29

TRWD29

My Journal
By Harriman Nelson
29

I poured my umpteenth cup of coffee as Jiggs and I watched more news broadcasts on the Observation Nose monitor. CNN was the preferred choice right now.
“…Search and rescue operations for Captain Nelson-Crane by the U.K. and U.S. Special Forces have resumed after the revelation that he had not been eaten by a Loch Ness creature after all, but captured by the command of escaped convict Dr. Ozno. In addition, the search is on for the queen of England, who had apparently been visiting a friend at Three Hags Castle, both women in the wrong place at the wrong time. How Ozno’s dungeon lair was unknown to Lady O’Brien is not surprising to her limited staff as the elderly woman has some dementia. Staff have been fully cooperative, but the only known entrance to the dungeon was sealed off centuries ago by a cave in, one of several beyond living memory of what the butler calls a legendary labyrinth of underground caverns and tunnels under Three Hags grounds.”
…The People’s Republic,” the co-anchor said, “has denied any knowledge of the hologram hoax. However, many world leaders and politicians are reserving judgement about that claim since the inadvertent live discussion between Ensign Simpson and Dr. Ozno in the dungeon lair where Captain Nelson-Crane, the queen of England, and her friend were held captive.
“…President Avery is under fire for having disregarded reports on file to him by the Office of Naval Intelligence from the captain from his suspicions of a holographic weapon near Loch Ness. In addition, Avery’s been condemned for so quickly having halted U.S. searches for the captain. Of course, as soon as it was revealed Nelson-Crane was alive, the U.S. searches resumed and are coordinated with those of the U.K.”
“...Dr. Gustav Gamma, no relation to another Dr. Gamma of ill repute, is horrified that some of his patented inventions have been pirated, altered, and used in such a ‘despicable’ fashion by Ozno.”
“…The Seaview has sailed from Inverness and submerged into the deep underwater Boley Fault between the River Ness and Loch Ness. Satellite scans show it to be an extremely deep, jagged, and narrow cavern virtually inaccessible to any submarine. But that won’t stop Nelson from trying to pass through, in an effort, it is believed to halt any submersible that Ozno may have created for a getaway with his captives, though Ozno’s location is unknown as he only appeared on the lair’s computer system. Should no submersible be found, Nelson will be taking Seaview into Loch Ness herself, to continue as the base of operations for his own search and rescue operations there and….”
‘…We have breaking news,” one of the reporters interrupted, “that one of the U.K. Special Forces teams has just made they’ve made their descent into the dungeon control center via an ancient well centuries ago dried up.”
“…The U.K.’s prime minister,” the co-anchor said, “is still broadcasting messages of amnesty to Dr. Ozno if the queen and Lady O’Brien are released. There is widespread outrage in the United States and the United Kingdom that the offer of amnesty has not included the release of the captain. However, the United States has a strict policy of no negotiations with terrorists. Even Admiral Nelson has been officially prevented for offering any kind of ransom for the captain’s return, though there is some legal confusion as to a civilian offer. The problem is that the admiral is a retired naval officer who is also a reservist, and must bow to the commander in chief.”
“….We’re going live to the dungeon lair and Lt. Darlene White….”
“…Well,” White said as her shoulder cam, augmented by a heavy flashlight, revealed the wall and countertops of shut down computers. “Our experts are going to try finding any back doors into this massive computer system, if anything’s salvageable.” The lights flickered on. “Apparently already having a little success…over there the exits have caved in…and…oh Lord,” she sighed, “over here,” he walked to one of the countertops and computers, “is the model head of the captain that was going to be used to fool everyone into believing he’d been eaten…the chair he was bound to is toppled over, blood on the stone and dirt floor leading to that caved in exit which is going to be blown out by our explosives any minute…yes about now….”
The shoulder cam showed fellow forces adhering cordite to the rocks and set the explosive.
“…The tunnel is jammed full of rocks, and impassible in either direction.”
“…Lt?” one of the techs working on the computers called her over, “we got some limited and very weak cam signals. We’re transmitting to all the operation centers….”
One faint rotating image after another revealed ancient chambers and roughly hewn mining tunnels, some with skeletal remains and rusted bronze- age tools.
“…The signals indicate the cams were installed recently. Perhaps as part of Ozno’s security system. Ground penetrating sonar from above has indicated a vast network of tunnels and caves. It’s believed Ozno and his fellow terrorists may have used them to get to the loch and perhaps a waiting vehicle, though none have been seen in the area.…”
“What do you think, Harry?” Jiggs asked.
“Damned if I know.” I said bitterly and headed aft, I had no idea where too. I just needed to get away from the ‘command center’, away from speculation, and away from everything.