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Post by Lian on Mar 12, 2007 3:08:11 GMT -10
Oh man...I was well into this chapter when half way my computer screen went black...I thought: "OH NO, not another screen f.... up." Than I looked down and I saw Naftali my 18 month old daughter looking up at me with those beautiful innocent blue eyes...like as if she was saying "Hi mummy, I just pressed a green lit button...that was a lot of fun...I want to do that again" and than she give me a huge smile. ;D I thought you cheaky little thing...oh well can't blame her with a mom like me. ;D Anyways I turned the computer back on, and I loved to read this chapter...specially 'bout lightning...I love that kitty cat. Lian
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Post by Horatio Caine on Mar 12, 2007 3:31:49 GMT -10
Thanks Regina, good chapter love all those stories over here Manon
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Post by emschld on Mar 12, 2007 3:43:29 GMT -10
Today is cleaning day. So the computer is being turned off while I clean (yuk). I will try to work on the story latter today.
Regina
PS No job at the moment and so that leaves me with a little time to think of what will happen when the M7+1 get to Miami. What will happen on the voyage there and will that big cat behave himself? I don't know gotta go ask my muse.
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Post by lucymalta on Mar 12, 2007 5:14:47 GMT -10
Ask away quickly Regina - want to know what happens next...... Mine is asking for a break....
Lucy
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Post by emschld on Mar 15, 2007 19:33:25 GMT -10
Hey I got my muse to work double time today and got a chapter on both stories done. Enjoy as always.
Regina
Year 5 Month 6
The snow in the mountain pass between New Hope and New Washington melted a few weeks after the radio call from the captain of the USS TICONDEROGA. The team assembled themselves at Horatio and Kate’s house one evening and started hashing over the amount of gear they were going to have to take. “Good God H, we are going to need an elephant to carry all that.” This came from Tripp as he sat looking at the list. Everyone laughed except Horatio.
He looked down at his sunglasses that he was playing with. “I did think about asking Toby if he thought one of the elephants and he would like to come but from the talk I had with Capt. Johanas I decided that would not be in the best interest of our party. However, I have talked with Blake & Georgia Lakeside about the use of draft horses and some type of wagon. They are working on the request. But with planting season coming it will be a hardship on the community, one that I do not want to ask them to do.”
Calleigh sat there with her small child on her lap and she got this big smile on her face. “I happen to know where we can get our hand on about 24 draft Clydesdales. They are not being used for planting. They also already have all their rigging and two nice big wagons. They were on tour for the Budweiser Beer Company and just happen to be in New Washington. I also have been saving one other bit of information from Pres. James.” She stopped and waited for everyone to give her their full attention. “Congress wants a delegation to go with you. They chose three congressional people to go with you. I just happen to be one of the three. Also Pres. James has decided that we should take our children with us. He felt that to ask us to be away for three months from them was more than the country should ask. He figured this will add about another 15 headcount to the group and the need of two wagons.”
Horatio looked at Lyn Woo and she had a big smile on her face when she answered his question before he asked. “I not take up much space in wagon. I can do nursery duty for all babies. I know how to cook on open fire as well as stove in house. You all like food I make so I can cook for all team. I make good use of what is found to eat as well as what we bring. We should take Gladys and Lillie as well. They will help with the children and the food and the need to take care of your base camp as you look about.”
So it was decided that night that after the team was dropped off in old Miami that the USS TICONDEROGA could go on and survey the coast line. This would make a certain captain they knew very happy. Also this would shorten the time that the USS TICONDEROGA would be away from New Washington. Calleigh informed the group that the USS TICONDEROGA had gone under some reconstruction to accommodate them and the animals that would be coming along on the foray.
It came time for the team to attend their last community gathering at the end of the week. There were many in the community that came to wish them well and God speed. All wanted to know what had happened to the rest of the country. Everyone was glad that the team was going to take their families with them. Many had said that they would take care of there homes while they were gone.
The next Monday came and bright and early the team was assembled in front of the library with their horses and a couple of half tons that would be replaced with the two Clydesdale wagon teams. As the team began to move out many rode along to the pass that lead out of the valley and towards New Washington. They would arrive there in two days.
Late on Wednesday they arrived on the outskirt of New Washington. Horatio and the whole team were amazed at the changes that had taken place. For one there was a wharf built that hadn’t been there the year before. Many buildings had been erected and they could see on a hill to the north a big central building that was to be for the congress and senate. Just to the north of it was another small rise and they could see that there was a house that was being built. It would be the residents of the standing president of the United States. Everyone looked at each other and then Horatio gave the signal to continue on into town. The team had not changed the name completely it was now called M7 and company. But it stood for Miami 7 and company.
When the company pulled up in front of what would become the presidential residents Lightning padded right up to the front door and chirped, then sat down on his hind quarters and waited to be let in. He turned his head back to look at the others and chirped for them to hurry up. As Horatio walked up he reached down and scratched the big cat’s ear. “I know that ground is cold on you hind end. Just a minute and we will be inside in front of a nice warm fire. I’ll see if we can find you a bowl of milk and cookies for being so good.” Everyone chuckled because they knew the big cat only ate strawberry pancakes with his milk.
The door was finely opened and the M7 and company were taken into the main parlor. Pres. James and his wife came in to greet them. “H it is good to see you. And Kate; you look as beautiful as always.” He continued around the room. Greeting each person with the warmth he always had shown to all of them.
While he and Mrs. James were welcoming the New Hope troop Capt. Johanas came in and looked at the group. He cleared his throat and everyone turned to look at him. “Oh, Capt. Johanas I would like you to meet my friends from New Hope.” He then took him around the room in the opposite direction ending up with Horatio, Kate and Lightning. “And this couple is Horatio Caine and Kate O’Malley with their cheetah Lightning.” As he introduced the cheetah he blinked his eyes and then turned to Horatio and licked his hand, every one in the room could him begin to purr. The captain didn’t smile as a matter of fact one could say he had a definite frown on his face as he looked at the cat.
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Post by sanne on Mar 15, 2007 22:09:20 GMT -10
Great story Regina. Wondering what they will find...
Sanne
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Post by Horatio Caine on Mar 15, 2007 23:34:50 GMT -10
Great again, thanks Manon
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Post by Lian on Mar 16, 2007 0:18:07 GMT -10
“Good God H, we are going to need an elephant to carry all that.” This came from Tripp as he sat looking at the list. Everyone laughed except Horatio. I was laughing my *ss off when I read this...I could really hear Frank say that...so funny. ;D Loved to read another chapter Regina...you're really good. Lian
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Post by emschld on Mar 23, 2007 8:14:20 GMT -10
Sorry it took so long. I have been working on the other story. I wanted to finish this chapter before I left on my weekend. Here it is just for my friends. As always enjoy.
Regina
Year 5 Month 6 & 7
Over the next few days things began to get loaded onto the USS TICONDEROGA so that it could get under way as soon as possible. Capt. Johanas and Horatio spent many hours together going over what would be needed when we got to Florida. Many of the crew heard their captain muttering as he would be walking on the deck. “Women, children and animals; never thought I would see the day that my ship would be used as a transport.”
The guard that was assigned to walk with the big cheetah found that he often liked to get up in the crows nest and stand on his hind legs with the watch and feel the wind flow in his face. The guys on watch soon found out that one of Lightning favorite treats was cheese. So they began to keep a small cooler of cheese on hand for when he was there. However they were informed that they were not to hand feed him. “He can still nip you very easily.” Horatio told the watch and showed them his scar on his left hand. We had let Lightning go hunting the day before we sailed and we brought what was left and left it on the stern of the ship. We put up a blind so that he could go and eat without being disturbed. Of course this seemed to disturb the captain. But one can not make everyone happy.
We had been out from New Washington two days when the captain informed us that we would be getting to Miami the next day.
That night after everyone except the night watch had gone to bed the big cat got up and padded out of the room. He went to the captain’s cabin and found the door ajar. He noised the door open so that he could go in. As he went up to the bed he smelled the acid blood smell. He went over to the bed and sniffed. He then turned around and hurried back to Horatio.
We were in bed but neither of us was asleep because of the coming day that we would be disembarking onto dry land and setting up camp and starting to look about. We both heard Lightning at the same time. H turned to me and said. “That is a distress call. He has found something that has upset him. I need to check it out.” He got out of bed and reached for his clothes. I too arose and grabbed my clothes. We pulled on our pants and shirts in a hurry. H didn’t button his shirt and I was still buttoning my shirt as we went out the door into the cool night.
We found the big cat just outside our door and we could both tell that he was agitated about something. He licked Horatio’s hand then started back down the deck toward the central part of the ship. We fallowed close behind him. He would get to a corner and looked back at us to be sure that we were there and then he would go down the corridor. The hatches were all open. When we got to the captain’s door it stood ajar. The big cat would not go into the room but sat down on his back legs and began to emit chirping sounds that we had come to know were chirps of distress.
Horatio looked at me and then went in. He found the light switch and turned on the light in the cabin. He saw the captain’s body with his had bashed in. He surveyed the room very quickly and could tell that this was the crime scene. “Go get Eric, Ryan, Calleigh and Natalia. Tell them to bring their kits.” I didn’t say anything to him. I just backed out the door and quickly went to get his team. This was not good. Not good at all.
The team got there within a few minutes. Somehow the ship knew within a few minutes of the teams arriving in the Captain’s quarters what had happened. Horatio stood at the door as his young team gathered evidence. Dr Alexx Woods was at the body taking liver temp to determine TOD. “Horatio, with the liver temp and the temp of the room I would say that our good captain was killed around 1 or 2 am this morning.”
Horatio nodded his head and said. “Humph . . . well that would mean that Lightning is in the clear. He was at the stern eating his meal. I overheard his guards say that they could hear him eating and they made the statement that it was after midnight before he started to eat and it was after 3 before he finished and went back to his mat to sleep.”
I was talking with Commander Alan Sadler just outside of the captain’s cabin. “We will know more as soon as the team collects the evidence and then we will have to work the evidence. But you have one of the leading forensic teams working on this. We have already ruled out the cheetah due to TOD.” The CO looked at me with a questioning look. “That’s time of death. The captain appears to have died while Lightning was eating. We have witnesses from your own crew on that time line.” The CO looked at the big cat with a look that could kill. Lightning returned his look with one that said he didn’t care what the CO thought of him.
Eric walked over to Horatio and whispered something to him. Horatio turned and stepped out of the cabin and faced the CO. “You had a beef with the captain?”
Commander Sadler looked at Horatio and licked his lips before he replied. “I wasn’t happy with the way he ran the ship. But he is the captain. We have to maintain discipline. He was letting things get out of hand with the exchange of goods when we were in out of country sites. We had words on more than one occasions because of it.”
Horatio nodded his head and looked down at the deck then back up to the CO. “I think that on your last occasion you had more than words.”
Commander Sadler took a step back away from Horatio and laughed. “You prove that.”
Horatio smiled showing his pearly whites and replied. “That’s just what I intend to do.”
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Post by sanne on Mar 23, 2007 9:03:23 GMT -10
Great chap before you leave Regina. team has to solve a case on board of the ship.....
Sanne
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Post by emschld on Mar 23, 2007 9:30:32 GMT -10
No you have to wait till at least Sunday. Sorry I am on the way out the door. Gota go and beat the weekend traffic.
Regina
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Post by Horatio Caine on Mar 23, 2007 12:24:47 GMT -10
Don't worry Regina, we forgive you Manon
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Post by Lian on Mar 23, 2007 12:24:58 GMT -10
You enjoy your weekend and come home safely. Great chappie...the team is back in business... Lian
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Post by emschld on Mar 27, 2007 13:24:08 GMT -10
Got my muse to working on this story line. As always enjoy.
Year 5 Month 7
After they finished collecting the evidence that was in the room the team went to the infirmary and began to process what they had gathered. The captain’s body was collected and taken to Dr Alexx Woods so that she could do an autopsy on the captain before releasing it for burial. She then took her findings to Horatio.
The captain was killed by blunt force trauma to the frontal lobe of the skull. The evidence gathered from the captain’s quarters brought the instrument used; it was the night table lamp. There had been two glasses with scotch in them beside the bed and a bottle of scotch. Fingerprints from the glasses showed that there were two people drinking at the time of the captain’s death. Blood spatter showed in the room showed that the glasses had not been moved after the captain had died.
It didn’t take the team long to get a match on the fingerprints. It was those of the CO, Commander Sadler.
Horatio went to find the CO. He found him on the bridge. “Commander Sadler, may I have a word with you outside, please?”
The CO put his binoculars down and stood up. “You have the bridge Mr. Snyder.” He then followed Horatio out of the bridge.
As they got outside and began to walk Commander Sadler noticed Lightning had fallen in step with them.
Horatio was the first to speak. “My team is in your cabin as we speak.” No response from the CO. “We will find the clothes you were wearing at the time. My team is very good at what they do Mr. Sadler. You want to tell me what happened?”
They had stopped walking and Commander Sadler was looking at the outline of the coast of the US in the distance. He turned to Horatio and he began to talk. “We were in his cabin having a drink talking about the disembarking at Miami. He said he was going to let some of the men go ashore to have a look around and see if they could bring back anything that could be used to barter with. He then told me that he knew where several banks were and that we had C4 on board and if we could gain access to a vault that was still in tack we might be able to get jewelry or gold that was stored in them. I didn’t agree with this and we began to have words. It was late I had just pulled a double tour and with the drink I just lost it. Before I realized it I had hit him with the lamp. When I realized what I had done I just left.” He stopped talking and was looking at the ocean waves as they passed by the ship.
Horatio thought about it for a moment and said to the CO. “We still have laws that we must live with in. I am not you judge or jury. The ship needs a captain that can be counted on at all times. I realize that sometimes we put ourselves in a situation that compromises our way of life. But we must always be able to control ourselves. Mr. Sadler I believe you did not mean to kill the captain. This would be called second degree murder back in old Miami. Today we live in a time when the law is not as staggered. Basically, we will convene a jury of your peers and let them decide your fate.”
This is just what was done. The court found the CO guilty of murder and his sentence was to be stripped of rank and put off the ship at Miami.
The day after the sentencing the ship lay at anchor near the Miami shore line. It would take several days to unload their equipment and animals but the team put the time to good use. Horatio and his team took a team from the ship to several banks that were close to the shore line. Two of them had their vaults in tack. Printed currency was not of any use but they removed gold and jewelry from both vaults.
They new Captain, Capt Milton J Black of the USS TICONDEROGA would be able to barter for goods that would be needed for the ship with these and they would take the rest back to New Washington. Horatio explained that part of the job they had been sent to do was find out what could be salvaged in Miami to be used by the new government that included what was in the vaults of the banks. Though it wasn’t something that had been thought of at the time the foray had been planned it was something that would help the new government. Horatio gave a map to the new captain of the USS TICONDEROGA and told him that one of the CSI would go with them to each bank and help to inventory what was taken. They were taking these items to help the government provide for the country. Also they would check out the art galleries and museums. What was left in these would be collected by the team from New Hope and made ready for the trip back to New Washington.
They got to the old MDPD main building and went first to the car pool area. There were quite a few vehicles left there. None of which was in running order. A team for the USS TICONDEROGA came in and began to cannibalize parts from them. Horatio found a few of the departments hummers were still there. The team from the USS TICONDEROGA took them in tack because they could be used in all terrain.
Kate went looking for Horatio one night after the evening meal. She found him sitting in what had been his office. He had his back to her as she came in. He was looking out what would have been a plate glass window if it still were there. She put her arms around him and laid her head against his back. “You miss this don’t you?” Horatio’s head tilted and dropped to his chest and all that he said was “Um . . . yeah.”
They stood there as he watched as the sun light faded. He put his hand over hers and loosened her hold. Then he turned around and cupped her face in his hands, “But you my love, have given me another reason to continue living.” He then kissed her gently on the lips. The kiss lasted a little longer and the gentleness was replaced with other desires. “I think we should go to our quarters and retire for the night.”
Kate just smiled. The children were already in bed in the children sleeping area. She took him by his hand and started walking slowly to their quarters. Lightning had been lying in a corner and as they left he arose and followed after them. His night eyes could see what H and Kate could not. He also heard all the night sounds and determined that they were in the normal range. As the couple went into their quarters he turned and started making his rounds of the area. He wasn’t hunting just making sure that his territory was not being invaded by something he didn’t want there. When he finished his rounds he lay down in front of H and Kate’s door. His ears and tail stayed on duty listening to the night sounds. He closed his eyes and slept the light sleep that his species did when they were on hunt.
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Post by Lian on Mar 27, 2007 13:53:27 GMT -10
Brilliant...I'm glad you managed to write another chapter...hope your muse is here to stay.
Lian
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