C James

Chapter 68: Getaways Trevor crouched low in the passenger seat of Ned’s car. He tried to relax, but he still felt hunted. When they arrived at the boatyard after a run through town – a precaution, in case they were being watched – Ned pulled his car around back, behind his office. Trevor got out, glancing around, feeling ill at ease. After Ned closed the yard’s gate, they walked past the boat ramp and then on past a row of covered boats, tarped and resting on blocks. Ned, grinning with pr

“What about the party this weekend? Is it still on?” Billy asked, casting a cautious glance over his shoulder. Kody stopped eating for a moment, his eyes following Billy’s to where Chad sat on the far side of the field, reading a book. “Yeah, it’s all set up... we just need to figure out who to invite,” he said, and they both knew exactly what the problem was: Chad. Billy stamped his foot, as he usually did when agitated. “Yeah, and who not to invite,” he added darkly. Kody let ou

Short Story Sometimes, strange is in the eye of the beholder.

For once, a very serious post from me; Two of the awards in the GA Reader's Choice awards bear my name, but, that's not a true reflection of reality. My stories are very much a team effort, so please join me in congratulating my team, who should really have their names on the following awards; The only fair way to do this is alphabetically, so congratulations, Bondwriter, Emoe, Graeme, MikeL, Red A, and Talonrider. Thanks you, for working with me to bring these characters to life. Thank you also, to everyone who has given me advice, suggestions, and other help along the way. And thank you to all who have given me feedback in this forum, via e-mail, or PM. Every bit of it lets me know how characters and plot are coming across, how they are being perceived, and what needs adjusting or enhancing. CJ

Ballot box stuffing! Good point!!!! I do happen to know that the results of the election for this award were challenged, and a recount called for, so that could be the reason! Maybe, in the interests of fairness, we should all agree that Cia deserves the cliffhanger award?

I love the vid, Jan! Thanks!!! My moonlighting job... Cia! Shame on you! I never use cliffhangers, so it could not be me... But but but... I've been framed!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now, have a look at the actual award... Clearly, it is unclear that it is me.

Please have a look at this page, which shows photos and a story about the design of "the ultimate pirate theme bedroom for a kid". Okay, I'm very poorly versed when it comes to kids, and I saw nothing negative in the comments, but this strikes me as a very bad idea! Well, a couple of things about it anyway... The kid it's for is 6... bear that in mind when you look at the photo of the guy walking on the rope bridge. The sides of that bridge reach only to his knee. Personally, I'd have gone for a rope half-tube instead of sides, to make falls less likely. Now, look at the photo of the crow's nest on the page. It might be a trick of perspective, but it looks like the lighting fixtures are awfully close to where kids will be fighting and playing. Also, think how high above the bedroom floor that is... on the order of 20 feet. It's rather close to the dropoff, and accessed by knotted rope. It's also conveniently placed high above sharp-edged furniture. I'd have at least put the entry to it away from the drop. Other than that, it's pretty cool IMHO... I especially liked the hidden slide and secret room, and the designer's dedication to testing it.

Would I ever do such a thing as that? 0:) Thank you, and welcome to the forum!

Interesting link on the financials of piracy. If true, it shows that out of a 4 million ransom, the pirates get over a million. It also shows that they are trading money for influence, and that one of the best tools against piracy it to make it unprofitable, or far less profitable. It also opens the door to information opps; if a 4 million ransom is paid by someone, wait a while and then float stories (via 'leaks')that it was a 7 million ransom. That could trigger violent infighting between the pirates and others who are in for a cut, by making it look like the pirates cheated them (And there have already been battles between pirates groups, and between pirates and militia, etc, so it's already a tinderbox situation). It might not work, but it's basically a zero cost option to try. BTW, a note to everyone on forum decorum. Please feel free to debate the issue, but don't get personal. Well, one caveat: if anyone wants to call me (but no one else, please) an opinionated blowhard, go right ahead, because I call myself that.

This article, 20 diy -mistakes we've made so you don't have to is a hoot, and also has great advice. I've made more than one of these goofs... For their #1, hitting a waterline with a screw, I wish I'd done that.... I hit a 120 volt electrical line instead. It was a shocking revelation.... I'll add another that really ought to be on the list... if you decide to put a lift kit on your SUV to increase ground clearance, it just might be a good idea to measure your garage door headframe in your garage (Especially if you have a non-standard height), to see how high it is. Otherwise, you might just find out the hard way when you go tearing out of your garage take your newly-lifted SUV out for it's first drive - or try to.

Thanks!!! It was originally (in the first draft) just a linear account of the planning, and then the events. It was also boring as hell! I rewrote it to skip around a bit and have some reveals. We learn a little of the background (such as a brief account of how they moved Atlantis) and a few other things (Whose idea was it for Shane to wear those holey shorts?) early in the next chapter, but I wanted to get the whole scenario in this one done in one chapter. There's nothing in the chapter to directly indicate that Sanchez is there, or knows where Trevor is. Oh, I think we can be sure that Trevor very much liked Shane in those holey shorts. Shane wearing those shorts did get him extra attention. There's a satellite phone on Kookaburra, so Trevor isn't phoneless. A cell wouldn't be a lot of use in most of Shark Bay anyway; no coverage except, i think, around Denham. Trevor wasn't on the boat at all in that chapter, not after sunup anyway. It was all Shane on the boat when the reporters appeared, though Fowler joined him breifly. It was written to be read so that it would be assumed that Kline had found Trevor on the boat, but he's not named; that's Shane, as we see after a few paragraphs. Trevor can't get his gun back until he departs Australia, you're right. And Trevor probably agrees with you about the binoculars. Irony? Me? LoL... It was a good idea Shane had, to dye Trevor's hair brown. Shane is blond (like Trevor was) and they bear a passing resemblance to each other (similar height, build, hair-color) so they pulled off the switch. Ah, time for me to mention the next chapter's title! It's "Getaways". CJ

Thanks!!! At worst, this (occasional extra-large chapters) will result in an occasional two week (instead of the normal one week) gap between chapters. To be honest though, the biggest risk of that happening right now is that I couldn't write while I was sick, so my buffer of completed chapters is pretty much gone. That makes things hard for my team, and also for me. I'll do what I can, but we might have a a two week gap coming up. I'm trying, but I have a novel for Premium that's overdue and I'm writing that as well. Hopefully, if things go well, we can avoid any slowdown on posting and the only downside to the extra large chapters will be an occasional smaller one, say 4k words, where that's a better fit. And goats are very trustworthy! For example, you can always trust us to never use a cliffhanger or have anything to do with one. I liked having this chapter as one single chapter; it flowed far better IMHO than when I had it split. Thanks! This chapter (67) was originally written differently. It was a simple linear runthrough, we saw everything as it occurred, including the planning, so no surprises, no reveals. It was larger, and IMHO boring as hell. I hated it. So, much got scrapped, and the chapter was rewritten. Captain hook?!?!? But but but... Aah, well, it's not a cliffhanger, so I can admit to an occasional subtle little hook.

I've always tended to gravitate towards logistics when it comes to military strategy: in most cases, logistics proves to be the key. In this case, I think it's helpful to look at the logistical situation of the pirates as a first step. They primarily attack in small fast skiffs (inflatables or rigids). These lack range. They have to operate from a "mothership" for anything far from the coast (say, 50 miles). The pirates generally have armed men in their bases, and those bases are most often in port cities (or near beaches and estuaries they use). In many cases, the pirate band (and it's shore-based extensions) are the de-facto local government. Large sections of Somalia are chaotic, ruled by local warlords. Money: that's the driving force. They do this for money, and are reaping millions. Ports: Somalia has only a few ports, and no shipbuilding capacity. Further, only some of the Somali coast is a problem, mainly the Puntaland region and a couple of other, far smaller locations. The pirates operate so far from their own waters because they have to; ships either avoid coming close to Somalia, or are part of protected convoys. The pirates are totally dependent in Western rules of engagement. They felt safe enough under the guns of a US destroyer (backed up by a carrier battle group!) to execute four Americans, right under the Navy's nose. A great many pirates have been caught and released. In brief, the pirates exist due to exploiting OUR rules. It's rather easy to win a game when only one side has to follow rules. The causes of piracy... money; making piracy less profitable should therefor help. The idea that it's "fishing rights", BTW, doesn't pass the smell test: Just how many foreign trawlers are hanging out in Somali waters, making themselves big stationary targets, since the piracy issue became severe? So, those fishing grounds have had years to recover. However, one way this issue can be exploited; have the Western Navies declare those Somali waters a no-fishing zone, no exceptions for anyone, and that Somalis can resume fishing once piracy ends. That would cut down on ship traffic, provide incentive, and also allow the grounds to recover while taking away one of the pirate's favorite excuses. They also work with both drug and illegal immigrant smugglers. In some cases, the pirates are actively involved in these and other illegal trades. There's no one answer to piracy; no one thing will end this. All too often, politicians aren't capable of thinking macrodynamically, so they look for one simple thing. Of course, in this case, there aren't any. Invasion by the US and/or Western allies? It would be a bloody mess (Protracted insurgent war), and entail trying to rebuild Somalia. It likely wouldn't work for long, and it's also not needed. My opinion? A multifaceted approach, with an asymmetric slant. #1: End Somalia's ocean-going capacity. They have few ports (and only a few of those would need to be dealt with, for some aren't involved in piracy), and ports are where you'll find the large trawlers or other ocean going motherships. This can be done very economically with mines; we only need to mine the ports, not the whole coast. Once Somalia's (or, more exactly, the areas of it engaging in piracy) ocean-going capacity is gone (or rendered unable to put to sea) it would largely (but not entirely) end the menace except close to shore. Modern sea mines (some varients) and be activated and deactivated selectively and remotely, so this would give an option regarding the specific ports; they could have access to the sea again if, and only if, the get rid of the pirates in their midst and take active measures to ensure pirates can't use their port. Basically, this is taking a page from the Barbary Wars, where treaties were negotiated (usually after a naval bombardment) with the cities that sheltered the pirates. #2: Stop encouraging them by letting them use our own rules against us. If we had one wit of sense, the naval forces that responded with an assault when the hostages were executed (we didn't know they were dead) would have just taken the bodies and left the pirates on the boat, and then the destroyer could have had some target practice with its Phalanx CIWS system (essentially a very high speed 20mm machine gun). The fact that the pirates felt safe enough to execute Americans right under the nose of an American warship is proof enough; level the playing field, and stop giving the pirates advantages. In addition to the above, mix it up a bit by going after any and all targets of opportunity; a pirate base, a pirate controlled ares, a pirate mothership, etc, should be a target at any time, not just when caught in the act. The pirates often use smaller boats from beaches, (the one Red mentions is a major center) to take close in targets (few, these days) or ships to use as motherships. These beaches are often known, and can be seeded from the air with area-denial mines. Also, the skiffs themselves can be destroyed from the air (those that we can find, at any rate...). Hostages: we don't know how many of the 700+ they hold are still alive. They would likely try to use them as bargaining chips against any effective action. Issue notice that any executions of hostages will result in heavy relation against any and all involved parties and any of their supporters. That won't save them all, but it would save some. Many would likely be killed, but... this must be cold-bloodedly balanced against the near certainty of a higher death toll if piracy is allowed to go on. It's also well worth noting that the pirates have been far more respectful of Russian shipping lately. Why? Because the Russians, on at least one occasion, did their own version of catch-and-release. Only, they did it 110 miles from land, and those eleven pirates won't be troubling anyone ever again. I also admire the Russian sense of humor when commenting on the incident. Blockade: No Somali ships, of any size whatsoever, from pirate areas go to sea. Easier than it sounds; we don't need to blockade all of Somalia, just the regions engaging in piracy. Can this stop them all? Nope... but we'd stop some. Interdiction; make an effort to keep all maritime supplies (parts, engines, etc) out of Somali hands. Also make an effort to make piracy less profitable; take more risks with rescue opps and try to avoid paying any ransoms. Finally, allow ships that wish to do so to arm themselves. Currently, there are atrocious legal issues regarding carrying firearms on a ship. Even cruise ships most often resort to "non-lethal defense" such as sound weapons, thereby putting countless lives at risk. Non-lethals have their role, but IMHO should be used in combination with lethals. A few decent rifles (with competent shooters) would make an very workable defense: the pirates attack in skiffs, where there is no cover for them or their engines. Get the enough of the pirate and/or the engine, and you end the threat. (This is a case of deploying inferior firepower that, due to the inherent tactical situation, give the defender the advantage due to range; a rife outranges an AK47 or an RPG, and anyone on a ship, even a yacht, has inherently better cover available than a light skiff does. Given a choice, I'd much rather be alone on a slow yacht with a scoped 30-06 (with a starlight scope available, in case it's a night attack...) than part on at attacking party in a skiff with an AK-47 or RPG! This kind of range effect can create a tactical draw, and in the case of a tactical draw, the defender wins. The pirates have to close and board; the target only needs to keep them away.) It's also worth noting that letting the pirates get close, even if you prevent them from boarding, risks the lives of all aboard; they've even fired RPG's into cruise ships before. Letting them in close takes away the biggest tactical asset the defending vessel has. Caveat: yes, I know an RPG 7 (the most common variant in use there) can fire at over a thousand yards, but at that range they are incredibly inaccurate. A seated trained gunner on LAND has great difficulty at ranges exceeding about 150 yards, and in a skiff on the sea, they are largely useless at any significant range. The idea of ceding most of the Indian ocean to a bunch of drug-addled cuthroads in skiffs is one I find untenable. Look at the live piracy link Red posted (Thanks Red!): those attacks are all just this year; two months. This needs to be stopped, and a variety of things can be tried. (and like anything else, if one thing doesn't work, try something else). Like it or not, this is a war and needs to be thought of as such. Interdiction; make an effort to keep all maritime supplies (parts, engines, etc) out of Somali hands. Also make an effort to make piracy less profitable; take more risks with rescue opps and try to avoid paying any ransoms. Anyway, that's my take on it... and would this end piracy? Nope... probably not, but it would reduce it. It is helpful to look at the Barbary Wars of North Africa and the "Golden age of piracy" in the Caribbean for insight into what worked in those times, and what lessons can be learned. One big one: immediate execution of pirates has a salutary effect (And if nothing else, it does wonders for reducing the recidivism rate). Another is that the key in many past pirate outbreaks is attrition; keep working the problem, taking out as many pirates as possible. My prediction is that nothing meaningful will be done until things are far worse (Say, after a bloodbath or two, like the sinking of a cruise ship with massive death toll, or the deaths of hundreds more hostages), and then the death toll on both sides will be far, far higher. I hope I'm wrong. Edit to add: I'm no expert, so I may well have things above wrong.

Trevor, with the "Tat" and the dye job and haircut, looks a lot different... he's now got brown hair, instead of blond. I think it was a good idea that Shane had to do that, and the southern cross tattoo. Also, a touch of synchronicity; it was the Southern Cross, or rather, mistaking the False Cross for it, that caused Trevor to miss Reunion and have to try the Southern Ocean. Shane's last name is mentioned only once, but it is mentioned, when he goes to Atlantis to apologize. It's Shane Rhys. Shane didn't charter it, Ned arranged that, and the Blakes agreed. But, they did put Kookaburra in Shane's care, and let him live aboard, which is indeed very accepting and trusting of them. We'll find out more as we go on. And yep, it sure was good of the customs guys to go along with this scheme! It couldn't have been pulled off without Fowler's role in it.

HH5, THANK YOU for finding and posting this. I hope those kids, and the rest of the captives, survive, and the pirates don't execute them. Speaking of hostages... I wonder how long it will be before the press figures out the fact that a sizable percentage of the 700+ hostages in Somalia are no long breathing? Basically, the pirates don't keep them around too long if they can't get money for them. Estimates vary, but it is likely that at least a fifth have been killed. My prediction as to what will be done about this scourge? Absolutely nothing. I hope I'm wrong.

Chapter 67, Shell Game, is up. CJ

Well, I do admit that she's not perfect as a sweet, grandmotherly character... but, people do have their little flaws; no one is perfect. Sure, she does a few high-handed things (Like sending Trevor a going-away present in the Suez, and then causing that little pirate problem) but she's being very hospitable to Joel and Lisa... Awww, Benji... You know you miss sweet, lovable, misunderstood Eric... Indeed!

Hey, sneaky misquoting!!!! I said "Am I not known..." Not "I am not known..." Evil Steve! Surely, we all know that I'd never, ever use or write a cliffhanger!

Chapter 67: Shell Game A sudden, overwhelming silence descended on the customs shack, as Trevor felt goosebumps rising on his arm at the news that the press was on its way. All the fears he’d had that the bomb and pirate attack might be somehow connected returned in full force, and he again felt hunted. Officer Fowler nodded out the window, towards Atlantis. “What I’ve heard so far is that a couple of reporters have been making phone calls to people in town, and they already know that you

Hey! There are no cliffhangers in my stories! After all, am I not known for my utter and total avoidance of all cliffhangers? So there. But.... I'll admit I did have fun reading the story. It's been years since I last did, and it was fun to look back.

Thanks! BTW, I finally got the remainder of For the Love up on GA stories. Now, I need to get busy and get two more novels transferred from my site. I'm slow.

The better part of a year had passed since that bloody afternoon at the Blackbird mine. Life had continued for us all; funded by the settlement from Thaddeus, Steve and I had moved to Maui, pursuing our degrees; his in law, mine in medicine. Dex sat at our computer, typing away furiously as I mussed with the string tie I wore with my tux. I couldn't resist, so I asked Dex again, "Why don't you tell us about your new job with the National Security Agency?' Pausing, glancing up from his

The fatal shot still ringing in my ears, I lay in the dirt, waiting for a bullet of my own, a bullet I no longer wished to avoid. No bullet came to end the ache in my heart, so I looked up, in time to see the sheriff's body falling next to Steve's, what remained of his head hitting the dirt beside Steve's feet. Other feet intruded on my shock, feet pounding the earth behind me as footsteps approached. A pair of tennis shoes stopped by my head, and I stared at them trying to make sense

All hell broke loose as soon as the sheriff's call ended. Frantic explanations were given, and equally frantic phone calls made. Our first call was to Officer Jacobs, the only Lonesome Valley deputy on duty. Still crippled by his wounded leg, he was unable to help, but he promised that he'd get the state police moving immediately. The bad news; he expected nothing from them for several hours, due to their nearest units being in Phoenix: there was no way we could get help before the sheriff's dea

Pain shot through my leg, jarring me back to consciousness. Letting out a yelp as I recoiled from the pain, I struggled against the fog, fighting my way back to awareness. Opening my eyes, my vision still blurry, I saw Steve waking up in my arms as I reached down to touch my wounded leg. I drew my hand back, seeing red in more ways than one. Steve opened his eyes, staring at the smear of blood on my hand, muttering, "Damn it, he must have been under the bed..." "Beelzebub," I growled,