Giordano had just finished washing his face over a basin. He reached for his towel and wiped his face dry. When he took the towel from his face he was looking at Seaman John Locklear pointing a 45 at his forehead. It was the last thing Giordano ever saw. Tony (Geo) Giordano, the SEAL hero of his Brooklyn neighborhood, was dead.
Bradley arrived at General Beauregard’s headquarters within 45 minutes. Before approaching the house, he called Petty Officer Spencer, one of his handpicked sailors. Spencer said, “Apple blossom,” a prearranged code that meant that the SEALs had been murdered.
Two guards stopped Bradley 200 feet from the General’s house. Bradley simply said, “Please tell the General that my name is Commander Philip Bradley, and I’m a representative of the Gray Ship. One of the men remained to guard Bradley while the other entered the house to inform the General. The man came running out of the house and immediately escorted Bradley inside.
General Beauregard remained seated at his desk and asked Bradley to more fully identify himself. Bradley told him that he was the Executive Officer of the USS California, better known as one of the Gray Ships. He explained that he wore civilian clothing because he was on a secret mission.
“Commander,” said Beauregard, “how can you be on a secret mission and stand here telling your enemy about it?”
“Because, Sir, I am not your enemy.”
Chapter 58
“If you’re not my enemy, Sir, then who are you?” Beauregard asked.
“I am a loyal son of the South, General, and I am here to help the Confederacy win the Civil War.”
“I’m listening, Commander.”
For the next half hour, Bradley told Beauregard the California’s story of time travel that began on April 10. He did not discuss Operation Gray Ships, believing that he should keep that information to himself for the time being. Also, this stratagem portrayed Bradley as a man who stood against a fleet of enemy ships, sword drawn, ready to defend the South against 20 colossal vessels.
Bradley ended his story by telling Beauregard about the cache of amazing weapons located less than three miles away, weapons that were Bradley’s contribution to the Confederate war effort.
General Beauregard thought this man was quite insane, but, because he offered a new supply of weapons, he felt that he should see what this character was talking about. Beauregard ordered a carriage for Bradley and himself.
They rode the short distance to the weapons cache. When they arrived Bradley jumped from the carriage and waved his arms expansively toward the weapons. They were piled six feet high, four feet deep and twenty feet in length.
Bradley first took an M4A1 carbine from a box and handed it to Seaman Dwight Harborrow, an expert marksman. Harborrow pointed the rifle at a tree 100 yards away and squeezed the trigger once. They could see the wood splinter from where they stood. He then squeezed the trigger three times in quick succession, resulting in more splintered wood. He then squeezed the trigger and held it. Beauregard and of his men had never seen an automatic weapon fire. Seaman Harborrow then explained that the magazine could hold 30 rounds of bullets. Beauregard’s military tactician brain was on alert. A squad of ten men with such weapons would be devastating to an oncoming force. Ten men could replace a hundred he thought.
Harborrow then demonstrated a rocket propelled grenade or RPG. Because the rocket has no guidance of any sort, he aimed at a tree that was closer. He fired the grenade at a tree 75 yards away. The tree exploded and toppled. “This weapon,” said Bradley, “is especially useful against a vehicle of any type, such as a munitions cart or a caisson.”
Bradley then ordered another sailor to stand up a two by four foot metal plank supported by logs to keep it upright. Seaman Harborrow fired a 45 caliber pistol at the plank from a distance of 25 yards. Because a 45 has a soft bullet, it is known for its stopping power, as the lead expands when it goes through a target. The bullet tore a five inch hole in the plank. “This pistol,” said Bradley, “will stop a charging horse in its tracks.”
Bradley then withdrew a two-way radio from a bag. He sent a sailor with another radio a distance of 100 yards. “Johnson, can you hear me?” said Bradley. Beauregard heard the loud clear voice come out of the instrument saying, “Yes, sir.”
Although he doubted Bradley’s sanity, Beauregard could not doubt what he had seen with his own eyes.
The time was now 1130 hours. Beauregard decided that it would be best to take lunch with this man to learn more details of his plan.
“Captain, or is it Commander Bradley?” said Beauregard.
“I’m scheduled to be promoted to Captain shortly, General,” Bradley lied. He knew that Beauregard wouldn’t to be able to access his personnel file.
“We shall return to my headquarters and have lunch. We have a lot to talk about.”
Beauregard ordered the all the soldiers he had brought along to stay with the weapons to provide additional security.
Beauregard and Bradley got into the General’s carriage and rode back to his headquarters. As they rode in the carriage Beauregard stared at Bradley, trying to determine if he could trust this man.
Chapter 59
She hadn’t heard from Bradley in three hours. Ashley called him on the two-way radio. “Tango Tango, this is Lima Juliette, come in.” There was no response after repeated attempts to get Bradley on the radio. Her alternate contact was Petty Officer Giordano, and she switched channels on the radio. “Zulu Xray, Zulu Xray, this is Lima Juliette, come in.”
After three calls a voice answered, “This is Zulu Xray, go ahead Lima Juliette.”
“This is Captain Patterson. Is that you Giordano?”
“Yes, Ma’am, Giordano here,” came the response in a distinctive Southern drawl. Ashley knew Giordano was from Brooklyn, and he had the accent to prove it. Ashley’s nerves went into high alert.
“I’m just checking to make sure everything is okay.”
“Everything is AOK here, Captain,” drawled the voice.
“I expect reports hourly,” said Ashley. “Lima Juliette, over and out.”
“Get Lieutenant Conroy here NOW,” Ashley screamed to the Junior Officer of the Deck. Within a minute Conroy was on the bridge.
“I have a concern Frank, a big one. Here, call Giordano to say hello,” She said, handing Conroy the radio.
“Zulu Xray, Zulu Xray, this is Lima Juliette, come in,” said Conroy.
“Yes, sir,” came the drawled response.
“Geo, this is Lt. Conroy, I’m just following up on the Captain’s call to see if you need anything from the ship.”
“We’re good, Lieutenant. If we need anything from y’all we’ll give a holler,” came the response. Ashley motioned a finger across her throat to break off the conversation.
“This is Lima Juliette, over and out.”
Ashley stared at Conroy. There was no need to ask a question.
“If that’s Giordano,” said Conroy, “I’m Lady GaGa.”
“Are you sure you had a good idea to send those weapons ashore, Lieutenant?” Ashley asked.
Conroy’s jaw dropped. “Captain, it was Commander Bradley’s idea.” Ashley felt faint.
She called CIC and spoke to Lt. Bea Toliver, the Combat Systems Officer. “Lieutenant, launch a drone immediately and send it to the coordinates of the weapons camp ashore. How long to the site?”