> Me? Ornery? Yep, she's out to destroy that tape, plus any potential witnesses. Fowler, as we've seen, has an interest in WWII naval history. So, he was well aware of the tactical uses that can be made of both radar, and rain showers. Plus, they were in the Coral Sea, so I'm sure the tactical use of rain squalls there was very much on his mind; the Japanese Fleet Carrier Zuikaku hid under a rain squall there, which let her survive the battle of the Coral Sea (She and another carrier had been pounced by a heavy strike from Yorktown, and had only about a dozen planes up on CAP). Shane will definitly find a way to get Trevor for that. But, Trevor knows his nickname. Yep, Bonzer almost blew Kookoburra, and all aboard, to bits. Those are two huge bombs, and it's very fortunate that Fowler found one, and stopped Bonzer from pressing the button. The police borrowed the keys to check Atlantis, after the concern caused by Trevor and Shane's unexpected driver (Gray). On the Zodiac; you're close. She's well known in some circles. A tragic story, and a cautionary note that storms can be unpredictible. It was the storm's ever-changing forcast track that led her to the actions that doomed her. Windjammer cruises went down with her; she was self-insured by them.

The bad guys aren't the only ones who can be clever and turn the tables. Bridget is formidable though... especially in person. Trevor and Shane were lucky off Geraldton; they weren't her real target - Sanchez was.

It wouldn't have been me, it would have been Gray and Bridget blowing them up. And yep, I think it's a safe bet that Bridget won't be pleased.

Bridget helped; it was her order that prevented the powerboat from blowing Kookaburra as soon as she reached deep water, which was before entering the rain squall. Maybe Bridget isn't so bad after all?

The boat seen at the end is racing west unscathed, so we know the bomb wasn't on her. We also know that it can't be Atlantis; she was much too far away to have arrived in time.

Fowler, with some unwitting help from Bridget and Moorcroft, stepped up and averted disaster.

That's only because the GA stories software doesn't (yet) support Aussie maths. We're actually on chapter M7. CJ

But, Frog, of course there is Australian maths! Australians use math too, you know. It's just that they have to do so while upside down. So, some numbers translate okay, but some don't. A 9 becomes a 6, for example. Here, let me show you. 0123456789 that's in the northern hemisphere. sɥʇɐɯ ǝısnnɐ 6879543210 So therefor, chapter 99 became 66 ɹǝʇdɐɥɔ due to being in Australia. Then when we came to chapter AUD (Aussie maths) 97, and Atlantis began her voyage home from Carnarvon, we therefor flipped again, to chapter L6. Aussie maths work in Australia just like northern hemispheric math works here, it's just translating between the two that takes a bit of doing. For example, the GA stories software, good though it is, does not support Aussie maths for chapter numbering. However, we are currently at chapter M7, so well on track to bring this in at under 100 chapters.

Yep, there was a similar boat in Egypt, the Thaddeus. Good memory! Here's another pic of the Fantome. (for anyone wondering, yes, that story is real). Her commands actually saved the day this time. Without her, they'd have blown Kookaburra as soon as she was in deep water; before she reached the rain squall. Things move fast from here on in. And whoa, it wasn't me who made the "land of nervous sheep" remark, that was Shane!! I'm totally blameless here!!!!

Thanks!!! As always, no cliffs or cliffhangers.

Chapter 140: Full Circle Author’s Note: Two-for-one special. Another double, and this one had to be; it just works better as one chapter. My team did an awesome job; twice the chapter length means twice the work for them. (Here's a link to google maps, which can be zoomed and moved around, centered on the areas in the chapter, because I know some of you are like me, and love to follow along and see the areas they are in.) The dawn came as with a thunder, a fitting omen for the day. Fi

Full Circle is up! (it might take up to a minute after this post to appear). This one is just a hair under two full chapters in length. It had to be, it just worked better as one. This is of course twice the work for our team, who did an awesome job, without which we wouldn't have a chapter, let alone two. Thanks guys!! Please let me know what you think be it good, bad, or mixed. Also please note; the google map linked at the chapter top is interactive, so you can zoom it around to look at various spots or different areas. if you like, CJ

Ah, but you're forgetting; though Atlantis has now left Australia, much of the story occurred there, and the Australians used an inverted calendar, which thus runs backwards at times. And surely, as thanks to Australia for being the setting for so much of the story, we should use their mathematics for the chapter numbering? There have been many times that I've wished that I had completed this prior to posting; to make sure the details match up. There have been a few times when I've wished I could go back and change something.

Atlantis has a long voyage ahead, but much like when she crossed the Atlantic, it passes very fast for us. Interesting idea on the Navy... that would indeed put a crimp in Bridget's "welcoming committee" in Panama. She's planning on giving him such a warm welcome, too. Thanks Mike! But you might be a bit early, or late. The prologue, plus chapter 1 and 2, posted on Nov 29th, 2009, so it's coming up on 2 years ago. I started writing it over the summer, if I remember right. And BTW, don't you man chapter M7? (Remember, we were an Aussie maths for a while, but then when we translated back, we ended up with alphanumerics).