The nanites had given Misha many wonderfulabilities but some had come from other sources. Integrated into the armor andsuit he was wearing was the stealth suit, The electronics involved basicallyhelped camouflage him. When he used it he wasn’t truly invisible but it wasclose enough. But all the technology in the world couldnot replace skill and knowledge. Misha had spent years perfecting his skills asa soldier and a ranger and it showed. Silently Misha lifted off the ground usingthe cyber technology the nanites had given him. He moved slowly and cautiouslytrying to make no sound or movement that might betray his location. He driftedalong silently. Keeping three feet off the ground. Being carefully to avoiddisturbing the snow below him. The stealth suit made him hard to see but itcouldn’t hide his pawprints or any snow he disturbed. And it was only as goodas the person using it. Even without the suit he could have done it but it wouldhave meant waiting till dark and then hours of low crawling in the snow. To his left was Strela. The Russian émigréwas matching him for movement and skill. He looked carefully where he KNEW shewas but he saw nothing. Only the faint rustle of the snow beneath her betrayedthat anyone was there. Silently and unseen they drifted closer tothe ship passing over the ground below. The snow gave way to beach sand as theygot closer. When they were thirty feet from the ship they stopped by mutualagreement. “This is close enough,” Strela said. “Agreed,” Misha said. “We’re in position.” “You two are really good,” Silvermanecommented. “I can’t see any trace of either of you.” “Thank you!” Misha answered. “That’s longyears of practice.” This close to the ship they got a betterlook at their target. The man was wearing a thick, dark coat overa shirt and pants of a grungy tan linen. On his head was a broad brimmed hatthat seemed to be of black leather. The style was a century or more out ofdate. Cradled in the man’s arms was a large, three-foot-long rocket launcher.Complete with a rocket loaded and ready to fire. “I hope your Grandmother is watching,” Mishacommunicated silently. “I’m sure she is,” She responded. “You have him?” Misha asked. “Yes,” she responded. “White male on thebow. What the hell is he wearing?” “He is dressed as a 19th centuryWhaler,” the nanites explained. “The dress is typical of sailors backthen. Dependable and durable.” “That hat looks silly. Like something from aThree Stooges short,” Misha added. “It’s weatherproof,” Stealth commented. ‘Andprobably armored to a degree.” “Ready?” Misha asked. “We’re all ready here,” Bob responded. “Same with me,” Stealth added. “I’m ready,” Silvermane said. “On my word we go!” The fox said. Misha carefully adjusted the aim of his bow;taking into account the wind and temperature. “I’m ready,” Strela announced softly eventhou no one but Misha could hear it. “On my mark,” Misha said slowly. “Three,two, one,” The Whaler paced back and forth and the twoarchers instinctively followed him. He paused for a moment to turn around. “Now!” Misha said and both foxes released atthe same time! In a flash Misha drew, nocked, aimed andloosed another arrow. The figure on the ship flung up his arms anddropped from sight. Something rocketed past the two blasters andMisha realized it was Stealth. In a moment he was at the ship. He droppedneatly and softly onto the deck. His two swords were already in hand. Strela and Misha landed on the deck a momentlater. They found Stealth putting hand and leg cuffs onto the Whaler. “He’s still alive?” Misha asked. Surprised. “Yes,” the feline answered but he’s notgoing to be hurting anyone for a while.” Strela looked at the bridge and saw thewhite oval of a human face peering at her through the heavily frosted pane.Surprise plain to see. She cursed loudly. “We’re compromised! They know we’rehere!” The vixen snapped off an arrow and themissile hit the glass. shattering it instantly. She shot off another arrow thistime of a different kind. This one sailed through the broken windowpane. Theflash lit up the entire bridge and the boom of the explosion echoed across thewhole ship. “Let’s take the bridge,” Misha ordered. In unison all three rushed the bridge.Stealth and Strela on one side, Misha on the other. They found it empty of any enemies. Thecaptain lay bound and gagged on the floor. Stealth easily cut the handcuffs and removedthe gag. “Are you all right?” “I will be,” the man said as he stood up.“Once the ringing stops.” “Where are the Sea Wolves?” Misha asked. “Down below,” he responded. “They’re afterthe special cargo. There was one here on the bridge but he took off when youattacked.” Suddenly the entire ship lurched and shook.Sending everyone tumbling to the deck. “We’ve broken loose,” Strela said. “We’redrifting.” The captain stood still for a moment. “We’renot drifting. We’re being pulled.” “Pulled by what?” Nor’easter asked. The captain shook his head. “I don’t know.” “I can feel the motion,” Stealth commented. The captain walked a little unsteadily overto one corner of the bridge. Attached to the wall was a large panel that had aplan of the ship. Several lights were blinking. “The bow is flooding.” “No surprise there,” Bob said as he enteredthe bridge. “She hit the beach pretty hard.” “Forward cargo hold is also flooding,” Theofficer added. “I can’t tell how bad.” He pressed several buttons and a number oflights went from red to green. “That drops the watertight doors for thosecompartments.” “We’ve contacted the Coast Guard,”the nanites said. “A cutter is headed here now.” “We need to get the Willawaw towed in portbefore she sinks,” the Captain said. “But they can’t do that until the ship issecured,” Moonshine added. “Then let’s go and take it back,” Silvermaneordered. A bitter cold, wind whipped across the shipsending fist sized chunks of hail hammering into everyone and everything. “Don’t you little cretins ever give up?”Maelstrom shouted. The woman was standing on the bow and scowling at them.Standing next to her was Killer Storm. “Strela and me will deal with these two,”Misha ordered. “The rest of you get to the cargo hold and get that box.” Currently Maelstrom and Killer Storm werestanding on the main hatch so that was not useable. Another entrance to the forward hold was bya doorway off the bridge that had a set of steel steps leading downward intothe darkness. *************** Misha almost reflexively pulled two grenadesfrom his belt and tossed them. Next to him Strela nocked, drew, aimed andreleased an arrow at the same time. Strela’s arrow and one of Misha’s grenadeswere flash type and meant to explode with a loud concussion and a really brightflash. So if the concussion didn’t disorientate a person the bright flashwould. Misha’s second grenade was a standardfragmentation grenade. It wasn’t meant to stun you. It was trying to outrightkill you and everyone nearby. All three went off at the same time or closeenough be of no consequence. The flash and the concussion sent the two villainsstumbling backward. ****************
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