The Feminine Queendom Charlie’s War 85

© Beverly Taff

List of Characters.

Charlie Sage Maths and electronics genius.
Shirley Sage Charlies elderly mother
Chloe Charlie’s one time early school friend.
Josephine Flint Surgeon and associate of Chloe’s.
Mrs Jane Anston Director of Anston Aerospace.
Ronnie Garage mechanic at top of lane
Pauline Garage owner, Ronnie’s sister.
Briony Pauline’s teenaged daughter.
Billy Pauline’s middle son.
Abigail (Abby) Pauline’s youngest daughter.
‘Poppy’ Charlie’s little micro-runabout.
‘Doris’ The armoured mobile home.
‘Lady’ Chloe’s Sports Car.
Dawn Charlie’s armoured spaceship.
Colonel Wilson Vindictive misanthropist doctor.
Margaret Thomas ‘Failed’ police security guard.
Sally. 1st Oz Special forces trooper
Jacky 2nd Oz Special forces trooper.
Juliet Charlie’s Mal engineering assistant.
Laura The second mate of the Second Dawn
Kate (Katherine Bergson) The Australian defence minister.
Lieutenant Engadine Asi Charlie’s second prisoner.
Charlotte Charlie and Chloe’s older daughter
Michael, Jessica & Lucy Charlie and Chloe’s younger triplets

Chapter 85

Charlie Joined Juliet as ordered by General Wilson at the end of the guest line.

“Have you noticed something Julie.” Charlie asked, for there was no need to whisper as the Royal Helicopter roared in to land.

“Yeah. We’re the only men here.” Juliet replied. “Is that Wilson nutter deliberately trying to insult us?”

“Or perhaps separate us by sticking us out here on the end.”

Juliet was quick to spot Charlie’s nuance and she grinned.

“If they want to try any tricks, I’ve got machine pistol under my overalls and jacket; plus a couple of mags.”

“You’re learning,” Charlie smiled. “I’ve only got a pistol but I’ve also got my chainmail ground suite on under this suit. I’ve met these feminista bitches before. Have you noticed they’re all carrying tasers.”

“I hadn’t but now you mention it. D’you think they’re planning something? Surely not with the Queen here!”

“I wouldn’t put anything past that general, she’s a misanthropic psychopath and she’s tried to either kill me or have me kidnapped three times now.”

“Hey-up! All smiles boss, here comes Queenie.”

The young Queen was slowly walking down the line exchanging brief words with everybody while both prime ministers accompanied her. General Wilson was slowly parading behind the trio with his sword at attention but there was no real need. There was neither a military escort nor a band. There had been no time to organise one.

Charlie wagged his head at the General’s pretentious display.

Eventually, the inspection party arrived at Juliet and Charlie. The young Queen smiled then asked.

“Which one of you is Captain Sage?”

“I am Ma-am.”

The Queen flinched momentarily at Charlie’s familiarity. On first introductions everybody addressed her formally as ‘Your Majesty.’ Charlie sensed his diplomatic blunder and quickly corrected himself.

“Sorry; your Majesty.”

“No matter Captain Sage. So you are the scientist that invented these remarkable craft.”

“Yes Ma-am; well the engines at least, my good friend Captain Juliet here supervises the construction of the ships.”

“Yes, I see. Will we be able to enjoy a test flight in one later.”

For a long moment there was a pregnant silence as Charlie digested the Queen’s request. Having read her previous private note Charlie was aware that the young Queen genuinely felt she might be in danger. Before he answered another voice intervened.
,
“Majesty," The UQ PM interrupted, "there’s a busy itinerary set for the rest of the day, I’m afraid the trade talks will occupy our day.

Charlie quickly noted that the young Queen was distinctly irritated and, knowing already that she might be in danger; he now knew her to be frightened as well. Quickly he looked for some sort of diversion.

”Perhaps Ma-am if there isn’t time today then maybe tomorrow, or alternatively, I could offer the young princess a trip into space, properly protected of course. A couple of your guards could accompany Captain Juliet on the Dawn 2 perhaps.

If the talks are to take all day, there would be time for your daughter to visit the moon even and be back in time for tea, say four or five PM.”

He noticed the brief flicker of hope, flash across the young Queen's face and realised she was trying either say something or organise something. Her private note had warned Charlie of her desperate situation.

She immediately agreed to Charlie’s offer and her face lit up with hope.

“I think that would be a splendid idea Captain Sage!”

She turned to her entourage and spoke loudly enough for everybody to hear.

“General Wilson, could you organise that please. Two of your guards to accompany my daughter aboard one of these two smaller ships and travel into space.
Which would be best Captain Sage?”

“Oh if four or five are going then Dawn 2 is definitely the best choice, there’s much more room than my little ship. Julie can you do the honours please?
He’s my most experienced space captain Ma-am.”

Juliet was by now also aware that something untoward was afoot, so he agreed immediately with Charlie’s suggestion.

“Sure thing boss; to the moon and back it is then.”

Charlie realised that the Queen was trying to get daughter to safety and he could see General Wilson almost bouncing with rage. Her plans seemed to be encountering all sorts of unexpected developments, but she could not refuse the Queen in the face of the full diplomatic entourage.

As the Queen and her entourage went to board the Dawn 4 Charlie watched the young princess emerge from the royal helicopter with two escorting sergeants. Sulkily she approached Juliet who smiled reassuringly and gave her the exciting news. Charlie grinned as he saw the girl’s face light up with delight and give Juliet a desperate hug.

‘He’s got an excellent way with kids.’ Charlie thought as he watched them board Dawn 2.

For a moment, the whole royal party stopped to watch the Dawn 2 ascend in total silence, then as it disappeared into the heavens, they resumed boarding the Dawn 4.

Once they were all safely aboard, Charlie made to join them but found his way blocked at the bottom of the gangway. He also found himself alone except for the two guards and General Wilson blocking his way.

“Excuse me. I need to get aboard.”

“Have you got your royal pass?”

“Of course I don’t have a pass. I’m the owner and second Captain of this ship. Now let me pass!”

He noticed the general give a brief nod to his guards and they stepped aside as Charlie moved towards the gangway.

‘Here it comes!’ He realised as the guards and General Wilson reached for their tasers.

By now, Charlie was self-taught in some simple self-defence moves but more importantly, he was quick to spot a trap. He stepped back off the gangway and started to move towards Dawn 1 which was only a few metres to the side of the gangway. General Wilson quickly realised that Charlie was considering an escape.

“Arrest him!” She shouted as she stepped forward with her taser pointing directly at Charlie’s chest.

The guards drew their own tasers and fired but of course Charlie had anticipated this. When he had stopped earlier at his Hammersley home he had recovered his old industrial ground suit of fine chain mail. This was the ‘underwear’ he had been struggling to don when changing suits in the little cabin of Dawn 1.

The guards were shocked to realise that their tasers, despite being both set to maximum stun, had no effect on the six-foot four-inch giant walking away from them. Instead the shock was shorted out by the chain mail and their tasers melted in their hands. They both shrieked with pain as their fingers were scorched by the sticky, molten plastic.

Seeing this, General Wilson realised her taser would be useless so she reached for her side-arm that was buckled into it’s holster by her side. By the time she had unbuckled the polished ceremonial holster, Charlie had rushed the couple of steps to Dawn 1’s ramp and ducked behind the thick steel ‘clamshell’ doors.

General Wilson had to dash down the Dawn 4's gangway, get past the two injured guards then cross the same couple of meters to get a shot at the disappearing giant. When she finally had a clear view, all she could see was the interconnecting airtight door swinging shut with Charlie behind it. She fired of a burst of automatic fire but most of the bullets smashed harmlessly against the thick metal airtight door.

One bullet ricocheted off the door frame and sliced into the cabin where it grazed Charlie’s ear before spending itself in the cushioning of the co-pilot’s seat.

“You Bitch!” He cursed as he realised Wilson hade made yet another genuine attempt to kill him.

‘The woman’s obviously mad!’ He concluded as he took off as fast as he could into space.

ooo000ooo

Once safe in space Charlie quickly re-assembled his forces. His first move was to alert Laura in Dawn 3.

“Where are you Laura?”

“Working on Moonbase Alpha with the rest of the team.”

“I think I’m gonna’ need you and Dawn 3.”

“Oh! Trouble?”

“A bit. That crazy bitch who tried to kidnap my kids is back and she’s wearing a general’s uniform now.”

“You mean the mad Wilson bitch. Go on.” Laura encouraged.

“She’s still in the kidnap game but now she’s trying to kidnap the queen.”

“Who? Queen Sophia!”

“Is there any other?”

“Shit. D’ you have any plan?”

“I’ve managed to get the Princess Victoria separated from the queen and she’s coming to the moon in Dawn 2. I want you to somehow separate her from her personal bodyguards, they’re actually her gaolers. Juliet is piloting Dawn 2 and she’s on our side, - that’s Queen Sophia’s side. Juliet is armed with a machine -pistol, so she’ll be able to help. Do not harm Juliet or the Princess, I know how rough you can play.”

“Leave it to me boss.” Laura enthused.

And Charlie knew he could.

With the Princess Victoria safe, Charlie felt free to address the main issue, somehow freeing the Queen from General Wilson’s clutches.

Firstly, he keyed into Dawn 1’s computer and located the coded string to take remote control of Dawn 4. After that, he simply had to wait a few hours for the tide to flow to its maximum height while Dawn 4 automatically kept adjusting her height relative to sea level.

During these hours, everything seemed strained to everybody aboard Dawn 4. The trade talks progressed slowly for everybody sensed that with Charlie being absent things had stalled. With the Queen's entourage having boarded before the incident with General Wilson and the gun, nobody realised Charlie had become a fugitive despite his diplomatic status.

Now safe aboard Dawn 1, Charlie watched his navigation table to keep a track of the huge tides on Aberavon beach until there was water enough for Dawn 1 to play her submariner role and sneak underneath the paralyzed leviathan.

Once sure he had total control of Dawn 4, via his super-smart phone, he submerged in Dawn 1 near Lundy Island and travelled underwater right into Swansea bay. The silt laden waters disguised his approach and very quickly he was located exactly under the ballast dump doors of the outer water ballast tanks. Now having total remote control of Dawn 4 while the diplomats and royal party were blissfully ignorant, Charlie opened the ballast dump doors.

Cautiously he waited for the inner tank and outer sea-water levels to equalise then Dawn 1 carefully eased herself upwards into the cavernous water ballast tank. Once inside, Charlie closed the dump-doors and sealed the hull again to make it water-tight.

He was in!

With the ballast tanks now half empty he brought Dawn 1 to the access ladder inside the tank and remotely opened the tank lid at the top of the ladder with his connected mobile phone. This done, he stepped out, still in his ‘go-to-church’ suit and climbed up the ladder to emerge from the ballast tank lid like some creature of the black lagoon. A Bit muddy and slimy but recognisably human. His best suit was utterly ruined but the hidden chain-mail ground suit underneath was still perfectly intact.

This time however he now proceeded with his pistol in one hand and his mobile phone in the other.

Cautiously he ascended from the pump-room and repeatedly checked Dawn 4’s schematic on the phone to ascertain his exact position.

He had a very good idea from frequently attending Dawn 4’s construction but his intimate knowledge was never as comprehensive as Juliet’s. Very soon he found himself at the airtight and watertight door that separated the unmanned automatic pump-room from the un-manned main engine control room. It was a relief to see a couple of the amidships antigravity spheres quietly doing their jobs.

At the top control platform he tapped his mobile phone and sealed every airtight door in the entire machinery and cargo spaces. Now there was no way anybody could sneak up on him from the rear. In truth, he had not expected to find anybody in the bowels of the ship; for Dawn 4 operated normally with only four crew unless she was carrying passengers.

In 'ore-carrier' mode; Dawn 4 was a fully automated giant.

Nobody had cause to enter the machinery spaces except for very occasional maintenance or inspections.

Beyond the engine-room access door however, Charlie knew it was a very different situation for he had no idea how many cronies General Wilson had placed aboard Dawn 4 preparatory to her act of treason. They would be crawling all over the luxurious passenger accommodation.

ooo000ooo