C James

Basingstoke is a careful man, so I'm not surprised he came up with a plan that pleased Bridget and Sanchez. Don't worry though, we'll find out what it is, soon enough.

The irony is, Bridget saved Lisa and Joel from being arrested.

I suspect George did not find this particular breakfast to his liking, either.

I suspect George did not find this particular breakfast to his liking, either.

Wow, thanks everyone!!! I usually try to reply to all comments, but in this case, I'm very constrained in both time and spoiler limitations; there's not much I can say without letting many cats out of the bag, and getting ready for winter is putting huge demands on my time this week. Great points raised... I can, sort of, address one issue, by mentioning that the title of the story is Circumnavigation. That means that something has to go around the world, though it might merely be Trevor's head if Basingstoke gets his way and ships it to the Bahamas. It could be Atlantis... or Trevor alone, or Trevor and Shane, etc.. but I have to hold true to the title. Will I say how many chapters remain? Nope... not because I won't, but because I can't. Whatever I say will surely be wrong, because it's been proven, time and again, that I stink at chapter estimating. We're in the home stretch though... as George's little swim indicates; things are heating up a bit, and we might be in for some interesting times. Bridget, as she said to George, does have plans to make use of his actions, but it remains to be seen if she can pull them off. Will Georges' absence be noticed? Not right away... he is often mentioned as working undercover, so if he vanishes for a couple of days, it's nothing unusual. The next chapter title is Heading North. BTW, one thing I have always wanted to do (but have always bungled the timing on) is have Christmas in a story coincide with Christmas for us. It looks like, at last, I'll be able to do it. I'll have to mangle the posting schedule a bit though, by posting chapter 105 two days early. Plan on it for Christmas Eve. CJ

You're right... The kilo is a unit of mass. This is a further proof that me trusting my memory is a bad idea. I always preferred using slugs for acceleration calculations, but it's been a few years since I did, and for some reason I remembered that slugs were used because many other units were units of weight, not mass, but even the pound is actually a unit of mass.

Thanks! And, now we know the answer to what the farm mentioned a few chapters back by Bridget is.

Hey now! You're one to talk, seeing as how you're a partner of Bridget Bellevue in Rob's Marine! We've seen Rob once, and he's mentioned as being young, and having a Jersey accent...

That 767 was the Gimli Glider; an Air Canada flight that due to both an instrumentation problem (non-working fuel gauge) and a goof on converting liters to pounds of fuel (or something along those lines) ended up suddenly running out of fuel in mid flight. They managed to set down, deadstick, at what used to be an airfeild but was now a racetrack, one in use at the time... one awesome landing IMHO, because no one died. I sometimes use Metric. One way I use it often is for measurements when I need to divide, such as for figuring out where to center boards to get evenly spaced horizontal fence slats. That kind of math is tricky with a base-12 system (I'd usually have to convert feet to inches to pull it off, an extra mathematical step, then deal with fractions, ugh)) so I just use the metric side of my tape measure. But Zombie, I thoguht you'd be all in favor of anything with a potential for mayhem, death, and carnage? I do agree thought... the mish-mash has caused trouble. NASA has converted to Metric for engineering (mainly) but aviation... not really. In fact, it's IMHO less metric than a decade ago. I think they did go for standardization in fuel measurements (gallons and pounds) and avoid metric after the Gimli Glider incident though. Metric IMHO is inferior for some purposes, such as units of mass (as opposed to weight). When calculating acceleration rates, you need to use mass, not weight, in your calculations, such as calculating the rate of acceleration (in physics, there is no such thing as deceleration, any change in delta is an acceleration, even slowing down). An example would be figuring the acceleration rate in G's of a chunk of foam suddenly introduced to a 4000mph slip stream. For that, you need a unit of mass, and I much prefer slugs. A slug, like all units of mass, is defined by its inertia: one slug is a mass that accelerates by 1 ft/s2 when a force of one pound (lbF) is exerted on it. On earth's surface, one slug weighs thirty two point something (the acceleration rate of 1G gravity) pounds. The slug is needed for engineering calculations in non-one G environments where a kilogram or a pound change value with the G field, because they are units of weight, not mass. (a kilogram on the moon is a lot different to one on earth, or in a fighter pulling G's, etc, etc). So... what's the metric equivalent unit for a slug? The glug, or, for a different scale, the mug. But, the last I heard, even European engineers still use the good old Imperial slug.

Chapter 103: Breakfast on the Farm Trevor and Shane got up early, taking the shuttle bus into Rockingham, and then trains into Perth and on to Ashfield station – the closest they could find to the domestic terminals of Perth International Airport. It was a three mile walk across the Swan river, into Redcliffe, and then into the airport. En route Trevor observed, “Joel will have luggage, plus he’ll be tired, so unless we can find a bus going the right way, we’ll probably have to take a taxi b

Breakfast on the Farm is up. We're still using Australian Maths for the chapter numbering, so this chapter AUD 69. However, if you're longing for a return to northern hemispheric math, just turn the chapter number upside down. For those wondering what happened in Sydney in the last chapter, and about some other incongruities - some from many chapters ago, regarding the drug-frame-plot - this chapter has the answers, and a lot of new info. Special thanks to Graeme for the photos in this one.

I'm back, got in yesterday after a brutal drive, the last 100 miles in a raging blizzard, and have been busy as heck ever since. I love the posts above (thanks!!!), and I'll be back to reply soon, probably tomorrow, but right now I think I'd best work on getting the chapter ready to post so it won't be late. One thing though... is there a cliffhanger around here? Sad to say, yes! I see it, quite clearly, in the post above... Benji left us HANGING for the chapter title, so Benji is clearly guilty of a cliffhanger!!!!

Chapter 102: Welcome to Australia Kookaburra, once Ares though now wearing the name ‘Red Roo’, churned south, riding the early morning winds offshore of Fremantle. Trevor was at the helm, glancing at the navigation display, when Shane asked, “What do you want to do when we get there? We were going to search for your family; not a lot of point in that now.” Trevor smiled and shrugged. “See Perth, I guess.” Shane grinned. “I saw a bit of it when I was here for the competition: I arrived a fe

"Welcome to Australia" may, or may not, be up yet, depending on when you are reading this. It's slated to automatically post as 4pm Monday because I'm going out of town for a few days, so I used timed-posting in the GA stories software. I can't, however, do that with the thread, and I like to directly link the thread from the chapter, so that means it has to be created before I load the chapter. The chapter number... well, let's call it AUD 69, as demanded by Australian Maths. However, if you're one of those folks who are having trouble with Australian maths, feel free to turn that 69 upside down, for the northern hemisphere number. The chapter is slated to post at 4pm Monday. I'm not sure whether that's my time (Mountain standard) or the server's time, which I think it Eastern. When the chapter appears, the link should work. I hope. If not, we can all blame Wildone. CJ

Interesting! I don't know... I could see it going either way. IMHO, Metric sees to be coming less, not more, accepted in the US over time, at least for the last decade. For example, I had to buy a few quarter-inch bolts the other days, and there was no mention on the label of their metric size. A few years ago, it would have been on there somewhere, though likely in small print. Weather forecasts used to feature temperatures in both F and C, but now they are mostly F only. I can say for sure that the push to eventually change over to Metric is pretty much gone, though we still have the dual labeling laws for most things. Space, on the other hand... NASA has adopted Metric to a large degree, especially since the Mars Climate Orbiter mission in 1999. Long story short, they used a metric measurement for thrust for the onboard engine, but the software routines for the mid-course corrections burns were written for foot-pounds. The mission profile demanded utmost precision for Mars arrival; an aerobreaking maneuver (skimming the Martian atmosphere) for Mars orbital insertion. So, they did a 4th course correction just prior to reaching Mars. The result of the metric mixup; the Mars Climate Orbiter was targeted too low in the atmosphere, probably causing it to break up. It was never heard from again. Ooops. So, for Space, we went largely Metric. For example, even tracking arcs for satellites tracked by SpaceCom report orbital apogee and perigee in kilometers, not miles. On the other hand, the design specs for the SLS, the new Heavy Lifter NASA wants to build, list the vehicle length in feet and the payload fairing diameter in meters. The specs for payload are in tons, but SLS was specced out by the US Senate (what could possibly go wrong there?) and the mandated payload mass is listed in tons. Are those metric or standard tons? We spell "ton" the same way for both, and the Senate didn't bother to say which. (there's a roughly 10% difference). So, even NASA doesn't know. (And if it sounds crazy that the Senate, not NASA, is coming up with rocket design specs, that's because it is.). So, in, say 25 years, will we find a quarter inch drill bit in orbit? My guess is "Maybe", because they'll still be selling them on the ground, and they aren't flight hardware, but, they will probably have metric sizes too (and I do hope they don't try to put a quarter inch bolt in a 6mm hole...). Automotive tool kits, for example, often have metric and imperial sockets and wrenches.

Trouble? but what could possibly go wrong? Don't worry, Basingstoke is alive and well, he hasn't had an accident or anything. We'll be hearing from him soon. Rachel did indeed cause a lot of trouble for Trevor. More than any of the characters yet know; they don't yet know, for example, all of the reasons why Bridget wants Trevor dead - one was to frame Dirk, the other to stop Trevor finding Ares. Joel has two (not counting his adoption of Trevor) brothers; one younger, one older, and the older one is in college, and a touch homophobic. The bows of Ares were replaced, and the ones on Atlantis destroyed at sea. There is a void space in the bows. You're right; Shane would not be a good choice to take Ares halfway around the world. You're also right that she's a bit of a hot potato; she could be sold, but without a clean title (which she no longer has) she's damaged goods, kind of like selling a car without a clean title. You can do it, but you would only get a fraction of her worth. She couldn't just be registered as "new" because, like a car, she has a title and registration that would have to be included. She could be registered in the US under the circumstances, but it would be a nightmare, at least, getting the paperwork done. Lisa didn't actually tell Bridget much of anything, except via the bugs, and Joel did most of the talking. And, Lisa and Joel got some nice new suitcases out of it, so it's all good, right? Poor Trevor; he was already kind of overwhlmed with PTSD, the aftermath of his Indian Ocean ordeal, the constant threat from the press, the worry that someone wants him dead and might try again, and now his 'dead' mother drops by for a surprise chat. He's going to have a hard time dealing with it all. Yep, the police car was Greg Fowler's doing. Don't worry about Henry; George was mentioned as having walked to the cafe, so he's not parked close, so Henry won't see anything to worry about on that tracker. Bridget... maybe she was just being helpful? But but but... I'd never cause tension, it would be too much like a cliffy! And we all know I'd never do that. Bridget's tip on rolling the clothes is actually a very good one; it's a great way of packing. Perhaps she was just trying to be helpful? Yep, Lisa has sort of "adopted" Bridget as a surrogate mother, which to a large degree blinds her a bit. Bridget knew of that gap in Lisa's life, and carefully stepped into the role. If Lisa ever learns the truth, it will be devastating for her. Actually, the oppositite: it creates an explanation as to why Bridget's fingerprints and DNA might be on the suitcases. What it doesn't show is when the cases were given to Lisa and Joel; it could be well before any internal additions. It would also seem incongrous that Bridget would just waltz up and provide the cases, plus pack them, if Bridget intended to frame Lisa and Joel. Also, how would Lisa and Jeol prove it happened as they say? Also, what of the other peices of the frame up... one of which was cash. Whatever happened to the coke-tainted money Bridget gave Joel for Trevor's car? BTW, time to announce the next chapter title. It's Welcome to Australia! A happy, utterly non-ominous title. So, no worries.

Lisa and Joel's visit to the guesthouse, brief though it was, sure spilled the beans to B&G. The good news is that no matter what, it's likely that the guesthouse bugs won't be much further use. Wasn't it nice of Bridget to wish Lisa and Joel a white Christmas?

"So Be It" is up. It's chapter number is AUD68, as dictated by the unwavering and undeniable strictures of Australian Mathematics. Enjoy, and BTW, to all who are here in the U.S, Happy Thanksgiving.

Chapter 101: So Be It Aboard Kookaburra, it was early Tuesday morning, not long after sunup, when Shane, who was sleeping lightly, felt Trevor begin to stir. Trevor felt Shane’s arms around him as consciousness returned, and instinctively snuggled closer, feeling safe and secure in Shane’s embrace. Sometimes, when a person awakes from a dream, the dream does not fade all at once, the disjointed reality of the dream lingering on for a few moments as wakefulness ends. Trevor’s mind began

I forgot to announce the title of the next chapter! It's "So Be It". The chapter number will be, per Australian Maths, AUD68.

Thanks! Look at the bright side; even though Circumnavigation isn't complete quite yet, at least with me as the author you know with absolute certainty that you don't have to worry about a cliffhanger happening, because there are none. Thanks! Yep, she can be sneaky, especially if she thinks its in a good cause.

Not all the police are dirty; we only know of George, so far. Manipulative? Um, I gotta admit that one. Yep, Trevor and his friends have in many ways been pawns. If they can get together and compare notes, they may learn much.

Thanks! But, I've taken to numbering the chapters using Australian math now, which converted #99 to #66, in order to evade admitting that I am a verbose blabbermouth who cannot count.

Okay, first, let's take a look at the marina in Ft. Pierce. This link should bring it up in google maps. In it, you can see just one big catamaran, and it's the southeasternmost boat moored in the marina. In the initial chapters of the book I described Atlantis as being moored there, though on the north rather than the south side of that pier. Dirk is mentioned as owning some of the boat docks, though not all of the ones in the marina (there are a lot). I envision (yes, Marty, I'm taking artistic license here) that the Chandlery is about where we see the icon for Whitecar Marine Services. The adjoining piers in that spot are slip moorings, where Atlantis could not fit. They are for monohull boats. The place we see the big catamaran moored isn't adjoining the chandlery or that likely parcel. You know what's really irksome? See the north side of the marina; it's Florida A1, crossing the Indian River. I drove across it not long before starting this story and thus right past the marina. I have wished many times I had stopped for a look around and to take some pictures. And yep, if Bridget and George learn that Ares is still around, they might have elevated stress levels for a while. Marty, I'm about done here myself. My lack of understanding and knowledge of correct police procedures, as you say, would be apt ONLY if I had maintained that Fowler and Grundig acted in total accordance with their rules and procedures. I have said Fowler cut Trevor a break, albeit a small one, by not arresting him. Under the circumstances, I consider such a break well justified; Trevor had arrived after a horrific ordeal at sea, and in such bad shape that they wanted to put him in hospital. I maintain that under such circumstances he'd get some leeway. True, he moved his gun to avoid it being seen, but while we know that, Fowler does not?. Gonzalez: Yes, I consider him honest. Did he break the law regarding Joel's car? Let's assume he did. He was doing it in the pursuit of justice, a thing in which he deeply believes. I have the same right to voice my opinions in this forum as you do Marty, and my opinion of Gonzalez is that he's an honest, clean cop who serves the cause of Justice. I see no contradiction because he may have broken a law or procedure. Honesty and the law are not, in my opinion, always the same thing, and a hell of a lot of dishonesty has taken place under color of law. Now, as for Gonzalez's involvement with bugging Joel's car. Here's what Gonzalez said to Henry about that in 85; Your claim above is he entered into a criminal conspiracy with Henry when he permitted the bugging of Joel';s car. I believe you were also saying something about crashing and burning? Now as for the IRS: They are IMHO the most draconian institutions in American government, and they commit grave abuses, but not in every case. What they apparently, according to Dirk, had Dirk cold on was the loan application forms, which is not a tax matter. They had no legal grounds to seize anything of his, so they didn't. They had a minor possible charge (very minor, once the loan was paid off) and then they put things on hold because they thought Dirk was going down for murder one. Like any agency, they have limited manpower and thus aren't inclined to waste it. Plus, on the tax side, an anonymous tip is not enough to do much with, especially when it names Rachel, not Dirk. If you think I'm wrong on this, show me a precidentiary case or a legal citation proving it (not merely that it has occured at some point, but is the usual practice), and I'll happily admit any error on my part. Do I make mistakes? Oh hell yes, I do. And when I do and am made aware of it (an actual mistake), I usually proclaim it and not try to hide it. That does not, however, mean I won't argue when I consider the facts to be on my side.

Wildone!! It is philosophically almost impossible to prove a negative, so the best I can do is point out that there are no cliffhangers in Circumnavigation! Can you point to even one chapter that has a cliffhanger? Who? Me? He's had some nasty shocks... two attempts on his life, and then to top it off his long-dead mother stopping by for a surprise visit. How much more can he endure? That's a very good question. I am very hopeful that we can avoid any further skipped weeks in this story. True, that's one way to read it. Trevor does not know about Basingstoke, so Trevor isn't worried about him. Absolutly true!!! I never do... if you look back at any of the bad things that have happened to Trevor, none of them have been me. The bomb on Atlanits was done by Bridget and George, not me. Same with the pirates. Basingstoke is indeed the most dangerous character that we know of.