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； but he could hear the muted sputter of the engine。 The boat turned in toward where Robby had tied up the one they'd stolen。 It was their first real mistake。 Jack thought。
〃Great。〃 The Sergeant Major leveled his automatic； shielded by the stern of a boat。 〃Okay； gentlemen。 e on if you're ing 。 。 。 〃
Another pickup truck approached on Sims Drive。 It came up without lights and stopped right by the women。 Eight men jumped off the back。 Two Marines ran along the seawall； and were illuminated by a light between two of the moored YPs。 Out on the water； the small boat lit up with muzzle flashes； and both Marines went down。 Bullets started hitting the moored boats around them。 Breckenridge turned and yelled。
〃Fire！〃 The area exploded with noise。 Ryan spotted on the flashes and depressed his trigger with care。 The submachine gun fired four rounds before locking open on an empty magazine。 He cursed and stared stupidly at the weapon before he realized that he had a loaded pistol in his belt。 He got the Browning up and fired a single shot before he realized that the target wasn't there anymore。 The noise from the boat's motor increased dramatically。
〃Cease fire！ Cease fire！ They're buggin' out；〃 Breckenridge called。 〃Anybody hit？〃
〃Over here！〃 someone called to the right； where the women were。
Ryan followed the Sergeant Major over。 Two Marines were down； one with a flesh wound in the arm； but the other had taken a round right through the hip and was screaming like a banshee。 Cathy was already looking at him。
〃Mendoza； what's happening？〃 Breckenridge called。
〃They're heading out wait yeah； they're moving east！〃
〃Move your hands； soldier；〃 Cathy was saying。 The Private First…Class had taken a painful hit just below the belt on his left side。 〃Okay； okay； you're going to be all right。 It hurts； but we can fix it。〃 Breckenridge reached down to take the man's rifle。 He tossed it to Sergeant Cummings。
〃Who's in mand here？〃 demanded Captain Mike Peters。
〃I guess I am；〃 Robby said。
〃Christ； Robby； what's going on？〃
〃What the hell does it look like！〃
Another truck arrived； carrying another six Marines。 They took one collective look at the wounded men and yanked at the charging handles on their rifles。
〃Goddammit； Robby sir！〃 Captain Peters yelled。
〃Terrorists。 They tried to get us at Jack's place。 They were trying to get well； look！〃
〃Good evening； Captain；〃 the Prince said after checking his wife。 〃Did we get any？ I didn't have a clear shot。〃 His voice showed real disappointment at that。
〃I don't know； sir；〃 Breckenridge answered。 〃I saw some rounds go short； and pistol stuff won't penetrate a boat like that。〃 Another series of lightning flashes illuminated the area。
〃I see 'em； they're going out to the bay！〃 Mendoza called。
〃Damn！〃 Breckenridge growled。 〃You four； get the ladies over to the dispensary。〃 He bent down to help the Princess to her feet as Robby lifted his wife。 〃You want to give the little girl to the Private； ma'am？ They're going to take you to the hospital and get you all dried off。〃
Ryan saw that his wife was still trying to help one of the wounded Marines； then looked at the patrol boat in front of him。 〃Robby？〃
〃Yeah； Jack？〃
〃Does this boat have radar？〃
Chief Znamirowski answered。 〃They all do； sir。〃
A Marine lowered the tailgate on the one pickup and helped Jackson load his wife aboard。 〃What are you thinking； Jack？〃
〃How fast are they？〃
〃About thirteen I don't think they're fast enough。〃
Chief Bosun's Mate Znamirowski looked over the seawall at the boat Robby had steered in。 〃In the seas we got now； you bet I can catch one of those little things！ But I need someone to work the radar。 I don't have an operator in my section right now。〃
〃I can do that；〃 the Prince offered。 He was tired of being a target； and no one would keep him out of this。 〃It would be a pleasure in fact。〃
〃Robby； you're senior here；〃 Jack said。
〃Is it legal？〃 Captain Peters asked； fingering his automatic。
〃Look；〃 Ryan said quickly； 〃we just had an armed attack by foreign nationals on a U。S。 government reservation that's an act of war and posse mitatus doesn't apply。〃 At least I don't think it does； he thought。 〃Can you think of a good reason not to go after them？〃
He couldn't。 〃Chief Z； you have a boat ready？〃 Jackson asked。
〃Hell； yes； we can take the seventy…six boat。〃
〃Crank her up！ Captain Peters； we need some Marines。〃
〃Sar…Major Breckenridge； secure the area； and bring along ten men。〃
The Sergeant Major had left the officers to their arguments while getting the civilians loaded onto the truck。 He grabbed Cummings。
〃Sergeant； take charge of the civilians； get 'em to sick bay； and put a guard on 'em。 Beef up the guard force； but your primary mission is to take care of these people here。 Their safety is your responsibility and you ain't relieved till I relieve you！ Got it？〃
〃Aye； Gunny。〃
Ryan helped his wife to the truck。 〃We're going after them。〃
〃I know。 Be careful。 Jack。 Please。〃
〃I will； but we're going to get 'em this time； babe。〃 He kissed his wife。 There was a funny sort of look on her face； something more than concern。 〃Are you okay？〃
〃I'll be fine。 You worry about you。 Be careful！〃
〃Sure； babe。 I'll be back。〃 But they won't！ Jack turned away to jump aboard the boat。 He went inside the deckhouse and found the ladder to the bridge。
〃I am Chief Znamirowski； and I have the conn；〃 she announced。 Mary Znamirowski didn't look like a chief bosun's mate； but the young seaman was seawoman the proper term for her？ Jack wondered on the wheel jumped as though she were。 〃Starboard back two thirds； port back one third； left full rudder。〃
〃Stem line is in；〃 a seaman this one was a man reported。
〃Very well；〃 she acknowledged； and continued her terse mands to get the YP away from the dock。 Within seconds they were clear of the seawall and the other boats。
〃Right full rudder； all ahead full！ e to new course one…three…five。〃 She turned。 〃How's the radar look？〃
The Prince was looking over the controls on the unfamiliar set。 He found the clutter…suppression switch and bent down to the viewing hood。 〃Ah！ Target bearing one…one…eight； range thirteen hundred； target course northeasterly； speed 。 。 。 about eight knots。〃
〃That's about right； it can get choppy by the point；〃 Chief Z thought。 〃What's our mission。 mander？〃
〃Can we stay with them？〃
〃They shot up my boats！ I'll ram the turkeys if you want； sir；〃 the chief replied。 〃I can give you thirteen knots as long as you want。 I doubt they can do more than ten in the seas we got。〃
〃Okay。 I want us to follow as close as we can without being spotted。〃 The chief opened one of the pilothouse doors and looked at the water。 〃We'll close to three hundred。 Anything else？〃
〃Go ahead and close up。 For the rest of it； I am open to ideas；〃 Robby replied。
〃How about we see where they're going？〃 Jack suggested。 〃Then we can call in the cavalry。〃
〃That makes sense。 If they try to run for shore 。 。 。 Christ； I'm a fighter pilot； not a cop。〃 Robby lifted the radio microphone。 The set showed the boat's call sign： NAEF。 〃Naval Station Annapolis； this is November Alfa Echo Foxtrot。 Do you read； over。〃 He had to repeat the call twice more before getting an acknowledgment。
〃Annapolis； give me a phone patch to the Superintendent。〃
〃He just called us； sir。 Stand by。〃 A few clicks followed； plus the usual static。
〃This is Admiral Reynolds； who is this？〃
〃Lieutenant mander Jackson； sir； aboard the seventy…six boat。 We are one mile southeast of the Academy in pursuit of the boat that just shot up our waterfront。〃
〃Is that what happened？ All right； who do you have aboard？〃
〃Chief Znamirowski and the duty boat section； Captain Peters and some Marines； Doctor Ryan； and； uh。 Captain Wales； sir； of the Royal Navy；〃 Robby answered。
〃Is that where he is？ I have the FBI on the other phone Christ； Robby！ Okay； the civilians corner under guard at the hospital； and the FBI and police corner on the way here。 Repeat