Off the Coast of Somalia
Bridge aboard Pedro del Valle

The destroyer's main gun started making short work of the enemy RHIBs. Everett watched the scene unfolding out his front window, but the distance meant he could only make out the odd explosion without the use of his binoculars. Each confirmation of another downed boat brought a momentary feeling of satisfaction, but he also knew they weren't out of the woods yet. The Pedro del Valle would continue to do what she could to guide their own RHIBs safely in. To that end, even the M242 Bushmaster Cannons were being manned to provide covering fire when Chimera teams began to near the ship. At least one thing was going right so far.

This was the dangerous downside to not having his own complement of pilots onboard. No disrespect to the men and women manning the two Vipers in his hanger bay, who were no doubt skilled, but his crew worked like a well-oiled machine, drilled to exceptionalism. By now, both his Seahawks would already be in the air and assisting with operations. Grabbing the phone, Everett gripped the length of the middle section, his knuckles turning white. "TAO. Flight Deck. Someone explain to me why my birds still aren't in the air."

The one thing Everett needed now wasn't actually an answer, but results. Pushing for the launch of his remaining bird; if Lieutenant Commander Campbell were aboard, his XO would have since dealt with the situation, but Everett didn't have the personnel on the bridge to spare for a jaunt to the aft of the ship. A recent incident at a bar before their voyage began had earned Aiden a little time-out with the land lovers. If things hadn't taken this turn for the worse, hopefully, the kind of thing that would have made him think twice. Instead, Everett was left hoping his friend made it safely through the night; the same quiet prayer for everyone else stranded out there.

Lt Cmd Victoria Kirkwood ,Lt. Col Maxwell Strickland ,Lt. Col. Savannah Caffery ,Lt. Meghan Harris ,Petty Officer Matthew Cole ,Sgt. Jay Halstead ,Gy Sgt. Julien Foxwell ,

Command Information Center
Aboard the USS Pedro del Valle


Oh, he had messed up big time, he had slipped up. The reprimands were going to be certain, and though he could stand there and worry about what the various repercussions were for this particular screw-up, he still had a job to do. The fact that the TAO had rang down, the fact that he had missed it was no excuse. He cussed loudly in his head.

"Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell. Go join the flight commander and keep your mouth shut."

Max stood straighter, nodding. "Yes, Lieutenant." He turned on his heels to head towards the flight commander.

---

Off the coast of Somalia
Chimera One

Julien was no more happier than when his RHIB had reached the Pedro first, though at the same time could not help but think of the other RHIBs still out there. He would be able to get Matt down to medbay as soon as possible to check out his injuries.

“Get him down to med bay.”

Alex Jackson had been the next to get out, accompanying Matt down to the medbay - being both a teammate from JTF and a fellow SEAL. "How you holding up, Cole?" He asked, in a form of keeping him conscious and talking.

---

Off the coast of Somalia
Chimera Two

Sherman was coming back around, with the tapping of a magazine and Malachi's voice piercing through what seemed like the fog that was covering his mind. Eventually, it had worked enough for him to wrangle back some sort of clear mind, enough to start thinking straight once more. But, the worry was still engraved into his brow over his friend.

"Yeah," He reached into his ammo pouch, pulling out a fresh mag before handing it over to Malachi. "Got a fresh one you can use."

Gustav watched this, his eyes heading back to the driver who signaled that they were not long out from the Pedro. He glanced ahead, seeing that Chimera One had already reached the safety of the ship and that there were a couple figures on the railings that were ready to fire upon those that strayed too near.

He was honestly relieved when the driver had pulled into the ship. The shadow of the ship contrasting with the light from outside. His heart was hammering in his chest as he propped himself up, ready to fire as the rest of the crew disembarked. "If any of you need the medbay, go now!"

---

In Flight over Chimera Three
Aboard Roc Two

Victor held the helicopter as steady as he could, trying to make it as easy as possible for his daughter to rescue those who had been injured. He was a little worried that this was her first introduction to combat, but he was there, right? Victor was there to oversee problems, and fix them before they could get down to his daughter.

There were a lot to tend to as the others in the cabin were making space and adequate preparations for the injured.

"How we doing down there, Gauthier?" He called down on the comms.

Off the Coast of Somalia
Chimera Two

Malachi could see that Sherman was worried, it might have escaped him that his friend was on the other RIB but then again getting shot at. It wasnt exactly something he wouldnt worry about. Generally that meant there was an issue and this was turning out to be a lot better than he had first thought. Training exercise turned real you couldnt even write it he thought as he nodded at Sherman. “Thanks for that. You’re a life saver.” Malachi said as he took the magazine offered to him and patted the mans shoulder.

Malachi could be a great many things, cold, unfeeling, calculated but for the good of the guy and to keep him focused and alive. Yeah he would attempt the thing people called comforting someone else. Malachi swapped out the magazine in his gun as he took a few more shots seeing those on the railings above and people started to disembark. Finally solid ground of sorts he thought as he waited to see the rest of the guys on the boat off it relatively safely. Malachi didnt need medical attention so hanging around to cover for those that did was easy enough to do.

“They’re shooting at you because they like you.” Malachi said to Halstead as he attempted a joke, sure he was trying to be social and less in his own head. People skills that was what Lizzie called it though how his attempt was taken. It was anyone’s guess as he glanced at Gustav. “Orders sir?” Malachi said as he crouched down at the ropes scanning the water still to join the others in attempting to protect he boat.

----------

Aboard the Pedro Del Valle
Medical Bay

Savannah could count the names of the people she knew on those boats out there, Sherman, Foxwell, Campbell, Cole, Halstead. She had worked with enough of them in Korea so sure this wasnt any different accept this time she actually had a functioning medical bay. That was a luxury she knew that but it didnt do much to stop the fact that they could be hurt while she just waited there for them to arrive. The beds were made up ready for the patients though it wasnt a battlefield where she likely didnt know any of the faces.

These faces she knew and that was the worst part of things beyond the fact she knew she was seasick which hadn’t been much of a help either. Her stomach was doing loops over the fact that she was worried for the people out there, worried for her boyfriend and worried that the boat would sink. Yeah she never had that problem when it was solid ground under her feet, bar an earthquake or natural disaster. No things were a certain way.

Savannah rocked back on her heels as she stared at the doorway, please no visitors. No one walk through that door she almost prayed as her eyes never left it, her hands tapping lightly against each other behind her back which did nothing to stop the worry that seemed to take hold more than ever.

Tag: Cpt. Everett McKinley ,Cpt. Zachary Amberson ,Lt. Col Maxwell Strickland ,Lt. Meghan Harris ,Petty Officer Matthew Cole ,Sgt. Jay Halstead ,Lt Cmd Victoria Kirkwood ,Gy Sgt. Julien Foxwell ,

Jay wasn't happy. No, he was a little sick of being shot at, but hey, that was the life of a soldier, and he got that, he did---it was just a little much sometimes. But that didn't matter. No, what mattered was him getting the job done. Maybe it's time to retire, he thought to himself. Nah...he liked the action too much. He was just feeling a little frazzled at the moment. It would pass. And maybe he would get out of this mission unharmed. Yeah, that'd be nice. He wasn't sure if it would actually happen, but he could hope. Okay, focus. He needed to focus.
--------------------------------------------------
Aboard the Pedro Del Valle
Medical Bay

And here he was in the medical bay. Well, at least this time he wasn't a patient. No, he was just visiting some people, though he honestly thought he'd end up with a bullet or two. Guess I got lucky this time, he mused. Thank goodness for small favors, he supposed. Not that he really prayed to any higher being. Okay, now he wasn't even making sense. Wonderful...

He gave himself a mental shake and continued checking on people.  Once he had been satisfied that his teammates were either all right or going to be all right, he headed out to meet some others for a debriefing.

OOC
Sorry. My brain fizzled out here.

Command Information Center
Aboard the USS Pedro del Valle

If it was on thing that Lt Cmd Victoria Kirkwood hated, it was hearing the Captain asking for an explanation. She knew he didn’t want that. They would just be a waste of time. “Both our birds are Airborne.” She confirmed it before saying it. That meant that there would soon be more aerial support. Victoria just focused.

“Raise Roc Two. I need a status on status on those downed RHIBS Yesterday!” She was not thrilled that the communication line was silent when there were people out there missing. Though she understood, but she needed a status report, she didn’t have one. Though she did hear something from Roc One about the waters now being cleared up. That was a relief. Now just to make sure that Roc One's report was accurate. Not that she didn't trust @lucas, it was just part of her job. She had everyone looking for anything else in the area.

---

RHIB Extraction Point
Aboard the USS Pedro del Valle

Col. Stephanie Huntley looked towards the other. “JTF medbay if you are injured. Otherwise report to be debriefed but grab your weapons.” Yeah well in the unlikely event they were boarded, then she wanted them prepared but the chaos outside of the destroyer was in the commands of the crew of this ship. Not her unit’s but she knew she needed to get information down to those who were responsible if she could at all.

Exit Stephanie

---

In Flight over Chimera Three
Aboard Roc Two

SA Olivia Gauthier got Lt Cmd Aiden Campbell in the chopper before diving right back down and getting Alyssa. It was much easier when the person could help. She set the blonde down and helped her while the more seasoned medics helped Aiden. Once she was back on board she started taking care of Cpl. Alyssa Zorin. She’d let the other medics handle the heavier gun fire and things. “Get us out of here, Sir.” She called up front letting her dad know that the flight crew had everyone on board. She grabbed a blanket from the side compartment and wrapped it around the blonde.

(Those who are debriefing may exit the thread. Rescue Teams, medical bay and Carrier group 20 may carry on as we wind down)

Matt seemed to be out of the shooting as quickly as he had gotten into it. Before he knew it he was on the Pedro and Julien was ushering him to medbay.

Alex walked with him, not that he needed any help getting there. His arm had been clipped not his leg.

"How you holding up, Cole?"

Honestly, it was just a scratch. It hurt yeah he wasn't gonna pretend it didn't, well maybe he'd pretend just a little, but it was just a flesh wound and it wasn't like he had a bullet lodged in him or a bullet hole going straight through him, "Fine. Don't look so worried it's just a scratch. I'm hardly gonna bleed to death." He assured his fellow SEAL and JTF comrade.

Reaching the medical bay Matt saw he wasn't the only one or the first one there needing to be checked out. Considering himself low priority he stood with his back against the wall, giving Savannah as much room to move as possible in the tin can while he waited to be seen. Hopefully he wouldn't be there too long, a few butterfly stitches if luck would have it then he could get back to it. But if that was actually the case was up to Savannah and her medical expertise to decide.

RHIB Extraction Point
Chimera One

Julien could not be happier once they had been called in for debrief and that the wounded were in the safe care of their medical officer. Shit had hit the fan quicker than he and perhaps the rest of the JTF had expected. There was not much they could do, that was now in the past and the sign that their CO was calling it a day certainly confirmed the fact they were heading back to Tierney.

It was only tinged by the fact that they were to grab their weapons - as if they were being expected on being boarded. Julien did as instructed, though had removed his helmet and walked on over to the briefing room.

"Fine. Don't look so worried it's just a scratch. I'm hardly gonna bleed to death."

Alex cracked a smile at Matt’s response. ”Operational hazard.” He was still a bit green around the ears, admittedly but it was no stopping him from looking out for his brothers. ”Yeah. But, just in case, don’t go dying on me.”

He gave Cole a nod, patting him before turning away to find himself in the direction of the briefing room.

RHIB Extraction Point
Chimera Two

Having reached the extraction point, Gustav had heaved a sigh as he looked around at those on the RHIB. He glanced out to the ocean, before he glanced back to Malachi. Stephanie’s voice had echoed over the crashing of the waves. Sherman had hopped out as well once they had gotten onto land, providing overwatch if anything kicked off again, his mind in a clearer airspace.

”Anyone who isn’t injured, head over to the briefing. Those who are and need assistance will be taken down to the med bay.” Gustav said.

In Flight over Chimera Three
Aboard Roc Two

“Get us out of here, Sir.”

”More than happy to oblige.” He replied, nodding at his co-pilot.

Soon enough, they had turned away back to the USS Emerson’s flight deck to get those who were injured into the hands of the medical officers as swiftly as they could. He kept the bird steady as they flew. Victor wanted to know how his daughter was, how the patients were but, that was not his job right now. His job was to get them from B to A as soon as possible, being that he did not know the status of the injured at the given moment.